Athlete of the Month July 24′: Bill Williams
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For our July 2024 Athlete of the month we chose to highlight Bill Williams, stepping out of the world of competitive fighting and into the world of competitive skating.
Introduction to Competitive Skating
Bill has been skating since 1973. Talk about experience! His introduction into competitive skating occurred when he watching competitive skaters at his local rink. He felt captivated by the way the competitive skaters moved on their skates, thinking that he could do that too. The rest is history.
With dedication, hard work, and a passion that you could never take away if you tried, Bill went on to become a 7 time National Champion and a 6 time American Champion, along with dozens of National and American Podium Finishes (Where you place in the top 3 of a competitive event).
Bill’s most memorable achievement is the Silver Medal that he and his wife, Cathy, won in the 2019 National Championships for their Team Dance routine . Considering this was Cathy’s first National appearance and they placed, this makes this win particularly sentimental to him.
What Does Competitive Skating Involve?
We recently attended the ‘Night of Champions’ event at our local skating rink, Rollarama Skating Center in Rotterdam, NY. It is here that I realized how much more goes into competitive skating than just some fancy moves. There are several different categories that you can compete in, some examples are: Freestyle (Includes jumps and spins), Creative (Does not include jumps and spins), Prescribed Step Routine (Where you practice specific steps and figures to music and are judged by how correct your edges are and that you are in rhythm to the music), Solo or Team Dance.
When I asked Bill what his favorite category to compete in, he responded with Team Dance. He loves the precision that each step takes when skating with a partner to where it looks like it is effortless dancing. One misstep, and both skaters would go down, so not only do you have to be on top of your own game, but you have to fully trust your partner as well and learn how to move with them.
Family Before Passion
Like any journey we take in life, Bill’s competitive skating career has not always been smooth cruising. When Bill had children, he hung up his skates and gladly accepted the title of ‘Dad’ instead. Bill ended up taking a 29 year hiatus from skating to put raising his children and providing for his family in the forefront.
After all that time, Bill had the chance to retire he returned to one of the places that makes him feel most at home, the skating rink. It didn’t take very long for him to realize how much he had missed it, and he has been skating regularly ever since. Even going as far to travel from New York to Connecticut once a week just to be able to practice with a variety of different skaters to keep his technique fresh and up to speed.
When Bill is not skating or spending time with his family, he is a published writer and is currently working on his second book. He also enjoys whatever free time he can find gardening and doing yard work.
Goals and Ambitions
Bill plans to continue skating as long as he is physically able to, but his ambitions don’t end there. Bill plans to keep competing and winning in both the American and National championships in the process.
With all of Bill’s experience in skating, I asked him if he would ever be interested in coaching and what area he would focus on as a coach. Bill explained that he has been asked on several occasions if he would be interested in coaching, and he has had coaching experience in the past as well.
In the 1990’s he coached the speed and hockey teams, who then went on to nationals. Bill also helps with the Learn To Skate program. However, he simply has more interest in competing and honing his skills. This doesn’t mean that Bill doesn’t work incredibly hard to support his local skating rink. His main focus is recruitment. It’s not just about finding talented skaters, but having the opportunity to watch them grow and become regional and national competitors.
Bill also speaks very highly of the team he has had the opportunity to work with. One of the coaches at the local rink, Angie, is a world champion herself. Another coach, Jeff, has dozens of national championships. What a talented group at one skating rink!
Words of Wisdom
I asked Bill what one of the biggest misconceptions about competitive skating is, and he responded:
I would say the misconception for most people is that the average person can’t do it. If I can do it anyone can do it. This is a sport where an average person can start in the Learn To Skate classes, and become the USA champion with relatively little money.
-Bill Williams
Bill goes on to encourage that if someone is interested in competitive skating, to sign up to take private lessons and just go for it. The club members of the rink all support each other and provide a sense of comradery. Anyone who has a desire to learn along with some determination can rise to national levels.
Where Can We Find Out More?
If you would like to find out more information about Rollaramma Skating Center or the different skating associations, click the links below:
Rollaramma Skating Center, Inc.- https://www.rollarama.com
Roller Skating Association International- https://www.rollerskating.com/
National Roller Sports Association- https://nationalrollersportsassociation.org
To read more on other athlete’s of the month, follow us here and stay tuned for more!!!
Update!
While this article was being put together, Bill had competed in Lincoln, Nebraska and won the Classic Original Compulsory Team Dance. There is no getting between this man and his love of skating.
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