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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 24, 2012 18:39:59 GMT -8
Kazia Emily-Carol Cooper took 2nd overall at the race in Ohio this lastweekend not sure which one it was but this is someone to watch.This is only her second season on ice. She's signed up for this weekend's Jr. US Championships - good luck, Kazia!
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 26, 2012 21:08:42 GMT -8
Catching y'all up on Thomas Hong's results from the Youth Olympic Games this past weekend (copying from the YOG Game Day thread)... In the 1000M, Thomas finished 8th overall in the distance. He finished 2nd in his Quarterfinal, but appears to have fallen early in his Semifinal and was a 'Did Not Finish'. However, he came back strong in the 500M on Day 2 - he made it to the A Final and finished 4th, missing a bronze medal by only about a tenth of a second! Here are his results: (Article, video and photos follow) MEN'S 1000MQuarterfinals Place Start Pos. Warn. # Name ISU Member Results Qual. 1 4 30 SAITO Kei JPN 1:30.502 QAB 2 2 36 HONG Thomas Insuk USA 1:30.615 QAB 3 1 22 LU Xiucheng CHN 1:30.764 QCD 4 3 28 FARKAS Tamas HUN 1:33.101 QCD Semifinals Place Start Pos. Warn. # Name ISU Member Results Qual. 1 3 31 LIM Hyo Jun KOR 1:29.442 QA 2 1 30 SAITO Kei JPN 1:29.689 QA 3 4 26 BURROWS Jack GBR 1:33.700 QB DNF 2 36 HONG Thomas Insuk USA DNF Because of the DNF, Thomas did not skate in any 1000M Finals. MEN'S 500MQuarterfinals Place Start Pos. Warn. # Name ISU Member Results Qual. 1 3 36 HONG Thomas Insuk USA 44.485 QAB 2 4 22 LU Xiucheng CHN 44.504 QAB 3 2 27 DJEMAL Aydin GBR 45.556 QCD 4 1 35 CHANG Yin-Cheng TPE 48.113 QCD Semifinal Place Start Pos. Warn. # Name ISU Member Results Qual. 1 1 32 YOON Su Min KOR 42.468 QA 2 2 36 HONG Thomas Insuk USA 43.187 QA 3 4 34 AYRAPETYAN Denis RUS 45.026 QB 4 3 22 LU Xiucheng CHN 1:20.806 QB Final A Place Start Pos. Warn. # Name ISU Member Results Qual. 1 1 32 YOON Su Min KOR 42.417 2 3 31 LIM Hyo Jun KOR 42.482 3 2 23 XU Hongzhi CHN 42.637 4 4 36 HONG Thomas Insuk USA 42.782MIXED RELAY:Each team was composed of 2 Ladies and 2 Men from different countries. The teams were formed based on the overall individual ranking of two individual distances (500 and 1000m) obtained at the YOG. A Lady started the race, relayed over to a Man, then a Lady and back to a Man. The fastest 2 teams from each semifinal heat went through to the Final A and the others to the Final B. Thomas' teammates were: Sumire Kukuchi (Japan) Chang Yin-Cheng (Taipei) Elisabeth Witt (Germany) They finished 4th in their Semifinal - as I watched the laps, it seemed that every few laps, one skater brought them back to less than a second behind - I wonder if it was Thomas? Then they went on to WIN the B Final! -------------------------------- Here's an article from Team USA.org: Hong and Warren Skate to Back-to-Back 4th Place Finishes Anouck St-Gelais / Team USA.org / January 20, 2012 speedskating.teamusa.org/news/2012/01/20/hong-and-warren-skate-to-back-to-back-4th-place-finishes/46270------------------------------ Also, here's the link to a video from the 500M - Thomas' race (the A Final) starts at the 1:29 mark: ------------------------------- Thomas (#26) and Yoon Su Min (#32, KOR) skate in the 500M A Final. Photo Credit: Shaun Botterill, Getty Images Tags: Thomas Insuk Hong / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 31, 2012 22:24:18 GMT -8
HARRISON SINCAVAGEIf you read my recaps of Jr. US Champtionships, you may remember that Harrison fell in one of his races and was face down and unmoving on the ice for quite some time. The next day it was reported that he was okay, but it was really scary to see. Here's an article I found about him. It will be fun to see him develop over the next few years! Sincavage hopes hard work pays Olympic dividends The Berks native is on track to become one of the top junior speedskaters in the U.S. By Clif Duquette / Reading Eagle / January 31, 2012 i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo144/rocker-u/Sincavage-BillUhrichReadingEagle.jpgAfter practicing on the ice for 90 minutes on a Wednesday morning, Harrison Sincavage, wearing a black-and-blue speedskating suit, dragged his tired legs to a bench at Body Zone Sports and Wellness Center. For 13 to 14 hours per week, he works on his technique, speed and agility on the ice, and does cardio and weights for an additional 16 to 17 hours. "A lot tougher when you're doing it by yourself," he said as he tugged to pull a skate off his left foot. Not a bad regimen for a 16-year-old. Harrison, a Berks native who lives in Fleetwood, is striving to become one of the nation's best junior speedskaters. He exploded onto the scene in March - in only his second competition - at the Mid-Atlantic Short Track Championships in Connecticut, winning the Open B Division after capturing wins in the 777-meter and 1000-meter races. Then at the recent Eastern State Championships in Saratoga, N.Y., he finished among the top five in the 500, 1000 and 1500 against much tougher competition. Normally speedskaters reach this level after competing for years, but Sincavage's journey would not be considered normal by most speedskaters. For 13 years, Harrison competed on the ice, but as a hockey player. At the age of 15, though, he began to lose his passion for the sport. "It was like beating a video game," he said. "I didn't have a clear path, either. It just wasn't clicking anymore." Things began to click when he watched speedskating in the 2010 Winter Olympics. "I thought it was the coolest thing ever," he said. "It's the most powerful, yet the most silent form of skating. In the end you're racing yourself." Soon after, Sincavage began training for his new video game at Body Zone. He did not own speedskates, so he was forced to use his hockey skates. Luckily for him, one of the more experienced skaters noticed that during an open session. A week later, after talking with Sincavage and realizing how determined he was to succeed, he gave him speedskates and became his coach. That skater is Shawn Walb, who has coached speedskaters for more than 14 years while racing inline skating for 20 years. Along the way, he has coached Olympic speedskater Allison Baver and one of the nation's best in Kyle Carr. According to Walb, Sincavage has the potential to reach their level. "He's a little hungrier for success than the others I've coached," Walb said. "He wants to succeed, but he also wants to do all the right things that add up to it. He's developed quicker than anyone in terms of having no inline experience." Some of those right things have included sacrifices and adjustments to a new way of life. A year ago, he transferred from Holy Name to online schooling, and his schedule on most days is nearly filled up, between training and schooling, with very little time to have a life similar to most 16-year-olds. "It doesn't bother me at all, though, because I know what I need to do," said Sincavage. "I know there's a reason why I'm doing this." Before too long, Sincavage hopes to be accepted to train at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich. From there, he can go after his ultimate goal of attaining a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, and he already has a couple of former members rooting for him. In early September 2010 Harrison had the opportunity to train with Baver, who helped inspire him with her story about how she recovered from fracturing her leg in only six months to compete in the Winter Olympic Trials. A couple of months later, Harrison met Olympic speedskater Apollo Ohno while on a tour bus in West Chester. After talking with him while more than 200 kids were asking for autographs on the bus, Sincavage felt even more confident about attaining his ultimate goal. "Apollo's a heavy inspiration," he said. "If he's worked so hard for so long, I figure maybe I can do the same. And being with people on the Olympic team makes it more real." After Sincavage told Ohno that he wants to be on the Olympic team by 2018, the Olympian responded by telling him to do it in 2014. In the meantime, Harrison will continue to work on the very thing that has given him direction in his life. His 500 time is down to 50.18 seconds, only about 10 seconds from Olympic level. About 16 seconds separate him from Olympic skaters in the 1000; in the 1500, he still has to improve by about 30 seconds. "Great things in life have to be worked for," said Sincavage. "I don't know where this will take me, but that's the thrill. As long as I'm the best I can be, that's a beautiful thing."[/img] Read More: readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=362521+++ Tags: Harrison Sincavage / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Mar 28, 2012 11:25:51 GMT -8
ZACH ARANETA / AIDAN WILLIAMSHere are a couple of up-and-come'rs - both Zach Araneta and Aidan Williams skated at Nationals in Green Bay this month: It’s NASCAR on ice for two Culver youth: Speed skaters take short route to medals by Mike Cohen | Culver City News Sun, Mar 25 2012 Possessing the mental prowess to outskate and outwit, two young Culver City speed demons fly around the ice faster than Zambonis on overdrive. Culver City residents Aidan Williams, 12, and Zach Araneta, 15, have garnered numerous medals the past year in regional, state and national short track speed skating events. Requiring athleticism, skill and stamina to maintain speed, balance, and agility, these youngsters use their human body and sharp 17-inch blades to keep them soaring around the ice. As seen in the Olympic games, the sport features high speeds (up to 40 mph), and thrills and spills, earning the moniker “NASCAR on ice.” Think Apolo Anton Ohno. Araneta claimed the gold medal last month in the Juvenile Division of the California State Short Track Speed Skating Championships held in Valencia. Williams was recovering from a fall during training and instead cheered on his competitors. Members of the renowned DeMorra Speedskating Club in Lakewood, trained by Wilma Boomstra, Araneta and Williams are returning from a trip to Green Bay in the USA Age Class National Championships, where they had strong performances. Williams skated personal best times in the 334-meter and 1000-meter distances. Araneta plays a leading role on the LA Junior Kings Under-16 AA hockey team. Williams played for several traveling squads, but recently gave up hockey to devote his time to speed skating. “He watched the Olympics and loved it. He fell in love with the speed the first time he tried the sport,” said his mother, Jana Williams. Already a decorated competitive hockey player, Williams took up short track speed skating in August 2010. In his first year competing, he won gold or silver in every meet he entered, and was awarded the Southern California Speed Skating Association Pony Age Class Champion. He also was bestowed the Southern California Speed Skating Association President's Award, which is rarely given to a first year skater. He has continued his streak with more wins this year. Williams trains twice a week on and off the ice before and after school. His training intensifies in the summer on weekday mornings at the ice arena and later in the day at the park, the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook stairs or the beach. “You just have to love the sport you're doing. In speed skating, it’s a very technical sport so you have to be on the ice a lot and just keep practicing. You have to watch other skaters, listen to your coach and concentrate on your technique,” said Williams. Williams was on the Culver City Middle School cross country team and placed third overall in recent sixth grade competition. The 4.0 scholars-class student has to keep organized, because he must fit in the homework required in Scholars math, social studies and English, as well as Spanish Immersion. He also has the added chore of sharpening his skate blades with a diamond stone every couple of training sessions, using a jig to hold the skates in place. “In our family, grades are number one and sports number two. If you don't get the grades, you don't get to train,” said his mom. The Sunkist Park resident was an El Marino Language School student and his brother is in first grade there. Aidan's dad, Chris, played hockey all his life, growing up in Canada where ice sports are a way of life. Mom grew up in Australia and was a state-level gymnast. She first strapped on a pair of skates at age 16. Like auto racing, the name of the game is go-fast, turn left, be smart and don’t wreck. But, they all do. Williams last year rolled over on his ankle during training and had to use crutches for a couple days. In a recent meet, his blade on one skate became entangled with his other boot on a turn and he wiped out into the protective pads placed around the rink. He went into the pads head-first and sustained a bruise on his forehead. And, while training on the day before the recent California Championships, he took a bad fall and had to sit out the event. What’s life like as an ice mom? “I've done it for so long now between hockey and speed skating that it's just become a part of my life. I'm really good at dressing in layers. Ugg Boots are my best friend and so is a warm blanket,” said Jana Williams. “I understand why athletes thank their parents. When I'm waking up and driving in the dark to the skating rink at 4:45 a.m. for practice, I realize all the sacrifices parents make for their kids. I wouldn't change a thing, though. Sitting and watching Aidan have fun and hang out with a really great group of well-mannered, motivated kids, and seeing him commit to something like this reinforces that sport builds character and instills traits you can use throughout your life,” she said. [/img] Read the entire article: www.culvercitynews.org/sports/it-s-nascar-on-ice-for-two-culver-youth-speed-skaters-take-short-route-to-medals/+++
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Mar 30, 2012 13:34:56 GMT -8
MAAME BINEYTwo years ago in Wausau, WI, I attended my first Nationals. I was taking a walk with a ‘skater mom’ friend (her family first called my attention in 2008 to a young skater named John-Henry Krueger). During our walk she mentioned a Pony-Division skater that I should keep my eye on. That skater was 9 years old at the time - she kicked butt that year, and has been kickin’ butt ever since. I’d like to introduce y’all to Maame Biney (I think it’s pronounced “MAAH-may”) - and she’s still only twelve! Remember the name… Maame in the lead at Nationals, Green Bay, WI (March 16-18, 2012). Photo Credit: Jerry Search Reston Speedskater Wins National TitleTwelve-year-old Maame Biney returns from Green Bay with goldBy Karen Goff / Reston Patch / March 22, 2012 Terraset Elementary School sixth grader Maame Biney returned from Green Bay, WI last weekend with a great souvenir: many medals. Biney, 12, was the overall winner for the Midget Ladies group at the the 2012 U.S. Speedskating Short Track Age Group National Championships. She won all of her races (333, 500, 777, and 1000), was awarded the over winner for age group (Midget Ladies). She also broke a record in the 500 meters. "I was jumping up and down, I was so excited," Biney said of learning she had broken the previous record, set four years ago. Biney also won five gold medals and her age group (Pony Ladies) in 2011, making her an up-and-comer on the speedskating circuit. Naturally, Biney has a goal of making it to the Olympics. Meanwhile, she is training to be a champion right here in Reston, where she works with her coaches Jimmy Jang and ChoiKwang-Bok Dominion Speedskating Club at SkateQuest Reston. Biney, who was born in Ghana, first stepped on the ice at age 5. Her father, Kweku, enrolled her in a beginner's figure skating class. "I did figure skating for about five months," said Maame. "But the coach told my dad I was going a little too fast. They said maybe I should try speedskating." Kweku started taking his daughter to the Kids on Ice Learn to Speedskate program at Fort Dupont Ice Arena in Washington, D.C. The Bineys were living in Wheaton at the time. Kweku, who works at a Reston IT company, grew up playing soccer and participating in track and field in his native country. In Ghana, there is no such thing as an ice rink, he says. "When they say 'ice' in Ghana, they mean ice water or ice cold beer," he says. "But the first day she got out there, I was really surprised. She really took it in stride. She had never seen an ice sheet like that." These days, Maame is at the rink six days a week. She also does dry land training to boost speed and endurance. Biney's role model is Apollo Ono, who won eight Olympic medals. She says she can get excellent coaching here in Reston as she continues her quest for more age-group medals. "I have great coaches," she says. "Both of them have coached Olympians." Jang is a former U.S. Olympic Development Coach of the Year, a Choi is a former Korean National and Olympic Team Coach. Biney says practice and concentration are the keys to being a top speedskater. "Sometimes I have to think to myself 'don't fall,' she says of making the tight turns that short track speedskating demands. "The coaches teach us to focus and to not get distracted."[/img] Read the entire article: reston.patch.com/articles/reston-speedskater-wins-national-title#photo-9391190+++ Tags: Maame Biney / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Apr 1, 2012 9:56:38 GMT -8
LUKAS ANDERSONLukas was 3rd overall in the Midget Age Division (11-12) at ST Nationals in Green Bay - very impressive, but this article indicates that he’s even stronger in Long Track. I checked USS’ Long Track Age Group National Championships, and sure enough, Lukas is the National Champion in his age group - he won every distance. It sounds like he’s overcoming some considerable physical obstacles, too. He suffers from a painful disease that causes the ball of the hip to deteriorate, which makes his accomplishments even more impressive! Local Speed Skating Champion Seeks New Title Reporter: Caroline Vandergriff / March 16, 2012 Lukas (#53) leads in the straightaway at National Age Group Championships. Photo Credit: Jerry Search i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo144/rocker-u/LimOpekaR-Anderson-AgeNatlsMar12-JS.jpgMidget Division Overall Winners - L to R: Eugene Lim (Silver); Ross Opeka (Gold); Lukas Anderson (Bronze). Photo Credit: Jerry Search [/img] Dewitt may have gymnastics champion Jordyn Wieber, but Waverly Middle School has a national champion of its own. Speed skating champ Lukas Anderson is gearing up for another round of competition in Wisconsin this morning. He will be competing in the national short track skating championship, after winning the long track national championships a few weeks ago. Lukas has a need for speed -- and it's a need that can only be satisfied on the ice. "When I was little we used to take me out to the open ice, and I would just go flying around in circles, in between people," said Lukas. "So my mom said we needed to find something with just more speed." Not only did Lukas find some fun in speed skating -- he excelled. This year, the 8th-grader won the long track national championship -- making him the top skater in the event for his age. He competed against more than 100 of the top speed skaters in the country to win the 400 meter race, and also broke the national record in the 300 meter race. On top of his busy training schedule, Lukas takes on a rigorous class load. "He's an all A student," said Eric Anderson, Lukas's dad and trainer. "He splits his time at the middle school and the high school to try to get ahead in school, and he still manages to have fun in there too. He's always smiling." Eric says his son Lukas's accomplishments are even more impressive because of the obstacles he's overcome. When Lukas was three years old, he was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthese disease, a painful condition that can cause the ball of the hip to deteriorate. "He had a wheelchair to get around and we were told he'd never play any sports or anything so it's kind of a big deal." Eric says one day Lukas will probably need surgery, but for now Lukas is simply focused on skating. He has his eyes on a very big prize. "Hopefully get up to Olympic level and then go on from there," said Lukas. Eric is confident Lukas can make it to the Winter Olympics in 2018. His biggest worry is injury. When skaters get up to speeds of 35 miles per hour, padding on the rink can only do so much. "It's actually a really dangerous sport," Eric said. "So I get nervous about that more than anything as he's getting faster and they're trying so hard for that top position." But fear isn't much of a factor for Lukas. When he's on the ice, his speed is the only thing that matters. "I guess I just kind of go out there and focus on the skating and don't really notice anyone around me," said Lukas. This summer, Lukas will head to Salt Lake City and Milwaukee to train. His dad says Lukas is at the point now where he'll probably move somewhere else permanently to train full time in about a year. Right now, the sport is a family affair for the Anderson's. Lukas's seven-year-old sister also competes, so the family travels to competitions together. We'll be covering Lukas's bid for the short track national championship title over the weekend, and be sure to keep you posted with any updates.[/img] Read the entire story: www.wilx.com/news/headlines/Local_Speed_Skating_Champ_Seeks_New_Title_142909445.html+++ Tags: Lukas Anderson / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Apr 2, 2012 14:18:34 GMT -8
ALEXUZ (LEXI) BEKELELexi did an awesome job in her very first Nationals - she made the podium in three out of four distances, and ended up second overall in her division! Resident Brings Home Silver Speed Skating MedalCould Alexuz Contreras-Bekele, 12, from Laguna Niguel, be the next Winter Olympics hopeful? By Debbie L. Sklar / Laguna Niguel Patch / April 1, 2012 Resident Alexuz Contreras-Bekele, 12, brought home the Silver Medal at the US Speed Skating Age Class National Championships held in Green Bay, Wisc., last week. She is now the Midget Ladies 2012 Silver Medalist and ranked second in the United States in her age division. Her overall finish was the result of capturing Silver in the 333-meter, Bronze in the 777-meter, and Silver in the 1000-meter races in her first appearance at the USA National Age-Class Short Track Speed Skating Championships. Bekele is involved in the most obscure sport of Short Track Speed Skating. Just last month she earned her second California State Championship at a competition held in Valencia, making her the 2012 California State Champion in Short Track Speed Skating. "Living in Orange County offers me a unique training environment, because ironically most of my training happens on the beach with efforts called 'off ice training' and cycling PCH really helps develop my leg strength when I am not in the ice rink," said Bekele after recent training session. Bekele trains year-round at DeMorra Speedskating in Lakewood, with world-renowned coach Wilma Boomstra. Boomstra is responsible for training current Olympic, World Cup and Junior World Cup team members J.R. Celski, Sarah Chen, Kyle Uyehara, Jacqueline Chen and Kendal Pumphrey, among others. [/img] Read the entire article: lagunaniguel.patch.com/articles/resident-brings-home-silver-speed-skating-medalMidget Age Division Overall Winners - L to R: Lexi Bekele (Silver); Maame Biney (Gold); Kathryn Oestreicher (Bronze). Photo Credit: Jerry Search +++ Tags: Lexi Bekele / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Apr 3, 2012 13:17:31 GMT -8
STACY CAPRILLIDowney speed skater ranked 5th in the nationThe Downey Patriot / March 29, 2012 www.thedowneypatriot.com/article.do?id=17711391DOWNEY - Sixteen-year-old speed skater Stacy Caprilli is ranked fifth in the nation after competing in the USA National Age-Class Speedskating Championships held in Green Bay, Wis., from March 16-18. Caprilli, a Downey resident and sophomore at Downey High School, earned her fifth place title by skating to a silver medal in the 500 meter event. She placed fourth in the 1,500 meters and sixth in the 27-lap, 3,000 meter distance. Caprilli's other event of the meet - the 1,000 meters - ended in disappointment after a fall. Caprilli is the 2012 California state champion in the Junior Women's Division (ages 15-16). Short track speed skating, which most people associate with decorated U.S. Olympian Apolo Ohno, is raced "pack-style" with three to five other competitors at a time on 16-inch razor sharp blades. Caprilli competes in several local competitions during the September to April season, and trains year-round at DeMorra Speedskating in Lakewood with renowned coach Wilma Boomstra. Boomstra is responsible for training current Olympic, World Cup and Junior World Cup team members J.R. Celski, Sarah Chen, Kyle Utehara, Jacqueline Chen and Kendal Pumphrey, among others. Caprilli's goal is to improve her skating and earn a spot on the U.S. national team. Stacy skates at National Age Group Championships, 2012 - Photo Credit: Jerry Search i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo144/rocker-u/Santos-AgeNatlsMar12-JS.jpgJunior Age Division 500M Podium - L to R: Stacy Caprilli (Silver); Kristen Santos (Gold); Juliana Pyo (Bronze). Photo Credit: Jerry Search[/img] +++ Tags: Stacy Caprilli / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Apr 5, 2012 20:24:05 GMT -8
SIOBHAN LIMLadies’ Pony Division 2012 National Champion One to watch in the future! Siobhan competes in the Pony Division (10 and under), but she was SO impressive, winning every distance that she raced - and she has a twin brother who’s just as good a skater as she is! She skates for the Dominion Speedskating Club in the D.C. area, and is coached by Jimmy Jang and Choi Kwang-Bok. Ladies’ Pony Division Overall - Kamryn Lute (Silver); Siobhan Lim (Gold); not pictured - Faith Lai (Bronze). Photo Credit: Jerry Search See More of Jerry’s photos: National Speedskating Museum Galleries: www.nationalspeedskatingmuseum.org/Photo%20Albums/JerrysAlbums.htmFacebook (public, but you must log into FB): www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/albums/?id=540721480 Tags: Siobhan Lim / Short Track Speedskating
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jun 7, 2012 10:02:48 GMT -8
MICHAEL KOENIGWe saw Michael at National Championships in Green Bay (March, 2012), where he finished 4th overall, and made the podium in the 1000M and the 500M (3rd in each distance). Family finds shared love in speed skatingBy Sara Smith / Glen Ellyn News / May 31, 2012 Melissa Koenig and her son, Michael, practice knee-to-chest jumps during a "dry land" practice of the Glen Ellyn Speedskating Club at Glenbard West High School on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. - Photo Credit: Matthew PiechalakGlen Ellyn, IL — Speed skating wasn’t the deciding factor when Melissa Koenig and her family moved to Glen Ellyn three years ago, but did play a large role in their decision. “When we were looking to move from Oak Park, we were looking at a variety of other neighborhoods, and we had just started coming to Glen Ellyn for dry land (speed skating) practice at the Glenbard West track,” said Koenig, who signed up as the News’ 100th Facebook follower online, earning her a story in the newspaper. “In a way, speed skating is what brought us to Glen Ellyn.” The intense, fast-paced sport helped the family decide to move to the area, and it’s also helped Koenig and her son, Michael, bond over a shared interest. Koenig and her son, a freshman at Glenbard South High School, don’t simply watch the sport together, they go to practices, training and competitions. The two are members of the Glen Ellyn Speed Skating Club, with Koenig serving as one of the coaches and a coordinator for the learn to skate program. She also competes in the sport. However, Koenig only started speed skating seven years ago when her son started learning the sport. “When my son started doing it, I thought it looked like fun and good exercise,” Koenig said. “At one point, I could beat him. But not anymore.” An added bonus of the sport is that Koenig and her son can train together. “It’s really unique in the way that you can do it with your kids,” she said. “We’re at the same practices doing the same workout, going to competitions. It’s really a family activity.” The skating club has about 40 members in its learn to skate program and about 30 in the advanced program. Members range from 8 to 49 years old. Many team members have parents, kids or spouses that also participate in the sport, such as Carl Cepuran, head coach of the club, whose three sons also participate and help coach. “It’s a good family sport,” he said. “You can go to the same practice and everyone gets a good workout. No one is compromising.” The sport may only be seen on TV during the winter, but in Glen Ellyn, athletes train almost year-round. This month, club members started dry land training at Glenbard West High School. In the summer, the club does more general training, such as cardio, circuits and exercises to strengthen core muscles. At a recent practice at Glenbard West while doing the speed ladder — which trains athletes to improve with more technical work — Koenig and her son were right next to each other practicing footwork. “It’s a family sport,” Michael said. And as the club brings skaters from around Illinois and surrounding states together, it’s also bringing families, such as the Koenig’s, together. “I think its an opportunity to participate in a different level with your kids,” Koenig said. “When your kid surpasses you, it’s a unique dynamic. It’s just a great family experience.”[/img] Read the entire article: www.mysuburbanlife.com/glenellyn/topstories/x624617518/Family-finds-shared-love-in-speed-skatingHere's one of Jerry Search's podium photos of Michael - I'm not sure whether this the the 1000M or the 500M podium, 'cause I don't know who the skater is on the left...: Center: Thomas Hong; Right: Michael Koenig - Photo Credit: Jerry Search Tags: Michael Koenig / Melissa Koenig / Short Track Speedskating +++
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Post by brohandy on Jun 28, 2012 15:18:05 GMT -8
That Thomas Hong is gonna kick some serious butt. But that kid on the left...purple shoes. He might be a real threat.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jun 28, 2012 15:41:32 GMT -8
That Thomas Hong is gonna kick some serious butt. But that kid on the left...purple shoes. He might be a real threat. Welcome to the board, brohandy!
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jul 7, 2012 15:13:45 GMT -8
ETHAN AND MONICA SOHNLocal Speed Skating Siblings Race to Success Monica and Ethan Sohn, of Fairfax Station, both recently took home speed skating medals. By Rachel Hatzipanagos / Burke Patch / April 9, 2012 Ethan Sohn competes at National Age Group Championships, Green Bay, WI (March, 2012) - Photo Credit: Jerry Search Monica Sohn (#236) competes at National Age Group Championships, Green Bay, WI (March, 2012) - Photo Credit: Jerry Search Two Fairfax Station siblings have raced to the top of the competitive national speed skating scene after years of hard work and thousands of hours of practice. “When it gets hard, I think of my competitors and how hard they’re training, and that if they’re giving 100 percent I should too,” Ethan Sohn, 11, said. Ethan and his older sister, Monica, 16, recently placed in the 2012 U.S. Short Track Speedskating America Cup and Age Group Championships held in Green Bay, WI last month. Monica, a junior at Lake Braddock Secondary School, won a bronze medal in the intermediate category for skaters 17 and older, and Ethan, a fifth grader at Sangster Elementary School, took home a silver medal in his age group. The siblings first got hooked onto speed skating after watching the 2006 Winter Olympics and seeing superstar Apolo Anton Ohno on the ice. “I watched Ohno winning all of the medals and it seemed like a great sport so we wanted to try it,” Monica said. Ethan started taking skating lessons initially, and his sister followed shortly thereafter. The duo became engrossed in the sport, taking classes in Maryland, a two-hour drive from their Fairfax Station home. Since then, the duo have been able to find ice time closer to home at the Prince William Ice Center in Dale City as part of the club Dominion Speedskating. “Being that the sport is so selective you get the opportunity to work with some of the top coaches,” said their mother, Kristen Sohn. The club is coached by Jimmy Jang, former U.S. Olympic Development Coach of the Year, and by Kwang-Bok Choi, former Korean National and Olympic team coach in the past three Olympic games. “The sport has been growing, especially after each Olympics,” Monica said. Their success in speed skating has allowed them to actually meet Ohno in person. “He’s an inspiration,” Monica said. “I heard that he didn’t eat junk food for three years. I don’t know if I can do that but I’ll try.” The siblings practice five to six days a week right after school for hours, with conditioning and on-the-ice training from about 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. After practice, they have to get home and handle homework. “Getting enough sleep is the main challenge,” Ethan, said. “When I first started out I didn’t have as many challenges because I didn’t have a lot of homework but that was in first grade.” The kids are both straight-A students despite the time commitments they have for skating. “They are both very responsible,” said their mother, Kristen Sohn. “They learned how to focus and it all came to them just from speedskating.” Though the siblings both admit that the balance between schoolwork and speed skating is a challenge, they say they never seriously have considered quitting. “Whenever I feel like it’s too tiring I think of how hard I’ve trained so far and I would be giving it up it would have all been for nothing,” Monica said. They both have high hopes for their future as Olympic prospects, with Monica training toward the 2014 Olympics and Ethan for the Olympics in 2018. Monica is also panning to apply to the University of Virginia, William & Mary, and Georgetown University. “I would encourage others to do this sport. It’s hard but it’s so much fun. You feel a lot of adrenaline while skating with the wind,” Monica said. “It’s like flying.”[/img] Read More: burke.patch.com/articles/local-speed-skating-siblings-race-to-success#photo-9516183Tags: Monica Sohn / Ethan Sohn / Jimmy Jang / Kwang-Bok Choi / Apolo Anton Ohno / Short Track Speedskating +++
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Post by harpinche on Jul 10, 2012 10:35:29 GMT -8
I've been enjoying watching Keith Carroll on Youtube every so often.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jul 10, 2012 13:12:18 GMT -8
I've been enjoying watching Keith Carroll on Youtube every so often. Hi, harpinche - Keith was actually the first of the skaters on our 'Future Stars' board to start skating at Senior level in AmCups - when he moved up to that level, we started a separate thread for him at the following link: www.therockerforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=farm&action=display&thread=714One of our members, kspeedad, posted the link to Keith's YouTube videos on his thread, and they are very good. Please don't be shy about posting news about Keith or any of your other favorite skaters on their threads - we welcome your input!
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