Skaters feeling a mile high at home
EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS TRIO OF LADIES FIND GREAT SATISFACTION SKATING AT HIGH ALTITUDE. BY LEXI ROHNER
ADULT BRONZE FREE SKATE
ANGIE MISKE, 39 KEYSTONE, COLORADO ALL YEAR FSC
Skating in the Rocky Mountains is like receiv- ing a shot of adrenaline for Angie Miske. “I thrive training outside on Keystone Lake,
even with the windchill and temperatures av- eraging 15 degrees,” said Miske, who designed and directs the lake’s seasonal fi gure skating pro- gram. Miske spent four years skating at sea level in
the Seattle area before moving to Utah and its 5,000-plus feet of elevation. From there, she’s skated all over Colorado, including Breckenridge at 9,600 feet and Monument at 7,000 feet. She said she now feels like “Super Angie”
when competing at lower altitudes. Miske is a two-time gold medalist from the
2013 U.S. Adult Championships. Inspired by Ekat- erina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov at the 1988 Olympics, she began skating at age 12. She be- came serious about the sport at age 21, stopped a few years later to have children, and returned to competitive skating at age 34. She’s skated on the same ice with U.S. cham- pions Jason Brown and Johnny Weir. Her active life with three children includes
volunteering at her children’s school and at church, as well as raising money for breast cancer research, performing in the Skate for Hope show. She loves traveling, speaks German, and
paints. Coach Todd Gilles is a good friend, climb- ing mountains with Miske’s husband and enjoy- ing their ice time. “We laugh more than we skate,” Miske said.
“My skating wouldn’t be near what it is now with- out Todd.” Practicing fi ve days a week, Miske hopes to
bring joy to audiences and judges. “Skating is how I express my heart and soul,”
Miske said. “I want the passion I feel inside me to show.”
ROBYN GRIFFITH, 42 MONUMENT, COLORADO
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY ADULT GOLD FREE SKATE
Robyn Griffi th’s family has lived in various
places over the years, relocated each time by the U.S. Air Force. For the past fi ve years, they have resided at
7,250 feet above sea level. “There is a huge diff erence in training be-
tween the two altitudes,” Griffi th said. “It defi nite- ly gives those at a higher altitude an edge when they compete at the lower altitude.” Griffi th cites higher hemoglobin and hemato-
crit concentrations, allowing those accustomed to higher altitudes to more effi ciently burn the body fuel needed for performing a program. Griffi th has been skating for more than two
decades, having skated as a young girl for six years. She unfortunately had to quit due to family fi nancial issues. She returned to training the min- ute she graduated from college in 1994, and has been skating since. “Skating is the expression of all that I feel inside and allows me to communicate that out- wardly,” Griffi th said. “It is a joy to physically ex- press emotions and interpretation of music — for myself and anyone who might be watching.” Married for 22 years, Griffi th has two daugh-
ters, ages 11 and 14, both of whom Griffi th tried to get to love skating. They enjoyed it until they fell. Her youngest is a competitive gymnast and her oldest plays high school soccer. Griffi th plays piano, writes music and sings in
a local band, normally skates three days weekly for 1.5 hours. She works in the pharmaceutical re- search and development industry, bringing new products to market. Through skating, Griffi th has learned she is stronger and more resilient than she imagined. “My confi dence has grown tremendously
through skating,” said Griffi th, who is in the midst of battling breast cancer. “I do believe my physical strength from fi gure skating will help me over- come this momentary blip on my map of life.”
JUDITH REBECCA DEARING, 36 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
OVAL FIGURE SKATING CLUB ADULT GOLD FREE SKATE
Judith Rebecca Dearing has lived her entire
life at high altitude, with the exception of a sum- mer spent in Monterey, California. Thus, she’s never trained at a lower altitude. During vacations at sea level, Dearing has
found exertion diffi cult and the air thick and hard to breathe. Her introduction to skating took place at age 10 when she accompanied her older brother’s Boy Scout troop on a skating merit-badge out- ing. After completing all Basic Skills classes, she skated recreationally until age 28. Currently the marketing director for the Utah
Real Estate Investors Association, an organiza- tion she and her husband founded in 2014, Dear- ing has worked in various marketing roles for more than 13 years. While working for the local chamber of commerce, Dearing built a relation- ship with the Utah Olympic Oval and discovered coaches willing to teach adult skaters. “I was thrilled,” Dearing said. “I’ve been tak- ing lessons ever since, as well as competing, per- forming, coaching and volunteering.” Practicing six days a week and working with
coach Genia Chernyshova since 2009 have led Dearing to achieve her skating goals and grow into the person she wanted to become. “Genia attracted me because she has high
expectations for her students and a no-nonsense nature that I love,” said Dearing, who serves as the fundraising chair for the Oval FSC. Dearing looks forward to profi table ventures
and creating opportunities for club members. Dearing enjoyed her fi rst U.S. Adult Champion- ships in 2015 and was thrilled to be on the podi- um for her free skate. Her goals include breaking the 30-point mark for her free skate. Her advice to adult skaters: “Never give up on
learning the Axel. It took me fi ve years to be con- sistent. You can, too!”
48 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
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