Porter 2011 Crystallettes

The Crystallette teams did well at the Porter competition that is annually held on the first weekend in December. My beginner 2 team that I coach won first place and my Open Juvenile team placed third! It was a proud weekend for me as a coach. I have to admit that it is harder to be a coach than a skater because, as you are standing at the side watching the program that you choreographed, you are shaking due to the nerves. When I skate I feel like I control my movements, when I am watching my teams I have no control; it is up to them. After my two teams were done competing it was time for me to focus on my competition skating with the senior team. We had two great official practices and skated a fun short and a sassy long. We ended up placing second in short with a score of 58.33 and our overall place was third with a final score of 163.93. Unfortunately, we gave away all of the points for our no hold step sequence because not all of our skaters in the back line crossed the goal line. They were inches away. In the words of Vince Lombardi, “inches make the champion.” I am confident that we will learn from that mistake.

We were proud of our skate. Our short score was higher than at Kalamazoo. Our goal is to improve our score at each competition and so far we have done that. We had an absolute blast performing our short program to “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins. It is fun and energetic and the crowd was responding very positively to our program. We were very proud of our skate. However, we knew that it was now time to direct our focus to our long program. Our long program is choreographed to Latin music and is a very upbeat, dance number. It was the first competition that we performed our long program and we skated it nicely. Overall, it was a good weekend for the Crystallettes and all of our teams were happy with the results they received.

Of course, there were elements that we could have improved, but we look at Porter as a report card. We learn about what we have to fix and we work hard to get it done. Since Porter, we have made many changes to our programs! All of the changes we made have definitely made our programs faster, stronger, and better. We have a competition in London, Canada after Christmas from December 27^th to the 30^th. We have been practicing very hard for the last couple of weeks in order to be fully prepared for this competition because we are competing against the top teams in the world. We are determined and put in hours and hours of hard work and dedication. We are excited to get the opportunity to not only compete against top ranked teams, but to show off our new and improved programs.

Katilyn

Happy Holidays from California Gold

I finished up my semester with final exams last friday, but that didn't mean it was time for a break! California Gold had a busy weekend ahead, plus a few more days of practice before we went on our holiday.

On Saturday morning we had our early morning practice as usual and then all went home for a few hours, before heading to the home of our team manager, Cheryl. Since I had been kicked out of my dorm the night before, I spent the next few nights staying with teammates (shout out to the Austels for taking care of me!). At Cheryl's we held our annual Cal Gold Christmas party with the novice and senior teams and many team families.

After a great meal, the teams prepared for a Holiday show hosted by our home rink, the East West Ice Palace. We all drove together to Ontario for the show. Senior skated our short program with the added challenge of an ice surface shortened by about a fourth. I heard that Michelle Kwan was at the show, the rink being owned by her family, but I didn't get a chance to meet her.

The whole team was up again the next morning for practice. We cut our normal practice short in order to celebrate alumni day. On alumni day the team welcomes all former members of California Gold to come and eat breakfast at the rink, watch our programs, and get on the ice. It was so nice to share some time to think about where California Gold has been and where the organization is going.

At Alumni day I got to see several teammates of mine from the previous year and we had a fun time on the ice, being taught an easy program by Coach Cipresso and Coach Falkowski. I was excited to see my Dreammate and former teammate, Annaleigh, who now attends Berkley as well as former Dream Team member Lauren Bracken.

Happy Holidays!

Emmy

Miami University Dr. Porter 2011

Hey Everyone,

After many weeks of practice and anxiously awaiting our first opportunity to show off our programs, the competition season has officially begun. Early Friday morning, all three of the Miami teams gathered at the rink for a competition simulation. This gave us the opportunity to see the latest versions of our programs and give each other the final boost before the weekend’s event.

We arrived in Ann Arbor on Friday afternoon and headed to the Cube for a quick unofficial practice. Walking into the rink for the first time on Friday was almost a surreal feeling, as we had been anticipating this moment for a long time. Seeing all of our parents gathered in the small, cold varsity rink bleachers, decked out in red and white to cheer us on for just a short unofficial practice, made us feel so lucky to have our own little “fan club”. Their support means the world to us.

The next morning we had an early wake-up call for official practice. As we entered the Cube this time, it was crowded with teams and fans, giving us the competitive feeling we had been looking forward to. We were excited to put our programs out there on competition ice for the first time. The practice left us feeling very confident and excited going into the competition that night. It was a lot of fun to see familiar faces around the rink, including former coaches and teammates, friends, and family.

The short program competition was definitely one of the highlights of the weekend and a memory that will stick with us all season. The stands were completely packed and full of excitement, and it was so amazing to perform our high-energy short program for such an enthusiastic crowd. We greatly appreciated the overwhelming response that we received from the crowd as we exited the ice. It was a special night for us because it was our first opportunity to come together as a team and show everyone what we have been working so hard to accomplish. I think we can speak for the whole team in saying that the feeling we had after finishing our short program was exactly the one that we had been hoping for. It was even more special to learn that we had won the event that night, something that our coach alerted us that Miami hadn’t achieved since 2006.

Before heading back to the hotel, we went to the stands to surprise our collegiate team and cheer them on for their official practice. As they took the ice, we went crazy cheering them on as if it were the competition itself. It is such an awesome thing to have all three teams be so supportive of each other. We really are a close-knit family, and this is just one example that demonstrates Miami’s motto of love and honor. We went to sleep that night feeling like we had set a great tone for the season and fired up to compete our unique long program the next day.

We took the adrenaline and confidence from the first day of competition and channeled it towards our long program from the moment that we took the ice. We completely transformed ourselves into our Gypsy character and competed a strong, dynamic long program that we were very proud of. We were very pleased with our overall score for the weekend of 174.25 and ecstatic when we learned that we had won the senior division and were presented the Dr. Porter Cup.

It was definitely a “Golden” weekend for all of Miami Skating and a wonderful way to start out our season. We are so excited to get back to practicing and preparing for the next event. We can’t wait to see what this year will bring; it is sure to be a special one! Best of luck to all teams this year! The 2011-2012 synchro season is officially in full swing!

Over and Out from the Ice³,

A² (Ashleigh & Ashley)

Introducing Katilyn Peterson

Hey guys! My name is Katilyn Peterson. I am a member of the Crystallettes senior team. I am currently a junior at the University of Michigan Dearborn and am majoring in early childhood education with a minor in language arts and science.

My whole family has been involved in figure skating. My mom and aunt are coaches of the senior team and I also have cousins involved in the Crystallette program. My grandma even plays music at U.S. Figure Skating events. I started skating when I was two years old and I joined the Crystallettes preliminary team when I was five. I have competed at the preliminary, juvenile, intermediate, novice, and senior synchronized skating levels. This is my seventh year on the senior team and my third year as captain. The Dearborn Figure Skating Club has an award named for a former coach, Tracey Venda. This award is for a member of the senior team who is a role model for the younger skaters, gives back to the synchronized program and is a leader. I have had the great honor of earning the Tracey Venda award twice and I am the first person to do so. Skating has always been a major part of my life. I love sharing my wonderful skating memories with my family.

This is my third year coaching singles and synchronized skating teams for the Dearborn Figure Skating Club. I enjoy helping younger skaters realize their dreams. I hope to inspire younger skaters to set goals and work hard to achieve them.Skating has taken me to the most wonderful places and I have met amazing people. I have made everlasting friendships due to synchronized skating. Performing on the ice with my team is an incredible feeling. Nothing can beat that adrenaline rush of excitement that you feel when you step onto that ice and I love sharing it with the members of my team. I hope my students also enjoy and experience the same opportunities that synchronized skating has given to me.

My favorite Team USA/skating memory would definitely have to be making the 2010 World Team. The feeling of making the world team is indescribable. There was so much joy, excitement, relief, and pride in what we had accomplished. Our hard work and determination had paid off and we had completed our goal of the season. The 2010 World Championships were held in Colorado Springs, Colo. Having the opportunity to compete against the top teams in the world, in our home country, was a very honorable experience. The sound of the crowd when we took the ice to compete was unforgettable! I still remember how hard my heart was pumping and the exhilaration that had built up inside of me. We ended up placing ninth in the world. The experience of making it to worlds and competing at the biggest competition of the season is something that I will cherish forever. I am thankful for everything U.S. Figure Skating, our club, and community did for us during our trip to the 2010 World Championships.The experience will never be forgotten.

When I am not on the ice, I am usually studying and keeping up with my classes. The endless hours of homework consumes most of my down time. If I am not skating or coaching, I am usually studying, helping my family, or hanging out with my friends. During the summer months, I love to go with my family to our cottage up north.We jet ski, ride the quad runner, shop, catch fish, read books and lay out in the sun. I have a very busy schedule between skating, coaching, and school but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.

Here are some of my favorite things:

Favorite sports figure: Michelle Kwan

Favorite sports team: Crystallettes

Favorite cities: Cabo, Paris, and San Diego.

Top five most played songs on my IPod right now: 1) “Good to you” by Marianas Trench, 2) “Call Me in the Morning” by Taking Back Sunday, 3) “Just a Kiss” by Lady Antebellum, 4) “Ashamed” by Jamestown Story, and 5) “Without you” by Usher.

Favorite musician/band: Skillet

Favorite movie: Pocahontas

Favorite books: Twilight Saga

Favorite TV show: Modern Family

Favorite magazines: Seventeen

Favorite vacation spot: Cabo, Mexico

Favorite food: Grilled cheese

Favorite place I’ve traveled for skating: Maine

Favorite program I’ve ever skated: This year’s short program to Footloose by Kenny Loggins.

Favorite quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”. (Dr. Seuss)

Introducing Sennett Cooke

Hi everyone! My name is Sennett Cooke and I am a member of the Skyliners junior team. I am currently a senior at Pelham Memorial High School in Pelham, New York. I will be starting college next fall, and I’m thinking about majoring in Athletic Training, a topic where I hope to stay involved with synchronized skating, and athletes in general.

I began skating at the age of five, when a family friend took me skating at a rink near my house. As soon as I got on, I fell in love, and made her bring me back countless times, until finally for Christmas that year, Santa brought me my first pair of skates and lessons at my current home rink.

About a year later, my mom found out my home club was starting a synchro team, something no one in my family had ever heard of, but in an attempt to get me into a team dynamic, my mom signed me up. The team was called the Skyliners and I have had the pleasure of skating for this amazing organization for my eleven years of being a synchronized skater. I have always enjoyed skating in general, but there is something about having the support of fifteen other extremely dedicated athletes behind you, any time you step on the ice, that really separates my love of synchronized skating from my enjoyment of other figure skating disciplines.

My favorite Team USA memory was definitely competing in Prague, Czech Republic at the Prague Cup. This was my very first time competing as a Team USA athlete, an achievement I had worked toward for many years. Prague is by the far the most beautiful country I have visited, (even in the middle of winter), and was an amazing place to travel to. We had one of our best skates that season in Prague, but the best part of the competition was stepping onto the ice and hearing the announcer say, “representing the United States of America” for the first time. There is no feeling that can compare to the pride one feels representing their team, their sport and their country.

When I’m not on the ice, which is very rare, I am usually spending time with family and friends, or catching up on homework. I enjoy baking and photography a lot, so anytime the opportunity arises I usually take advantage. I love the excuse of a birthday or major event to bake some cupcakes or a cake for my teammates! I have had the opportunity to participate in several community service projects, and greatly enjoy giving back to my community. I also have a job at my home rink! I do various jobs around the rink and once a week I teach group classes as well. I love working with my students. They are so much fun, and it always gives me a sense of pride that I could have some impact on a young athlete looking to begin this sport I enjoy so much.

Good Luck to everyone this season!

Sennett


Favorites:

Favorite sports team: New York Yankees

Favorite city: New York City

Favorite books: The Harry Potter series

Favorite TV show: Glee

Favorite vacation spot: Cape Cod, MA

Favorite place I’ve traveled for skating: Prague, Czech Republic

Favorite program I’ve ever skated: Skyliners Junior 2010-2011 free skate (Phantom of the Opera): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdgQ1x5dbkQ

Introducing Emmeline Weinert

Hi, my name is Emmy and I am a member of California Gold senior. I am currently a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University and am a Dance and Political Science double major.

A few years after beginning skating in basic skills classes, I joined the Hockettes preliminary team when I was in the third grade. I have two older sisters and both were Hockettes before me, which inspired me to try out for the team. I ended up skating with the Hockettes for 10 seasons (5 of those spent cross-skating) and so my parents were Hockette parents for a total of 16 consecutive years.

All throughout my skating career I have juggled dance along with my team commitments and on several occasions told myself I would choose one or the other so that I could focus on it and become truly proficient. When heading off to college I decided that it would be cruel to make myself pick just one and decided I would just have to find a way to do both. That was how I came to skate for California Gold. California Gold draws skaters from all over the greater Los Angeles area and I knew that there I could find dance. At Loyola Marymount I am able to major in Dance as well as skate on a strong and challenging senior team.

My favorite Team USA memory is from the first time I represented the United States overseas in Milan, Italy, my first year on Hockettes junior (06-07). That first experience put me in awe of the honor that had been bestowed on me to represent my country. I was overwhelmed with the knowledge that few others get to experience the pride that I was experiencing. I still get that feeling every time I compete overseas and wear my Team USA jacket.

(Hockettes Junior in Milan, Italy after a third place finish, 2007)

When I’m not on the ice you will usually find me dancing or studying. I don't live the typical college life, going to bed before 10:00 p.m. most nights, so that I can wake up at 3:30 a.m. for practice, but wouldn't trade my life for the world. I love to hang out with my friends and we can often be found playing Disney Charades, arguing about the definition of magic or basically participating in any other nerdy pursuit. I am very interested in politics and am involved in several different political organizations on campus. I believe that one of the best forms of service is to actively engage in political dialogue and action, to make sure that institutions reflect what we care about. My constant goal is insure that my peers and I are becoming good and informed citizens of the world community. I also work part time at a private school here in Los Angeles, doing all manner of office work.

(Look! Its me and the President. Its a little hard to find me so I circled it....)

Favorite sports figure: Muhammad Ali

Favorite sports team: The Detroit Tigers!

Favorite cities: My parent's home town of Detroit and my own hometown Ann Arbor.

Favorite musician/band: I am a big lover of John Legend.

Favorite movie: I guess I'm a fan of trilogies, Star Wars, the Matrix and Lord of the Rings

Favorite books: Jane Eyre and Harry Potter

Favorite TV show: The West Wing

Favorite vacation spot: Green Gables; a cabin in the woods of northern Michigan that has been in my family for several generations.

Favorite place I’ve traveled for skating: Berlin, Germany

Favorite program I’ve ever skated: I have two, a Junior short program to “Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas (06-07) and senior long program to “Robin Hood” (10-11)

Favorite quote: “There is no them, only facets of us.” -John Green

Introducing Dana Hall

Hi! I'm Dana Hall. I am a member of Starlights senior. I am currently a Freshman at the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. I plan on majoring in Athletic Training. This means that when I am done skating, I would like to be able to travel with teams that go internationally and be their team doctor/trainer.

When I was younger, I skated for Wisconsin Edge. After that I skated for the Fond du Lac Blades. I spent about six years with them until I went to where I currently am; with the Starlights. I first got into skating because my grandparents took our whole family to a rink. I was too small to fit into any skates so I had to wear my shoes. It was so much fun that apparently I was hooked and haven't stopped skating since.

My favorite Team USA memory would be from last year when I was in Austria. We had gone to the same restaurant every night for dinner. One of the time we went, we were all really tired from the day and one of the girls on the team felt like she needed to bring our spirits up. So, she decided that she was going to eat some horseradish. One of our coaches told her, "if you eat a spoonful of that, then you don't have to do the warm-up block when we get home." My teammate was so up for that. She took a HUGE spoonful, plugged her nose, and shoved it in her mouth. It was absolutely hilarious! She brightened the spirits of the team that night, but unfortunately she still had to do the warm-up block when we got back to the U.S.

When I am not skating, you can usually find me doing homework in my dorm room or getting involved on campus. I love going out with my friends on weeknights to go bowling. We always have so much fun. A pasttime of mine would be watching synchro on youtube, because I really enjoy seeing what teams have done with their programs over the years and how synchro has changed. If I am not out bowling or on youtube, I am most likely listening to music. It calms me down after a hard day of classes. Although skating is a huge part of my life, I was also involved in Color Guard at my high school along with softball. I enjoy sports and being involved in anything I can be involved in.

Favorites:
Favorite sports figure: Michael Jordan
Favorite sports team: Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite cities: Chicago, New York
Favorite movie: Dear John
Favorite place I’ve traveled for skating: Rouen, France
Favorite program I’ve ever skated: Starlights senior 2010, Music Box

Favorite quote: SKATING: It's the feeling you get at the end of a hard practice when you pushed yourself to the limit, the way the ice feels when you get back on it after a few months off. It's a part of YOUR IDENTITY, something you LOVE and something you HATE. A bond that NO ONE ELSE really understands, but that's okay, because every time you get out on the ice it isn't just you; it's all the friends and coaches over the years, all the practices, all the sweat, all the pain, all the tears, all the memories, all the laughter, all the "off" competitions, all the lifetime bests, and all the road trips. As individual as it may seem, skating is really a team sport, and even still, it's more than just a sport. IT'S A WAY OF LIFE.


Sincerely,

Dana