CHALLENGE SKATE ‘Bright future’


NOVICES, JUNIORS GET TASTE OF AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT Ainsley Peterson and


In conjunction with the 2016 U.S.


International Figure Skating Classic, U.S. Figure Skating hosted the Novice and Junior Challenge Skate — a developmental com- petition for athletes competing in the U.S. qualifying structure at the novice and junior levels.


Te event, held since 2012, was created


to simulate an international event for up- and-coming skaters while giving them the opportunity to compete before an interna- tional judging panel, and attend program- ming that prepares them to represent Team USA.


“Tis year’s event included triple Axels


from the men, triple-triple combinations from the ladies, throw triple jumps from the pairs and Level 4 twizzles from the ice dancers,” Justin Dillon, U.S. Figure Skating director of high performance development, said. “It was a great event that highlighted our bright future.” In addition to competing and cheering


on Team USA at the International Classic, nearly 70 Challenge Skate competitors and their teams attended a series of seminars that included a tour of the judges’ stand, games to instill an understanding of the international judging system (IJS) and grades of execution (GOEs), nutrition classes and a presentation by Jacqui White — mother of Olympic ice dance champion Charlie White. “It was a great experience for the ath-


letes, their parents and their coaches,” Dillon said. “We look forward to hosting the event again next year.”


RISING STARS


GET TO KNOW THE 2016 NOVICE AND JUNIOR CHALLENGE SKATE CHAMPIONS


Pooja Kalyan NOVICE LADIES CHAMPION Age: 13 Club: Ozark FSC Favorite element: Triple Lutz Favorite snack: Bananas


Dinh Tran NOVICE MEN’S CHAMPION Age: 15


Club: SC of San Francisco Favorite element: Triple flip Favorite snack: Donuts


Kristofer Ogren NOVICE PAIRS CHAMPIONS Peterson Age: 13 Club: All Year FSC Favorite element: Lasso lift Favorite snack: Oreos Ogren Age: 20


Club: Kansas City FSC Favorite element: Lasso lift Favorite snack: Cheese


Sophia Elder and


Christopher Elder NOVICE ICE DANCE CHAMPIONS Sophia Age: 13


Club: Louisville Skating Academy Favorite element: Twizzles Favorite snack: Almonds Christopher Age: 15


Club: Louisville Skating Academy Favorite element: Twizzles Favorite snack: Salami


Starr Andrews JUNIOR LADIES CHAMPION Age: 15


Club: Los Angeles FSC Favorite element: Double Axel Favorite snack: Fruit


Camden Pulkinen JUNIOR MEN’S CHAMPION Age: 16 Club: Broadmoor SC Favorite element: Components Favorite snack: Fruit snacks


Gabriella Marvaldi and


Daniel Villeneuve JUNIOR PAIRS CHAMPIONS Marvaldi Age: 16


Club: SC of Southern New Jersey Favorite element: Star lift Favorite snack: Dark chocolate-covered almonds Villeneuve Age: 19


Club: SC of Southern New Jersey Favorite element: Twist Favorite snack: Buttered toast with chia seeds


Novice dance medalists Katarina DelCamp/Maxwell Gart, Sophia Elder/Christopher Elder, Gianna Buckley/J.T. Michel


SKATING 13


Novice men’s medalists Alex Wellman, Dinh Tran and JoonSoo Kim


Novice ladies medalists Ting Cui, Pooja Kalyan and Angelina Huang


Novice pairs medalists Greta Crafoord/John Crafoord, Ainsley Peterson/Kristofer Ogren, Eliana Secunda/Blake Eisenach


PHOTOS BY MELISSA MAJCHRZAK


PHOTO BY SARAH ARNOLD


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