San Jose's 15-year-old phenom Polina Edmunds isn’t the Bay Area’s only link to Olympic figure skating. There is also a connection to her skates: They were made in the Bay Area.
When she takes to the ice in Sochi on Wednesday, Polina will be the latest of literally dozens of Olympians to skate with boots hand-made by Harlick Skating Boots, an old-fashioned family owned shop in San Carlos.
PHOTOS: Go Inside Harlick Skating Boots' San Carlos Workshop
It’s where four generations of the Kuhn family has made skating boots for Olympians, including both Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding.
Most recently, the company outfitted San Jose’s Polina Edmunds, who first came to Harlick for a fitting at age 4.
WATCH: Polina's Skates Made at Harlick Boots in San Carlos
”They come in and they’re so excited, it’s like Christmas morning,” said Harlick’s Phil Kuhn. “They want the new boots, and then to see them advance and progress and to know you had a little part of that, it’s very satisfying.”
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They’re clearly proud of what they do.
”You know, starting from very small, being an Olympic champion, you never know who will walk in our door at 4 years old,” said Ginger Kuhn.
In addition to Kerrigan, Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, JoJo Starbuck, Debi Thomas and many others, Harlick made the boots worn by Sochi ice dancing gold medal winners Meryl Davis and Charlie White.
