Skaters unite for Weaver and Cowan’s Open Ice Live

Olympian Kaitlyn Weaver and skating cinematographer Jordan Cowan are uniting the figure skating world from their apartments in New York City, for an intimate, one-time live broadcast benefitting the United Nations COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.  Produced by Weaver and Cowan entirely over the web, Open Ice aims to entertain, engage, and give hope to a skating community in self-isolation.

The event begins at 2pm EDT on Saturday, April 25, and features an extensive list of figure skating legends, past and present, all willing to donate their time, energy, and talent to the cause. Games, interviews, and impromptu performances vary the pace of warm and heartfelt sharing, with entertainment and unscripted moments of unbridled spontaneity.  The ice dance community will be well-represented with appearances by Olympic and World champions and medalists and international skating competitors past and present. 

“I wanted to create something that empowers and mobilizes the vast skating community for good,” Weaver said.  “Together, from our own small corners of the world, we can do great things for people who really need help.  I’m uplifted and excited to experience what we can do just by tuning in and reaching out. And I’m extremely honored to share these stories amongst the legends of my sport.”

“I’ve seen firsthand how social media brings the figure skating community together,” Cowan added.  “I know skating fans will recognize the dedication we and all the skaters on this show are putting towards this event, and respond in kind with their donations.”  

The planned three-hour show will air LIVE on Open Ice’s official website, www.OpenIceLive.com, on Skating ISU’s YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/SkatingISU, and on On Ice Perspectives’ YouTube Channel, http://www.youtube.com/oniceperspectives. Fans will have the chance to interact through live chat, with select comments being read aloud on the livestream.

Donations to the U.N Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund will be handled by Tiltify, a U.N. Foundation-partnered charity platform.  You can DONATE NOW!