After the Four Continents Championship, Patrick has been staying busy with various charity and skating promotional activities. He even replied to me on Twitter! Below is a summary of what’s happened since Gangneung:
Win Tickets to Stars On Ice!
.@starsonice May 18 @RogersArena w/ @elvisstojko, @KurtBrowning, @Pchiddy, and more! Win tix plus meet & greet https://t.co/0hjuBtXXBG
— 103.5 QMFM (@QMFM) March 8, 2017
March 4 Figure Skating Clinic
Patrick conducted a sold-out skating clinic in Windsor, Ontario, with coaches Marina Zoueva and Johnny Johns. Fifty young skaters practiced and learned from Patrick as he demonstrated spins and other skating moves. Not bad, considering that days before there were still 10 spots open:
Only 10 spots left for this event…Patrick Chan, THE Patrick Chan, will be on hand coaching and mentoring. email… https://t.co/pRJHtIymPY
— snapd Windsor (@snapdWindsor) March 1, 2017
Video and Interview Transcript
Young Windsor figure skaters got a chance to skate with the best. Patrick Chan @PChiddy among the pros helping out.https://t.co/LIRB50SFwD
— CTV Windsor (@CTVWindsor) March 5, 2017
Reporter: Patrick Chan says he encourages all young skaters not to forget to have fun while on the ice.
Patrick: I didn’t expect to be where I am… at this level in figure skating at their age. I was just going out and having fun challenging myself everyday, trying to do something difficult like skating… or tennis, or golf. I think that’s the importance of sport, in general… not to necessarily go and be the best ever in the world. It’s more than just that.
I like what Patrick said about having fun and doing sports for its own sake. I think his advice reflects his personal maturity and growth, and how he developed from someone who thought he always had to be better than everyone else (as he had said in a previous interview) to someone who is more focused on enjoying the process of skating. Good for you, Patrick!
.@AM800News Three-time world skating champion Patrick Chan is giving Windsor's youth some skating tips here at Central Park Athletics #cklw pic.twitter.com/9oMpdH88hT
— John (@JohnJHutton1) March 4, 2017
Photos
Open the links mentioned in the first two tweets below to see many more photos!
PHOTOS: Figure Skating Clinic Features Olympic Medalist Patrick Chan https://t.co/AQwsinmkrl pic.twitter.com/4RW2qpAv85
— windsoriteDOTca News (@windsoriteDOTca) March 5, 2017
@SkateCanada @SkateCanadaWO @SkateOntario @Pchiddy took part Windsor's #CentralParkAthletics skating clinic today. https://t.co/5SbdfNJCnk
— Brigitte Laskowski (@singerskates) March 4, 2017
3X World Champion & Olympic Medalist @Pchiddy mentors & trains with Windsor youth at Central Park Athletics. @CTVWindsor pic.twitter.com/odxXC0iPhU
— Alana Hadadean (@AHadadeanCTV) March 4, 2017
@aomomiji12 パトリック先生。かわいい😊 pic.twitter.com/nBvIR3ind0
— aomomiji (@aomomiji12) March 7, 2017
@aomomiji12 子供達とパトリック先生 pic.twitter.com/QaxIlp2bqp
— aomomiji (@aomomiji12) March 7, 2017
パトリック参加のスケート教室の記事⛸😊写真が沢山🙌
Figure Skating Clinic Features Olympic Medalist Patrick Chan And World Competition Coaches https://t.co/uDN3f2o3ZV pic.twitter.com/XCDoENQSf3— aomomiji (@aomomiji12) March 7, 2017
I've learned a lot today and I will make sure to put this info to good use! Thank you for having this seminar #patrickchan #saulius
The Flyer for the Event
Here a better flyer for Patrick Chan's upcoming figure skating clinic on March 4! https://t.co/qKIJNBfPaK pic.twitter.com/1KYJ7wILJs
— PC Skating Fan (@PCSkatingFan) March 1, 2017
March 3: Icewine in Manitoba!
Patrick tweeted early on a Friday morning to announce that his icewine is now available at Manitoba Liquor Marts. Naturally, local fans there are quite happy!
Pleased to inform #Manitoba that my #Reisling Icewine is available at your @LiquorMarts. See you in May with @StarsonIce!
— Patrick Chan (@Pchiddy) March 3, 2017
@Pchiddy @LiquorMarts @starsonice YES! See you in May Patrick! Definitely excited to finally try your wine too! <3
— Michelle B (@michi_b2089) March 3, 2017
March 2: Patrick with Marin Honda and Karen Chen!
2016 Junior World figure skating champion Marin Honda took this photo with Patrick. Patrick’s coach Marina Zoueva is one of Marin’s choreographers, hence the meeting at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Canton, Michigan.
But another beautiful visitor was there at the same time – current U.S. ladies’ champion Karen Chen, who had a great time:
Patrick’s rink is definitely a skating hot spot!
February 23: Reading at Ronald McDonald House… and Replying to ME!
Patrick read one of the 3,000 books he and First Book Canada donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Toronto (for more about Patrick’s long-time partnership with RMHC, go here).
PJ Kwong also interviewed Patrick (article) and here is what he said about the magical effect of books when he was a child:
Read more about what Patrick said about the importance of books here!
The first picture of the night’s event was tweeted by his agent from Landmark Sports:
Patrick Chan (@Pchiddy) reads one of 3,000+ books he & @FirstBookCanada have donated to the 15 @RMHCCanada houses across Canada! pic.twitter.com/EjxNhaWzi9
— Rob Mackay (@_RobMackay) February 24, 2017
Which Patrick later retweeted:
.@FirstBookCanada & I donated 3,000+ books to 15 @RMHCCanada houses across Canada! Had a chance to read a book to the kids at @RMHToronto pic.twitter.com/EagzGryKTW
— Patrick Chan (@Pchiddy) February 24, 2017
In the midst of this feel-good experience, I thought it might be a good time to politely remind him to update his Twitter bio, which still said “eight time Canadian Champion” on it:
@Pchiddy
And would you kindly update your Twitter bio, please? Nine time champ!
— PC Skating Fan (@PCSkatingFan) February 24, 2017
I had a good feeling about this but didn’t think he would reply, so off I went to choir rehearsal. Then, just before I got home 3 hours later, I saw this:
@PCSkatingFan OMG, Patrick replied to your tweet! Congrats! I hope he's seen your amazing blog dedicated to him. https://t.co/041T6YS0gX
— ih (@sunnypeony) February 24, 2017
What?! I had to take a look at it!
@PCSkatingFan updated! Thanks for the reminder
— Patrick Chan (@Pchiddy) February 24, 2017
Wow… Back to the cute photos of Patrick with the kids and books while I recover from the shock of a few words and an emoji from him!
Thanks @FirstBookCanada for bringing @Pchiddy to read to our families! Everyone was excited to meet the #figureskating champ #PatrickChan pic.twitter.com/DqViZco7Me
— RMHC Toronto (@RMHToronto) February 24, 2017
Patrick with a copy of “Ivanhoe”:
Meet champion figure skater Patrick Chan! He shared a classic w/#agbdTO
Don't forget u can donate kid's books to @BookBankCanada year-round! pic.twitter.com/3hF8nlvyz3— A Good Book Drive (@AGoodBookDrive) March 1, 2017
Was a blue moon shining that night? But seriously, I am very grateful for Patrick’s reply. One of my writer friends said that I “must have caught him in a good mood”. Perhaps it might be more accurate to say that I caught him in a very generous mood. 🙂
February 22: Pink Shirts to Promote Safe Sport
Patrick was featured in a graphic to promote Safe Sport Day:
Happy #PinkShirtDay! Let's unite and create awareness around bullying! Learn more about our #SafeSport program >> https://t.co/Mt582bWrCn pic.twitter.com/oFmIkfxB61
— Skate Canada (@SkateCanada) February 22, 2017
That’s the wrap-up of Patrick’s good deeds during the past two weeks! How could any Pchiddy fan not be proud of his demonstrated generosity towards young skaters and kids in need? Yes, I am so proud of him! And yes, I will ever be grateful for the miraculous bit of contact we had online. Thanks to all who shared links of photos and videos, and most of all, thanks to Patrick for making himself available. May Finland be good to you as the 2016-2017 season comes to a close!