Latino International Skating Coalition
Latino International Skating Coalition
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Latino Skating Interview - November, 2005 November,
2005 - Interview with Eliot Halverson This month we have
Eliot Halverson. He's a Novice Level Skater for the United States and defending
Pewter Medalist from
last year's US Novice Championships. He was gracious to email us his
answers right before his trip to the United States Regional Championships
in October, 2005. (A couple questions were added after the Sectional
Championships in November) Photo Right -
©Halverson Family 2004 General questions AR - To start I wanted to have just a brief description or bio of yourself for the readers so they can get to know you better - What’s your full name, any nicknames you like to be called, how old are you and what town are you originally from, and if you have moved since - where are you from now? EH - Eliot Jon Halverson Born in Bogota, Colombia November 8, 1990. I was adopted when I was 5 months old. I came home on Mother’s Day. I am 15 years old. I live and train in Saint Paul, Minnesota AR - When did you start skating and what got you hooked? Did watching skating on TV inspire you? Did you live close to a rink? Did you have siblings in any ice sports? Or was it a combination of any of them or something else entirely? EH - I started Basic Skills at age seven in The Learn to Skate Program at The Minnetonka FSC. My earliest memories were staring at their trophy case and looking at the picture of Olympian, Jill Trenary. I was so amazed that someone in the Olympics was from Minnesota! The very first night I got my real (not toy) skates, I skated all day and cried because my mom would not let me sleep on the ice! Every Super Bowl Sunday our neighbors around the pond held ‘The Olympics,’ including figure skating competitions with music, homemade costumes and even flip-up score cards. In 1998, the World Championships were held in Minneapolis and my mom let me skip out of first grade for the whole week. After that I begged her to take lessons. My first competition was Beginner Level in the summer of 1998. AR - When did you decide to compete in general? What drew you to it? When did you decide to train more for this sport? EH - I always loved being in the limelight, so to speak. I watched the skaters at the 1998 World Championships and I told my Mom after, "THAT is what I want to do!" I was invited to participate in a Synchro line with my friends but declined - not because of that aspect of skating - I do like it, but I wanted to "be out there all alone". I always loved individual sports...jumping horses, gymnastics, etc. AR - Do you prefer competition or exhibition? EH - Definitely competition! LOVE IT! AR - What was the most exciting thing that has happened to you in this sport so far? EH - Traveling to Slovenia to compete in Triglav Trophy and being selected to US Team C for Internationals AR - What are you most proud of in terms of your skating career thus far? EH - I am proud of my determination. Even when things didn’t go my way….as in placing 8th in the SP at my first Senior Nationals at Novice ! I put that all behind me and skated a clean FS in which I scored 2nd - which placed me 4th overall. I could have let it “get to me”, but I knew it just made me pull more from within, to draw upon my confidence and MAKE IT HAPPEN! Individual sports are like that-which is why I like them- it is just you and your sport!
AR - What goals do you have for yourself? (Both short term and long term) EH - Short term - Winning Gold at the Novice level, 2006. Moving up to Junior. landing my first triple axel in competition (rather than solely in practice), competing in Junior Grand Prix events, making the Junior Grand Prix Final, medaling at the Junior Level at the US Championships in Spokane, 2007. Long term: US Men’s Senior Champion, placing at World’s and one day- the icing on the cake of course, be competing in The Olympics! AR - What keeps you motivated in keeping up skating? EH - I purely just LOVE to skate, I love to compete, I love the sport. It is pure joy for me. AR - How much does finance keep you from achieving your goals in skating? What sacrifices have you and your family had to make to keep you on the ice? EH - Finances have most definitely affected my ability to train. Ice time costs have increased, but our monthly allotment for ice time has not. So, I have had to decrease my time on the ice to under 10 hours per week and have had to reduce lesson time and competition travel as well. I was planning to compete in Detroit this summer, however, the costs became too high and we decided to use the funds to train rather than to compete. My mom sometimes stays home to save the cost of her travel. We have moved twice since I started skating, each time to a smaller and less expensive home. My parents are divorced and this has really had an impact on finances. About two years ago, my mom and my two siblings relocated to within three blocks of the arena so that I could walk to the rink and walk home to do my school work in between sessions. What a lucky move especially with the cost of gas being sky high! AR - How has skating affected your life? (Both Positive and/or negative) EH - I have learned how to set goals and work in mini-steps to achieve them. I have had to become an independent learner as I don’t always have a coach around to teach me. Sometimes it has been a blessing n disguise to not be able to afford as much training as I would like, as this forced me to dig deeply within myself and to conquer my fears to attempt jumps without my coach around. “I” don’t feel there are any negative aspects, personally; my siblings would most likely disagree. It has been tough on them and I thank them sincerely for their support. It is not easy for them to always hear people ask about their “brother”. I love them so much! AR - Where do you see yourself.. say 10 years from now? EH - I will have won the Olympic Gold medal, will be contributing to the sport I love- perhaps touring with Champions on Ice and trying to complete my college degree (Masters) in Interior Design. I would love to own my own horse, one day, also. AR - Do you have other hobbies, interests or activities you pursue outside of skating? EH - I love to read. I have read some classics this year such as Les Miserables, Pride and Prejudice and, well okay… Harry Potter! I love music and choreography. If I didn’t have to worry about injuries, I would be jumping horses which I did when I was 7. AR - How has skating impacted your school career? How complicated has it been? Have you changed your lifestyle at all to accommodate skating? EH - I have been homeschooled for the last 4 ½ years. It has really helped our family life as I train and school in- between on-ice sessions during the day. This gives time for family in the evenings. I use a combination of independent study, homeschool co-ops and interactive online Internet courses. I like working independently as I can work at my own pace. I have no problem with being “socialized”, (ha-ha) contrary to the opinion that homeschoolers are somehow sequestered and unsocialized creatures! AR - Most of our questionaire was completed between your winning Upper Great Lakes Regionals in Duluth, Minnesota and a couple days before leaving to Midwestern Sectionals in Littleton, Colorado. How was your trip and how was your experience in Colorado? EH - Competing in Colorado was amazing. The mountains are so beautiful. My SP had a little glitch when after landing my 3Lz, I came to do the 3F-2T and popped the Flip, but added the double toe on (thank goodness!). I was very happy with my program in all. In the FS, the same thing happened and I didn't get the double off. The rest of my program was one of the best I have ever skated. In the end, I was very happy. Despite being less than one point out of first place, I was elated to qualify for Senior Nationals again. It was interesting to use the new system and it was satisfying for me that most of my spins and steps were credited at a high level. I feel that I am a complete skater and the new judging system works to benefit all elements, NOT just jumps. AR - Last year you made it to your first Senior Nationals (in Novice Division) and you almost didn't make it due to financial constraints.. Now that you qualified again to Nationals - how are you coping this year? EH - Novice Level is the first event of the Championships, so we have to arrive the Friday before the week even begins. This means a 10 day hotel stay. I feel badly that the funds provided by USFS and our club have to go towards staying in a hotel and not towards training and lessons. I wish there was a more discounted hotel rate for athletes. As usual, we will get by somehow! I'm working very hard already and am excited to compete!
Latino based Questions AR - Where do you trace your Latino routes? Which family members and what Latin country is included in your background? EH - I am of Colombian roots as both of my birth parents are Colombian. AR - Have you always embraced or otherwise brought to light your Latino heritage? Any reasons why you chose to do so or not do so in the past? EH - I love being Latino. There are not very many Latino skaters and I cherish being unique. AR - What aspects draw you to celebrating your heritage in the sport of figure skating? EH - I have a natural flair when I skate to Spanish music. I have had a Spanish inspired program for the past 4 years in either my Short Program or Freeskate. I am proud to share my passion with the audience. One of my coaches had me demonstrate hip movements (as used in salsa dancing) for our entire off-ice class as I was the only skater who didn’t move like a gringo! It must be genetic! AR - Do you speak Spanish? EH - Hablo un poquito Espanol. I will begin to study Spanish next semester. When I travel back to Colombia, one day, I want to be able to communicate with the people and not just shake my head and smile…. My sister who was born in Paraguay, studies Spanish in her Catholic grade school and my mom studies Spanish a little as well. AR - For those who were not born in a Latin Country but have relatives from there - have you visited or lived in that country and have any memories? EH - My mom stayed in Bogota for nine weeks waiting for my adoption papers to be signed. He did a lot of traveling, so I have tons of photos and artifacts. Of course, I was too tiny to have memories of my own, but plan to make some in the future! AR - What are the obstacles, if any, have you come across since you decided to support your Latino Heritage? EH - I haven’t encountered any obstacles because of my heritage, if anything I feel that I am unique because of my heritage and am proud of that fact. AR - How would you explain or support your desire to continue supporting Latino skating (in general - not just the website/organization). EH - It is such a shame that there are not many Latino skaters. I am fortunate that my adoptive family has embraced my desire to skate. I know I was inspired by the skating of Rudy Galindo and perhaps I will be an inspiration for others in the future-despite my last name being “Halverson”…ha ha. AR - How rare are we in the sport? Do you feel isolated sometimes or have you met more Latino skaters throughout your career? EH - Sometimes I feel that I am not embraced by the Latino Community because I am adopted. I feel that they think I “don’t count” because I was raised by Caucasian parents. The fact of the matter is that I am here, I am Colombian and one day my story will be heard. I believe that God has a plan and he placed me right here for a reason. I have God-given talent and I know it would not have been developed if I had not been adopted and had the opportunity to skate. It is my opinion that the number of Asian figure skaters has increased immensely because of the success and exposure that Michelle Kwan and Kristi Yamaguchi brought to this sport. When I reach the World or Olympic podium one day, everyone will know that I am a Latino Figure Skater! AR - What do you think could be a misconception, if any, about being Latina in this sport? EH - I haven’t felt any misconceptions. AR - Have any special opportunities or support from the Latino community arisen since skating with a conscious effort to promote Latino Skating? EH - Saint Paul has a very large Latino population, however, I have not been able to connect to promote Latino skating. Perhaps this is because I don’t feel that they embrace my roots since my adoptive parents are not Latinos. AR - What would you like to see happen as a result? How do you think Latinos can contribute to this sport? EH - All cultures contribute significantly to all sports. Tiger Woods has given African American boys and girls the hope that they can be stars in a sport previously dominated by Caucasions. Venus and Serena Williams have inspired young tennis players as well. Latino champions in all sports will only serve to bring hope, pride and inspiration to the Latino Community. AR - As for us here in www.latinoskating.org - How did you hear of us? I know that we hope to create a unique and rich community, celebrating culture and someday hope be able to help financially our skaters while promoting our beautiful sport. What do you hope this community will become? Is there anything you would like to see come out of this organization in terms of contributions to the sport of international figure skating? EH - My mom did an internet search for Latino skaters and discovered this organization. Figure skating is an expensive sport and it is truly sad that there isn’t funding to assist minority skaters, in general. I hope that the Latino Skating Organization will grow in its popularity- thus in its promotion of skating. Potentially Latino sponsors will realize how much their financial support can help inspire skaters to continue with their training. Many young children begin, but they can only afford to go so far in the sport. Most stop when it is time for private lessons. Latino coaches are rare. If more skaters were to stay in the sport for the long term and perhaps coach skating, they could be an inspiration for Latino skaters in the future. AR - I appreciate your time for not only supporting our own organization but also for your time in this interview. Hope to continue following your career! Wish you much success and happiness! Go Latinos! Andale! |
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