 Skate
Today has teamed up with Barry Mittan to provide you an insight into
the personalities of the people in this wonderful sport and to give
you a more personal connection when you watch them on television or
see them at an event. Mr. Mittan is the author or editor of several
books and hundreds of figure skating articles. All of Barry's stories
are reviewed by the skaters, and their coaches or others if requested,
before publication to ensure the greatest accuracy.
All current
articles and many previous articles may be read in their entirety by
following the links below. Mr. Mittan retains all copyrights for these
articles and they may not be reproduced without permission. Please visit
www.jbmittan.com for more details.
Archived Articles
2008
January - March 2008
2007
2006
2005
2004 |
November 26, 2008
Article by J. Barry Mittan
 For U. S. ice dancers Jennifer Wester and Daniil Barantsev, the road to international senior competition has been long and hard. After teaming up in early 2003, the couple has endured numerous setbacks that kept them from competing. First and foremost was Russia's refusal to release Barantsev, the 2000 and 2001 World Junior ice dancing champion with Natalia Romaniuta, to compete for the United States.
"During the first couple of years, Daniil and I were still very hopeful that his release was around the corner and we kept focused on using the time to get our partnership together but with each year that optimism wanted to fade and the tensions of daily training started to wear on us," Wester said. "Shows were a relief when we got them but they were extremely few and far between. Somehow we just didn't feel that we could stop and be satisfied with ourselves. We just feel that our rollercoaster has made it through so many turns and loops that if we can just keep riding we'll get to the station we've been dreaming about."
Except for the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships, the couple had no where to compete. For another two seasons, they could only compete at U. S. Nationals, but not internationally. Finally last season, the couple received their first international assignment to compete at the Nebelhorn Trophy, which they won. |
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November 05, 2008
Article by J. Barry Mittan
 Hounsh Munshi, 14, who was born in Bangkok, Thailand, currently represents India on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. Last season, she finished 28th at the Junior Grand Prix in Chemnitz, Germany, her first international. She later placed 55th at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2008.
"I was really lucky to go there," she admitted. "It's great just to be able to come and watch the other good skaters and see how they do things. The international exposure helps me to learn about the stress of competing."
This season, Munshi placed 25th in her first event, the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Mexico City.
Munshi's parents are from India and moved to Thailand after her older sister was born. After Munshi's birth, the family moved to Sydney, Australia for two years and then to the United States, where the family currently resides. "I'm an Indian citizen," she said, "but I might try to get dual citizenship in the U. S. later." |
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