Ashburn Figure Skaters Compete in Regional, National Championships

Ashburn Ice House has been known as a great place for Loudoun County residents to enjoy some playtime on the ice but it provides many more opportunities than that. One of the programs the facility offers is the “Learn to Skate” program from which many new amazing skaters have evolved. [Editor’s note: Just this past weekend the Ice House hosted an FBI-DEA charity hockey match.]

This month, from Nov. 15 to Nov. 19, three ladies who train at the Ashburn facility will compete in the 2012 Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships in Jamestown, NY:  Brianna Laxson, Madison Vinci and Maria Yang all are set to compete in the Novice category.

Then, on the weekend of Dec. 10, additional skaters plan to compete in the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships in East Lansing, MI: Elise Romola, John Footen and Briana Bennett (alternate) will participate in the Intermediate Category while Ritta Volovich, Ashley Young and Christopher Liu (alternate) perform in the Juvenile Category.

For four of the skaters this year marks the first time competing in the events.

“I was extremely excited about this opportunity because I’ve only been skating for three and a half years,” Footen said. “I started at the age of 13.”

In skating, it’s common to begin early, often at 3 or 4 years old. Another first-timer, Ritta Volovich, 9, is the youngest of the team members to compete. When asked how she felt when she heard she was going to Junior Nationals she said, “It was awesome! I screamed because I was so happy!”

For some other skaters this is not their first time competing.

“The pressure isn’t off us because we have to go to sectionals right before Junior Nationals this year,” said Vinci, who is making her second trip to the Junior Nationals.

The skaters are all very dedicated to training hard, which all called very rewarding. Sometimes skaters work on only one jump for months. Finally being able to perform that jump makes all the work worthwhile.

Although figure skating is ultimately an individual sport, the skaters say they really do feel like part of a team. They are all part of the Washington Figure Skating Club. When they go to these competitions they cheer for and are cheered on by other members of the club, which helps them feel connected, even though they don’t all know each other personally.

Because the nine competitors train together so often, they said they almost feel like a family. And, you can tell by their interactions they even joke and tease each other like family members might.

No matter what happens at the competitions they all agreed that their head coaches, Rashid Kadyrkaev and Andrey Kyrukov make the “team” feel special and that they all made it to sectionals or nationals because of their coaches and the support from their families.

For more information about the , and don’t miss the Free Holiday Show from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18.