DAN HOLLANDER

Most skating fans got to know Dan Hollander when he won the Bronze medal at the 1996 National Championships, a feat he repeated in 1997.

Afterwards, Dan recalls, “It took all the fight out of me to leave what I thought was an abusive situation to come to Detroit Skating Club to train with Mitch Moyer at the end of 1997. I left competitive figure skating after the 1998 Nationals. My true love was performing in ice shows and making people laugh. Being "spent" and battling some injuries, I decided to make a go of the professional world and pursue my dream of making a living skating in shows. When I was five years old, I watched Scott Hamilton skate in a chicken outfit on “Champions On Ice.” I laughed so hard I cried. I knew then that I wanted to perform comedy and make people laugh. 1996 allowed me to achieve my true dream, to skate with “Champions On Ice.” I performed my comedic janitor routine, and heard a little girl cry out, "Look, Mommy, it's the funny guy." At that moment, my life and dreams came full circle.”

”My professional career is everything I dreamed of and more. I have some great friends on tour, like Mike Weiss and Elvis Stojko to hang out with. I also skate many other shows around the world, and one show in a great piece of paradise, Sun Valley, ID. I have a job skating, but never work a day in my life because I love it. I skate, train, come up with new routines, ride my Harley, and just love life. The most important thing I learned in skating is to use your love for it to push you on. Don't let anyone take control over you, or allow negative influences in your life. Be your own person, and when you take charge of your own skating, nothing can stop you.”