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LISC ARTICLES & PRESS
RELEASES
~~~Year 2007~~~
December, 2007-
Articles and mentions in anticipation for 2008 United States National
Championships
(Rohene
Ward and (Eliot
Halverson)
Local qualifiers for the upcoming
U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Paul helped to unveil the 2008
button.
L to R: Kirsten Olson,
Rohene Ward, Eliot
Halverson, Molly Oberstar
-
St. Paul Winter Carnival
(link to website)
-
Ice Network Article
of unveiling
-
Gearing up for U.S. Nationals
2008 Winter Carnival buttons unveiled in Saint Paul
(12/04/2007) - Four Minnesota-based figure skaters who have qualified for
the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, taking place Jan. 20-27, 2008 at
the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn., unveiled the 2008 Winter
Carnival buttons Saturday morning in Saint Paul.
Skaters Eliot Halverson,
Molly Oberstar, Kirsten Olson and
Rohene Ward were on
the ice at the Wells Fargo Winter Skate rink to reveal the four buttons.
The set of four buttons, designed by College of Visual Arts student Sean
Murphy, feature designs of figure skaters. The images are a nod to the U.S.
Championships, which will overlap with the 12-day carnival, which runs from
Jan. 23-Feb. 3 in Saint Paul's downtown Rice Park.
Coverage of the 2008 U.S. Championships will be provided by NBC Sports and
icenetwork.com.
-
KSTP - Channel 5
(ABC) Video Interview of
Rohene Ward
-
Kare 11 (Minnesota
Television Station) - Video of
Eliot Halverson and
Rohene Ward
November 15-18,
2007-
2008 Midwestern Sectional Championships
(Rohene
Ward and (Eliot
Halverson)
-
Ice Network Coverage
-
Gao comes back at Midwestern Sectionals
Novice skater dazzles in the free skate after placing third in the short
program
By Tim Russell - special to icenetwork.com
(11/17/2007) Seniors
In senior men's action, Wesley Campbell took first in the short program with
a 69.49 score. Braden Overett was second at 67.51 while event favorite
Eliot Halverson
was third (66.21).
Rohene Ward
is fourth (66.21) and Michael Peters fifth (63.26).
-
Midwestern Sectionals underway
By Tim Russell, special to icenetwork.com
(11/15/2007) - Competition is underway at the Midwest Sectionals at the
Suburban Skating Academy in Rochester Hills, Mich., in the northern suburbs
of Detroit.
The top four finishers in each event receive invitations to the 2008 U.S.
Figure Skating Championships at Saint Paul, Minn. in January.
The senior men's field should also be a top highlight with 2007 U.S. junior
champion Eliot Halverson
headlining the competitors.
Halverson, who was born in Bogota, Columbia, but resides in Saint Paul,
Minn., is competing as a senior nationally and a junior internationally.
Other competitors include Wesley Campbell, Jonathan Cassar, Nicholas
Krongard, Casey McCraw, Braden Overett, Michael Peters, John Salway,
Rohene Ward and Ben
Woolwine.
Friday's action begins with the juvenile and intermediate pairs, followed by
the novice free dance. Novice pairs, ladies and men all have their free
skate. Junior and senior have their optional dance before the senior ladies,
pairs and men skate their short program.
Saturday begins with juvenile and intermediate free dance, followed by the
junior pairs free skate and the juniors free dance and men's free skate. The
senior pairs and junior ladies then skate their free skate.
The event concludes with the senior free dance and the senior men's and
ladies free skate.
-
Pioneer Press Coverage
-
Eight
punch ticket to Xcel
St. Paul's Halverson in group going to nationals
BY SHAWN WRIGHT
Special to the Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 11/18/2007 01:57:21 AM CST
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -#150; Coach and pupil will be competing at the same
U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Rohene Ward
of Minneapolis will be going
to nationals for the fourth time at the senior level after placing second in
his free skate and second overall Saturday at the U.S. Figure Skating
Midwestern Sectional Championships at the Onyx Ice Arena.
But it was a performance by his student, junior ladies skater Kirsten Olson,
that made his day.
"She didn't think she was going to make it," Ward said, "but I knew she
would."
Olson didn't share her coach's optimism beforehand.
"I'm always the negative one," Olson said with a smile. "There were at least
four other people who skated better than me, and I was like, uh, it's not
going to happen."
It did. Olson placed third in the free skate and finished second overall.
"Nobody else performs like her," Ward said, "so it doesn't really matter if
she makes mistakes or not. To me, even with mistakes, it's still better."
Not to be outdone was Eliot Halverson
of St. Paul, who placed fourth in the free skate and fourth overall to
advance to his first national championship in the senior men's category.
"I'm very relieved and very excited," he said. "This is definitely something
I've been looking forward to, even more so this year, since nationals are in
St. Paul.
"I really wanted to get there and represent Minnesota in Minnesota."
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be Jan. 20-27 at the Xcel Energy
Center.
November 15-18,
2007 -
2008 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships
(Carolyn-Ann Alba
and (Chelsi
Guillen w/Danny Curzon)
Carolyn-Ann Alba (Junior Ladies Silver Medalist) with
Chelsi
Guillen (Champion Junior Pairs) taking a break from qualifying to the US
Nationals
2008 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships - November,
2007
(©Guillen Family)
-
Ice Network Coverage
-
Comeback win at Pacific Coast Sectionals
By J.R. Walker, special to icenetwork.com
(11/18/2007) - Junior Pairs Free Skate
Chelsi Guillen and
Danny Curzon (Coyotes SC of Arizona) outclassed the field at the 2008
Pacific Coast Sectionals and won the gold medal in convincing fashion with a
total score of 128.45 points, seven points more than their clubmates Megan
Gueli and Grant Marron.
Skating to the soundtrack from "The Mask of Zorro", Guillen and Curzon
skated with polish that the other teams did not have. Though the duo made
errors, Guillen and Curzon used superior program components to win the
title.
Gueli and Marron won the silver medal with a classical performance that
built as the program went on; however, errors on the singles elements kept
the team from challenging the gold medalists.
Winning the bronze medals were Lisa Moore (ISC of Fort Collins) and Justin
Gaumond (All Year FSC), while Arielle-Claire Trujillo (Los Angeles FSC) and
Daniyel Cohen won the pewter.
-
Pacific Coast Sectionals, Day 2 highlights
By J.R. Walker, special to icenetwork.com
(11/17/2007) - The second day at the Pacific Coast Sectional Championships
in San Diego, was highlighted by the announcement of the skaters advancing
to the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in the novice dance, ladies,
and men's divisions. The senior competitors also took to the ice for the
first time, and the junior dancers and pairs teams were one step closer to
determining which skaters will advance to Saint Paul, Minn.
Junior Pairs Short Program
Chelsi
Guillen and Danny
Curzon (both of Coyotes SC of Arizona) took the early lead after the short
program with a polished program to "Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings". The
duo grab an almost five point lead going into the free skate after
successfully executing side-by-side double Axels, and a level four pairs
combination spin.
"We really focused on making a strong connection between us," explained
Curzon. "Our program is about us sharing an emotional journey with each
other, and we try to act as if we are alone in the arena when we perform
it."
Guillen and Curzon earned 49.26 points in the short program, a personal best
for the duo.
-
Juniors cap off exciting Day 1 in San Diego
Novice competitors lead off at Pacifc Coast Sectional
By J.R. Walker, special to icenetwork.com
Junior Ladies Short Program
At the Southwest Pacific Regional in October, things looked grim for
14-year-old Carolyn-Ann
Alba (All Year FSC). After falling on a jump and earning zero points for
a spin, Alba finished in a distant sixth place in the short program.
However, the reigning U.S. novice bronze medalist skated well enough in the
free skate to rise in the standings and make it to sectionals.
Alba made up for those mistakes in the short program here, finishing first
in a very competitive field with an impressive 48.95 points. Skating second,
Alba opened with a nice triple Salchow-double toe loop combination and
quickly followed up with a springy triple loop. Using the music to the movie
Love Story, Alba included delicate finishing touches to her required
elements to make her program very special.
-
Sporty field at Pacific Coast Sectionals
By J.R. Walker, special to icenetwork.com
(11/14/2007) - San Diego is known for its mild weather, world-class zoo, and
most recently, devastating wild fires.
This week, however, San Diego becomes center stage for figure skaters who
represent clubs in the west, as the San Diego Figure Skating Club plays host
to the Pacific Coast Sectional Championships.
Over 120 athletes will compete for the chance to enter the draw at the 2008
U.S. Figure Skating Championships this January. The top four finishers from
each division; novice junior, and senior -- will be invited to compete at
the event to be held in Saint Paul, Minn.
Junior Competition
On the junior level, the ladies competition should prove to be highly
competitive. Eight young ladies all scored well enough at their regional
competitions to qualify here as senior skaters. Look for Ellie Kawamura (All
Year FSC) to run away with this competition with Amanda Dobbs (Peninsula
SC), Anna Malkova (All Year FSC), and Victoria Rackohn (All Year FSC) close
behind.
Like their senior counterparts, the pairs field is an unproven one. Lisa
Moore and Justin Gaumond (6th place) and
Chelsi Guillen and Danny
Curzon (7th place) competed in Spokane as juniors last season, and are
expected to be the class of the field. Three other teams will fight for the
two remaining places at U.S. Championships.
November 13, 2007-
Pioneer Press Article
(Rohene
Ward)
Rohene Ward, 24, who grew up in North Minneapolis, fell in love with skating
the moment he stepped on the ice for the first time. His first skates cost
$5 from the Salvation Army, and when his family couldn't afford lessons, his
coach taught him for free. (TYLER McKEAN, Pioneer Press)
-
Life on the edge
With a hip-hop look and ballet grace, Minneapolis native Rohene Ward hopes
to finally seize a berth among the ranks of America's elite figure skaters.
BY BAO ONG
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 11/13/2007 11:54:00 PM CST
Rohene Ward extended his arms gracefully and slowly glided across the ice in
concentric circles as hip-hop music boomed in the background.
Moments later, he thrust himself into a triple axel - one of the most
difficult jumps in figure skating. He skated toward his coach after a clean
landing, joking that he scarfed down two corn dogs right before practice.
The 24-year-old Minneapolis skater is known for his charismatic style,
athletic jumps and flexibility. Few doubt Ward's natural talent.
The question has always been whether he could hold it together on the ice,
whether he could focus and stay consistent.
Looking to the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at St. Paul's Xcel
Energy Center in January, Ward says he's a more mature and prepared
competitor ready to relaunch his career.
And he's thrilled he could do it on his home turf.
"This is a starting year," Ward said. "I have so much more to offer the
sport."
First, he must make it through the Midwestern sectionals meet, which begins
today in Rochester Hills, Mich.
Ward joins a host of Minnesota skaters - from novice to senior levels -
duking it out with competitors from more than 20 states to nab a spot in St.
Paul.
He has competed against the top U.S. men at the national championships in
2002, 2004 and 2006 but missed qualifying for the 2007 championships.
A ticket to nationals is not guaranteed this time, either.
Ward's repertoire includes all of the acrobatic jumps and spins, as well as
a dancing ability he gleaned from five years of intense ballet lessons. His
gracefulness stands in sharp contrast to his muscular, edgy appearance.
Skating cleanly at sectionals this week should be good enough to qualify for
Nationals since most of last year's rivals won't be there, said Ward and his
longtime coach, Page Lipe.
"I just need to skate clean there," Ward said. "And I will. I just need to
do it."
But completing perfect short and free programs - which combine for a total
of about seven minutes of ice time - is not easy, as Ward discovered in
2006.
After placing ninth in the short program at the national championships, he
botched nearly every jump in his free-skate program to finish last.
Commentators touted Ward's immense talent heading into the 2006 competition.
They claimed he could be a wild card during an Olympic year.
The media fixated on Ward's talent, said his coach and judges, in part
because of his differences: He is half-black and half-Puerto Rican; his
curly brown hair is typically braided, and he often choreographs his own
innovative routines.
Ward grew up in North Minneapolis, where it was more common to play
basketball, football and hockey. He dabbled in hockey but settled on figure
skating.
His first step onto the ice was at a community center, where he would mimic
moves from other skaters.
"I loved it from the moment I stepped on (the ice)," Ward said. "I was out
there like a racehorse."
His mother, Evelyn Harris, recalls buying $5 skates at the Salvation Army
for her son's first lessons when he was 7.
The family couldn't afford lessons, but Ward's first coach, Gailene Norwood,
didn't charge the family and even drove him to competitions.
His mother has remained Ward's most ardent fan, even from her Las Vegas
home.
ABC aired an interview after his disastrous 2006 free skate, in which Ward
remained calm and upbeat until the reporter rushed Harris into the room. Her
presence was a surprise because sponsors paid for the trip.
Mother and son embraced each other and cried as cameras focused on them on
national television.
Private donors have helped out, and his current coach, Lipe, regularly
provides rides to and from practice.
Ward also helps coach at his home rink, the Parade Ice Garden in
Minneapolis, and one his students, Kirsten Olson, is competing at the junior
level.
Ward said his turning point came in 2005, after his personal life started
hurting his skating. He stayed out too late partying with friends, skipped
morning practices and spent too much money on alcohol and clothes.
He worked with a life coach and studied under Robin Wagner, coach of 2002
Olympic champion Sarah Hughes, for one season.
The failures may have been a blessing because they taught him the importance
of training hard and remaining humble, his mother said.
Ward said he's developed more dedication for training and worked hard to
deal with his nerves.
Before, he would become distracted at competitions by chatting with anyone
around him, focusing on who was watching him and second-guessing himself if
he fell on a jump.
A week before sectionals, Ward skated in Bloomington before three judges for
a skating critique.
He performed his short program to "The Messiah Will Come Again" and landed a
quadruple toe loop, a jump only a handful of American men can complete.
"You could be an Olympic champion," one judge said afterward.
In the skating world, he's considered one of the older skaters, Ward said.
Still, he said competing at the Olympics is within his reach.
"I don't feel like I've touched enough people," Ward said. "I have this
gift; I figure I might as well share it."
Bao Ong can be reached at bong@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5435.
MINNESOTANS ON ICE
Thirteen figure skaters from Minnesota are expected to compete at the
Midwestern Sectionals beginning today in Rochester Hills, Mich. The top four
finishers in each event advance to the national championships in St. Paul.
The Minnesota skaters are:
-- Sage Kelner and Malcolm Kelner, juvenile dance, Minnetonka
-- Juran Yang, novice men, Maplewood
-- Stephanie Zastrow and Michael Lueck, novice dance, Forest Lake and
Burnsville
-- Kate Charbonneau, junior ladies, Savage
-- Kirsten Olson, junior ladies, Savage
-- Alex Johnson, junior men, Minnetonka
-- Paul Wood, junior men, Rochester, Minn.
-- Molly Oberstar, senior ladies, Duluth
-- Eliot Halverson, senior men, St. Paul
-- Nicholas Krongaard, senior men, Marine on St. Croix
-- Rohene Ward, senior men, Minneapolis
COMING TO XCEL
What: 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
When: Jan. 20 to 27
Where: Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul
Tickets: saintpaul2008.com,
651-312-3486
Events: Twelve national champions in ladies, men, pairs and ice dancing will
be awarded at the senior, junior and novice levels.
MEET ROHENE WARD
Age: 24
Hometown: Minneapolis
Skating club: Starlight Ice Dance Club
Past results: Three-time U.S. nationals competitor, with highest finish
being 14th at the 2002 championships
Favorite skater: Four-time world champion and Canadian champion Kurt
Browning
November 9, 2007-
WCCO.com Article and Video
(Rohene
Ward)
-
Twins Cities'
Figure Skaters Take On The Ice (Video on Right - w/Rohene - under video
library)
Nov 9, 2007 9:38 pm US/Central - Reporting
Darcy Pohland
(WCCO)
Some of the Twin Cities most promising figure skaters were on the ice Friday
to get ready for a big competition -- the Midwest Sectionals -- being held
next week.
"Today is just kind of a test run for all the skaters from Minnesota that
are going to Midwesterns," said junior figure skater Kirsten Olson.
"It's just like more experience doing your program in your costume --
getting into the mindset of your competition atmosphere," said Senior Figure
Skater Nick Krongaard.
"It's a walkthrough," said senior figure skater Rohene Ward.
All three Minnesota skaters are a step away from competing for a national
title in their home state.
"I really want to win this year," said Olson.
"The things that I tell her, the things that she's going through are the
things that I went through when I was younger," said Ward, who is Olson's
coach.
Ward is also a competitor. He's been to the nationals before and plans to be
there again this year skating for the hometown crowd.
"I'm ready. I'm prepared, so I've never been this prepared before, so I'm
not really concerned about not going," he said.
World national and Olympic judges are here to give the skaters feedback on
their performances.
"It's always really great to get that perspective from judges who have
really been there and seen it and know what that ... elite level of skating
is so we can try to achieve that," said Olson.
"It's always good to hear what they have to say -- good or bad," said Ward.
All skaters hope it helps them skate rings around the competition.
"I think it's really great for Minnesota to have so many really good
skaters," said Olson.
Skaters from 20 states will compete at next week's Midwestern Sectionals.
The Nationals will be held Jan. 20-27.
October 9, 2007-
Star Tribune Article
(Rohene
Ward)
-
Rachel Blount:
In time for regional opener today, skater finds competitive edge
Photo by Bruce Bisping , Star
Tribune
Skater Rohene Ward is known for his extremely difficult jumps and dramatic
presentation. The Minneapolis native is beginning the qualification process
for his fourth appearance in the U.S. championships.
It took some falls to ice the title for Rohene Ward. But when he was able to
get up and continue, both he and his coach knew he'd reached a milestone.
By Rachel Blount, Star Tribune
Last update: October 09, 2007 – 7:31 AM
Figure skaters don't usually experience epiphanies while crashing to the
ice. Then again, Rohene Ward rarely does anything in a conventional manner.
The Minneapolis skater had matured in untold ways over the past two years,
blossoming into a stronger adult and a more committed athlete. When he fell
twice in a summer workout -- and twice rose and soldiered on -- coach Page
Lipe met him with a hug. "You are truly a competitor now," she said,
triggering a realization that still stirs his emotions.
Ward would have lost his composure after a tumble in his younger days. With
a newly evolving mental toughness to buttress his sky-high jumps and soulful
artistry, he enters the Upper Great Lakes Regional Championships, which open
today, feeling like a real competitor at last. That's just in time to begin
his qualifying process for the U.S. championships in St. Paul.
"That was one of the best things I ever heard, because all these years,
that's what I've been trying to achieve," said Ward, 24. "When she said
that, I knew it was true. That's why it meant so much. I honestly believed
it, and that breakthrough made a huge difference for me."
Ward spent Monday at his home rink, Parade Ice Garden, preparing for the
regionals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is one of only two senior men competing,
meaning he will advance to the Midwestern Sectionals in November. The top
four senior men at Midwesterns will qualify for the national championships
in January at Xcel Energy Center.
Nearly two years have passed since Ward last skated at the U.S.
championships. He finished 17th in 2006 in a performance that typified his
career. Ward seduced the audience with his enormous charisma, but once he
fell in his free skate, his focus evaporated and his program unraveled.
His love for competition kept him in the sport through years of
inconsistency. He'd grown tired of settling for something less than his full
potential. After setting a two-year plan for personal growth, he enlisted a
life coach to help him become more consistent in his habits. He approached
practice with greater discipline and learned to cope with mistakes.
Lipe, who has coached Ward for 13 years, marveled at his evolution.
"He knew he was holding himself back," she said. "He admitted that to
himself in the last year. He's more reliable, more responsible, calmer. It's
been nice to see."
It's all part of the journey for Ward, who made his first breakthrough years
ago. Raised in north Minneapolis, son of a black father and Puerto Rican
mother, he used to glide away from his hockey teammates to practice jumps
and spins. His mom, Evelyn Harris, got him into a learn-to-skate program;
such mentors as Lipe and former coach Gailene Norwood polished his talent
and provided friendship and financial help.
Ward skated in Puerto Rico's nationals in 2004, which led his mother -- who
had not spoken to her father in 40 years -- to reconcile with him and
introduce Rohene to a slew of newly discovered relatives. Earlier that year,
he finished 16th at the 2004 U.S. championships and later trained part-time
with Robin Wagner, who coached Sarah Hughes to the Olympic gold medal in
2002.
Wagner helped set Ward on his current path of self-discovery. In the one
season she co-coached him with Lipe, she taught him to harness his
considerable emotion and how to make his workouts efficient and satisfying.
He now lands his jumps more consistently, including the quad toe loop and
triple axel that are part of a new long program set to music from the movie
"Dragon."He really understands the technical part now," Lipe said. "He can
fix a mistake in the air. And he's coaching some young skaters, which has
helped him grow. He's really come a long way."
As Ward works to become a better athlete, he remains an artist at heart.
When he competes in Friday's short program and Saturday's free skate at the
Upper Great Lakes, he will show off the dancelike footwork, dramatic flair
and elastic spin positions that have always defined him. If he can stick to
his plan, he will carry his new title -- competitor -- into a fourth
appearance at the U.S. championships.
"Before, I wasn't ready to be a national champion in any way, shape or
form," Ward said. "That is something I want to be, and I have a much better
idea now of how to get there. I expect so much from myself now."
Rachel Blount •
rblount@startribune.com
September 19,
2007- Articles about the 2007 Junior
Grand Prix (Estonia) in Talinn, Estonia
(Chelsi
Guillen w/Danny Curzon)
September 3, 2007-
from Star Tribune
(Eliot
Halverson)
 -
(©Photo by Bruce Bisping,
Star Tribune)
-
U.S. junior men’s skating champion Eliot Halverson, 16, will compete at the
2008 nationals that will be held in January in St. Paul, his hometown.
Published September 03, 2007
Rachel Blount: A new look for a new level
Champion skater Eliot Halverson has a more mature program and image for his
move to senior competition.
By Rachel Blount, Star Tribune
At age 16, Eliot Halverson already is worrying about being typecast. That's
what happens when a figure skater achieves so much so young, with so much
ice yet to be covered.
Halverson, of St. Paul, is a two-time defending national champion after
winning the U.S. novice title in 2006 and the junior title last year. His
mad dash to his sport's highest level will continue this season, when
Halverson's hometown will christen his move up the ladder to senior
competition when the U.S. championships come to Xcel Energy Center in
January. First, though, he will debut a new look on the international stage
at this week's Junior Grand Prix in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania.
Gone is last year's playful skate to horror-movie music, which began with a
scream and ended with a flourish. In its place is a more mature, classic
program, a tale of lost love and revenge performed to the main theme from
the film "2046" and music from the Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica. As
Halverson creates a new character on the ice, he's also providing a peek
behind the curtain, at the evolution of an athlete from teen phenom to a
young artist expanding his boundaries.
"Going to seniors this year, I wanted to take my skating to a completely
different level," said Halverson, who competes in the men's short program
Friday and the free skate Sunday in Romania. "One of my goals is to develop
different looks each year, to show a wide range as a skater.
"It's a little scary. But after last year, which was really fun and really
exciting, I knew that wasn't the furthest I want to go. I'm a very
goal-driven person, and I needed new goals."
Halverson's coaches, Ann Eidson and Ted Engelking of the St. Paul Figure
Skating Club, supported that philosophy. Their skater has possessed the soul
of an artist since he began performing backyard skits as a child. On the
ice, he blends passion, energy and charisma into a 5-6½ body made for
elegant spins and nimble footwork.
Last year, after his victory at the U.S. championships in his first year at
the junior level, Halverson finished 10th at the world junior championships.
He took a short break -- and celebrated "Eliot Halverson Day" in St. Paul --
before heading for Connecticut to develop his 2007-08 programs with
choreographer Svetlana Kulikova.
Halverson chooses his own music and collaborates with Kulikova in creating
his performances. Since June, he has been working on his programs for three
hours per day, five days a week, with special emphasis on getting more
consistency on the challenging triple axel that is new to his repertoire.
Eidson and Engelking fully supported his choice to compete at the senior
level domestically and the junior level internationally this season. "I was
hoping he'd go that way," Eidson said. "It's a natural process, and he is
more than ready to go there. We don't want Eliot to limit himself."
After the Junior Grand Prix in Romania, Halverson will draw another
international assignment based on his finish: He hopes to accrue enough
points in those competitions to make the Junior Grand Prix Final, then
finish in the top six before the home crowd in St. Paul before returning to
the world junior championships.
The U.S. championships, he said, will feel like a grand debut in the town
that has been his home since he was adopted from Colombia as an infant. By
the time the weeklong competition starts Jan. 20, Halverson's programs will
have been tested internationally and fine-tuned at his local base at St.
Paul's Pleasant Arena.
He has no desire to leave for a more famous coach or training ground. At the
State Fair, where he made his first visit in August, kids he had skated with
-- and their mothers -- greeted him and wished him well in the upcoming
season. Knowing they will be cheering him in January in his debut against
such skaters as Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek will make this season special.
"I feel very fortunate to have my family and friends here," Halverson said.
"I haven't had to change anything, and I feel very lucky to be able to stay
here to train.
"I've never felt like any of my friends have been able to watch me skate.
They've just heard about it. This year, everyone is going to be able to see
me at Xcel, and I'm very excited for that."
Rachel Blount •
rblount@startribune.com
August 27, 2007-
(Article and Mention)
(Eliot
Halverson)
 -
(©Photos by
Scottie Bibb
for the
USFSA
site)
August 24, 2007
- (Article and Mention) (Carolyn-Ann
Alba)
 Team
USA: Back row – Emily Young, James MaMoody and Josh Santillan; Front Row –
Taylor Hermerding, Victoria Hecht and Carolyn-Ann Alba
2007 BC/YT Section Summerskate/Canada - August, 2007
(©Juliet Newcomer for the
USFSA
site)
-
Photos Page for BC Summerskate
-
Article -
Developmental
Internationals Provide Opportunity for First Team USA Experience
by Juliet Newcomer
8/24/2007) - Twenty-nine skaters had the chance to represent the United
States in competition as part of the first Developmental International
program, and they took full advantage of the opportunity. Counting each
segment (compulsory dance, short program/original dance, free skate/free
dance) as separate events (as many events were not combined), Team USA had
37 starts and brought home 16 gold, 10 silver and two bronze medals.
The Skate Canada Provincial Championships – large nonqualifying competitions
in Canada similar to the events in the U.S. such as the Liberty Summer
Competition and Skate Detroit – were used as the platforms for this program.
Three U.S. teams were sent in total.
Carolyn-Ann Alba (junior ladies),
Emily Young (junior ladies), Victoria Hecht (novice ladies), Joshua
Santillan (novice men) and Taylor Hermerding & James MaMoody (novice pairs)
represented the U.S. at the BC/YT SummerSkate in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Not only did the skaters perform and place well, but they also had fun and
learned a lot about what to expect at an international competition. Complete
with a team leader and teammates, the goal was to provide the skaters with
an introduction to a true international experience.
This program was developed by the Athlete Development Committee as a way to
replace the North American Challenge Skate. Skaters who competed at the 2007
State Farm U.S. Championships at the novice level or who finished first,
second or third in intermediate at the 2007 U.S. Junior Championships were
given the opportunity to compete last weekend at one of three Canadian
nonqualifying competitions. Skaters who met these qualifications and who had
already competed in a true international or two previous North American
Challenge Skate events were not eligible for the competition.
August 27, 2007-
(Article and Mention)
(Eliot
Halverson)
-
U.S. looks strong for Junior Grand Prix
By Lynn Rutherford for the IceNetwork
(08/20/2007) - Last season, American skaters took home four titles from the
Junior Grand Prix Final, the first time a country has swept all four golds
since the series began a decade ago. The total U.S. haul was nine out of 12
medals. This fall, they may repeat that success.
The Junior Grand Prix (JGP) Series, made up of eight international
competitions for junior-level figure skaters from around the globe, kicks
off Aug. 30-Sept. 2 in Lake Placid, N.Y., at the historic Olympic Center,
site of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games.
A strong U.S. team, including three of the four reigning U.S. junior
champions, will compete in the series. They hope to qualify for the 2007
Junior Grand Prix Final in Gdansk, Poland on Dec. 6-9, where the top eight
point-earners in each discipline will do battle for the overall title.
Invitations to the events are highly coveted, and only a few U.S. skaters
have been awarded two competitions. The remainder of the spots will be
filled according to how well athletes perform at their initial assignment.
Last season, Americans won everything in sight. Here's a look at how the
U.S. team stacks up this year.
Men: Deep U.S. team will challenge
U.S. junior champ Eliot Halverson and Brandon Mroz, who placed fourth at the
2007 World Juniors, lead the U.S. men's contingent. Neither skater is
competing in Lake Placid, but JGP veterans Austin Kanallakan and Tommy
Steenberg, as well as 2007 U.S. novice champ Armin Mahbanoozadeh, will be on
hand. All are capable of bringing home a medal, and one could even win gold.
The 16-year-old Halverson will see action at the Romania JGP, held Sept.
6-9. His coach, Ted Engelking, who trains the skater in Saint Paul, Minn.,
said Halverson has a few new tricks up his sleeve.
"Eliot is doing great work," Engelking said. "He has two new programs, and
the big news is he has been landing beautiful triple Axels. I don't know if
he'll do the Axel in Romania, but he's improved on every level -- his edges,
his style, his spins -- since last season."
August 20, 2007
- (Article and Mention -
Disney's High
School Musical: The Ice Tour (Crystalrose Guerra
- Most likely West Coast Tour + additional cities)
August 6, 2007-
U.S. Figure Skating Article about the
2007 United
States Collegiate Championships
(Rachel
Nevares)
Photo: Rachel Nevares (Northern
Virginia Community College) First place free skate, second place overall
(©Kelly Hodge for the
USFSA
site)
-
Bradley Wins Third
Straight U.S. Collegiate Title
by Kelly Hodge and Ashley
Korn
Junior Ladies Free Skate
The junior ladies really stepped up to the plate for their free skate. With
so many skaters performing well, the smallest of mistakes could really
affect one's placement.
Laura Stefanik of the University of Delaware cemented herself at the top of
the standings after the short program, allowing her a little bit of wiggle
room in the free skate. She opened her program with a double Lutz-double
toe-double loop combination, but she fell on her first attempt at a double
Axel. Stefanik was able to pull it together and complete the remainder
of her program cleanly, including a second double Axel.
“I'm really happy with how I overcame the nerves,” Stefanik said. “I was
really happy to keep it together after the fall on the double Axel and do
the second one.”
Stefanik earned a free skate score of 55.59 points, second best in the
segment, but her total score of 86.01 won her the title. This was the second
U.S. Collegiate junior ladies title for Stefanik, as she won the first one
in 2005, when it was hosted by the Hawaii FSC in Honolulu.
“I really like this competition,” Stefanik explained. “I haven't done
regionals since I started college because it is in the fall and it is too
hard to miss almost a week of school. The timing for collegiates is perfect.
I can focus on my training all summer and do my major competition when I'm
not in class.”
Rachel Nevares, who will begin her second year at Northern Virginia
Community College this fall, made a comeback after finishing fourth in
Monday's short program. Nevares, skating to Memoirs of a Geisha, chose not
to attempt a double Axel, but she still skated a clean program, sailing
through her seven jump elements without any mistakes. Nevares also earned
the highest program components score of the evening, and her total of 56.38
put her in first place for the free skate. Her 82.99 total points allowed
her to slip ahead of Delaware's Jazmyn Manzouri to take home the silver
medal.
“I'm very pleased with how I skated,” Nevares said. “I really hurt my back
last week, and the last time I was able to do a run-through of my free skate
was last Wednesday. But I was really trained before that and was able to
stay focused and pull it together.”
Manzouri, who was in second place after the short program, put out a strong
performance, but a few wobbles and consequently negative GOEs on her double
loop-double toe combination as well as two spins cost her the silver by less
than a point. The Blue Hen earned 54.16 points for the free skate, and her
total of 82.45 points left her a half point shy of the silver.
Jamie Darling, who was third after the short program, struggled with several
jumps and dropped off the podium with 75.61 total points.
-
Action
Continues on Day Two at U.S. Collegiate Championships
by Kelly Hodge and Ashley Korn
Junior Ladies Short Program
Darling will enter the free skate with 26.97 points, followed by Rachel
Nevares of Northern Virginia Community College, who is on her heels with
26.61 points.
July 24, 2007-
U.S. Figure Skating Article
(Rohene
Ward)
-
Talent - and
Togetherness - Abound at 2007 Liberty Summer Competition
By Liz Leamy and Lynn Rutherford
Senior Men's Overview
The senior men's event featured not only several U.S. skaters who have won
medals at national and international competitions but also some
distinguished skaters from other countries, including Canada's Patrick Chan,
the 2007 World Junior silver medalist, and Viktor Pfeifer, an Austrian
champion who is hoping to soon become a U.S. citizen and perhaps skate for
this country down the road.
Stephen Carriere (SC of Boston) did a triple Axel with a slight fall-out on
the landing and a triple-double combination, while Rohene Ward (Braemar City
of Lakes FSC) and Shaun Rogers (University of Delaware FSC) both came close
to nailing quads in their performances.
Senior Men's Free Skate
The majority of the 12-member senior men's free skate group put out flawed
programs, but Chan was not one of them as he once again skated away with top
honors.
Ward wound up fourth with 100.61 points for his poignant take on Dragon: The
Bruce Lee Story. Although he fell on his quad toe, he executed four clean
triples, including a triple Axel-double toe.
“This is the best I've done in July. I'm very thrilled,” Ward said.
“Mentally, I'm becoming a much better competitor.”
July 3, 2007-
Twin Cities.com Article (Eliot
Halverson)
-
St.
Paul figure skater working toward 2008 national championships
Eliot Halverson of St. Paul, a dominant skater as a junior, is busy training
for his next challenge: the 2008 U.S. championships at the Xcel Energy
Center.
BY BRIAN MURPHY
Pioneer Press
Article Launched: 07/03/2007 12:01:00 AM CDT
Stifling summer heat creates a waterfall of condensation on the outer
windows of St. Paul's Pleasant Arena. Inside, 16-year-old figure skater
Eliot Halverson spins through the air, his concentration and strides
choreographed for an upcoming winter in the spotlight.
These are heady times for Halverson, the defending U.S. junior men's
champion. The St. Paul skater is vying to be Minnesota's first senior
champion since Minnetonka's Jill Trenary won the last of her three national
titles in 1990.
His first crack is scheduled for home ice in January during the 2008 U.S.
Figure Skating Championships at Xcel Energy Center. Introducing himself to a
global television audience would be thrilling enough without performing in
front of Halverson's largest delegation of relatives and supporters.
"I'm getting excited for everyone around here to finally see that there's
someone right in their backyard who's been working so hard to get there," he
said.
The scene would bring full circle Halverson's love affair with the sport
that began a decade ago when he played hooky from first grade to attend the
world championships at Target Center in 1998.
Halverson has more at stake than simply being a hometown torchbearer for the
Minnesota skating community. His first season at the senior level means
competing against international superstars, adjusting to the strict
lifestyle of an A-list skater and building momentum for a 2010 Olympic
berth.
Still, the Xcel stage will produce unavoidable expectations and scrutiny for
a talented athlete barely old enough to drive.
"I don't feel like I've got any more pressure. I put a lot of pressure on
myself. I don't skate for my parents. I don't skate for my coaches,"
Halverson said. "I'm not skating for Minnesota at nationals. I'm going to
skate for me and all the work I've put into this past year."
Do not mistake Halverson's laser-like focus for self-absorption. This is
figure skating after all. Competitors are individually judged for technical
prowess, choreography and style. They never interact or have to counteract
another's performance. Skaters perform for themselves and the audience with
whom they are trying to connect.
Halverson is unusual in that he is on a very short list of male figure
skaters who have won the U.S. novice and junior championships before
graduating to the senior level. The most recent was Evan Lysacek, the
defending U.S. champion and 2006 Olympic bronze medalist.
Lysacek and Johnny Weir, who has won three U.S. titles, are the favorites to
medal in St. Paul. The event runs from Jan. 20-27.
Last month, Halverson rubbed shoulders with the dynamic duo at U.S. Figure
Skating headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., during preseason
orientation. Stargazing aside, Halverson realized the responsibilities that
accompany reaching the pinnacle of competition.
Anti-doping regulations mean he can be tested without notice. He must report
his daily activities to the International Skating Union. Fundraising goals
are more intense. He also has free use of Olympic training facilities in
Colorado and Lake Placid, N.Y., with unfettered access to the best strength
coaches, dietitians and sports psychologists.
"It has changed the focus. It's like, whoa, this is big time," said his
mother, Deborah Halverson. "It seems like the close of an era and the
opening of a whole new one."
ROAD TO SKATING
The journey began in Bogotá, Colombia, where Eliot was born in November
1990.
Deborah spent two months wading through the Colombian bureaucracy before
adopting the infant with former husband Philip Halverson. She returned home
to Maple Grove on Mother's Day 1991.
Eliot's athletic prowess emerged through stints in gymnastics and horseback
riding. But skating quickly trumped those interests. He mimicked jumps he
had seen on television on the pond behind his house and choreographed
performances with neighborhood kids.
Halverson had his first private lesson at age 7, and his amateur résumé
flows with accomplishments as he shot up the competitive ranks:
- bronze medal in the juvenile division at the 2003 U.S. junior
championship;
- intermediate champion in 2004;
- bronze medals at the junior grand prix in Hungary and the Netherlands,
2006;
- his consecutive U.S. novice and junior titles.
"For Eliot to win back-to-back novice and junior championships is an
extraordinary accomplishment," said Pat St. Peter, Midwestern vice president
for U.S. Figure Skating. "Eliot is a committed athlete, with the confidence
to rise to the challenge of moving to the senior level."
Halverson's speed and athleticism translate into smooth and consistent jumps
that make his moves appear effortless, said coach Ann Eidson, who shares
coaching duties with Ted Engelking at the St. Paul Figure Skating Club.
Halverson plans to add a triple Axel, the most difficult jump to land, to
his routine sometime this season, which officially starts September in
Romania.
As a senior skater, Halverson's freestyle program now runs 4½ minutes, 30
seconds longer than his junior routines. The additional time allows for more
footwork, jumps and spins - and more chances to make mistakes.
Technique aside, Halverson's artistic vision, with attention to storytelling
through music and composition, fuels his passion on the ice.
"He has an amazing style and is very interested in being innovative in his
choreography. He likes things that are meaningful to him," Eidson said.
Halverson hopes to heighten the emotional connection with the Xcel audience
in January.
"Interpreting the music and trying to get the audience to feel something
just from watching me skate, that's what I love about skating," he said.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Halverson, who is home-schooled, has been entertaining his adopted family
for several years. His brother Ian, 18, also was born in Colombia. Sister
Mariah, 12, is Paraguayan. He lives with his mother and siblings in St. Paul
after his parents divorced in 2003.
Dr. Philip Halverson, an allergist, remarried, which added two stepbrothers
and a stepsister to a diverse support group.
Deborah Halverson, a registered nurse and freelance editor, traded in a
sprawling 2,500- square-foot suburban home in Maple Grove for a
1,000-square-foot 1928 bungalow in St. Paul to help finance Eliot's skating,
which can cost from $30,000 to $40,000 a year.
Both parents remain partners in their son's unwavering pursuit of
excellence.
"I consider myself really lucky because they both give me the same thing,"
Eliot said. "It's easy to feel support with money to pay for skating or a
new pair of skates. But it's another thing to feel emotionally supported.
"I know there are a lot of skaters who struggle with parents that are
pushing and demanding unrealistic things. I've never felt that from my
parents."
Brian Murphy can be reached at
brianmurphy@pioneerpress.com.
June 27, 2007
- (Article and Announcement for the
Disney's High
School Musical: The Ice Tour (Crystalrose Guerra
- Most likely West Coast Tour + additional cities)
June 18, 2007-
U.S. Figure Skating Article
(Eliot
Halverson)
(photos - Eliot Halverson with Snowplow Sam and in the parade route)
-
Snowplow Sam Has a
Grand Day in St. Paul
(6/18/07) He's not your average bear, that Snowplow Sam.
U.S. Figure Skating's official mascot drew smiles and attention June 3 as he
marched, not inconspicuously, for three miles in St. Paul, Minn., hugely
popular “Grand Old Day” parade. Sam paraded to promote the 2008 U.S.
Championships, to be held in St. Paul, and to honor the city's own Eliot
Halverson, the reigning U.S. junior men's champion.
 Halverson shared the spotlight a few times with Sam, as the two shared a
sharp-looking sports car. But rumor has it that Sam spent most of the time
jauntily strolling, if not sprinting, down the street, not sitting in a car.
Members of the St. Paul FSC accompanied Sam on the parade route, carrying
banners and passing out leaflets publicizing the U.S. Championships and
Basic Skills program.
June 10, 2007 -
2007-08 Team Envelopes Announced
(Carolyn-Ann Alba
and Eliot
Halverson)
June 10, 2007-
Golden Skate Article
(Eliot
Halverson)
(Article by
Elvin Walker / Photo © Leah Adams)
-
Halverson
Looks Toward 2007-08 Season
Eliot Halverson is coming off his most successful year of skating in his
young career. Not only did the 16-year-old best a stellar field of men to
win the gold medal on the junior level at the 2007 US National Figure
Skating Championships, but he also placed in the top ten in his first trip
to the 2007 World Junior Championships. Halverson joins his senior
counterpart Evan Lysacek on a very short list of men who won the novice
title one season at a US National Championship and then captured the junior
title the following season.
Halverson began the 2006-07 season by winning two bronze medals on the
Junior Grand Prix (JGP) circuit, sharing the podium with eventual World
Junior Champion Stephen Carriere in both competitions. In most seasons,
Halverson's results would have been good enough to earn him a trip to the
JGP Final, but Halverson had to settle for being the second alternate to the
competition in a field that was choc full of men on a similar technical
plane.
"It was a little disappointing," admitted Halverson. "But I didn't let it
take away from what I had done (winning two medals), and I was still really
proud of myself for skating really well."
Halverson, who was born in Bogota, Colombia on Nov. 8, 1990, was brought to
the United States in his adopted mother's arms six months later on May 12,
1991 (Mother's Day). He joined his older adopted brother Ian, who was also
born in Colombia, into the Halverson's home in Minnetonka, Minnesota. A few
years later, the family welcomed Paraguayan-born Mariah to the family. In
addition, Halverson has a step-mom, two younger step-siblings and a baby
brother that round out his family.
Halverson credits the support and sacrifice of his family for his success.
"Having such a big family, I have so many people who care about me and who
are wishing me the best in my career," shared Halverson.
Like many other young figure skaters, Halverson's day is divided between the
rink and the books. Halverson begins his day by skating a morning session
before he begins his school day. As a home schooled student, Halverson has
the flexibility to work his studies around his skating sessions. After a
short lunch break, he returns to the rink for more skating, and then comes
home for another round of school. A high school sophomore who attends school
year round, Halverson freely admits that he has a passion for English, but
does not like to study anything that relates to science.
Outside of skating and school, Halverson describes his interests as "nerdy".
Other than the occasional shopping trip and hanging out with friends, he
likes to read the dictionary which could explain his other interest -
watching the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee on television each year.
Though he has never participated in a spelling bee, Halverson watches them
on TV every year. "I don't have much time for anything else," Halverson
relayed. "Skating and school take up most of my time."
Halverson also teaches in the USFS Basic Skills Program and just coached his
first student in her first Basic Skills competition.
"Being on the other side of the fence (instructing) was interesting,"
acknowledged Halverson. "I was so nervous. Fortunately, she made my job very
easy and skated a beautiful program."
Looking toward the upcoming competitive season, Halverson has set his goals
high - a practice which he and his coaches agree is something they need to
do in order to push him to the next level. Halverson's first competition
this season will be a club competition in his hometown which will be used as
a springboard for JGP Romania in early September.
Halverson plans to skate clean programs on his way to earning his first trip
to the JGP Final which could result in a bye into the 2008 US National
Figure Skating Championships - a competition he envisions as his first on
the senior level.
"I want to have a good solid first year as a senior," admitted Halverson,
who would also like a return trip to the World Junior Championships. "My job
is not done at that competition. There is still more for me to show."
Halverson recently returned from Connecticut where he worked with his
choreographer, former ice dancer Svetlana Kulikova, to construct his
competitive programs for the upcoming season. Halverson, along with coaches
Ted Engelking and Ann Eidson, decided that it would be a good idea to work
with Kulikova again - not only because of his results from last season, but
also because Kulikova and Halverson are such similar skaters.
"My coaches often joke with Svetlana and me that if we were closer in age (Kulikova
is ten years Halverson's senior), that we should be a dance team because we
look so good together," said Halverson.
Halverson enjoys the working relationship that he has with Kulikova. "We
collaborate on the programs so that we both provide input and give feedback.
Svetlana trusts that what I add to the program will be good."
For the upcoming season, Halverson is returning to what he calls his
"creative roots", and will skate to music that is more traditionally
associated with figure skating. He plans to skate to a "very passionate"
tango for his short, and a classical piece for his free skate. Both programs
are, according to Halverson, a departure from the comical style that he
showcased in last season's free skate to music from the soundtracks Tales
from the Crypt, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Beetlejuice.
"There is a lot of power and passion in these programs," Halverson admits.
"I think that I am keeping my same style, but I am taking it to the next
level."
On the technical side, Halverson plans to add the triple axel to his
programs, and will continue to make everything else "bigger". Halverson is
most proud of the two step sequences for each program that he and Kulikova
created for this year's programs.
"Men have to do two footwork sequences in each program," explains Halverson.
"Last year, we decided that I would repeat one of them, so I only had to
learn three. This year we have four different steps and I really like them.
I hope that we can keep all four of them through the end of the year."
Looking further down the road, Halverson's long-term goals include competing
in both the 2010 and 2014 Olympic games, and winning a medal at the latter.
Once he closes the chapter on his competitive skating career, Halverson
admits that he always thought that he would like to be an interior designer,
but now he is interested in marketing.
"When I watch TV," explained Halverson, "I watch the commercials, and I
especially like listening to the music in the commercials and how it relates
to the product it is selling. I would like to be on that end of marketing or
advertising."
May 23, 2007-
Initial Junior Grand Prix Assignments
Announced (Chelsi Guillen -
Pairs)
-
Locals skaters off to Estonia
azcentral.com
May. 23, 2007 10:26 AM
Local figure skaters Douglas Razzano and the pairs team of Chelsi Guillen
and Danny Curzon will compete at the Junior Grand Prix in Talinn, Estonia,
Sept. 20-23.
All train at the Alltel Ice Den in Scottsdale with coaches Doug and Lara
Ladret and represent the Coyotes Skating Club of Arizona.
Razzano, 18, of Chandler is in his third and final year on the Junior Grand
Prix circuit. Guillen, 14, of Scottsdale and Curzon, 20, of Phoenix will be
making their first international appearance.
Razzano was fifth in junior men at 2007 U.S. Championships while Guillen and
Curzon were eighth in junior pairs.
May 22, 2007-
Initial Junior Grand Prix Assignments
Announced (Eliot
Halverson and Chelsi Guillen -
Pairs)
April 20, 2007-
Eliot Halverson Day in St. Paul, Missouri
(Eliot
Halverson)
-
US Figure Skating Coverage - "City
of St. Paul Declares April 21 as Eliot Halverson Day" Article
-
 Eliot Halverson competes in the Junior Men's Free Skate
where he won the Title
United States National Championships - January, 2007 (©Michelle Harvath for the
USFSA
site)
(4/20/07) - St. Paul, Minn., native and reigning U.S. junior men's figure
skating champion Eliot Halverson, 16, will receive a special honor this
Saturday, April 21, at the St. Paul Figure Skating Club Ice Show at
Richfield Ice Arena in Richfield, Minn.
April 21 will be proclaimed “Eliot Halverson Day” in the City of St. Paul by
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Deputy Mayor Ann Mulholland will formally
deliver the proclamation following Halverson's performance in the ice show
on Saturday evening at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Halverson has won back-to-back U.S. titles, earning gold at the novice level
in 2006 and again at the junior level in 2007. In doing so he's followed in
the footsteps of former St. Paul Figure Skating Club skater John
Lettengarver, who accomplished the same feat in 1945 and 1946. Halverson has
finished third or better in more than a dozen regional, national and
international figure skating competitions. Last month, he finished 10th at
the 2007 World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany.
Halverson next moves up to the top level – senior – to compete at the 2008
U.S Figure Skating Championships, which will be held at Xcel Energy Center
in St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 20-27, 2008.
Halverson, a high school junior, maintains a straight-A grade point average
while pursuing his figure skater career. The St. Paul-native, born in
Bogotá, Columbia, practices at Pleasant Arena in St. Paul. In his free time,
Halverson also shares his skating talents as a U.S. Figure Skating Basic
Skills instructor.
-
KARE-11 Video of Eliot - "Eliot Halverson
Day"
-
-
KSTP 5 - an
in-studio interview with that aired on the local ABC news station on
Saturday morning.
-
Skating
champion talks about his achievements
Eliot Halverson is the reigning U.S. Junior National Skating Champion, and
he will be skating Saturday night in the St. Paul figure skating club ice
show in Richfield.
Eliot joined us on 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS MORNING on Saturday to talk about his
skating achievements.
Press play to see our interview.
-
Metroblogging Minneapolis Radio
-
"Eliot Halverson Day" Saturday, April 21
posted by Greg at 4:18 PM on April 20, 2007
Eliot Halverson, Saint Paul native and reigning U.S. Junior Men's Figure
Skating Champion, is on track to have the best day ever.
At 8:30 p.m. tomorrow, Deputy Mayor Ann Mulholland will formally deliver the
"Eliot Halverson Day" proclamation following Halverson's performance in the
Saint Paul Figure Skating Club Ice Show. Figure skating definitely isn't my
thing, but it's certainly cool St. Paul, MN is home to an international
champ at the age of 16.
According to his site, Halverson was born in Bogota, Colombia but was
adopted by a St. Paul couple at 5 months. He started skating at 6 years old
and went on to become a two-time national champion at the 2007 U.S.
Championships in Spokane, Wash., after sweeping the short program and the
free skate. He qualified for the World Junior Championships with the win and
hopes to qualify for the Olympics someday soon.
Oh yeah, the site also tells us his favorite color is red, he reads the
dictionary for fun and his favorite smell is that of a horse stable.
You can cheer on Halverson tomorrow at the Saint Paul Figure Skating Club
Ice Show at Richfield Ice Arena.
And don't forget to wish your family and friends a happy "Eliot Halverson
Day" tomorrow.
February 26 - March 4, 2007 -
2007 World Junior Championships in
Oberstdorf, Germany (Eliot
Halverson)
-
Articles, Photos and mentions from
United
States Figure Skating Junior Worlds Page
-
Carriere Mounts Huge Comeback to Take World Junior Men's
Title
- (3/1/2007)
Brandon Mroz took fourth overall with the second-best free skate
of the night, but
Eliot Halverson had some problems and finished 10th. Still, that
gave the U.S. three skaters in the top 10.
Halverson scored 102.46 in the free skate portion and 155.97
overall. His program, entitled ‘'Tales from the Crypt,'' started
with a scream, which got a lot of attention. But the rest of it
wasn't as good as his skate in Spokane last January that won him the
U.S. junior title over Mroz. He had a few scratchy landings as well
as nearly a complete stop forward coming out of his second double
Axel.
“Everything was new in this competition. There are a lot of things
you do that you haven't done before,” Halverson said. “The number of
really, really good skaters is a lot greater than at a regional
competition in the U.S. There are 24 amazing guys who have worked to
be here.”
-
McLaughlin and Brubaker Skate Away with World Junior Pairs
Title
- Men's Short
Program
A lot can change in two months.
At the Junior Grand Prix Final in December, the U.S. men occupied
the top five spots after the short program. Here, at the World
Junior Championships, the top American is in sixth place.
All three U.S. skaters made mistakes on their triple flips in
Wednesday's short program. Although two of the mistakes were
relatively minor, the top skaters from other countries all performed
well enough that
Stephen Carriere is the only American in Thursday's final group.
Carriere, the 2006 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, twisted out of
the landing of his jump and is in sixth with 57.71 points.
Brandon Mroz, the runner-up to Carriere in Sofia and the 2007
U.S. junior silver medalist, had a step out on his and sits in
seventh with 57.21 points.
Eliot Halverson, who has taken the U.S. novice and junior titles
in successive years, fell on his jump and is all the way down in
14th place with 53.51 points, more than 10 behind the leader.
Halverson's flexibility showed early in his “Hana's Eyes” program,
with his Biellmann into a jump combination. Then came the triple
flip, on which he fell.
“I just felt a little slow going into it. I was a little
tentative,'' Halverson said.
He is finding his first experience at the World Junior Championships
“kind of scary.''
“There are a lot of good skaters, and that is motivation to get here
again in the future,'' he said. “I am having a lot of fun, but I
will skate a lot better tomorrow (in the free skate).''
-
Strong
U.S. Team Ready for World Junior Figure Skating Championships This Week in
Oberstdorf, Germany
-
MEN -
2006 JGP Final champion Stephen Carriere returns to
his second World Junior Championships gunning for the podium after finishing
fourth in 2006. He won his two JGP events this season and placed ninth at
the 2007 U.S. Championships – his first on the senior level. Joining him in
Germany are 2007 U.S. junior champion Eliot Halverson and 2007 U.S. junior
silver medalist Brandon Mroz. Halverson has finished fourth or higher in
every major competition of his career. He finished third at both of his 2006
JGP events, narrowly missing a spot at the JGP Final. He won both his
regional and sectional events this year. Mroz finished second to Carriere at
the 2006 JGP Final after placing first and second at his 2006 JGP events. He
also won the 2006 Triglav Trophy on the junior level.
-
Articles, Photos and mentions from
Golden Skate
January 29, 2007 -
United States International Team Selected
January 21-28, 2007
-
2007
State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane Arena Spokane, Washington |
Latino International Skating Coalition
(Team USA photo
©Photo 
(8/20/07)
- Wildcat audiences, get ‘cha head in the game! Disney's “High School
Musical: The Ice Tour” will be soon be on tour.
Their
styles couldn’t be more different. Eliot Halverson is all fluid grace
and eye-popping flexibility, while Brandon Mroz’s power and speed are
something to behold.