Article by Karen Frank
What do Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have in frequent with ski racing? Aside from the truth that each are related to the Winter Olympics, in addition they occur to be the explanations Christina Chitwood and Mark Hanretty first laced up skates and glided onto the ice. In 1994, Mark was impressed by Torvill and Dean’s return to Olympic competitors. Two years later, Chrissy started skating as a technique of cross coaching for ski racing. Mostly for cross coaching, anyway… “I also loved the dresses!” she says.
Though Mark was impressed by his ice dancing countrymen, he began out as a free skater. It was solely after he was hampered by accidents that he switched disciplines to change into an ice dancer. “I still wanted to skate and started to dance.” It turned out to be a cheerful change for him. “Now,” he says, “I’m thankful for the injuries.”
Chrissy was a multi-tasking skater, competing in each pairs and dance, earlier than finally deciding to focus on dance. “I always loved any type of dance and had done ballet since I was 5. I enjoyed many of the pair elements but preferred ice dancing.”
When each of them ended up partnerless within the fall of 2005, their respective coaches thought they could be match for one another. “We were brought together by our coaches, Jimmy Young from Sheffield, England, and Sandy Hess from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jimmy and Sandy had coached together in Denver a few years back and spoke with each other about us. We began e-mailing each other in November 2005. We developed a friendship by e-mail before we met and tried out at the end of December in Scotland. After our first session skating together, we decided to become an ice dance team.”
Of course, making the choice was one factor, however figuring out the small print took somewhat longer. “We decided to skate together December 31, 2005, but didn’t get to train together properly till May ’06 because of a small issue of the Atlantic Ocean in the way!” Once Chrissy moved to England, the commute grew to become somewhat simpler. They now alternate coaching in Sheffield and Colorado Springs. “We’re lucky to have coaches with such extensive knowledge and experience. What we most appreciate is the positive environment Jim creates for us in daily training.”
The optimistic surroundings helps maintain them working towards their objectives, even when issues don’t go based on plan. “Last season, we set high goals that didn’t come to fruition for various reasons. We still believe in aiming high and intend to do so, but this year we’ll keep our goals in our training diaries and hopefully let everyone see them as they materialize!”
Having angle helps as effectively, each of their private outlook and their working relationship. “We are both highly motivated and optimistic people. “ Mark says of his partner, “Chrissy is just awesome.” Chrissy echoes his sentiments: “Mark is such a great friend of mine, and I couldn’t imagine a better partner.” In truth, they every say that their companion is their function mannequin (in addition they admire Lang and Tchernyshev and Sinead and John Kerr).
They’ve already reached the purpose of their partnership when issues begin to click on and move collectively. Ice-dance.com’s interview display asks groups what their favourite aspect is, however Chrissy and Mark can’t separate it into items like that. “When skating is really “on,” we are able to’t decide one factor specifically. If you actually pushed us to offer a solution, we’d each say lifts.”
This seamless move of components is mirrored within the non-training features of their lives. Both have included one thing of ice dance into their profession objectives. For Mark, it’s bodily being on the ice and coaching that can all the time be a part of his life. “I coach young skaters which I love to do. People fascinate me, so I see myself working with people: perhaps through my fitness knowledge, e.g., Pilates or yoga. I’d be interested in training as a life coach.” For Chrissy, it’s the efficiency facet that she plans to maintain in her future. “I am studying for a bachelor’s degree in performing arts.” Eventually, she plans to pursue an performing profession.
Training, teaching, and school takes up most of their time nowadays, however once they do discover some free time, Mark likes to go to the gymnasium or watch a movie, whereas Chrissy says, “I like to read, listen to music, dance, watch movies, and spend time with my family and friends.” In the extra distant future, Mark wish to have time “to travel and experience more of the world.”
Or possibly that’s not as distant as he thinks. In per week, he and his companion will journey to Lake Placid, NY to compete on the Ice Dance Championships. And from there, possibly. . . Helsinki or Gothenburg?
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To study extra about this group and maintain observe of their season, try their web site, http://chitwood-hanretty.ice-dance.com