Meet the McGinniss family. After living in Finley, Ohio, Vince and Sandra fell in love with the area and found their home in Hidden Lake in April 2023. “We love the people and the community,” they shared. “We didn’t realize how much we’d depend on having a community that is so close.” That closeness embodies everything from carpooling to their children, Vanessa and Liam, playing with the neighbors.

In an era where it’s easy to stay inside, they’ve found the lake brings adventure year round. Even their golden doodle, Jazzy, likes to join in on the fun at the lake and paddle board with Vanessa during the warmer months. Spring and summer bring catching frogs and looking for turtles. The winter brings ice, which is when the kids truly shine.

Sandra treasured the time she spent on the ice in Canada growing up as a figure skater, often at the rink while her father coached hockey and her brother Trevor played. She and Vince even went ice skating at Campus Martius as one of their first dates. She wanted to instill her love of skating in her children too.

Vanessa, 11, has been skating for 2.5 years, and Liam, 7, has been skating for 1.5 years. They both skate at the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club.

In just two years they are amazed by her growth. “When Vanessa started skating, she was like Bambi on ice,” Vince described. Now, “Vanessa commands the ice,” her mom stated.

The Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club has been a honing environment for both Vanessa and Liam. Many Olympians train at the facility and interact with skaters of all levels, providing an incredible opportunity for junior skaters to train with world-class athletes. Vanessa’s current coach even worked for Disney on Ice. It’s truly an incredible place to skate.

Vanessa started in synchronized skating, joining the Hockettes Aspire 1 team, part of the first synchronized skating organization established in the United States, and has now moved to solo skating. Her confidence is clear as she performs. “She has never had stage fright,” her mom shared. It’s a testament to the time Vanessa has spent developing her skills.

Although Vanessa has moved to solo skating, there is still a team mentality. A highlight is doing fun cheers before they compete. “Skating feels like family.”

When asked about her favorite part of ice skating, Vanessa had so much to share. She loves seeing her coach, hanging out with her friends, and gliding on the ice.

As she progressed levels, she felt so happy when she passed her pre-preliminary, a skating skills level test. “The jump wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be,” she said. “Everything builds on itself. Now I love my program!”

Vanessa recently combined her love of skating and singing by performing the National Anthem during ice shows in Ann Arbor. She also acted in the Pickney Players Theatre Group’s productions of The Wizard of Oz and The Little Mermaid and is looking forward to performing in Matilda Jr. this summer.

After watching his sister skate, Liam wanted to join as well. His confidence is just as palpable as Vanessa’s. He loves working on new skills, such as a mohawk turn and two foot spins. Liam’s progress has been phenomenal since he started. He recently placed second in tri-state and earned gold at a competition in Flint.

Skating is the best of both worlds for the McGinniss family; it’s both artsy and athletic.

Mom and Dad have seen Vanessa’s talent translate on and off the ice. She is a “born singer” and skating is a close second.

Off the ice, skating has taught Vanessa and Liam so many lessons. Vince shared, “They’ve learned what it’s like to hit a wall and then see the reward.” Sandra added she sees Vanessa and Liam are both learning commitment. At first they weren’t accustomed to the long practices. Now, they can skate for 4-5 hours and even want to stay longer!

As Liam has started skating, his parents have watched his persistence grow. He is “persistence with a smile.” When learning new skills, he is so excited to learn more and is always ready to perform.

Outside of skating, Liam loves the water. He’s passionate about marine life, from sharks to turtles and everything in between. He wants to be a “doctor” for the ocean.

One day, Vanessa and Liam hope to skate in pairs together. In the meantime, they practice routines at home where Vanessa choreographs and Liam adds gymnastic elements; he loves to add cartwheels and splits into their routines. As they perform together, their bond is clear and their love is strong.

If you want to start skating, the McGinniss kids offer the following advice:

Vanessa: Don’t lean backwards! Don’t go on ice with your guards.
Liam: Never keep your head down. Keep your hands out to the side or in front. Keep your head up with a smile on your face.

That last line is perfect advice both for skating and life: let’s keep our heads up with a smile on our faces.