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LISC ARTICLES & PRESS
RELEASES
~~~Year 2006~~~
October 17-21, 2006
-
2007 Upper
Great Lakes Regional Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota
(Eliot Halverson and
Rohene Ward)
-
Notes from Midwestern Sectionals - Day 2
11/17/06 - The Midwestern Sectional men's competition is a heartbreaker
any way you look at it.
Someone is staying home.
Of course one could say that about any event in any competition, but
something about the strong field of men at Midwesterns makes it all the
more difficult.
But only four can go to the U.S. Championships.
Rohene Ward landed a quad toe-double toe combination but fell on his
triple Axel and triple Lutz, which was downgraded. He received 10.30
points for the quad combination and is still in the hunt for the U.S.
Championships.
-
Notes
from Midwestern Sectionals
Junior Men's Short Program
With a lyrical and smooth skating style reminiscent of
Johnny
Weir, Minnesota's
Eliot
Halverson jumped out to a significant lead in the junior men's short
program with 65.65 points. After finishing third in both of his Junior
Grand Prix events, Halverson just missed qualifying for the JGP Final and
the corresponding bye for this event. But he's on his way to a sectional
title after landing a triple Lutz-triple toe that earned 11 points, a
triple flip and a double Axel. His final combination spin went a little
wonky, marking his only mistake. His program component score of 29.01 was
easily the highest of the event.
October, 2006 - Eliot
Halverson - Photos and article mention from
U.S. Figure Skating - Junior Grand Prix -
The Hague, Netherlands.
-
Stephen Carriere is looking to
continue his winning streak in this series—he won the gold at the Hungary
event in early September. His high placement is not surprising, as he took
fourth place at the 2006 World Junior Championships. Carriere is also the
2006 U.S. junior champion. In the 2005 JGP series, he took sixth in the
JGP Final after taking a first and second place at his qualifiers, held at
Bulgaria and Slovakia, respectively. Competing with Carriere again is
Eliot
Halverson. Halverson took home bronze for his performance at the 2006
Hungary JGP event. He also took home gold at both the 2006 U.S.
Championships and the 2005 Triglav Trophy in the novice division.
August, 2006 - Eliot
Halverson - Photos and article mention from
U.S. Figure Skating - Junior Grand Prix - Budapest, Hungary
-
(9/3/06) -
Stephen Carriere gained the third gold medal for Team USA at the
Junior Grand Prix Series stop in Budapest with a victory in the men's
event, while
Eliot
Halverson came in third to give the Americans their fifth medal of
the competition.
Men's Free Skate
This is Carriere's third go-around on the JGP circuit, and he looks to
gain a spot in the JGP Final for the second year in a row.
He jumped over Halverson, who was in first after the
short program, to win the gold with a routine to the music of Buddy
Rich for which he donned a casual sweater.
Carriere did not win the free skate either, coming
in second to Japan's Takahito Mura in that portion by less than a
point, 105.83 to 105.61. He still won with plenty of room to spare,
besting Mura 165.01 to 160.89.
Halverson ended with a total of 159.66, falling
short in the technical elements area.
Carriere was looking for a big start with a triple
Axel but balked, and it became a single.
“That Axel, my focus went off a little bit," he
said.
He rebounded and did six triples after that,
although he did cut a triple loop down to a double.
Carriere won last year's JGP event in Bulgaria, and
went on to a sixth-place finish in the JGP Final and a fourth at the
World Junior Championships.
“Now I know I can go out and do my stuff. I am a bit
more confident from now on,” Carriere said. “Every year I gained a
lot. Each year I take a new thing in. I learned a ton from last year
to this year because of my experience at junior worlds.”
Halverson's was clean technically in the short
program, when he had three jumps. In the long he lacked some of the
technical fireworks that Carriere and Mura had. His technical score in
the free skate was 50.91, compared to Mura's 58.45 and Carriere's
55.53.
Halverson was realistic about the outcome.
“The other guys have a triple Axel and I don't, so I
don't think there is anything I could have done to hold on to first
place,” he said. “I skated well in both programs. That's all I wanted
to do.”
Halverson said he wasn't disappointed after leading
and dropping to third.
“I didn't really have any expectations coming in
here,” Halverson said. “Finishing on the podium in my first Grand
Prix, that's amazing for me.”
-
Halverson, Carriere Are 1-2
After JGP Hungary Men's Short Program
by Sal Zanca, Special to
U.S. Figure Skating Online
(9/2/06) - In his first Junior Grand Prix
assignment, 15-year-old
Eliot
Halverson used his flexibility to his advantage and holds a
59.91-58.40 lead over reigning U.S. junior champion
Stephen
Carriere after the men's short program in Budapest. The U.S. men are
now on track to repeat last week's 1-2 finish in JGP action.
Halverson's flexibility showed particularly in his
unusual jump entries. He got into a Biellmann position while approaching
his triple Lutz-triple toe combination and then landed it cleanly. He
was in a layback position before straightening into a double Axel, and
the Biellmann was also part of his final combination spin.
“I am really happy with the performance,” Halverson
said. “That's what I came here to do. I trained really hard this summer
and that's all I could really ask for.”
Carriere opened with a triple Lutz-triple toe and was
on track for a possible first place but had a slight error on the steps
into the triple flip. That error cost him nearly two points on the grade
of execution.
“It was at the end of the program; I was really
focused on it but I was a little hesitant and I stepped out,” Carriere
said. “I know that is not going to happen in the long, and we are going
to go all out in the long.”
Carriere is coached in Boston by Peter Johansson and
Mark Mitchell, who also work with the junior ladies winner here, Juliana
Cannarozzo.
Halverson, from Plymouth, Minn., and Carriere, from
Wakefield, Mass., are two of a number of good junior men rising through
the American ranks.
Halverson is the reigning U.S. novice champion while
Carriere was fourth at last year's World Junior Championships and sixth
at the Junior Grand Prix final. Carriere will compete domestically as a
senior.
Last week
Austin
Kanallakan and
Curran
Oi went 1-2 at the JGP in Courchevel, France.
The men's free skate is Sunday, and Carriere and
Halverson will battle against today's third-place finisher, Takahito
Mura of Japan, who is three points behind Carriere.
-
Team
USA Heads to Budapest for Second JGP Event
(Backstage
Photos by Team Leader Karen Terry)
(8/30/06) - The second event of the 2006 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure
Skating Series takes place in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 31-Sept. 3. The
event will be held at the Budapest Ice Rink in the National Sports
Center beginning with the ladies and pairs short programs on Thursday
afternoon.
Fourteen athletes will represent the United States at
the event in four disciplines: ladies, men's, pairs and ice dancing. The
U.S. team hails from 10 states: California, Colorado, Illinois,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and
West Virginia.
The JGP Series, now in its 10th season, consists of
eight international events in a cumulative point-scoring format.
Approximately 400 athletes representing more than 35 countries are
expected to participate in the series. Each athlete is eligible to score
points in two of the eight scheduled events (pairs can compete in two of
four designated events). The top eight point-earners in each of the
disciplines then qualify for the JGP Final in Sofia, Bulgaria, Dec. 7-9.
Athletes will be vying for a total of $258,000 in prize money throughout
the series.
Men
Entering his third JGP Series this season is 2006 U.S. junior champion
Stephen
Carriere. He placed first and second in his 2005 JGP assignments,
qualifying for the JGP Final, where he finished sixth. He went on to
place fourth at the 2006 World Junior Figure Skating Championships. In
Hungary he'll be joined by current U.S. novice champion
Eliot
Halverson, who's competing in his first JGP event. Halverson's
international experience includes winning the gold medal at the 2006
Triglav Trophy on the novice level.
August, 2006
-
Crystalrose
Guerra -
Article
in US Figure Skating Website:
-
 (Richard
Dwyer presents awards to the top five from the Parade of Champions.
Photo by JennBarnett.com)
(Crsystalrose is second from left)
Skaters Show Off
Creativity at National Showcase
by Melissa
Bowman, Jack Curtis, Laura Fawcett
(8/9/06) - The city of Chicago evokes
sensations of burning jazz, sizzling dance and hot entertainment. The 2006
National Showcase, hosted by Northern Ice Skating Club, Aug. 3-6, produced
all that and more.
National Showcase continues to grow, with more than
250 skaters participating in 430 starts this year. The competition drew
entrants from states as far as Hawaii and Florida, and included folks
from Canada as well. Skaters participated in events including singles,
duets, extemporaneous improvisation, mini-production numbers, production
ensembles and the much-anticipated Parade of Champions, which is the
head-to-head battle among the newly crowned singles champions.
Clad head to toe in royal blue unitards, sisters Antonia
and Carmen Mitchell (Santa Rosa FSC) captured the duet championship with a
distinctive performance to music by Enigma.
Greased Lightning of Wisconsin (Emily Verch, Megan
Hoffman and Melissa Pawlowski) inspired the audience to clap along in
their winning mini-production as the T-Birds from the musical “Grease.”
Grease seemed to be a top theme, as Northern Lights on
Ice staged its own interpretation to win the production ensemble
competition. Running a close second were the Space Coast Hurricanes who
performed “Indiana Jones and the Golden Skate,” complete with quick and
invisible costume changes.
The extemporaneous improvisation music selection was
“Espana Cani,” and Jessica Montalvo emerged as the winner, followed by
Amber Leigh-Van Wyk and Angel Sarkisova in second and third place,
respectively.
Skaters of all levels compete in National Showcase.
Notable participants include adult skater Ninotchka Aschow (Santa Rosa FSC),
who won the masters dramatic event. Aschow was the 2005 U.S. adult
champion in the championship gold ladies division. Other participants
included five-time regional competitor Hayley SooHoo (Los Angeles FSC),
who won the junior duet competition (and finished second overall in duet)
with another regional competitor, Krystal Davis. Tetona Jackson (All Year
FSC), winner of the senior light and senior dramatic events, finished 12th
in senior ladies at the 2006 Southwest Pacific Regional.
Jennifer Martino (Cleveland SC) finished second in
novice duet (with Krista Lange) and also competed in masters
extemporaneous (first), the extemporaneous final (sixth), masters light
(second) and masters dramatic (fourth). Martino has a long history of
competing at the national level in both the adult division and
synchronized skating. At the 2004 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships,
her masters team, North Coast Line, won the gold medal. She competed in
two events at the 2006 U.S. Adult Championships – silver dance and masters
interpretive ladies II.
Another adult connection is the second-place finish of
Tanya Shaby (All Year FSC) in novice light. Shaby is the daughter of
reigning U.S. championships masters ladies gold medalist Natalie Shaby.
Tanya also competes in synchronized skating, finishing seventh nationally
this year with the senior California Gold team.
The Parade of Champions displayed 22 winning
performances from each light and dramatic level. In the showcase
tradition, only the top five placements in the parade were announced:
Michelle Hanabusa, champion, “One Moment in Time;” Crystalrose Guerra,
second place, portraying Roxie Hart from “Chicago;” Tetona Jackson, third,
“Lady Marmalade;” Kaelin Larson, fourth, “Waterdance;” and Alyssa Boyles,
fifth, “Someday I'll Fly Away” from “Moulin Rouge.” All of the top three
winners were from the All Year FSC.
Hanabusa was a three-time winner at the event. Not only
did she defend her Parade of Champions title, but she also won gold in
both the novice dramatic and novice light competitions. Hanabusa received
the inaugural Richard Dwyer Award for the National Showcase champion, and
the legendary Dwyer was there to present the award.
Dwyer won U.S. titles at the novice and junior levels,
and was a senior bronze medalist, but it was his professional career that
made him a star. Joining Ice Follies as a teenager, he was the show's
leading man for three decades and was affectionately known as “Mr.
Debonair.” He later starred in Ice Capades and perhaps personifies
theatrical skating as well as any skater.
July, 2006
-
Rohene
Ward - Snippet from
Blades on Ice Magazine
Monthly update:
-
THE BROADMOOR OPEN
in Colorado Springs jump-started the coming season with a huge number of
competitions from beginner to senior level held over 7 days at the end of
June. Three ice surfaces were used; the World Arena, and the Olympic and
NHL rinks.
SENIOR MEN
The always interesting, often
erratic but never boring Rohene Ward won the SP and the
jumps contest but didn't skate the FS. Even when he's merely warming up
off ice, he attracts a crowd of on-lookers.
February, 2006
- Rohene
Ward -
"Ready for the
Big Time" Article in the
February, 2006 -
Volume 12, Issue 1
International Figure
Skating Magazine
-
Scanned from article
- READY FOR THE BIG TIME - By Kathleen Bangs
Every weekday afternoon with-out fanfare in a
Minneapolis, Minn. ice arena, something remarkable takes place. A
men's singles skater with a ponytail of long, dark hair roars past the
boards with speed and deep edges reminiscent of a Russian champion,
executes a few triple jumps in not just one - but both - directions
and finishes off with a spiral sequence of such flexibility it's
positively Cohen-esque. After viewing a tape of this skater's
exhibition program, three-time World champion Evgeni Plushenko
extended a personal invitation for this skater to perform in Plushenko's next European show.
Meet Rohene Ward. He may still be a virtual unknown,
but if he continues to successfully land quad
jumps like he has in every one of his events so far this season, Ward
could establish himself on the radar screen of skating's elite.
The 23-year-old has recently enlisted the help of
the woman behind Sarah Hughes' long shot 2002 Olympic
gold medal, Robin Wagner. Ward said, "My coach, Page Lipe, has been
friends with Robin (Wagner) for many, many years. We've both been
flying out to the Ice House arena in Hackensack, N.J. to train and
although I had no idea what to expect, I'm very happy with the
results."
Wagner, probably forever immortalized in skating
history by her pure shock and raw enthusiasm locker room reaction to
Hughes' Salt Lake City victory, has a style much
appreciated by Ward. "She just has this huge energy, a good attitude,
and she works very collaboratively," he said.
Ward grew up in the hardscrabble ghetto of North
Minneapolis and has had little opportunity to share the ice with other
top skaters except at competitive events. "Skating was really an
escape for me," said Ward, "a way to get out of the 'hood' and do
something with my life." He said the chance to train with a top coach
in an environment filled with titled skaters can only raise his own
skill level and signal to international judges that he's serious about
his future as a competitive skater.
Asked if the road to the U.S. Championships and
beyond will include a trip to a barber to trim the untamed mane that
makes Ward recognizable even across a crowded
rink, he laughed. "Oh God, no! I'm not cutting my hair and I won't
change anything that has to do with who I am outside of skating," he
said. "To do well at nationals I know that I cannot just have a good
skate. I need to have a great one. My performances should end with an
exclamation point!"
One of the things that is refreshing
about Ward, in addition to his candor, is a pervasive resolve to just
do his own thing. A dancer since childhood, Ward uses kickboxing and
weight training to stay in shape and increase his stamina.
Shockingly unlike other skaters, Ward actually looked to put on weight
over the last year and is proud of the seven pounds he gained. Also
distinguishing him from his peers is an unapologetic appetite to eat
whatever he happens to crave that day.
"So many of even the guy skaters
obsess about everything they eat, or don't eat, to the point that it's
obvious they have eating disorders," he explained. "Not me. I'm the
one pounding down cheeseburgers from a fast food drive-through on my
way to the practice session, and I don't change my regimen even on
competition days.
I might be eating pizza right before I skate at an
event because I'm certainly not thinking, 'Oh no, what have I done?
Look how much I ate —I'll never be able to jump!'" laughed Ward.
A unique skill of Ward's is an ability to create his
own choreography, which he's done since age 13. Ward said he recently
attended regionals mainly to watch his own
students, whom he also does choreography for. "One intermediate lady
made it to junior nationals doing a free skate I
designed to 'Firebird' by Stravinsky," said Ward proudly. His own
music selections for the season are a blues number called "The Messiah
Will Come Again" for the short and a tango by Piazova for the long
program.
To get feedback on his programs under the new
judging system, Ward has demonstrated his choreography to a local
Minnesota judge who has substantial international experience. "She
looks at the components and elements and offers constructive criticism
on what could be improved and upgraded," Ward said. "I'm aiming for as
many level 3 and 4 elements as possible with the spins and footwork,
but especially for the spins." Ward's gift for flexibility enables him
to do difficult combination spins including a donut spin and a
sideways-twisted spin popularized by Swiss spinner extraordinaire
Lucinda Ruh.
In a sport that requires substantial money to
compete at high levels, Ward's family had almost none. His first
skates were a pair of cheap vinyl ones his mother picked up at a local
Salvation Army store for a few dollars. Ward recollected, "They were
five sizes too big so my ankles were wobbling all over the place, but
I wouldn't rent skates, because these were mine, something I could
call my own."
Ward, who is black and Puerto Rican, has five
siblings. His parents never married. If it hadn't been for an
observant skating coach on a summer camp field trip to an ice arena at
age 7, his talent most likely would have remained undiscovered.
"Of course like most boys in Minnesota I also tried
playing hockey," Ward said. "I played on a little team for a season,
but I always wanted to be the one making all the goals, the star at
center ice. I sure never wanted to be the goalie!"
To get competitive for nationals, Ward has been
doing complete daily run-throughs of his programs. Sometimes
criticized for a history of leaving his enormous talent on the
practice ice. Ward said he is more thoroughly trained than in the
past, he finally believes in the caliber of his ability and his entire
mindset has shifted. "I know it's up to me. When you're tired of
living in the ghetto you finally realize one day it's time to get it
together or forever be remembered as an 'almost made it.'"
Confident and determined, Ward summed up his own
odds of making it onto the podium at the U.S. Championships and
perhaps realizing his ultimate Olympic dream in 2006. "When I get my
shot at nationals the one thing I'm already certain of is that every
aspect of my skating, from the starting pose forward, will have to
grab the judge's attention and maintain it until the final second.
I'm ready to do that."
www.ifsmagazine.com FEBRUARY 2006
January 16, 2006 -
Eliot Halverson - Video from WCCO-TV in Minneapolist, Minesota.
January 14, 2006 -
Eliot Halverson - Article in
Star Tribune
in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Local update
Rhiana Brammeier of Coon Rapids and Eliot Halverson of
St. Paul, who won the women's and men's novice titles Monday, will skate
in Sunday's exhibition of champions. It will be televised on ABC (Ch. 5)
from 3 to 5 p.m.
January 10, 2006 -
Eliot Halverson - Article in
Star Tribune
in Minneapolis, MN
January 08, 2006 -
Eliot Halverson - Article in
St. Louis Dispatch in St. Louis, Missouri.
Novice men
Eliot Hulverson leaped from third to first with a polished free skate.
Hulverson, of St. Paul, Minn., passed St. Louis native Brandon Mroz,
who led after the short program Sunday and finished second. Curran Oi
of Boston entered the free skate in fourth place but vaulted to third.
Hulverson brought more stage presence than the competitors to the free
skate, performed to a medley of Hungarian and Russian folk music. He
earned the highest score in program components, 51.68, which includes
interpretation, choreography and transitions. Hulverson finished with
150.99 points, Mroz with 148.73, Oi with 145.79.
"I love that I'm able to get into a character and tell a story," said
Hulverson, 15.
Hulverson is making a habit of coming from behind. He was in eighth
place after the short program last year but vaulted to third overall.
January 16, 2006 -
Eliot Halverson - Article in
St. Louis Dispatch in St. Louis, Missouri.
-
NOVICE PROGRAMS: Minnesotan has early lead - By
Kathleen Nelson
Novice
men's
St. Louis native Brandon Mroz led after the short program with 49.68
points in large part because of a strong score in technical elements.
Scott Dyer of Baltimore was in second place after garnering the
highest total for program components, 26.7, with an overall score of
48.20. He saved the best for last, ending with a strong combination
spin that included four changes of position.
"I was really happy with the performance, especially with the big
arena," said Dyer, who skated to music from "El Cid." "I love
spinning. We've been working really hard on that."
Eliot Halverson of St. Paul, Minn., was third, with 46.69 points
January 10-13, 2006 - Eliot
Halverson - Photos and article mention from
2006
State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships - St. Louis, Missouri
- Articles from 2006 US Nationals Official Site
- Free Program Report -
Halverson Victorious in Novice Men - by Michelle Wojdyla
- (St. Charles, Mo., 1/9/06) - Once in a while, a
novice program will be performed with such quality of technique and
unabashed enthusiasm and grace that the audience will be brought to its
feet. Today at the Family Arena outside
St. Louis,
Mo., Eliot Halverson (St.
Paul FSC) did just that. Skating the performance of his life, Halverson
captured the first gold medal awarded at the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure
Skating Championships, taking the novice men’s title.
“I’ve been giving 100 percent all year,” Halverson said.
“I don’t know if I’m surprised, I’m just happy and excited.”
Halverson (pictured), who was born in
Bogota,
Columbia,
but calls
St. Paul,
Minn., his home, performed a
technically excellent and energetic program to Hungarian and Russian
folk music. He opened with a triple Lutz-triple toe (downgraded by the
judges to a double toe) that was followed by a huge smile. Halverson was
on, completing triple flip-double toe, and the triple loop-double
loop-double loop combination, the latter being his highest scoring
element, gaining him 8.0 points. His solo triple jumps included the
Salchow and flip, plus a back Biellmann spiral into triple Lutz. At
times his feet seemed to skip across the ice as he rounded out the
program with fleet footwork and a final Biellmann combination spin. He
scored the highest technical element score (52.65) and combined with
51.68 for program components, his 104.30 in the free gave him 150.99
overall.
“I paced myself really well, took breaths when I
needed to, and I was definitely happy throughout the whole thing. Every
thing went exactly as planned,” Halverson said. “I was really relaxed
and not as nervous as yesterday. I took my time and couldn’t have asked
for a better outcome.”
Skating under the new judging system is a plus for
Halverson.
“I think I’m real lyrical skater,” he said. “I like to
get into the music and the new system honors that and acknowledges that,
so I think it’s benefited me a lot. That’s what I really love about
skating, getting into the character of the music and telling a story
when I’m on the ice. I hope the judges and audience can see that.”
Halverson looked forward to seeing what the future
holds.
“We’ve paced my training throughout my whole career.
We are on track,” he said. “I want to go much further and this is just
the beginning. I’m going to move up to juniors and planning on making it
to nationals again.”
- USFSA Blog by Michelle Wojdyla - (Tue, Jan 10) Archway
Anecdotes #5 - Dancin' Away in St. Louis
- 11:23 a.m.
Novice men are about to start. The announcer asks that “we please rise
for—“ and is cut off by the blast of rock music. I’ve never had to stand
for rock music. Quickly, though, the national anthem music comes on.
12:27 p.m.
Eliot Halverson’s vest is very sparkly.
From up on the concourse, it almost looks electrified.
12:36 p.m.
Speaking of electrified—and Eliot—his program is officially the first
one this week to bring tears to my eyes.
- Short Program Report -
Brandon Mroz Leads The Way in Novice Men - by Michelle Wojdyla
- Ellot Halverson (St. Paul FSC) showed not only does
he have the technical goods, but also he knows how to skate with the
music, not just to it. Performing a paso doble, Halverson scored
23.86/22.83 for 46.69 total and third place. He opened with a triple
Lutz and followed that with a triple flip-double toe combination and his
double Axel. A back spiral was in the Biellmann position, and he did a
full Biellmann spin to conclude his program. Halverson was still beaming
after the competition.
“I thought it went
perfectly,” Halverson said. “I had a goal to do a clean program and try
my best, and that’s exactly what I did. I’m very satisfied.”
Halverson has been doing the Biellmann for four years,
and said it takes “a lot of stretching to get it where it is right now.
I’d say I’m naturally flexible, but I still have to work on it every
day.”
He considers himself well-rounded.
“I can do the jumps I need to be doing right now,”
Halverson said. “I think what sets me apart is my artistry. I like to
get into the music and tell a story when I’m on the ice.”
The novice men’s free skates take place tomorrow at
11:30 a.m.
- Reports from
Ice Skating
International
- Novice Men's Reports from the 2006 Nationals from
SkateyGirl.Com
©2006 Ann Jensen
-
Short Program
Photo and
Free Program Photo - ©Paul Harvath
- Reports from
Skate Today (just
Freeskate)
- Eliot Halverson (Hungarian/Russian folk) – Sparkly,
multicolored vest over a billowy white shirt with navy pants. 3ltz/3toe
(ch on 2nd 3, didn’t get credit), 3flp/2toe, 3sal, sit (great speed),
good polish on connecting moves, 3lp/2lp/2lp, 3flp (small 2ft?), 2ax,
flying sit w/ CE, Biellmann spiral -> 3ltz, diagonal steps a bit simple,
camel/sit/Biellmann/change sit w/ CE/cannonball combo. Loudest ovation
to this point by far; great skate overall – he laid it down. Not sure if
the triple/triple will count, but it looked like he made it around to
me.. it was close. (52.62+51.68=104.3, 150.99) – 1st
January 10-13, 2006
-
Rohene
Ward - Photos and article mentions from
2006
State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships - St. Louis, Missouri
- Articles from 2006 US Nationals Official Site
- Reports from
Ice Skating
International
-
Senior Men's Report
- Short Program Report - The enigmatic Rohene Ward,
who now trains much of the time under Robin Wagner in Hackensack, New
Jersey, fell on his opening quadruple toe loop attempt but recovered
with a strong triple Axel. The remainder of his program, though
entertaining, was a bit sloppy; in particular, he gave away valuable
points in his circular step sequence, which was shallow and failed to
"close" its pattern. Ward, a fine "practice skater," needs to increase
his competitive intensity and take his career a bit more seriously. He
placed ninth with 66.11 points.
- Free Skate Report - Rohene Ward, who was ninth
after the short, fell to 17th and last place with a
disastrous free skate that featured three falls, four Level 2 elements
and two Level 1 elements. The 22 year-old enjoys a near-Olympian
reputation among some skating aficionados and is reputed to be capable
of high, clean quad combinations; triple Axels and spins in both
directions; the ability to change edges at will; and much more.
Unfortunately, while these moves can be done as one-offs, he lacks the
training to execute complete programs. Perhaps his fans should
circulate a "Best of Rohene’s Practices" compilation tape to prove his
prowess.
Robin Wagner, who trained Ward at The
Ice House in Hackensack, N.J. in the weeks leading up to U.S.
Nationals, was uncertain of their future partnership.
"We had just a short time together and didn’t cover
everything that needed to be done. We will see how it goes from here.
I will have to talk to Rohene and see where he wants to go next
season. I have to gauge his willingness to really put in (the
training) that it takes to be an elite athlete," said Wagner. (The
Minnesota native’s primary coach remains long-time mentor Page Lipe.)
- Reports from Asian
Athlete
- Senior Men's Reports from the 2006 Nationals from
SkateyGirl.Com
©2006 Ann Jensen
- Free Program
Photos
- Primavera Portena/Oblivion/Tango Ballet - So sorry bout this one.
Disasterous free skate for him.
- Short Program
Photos
- The Messiah Will Come Again - I have liked his programsmore in other
years. This one didn't have enough of the Rohene madness for me.
- Reports from
Skate Today
- Free Skate Report - Second Flight:
Rohene Ward (Oblivion) – He is in
a black sequined v-cut outfit. A very warm welcome to the ice, fall
4toe, 1ax/bailed 2toe, interesting flying sit, fall 3flp, 2toe 2ft,
beautiful position on camel to CF position, 1ltz bailed, 2ax, 3sal/2toe,
beautiful change edge forward spiral, Charlotte spiral, 2lp bailed,
layback with low free foot position, awesome speed to start straightline
steps (fall around center ice), spin combo. He completely unraveled. If
he would even skate to half of his potential some day, he would truly do
some damage. (34.08+57.44=88.52, 154.63)
- Short Program Report - Final Flight:
Rohene Ward (The Messiah Will Come Again) – Navy blue long sleeve with
black pants. It is apparent that Rohene has a lot of support from his
fellow skaters – loud welcome to the ice. Fall 4toe, 3ax huge, camel has
excellent speed -> raised donut position, straightline steps with good
difficulty, cantilever -> solid 3ltz, flying sit, circular steps (great
Russian split and a split down to the ice later on), totally fab combo
spin. That completely sizzled, it’s great to see Rohene back at
Nationals and if he gets the quad in the free skate, watch out.
(33.50+33.21=66.11)
- Senior Men's Practice - Short Program
In the second group, Rohene Ward
was popping many of his jumps, but he did manage a few 3ax/2toe
combinations, and possibly a quad (I was looking down but I think that
is what it was...). He is doing an AMAZING cantilever and has a split
down to the ice during his circular steps. I wish he could just get his
jumps together.
- Sport Illustrated Article - January 12, 2006
- Minneapolis' Ward brings unique presence to the ice
- ST. LOUIS (AP) -- When Rohene Ward takes to the ice,
people notice.
There's the muscular build that
would suit a pairs skater more than a singles competitor.
There's the long ponytail.
And, more than anything, there's a fluidity to his
skating that, while still somewhat raw, hints of great things to come.
Already 22, Ward hardly is a kid in a sport where
athletes sometimes hit their prime as teenagers. His list of
achievements is short; he was 16th at last year's U.S. Figure Skating
Championships and 14th the year before.
But the Minneapolis native stands out in a practice
session, even when the likes of Tim Goebel and Michael Weiss also are on
the ice, because of the theatricality that marks his skating. If he
never makes it big in competition, he could be a sensation in shows and
tours.
"Ever since I began teaching him when he was 11, he
has had that ability to be a great skater, the way he moved and the
persistence he had and his sense of humor on the ice," said coach Page
Lipe. "He's very much like an organic skater. He mostly picked things up
if he saw them and liked them and he would incorporate it into what he
is."
Ward also is a rarity in that he's a black American
skater, and he says he's needed patience to work his way toward the
elite level of the sport.
"I'm ready now," he vowed, while also saying that the
2010 Olympics are more in his sights than next month's Turin Games. "I'm
more focused, better trained, ready for a new life and new chapter
versus one chapter repeating itself."
Last fall, he worked with Robin Wagner, who coached
Sarah Hughes to the 2002 Olympic gold medal. Wagner helped with
choreography and training for the season and for nationals.
She believes Ward is ready to blossom.
"I think he's finally said to himself, `I'm really
very good and it's time for me to experience that performance I know I
can do,' " Wagner said. "He's tired of hearing about his potential and
what he might be able to do.
"Rohene is truly a unique talent, one of the best male
skaters I've seen in a long time. He's the complete package: strong with
beautiful lines, excellent jumps and fantastic spins, masculinity. I
don't think we've yet seen how far he can go."
January, 2006 - Eliot
Halverson - Article in "Avenues" - St. Paul's News and Arts
Monthly™ in St. Paul, Minnesota.
A Cut Above - (Caption under Photo on Left) Eliot
Halverson and Rhiana Brammeier of the St. Paul Figure Skating Club strike
a pose at the Pleasant Ice Arena. In January, they will be competing
in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis. For more on
Halverson, who lives in Summit Hill, see page 10. PHOTO BY BRAD STAUFFER
(Caption under Photo on Right) - St. Paul Figure Skating
Club members Eliot Halverson, 15, of Summit Hill and Rhiana Brammeier, 14,
of Coon Rapids, have qualified for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships
on January 6-9 in St. Louis. They are pictured spinning each other on the
ice at the Pleasant Arena. PHOTO BY BRAD STAUFFER
- Article - Volume 33, Number 6, January, 2006 - Smooth
ice ahead - Summit Hill’s Halverson figures to take on nationals and,
some day, the world. Written by:
JEFF MORES
E liot Halverson was just 7 years old
when he parked himself in front of the TV to watch the 1998 World Figure
Skating Championships. Performance after performance, jump after jump,
he was amazed by the artistic expression. On that day, figure skating
became more than a sport to the Summit Hill resident. It became
his passion.
Halverson is still motivated
by the memory of the 1998 event, only today he is inching his way closer
and closer to competing in the World Championships himself. Now 15, he
has already positioned himself among the elite on the national stage.
Last month, Halverson, who trains with the St. Paul Figure Skating Club,
took the silver medal in the men’s novice division at the Midwest
Sections Figure Skating Championship in Littleton, Colorado. That
earned him a return trip to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on
January 6-9 in St. Louis. He placed fourth in last year’s nationals.
Sticking his short and long
programs at nationals could propel Halverson even closer to his dream of
making it to the World Championships and the Olympics. He already has
made his mark on the world stage by taking silver at his first
international figure skating competition in Ontario, Canada, in 2004 and
taking gold in his second international tournament in Slovenia earlier
this year.
When he started training with the St. Paul Figure
Skating Club several years ago, the club’s home rink was The Depot in
downtown Minneapolis. Two years ago the nationally recognized club
relocated to the Pleasant Avenue Arena in St. Paul. In a show of
support, Halverson’s family moved to Summit Hill just to be closer to
the arena. Each morning and afternoon, Halverson packs up his skates and
walks a block to the rink to sharpen his skills in the art form he loves
most.
“Skating is very special to me. It’s something I do
every day,” said Halverson, who does his school work through tutoring
and an on-line curriculum. “I train hard, but I’ve always had fun with
it. It’s something I enjoy so much and I don’t see that ever changing.
“I’m not a very good speaker in front of crowds, but
there’s something about stepping out on the ice and competing that just
clicks with me,” he said. “Even in big national and international
competitions, as soon as the music starts I feel like I’m the only one
out there. My mind shuts down and my body takes control. I feel almost
weightless. I feel free. I’ve never experienced that with anything
else.”
It’s that focus, determination and control that have
convinced Halverson’s coaches that he is capable of becoming one of the
top names in figure skating in the years ahead.
“I’ve had Eliot for five years now and he’s just
extremely committed to the sport,” said coach Ted Engelking. “He has
dreams. He wants to take on world competition and that confidence shows
when he gets on the national and international stages.
“Clearly, Eliot will be one of the better skaters in the
country,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind. He’s going to be an
Olympic skater. He’s already on the Olympic radar.”
According to Engelking, Halverson is extremely well
balanced as a skater. He is as well known for his jumping ability as he
is for his flexibility and spins. However, the area that really propels
Halverson into the elite circle is his artistic expression.
“Eliot is able to express himself through the music like
few people can,” Engelking said. “He puts on a program that tells a
story. You can feel it when he’s performing. The artistic quality is
there. It’s so rare to find something like that in this sport. Those are
the skaters who are champions.”
Developing a feel for the music while on the ice is
something Halverson has worked hard to develop. But he admits he has
always thrived when asked to express himself artistically. “I guess I’ve
just always enjoyed performing,” he said. “I’ve been into gymnastics and
dancing and horseback riding. When I was younger, I’d put on shows for
my neighbors in the front yard. But figure skating is where I get the
most joy. There’s a lot of hard work, but skating feels so natural.”
When Halverson takes the national stage in January, he
will not be alone. The St. Paul Figure Skating Club, which has advanced
one or more of its skaters to nationals in each of the past 15 years,
will also be represented by Rhiana Brammeier, who travels from her home
in Coon Rapids to train with the club each day. Brammeier took gold at
the Midwest Sections last month in the women’s novice division.
“This club has ice 12 hours a day, Monday through
Saturday,” Engelking said. “Some of our skaters develop all the way up
with our program and others come to us with previous skating experience.
We work with all levels. We believe in giving all skaters, no matter
what their background or goals, the opportunity to take the sport as far
as they want.
“Since moving back to St. Paul, we’ve really tried to
establish ourselves as a good neighbor,” he said. “We want people to
know this is a safe and nurturing environment for kids. There are some
pretty wonderful things happening here.”
The St. Paul Figure Skating Club currently has 75
skaters enrolled, ranging from age 4 to 20. And according to Halverson,
the club is a big reason for his success.
“I would love to win the Olympics some day, but more
than that I want to let people know how much fun skating is,” he said.
“It’s not about landing the most jumps or having the most medals. It’s
about other people being able to feel the energy. That’s what keeps me
going.”
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