 |
The Puerto Rican Figure Skating Federation
(PRFSF) was founded some years ago with the expressed
intent of providing the Puerto Rican native and their
descendants with the opportunity to achieve success and
renown in the competitive Figure Skating world. This was
a noble ideal begun by a few good people and while the
original founders are no longer with us the promise of
greatness for the Puerto Rican Figure Skater still remains.
Now under the guidance of its new leadership and with
our newly approved standing as a Member of
the International Skating Union (ISU) we are poised to
deliver on our promise to the Puerto Rican community at
large. A promise that will forever change the way the
world views our tiny but exquisite island. This is no
small task that we embark upon and it will require the
strength, talent and resolve of an especially motivated
team of professionals who share our vision for the benefit
of all young potential Puerto Ricans athletes and our
motherland in the world of figure skating.
Created in 2001, the Puerto Rican Figure Skating Federation
(PRFSF) is comprised of amateur figure skaters of Puerto
Rican descent. The Puerto Rican Olympic Committee, Comite
Olimpico De Puerto Rico (COPUR), recognizes the PRFSF
as the governing body for the sport of figure skating
on the island of Puerto Rico.
The mission of the PRFSF is to encourage
participation in the sport of figure skating and to
provide opportunities for those skaters, who have the
talent and commitment, to reach the highest levels.
Background
Figure skating has been a popular sport
in cold weather countries for over 100 years. As indoor
rinks became more popular, the sport expanded to areas
that have more temperate and even tropical climates.
For years, Puerto Ricans could only watch figure skating
on television as there were no skating rinks on the
island. In 2004, however, the city of Aguadilla opened
a skating arena, and in so doing, opened the doors to
a new sport to the residents of Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, numerous amateur figure skaters
of Puerto Rican descent have been training in the United
States. The Puerto Rican Figure Skating Federation
was formed with the hope of someday developing the sport
on the island and representing Puerto Rico in international
competitions. This day came in October 2006 when the
International Skating Union granted Puerto Rico ISU
membership.
Puerto Rico’s entry into elite figure
skating is certain to receive considerable attention
as most people do not think of Latinos being in the
skating world. However, little by little, Latinos are
getting more involved in the sport. In fact, Mexico,
Argentina, and Brazil already have figure skating federations
and there have also been successful Latino figure skaters
in the US. Rudy Galindo, who is of Mexican descent won
the US Nationals in 1996 and then went on to claim the
bronze medal at the World Championships that year. Benjamin
Agosto, of Puerto Rican descent, is part of an ice dance
team ranked as one of the top in the world.
Athletes
Puerto Rican athletes have demonstrated
the ability to be true competitors amongst the best
in a number of sport disciplines. Members of the PRFSF
will include both beginners as well as those who are
already elite athletes.
The PRFSF is developing its "Learn-To-Skate"
programs to be implemented in Aguadilla, P.R. and Carolina, P.R. which
involve teaching the basics of skating through group
lessons.
Guidance and support is also provided to elite athletes
as they prepare for international competition. The PRFSF
may be new to the world of international figure skating,
but it is developing a team training hard to compete
with the world's best.
History.
The Puerto Rican Figure
Skating Federation (PRFSF) a 501 (c)
(3) organization, recognized by the the Puerto
Rican Olympic Committee, Comite Olimpico De Puerto Rico
(COPUR), as the governing body of eligible figure
skating in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The PRFSF
is comprised of individual
members who are figure skaters of Puerto Rican ancestry,
who have at a minimum one year residency in Puerto Rico
as outlined in ISU rule 109.
In October 2006, the PRFSF became an official
member of the International Skating Union
(ISU). The ISU is the exclusive international sports
federation recognized by the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) administering Figure Skating throughout
the world.
The mission of the
Puerto Rican Figure Skating Federation is to encourage
participation in the sport of figure skating and to
provide opportunities for those skaters who have the
talent and commitment, to reach the highest levels.
OUR
Pledge:
|
