Denny and Frazier take the lead at the U.S.
Championships after their short program performance to the “Chicago” soundtrack.
Frazier and Denney reunited,
but it didn’t last long. Haven and her family had since moved to Col- orado Springs, and Frazier and his family followed. Ten the Denney family returned to Florida. Training in Ellenton under Jim
Peterson, Haven competed with other partners, including Daniel Raad. Together they won the 2009 U.S. novice silver medal. Back in Colorado Springs training with Dalilah Sappenfield’s group, Frazier competed with Mandy Garza, winning the 2010 U.S. novice bronze medal. But even during that time apart, Brandon felt he and Haven would some day be reunited.
Te chance came after the 2011 U.S. Championships, when Haven split from Raad and the Denney family once again packed their bags for Colorado Springs. “It was kind of good for both
of us; we grew separately with dif- ferent partners,” Frazier said. Together, Haven and Bran- don feed off each other’s energy and support one another in what they describe as almost a brother- sister relationship. Members of the Broadmoor SC, the pair trains at the World Arena Ice Hall under
Sappenfield and Larry Ibarra, as well as supporting coaches Ryan Jahnke and Janet Champion. Teir training partners Britney
Simpson and Matthew Blackmer took home junior silver, and Kylie Duarte and Colin Grafton picked up junior bronze for a club sweep at the 2012 U.S. Championships. Sappenfield, who trained Den-
ney and Frazier when the two were in Colorado years before, was over- joyed to reunite the skaters. Still, she admits it took a while to work out the kinks. Frazier, who now stands about 5'11”, had had a major growth spurt in their time apart. “When they got back together, he was a completely different skater with a lot of pairs experience,” Sap- penfield said.
Te pair did not have to com- pete at sectionals (due to there be- ing four or fewer teams registered), which allowed them to concentrate on preparing for the 2012 U.S. Championships. “We had a good amount of
time knowing what was going to work, and what wasn’t,” Sappenfield said.
Teir newfound chemistry blossomed in San Jose in Janu- ary, where they turned in a best-
ever short program to the Chicago soundtrack, hitting a throw triple loop and difficult variation on a star lift, in which Denney rested back on Frazier’s hand. Teir free skate to the score of
Pearl Harbor included two difficult level four lifts, a split triple twist and a level four spin, as well as side- by-side double Axels. “We were training really hard going into nationals and we wanted to go out there and skate the way we were practicing at home,” Den- ney said.
Te success in San Jose made up for a disappointing international season spent learning how to com- pete together, and they hope their hard work continues to pay off. One target: learn from judges’ comments and focus on their transitions. “Our goal is just to have a lot of fun, and when we do our pro- grams, to focus on the choreogra- phy and hopefully the elements will follow,” Frazier said. “We’re young and we’re going to put on a good show.”
A new ISU rule states pairs can no longer compete in both the ju- nior and senior Grand Prix in the same season. Sappenfield said she would have liked Denney and Fra-
zier to compete at both levels this fall, but has decided that remain- ing on the junior circuit gives the team more opportunity to gain world-standing points. Tey plan to compete as seniors at the 2013 U.S. Championships. “[Te ISU rule] certainly nar-
rows down the focus,” Sappenfield said.
With a double goal of mak-
ing a strong international showing at the junior level and fitting in with seniors at the U.S. Cham- pionships, Denney and Frazier know they have to step it up. In addition to working to make their jumps, twists and throws even more consistent, they’re also focus- ing on improving their showman- ship and story interpretation. Tis spring, they traveled to Montreal to get two new programs from Julie Marcotte, who also choreographs for Canada and Japan's pairs cham- pions.
Off the ice, they are changing up their training regimen to include more cardiovascular workouts, as well as more weight lifting for Fra- zier.
“We have such a long history,
but we’re still excited for a long journey ahead,” Frazier said.
SKATING 29
PHOTO BY JAY ADEFF U.S. FIGURE SKATING PHOTO
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