WHO: Houston Ice Theatre Skaters (HITS)
WHAT: Memorial City Mall and MetroNational congratulate Houston Ice Theatre Skaters (HITS) on its selection by the U.S. Figure Skating Theatrical Skating Committee to compete on the global stage in Bordeaux, France this April. The team trains out of Ice Skate Memorial City inside Memorial City Mall.
Held every other year, the Nations’ Cup/ Gold Cup is a prestigious international competition. Teams are selected to participate by their country’s governing body. As two-time National Champions, HITS is proud to compete on behalf of Team USA this year before ice skating fans from all over the world.
Theatre on Ice (TOI) is a form of competitive figure skating that combines the grace of figure skating with the excitement of theatre and dance. Known as “Ballet on Ice” in Europe, TOI teams consist of eight to 28 skaters on the ice telling a story together. The Houston team consists of 21 all-female skaters ranging in age from 11 to 18, some of whom have been skating since they were three years old.
This is the first time the team has reached this level since it competed in Logrono, Spain, in 2013. Asked what it means to these young athletes to compete against teams from all over the world, Coach Shanyn Vallon says, “There’s nothing like walking into that stadium and hearing your national anthem.”
Costs for the team and accompanying family members along with coaches and team managers are expected to exceed $150,000. Team members started a GoFundMe page for those interested in helping them with expenses. HITS will be training Tuesday evenings at Ice Skate Memorial City between now and the competition in April.
WHERE: Pre-competition Interviews and Photo Opportunities Available at Memorial City Mall (Ice Skate Memorial City), 303 Memorial City Way, Houston, TX 77024
LINKS:
Instagram: @MemorialCity
Facebook: @MemorialCityMall
Twitter: @MemorialCityHou
Instagram: @MetroNational
Facebook: @MetroNational
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metronational/
Website: https://www.metronational.com/
HITS Website: https://houstonicetheatre.org/
HITS GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/37fsupflwo?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
ABOUT MEMORIAL CITY
Memorial City Mall is the renowned destination in West Houston for an exceptional shopping, dining, and entertainment experience that caters to all your needs. Recognized as one of the most-visited shopping malls by Travel & Leisure magazine, Memorial City Mall features over 150 shops and restaurants, an ice rink, movie theater, Venetian-style carousel, and the world’s largest indoor play area. Locals and visitors are invited to explore local boutiques and contemporary retail, culinary adventures, and family-friendly fun to create unforgettable moments and lasting memories.
ABOUT METRONATIONAL
MetroNational is a family-owned privately-held real estate investment, development, and management company headquartered in Houston, Texas. As visionary stewards, MetroNational focuses on building the places people need to live happy, healthy lives and invests in what moves the city forward. Established in 1954, the company currently owns and manages over 10 million square feet of commercial and residential properties – office, retail, restaurant, hospitality, and health care – primarily located in Greater Houston. Every MetroNational property fully integrates the highest standard of service to create human-centric experiences for tenants and visitors while providing enduring value. The company’s largest development to date is Memorial City, a 300-acre mixed-use development located in the heart of West Houston. For more information, please visitwww.metronational.com.