CONTEST
YOUTH ESSAY
The RISE Youth Essay Contest provides an opportunity for younger skaters to connect with U.S. Figure Skating’s history and receive fi nancial support. Applicants share their personal refl ections on the movie RISE, which celebrates the history of American fi gure skating, and documents the effect that the tragic loss of the 1961 World Team had on both the sport and the skaters who came after them.
The RISE Youth Essay Contest is funded through the Memorial Fund and the essays are judged by a committee. This year, more than 130 applications were received and four winners were chosen, one each from the pre- preliminary, preliminary, pre-juvenile and juvenile levels. Award recipients receive a monetary grant as well as RISE memorabilia.
50 APRIL 2017 Big sis is
the best WILLIAM LISSAUER (PRE-PRELIMINARY)
My name is William Lissauer
and I am 9 years old. I began fi gure skating when I was 5. I am competing in pre-preliminary free skate, pre-ju- venile pairs and ice dance with my dance partner, Lila, and I skate with a synchronized team, the Ice-Lantics, on its pre-juvenile team.
I fi nd inspiration to work hard on and
off the ice from my big sister, Lindsey. T e reason I ever put skates on was because she wanted to take learn to skate lessons when she was 7 years old. I was 5 then and took a Snowplow Sam class while she began Basic 1. I remember being gently pushed onto the ice in a snowsuit on my bottom before I could even stand up on my skates. T at very fi rst lesson was scary, overwhelming and really, really cold — I didn’t want to do that again! T ankfully, my mom and sister kept me going to lessons every week and both listened to my cries and whining about falling. Once I got the hang of skating though, I have to admit, I never looked back. Four years later, Lindsey and I help each other warm up with off -ice exercises and practice our jumps, spins and moves in the fi eld together when we’re not being coached. (T ese days we’re on the ice fi ve days in a row!) We also do synchro
together, having been on the same team since we were 8 and 6 years old. Just recently I was invited to the U.S.
Figure Skating Solo Dance nationals at the University of Delaware, having fi nished the Solo Dance Series season with my sister. While I was extremely excited to have made the top six for the invitation, it was a tough win as Lindsey was just below me with seventh place in the same grouping. She was happy for me but sad and disappointed for not making it. We both worked hard this season, often skating against each other in the same skate groups. Yet, even in her sadness, Lindsey was there — cheering me on and hugging me — and is fully supporting me in my upcoming experience. I love my big sister with all my heart
and couldn’t imagine going onto the ice without her. When I take the ice at nationals, I will skate for us both, or as my mom likes to call us — Team Lissauer.
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