SKATERS PLUNGE INTO THE DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN SPORT


AVIVA CANTOR, 25 MADISON, WIS.


ADULT SILVER FREE SKATE/, BRONZE DANCE Figure skat-


ing ranks at the top of things that Aviva Cantor en- joys most. While she competes and tests, it’s the pure love of the sport that keeps her heavily involved on and off the ice. Her love of performing in shows and


competitions is just a part of her self-pro- fessed die-hard fan status. “I watch all icenetwork.com events,”


Cantor said. “I follow the skaters and I love Fantasy Skating.” (She tied for fi rst with her 2011 Skate America picks.) Choosing and editing her music and


designing her costumes and choreogra- phy off er Cantor the creative outlet her extroverted personality craves. She rel- ishes opportunities to portray characters, the more outlandish the better, and her coaches support her skating mission. Though her home club is in Char-


lotte, N.C., Cantor is quick to acknowledge the support she’s received since moving to Madison, Wis., in 2011. Passing adult silver moves on her sixth try, she admitted motivation was tough. “It felt so good to pass when I truly


knew I’d earned it,” said Cantor, who has ambitious goals for future tests. Earning a gold medal and a bronze


medal at the 2012 U.S. Adult Champion- ships was also memorable. To cap off the achievement, the audience sang “Happy Birthday” to Cantor. “I’m the fi rst-ever national medalist


from my home club,” Cantor said. A certifi ed Special Olympics coach,


Cantor has participated since high school in teaching mentally and physically dis- abled skaters. She also coaches learn-to- skate classes and is a Basic Skills judge. As an assistant editor for Shopbop.


com, Cantor writes e-commerce product descriptions for designer clothing and ac- cessories, putting her education in fash- ion design and journalism to good use. “Fashion, like skating, is fast-paced


and passionate,” Cantor said. Sharing in her passion for skating is


Cantor’s mother. “At 65, she’s still skating and having a


blast,” Cantor said. 70 MARCH 2013 CAROLINAS FSC


DENNIS WICKLINE, 32 SANTA MONICA, CALIF.


ADULT GOLD FREE SKATE Dennis Wick-


line skated briefl y as a child and re- members watching Olympic champi- ons Kristi Yamagu- chi and Brian Boita- no on television. So when he


stumbled across a beginner skating class two years after graduating from col- lege, Wickline jumped at the opportunity to return to skating. Private lessons fol- lowed and Wickline headed toward com- petition. Despite being a lifelong performer,


Wickline found competitions a huge chal- lenge. “I’ve done live theater, choir solos,


band and color guard,” Wickline said. “I had to harness my physical ability, com- bined with endurance and artistry and put that in front of people.” Wickline, who has lost 80 pounds


since returning to the ice, fi nds himself in game-on mode with skating, attacking elements until they are mastered. His per- sistence has fueled eff orts to enhance his skating, from improving his breathing to performing better than his practices. A quality control manager and re-


search and development associate in the chemistry fi eld, Wickline is grateful to have balance from his fast-paced, high- stress job. Coach and friend Gina Testa and


Wickline often fi nd themselves laughing to tears. Every time he takes the ice, Wick- line said, something funny happens. The most memorable of those times occurred in his portrayal of Tracy Turnblad in “Good Morning Baltimore.” Better known as the “wig” incident during which his wig fl ew off , the judging panel could barely write marks; they laughed so hard. Wickline has landed all but the dou-


ble Axel at least once, aspiring to pass his senior moves test by 2017 and eventual- ly land one triple jump. A frequent club volunteer, Wickline enjoys being involved and meeting fellow club members. In 11 years, skating has become Wickline’s best friend. “Without it I’d be completely diff er-


ent. I’m thankful every day that skating is in my life," Wickline said.


LOS ANGELES FSC


REED HASTINGS, 30 DRAPER, UTAH


INDIVIDUAL MEMBER PRE-SILVER ICE DANCE


Reed Hast- ings is a sec- ond-generation adult skater. Hastings’ mother began skating as an adult, compet- ing in ice dance at the fi rst U.S. Adult Champi- onships in 1995. Following in her foot- work, Hastings skated for four years starting at age 10 when his mother took him and his sister skating; he returned to skating in 2008. “I cannot imagine life without skat-


ing,” said Hastings, who teaches Basic Skills classes. “There is nothing better than gliding on the ice.” Though he has taught all ages and


levels, he particularly enjoys working with other adult skaters and observing their progress and confi dence on the ice.


skating is


Hastings’ passion for and focus in ice dance, though he also


spends time learning moves in the fi eld to improve his skating skills. Working with several coaches over


the past four years, Hastings settled on Kent Weigle. “I have achieved so much with


him,” Hastings said. “I adore him.” Hastings feels strongly about giv-


ing back to the skating community. He has served on the board of directors and as secretary for Salt Lake Figure Skating. He also volunteers as often as possible at competitions to support lo- cal organizing committee eff orts. His participation as an announc- er on the local level motivated him to pursue a U.S. Figure Skating regional announcer appointment and, more recently, Hastings decided to pursue judging appointments for singles and pairs, and dance. “Watching skating skills demon-


strated with correct technique, espe- cially when matched with music, melts my heart and transports me,” Hastings said.


An information technology indus-


try professional for more than a decade, Hastings also enjoys cooking, learning about wine and napping.


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