Abbott’s short program rises to the occasion When it works, it works. This season, Jere-
my Abbott’s short program to “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith, works. Abbott played with sev- eral short program music selections, but noth- ing evolved as organically as this piece. While Abbott had heard the song before,
it wasn’t until he really listened to it at the rink that everything clicked. “When I heard this piece I could hear ex-
actly where the edits would go and I could hear exactly where every single element came in the music,” Abbott said. When Abbott listened to this song, it
made him want to skate. “It just came out so organically,” he said. “I
think within two or two-and-a-half days I had a full short program after a whole of summer of not having one.” Abbott choreographed his short program
himself, with input from coach Yuka Sato. Ab- bott, who has always wanted to choreograph, has been creating at least one competitive pro- gram a season since 2012. He loves the process, noting that the programs he choreographs for himself and with Sato feel comfortable. So far Abbott has received great feed- back about his short program, a program he says came so naturally it practically choreo- graphed itself.
— Nicolette House
Sweet home Chicago Skate America represented a homecom-
ing of sorts for U.S. champion Gracie Gold, who lived and trained in suburban Chicago for four years and is a member of the Wagon Wheel Figure Skating Club in Crystal Lake, Illi- nois.
“It was really exciting and intimidating,”
Gold said. “Just looking in the crowd I feel like I knew like 70 percent of the audience. I was a little sick to my stomach with nerves, but it was really exciting.” Despite her nerves, the newly appointed
Skate America bronze medalist didn’t disap- point as she won her third career Grand Prix medal. And after the stress of competing
20 DECEMBER 2014
Team USA pairs skaters Madeline Aaron and Max Settlage made their Grand Prix Series debut in Chicago, finishing fifth. Settlage, a gifted artist, shares his talents with his fans via Twitter and on icenetwork. Here, Settlage gives fans a look at his sentiments while performing a four-plus-minute free skate … in velvet.
had passed, Gold took advantage of her local knowledge and relationships. “Over 200 kids skated with me for ‘Gracie
Gold Day’ in Crystal Lake. It was super fun to visit Wagon Wheel FSC and skate with all the young athletes. I have so many fond memo- ries.
“I was also able to visit friends and a few
of my favorite Chicago restaurants.” — Renee Felton
Sticking closer to home Any New Yorker who has ever battled
early-morning traffic on Long Island’s South- ern State Parkway likely has a soft spot for Sa- mantha Cesario. For most of her career, the Long Island
native routinely spent up to four hours a day traveling from her home in Oceanside, L.I. to her training rink in upstate Monsey, N.Y. That changed this summer, when Twin
Rinks Ice Center, a privately funded, $15 mil- lion facility opened in East Meadow’s Eisen- hower Park. “No commute now, it’s just 20 minutes
away and an easy drive,” Cesario said. “I can stay there all day or go home if I feel like it. It’s a much better lifestyle for me.” Twin Rinks boasts two regulation-NHL-size
surfaces as well as an outdoor recreational rink and state-of-the-art gym, where Cesario works one-on-one with trainer Jon DiFlorio to increase her flexibility and strength. “There’s a great deal to be said
about driving your car up to a place where you’re anxious to work,” said Cesario’s longtime coach, Mary Lynn Gelderman, who heads up the facility’s figure skating program. “Twin Rinks’ manage- ment is very supportive
and inviting, and that feeds your mental atti- tude.” The 21-year-old Cesario added glamor and
maturity to 2014 HHilton Skate America, land- ing two near-clean triple-triple combinations and setting a new personal best total score (174.58 points) en route to her fourth-place fin- ish. The skater’s big goal is to place in the top three at the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Champion- ships and gain a spot on the U.S. World Team. “This is definitely my year to come up and
make a statement,” Cesario said. “I think I proved myself last season. Now is the time to build on it and really become one of the top U.S. ladies.” — Lynn Rutherford
Brown, Scimeca, honored to compete in hometown It might have taken nearly 70 years for
Chicago to host another major skating event, but the city couldn’t have brought figure skat- ing back at a better time. Competing at home meant the world to Olympian and Chicago na- tive Jason Brown. “I grew up competing in the Chicago
area doing local events, and it’s so exciting to be in a big event that I’m a part of,” Brown said. He pointed out that growing up he always
had to travel to see name skaters compete. “I hope it brings more attention to the
sport and draws more people into skating,” Brown said. “Chicago is such a huge sports town. Hopefully by having one [event] we start having more and people get excited to go to skating events.” Alexa Scimeca, who competed in pairs
with partner and fiancée Chris Knierim, also returned to her roots in the Chicago area. A big cheering section was on hand to
watch them compete over the long weekend. — Nicolette House
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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