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Photo by Andy Atkinson Nicole Shepherd spins Saturday during the exhibition at the Rrrink in Medford. Visions of glory dance in ice show Skaters glide for enthusiastic Rrrink crowd By BILL KETTLER If dreams mean anything, several Olympic skaters made their performance debut in Medford Saturday. Skaters from 4 to 44 danced on ice during the Rrrink's first anniversary ice show. Cameras flashed and video recorders rolled as proud parents and grandparents watched youngsters loop and lutz at Medford's year-old ice arena. Visions of glory filled Noah Thacker's imagination after he skated through music from Disney's "Aladdin." "Now that I've gotten a chance to skate, I'm hoping to go far in this," the 13-year-old Medford boy said. "It's been my dream for four years to skate. The top skaters are my heroes. "The crowd just takes your breath away," he said. "All that clapping and cheering makes you feel light as a feather. It makes you feel great to know they're cheering for you." The Rrrink staged the performance to showcase what their skaters have learned since the arena opened. Like Noah, many skaters got their first taste of applause from the friendly crowd, and he wasn't the only one who wanted more. "It's the best thing ever," said Jodi Tracy, after hearing the crowd's approval. She and Sara Smith, Ali Rotar, and Hillary King charmed the crowd with a routine choreographed to Pachelbel's "Canon in D." Jodi started skating a year ago when the ice arena opened, and struggled up the learning curve with her friends. "It was very slow," she said. "Very frustrating. We didn't know anything." The girls traveled to the rink every morning during Christmas break to practice their routine. "Teens don't like to get up early for anything," said Ali, "so you know it had to be special." Several parents at the show said their children have learned more than just skating technique during the past year. Michael Kempf, of Phoenix, said his daughter, Marie, has more self-confidence. "She's showing a little more energy, too, if that's possible. She always wants to skate. She never says no." Nancy Artoff, of Wimer, said her daughter, Tommi Lynn, has blossomed in a sport she likes. "We had her in Little League and she didn't like it," said Artoff. "It's neat to have your kid involved in a sport she enjoys. She'd be here every day if she could." Kids weren't the only skaters to entertain the crowd. Forty-four-year-old Scott Morse skated through the "Blue Danube Waltz" with several young partners. "This has been my passion for the past year," said Morse. "I feel like I'm 18 when I'm out there. It keeps you in shape and the kids make it even more fun." Skating instructor Lainie Crimmel said some of the young skaters' dreams of glory could come true. "It all depends on their persistence," said Crimmel, who formerly skated in the Ice Capades. "I've seen people with tremendous ability who never went anywhere because they didn't want to practice. And people who had to struggle for everything who went to the top." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA