Interview With Jason Brown

Every so often a skater comes up the ranks that just makes everyone stop what they are doing and just watch. They've got that indescribable quality: that effortless glide... that something special. They're a skater's skater... Jason Brown is just that kind of skater. After winning the bronze medal in 2009 on the Novice level at U.S. Nationals, Brown won the U.S. Junior title and went on to compete at the World Junior Championships the following year, where he finished seventh. He conquered his nemesis, the triple axel and went on to medal at the World Junior Championships the consequent two years. His season this year is already off to a roaring start, with a silver medal at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany and a 5th place finish at Skate America, where he finished second in the short program ahead of World Champion Daisuke Takahashi, U.S. Champion Max Aaron and Four Continents Champion Adam Rippon. With his second Grand Prix event (the Trophee Eric Bompard in France) set to get underway this weekend, the pride of Illinois took just some time out from his very busy training schedule to talk about his competitive career, relationship with coach Kori Ade, his "Riverdance" free skate, artistry and more:

Q: So far in your skating career, you've won the U.S. junior title, the Junior Grand Prix Final, two medals at the World Junior Championships and most recently finished 2nd at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany and fifth at Skate America in Detroit. Looking forward to the Trophee Eric Bompard in France and the U.S. Championships in January, what are your biggest goals for this Olympic season? Who do you think your stiffest competition will come from?

A: It has definitely been an extremely exciting past couple years, and it is crazy to think that it's truly only the beginning. Looking to Paris and the U.S. Championships, my main goal is to compete the way I've trained; performing and executing my programs the way I know I am capable of doing. Along with this, I constantly strive to best my highest scores, and to continue to learn and grow from every experience that I'm fortunate enough to be given, and take what I've learned through the next steps of my journey. I believe that my stiffest competition is myself. Every time I step onto the ice to compete, I want to best myself. I have no control over what anyone else does or how the judges will score, and, at the end of the day, if I skated and performed to the best of my ability, I'm happy. I can't do more than that.

Q: How would you describe your relationship with your coach Kori Ade? 

A: Kori is everything I would have ever dreamed of finding in a coach. We have an extremely professional relationship at the rink, yet she's like my second Mom off the ice. Since I started with her when I was five, she's been a part of my life as long as I can remember. She knows me better than I know myself. She has been by my side through all the ups, downs, struggles, and triumphs, and she continues to inspire and motivate me as an athlete, student, and overall person every single day. I feel so fortunate to have started with her, and I hope to be fortunate enough to one day end with her. There is no other person in the world I would rather see standing at the boards while I'm competing or training. It's truly a gift working with her.

Q: Mastering the triple Axel was HUGE! When did it click and what jumps would you say you are most comfortable with? 

A: My triple Axel clicked less than a year ago at the beginning of December, four days before I left for the Junior Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia. It's almost our one year anniversary! My most comfortable jumps are probably triple flip and triple toe.

Q: Who is the most interesting person that you've met through your involvement in the sport?

A: I've met so many interesting people through the travel that I've been fortunate enough to do over the past few years. I love meeting people from all over the world and hearing their incredible and moving stories. Meeting skating fans and getting to know some of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC's) from around the world is something I truly value and I love to hear about their lives.

Q: You play piano! What do you find the most rewarding about playing music? 

A: I've always loved taking piano lessons. I really feel that playing a musical instrument helps with my rhythm and musicality on the ice. When I was younger, playing the piano really taught me a lot about discipline, focus, phrasing, and tempo.

Q: Speaking of music, what is one song you could listen to over and over... and over again and never get bored of? 

A: I don't have a particular song that I could listen to or repeat and never get bored of! I love music which either has a fun or addictive beat, along with songs whose lyrics are either motivating, touching, fun, or tell some sort of story.

Q: When I skated, the first program that I did at our Provincials here in Nova Scotia was actually to "Reel Around The Sun" from "Riverdance". I just love the music! Where did you come up with the idea to skate to it this year and what do you love most about this program and the story it tells?

A: I give all the credit to Rohene on this one! Rohene and I spent about a week looking at different pieces for my senior debut long program and at the end of the week he looked at me with the widest, brightest eyes and said, "I know exactly what you are going to skate to. I've always wanted you to skate to it, but I've been waiting for the perfect time. That time is now!" This program is by far the hardest, most exhausting free skate I have ever had, yet that is something I love most about the program. It is such a challenge, and constantly pushes me to my limits both physically and mentally. I absolutely love performing this free skate at events and I love when the audience claps along.

Q: Rohene is in his own right really one of the most compelling skaters out there. What is working with him like and why do you believe that he has brought out the best in your skating? 

A: Working with Rohene is truly incredible. He's an outstanding coach and choreographer, and his talent is out of this world. Rohene is truly art on ice. He constantly pushes me to my physical and artistic limits, holding me to the highest standards, and won't accept anything less than when he knows I've given my best effort. He definitely brings out the best in my skating, taking the time to work with me on every detail and understanding each movement. We have a great relationship both on and off the ice, really enhancing the choreographing process.

Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and why? 

A: My three favourite skaters of all times would have to be Scott Hamilton, Michelle Kwan and Meryl Davis and Charlie White. I admire Scott Hamilton both for his skating and his continuing involvement in the sport. The impact he has on people and the way he touches everyone he meets is a quality I wish to emulate. When he spoke to us at Champs Camp, he instantly captured the hearts of every athlete through his stories of setbacks, triumphs, handwork, and finding ways to persevere through the toughest times. He is my ultimate role model, inspiring me and motivating me every time I get the privilege of being around him. Michelle Kwan is a skating icon. Her longevity in the sport and her poise through every step of her career is incomparable. Her skating touched the hearts of every single person in the crowd, and she represented an era of the sport that I wish I was old enough to have been a part of. She had that gift of capturing the audience bringing them to tears and onto their feet, while off the ice being so humble and kind. Thirdly, I look up to Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Not only have I grown up watching them skate, but I now have had the privilege of traveling with them, and competing on the same US team. Their skating quality is remarkable, making every single move look so effortless. They are both the nicest, most down to earth, welcoming people. They are true champions both on and off the ice, so extremely humble and respectful. I look up to them in so many ways and I feel so extremely honoured to have met them and travel with them while they are still competing.

Q: Do you think artistry is valued enough in the IJS judging system and in skating in general?

A: Skating is one of the few sports that recognizes artistry. The IJS judging system is complicated, striving to find a balance to reward both technical and artistic skills. I understand there is controversy at times over this question, but I try not to get involved in the judging factors I can't control. I work extremely hard on artistry and constantly strive to improve my second mark. It is definitely a part of the sport that I truly value.

Q: What's one thing about you most people don't know?

A: In eighth grade, I was Conrad Birdie in our middle school production of "Bye Bye Birdie"!

Q: What do you love most about skating? 

A: I absolutely love to perform. There is no better feeling than putting your heart into a performance, and being able to share that experience with the audience, my family, and friends. Along with this, meeting skating fans and hearing their stories is something that I love about my skating experience. Their support means everything to me and it's my privilege getting to spend time talking to them. I also love to train. I could spend entire days locked up in the ice rink running sections of programs, doing tons of different drills, and working on each aspect of the sport. The feeling of ending my training day exhausted and dead tired is something I strive for each day.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

The Darker Side Of Skating "Fandom"

"I'm your number one fan!" exclaimed creepy as fuck character Annie Wilkes in Stephen King's hit book and movie Misery. Kathy Bates may have deservedly won an Academy Award that year for her portrayal of the obsessed fan of novelist Paul Sheldon, but scarily not all Misery's are fictional characters. The skating community has been no stranger to its share of obsessed fans and I highly doubt that the age of social media has made things any easier for skaters: they're all the more 'accessible' to fans... both adoring and absolutely crossing a line from obsessed to at times dangerous.

In 1991, FBI officials arrested Harry Veltman III, an unemployed man with a history of psychological problems at his home in Westminster, California, citing concerns that he might harm his victim - 2 time Olympic Gold Medallist Katarina Witt - at a performance in Inglewood, California that year. Veltman had sent 60 unsolicited and threatening letters to Witt in the course of less than a year, including nude photos of himself and had even thrown some of these letters onto the ice at a live skating event where Katarina had performed. In one letter he had even written to her, "Don't be afraid when God allows me to pull you out of your body to hold you tight. Then you'll know that there is life beyond the flesh". Katarina ultimately had to painfully testify against her stalker in court, explaining to the jury that she "believed he was going to kill me". Veltman was ultimately was found guilty by a federal jury of six of seven guilty verdicts in the charges laid against him and spent 37 months in prison. 

Sadly, Katarina isn't the only skater (or athlete... or actor... or public figure) who's had to put up with a deranged "fan" similar to the one depicted in Sarah McLachlan's song "Possession" ( which was also based on very true events). In 2010, Olympic Gold Medallist Yuna Kim became the target of the obsession of a Canadian teenager. He sent an e-mail and photographs to Kim's then-coach Brian Orser asking for his help arranging a rendezvous with Kim. Orser responded thanks, but no. The emails persisted. "A few more e-mails came from the same e-mail address, but now the guy was using a different name each time. He was professing his undying love for her and that he would do anything to meet her,” explained Orser in a 2010 New York Times article. Receptionists and rink staff were put on guard at Kim's pre-Vancouver training base and the fan's photograph was posted like a mug shot at the rink's entrance. Orser's no stranger to obsessed fans himself. He blew his nose in a tissue once in Asia and someone came and took it as a souvenir. It's like the Absolutely Fabulous 'Abba turd', only in real life and just as sketchy.

2006 Olympic Silver Medallist Sasha Cohen has had similar experiences to Katarina and Yuna as well: “Some of them think they are your best friend. They want to fly you to their school, so you could be their show-and-tell. One grandfatherly-like type character wrote letters, then actually flew across the country to take me to Disneyland. He showed up at my rink.” Michelle Kwan received death threats in 1996 from a fan who was enraged when she didn't respond to his letters and was taken into custody in Paris when Kwan was there competing in that year's Champions Series Final.

Perhaps most disturbing is the story of French pairs skater Stephane Bernadis, who received death threats in 2000 leading up to the 2000 World Championships in Nice, France. "Shit got real" when his left arm was slashed by an unknown assailant when he opened his hotel room door in Nice. At a press conference at those Worlds, Bernadis explained "About three weeks ago I received two anonymous phone calls. I knew someone was there because I could hear them breathing. Then later, I parked my car in front of my home in Paris and found a sheet of paper with the message, 'you will die soon'. I didn't panic that much. I was not scared. The handwriting looked really childish so I wasn't that concerned." Bernadis ended up with stitches and painkillers to get through his long program at those worlds with partner Sarah Abitbol, where they won the bronze medal and France's first medal in pairs skating since 1932. That victory probably couldn't have been anymore sweet!

These stories, as chilling as they are, serve as a reminder to respect the privacy and personal lives of skaters. In these times, social media is where it's at. Skaters have Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and Instagram pages to interact with family, friends and fans. Engage with them! That's with these things are for. But be respectful and aware when you do... there's a fine line and as you can see from these stories, many of your favourite skaters have scarily seen it crossed. Harshly criticizing and verbally attacking skaters on social media is the same thing - you're bringing negative energy into people's lives that they don't want or need. Constructive criticism is one thing, but when you cross that line you're not only being offensive, you're being downright creepy. Don't be that 'fan'.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Ingo Steuer

The city of Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz) in Germany is synonymous with 2 time Olympic Gold Medallist Katarina Witt, but Witt is not the only skating superstar to hail from the region. Representing East Germany, Ingo Steuer won the 1984 World Junior Championships and made 2 trips to the World Championships with his first partner Manuela Landgraf. He then teamed up with Ines Müller and made 2 trips to the European Championships. His biggest successes came when he teamed up with Mandy Wötzel in 1992. After being together for less than a year, Wötzel and Steuer won the silver medals at the 1993 European and World Championships. After an 8th place finish in the short program at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway, the team were forced to withdraw after a disastrous fall in the free skate that left Wötzel with stitches. Despite that disaster in Lillehammer, Wötzel and Steuer rebounded strongly to win a total of 4 German titles together in addition to the European Championships in 1995. During the 1996/1997 season, they won Skate Canada, the Nations Cup, the Cup Of Russia, the Champions Series Final, German Nationals and became World Champions! The following season, Wötzel and Steuer became Olympic Medallists, winning the bronze medal at the Nagano Games with two fabulous performances. Turning professional, they competed on the professional circuit and enjoyed great success in that avenue as well. After their skating career together ended, Steuer became a father and turned to coaching. He has coached members of each of the current top 3 pairs in the world at one point or another and has acted as coach to 4 time World Champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy since they teamed up in 2003. It was my pleasure to do a brief interview with Steuer. We talked about his career, professional skating and the top teams in pairs skating today:

Q: You've won both the World Junior and World titles, won the German and European titles, competed at 2 Winter Olympics (winning the bronze medal in 1998) and enjoyed success as a professional and a coach as well. Looking at your entire career from your World Junior title in 1984 until now, what would you say is the most special moment you've ever had in figure skating?

A: I had a lot of good moments in my skating life, but the best was where we win the Grand Prix Final in Canada 1996/97, because the program was perfect.

Q: Do you think you and Mandy would ever get back into performing or skating together?

A:  You have to know when you have to stop, but still I like to skate for myself.

Q: Who are your 3 favourite skaters of all time?

A: My favourites on ice were Artur Dmitriev, David Santee and Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

Q: Having competed on the pro circuit in events like the World Professional Championships, World Team Championships, ESPN Championships and Ice Wars, you really got to continue to enjoy success and push yourselves as skaters as professionals. Do you think that professional skating competitions and shows will ever have a revival? Should they?

A: I hope that the pro skating will have a revival because it is good for skaters and fans!

Q: At one point or another, you've coached Aliona Savchenko, Robin Szolkowy, Tatiana Volosozhar and Eric Radford, members of all three of the world's top teams right now. What are the strengths of all three of these teams and who do you see coming out on top in Sochi if all three skate clean?

A: All are different, but all are hard workers and have the dream to win. If all skate clean in Sochi, the result will be Russia, Germany, Canada.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Hartshorn And Sweiding And The Pink Rink

Do you know what I hate? The cold. Even when I skated, I hated a cold rink, even during the summer sessions. If I had it my way, I'd be out in the hottest weather possible, puttering around in shorts and sandals with a fizzy in my hands and festive music blasting. As we all know... if you want to heat things up, Florida is pretty much a sure thing. Two of my all time favourite skaters will be spending the holiday season at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, a Waldorf Astoria Resort in Boca Raton, Florida. World Professional and U.S. Open Professional Champions Anita Hartshorn and Frank Sweiding and their cast of talented skaters will be entertaining audiences and teaching interactive skating classes at the Florida resort through to January 2014 on a brand new pink ice surface called The Pink Rink.

"The Pink Rink here at the Boca Raton Beach Club Resort sits right next to the hotel, in easy walking distance of the fitness and tennis centers. Opening weekend was a huge hit with the members and we are starting our skating classes this week," explained Anita Hartshorn.

The supporting cast that will join Hartshorn and Sweiding for the special performances is Ty Cockrum (who is also acting as a choreographer for these productions), Angela Kim, Anna Cobb, Alex Wilfand and "a skating polar bear that's yet to be cast". "The Holiday show is 30 minutes long. We are also doing 2 shows in conjunction with some musicians from the local Lynn University Orchestra," offered Anita. Those two shows with the Lynn University Conservatory of Music's ensemble will be on November 15 and December 1. A portion of the proceeds from skating events at The Pink Rink will go to American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program.

Anita and Frank's production company Glacier I.C.E. is also currently casting for their 2014 productions at Phantasialand in Germany. Running from March to November 2014, the production will once again run at the German theme park. They are looking to hire/cast several professional skaters. If you're interested or know someone who is, you can submit a bio, photos and video links of your skating to Anita at Fandaice@aol.com. They are looking for male and female soloists, pairs, and ensemble skaters at the time of this article's publication. For more information about Anita and Frank's Florida shows and reservations, visit Boca Raton Resort and Club or call 1-888-495-BOCA.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Lance Vipond

Five years ago, I was going through a rough time in my life and decided to leave town and spend a year with good friends who lived in Ontario. Brantford, Ontario to be exact. Although the small city's claims to fame are being the birthplace of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and hometown of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell, I didn't exactly find it to be a happening spot. Coming from a city and province rich in culture, history and a flourishing arts scene, it was kind of a culture shock. That said, I met some amazing people and definitely had some good times. Little did I know when I was there, Brantford played host to one of Canadian skating's best kept secrets... choreographer Lance Vipond. A former national and international competitor himself and a talented musician, Vipond is currently the choreographer of Canadian National Champion Kaetlyn Osmond and has worked with a host of other very talented skaters over the years including Olympic and World Champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. Although he prefers being behind the scenes, Lance took the time to talk about his theatre and skating backgrounds, Kaetlyn Osmond and the good and not so good things going on in the sport right now:

Q: Looking at your own skating career, what were your proudest accomplishments? Your biggest frustrations?

A: My proudest accomplishments would have to be being named to the Canadian National team, representing my country at the 1991 World Junior Championships and winning the 1989 Oslo Piruetten, which was my very first international competition. These were all huge goals of mine as a kid growing up in Ontario. I had dreamed that achieving these things would open up a pathway to the world beyond my limited small town experiences and, indeed, they did turn out to be stepping stones to many exciting adventures and to finding myself as a person and as an artist. My biggest frustration was that my perfectionism, topped off with crippling anxiety and a huge fear of failure kept me from achieving my full potential as a competitive skater. I was a rock star in practice but could never actually put down the kind of performances that I wanted to in a competitive setting. In hindsight, I now know that I am just not a very competitive person and that my true love lies in the day to day work - the process, the creating - and that to me, the end result is not what ultimately motivates me.

Q: You studied music and theatre in Edmonton and England. How did your training in the performing arts make you look at figure skating with a different perspective than you had during your own skating career?

A: I learned so much... theatre school was were I really found myself and came to terms with the fact that I did, in fact, have something valuable to say as an artist. When I returned to skating it was from the perspective of an actor, a storyteller. I found that skating programs could become so much more richly textured and emotionally complex by keeping a character or storyline in mind while creating and performing the choreography. I find that playing a character allows the skater to be more daring, makes them feel less inhibited and can, perhaps, push them to do things that they may not feel comfortable or brave enough to do otherwise. I also realized that there should be no superfluous movement in a skating program... that every move should have a purpose in the telling of the story and in the expressing of the piece of music that the skater is using. To sum it up, I came back with the idea that competitive skating could be more than just a bunch of pretty moves connecting technical elements and could, in fact, be a way of telling stories and making human connections with the audience and the judges.

Q: As a choreographer, you have worked with Olympic Gold Medallists Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, Vaughn Chipeur, Joey Russell and of course, the reigning Canadian Ladies Champion Kaetlyn Osmond. What is your relationship with Kaetlyn like and how do you think she has really grown as a skater with her new programs this season?

A: Kaetlyn and I have a wonderful relationship. We laugh...a lot. We are friends, we are both artists, we both like to work hard and I think she knows that I am someone that she can confide in at any time for any reason. After 8 years together, we have a very easy and intuitive way of communicating on the ice. I know what works for her and what her strengths and weaknesses are as a skater and as a performer. We have a very strong bond built on mutual admiration and trust. She knows that I have her back and that I will always do whatever it takes to make sure she is comfortable and 100% ready to take her programs in front of an audience. Kaetlyn is so talented and has such a huge personality. We push each other to be better and I know that I have grown tremendously as a choreographer by having her as a student. This year has been challenging due to injuries and other setbacks, however I have recently noticed that her basic skating skills have greatly improved this year giving the programs more of an open and airy feel. There is a newfound ease to the way that she covers the ice. I think this makes this year's programs look less rushed and much more grounded, especially the long program. There is a new maturity that I see emerging in her attention to detail that I am very excited for people to see.

Kaetlyn's short program at the 2013 World Championships, choreographed by Lance 

Q: Who are your 3 favourite skaters of all time and why?

A: Gordeeva and Grinkov... they took me to another world when I watched them skate. The fluidity and the otherworldly qualities of their movement, not to mention the deep and real connection that they shared on the ice inspired me greatly. I remember trying to copy her double axel technique in my local rink after watching the '88 Olympics. They, to me, were the epitome of beauty and grace on ice and what I aspired to be. Kurt Browning... the iconic programs, the magic feet, the biggest, most authentic personality to ever grace our sport... he’s one of a kind and I never tire of watching him perform. John Curry... perfection, lines, musicality... fearless in the way he moved his body. He always looked so comfortable in his skin out on the ice... something that I always wished that I could be.

Q: What do you think was the greatest song ever written? The greatest movie ever made?

A: "Imagine" by John Lennon. Too many movies to mention! Brokeback Mountain kills me every time I watch it. Those shirts hanging in the closet... heart wrenching.

Q: Who would be your dream person to choreograph a program for and what would the music and theme of the program be?

A: Akiko Suzuki. She skates from her heart. She is a woman, not a girl. She has lived a life, and not an easy one. She brings these experiences and this knowing of the human condition onto the ice. She has a depth that the other skaters don’t have. I feel like she bares her soul every time she skates which I find to be brave and completely mesmerizing. I have an emotional experience when i watch her that I don’t get with any other skater of today's generation... with the exception of Kaetlyn of course. As far as the music and theme, that would be a collaboration between the two of us. She needs something that she can connect to and that speaks to what it is that she wants to share so it would be important that she has a ton of input.

Q: What do you perceive as the single biggest problem facing figure skating right now and how would you propose to solve it?

A: The lack of personalities. Where are the Katarina Witt's, the Kurt Browning's? I see the same handful of skaters over and over again all year long and the majority of them are so focused on adding up the points while they skate their programs that they never allow who they are to peek through. There's a disconnect for me as an audience member. I can appreciate that what they are doing is incredibly difficult but the lack of emotional connection leaves me cold. I want someone to get out there and bust through, grab me by the throat and demand that I watch. I want to know who these skaters are! It seems to me that most of them don't want to show me. I sit and watch people do amazing things with their bodies but in the end I just don’t care. I want the art to return... the artist to return... but I'm not sure if that could every happen again with the technical demands put upon the skaters of today.

Q: You've had the opportunity to judge YAS (Young Artists Showcase), which is having its Finals in less than a month. Of the four skaters who have qualified for the live finals, who impresses you the most? What do you think is so ultimately important about an event like this for young choreographers?

Q: Zabato impressed me a great deal... such creativity and talent! His pieces looked less like skating and more like performance art. So young and fresh and very innovative, he has a style that is completely his own and his work stays true to who he is. This contest and others like it are such amazing opportunities for young choreographers to get their names and their work out in to the public arena. It's tough to break in to the world of skating choreography. It takes talent, years of work and then a lucky break to get name recognition. It's great that these kids can use the internet to introduce themselves and their talents to the community. Hopefully, they get some work from the experience. I think that if the skaters of today had a larger pool of choreographers to draw from we would end up with less homogyny. Skaters today use a handful of the same choreographers and inevitably end up looking alike.

Q: You skated a lead role with the National Ice Theatre Of Canada, an ensemble group that was based in Edmonton in a musical play on ice that was performed in conjunction with the Edmonton International Fringe Festival. I've done a show here at the Atlantic Fringe Festival myself! It was over 10 years ago now but I know how important Fringe is in bringing new, interesting and fresh performance art to greater audiences. What ultimately became of this performance group and why don't you feel that the popularity of performance art skating such as in groups like the American Ice Theatre, Ice-Semble, The Ice Theatre Of New York and even YAS has become something that's really developed moreso here north of the border?

A: I think that the National Ice Theatre Of Canada (NITC) is still operating, although they may be in a dormant phase at the moment. I found my time with NITC and with ITNY to be very beneficial to me as a performer by expanding my perception of what skating could be and to get me thinking outside of the box. I think that there are not many people out there who have the means to put a group like this together. It takes a lot of work and a lot of passion... and then there have to be good ideas. Most of the skaters/ex-skaters that I know in Canada are busy in the competitive world, either coaching or judging. It seems to be the draw for most people. I greatly admire the few who have put themselves out there to put on skating events that fall outside of the box. It takes bravery and vision and I applaud them and hope that more of these talented people come forward in the future.

Q: Are you planning on making the trip to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics?

A: Nope, but I'll be cheering everyone on from in front of the TV!

Q: What's one thing about you most people don't know?

A: What I look like! I rarely go to competitions... in fact, I've only watched Kaetlyn compete live three times. This goes back to my preference of staying behind the scenes and my enjoyment of the day to day creative process over the final outcome. Over the last couple of years, my name has been mentioned more than ever before on television and in print but I'd be willing to bet that the majority of skating fans wouldn't be able to pick me out of a police line-up.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years with relation to the sport?

A: I think I'll still be involved in some way. Who knows where the sport will be in 10 years? I hope that it is thriving and if I'm still needed, I'm sure I'll still be here sharing my creativity and helping skaters find and release their inner artists.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

My Least Favourite Things - A Figure Skating Sing Along!

The hills sadly aren't alive with the sound of music. As much as I do try to stay positive about what's going on in the skating community whenever humanly possible, I am (shocker!) human and I do get as frustrated as the next person sometimes with some of the things that go on in skating. I do consciously try to shy away from publicly sharing my thoughts on the things that push my buttons when it comes to skating and the skating community... but hey, almost 200 articles and interviews so far. I think I'm entitled to one good old fashioned rant, don't you? But rather than just bitch about it, I figured a rousing steppy little show tune was the most appropriate way to vent. In the key of Von Trapp and Rodgers and Hammerstein, here are are a few of My Least Favourite Things. Pour yourself a glass of Pinot Grigio and sing along! It would just be rude not to.

MY LEAST FAVOURITE THINGS

Sing along with me - lyrics on screen!

IJS programs that folks find "artistic".
Phil Hersh's writing makes me go ballistic.
"Hold an edge and look sexy" makes me really cringe.
These are a few of my least favourite things.

What's all the fuss about Julia Lipnitskaia?
She's like a '94 Irina Slutskaya.
I won't be happy till Leonova wins.
These are a few of my least favourite things.

Anyone talking but Dick, Peggy or P.J.
Ottavio Cinquanta is still in his heyday.
CoP footwork with wild flapping wings.
These are a few of my least favourite things.

Another revival of Georges Bizet's "Carmen".
Evan and Johnny craving media attention.
What's it this week? A bad groin or hamstring?
These are a few of my least favourite things.

Jeremy falling! His skating's fantastic.
Cookie cutter programs that just look all spastic.
Scott Moir's talking; all bow to the king.
These are a few of my least favourite things.

Screeching Christina - Must Be Sotnikova.
I will be happy when this program's over.
Why can't I see Brian Joubert's dingaling?
These are a few of my least favourite things.

When the jump pops!
When the lift flops!
When Didier's being bad!
I simply remember my least favourite things and then girl, I feel SO mad...

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

The Untold Story Of Kira Ivanova

Ladies figure skating in the 1980's saw star after star being "born" into the sport. In 1981, Swiss prodigy Denise Biellmann finally overcame the disastrous showing in compulsory figures that kept her off the Olympic podium in 1980 and won the world title. The following year, New Jersey's Elaine Zayak had the skate of her life and won the world title. In 1983, Elaine's biggest rival Rosalynn Sumners won the crown. From 1984 to 1988, Katarina Witt's domination of the sport earned her 4 world titles and 2 Olympic gold medals. Her winning streak was only broken in 1986 by her rival Debi Thomas, who claimed the world title that year. Liz Manley's free skate at the 1988 Olympics not only won the free skate ahead of Debi and Katarina, but won over the hearts of skating fans in Canada and worldwide. No history of ladies figure skating in the 1980's, however, would be complete without talking about a skater who not only won a medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo but stood on the European podium 4 times and claimed the silver medal at the 1985 World Championships, right behind Katarina Witt. Kira Ivanova was not only a specialist in compulsory figures (winning the figures portion of the competition at the Calgary Olympics) but a strong free skater as well. Although not as theatrical or artistic as Katarina Witt, as athletic as Debi Thomas, Midori Ito and Elaine Zayak or as spunky as Liz Manley or Tracey Wainman, Kira Ivanova was a consistent and well-rounded skater who was able to put in strong enough showings in both figures and free skating to usually be around the top of the pack. She even landed a clean triple/triple combination at the 1982 Moscow News Trophy (which she won) demonstrating her strong jumping ability.

Behind her success was a different story that the world didn't always see. Kira Ivanova grew up living with her grandmother Liubov Mikhailova, who accompanied her to the rink. Her parents had divorced and her mother had remarried. She started skating at a young age, her first coach being Irina Anikanova, the daughter of Soviet speed skater Ivan Anikanov. She started training at the Moscow "Spartak" Club after Anikanova discovered her skating at a rink in a local park. Irina Anikanova not only coach Kira, but showed great concern for her and acted almost like a second mother, helping her financially as well. Kira's talent was quickly recognized and she was included in a special group for athletes that were to devote their lifetime to sport. Recognizing the importance of education, her grandmother Liubov insisted that she continue her studies throughout her training. Her coach Anikanova was blindsided by this special training group in 1978, when all of her students were taken from her and given to a more influential group. Kira refused to leave the coach that had acted like a second mother to her, but Anikanova was forced to leave the country and Kira moved to the training school of Viktor Kudriavtsev. That same year, Ivanova became the first Soviet figure skater to medal at the Junior World Championships, winning the silver medal at the competition held in Megeve, France.

Early success was all over the place for Ivanova. With choreographer Alla Kapranova and coach Kudriavtsev, she was landing two triple jumps in competition and skating programs that started to earn her results at home and internationally. The first gold medal of her career came in January 1979 at the USSR Championships in Zaporozhje. She made her European and World debut that year, finishing 10th and 18th. The following season, she qualified for and competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics (the first of three Olympic berths in her career). She finished 16th, completing 3 triple jumps in her free skate. By the following season, her results were steadily improving. She once again won the USSR Championships, which she had lost the previous year to rival Elena Vodorezova. She fnished 7th at the European Championships in Innsbruck, Austria and then went on to finish 12th at the World Championships, which were won by Elaine Zayak that year. She made a big splash that year at Worlds by finishing 4th in the short program. The success continued. By this time she was working extensively with 2 time Olympic Gold Medallist Alexander Zaitsev and Bolshoi Theatre choreographers.

Things started to change in 1982, when Kira changed training clubs to the "Dynamo" Club and started working with 2 time World Champion Vladimir Kovalev. Kovalev was in conflict with Russian skating authorities and was twice denied the "honored master of sport" Soviet title. Kira fell in love with Vladimir, who was 10 years her senior. Kovalev had a reputation as a bit of a player. In January 1982, right after moving to Kovalev's school, Kira went to Krasnoyarsk to compete at the Winter Spartakiada of the USSR. She won the competition but was disqualified and later suspended from the Soviet national team, banned from competing outside of the Soviet Union for 2 years. This all happened after she didn't arrive at the event's doping control, choosing to ignore this procedure and drink with her coach Kovalev instead. Expulsion from the team gave Kira the motivation to continue to work on her skating, especially her choreography and creativity. She regained her position on the national team after winning the USSR Cup in April 1983.

The 1984 season started off on the right foot for Kira, the time away from competition paying off in her training. She finished 4th at the European Championships in Budapest and headed to Sarajevo, Yugoslavia for her second Olympic experience. Interestingly, she was accompanied in Sarajevo by Eduard Pliner, not Kovalev. In the compulsory figures, she performed her forward inside rocker, paragraph double three and back change loop very strongly and was just outside of the top three. Her clean short program which featured a triple toe/double loop combination, double axel, double flip and good speed and footwork improved her case, moving her into the top three. Although she had issues on her first three triple jumping passes in her free skate, she cleanly performed 2 triples and a double axel later in her program to Soviet film music and made history in becoming the first Soviet or Russian ladies skater to win a medal at the Olympic Games. No Soviet or Russian skater would make it back on the podium until 2002, when Irina Slutskaya did in Salt Lake City. At the 1984 World Championships in Ottawa, she again had problems in the free skate, finishing 4th overall. At this event she was again not accompanied by Kovalev, appearing with Elena Tchaikovskaya instead.

In 1985, Ivanova finished 2nd at the USSR Championships to Anna Kondrashova and went on to have perhaps her most successful season ever, finishing 2nd at both the European Championships and World Championships that year, right behind 1984 Olympic Gold Medallist Katarina Witt of (East) Germany. Her results were again strong during the 1985/1986 season, when she again finished 2nd at the European Championships to Witt and finished 4th at the World Championships. Now an Olympic, World and European medallist, Ivanova was considered a definite medal threat looking towards the 1988 Calgary Games, especially with her strong aptitude for compulsory figures. Everything still wasn't all roses and Stoli though. At the 1986 World Championships, Kira sat down with Leonid Raitsin, a special physical preparation coach for the national team of the USSR in figure skating. Explained Raitsin: "I met Kira after the short program and she asked for help. She said that during the competition, she never sleeps at night, always was strongly emotional and due to this was tired and she not compete always successfully. I could not deny it, agreeing to come to her before bedtime. Everything was very simple (by energetical methods). I was a witness to her choreographer, who was present. After 15 minutes we have left, and Kira, as she later told, come sleep very good, as a baby. Well slept all night. Very well skate the free program and won competitions. After that she said that usually after the competition she was very tired and must have a the week for the relaxation, but at this moment even ready to compete again. Here is the case”. Raitsin also determined that anxiety and sleep were not the only issues in Kira's way: "Kira come to the free program, having the state of fatigue. Therefore it was necessary to link the music in such a way that she must to able to finish it. Regarding her jumps, Kira could do it the more accurately, if the velocity is lower, so with slow music she can do it better. Then we have already met with her on the warm-up - she requested her help in the preparation. Of course, Kira was a technically gifted figure skater, and with very good structure for figure skating." Raitsin's assistance did not ultimately help the next season. She again lost the Soviet title but rebounded to win the silver medal at the European Championships, held in the city where she won her Olympic medal in Sarajevo. At the 1987 Worlds in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kira dropped to 5th place overall.

Kira Ivanova with Katarina Witt rinkside at the Calgary Olympics

The 1987/1988 season would be Kira Ivanova's last season as an "amateur" skater. After winning her fourth consecutive silver medal at the European Championships in Prague, she headed to Calgary, Alberta for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. The focus in the ladies competition was not on Ivanova but on Katarina Witt and Debi Thomas, who were preparing to showdown in "The Battle Of The Carmen's". Both skaters had selected the opera's score for their free skate and were portraying Carmen's character in completely different lights. With the pressure off her, Ivanova won the majority of judge's favor in the compulsory figures phase of the competition, placing 1st on 5 judges placards. In her short program to a modern arrangement of Beethoven's "Lunar Sonata", Kira needed to land her easier triple toe/double loop combination if she wanted to stay near the top group of ladies. Skaters like Midori Ito, Caryn Kadavy and Jill Trenary were attempting more difficult combinations and she didn't need to get lost in the shuffle. She was a little off in the short program, having a shaky landing on her double loop and touching down with her free leg and landing hard and with a short exit on her double axel. She also garnered a deduction on her final spin. Her oridinals in the short program had her between 8th and 11th places, and she dropped into 4th place heading into the free skate behind Thomas, Witt and canada's Elizabeth Manley. It would be difficult for Ivanova to even maintain 4th place. In recent years, she had been lucky to perform 2-3 triple jumps. Her rivals were doing 4, 5 and in Midori Ito and Claudia Leistner's cases 6-7. Another bronze medal was in reach but it wasn't at the same time. Heading right on the ice after Liz Manley brought the house down with the performance of a lifetime in her home country, one can only imagine the stress of "having to go on after that". Soviet press was criticizing Kira for not having enough risk and difficulty in her free skate, so she shockingly attempted the triple lutz for the first and only time in competition at the Olympic Games. She underrotated the lutz, doubled her triple loop and then barely eeked out a double axel. She almost tripped on the boards. Of five triple jump attempts, she landed zero. Without even a coach there to guide her, she was accompanied in the kiss and cry by her choreographer Alla Kapranova. Kovalev's on again, off again relationship with Ivanova had made
circumstances bizarre in competitions for her. The skater who had LED Witt, Thomas and Manley in the compulsory figures dropped to a generous 7th overall and decided to retire from "amateur" competition.

Kira turned professional after finishing 7th at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. She finally parted ways with Vladimir Kovalev. To make money, she took parts in movies, toured with Igor Bobrin's Theater Of Ice Miniatures in Russia and in 1991 started coaching. Things started to go off track in life for her when she turned professional. In 1989, her grandmother (who had raised her) passed away. When she started coaching, she was still really having an issue adjusting to life outside of an athlete's world. Suddenly, her three best students changed coaches. She was having trouble sleeping and taking sedatives. Twice in three months, Kira had car accidents. She broke her car. She was twice married, first to a dancer at the Bolshoi Theatre, but that marriage quickly ended in divorce. She then married Konstantin Tarelin, the Vice Director of Igor Bobrin's Theater. She became pregnant but the child was abandoned because it was "contrary" to her contract at the Ice Theater. She turned to alcohol and her second husband left her as well, moving to Istanbul, Turkey. By 1992, Kira was discouraged by life and was having a hard time finding work. After her sister Lena Sokol (who was raised by her mother) committed suicide in 1994, Kira was at a real low psychologically. She was fortunate to find work at the Dynamo Skating Club. The officials of Dynamo did everything they could to support Kira. She began to excel in coaching. One of her students was Anastasia Myshkina, the daughter of five time world champion and goalkeeper of the USSR hockey team, Vladimir Myshkin.

Continuing to coach, ill fortune continued to plague her. In 1996, she had another car accident (this time by no fault of her own). In 1998, she went to the Russian Sport Committee asking for an "honored master of sport" title and was refused. She publicly asked for forgiveness from former coach Viktor Kudriavtsev at the 2000 Russian Figure Skating Federation conference. Her addiction to alcohol was affecting her ability to do her job at the Dynamo Club and she was treated several times for her devastating addiction at the Sklifosovsky Clinic. Nothing seemed to help. In September 2001, Kira was dismissed from the Dynamo Club. This effectively meant she had no income and no livelihood. According to friends, she always had random people in her apartment and was selling her belongings to make whatever money she could. She continued treatments at the Sklifosovsky Clinic but was continuing to drink heavily. On December 8, 2001, she called skater Elena Alexandrova of the Club “Medvedkovo”, and indicated her willingness to return to work. On the evening of December 18, she telephoned her stepfather, telling him everything was fine. She sent her beloved German Shepherd Fidel to her roommate's country house that night. She spoke to neighbor Margarita Zhirnova met Kira, making plans to spend time with her in the near future. Little did these people know that this would be the last time they'd talk to Kira Ivanova. She was killed that night in her Dekabristov St. apartment.

On December 21, 2001, Ivanova's body was found covered in stab wounds by her neighbors and stepfather in the apartment building where she lived on the Northern outskirts of Moscow near Otradnoye Metro, a station of the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya metro line. She was only 38 years old and had been dead for several days. The door to Kira's apartment had been broken down and her naked body was found on her bloodstained bed. She had been stabbed 17 times and her hair had been cut. Police categorized the murder as being based on a personal dispute. At the time, her apartment was almost empty. All of the cups, trophies and medals she had won during her skating career were exchanged or sold for alcohol. The only remaining item from her skating career was a badge sign showing she was a participant in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. A medical examination proved that although she had been brutally and sadistically murdered, her blood contained a lethal dose of alcohol. Then chairman of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, Valentin Piseev, told media that Ivanova had been suffering from alcoholism, stating "Ivanova became addicted to alcohol in recent years and underwent several treatments, but with no visible results." In 2001, the Moscow Butyrskiy district prosecutor's office started a criminal research investigation. Police found that over the past 2 years Kira’s social circle has changed. Kira's murderer was never found. The money for Kira's funeral was allocated by the Russian Figure Skating Federation and the Dynamo Club. Her mother reported that the urn with Kira's ashes is buried in the tomb with her sister and grandmother in Khovanskoye cemetery in Moscow.

1984 Olympic Gold Medallist Elena Valova was as shocked as everyone else at the time. "It's shocking. We used to be really good friends. Best friends, I'd say." Valova and Ivanova started skating together at age 11 as part of a program that was designed to groom Soviet ladies skaters. "Kira was very determined, eager... I knew she would get the medal because she wanted to be good. She was a great skater. A skater Russia was always proud of. She opened the door for everyone else, for those competing right now." Valova remembered Ivanova's exhibition program to the tango "Besame Mucho": "She was pretty happy, a little bit sexy, very confident. That's the way she skated and that's the way, I think, she lived her life."

I haven't lived an easy life myself. I think there are few people in the world that have. Tragedy, bad luck, bad choices, lessons, fate... they happen to all of us and are a part of our journeys and the lessons we live and learn. There's something so disheartening about someone who has achieved so much taking such a tragic fall. No one deserves that hard a life! At any rate, I thought it was so important to share Kira's story because a lot of people - even skating fans and skaters - don't seem to know the whole Kira Ivanova story or just how much she went through. However horribly sad the ending might have been, her skating put smiles on the faces of a lot of people and will be remembered for a very long time.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Fort Delaware, Civil War Ghosts And The Great Skating Escape

With Hallowe'en only days away, I thought it only appropriate to look beyond the spooky stories in the Skate Guard Hallowe'en Spooktacular and look at another eerie story where the worlds of skating and parapsychology met on center ice. This story takes us to Pennsylvania, a state well known for its high number of ghost sightings over the years. Pennsylvania is also the birthplace of many elite skaters - Johnny Weir, Adam Rippon, Caryn Kadavy among them. In his 2012 book "Cheltenham", Philadelphia poet Adam Fieled wrote "Ghosts By The Ice Skating Rink", referencing ghosts by the ice skating rink in Elkins Park Square in the Philadelphia suburb Cheltenham:

"Each thinks the other a lonesome reprobate.
That's what I guess when I see the picture.
It's Elkins Park Square on a cold spring night;
they're almost sitting on their hands. One
went up, as they say, one went down, but
you'll never hear a word of this is Cheltenham.
They can't gloat anymore, so they make an
art of obfuscation. That's why I seldom go
back. Elkins Park Square is scary at night.
There are ghosts by the ice skating rink."

Whether or not Elkins Square is haunted or not is another story, but there is certainly a lot of speculation about another Pennsylania location: Fort Delaware with a skating connection. In 1859, Fort Delaware was constructed on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware River between New Jersey and Delaware. The fortress was constructed to protect the ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington, and was certainly an ominous looking structure with 32 foot high granite walls, gun emplacements and a moat. In 1862, a complex was built outside of the sport to house 10,000 prisoners during the Civil War. The garrison became a P.O.W. camp. After the Battle Of Gettysburg in 1863, there were over 13,000 prisoners being held in captivity at Fort Delaware. By April Of 1864, hundreds had died of malaria and dysentery and by the end of the war, 3,200 inmates had left Fort Delaware in pine boxes. Union reports document 273 escapes but there have been over a thousand as no official tally of escape attempts. Many died trying to swim to freedom in the strong currents of the Delaware River. Legend has it that one man actually skated to his freedom from the Fort. As Union soldiers skated for pleasure on the frozen Delaware River in the winter of 1863/1864, the guards (as the story goes) decided that it would be a laugh to watch some Floridian men try to skate, being strangers to the ice. One gray coat apparently acted like he couldn't skate, repeatedly falling down, each time a little closer to the shore. It was apparently all an act and he made a break for freedom wearing skates. This story was recounted by Jackson Wrigley of the 21st Georgia Infantry and was retold by his great-great grandson Stan Wrigley, of Lubbock, Texas, in the Fort Delaware Society's "Fort Delaware Notes" in April 1981: "The guards strapped skates on the prisoners and took them out on the river. The Floridians of course were falling continuously with the guards laughing uproariously at them. One kept getting farther and farther out on the river although he was having some of the most hilarious pratfalls. But as soon as he was out of musket range of the guards, he set off down the river like a professional skater and was never seen again."

Photo courtesy Historical Society Of Pennsylvania

Fort Delaware remained active as a coastal defence during the Spanish American War and both World Wars. In 1951, the outdated Fort became a state park. Many believe that the Fort is haunted. The officer's kitchen is currently staffed and used as a living historical exhibit where foods of the Civil War era are prepared and served for guests. The Kitchen Ghost, as they are called, is often known to hide and move spices, utter names and tell people to "get out". One and only one appearance by the Kitchen Ghost as an apparition was ever reported. Several women were cooking in the kitchen when suddenly a woman none of them was acquainted with appeared and inspected the food on the stove and the table. She gave the shocked cooks a grin, turned around, and walked through the wall. Another spirit said to reside in the ford is the earthbound spirit of Confederate General James Jay Archer, who was given free run of the fortress after promising Commander General Albin Schoepf he wouldn't try to escape. After Archer when back on his word and attempted to escape, Schoepf sentenced him to solitary confinement in a windowless powder magazine, where he became very ill. Visitors and fort employees have reported seeing a bearded man in a gray uniform in the area Archer was imprisoned.

Other earthbound spirits are said to haunt the fortress - a 9 year old drummer boy who tried to escape the fort by escaping in a coffin and was buried alive in that same coffin as the work detail of rebels who were in  was switched at the last minute... a spectre that has tugged at people's clothing on a staircase or send a flock of birds flying down the Fort's closed Endicott staircase to try to make staff lose their balance and even a second Kitchen Ghost, a more kindly female spirit who has threaded needles and collected and strung together loose buttons in a nineteenth century laundromat area in one of the old officer's kitchens. In the officer’s quarters, there's allegedly a ghost of a child that roams the second floor, and a lady-in-waiting. The boy reportedly tugs on the back of people’s clothing and his laughter has been heard echoing from within the Fort. In the same officer’s quarters there's the ghost of a lady (perhaps the same one from the officer's kitchen) who taps on a people's shoulders or takes them by the hand, as if to lead them on a tour of the rooms.

Books have fallen on their own, crystals have swayed when there is no draft or breeze. Lights have been seen on at night by passerby on boats when no one is on Pea Patch Island and the generator is shut down. Confederate soldiers have been spotted under the fort's ramparts and on parade grounds. One visitor snapped a picture of a rebel soldier in the Fort's archway. There have been many orb photos taken in the Fort, sometimes with as many as eight orbs or auras at a time. Disembodied voices have been heard throughout the fort as has harmonica playing. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the stories of this Fort are certainly enough to make you question whether or not you'd spend a night alone there. For the one Florida man who skated to his freedom, there were thousands who didn't make it out of this garrison-turned-P.O.W. camp alive. One thing's for sure... the frozen Delaware River is one place I wouldn't be skating anywhere soon. What about you?

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Richard Dornbush

After making his debut on the senior level at the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Richard Dornbush took the 2010/2011 figure skating season by storm, winning the Junior Grand Prix Final, coming out of nowhere and winning the free skate to finish 2nd at the 2011 U.S. Nationals and finishing in the top ten at the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships. After a disappointing 13th place finish at the subsequent year's U.S. Nationals, Richard rebounded strongly last season with 4 top 6 finishes at international events (including the Four Continents Championships) and a 6th place finish at the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Omaha, Nebraska. A technically gifted and consistent skater and also a skater that excels in the showmanship department, Dornbush is a skater with a serious future in the sport and the drive to achieve every success he aims to. We talked about his success to date, goals for the future, backflips, balancing skating and school, Tammy Gambill and much more in this interview.

Q: You have competed at the U.S. Championships eight times (on the novice, junior and senior levels), winning the silver medal in the senior men's event in 2011 and winning the free skate that year. Of all six of your trips to Nationals, which was the most memorable and why?

A: The year I won the free skate was definitely the most memorable. I went into the rink planning on skating a program just like the one I had put down in practice the day before - clean. I was down lower than I would have liked in the short (eventually costing me the gold) and somehow I had to put that behind me and focus on the long. Well, I had done it a couple times before in junior and under more troubling circumstances if you can believe it (12th and 13th in the short) and had pulled up with clean longs both times, so I knew I could do it. I put a plan in play, trained right, and with a little luck, nailed it more than anyone else could that night taking home the silver in the process. It was pretty awesome!

Q: In 2011, you represented the United States at the World Figure Skating Championships. What was your favourite moment from your first trip to the World Championships and how determined are you to compete on that stage again?

A: Favourite moment: staying on my feet in the short program after a couple of very nervously rough practices and (the next day) settling down to almost (that salchow!) do a clean long at my first World Championships. So far as how determined I am to compete at that highest level, I would very much say that it is indeed very much. Last year I had a great run into the season but suffered a difficult injury. The rehab on my ankle took months because I first hurt my ankle one week before my first Grand Prix and did not have the time to fully recover from it until after Nationals. I dealt with it as much as I could. I took two weeks entirely off after my second Grand Prix, didn't jump for a couple more weeks, not even trying quad toes until the week before Nationals, and I eventually got a cortisone shot to get me through both Nationals and Four Continents. I think that the fact I was able to hold it together so well was a testament to the condition I was in after the pre-season and leading up to my Grand Prix assignments. Unfortunately, after several months of restricted training I was not able to compete at the level that would earn me a spot at Worlds. This year, I am feeling stronger, healthier and more cognisant of the types of issues that give me problems that could eventually lead to injury. I am extremely determined not to let the history of the past two years repeat itself. I am excited for this prospect!

Q: What can you share about your goals and programs for the upcoming season?

A: My number one goal for this season is to win the U.S. Championships and make the Olympic team. This year, I am holding nothing back. I have two great programs by Mark Pillay to “The Sons of Italy” (short) by Mancini and a Beatles Medley (long) by well, the Beatles... haha. With these programs and the work I've put into getting my quads consistent, I am hoping to accomplish my goals.

Q: You have been coached by Tammy Gambill since you started skating. What is your relationship with Tammy like and why do you feel she's the best coach for you?

A: Tammy has been my coach for the entirety of my career. I even had her in group classes. I think it's proof of her ability as a coach that she was able to take a student from swizzles to the World Championships in Moscow. It's no wonder that she has won PSA's developmental coach of the year so many times, as she has helped develop so many skaters to a high level. Tammy and I are very close (probably because of the sixteen years we've known each other), and I think I can honestly say that there isn't another coach/skater team that has a relationship quite like ours. She has had so much influence on not only the way I've developed as a skater but also the person I've become in other areas of my life as well.

Q: You have been very active in Parker Pennington's Skate Dance Dream events. What makes these events so unique and special in your opinion?

A: The great thing about Skate Dance Dream is that there are absolutely no pretenses as to what the aim of the show is – to give kids a chance to skate under a spotlight with professional skaters (or dance with pro dancers). Everything that goes into the show is for them, from rehearsals, to the seminars the performers put on, to the duets that kids can win as a prize for selling tickets. I think this ultimate goal of the company is what really makes them special and sets hem apart.

Q: What has been the best part and worst part of balancing skating and your secondary education?

A: The worst part has definitely been sleep deprivation... haha! It's definitely an added stress being in college (I was full time in the spring) while in training. I missed about three and a half weeks of lecture in the fall because of competitions and shows, which is a huge difficulty because not only do I have to focus on performing well in my shows but also on teaching myself the material I'm missing. When the material is Differential Equations, Linear Algebra and Physics, that can be an extremely daunting task all on its own! The benefit is that both skating and school are great diversions from the other. There's always something to turn to if either one seems insurmountable. Another great thing is that I can't remember the last time I was nervous for a test. I actually mentioned in my application essay to UCLA about how strange it would be to worry about an exam when just a week earlier I could literally have fallen in front of thousands of people! I also feel like skating taught me how to be an excellent student. I have a 4.0 and I can tell you without reservation that the reason for my good grades is preparation. I think about studying for a class the same way I do about training for a competition. You have to practice enough to be confident not in winning, but merely being in the top percent, which as difficult as it is isn't as bad as trying to outskate the best in the world.

Q: I read that you played the violin for six years. Do you still play and how do you feel a background in playing music helped you to relate to music on the ice as a skater?

A: I did play the violin for a long time! Eventually it was a matter of time commitment. It takes A LOT of work to be a proficient player, and with school and skating I just didn't have the time to maintain my skills at the level at which I enjoyed hearing myself play. One thing violinists are good at is differentiating pitch and we are very good at knowing when something is out of tune. Unfortunately that can be a very aggravating problem when you can hear that your off but don't give yourself the time to practice enough to make it better. So my answer, I guess, is that yes, I do still play, but rarely. If it's Fourth of July I might break out some patriotic sheet music or if it's Christmas some favorite carols, but that's about it. Also, if you don't exercise the motion often the correct holding/posture can be very painful and lead to some nasty shoulder cramps; those are no fun.

Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and who is one skater you've never met that you'd most like to meet?

A: That's a tough one. My favorite program of all time is a piece that Kurt Browning did as an exhibition called “Rag-Gidon-Time”. Just skater-wise though, that's a bit more difficult. It's really hard for me to pick just one skater because I like so many skaters for so many different reasons, some of them not even reasons related to skating. I recently did a show with Brian Boitano, and it never ceases to amaze me how focused he is for every performance even after an entire career of it. He gives his all to every show, and I think that's something to which I can aspire. I'm also a huge fan of Michael Weiss, but I might be kind of biased as he's an awesome guy and has done so much for my generation of skaters. I truly believe there's not another skater who has given back the way he has. I was very happy to hear of the recognition he received for his work by winning the PSA award for dedication to the sport.

Q: What's one thing about you most people don't know?

A: I'm not sure. I'm a pretty open book. I guess something that peple might not know is how much I love learning. I always seem to get caught up with infatuations where I learn a whole bunch about one thing for a little while and sort of spend all of my time doing that thing. This year I learned a whole bunch about the suspension on cars, mostly because I had a whole bunch of work needed done on my car and I couldn't afford it, but also because learning about my car and how to fix it myself was also pretty fun for me. I probably saved about $2,000 doing the repairs myself and had a lot of fun doing it. I also learned a bunch about remodeling as I'm in the process of redoing a room in my parents house.

Q: How do you keep skating fresh and interesting to you every time you are on the ice?

A: That's a tough thing to do for someone at my level, once you get to a point the rate of learning new tricks certainly slows down. I guess a way to keep it fresh is to reinvent your style. That is usually done each year in the competitive program but it's also fun to experiment with different styles when developing a new show program. This year I kept things fresh by learning some new show tricks - namely a backflip and a b-twist (not quite ready for the program, but definitely a fun one).

Q: What is your biggest dream in life?

A: Okay, this one is seriously an impossible question... haha. The Olympics is obviously a huge dream but I think it's part of a bigger picture. What I want is to be at the highest level of skating consistently. I want to reach the level where being at the top is almost a habit. I want the kind of domination that few skaters have achieved, something like a Meryl Davis and Charlie White status. At the same time, I want to be more than just a skater. I do consider myself as somewhat of an intellectual, as I really enjoy being at college. I am excited for the time and opportunity where I can skate and pursue my education, if only part-time, concurrently.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.