Family Scene
Pro ice skater revels in his summer shows
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
What's more ironic? Having an ice skating show in Aloha Stadium's parking lot in May, or having an ice skater who hates cold weather?
Honolulu Jaycees 50th State Fair Here's a lineup of this year's attractions: •"Celebration on Ice," with Craig Heath and Larissa Zamotina. 7:30 and 10 p.m. Fridays; 2:30, 4:30, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
It's a tossup.
Professional ice skater Craig Heath is enjoying Hawai'i's sunny weather after countless road trips in freezing cities during the winter. Ironically, Heath doesn't like the cold and is amused that he and fellow skater Larissa Zamotina will be performing at the 50th State Fair in the middle of a parking lot. Heath has just finished a winter tour with "Disney on Ice Presents 'Toy Story.'"
• 6 p.m.-midnight today, noon-midnight Saturday and Sunday, through June 17 (Also, noon-midnight Monday and June 11
• Aloha Stadium parking lot
• $3 general, $2 kids 4-11, free for kids 3 and younger. Monday admission is $1 general, and it's also wristband day ($15 wristband gives the wearer unlimited rides noon-6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.-midnight) 682-5767
• The Acapulco High Dive Thrill Show, with Dana Kunze, the Human Torch Fire Diver. 6:30, 9:30 and 11 p.m. Fridays; 1:30, 3:30, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
• Harlem Ambassadors, playing two exhibition basketball games 1 and 4 p.m. Monday, Memorial Day
"It just doesn't make any sense," Craig Heath, longtime professional singles skater who prefers warm weather, said about skating in Hawai'i, where some people still haven't seen snow yet. "I'm here sitting on the beach. Life couldn't be better."
The Northern California native is performing with fellow skater Larissa Zamotina in "Celebration on Ice," an ice show in the middle of Halawa. Not your typical location for ice skating.
"In a tent, at a fair, in Hawai'i — who knew?" Heath said with a laugh.
Not Heath, who just wrapped up a long winter tour with "Disney on Ice Presents 'Toy Story,' " performing as 6-year-old and 11-year-old boys.
Now he's basking in the sun at Waikiki Beach in a show that spotlights him as a professional skater, an adult.
"I toured every single cold U.S. city and cold Canadian city you can imagine," he said with a sigh. "So this is perfect for me ... I get to grow up and be myself, and that's going to be fun. You have no idea."
Not that he minded performing for kids — or as one.
"I think I have issues or something because it's not hard for me to play (the kid role)," he said. "I guess I never wanted to grow up. I just picture how I used to be, and now it's so natural for me."
But the 33-year-old enjoys every moment of being a professional skater, something he has wanted to pursue since he laced up at 10.
"Isn't that strange? So old to start," he said. "But I was so determined. By the time you're 10, you know what you want to do. So I knew."
Even if that meant enduring sub-zero temperatures. "Winnipeg in the dead of winter — that's not fun," he said. "It really isn't. I don't like cold. I hate it. I love this kind of weather today. I'm miserable in the cold."
But the cold temperatures are where he does his best work.
Prior to going professional in 1993, Heath competed for 10 years, winning the bronze medal in the 1998 World Professional Figure Skating Championships and two silver medals in the American Open Professional Figure Skating Championships.
Known for his spins, Heath has even invented a few of his own. He has even helped choreograph two productions of Disney's "Jungle Adventure," which toured Europe and the United States.
But being a professional means less focus on technical moves and more on creative, theatrical performances. Which is fine with him.
"I still keep up with the technical tricks and all that, but I perform a lot more," said Heath, who, in every "Toy Story" show, completed 10 double axels in a row. "It's more fun. It's not a nerve-racking thing. And it's not as competitive. It's for myself."
Being busy is an understatement. Heath does about 250 shows a year, traveling around the country, Canada, Europe and Asia.
"I prefer being a professional," he said, "because I love the audience so much, so, so much. I'm so addicted to it. I just had two weeks off, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I was like, 'Where's the crowd?' "
So he's soaking up as much sunshine as possible, both here and during his summer shows, before heading on the road again in the winter.
"I just look at the schedule and cringe," he said. "But it's OK. I love it. I can't imagine doing anything else."
