2016 U.S. ADULT CHAMPIONSHIPS
CHAMPIONSHIP ADULT GOLD MEN
California dreamin’ for Pizzo
by MIMI MCKINNIS After a three-year hiatus, Marco Pizzo returned to
the top of the championship results, leading a Califor- nia-dominated podium. “After I won [in 2012], it was difficult for me to
come back to try and win a second one,” Pizzo said. “I kept training and trying to bump up my elements and do more things. It’s been a great journey to try and get back to the top position.” Skating a clean routine to
“Shine” by George Perris, Pizzo (All Year FSC) let his artistic side shine through, earning a program components score of 21.90, the highest of the event by nearly two points. He completed nine jumps, including a flip-loop-toe combination in the second half of the program. He earned a total score of 33.92. Brian Kim (North County FSC) generated the
highest technical score of 13.96 points for the elements in his “Arabesque” program to occupy the second step of the podium with a total score of 32.98. “Tis program was about redemption for me,” Kim
said. “Last year was a rough year. I was injured for most of the season and decided to compete anyway. Tis year, I really wanted to come back strong and get back to the form I was in before.” Kim completed two single Axels, one in combina-
tion with a toe loop, to finish nearly four points ahead of bronze medalist Antonio Conte of the Los Angeles FSC. Conte celebrated his 52nd birthday the week of the
event, earning 29.30 points and his highest-ever finish in championship gold. “I’ve been competing in this event for 10 years, but
this is my first medal,” Conte said. “I think my skating has definitely gotten better over time, but more impor- tantly, I’ve been able to master the nerves. In a lot of ways, I think I’m getting better with age.” Conte took the ice to “Fantasy” from Joshua Bell’s
Ladies in Lavender soundtrack, landing six jumps, in- cluding a final Lutz-toe-loop combination at the end of the performance. Ian Catindig (St. Moritz ISC) completed the Gold-
en State podium less than a point behind Conte, win- ning pewter with 29.07 points. “We have all known each other for quite a long
time,” Conte said. “We’ve been competing against each other for a while, but we all train at different rinks. One guy is from Northern Cal, near San Francisco, Marco [Pizzo] and I are from L.A., and Brian [Kim] is from San Diego. It’s always nice to share these moments with friends.”
34 JUNE/JULY 2016 JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
Two-time U.S. champion Alissa Czisny joins the championship adult gold men’s medalists in their podium photograph. (l-r) Brian Kim, Marco Pizzo, Antonio Conte, Ian Catindig
MARCO Pizzo
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
