General Figure Skating Thread

Madison DeLuca, 18, of Livonia is living a figure skater’s dream. The 2014 Stevenson High School graduate leaves today (Sunday) to perform with Disney on Ice. “A lot of skaters, that’s what they hope to do some day,” said DeLuca, who has been ice skating since age 3. “I think it’s very exciting and I can’t wait to go and start it.”



“A lot of skaters, that’s what they hope to do some day,” said DeLuca, who has been ice skating since age 3. “I think it’s very exciting and I can’t wait to go and start it.” DeLuca auditioned for and received a role in “Worlds of Fantasy,” a nine-month touring show that begins Sept. 18 in Florida. After practicing for three weeks, DeLuca and the other skaters on tour will travel all through the United States and Canada, performing up to three shows a day in some cities.



DeLuca was a competitive skater whose accomplishments include being a three-time U.S. Figure Skating Junior National Championships competitor, Eastern Great Lakes Regional Novice Ladies Champion and U.S. Figure Skating Championship competitor. She is most proud of placing among the top 12 figure skaters nationally in her level in 2012.



While she loved competing, she also really liked performing in front of a crowd, her mother Kelly DeLuca said. After graduating high school, DeLuca found herself at a crossroads. She could continue competing, start college – although she doesn’t know yet what she wants to study – or take performing to the next level. “The Disney thing was just a better option,” she said, adding she decided to enroll in college after the tour is over.

Roman Sadovsky skated his way to Canada’s third gold medal in the men's singles' competition during the third stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit in Ostravoa, Czech Republic today. The 15-year-old Vaughan resident interpreted his long program to music from Les Miserables to finish atop the standings with 192.08 points.



Alexander Samarin of Russia was second at 188.69 and Sei Kawahara of Japan third at 184.69. For Sadovsky it was his first gold and second career medal on the circuit. He led after a superb short program Friday and his long skate scored third best but was still enough to keep him first overall.



‘’It’s amazing to get the victory,’’ he said on Skate Canada's website. ‘’It was a real nerve-wracking experience. I had never gone into a long at this level standing in first place. The mistakes I did make I was able to quickly put them behind me.’’ Sadovsky executed seven triple jumps and demonstrated amazing flexibility in his free skate. His only mishap was not hanging on to a triple toe-loop jump in the middle of his program.



‘’My goal for this year is to eventually have a solid triple Axel in the long program,’’ he said. ‘’The speed and flow of the routine are also improving. I’m not sure what happened with the toe-loop today. It’s usually a sure jump for me.’’ The fourth stop on the circuit is Aichi, Japan Sept. 11 to 13.