Olympian Zhang enjoying coaching role
By Troy Schwindt
2014 Olympic pairs skater Felicia Zhang was on the other side of the boards in Saint Paul, helping coach the senior pairs team of Elizaveta Usmantseva and Matej Silecky. Zhang and her former partner Nathan Bar-
tholomay fi nished 12th in Sochi, Russia. After those Games, she decided to retire from competi- tive skating and pursue her education. Zhang is a junior at the University of North Florida in Jack- sonville, where she’s pursuing a degree in exercise science. “It’s great to be back,” she said. “I was in
Secondhand sparkles
By Mimi McKinnis Saint Paul.
It was a Florida reunion of sorts in Saint Paul, with Felicia Zhang, Daniel Raad, Jim Pe- terson, Amanda Evora and Lyndon Johnston spending some time together between ses- sions.
Saint Paul when I was a novice skater. Everything is familiar, but I’m not tying up my skates any- more.”
Zhang assisted head coach Daniel Raad in After earning her degree, she would like to
use her professional skills as a physical therapist in her coaching role. In Saint Paul, she reunited with her coach-
es Jim Peterson and Lyndon Johnston, as well as with 2010 Olympic pairs skater and coach Aman- da Evora.
When Mariah Bell came to the 2016 U.S. Championships, she was missing two members of her usual support system — training mates from Kori Ade’s camp in Monument, Colorado, Jason Brown and Jordan Moeller — who both withdrew from the senior men’s event due to in- jury.
When she took the ice, however, she had a piece of both friends with her, taking a rhine- stone from each of their costumes and adding them to both her short program and free skate dresses.
“My mom actually came up with the idea,”
Bell said. “I asked them if they’d be willing and they each gave me a stone from their costumes. I feel like they’re here with me this way. It’s a cool little way they can be here.” Bell placed 11th in the senior ladies event with 160.03 points.
Homecoming for Rohene
By Amy Rosewater 28 MARCH 2016
T e 2016 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships were a homecoming for choreog- rapher Rohene Ward. T e Minnesota native, who trained with coach Page Lipe in the state for 18 years, returned to the Land of 10,000 Lakes for these U.S. Championships as a choreographer. Ward now works with skaters at his home base in Monument, Colorado, most notably crafting Jason Brown’s programs. Ward was rinkside in Saint Paul, as opposed to the last time the U.S. Championships were held in the city back in 2008 when he was a com- petitor. T e 2008 nationals in Saint Paul marked Ward’s fourth and fi nal trip to the U.S. Champi- onships.
Yamaguchi,
Edmunds make San Jose connection
By Lynn Rutherford Kristi Yamaguchi remembers when fellow
San Jose, California, native Polina Edmunds performed as Tinker Bell between periods of an NHL San Jose Sharks game. “She was a tiny little skater,” Yamaguchi
said. “To watch her win the short program in Saint Paul, to see the growth in maturity even just from last year’s nationals, was incredible.” In 2014, Edmunds performed in Yamagu- chi’s Golden Moment show, held to benefi t the 1992 Olympic champion’s Always Dream Foun- dation that promotes early childhood literacy. So Yamaguchi was doubly thrilled when Edmunds off ered to stage a group number at another Al- ways Dream event, held Jan. 31 at San Jose’s sea- sonal outdoor rink.
“I’m doing a book reading (of Dream Big, Little Pig!) and we had word Polina wanted to bring a group of skaters,” Yamaguchi said. “I said,
eam B
bring a group of skaters, ‘Oh my gosh, of course!’”
) and we had word Polina wanted to amaguchi said. “I said,
Edmunds created a Disney group number for the annual holiday show at her San Jose rink, k Ice, featuring 20 skaters under age 13. T
dmunds created a Disney group number for the annual holiday show at her San Jose rink, Shark Ice, featuring 20 skaters under age 13. T e group reprised its routine at Yamaguchi’s event. “I gave them 30 seconds to do their own solos, and then I wo e it all together and created a group ending,” Edmunds said. “All
the skaters worked
“I gave them 30 seconds to do their own solos, and then I wove it all together and created a group ending,” Edmunds said. “All the skaters worked hard. Performing it for Kristi is such a reward.”
“I had lots of family come to these nation-
als,” Ward said. “Aunts and uncles came and my cousin, Julie Gartrell, is a freelance makeup artist for MAC, and she did makeup for my skaters.” Ward was in town for about a week and a
half, and extended his time there; he stayed at his sister’s home for a couple of days after the U.S. Championships ended. He also went out to Pa- rade Ice Garden, where Lipe still guides skaters. And he hit all of his favorite hangouts, namely Kincaid’s, Red Dragon and Ruth’s Chris restau- rants.
“It was good to be back but it was very dif-
ferent,” Ward said. “It was much more relaxed this time.”
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