McNamara, Carpenter win second straight dance crown
By Lynn Rutherford When defending junior champions Lor-
raine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter decided to perform their free dance to Carmen, they knew they were taking a risk. Some pretty big names — including, most recently, 2010 Canadian Olym- pic ice dance champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir — had delivered memorable routines to Bizet’s classic opera. But the World Junior silver medalists, who train at the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy (WISA) under Alexei Kiliakov, Elena Novak, Dimitri Ilin and Ramil Sarkulov,, never shy away never shy away from a challenge if they think there’s an interest-
imitri Ilin and Ramil S
om a challenge if they think ther s an inter ing story to tell.
“Carmen and Don José have such big per- sonalities, and one of the things Quinn and I lo most about skating is showing our characters,
“Carmen and Don José have such big per- sonalities, and one of the things Quinn and I love most about skating is showing our characters,” McNamara said.
“Part of the challenge that inspired us to pick Carmen was trying to show our own inter- pretation of it, and how what we felt about it was diff
t of the challenge that inspired us to
etation of it, and how what we felt about it was diff erent than other teams who have skated to it before,” Carpenter said.
ent than other teams who hav
n Saint Paul, M amara (Peninsula SC) and Carpenter (Washington FSC) showed a sub- tle and emotionally diverse interpretation that ended with Carmen triumphant o er her lo t was fi lled with fi nely crafted elements, four of which gained Level 4, and earned 96.62 points.
and Carpenter (
In Saint Paul, McNamara (Peninsula SC) ashington FSC) sho ed a sub-
tle and emotionally diverse interpretation that ended with Carmen triumphant over her lover. It was fi lled with fi nely crafted elements, four of which gained Level 4, and earned 96.62 points. Combined with the 70.29 points earned by their character-driv- en original dance to G
Combined with the 70.29
points earned by their character-driv- en original dance to Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” they fi n- ished with 170.04 points, nearly 15 points
s “In the all of the Mountain King,” they fi
ished with 170.04 points, nearly 15 points over last season’s winning total.
“We had a few bobbles, but our ultimate goal for this competition was to show our maturi- ty in the performance aspect of our program, and I think we did a really good job of doing that,”
e had a few bobbles, but our ultimate
goal for this competition was to show our maturi- ty in the performance aspect of our program, and I think we did a really good job of doing that, McNamara said.
Now it’s on to the 2016 World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Hungary, where the Maryland-based couple is expected to fi ght for gold.
w it s on to the 2016 kating Championships in H orld Junior F , where the
could go, and I think based on this performance, we learned we can go even farther with it,” Car- penter said. “Of course we will also look at the els and pick apart the
could go, and I think based on this per
penter said. “Of course we will also look at the levels and pick apart the fi ner details with our coaches.”
oday was a dry run to see how far w e learned we can go even farther with it,” Car- ner details with our
yland-based couple is expected to fi ght for “Today was a dry run to see how far we
McNamara and Carpenter’s training mates at WISA, Rachel Parsons (Washington FSC) and Michael Parsons (Washington FSC), showed an entrancing waltz to music from Prokofi ev’s Cin- derella for their short dance, and a dramatic tango
WISA, Rachel Parsons ( ichael Parsons (
amara and Carpenter s training mates ashington FSC) and
ashington FSC), sho ed an entrancing waltz to music from P
for their short dance, and a dramatic tango to a medley from Medialuna Tango Project for their free dance. T ey won silver with 165.46 points, more than 20 points over last season’s sil- ver-medal tally.
“T ere were a few little things we would change, but overall we were able to show all of the
change, but o erall w 42 MARCH 2016
e w e a few little things we would e able to show all of the
Lorraine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter
Lor aine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter
Elliana Pogrebinsky and Alex Benoit
and are very friendly. T ey have grown up togeth- er from 6 years old, they are very good sportsmen, and they have healthy competition and apprecia-
and are v er from 6 years old, they are v wo teams training and Alex Benoit medley of omeo and J
y friendly. T ey have gr wn up togeth- y good spor
and they have healthy competition and appr tion for each other.”
Two teams training in Igor Shpilband’s group in Novi, Michigan, repeated as bronze and pewter medalists.
in (S Igor S epeated as br
Elliana Pogrebinsky (Peninsula SC) and Alex Benoit (Skokie Valley SC) showed connection and chemistry in their short dance to Eugene D
Sweet and Tender Beast.” T eir free dance to a medley of Romeo and Juliet soundtracks capital- ized on their long lines and striking on-ice pres-
eet and
ed connection and chemistry in their short dance to Eugene Doga’s “My ender B
alley SC) s “M
” T eir free dance to a
ed on their long lines and striking on-ice pr ence, and they ended with 155.94 points.
n the last year w e been together, I think we’ve really tried to focus on each other as part- ners,” Benoit said. “We’re doing what we love and we have to enjoy the moment, and what better way to enjoy the moment than with your best
“In the last year we’ve been together, I think e really tried to focus on each other as par ” Benoit said. “
e doing what we lo e and
e have to enjoy the moment, and what better way to enjoy the moment than with your best friend.”
“It’s natural up to a certain point, but we also work with our ballr coaches (Susan and S
s natural up to a certain point, but we also work with our ballroom coaches (Susan and Steve McFerran) and a mime coach (Michael Lee),” ebinsky said of their acting tal-
e M
and a mime coach (Michael Lee), Pogrebinsky said of their acting tal- ents.
Christina Carreira (T e SC of New York) and Anthony Ponoma- renko (T e SC of San Francisco) skated a lively free dance to selec- tions from Yugoslav musician Goran Bregovic to win the pewter medal
Christina Carreira (T e SC of k) and Anthony P
tions fr ugoslav musician G
vic to win the pewter medal with 152.79 points.
progress we’ve made over the past year,” Rachel said.
All four skaters joined WISA around 2006 and climbed the ranks together. Rachel and for- mer partner Kyle MacMillan won U.S. juvenile and intermediate titles before Rachel teamed up with Michael. Together, the Parsons siblings won the 2011 U.S. novice crown. McNamara and Carpenter’s fi rst U.S. title came in juniors last season, when the Parsons won their fi rst silver. Kiliakov thinks training together is a big plus for the two teams. “T ey understand if they didn’t have such a strong team (practicing) next to them, they t be as strong as they
a strong team (practicing) next to them, they wouldn’t be as strong as they are now,” Kiliakov said. “T ey
e no ” Kiliakov said. ey appreciate that appreciate
that
Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons
PHOTOS BY JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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