People

Family on ice

Whether judging, synchronized skating, or playing hockey, a Swiss Kiwanian and her kin enjoy sports on the edge

Bettina Meier knows a quality Salchow when she sees one. To her, wheels, blocks, circles, and lines aren’t elements found only in a preschool playroom. And she can tell the difference between a right back outside edge and a left back inside edge quicker than you can say Hamill camel or Biellmann spin.

Interview: What is your fondest memory from your daughters’ skating careers? When Sarah was skating a strong free program at Junior Worlds in 2000, where she won the bronze medal. Are you allowed to judge events in which your daughters are skating? No. I am also not allowed to judge men’s competitions when my daughter is competing in the ladies competition in the same event.
	Bettina Meier (center) spends a lot of her time on or near the ice as a synchronized skater, International Skating Union judge, and proud mother of two skating daughters.
	Bettina’s daughter, Sarah, competes professionally in figure skating. Sarah plans to compete in the World Figure Skating Championships in March.
What was the Olympic experience like? Did anyone from your family travel with Sarah? Sarah was there with my sister (her coach). Nadja and I went to Torino for the free skating—it was so great to be there. After the event, we met the Swiss skaters to celebrate with them. Is there sibling rivalry between Sarah and Nadja? In earlier days, they had some problems, when they both did figure skating. But since Nadja switched to synchronized skating, they often practice together and they watch competitions together. They are really proud of each other. There is no rivalry at all. What has been your favorite competition you have judged? What was the most memorable? My first Europeans as an ISU judge when I judged the men’s event, and the Worlds in Helsinki in 1999 when I judged the ladies event. Who are your favorite skaters? My daughter, Sarah; Michelle Kwan; Janet Lynn; Peggy Fleming; Kurt Browning; ice dancers Torvill and Dean; and pairs skaters Gordeeva and Grinkov. What is your favorite jump or move in figure skating? The triple Lutz, since it is also my daughter’s best and favorite jump; and the spread eagle, because that’s what I can do best. How long have you been practicing medicine? 13 years What else do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Reading books and meeting friends. What’s up next for your family? Sarah plans to skate at the World Figure Skating Championships (March 19, 2007) in Tokyo. Nadja hopes to go to the World Synchronized Skating Championships (March 29, 2007) in London. I will judge Four Continents Championships (February 5, 2007) in Colorado if I am drawn, and probably a junior competition in Europe.

She should know. She and her family spend most of their time on the ice, where all of these moves have been made popular through the world of ice skating. For them, home is where you find the smell of Zamboni exhaust fumes and the sound of blades scraping the ice. It’s where you know you’ve started to have fun once your fingers turn a pale shade of pink, and your lips start to look a little blue.

And while Bettina, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Bulach, Switzerland, makes her living as a physician, when she’s not in her office she finds time to be on the ice as a synchronized skater or near the ice observing as a judge with the International Skating Union.

“At the age of 10, I started single figure skating, but then stopped at age 16 because I wanted to go to the university to become a physician,” Bettina says. “For 10 years, I have been a member of a synchronized team, practicing once a week and going to two or three regional competitions.

“I also started judging for club and national (figure skating) competitions at the age of 20. I passed the test for international judge at age 30.”

But Bettina’s time spent in the doctor’s office (she has her own practice with two other partners), on the ice as a synchronized skater, and as a judge isn’t all that keeps her busy. Her daughters both skate competitively as well—and on quite an impressive level.

Daughter Sarah competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, where she placed 8th. Daughter Nadja used to figure skate, but now has joined mom in the ranks of the synchronized skating world.

“Ice skating is our passion, and I’m very proud of my daughters. I always watch them compete,” she says.

But the family tradition of ice sports doesn’t stop there. Bettina’s husband is a hockey player. Her sister is a former figure skater and is now Sarah’s coach. Her sister’s two sons and husband also play hockey. And when they aren’t on the ice, Bettina and her husband are lurking behind the scenes.

“I am the president of the local skating club and my husband is the president of the local hockey club,” she says.