[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.77″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.77″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]

I can’t help myself – the start of a new year for me is always the Fall. From going back to school, to going back to the rink, it has always been my favourite time of year.

When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for the school year to start because that meant that figure skating and a new year of friendships and challenges was just around the corner. The other amazing thing was always the new skates. Of course, ‘new skates’ didn’t always mean ‘new’ skates; more like ‘new to me’ skates.

With three kids involved in lots of different after-school activities, my mother had to be practical. This practicality included a hand-me-down pair of skates from my full-time nemesis and part-time pair and ice dance partner Clifford Jansen. My practical mom spray painted them white. Clifford’s mom was a psychiatrist and should have been able to foresee I would still be talking about this particular agony several decades later.

Skating moms or rather moms with passionate 8-yr old skaters. I get it.

That passion, for better or worse, has never diminished.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.77″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.77″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”http://pjkwong.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/SkatingPj-Blog-Podcast-Post-Image.png” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.77″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.77″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.77″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.77″]

I am thrilled to announce that I am marrying two of my favourite projects: The Content Store and the @SkatingPj brand. Starting next week, the week of the Rostelecom Cup, Producer Paul and I are going to be posting content on 5 days a week including a blog, a brand new episode of the @SkatingPj Podcast and 2 videos from my own library. The jewel in our crown will be a Facebook Live session every Wednesday starting at 7:00 p.m. ET from my Pj Kwong page. We want you to leave questions/comments anywhere you find our content. This is about finally and regularly getting together in our ‘virtual’ living room to talk about skating.

The skating fun doesn’t stop here as I am still happily working for CBC. If you are looking for more great skating coverage don’t forget to check out Ryan Steven’s always entertaining and informative Skate Guard Blog, Jackie Wong’s amazing coverage online at Rocker Skating, Ted Flett is one half of the always engaging Blade Boys, and if you’re in Japan you are already following Momo Hakase.

For the moment though – welcome back – it’s going to be a great year!

Follow me on Twitter @skatingpj and find me on Facebook at Pj Kwong. Listen to the latest @SkatingPj Podcast.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.77″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.77″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ show_divider=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.77″][/et_pb_divider][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.77″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.77″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_button button_url=”http://pjkwong.com/blog/%20″ button_text=”BLOG ARCHIVES” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.77″][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]