‘Stars on Ice’ coming to PPG Paints Arena this weekend
The stuffed animal’s name is Waddle — it’s a miniature penguin that travels with the “Stars on Ice” tour.
So Waddle should feel right at home Sunday when the U.S. Olympic team ice skaters come to town for the 4 p.m. show at the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, PPG Paints Arena.
“I have always loved penguins,” said skater Brandon Frazier, who owns Waddle. “Every tour needs a mascot. He will be in Pittsburgh. I am not sure if he will be out on the ice but he will be around. I think it is important for the people in Pittsburgh to see Waddle because the city is home to the Penguins.”
Waddle has an Instagram page. He has been seen backstage, close to the ice, in hotel rooms and helping with the sound check.
Alexa Knierim, Frazier’s skating partner, and Frazier said they and Waddle are looking forward to their time here. They train in Irvine, Calif., and this is their first time on the tour.
Knierim and Frazier began their partnership in March 2020. They won a gold medal in the world championship in France, becoming the first U.S. team to win this title since 1979.
They were part of the U.S. Figure Skating Team that captured a silver medal in Beijing at the Winter Olympic Games.
Knierim, who has been on the ice since age 7, had previously skated with her husband Chris Knierim. They won three U.S. titles and an Olympic Team event bronze medal in 2018. She also skated with Ivan Dimitrov from 2011- 12.
Frazier began figure skating at age 11 – before that, he was a roller skater. He competed with Mandy Garza from 2009-11, winning the novice bronze medal at the 2010 U.S. Championships. He also skated with Haven Denney, with whom he won the U.S. pairs title in 2017 and a World Junior title in 2013.
They said tour performances have a different feel from Olympic competitions where they work out six days a week.
For the tour, they have rehearsals and warm-ups the day of a show. Before the start of the tour, they spent three days for 12 hours each learning the choreography and group numbers.
The bonds they formed during the Olympics carry over into “Stars on Ice.”
“The audiences are very uplifting,” Knierim said. “We are making memories.”
She and Frazier agreed they skate well together because of chemistry.
“We both have a strong work ethic and that builds a fire and a grit to keep pushing forward and working harder,” Knierim said. “We both share a passion for skating, and we mesh so well together.”
Trust is the key for them, said Frazier.
“At the end of the day that is the foundation for the partnership,” Frazier said. “We both have a drive to succeed and our goals are the same. And that takes your skating from good to great.”
Here we go! ⚡️#SOI22 #Thunderstruck @AgganisArena @nathanwchen #StarsOnIce pic.twitter.com/zCzVdhNWP8
— Stars on Ice (@starsonice) May 1, 2022
The lineup includes Olympic gold medal winner Nathan Chen; Olympic silver and bronze medalists, three-time world medalists and three-time U.S. Champions Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue; Olympic silver medalists, three-time world medalists and three-time and reigning U.S. Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates; Olympic silver medalist, two-time world medalist and three-time U.S. silver medalist Vincent Zhou; and Olympic silver medalist and U.S. Champion Karen Chen.
The cast will skate to music from Elton John, The Weeknd, AC/DC and Jon Batiste.
Frazier said if he has time he will try and get to the National Aviary or the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium to see the other Pittsburgh penguins.
Tickets start at $30 and are available here.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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