Skyliners Take in Stranded Synchro Teams
By Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz, special to U.S. Figure Skating Online
 |
Returning home from the 2010 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., Team Sweden 2 and the Croatian Snowflakes were stranded at the Newark International Airport Airport because of the volcanic ash emanating from Iceland that crippled most international air travel.
When Skyliners team manager Elizabeth Mulhern heard about the Croatian team's predicament, she contacted the mother of one of their New York-based skaters, and they sent out an e-mail to team members to see who would be willing to house skaters.
"People instantly volunteered, and then we had one mother, Susan Barr of Connecticut, who said she would take all 10 skaters so they did not have to be split up," Mulhern said.
"It was a great experience, Barr said. "I have six children, a large family, and I know what it's like when your children are traveling. We did not want to split them up. It's better if they could all be together."
Barr successfully housed seven skaters, three parents and a sibling. The group set up air mattresses, and there were plenty of beds. Everyone felt at home, and one of the Croatian team moms even became head chef and cooked meals for the skaters and Barr family.
"The first night we took them to a local grocery store and bought just tons of food," Barr said. "The one mom actually took some of my leftovers and made something wonderful with it I didn't know you could make. We still have plenty of food."
The Skyliners also reached out and offered housing for Team Sweden, but it had already received hotel accommodations through the airline. Still, the Skyliners pulled together to host a dinner for the Swedish team, and the evening turned into a special event.
Team mom Kathy Shepperly organized a bus trip to take the Swedish team to dinner in White Plains, N.Y.
"The dinner was wonderful," Mulhern said. "Kathy organized it, and the food kept coming out and all the girls kept talking and sharing the differences between living in Sweden and living in America."
 |
"We ended up having 80 skaters on the ice that night," Elizabeth Mulhern said. "The girls had a blast, and the Swedish team enjoyed the evening as well. They presented the Skyliners with a Swedish flag that read 'Thank You Skyliners.' "
"It was such a wonderful gift and something that we will take with us to August boot camp - as well as every other competition - to hang in the locker room as a good-luck charm and a very special gift from our new friends," Ashley Mulhern said.
The Skyliners' efforts did not go unnoticed. The team was featured on a segment about people helping stranded travelers on "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams."
Ashley Mulhern feels the word "friendship" perfectly describes this experience.
"One of my favorite things about synchronized skating is the friendships you form throughout your synchro career," Ashley said. "I love meeting new girls that I will be able to visit, meet up with or cheer in future competitions. I made 27 new friends that night, and that was a birthday present no one else could have given me."
For Elizabeth Mulhern, it was no surprise her team wanted to help out.
"The synchro community is very close," she said. "Although teams compete against one another, there really is a ton of support and respect. My family just came back from Worlds in Colorado Springs, and we had just cheered these girls on. We were wondering on the way home if any of the teams would have extra time to stop in New York City and experience a different part of America. Well, I guess we found out. These girls could have easily been our daughters stuck abroad, and as parents we know how comforting it would be to know that someone was there helping them."
Editor's note: On Thursday, April 22, the Croatian team got clearance to fly home.
