For blind skater Stash Serafin, a life of ice dancing in the dark

[Sylvia]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160304_For_blind_skater__a_life_of_ice_dancing_in_the_dark.html

... But on a Saturday night in 1968, blindness did not stop the teenager from finding his life's passion: figure skating. ...
"We trotted around the ice," he said. "I walked around like I owned the place. I went back for lessons. The club members were doing their fancy-schmancy stuff. I couldn't do anything by imitation because I couldn't see. But I could copy by sound.

"I discovered I had good balance. I started with basic skating and moved on to toe loops and double jumps. People said, 'How can you get that if you can't see?' I don't know."
Now 62, Serafin has spent decades demonstrating graceful glides, spins, and jumps at amateur and professional exhibitions across the region and beyond - as a coach, a competitor, and an inspiration.

 

[clairecloutier]

Amazing story!

 

[SmallFairy]

Thank you Sylvia, how truly inspirational!

 

[floridaice]

a couple of youtube videos of Serafin. Wow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2gTyHKIHOk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMo4TsALVHQ

 

[SkateGuard]

Actually have something coming on his story on the blog later this month - his story makes me smile to no end.

 

[Yazmeen]

Stash is a friend, and I've shared the ice with him many times. He's an inspiration, a marvelous skater, and a sweetheart with a wicked sense of humor. He has to be the happiest person I know.

My husband's and my favorite image of him will always be hearing Stash tell us "You looked good out there today."

 

[Vash01]

Amazing story.

 

[Sylvia]

2-minute TV news segment from late March:

(WTXF) A local blind figure skater wows on the ice with his patience and skills. FOX 29 PhotojournalistBill Rohrer shares his story.
Inside the Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society in Ardmore, 62-year-old Stash Serafin works on his routine. With the help of his skating coach Michelle Marvin—he glides around the ice rink with ease.

http://www.fox29.com/news/114068017-story

 

[Tinami Amori]

Wow that's fantastic. To skate without seeing the ice. I have a hard time taking my eyes off the ice and looking up at the people, would be a problem if i competed.

In one of the videos he said that his fear is to hit the railing. Well, there are sensors now, like the ones in the automobiles, which can beep if one approaches an obstacle . Also there are "invisible dog fences", where you place few sensors on the perimeters and one small color/bracelet on the "moving creature". That can work for him with slight modification....
https://www.radiofence.com/petsafe-deluxe-indoor-radio-fence/?gclid=CPKgy8HtyMwCFUKUfgodEDgJvg
http://admin.woodstream.com/resourc...ng_pages/wireless_dog_fence/custom_system.jpg

 

[aliceanne]

That is the straightest back on a sit spin I have ever seen. He has great flexibility. Does he dance also?

 

[Nikki Lee]

Yes, Stash is still an ice-dancer. He has a new partner, after a long-time partner, Eileen Erlich, died of cancer last May.

 

[DreamSkates]

This is awesome. Thanks for sharing.