Editor’s note: Skating alone and skating on a team off er their own unique challenges and rewards. These three skaters have thrived in both environments.
Skaters double the fun with multiple disciplines by LEXI ROHNER
HEATHER THORNE, 48 Lino Lakes, Minnesota St. Paul FSC Adult bronze moves, pre-bronze free skate, pre-bronze dance
When Heather
Thorne and her family relocated to Minnesota several years ago, she reacquainted herself with skating and intro- duced her then-6-year- old son to the sport. “The rink off ered adult classes so I regis- tered,” Thorne said. “It was the best decision I ever made.” On her fi rst day at
the rink, she literally ran into who would become her best friend. “We have the same
career, offi ces nearby and similar hobbies,” Thorne said. “We chal- lenge and learn from each other, on and off the ice.”
Friendship and encouragement also guide
the relationships with her four coaches. Within a year of taking learn-to-skate class-
es, Thorne began competing in singles and is now in her second year with Minnesota Ice The- atre, an open team composed of skaters of all ages.
Skating in two disciplines is challenging
but rewarding, said Thorne, who had to learn to match her TOI teammates, as she skates in the opposite direction. Thorne and her son competed at National
Showcase the past two years, but singles train- ing time this year had to take a backseat to ac- commodate TOI nationals. “TOI is all teamwork,” Thorne said. “The sin-
gles focus is doing my best with my support team.”
She’s a member of the Minnesota Ice Theatre
board of directors and skates about eight hours weekly. A paralegal with a degree in costume design, Thorne designs and sews her and her son’s costumes, and she does so for others. “My greatest achievement is surviving
breast cancer in 2010,” said Thorne, who broke her kneecap skating shortly after returning. Her next thought was, ‘What if I can’t skate any- more?’ as skating aided her cancer recovery. De- spite this and a broken shoulder the day before leaving for National Showcase, she competed. “Skating has increased my confi dence,”
Thorne said. “I continuously prove to myself I can learn and do things I never thought some- one my age could do.”
42 MAY 2016
NOELLE SCHARER, 35 Southgate, Michigan South Metro Shores FSC Novice moves
Noelle Scharer’s connection to the ice is eas-
ily understood. She started skating when she could walk. Her grandmother was on the council that built the local ice arena. Her father played hockey, and several family members skated. “Skating brings balance into my life,” said
Scharer, a construction association graphic de- signer. “I don’t know myself without it. It’s a piece of me that will never leave.” As an adult, Scharer has learned patience in meeting goals and setting an example for her daughters. “I want them to know how to be strong,
hard-working, well-balanced women,” Scharer said. “It’s important they see you can be a mom, work and do something you love.” Balance is defi nitely Scharer’s strong suit,
skating singles and on synchronized skating teams for 30 years. With 2- and 5-year-olds, free time is at a premium. No matter how tired she is, Scharer said fi nding time to skate makes her a better, healthier parent. Being active and get- ting plenty of rest are at the top of her list. “I’ve learned to recognize my limits, plus lots
of green tea and depending on my essential oils,” Scharer said. Scharer enjoys practicing with the Allegro!
open masters synchronized skating team and the camaraderie. “Skating alone, my mind gets the best of
me,” said Scharer, who has not yet felt the need to choose between disciplines. “It depends on what I feel like doing and the opportunities that present themselves.” Winning the 2009 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships with the Adult Crystallettes will always be a notable mark on her skating career. However, Scharer said, nothing compares to be- ing a mom. “I always tell my girls they don’t have to skate
because I do,” said Scharer, whose younger one skates with the Allegro! tot team and older one participates in the Basic Skills Program. “I hope they fi nd something that they love as much as I love this sport.”
Noelle is pictured left
NICOLE GRAMS-HERZOG, 27 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wisconsin FSC Adult gold free skate
Growing up
in Cleveland, Ni- cole Grams-Her- zog channeled her type-A personality into a self-motivat- ed, productive ath- lete. She competed in singles, quitting at the pre-juvenile level at age 14. Not intending
to return to the sport and without skates that fi t, she was hired to coach a learn-to-skate class as a freshman at Ohio Uni- versity.
“I skated synchro for the fi rst time in col-
lege with zero experience,” Grams-Herzog said. “I learned how to gracefully handle being my team’s weak link and worked diligently to im- prove each season.” She counts among her closest friends the
women she skated with in college. “We share many favorite skating memories,”
Grams-Herzog said. Aspiring to qualify for the championship
gold event at the U.S. Adult Championships and pass her senior moves test before age 30, Grams-Herzog returned to skating after three years of graduate school. She was driven by unfi nished business and has skated both disci- plines for two years. She passed her adult gold moves, free skate and intermediate moves tests and became captain of the Wisconsin Edge mas- ters team. Focusing her energy on team preparation,
she fi nds relief when she can step on the ice and concentrate on herself. “The biggest thing that has helped me is
off -ice strength training,” said Grams-Herzog, who works in geographic information systems. “I’m learning that self-doubt drove me away but there’s so much a skater any age can accom- plish.” Grams-Herzog makes it a personal challenge
to have over-the-top expression in her synchro- nized skating, being more team-aware than self- aware and works to channel this in singles. “I decided to skate, test and land Axels again,
medal at adult sectionals and skate synchro,” Grams-Herzog said. “All in the same year I moved to a new state and got married. It showed me how capable I am.” Skating off ered her a community when she
did not have one. “The joy I have seeing my teammates weekly is irreplaceable,” Grams-Herzog said.
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