US Junior Figure Skating Championships were great! Now I have new goals in training and competition and continue to need financial assistance on the road to becoming a future Olympic and World competitor. Donations and sponsorship agreements are greatly needed and appreciated to cover the many expenses of training and competition fees. You can help in one of three ways; Call me to arrange an appointment to discuss a sponsorship agreement OR Send a contribution directly to me, Aaron Gunderson-Smith (E-mail me at Gsmithskaters@aol.com for my mailing address or call me at 570-269-9008)

Hi! My name is Aaron Gunderson-Smith. I am 11 years old and in the sixth grade. I have been figure skating for 3 1/2 years and I love it! My training is very intense, including 5 days per week of on ice training and 5 days per week of strength and flexibility work-outs.

When I was seven and a half years old, my sister who is a figure skater said that I should try figure skating and I did. I was really good at it so I kept on figure skating. I started to compete four months later and have been competing ever since. One and a half years later, I became the 2005 North Atlantic Juvenile Boys Regional Figure Skating Champion. I qualified for and competed at Junior Nationals where I skated very well in the initial round and qualified for the final round. I went back to Regional's in October and qualified again to return to Junior National's in November 2005. I competed at Junior National's in Westminster, Colorado. It was so exciting! I love figure skating and hope to one day compete and win at the Olympic games. For now, I have a goal to go to the 2007 US Junior Figure Skating Championships and win. I know it will be a lot of hard work and I am ready for the challenge. My freestyle program is a medley from "Soul of Spain." I love to interpret the music into dance, footwork, jumps, and spins! I can't describe the fantastic feeling I get from performing in front of an audience. It is wonderful!

My family supports and believes in me 100%. I appreciate the sacrifices they have made for me to follow my skating dreams. Unfortunately, the expenses of the sport are draining my parents because it is so costly and they have four other children. Competitions are especially hard on our family because they are expensive and we have to stay in a hotel far away sometimes. I do work very hard and make the best out of difficult situations but I need additional financial support to reach my Olympic goals as a skater. I am looking for sponsorship or donations from individuals or companies to help with the cost of training. If you would like to help me to reach my goals with a donation or sponsorship I would greatly appreciate it. It is so important to me to be able to continue training and to become a National and World Champion. It is my dream. No amount of money is too little and would be very much appreciated. If you would sponsor me or send a donation, I would love to post your name or company logo on my website, wear practice clothes with your company logo, and keep you updated on my competitions, tests, and shows. Please consider sending donations or sponsoring me so I can have a better chance of fulfilling my Olympic dreams. I would love to hear from you!

Here is my contact information;
Email: Gsmithskaters@aol.com
Phone: 570-269-9008

Coach: Yelena Sergeeva

Career Highlights:

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2006 Challenge Cup...........................1st place

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2006 Liberty Summer Competition...............1st place

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Guest Skater at Spring Skating Exhibition at Hatfield Ice-April 2006

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2006 US Junior Figure Skating Championships-Nov2005(qualifying).........7th

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2006 N. Atlantic Regional Championships-Oct.2005 Juvenile Freestyle.....3rd

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Mid-Atlantic Championships-Sept.2005 Juvenile Freestyle...................4th

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Moran Memorial Championships-Aug.2005 Juvenile Freestyle..................1st

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Hershey Open-Aug.2005 Juvenile Freestyle.....................................2nd

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Skate Wilmington-July2005 Juvenile Freestyle.....................................1st

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Liberty Open-July2005 Juvenile Freestyle...........................................5th

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"Elegance On Ice" with Surya Bonaly-June 2005 Cleveland Heights, OH

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"Lehigh Valley Charter School of the Arts Exhibition"-May 2005 Bethlehem, PA

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"Blades Against AIDS"-April 2005 Larchmont, NY

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2005 Junior National Figure Skating Championships-Dec.2004 Juvenile Freestyle Qualifying Round.........................................................................8th Final

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Round..........................................................................18th

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2005 N. Atlantic Regional Championships-Oct.2004 JuvenileFreestyle.......1st

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Moran Memorial Championships-Aug.2004 Juvenile freestyle...................1st

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Skate Wilmington-July2004 Juvenile Freestyle...................................4th

Personal Information:
I train on the ice 5 days per week, 3 hours per day. I do strength and flexibility training off-ice 5 days per week, one hour per day. I skate because I love it. I want to be an Olympic and World Champion in the future. I spend 5 hours per weekday doing schoolwork. My favorite subject is math. After my skating career, I would like to be a mathematician. When I am not skating or doing schoolwork, I enjoy spending time with my family doing fun things like playing video games, riding my bike, going to the park or visiting relatives and friends. Our busy schedules help us appreciate the moments we have together.

I want to thank all of the businesses and individuals in the community that helped to make my trip to 2006 US Junior Championships and continued training possible through generous donations. Please support my sponsors. They are fantastic!

Friends of Minority Figure Skaters 4267 E. 172nd Place Cleveland, OH 44128 (216)283-1218

Ed's TV Sales 1691 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield, PA 19440 (215)997-4300

Premier Abstract Services, Inc 4 Fork Street, Suite 2050, Mount Pocono, PA 18344

Flexicon Corporation 2400 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, PA 18020

Wal-Mart 500 Route 940, Mount Pocono, PA

Wal-Mart 355 Lincoln Ave., E. Stroudsburg, PA

RTC/BIO Works 2030 Park Road, Palmer, PA 18045

The Wagner Family Easton, PA

Pat's Brake Service Inc./Lynn's Garage 1200 Bushkill Drive, Easton, PA

Creative Auto Tinting Old 115 & Route 209 (Across the street from Chestnut Hill Diner) 570-992-8468

Carrabba's Italian Grill 2471 Park Avenue, Easton, PA 18045 http://www.carrabbas.com/companyinfo.asp

Big Daddy's Route 611, Mount Pocono, PA

Brooks Brothers 1000 Route 611, Suite F05, Tannersville, PA 18372

Abundant Graces Co. 3348 Easton Ave, Bethlehem, PA 18020

Friendly's Restaurant 115 Brown Street, E. Stroudsburg, PA http://www.friendlys.com/locations/details.php?city=EAST%20STROUDSBURG&state=PA

Cheverolet 21, Inc. 1100 Hellertown Road, Bethlehem, PA 18015

Delaware Electric Inc. 2149 Bushkill Park, Easton, PA 18040

The Pioneer Diner and Restaurant 508 Belmont Ave, Mount Pocono, PA 18344

MIDAS 1610 Stefko Blvd. Bethlehem, PA

Strauss Auto (Mike) 1740 Stefko Blvd. Bethlehem, PA

Fractons Technology Emerick Blvd. Bethlehem, PA 18020 (610)868-3054

Holiday Hair Southmont Plaza

Advance Auto 25th St., Easton, PA

Rockaway Bedding 25th Street, Easton, PA

The Philadelphia Print Shop, LTD. 8441 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia, PA

Klaumuzar Landscape Supply 793 Bethlehem Pike Route 309

Thank You to my past Donors and Sponsors. Imani Gunderson, Geraldine Plynton, Oza Plynton, Lynn Gunderson, Ida Plynton, Grace Anderson, Rosa Bautista, Lakeesha Grant, The Figure Skating Foundation, Bethlehem, PA, Lori Moran-Ditchkus Scholarship Fund, Susanne Drennan, Karin Elliot Brown.

This is me with my sisters and brothers.
Check out my sister's web page at: http://www.niag-smith.blogspot.com/