 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 |
September 15, 2008
Article by J. Barry Mittan
 Ashley Foy and Benjamin Blum were both born in the northeastern United States, but now compete in ice dancing for Germany. They finished 13th at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships last season and will compete in senior dance in the coming season.
Foy, who was born in Hartford, Connecticut, began skating when she was five years old. "I was living in Simsbury and both of my older sisters were skating," Foy stated. "I saw Oksana Baiul skating when I went to the rink with my mother and sisters and kind of forced my mother to let me skate too. I skated singles until I was 12 but I really wanted to try pairs and didn't like jumping much!"
"I skated pairs from ten through 13 because I enjoyed skating with a partner more than just skating by myself," she continued. "I got as high as winning North Atlantic Regionals and placing 14th at the 2002 Junior Nationals with Craig Ratteree. When I was 12, I started dance while I was in between pair partners, and I did both pairs and dance for a year."
"I danced with Dean Copely for one season and we finished first at North Atlantic Regionals and fifth at Nationals in juvenile dance in 2003," she continued, "but I was growing taller than him. Later I skated with Nathan Jarmuth for a year and competed in Novice Dance." |
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September 08, 2008
Article by J. Barry Mittan
 Chinese Taipei's Melinda Wang made history by finishing 15th at the 2008 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Goyang City, Korea last season, the highest finish by a lady from that country. She placed higher than her two teammates to earn a spot at the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden a few weeks later.
Her success continued as Wang made the final free skate at the World Championships, placing 23rd overall. She is the highest Chinese Taipei finisher by a lady since 1988 at the Worlds Championships. "My goal for the season was to make it to Worlds and skate in the final round," she stated. "Next year, I hope to place higher."
Wang skates for Chinese Taipei in part because her mother was born there, although Melinda was born in New York City. "My mom's sister is a big supporter of the federation," Wang said. "I was discovered by Dr. Alice Sulindro, and she convinced us to do it."
The talented teen started skating when she was three. "My cousins had invited my parents and me to go skating at Play Land in Rye, New York," she recalled, "but it was snowing really hard so they decided not to go. They chickened out. So my mom and my sister and I went to the public skating."
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