Saturday, January 26, 2013
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Justin Performs "Pursuit of Freedom" 2012 (Video)
Here's a video of Justin skating to "Pursuit of Freedom," written by Dorian Markovac. He performed this program at Tampa Bay Skating Academy's Saturday Winter Wonderland show. It was beautiful!
Justin and his single's coach, Diana Deka, added 30 more seconds to the program after he performed it in September at the Ellenton competition. The additions include a back camel spin into a tango spin and more footwork. He also replaced one of his axels with a double salchow.
Justin and his single's coach, Diana Deka, added 30 more seconds to the program after he performed it in September at the Ellenton competition. The additions include a back camel spin into a tango spin and more footwork. He also replaced one of his axels with a double salchow.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Ups & Downs At Ellenton Competition
In all things - ice related or not - there are times when things go well, and times when things don't go so well. Justin experienced both at the Southwest Florida Fall Classic Figure Skating Competition held Sept. 21 through the 23.
At Friday's event, Justin performed two bronze level solo dances, placing first out of four. The next day, he performed his freestyle program, placing second out of two.
"All day Friday was great. Saturday wasn't," Justin said. "I wasn't as confident in my freestyle program as I was in dance because there were some things I still had trouble with. But I thought I could pull it off. I was wrong."
The three-day competition in Ellenton showcased more than 250 figure skaters, some from as far as Delaware and Great Britain.
We arrived early on Friday to watch the pair teams of Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea, and Stacey Kemp and David King perform their senior pairs short program. Justin also watched his friends, William Hubbart and Emma Oleck, perform their short programs before he took the ice to compete in dance.
"It was really cool watching the senior, junior, and novice pair skaters," he said. "And watching my friends compete and cheering them on was really fun."
When it came time for Justin to compete in solo ice dance, he was feeling confident and ready. Ice dance combines the athleticism of ice skating with the artistry of ballroom dancing. The set pattern dances are derived from traditional ballroom dance tempos (the waltz, the foxtrot, the tango, etc.). At the bronze level in solo dance, he was required to perform two pattern dances: the Hickory Hoedown and the Willow Waltz. (See slide show of pictures below.)
But once on the ice he had to reassure himself to regain his confidence.
"When I was warming up for the Hickory I got nervous," Justin said. "But then I remembered that I went through a lot to go to sectionals for dance, and I figured if I can get through that, I can get through this."
Walking to the locker room after he finished the second dance, the Willow Waltz, he wasn't sure he got all the steps right.
"Man, I messed that up," he said.
"Well, it looked good to me," Joe replied.
Justin's ice dance coach, Laura Amelina, knew he did well.
"Go check the results," she said. "I'm sure he medaled."
She was right. Justin's name was on the top of the list of skaters.
"I was really happy," he said. "Half of me wasn't surprised because I felt confident and ready. But half of me was because there were a few spots where I thought I messed up."
The next day, Justin competed in his first USFSA (United States Figure Skating Association) freestyle competition event. Freestyle, or single's skating, differs the most from dance in that it has jumps. It was the first time in three years Justin had competed as a freestyle skater. In 2009 when he did compete as a single skater it was at an ISI (Ice Skating Institute) competition, which is geared more for recreational skating. USFSA skating is more competitive and is designed for the more committed skater. Both are good programs. The difference is USFSA allows the skater to move up the competitive ladder to regionals, sectionals, US Nationals, Worlds and Olympic competitions.
But Justin didn't decide to get serious about ice skating until two years ago. It was then he and his first ice dance partner set their sights on competing at sectionals. For Justin that meant passing four "moves in the field" tests, three pattern dance tests, and the juvenile free dance test in the span of 10 months. He did it. But as a result, testing for his single skating was put on the back burner.
So he and his freestyle coach, Diana Deka, put together a program to compete at the Pre-Preliminary B division, which is the first level on the USFSA test track.
The program was set to a fast, intense, orchestral piece, written by Dorian Markovac, and called Pursuit of Freedom. It contained a series of five jumps, including two axels. An axel - the jump many skaters love to hate - is performed by leaping up from the front outer edge of one skate to make one and a half rotations of the body in the air and landing on the back outer edge of the other skate. His program also had two spins: a camel, sit, back sit, combination, and a sit spin, along with footwork to tie it all together.
"I thought I could land my first axel," Justin said. "But the second one I knew I was going to fall. I just did it anyway. My footwork was fine. All the elements besides my axels and the spin I fell out of were fine." He paused. "For my first time competing in a long time, I'm not really upset about it."
However, he did leave the competition having learned something from his freestyle experience.
"I learned to quit skating," he said, jokingly. "No, I learned I'll be more prepared for the next competition."
 |
| Justin skates to the Willow Waltz. Photo by Deavers Photography. |
"All day Friday was great. Saturday wasn't," Justin said. "I wasn't as confident in my freestyle program as I was in dance because there were some things I still had trouble with. But I thought I could pull it off. I was wrong."
The three-day competition in Ellenton showcased more than 250 figure skaters, some from as far as Delaware and Great Britain.
We arrived early on Friday to watch the pair teams of Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea, and Stacey Kemp and David King perform their senior pairs short program. Justin also watched his friends, William Hubbart and Emma Oleck, perform their short programs before he took the ice to compete in dance.
 |
| Justin hanging with friends Sara (at left) and Shayla. |
When it came time for Justin to compete in solo ice dance, he was feeling confident and ready. Ice dance combines the athleticism of ice skating with the artistry of ballroom dancing. The set pattern dances are derived from traditional ballroom dance tempos (the waltz, the foxtrot, the tango, etc.). At the bronze level in solo dance, he was required to perform two pattern dances: the Hickory Hoedown and the Willow Waltz. (See slide show of pictures below.)
But once on the ice he had to reassure himself to regain his confidence.
"When I was warming up for the Hickory I got nervous," Justin said. "But then I remembered that I went through a lot to go to sectionals for dance, and I figured if I can get through that, I can get through this."
Walking to the locker room after he finished the second dance, the Willow Waltz, he wasn't sure he got all the steps right.
"Man, I messed that up," he said.
"Well, it looked good to me," Joe replied.
Justin's ice dance coach, Laura Amelina, knew he did well.
"Go check the results," she said. "I'm sure he medaled."
She was right. Justin's name was on the top of the list of skaters.
"I was really happy," he said. "Half of me wasn't surprised because I felt confident and ready. But half of me was because there were a few spots where I thought I messed up."
 |
| Justin performs his freestyle program. Photos by Deavers Photography. |
 |
| At right, Coach Diana offers Justin pointers before he takes the ice to compete. |
The program was set to a fast, intense, orchestral piece, written by Dorian Markovac, and called Pursuit of Freedom. It contained a series of five jumps, including two axels. An axel - the jump many skaters love to hate - is performed by leaping up from the front outer edge of one skate to make one and a half rotations of the body in the air and landing on the back outer edge of the other skate. His program also had two spins: a camel, sit, back sit, combination, and a sit spin, along with footwork to tie it all together.
However, he did leave the competition having learned something from his freestyle experience.
"I learned to quit skating," he said, jokingly. "No, I learned I'll be more prepared for the next competition."
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Introducing Taylor & Brown *
For Justin and his new ice dance partner, Madi Taylor, skating together means enjoying the best of two worlds.
"We can laugh and have fun while we're working, which not a lot of people can do," Justin, 16, says. "It helps a lot that I've known (Madi) for so long."
The teenagers have been friends for years, sharing time on the ice at Clearwater Ice Arena and also time hanging out as friends away from the rink.
"I like ice dancing with Justin because he's one of my best friends so it's a lot more comfortable to express ourselves and have fun, and everything not be so uptight," says Madi, 15, who has been skating for seven years.
While Justin and Madi will continue to skate as single skaters, they decided to start ice dancing together about two months ago. Their coach is Laura Amelina.
"They communicate
well on the ice," says Coach Laura, as she points to the north end of
the rink at Tampa Bay Skating Academy where Madi is skating
closely behind Justin, mirroring his every move. He extends his leg;
she extends her leg. He steps to the right; she steps to the right. They quickly are in sync. Because
Justin already has a year of ice dance experience, Coach Laura explains, and Madi is an
advanced skater and a natural dancer, (see photo at left) the two are a
good match.
"Many partners don't let the other teach them, and that's too bad," she adds.
Coach Laura will have Justin and Madi compete at the intermediate level this year in as many competitions as they can.
"I think it would be cool if we went to regionals," Justin says.
Madi shares in that sentiment.
"My short term goal for this year is to make it to regionals and to pass all of our tests in order to get to that," she says. "And to compete as much as we can to show what we've worked on.
My long term goal for ice dancing is to be ranked in the U.S.," she says. "It doesn't matter where we're ranked, but just to be ranked would be really cool."
Justin, who is sitting right next to her, shakes his head in agreement and chimes in with a rousing "yes."
"Nationals is definitely a goal, too," Madi continues. "Not this year, but it's definitely a goal at some point."
In order to make it to regionals this year for ice dancing it will take a lot more than dedication, lessons, practices, and passing tests. They also need a little luck. More time wouldn't hurt either. The deadline to compete in regionals is September 1. They need to pass 11 tests in seven weeks to qualify to compete at the intermediate level.
First, Madi needs to pass the first three pattern dances and the juvenile free dance to catch up to Justin. Then they both need to pass six more pattern dances and the intermediate free dance. They're ready to take the first six pattern dances, but the first test session they can do that at is in several weeks. Most clubs only have one test session a month, sometimes less than that.
"Whether we get first or last or whether we go to regionals or not," Justin says. "I want to have fun. That's why I started ice dancing - for fun." He pauses and then adds: "But regionals would definitely amplify the fun."
To follow are a series of questions and answers to get to know the ice dance team of Madi Taylor and Justin Brown both on and off the ice.
Q: What do you like about ice dancing?
Justin: It's fun to skate with somebody. I like skating to the beat of the music, and how music plays a more important role.
Madi: I like skating with a partner because it develops team sportsmanship skills. I like expressing my ability through someone else, through my partner as one, because that's what ice dancing is you're skating as one.
Q: What do you like to do when you're not skating?
Justin: I pretty much sit motionless at the computer all day. And I also like to spend time with Mei Mei. (His girlfriend.) And I like to watch Anime.
Madi: I like singing, being with friends off the ice, and the beach.
Q: What is your perfect Saturday?
Madi: Lazy day, not doing anything after skating all week.
Justin: I actually like having my dad take me to skating on Saturday mornings, and I like when he cooks stuff all day. I also like to sleep a lot, and go out to eat somewhere.
Q: Who are you listening to now on your iPod?
Justin: Neon Trees. fun. Amy Winehouse. Maroon 5.
Madi: I really like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Sublime.
Q: What is your favorite food?
Madi: Fettucini Alfredo, and anything chocolate.
Justin: Chinese food, and chocolate.
Q: If a movie star were to play you in the story of your life, who would it be?
Justin: Ryan Gosling. That would bring in lots of movie-goers.
Madi: Taylor Swift.
Q: You both have significant others. (Justin's is Mei Mei. Madi's is Zack.) How did you meet?
Madi: At Clearwater Ice Arena. He's a hockey player, a goalie.
Justin: We met at a gathering at the mall.
Q: What are some characteristics you really like about your significant others?
Madi: He's really shy. He has a great personality and he plays an instrument. (A guitar.) He's really, really good at it.
Justin: She's really smart, and she's really funny. And she's an amazing artist.
Q: What are your favorite dance patterns and moves so far?
Madi: The Canasta and the Swing. And I like the lifts.
Justin: The Swing. The Fiesta Tango. And Twizzles.
Q: Who is your favorite figure skater?
Madi: My biggest inspiration is Sasha Cohen and I really like Yuna Kim. For ice dancers, it's Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto.
Justin: My favorite skaters are Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Mao Asada and Diasuke Takahashi. My favorite ice dancers are Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto, Meryl Davis & Charlie White. (Dramatic pause.) And us, Taylor & Brown.
*Unfortunately, the partnership with Madi didn't work out. We miss Madi. We wish her the very best.
 |
| Justin and Madi. |
The teenagers have been friends for years, sharing time on the ice at Clearwater Ice Arena and also time hanging out as friends away from the rink.
"I like ice dancing with Justin because he's one of my best friends so it's a lot more comfortable to express ourselves and have fun, and everything not be so uptight," says Madi, 15, who has been skating for seven years.
While Justin and Madi will continue to skate as single skaters, they decided to start ice dancing together about two months ago. Their coach is Laura Amelina.
 |
| Madi finishes 1st in her June performance of Swan Lake. |
"Many partners don't let the other teach them, and that's too bad," she adds.
Coach Laura will have Justin and Madi compete at the intermediate level this year in as many competitions as they can.
"I think it would be cool if we went to regionals," Justin says.
 |
| The two skating in sync. |
"My short term goal for this year is to make it to regionals and to pass all of our tests in order to get to that," she says. "And to compete as much as we can to show what we've worked on.
My long term goal for ice dancing is to be ranked in the U.S.," she says. "It doesn't matter where we're ranked, but just to be ranked would be really cool."
Justin, who is sitting right next to her, shakes his head in agreement and chimes in with a rousing "yes."
"Nationals is definitely a goal, too," Madi continues. "Not this year, but it's definitely a goal at some point."
 |
| Coach Laura illustrates how close Justin and Madi need to be when they skate. |
First, Madi needs to pass the first three pattern dances and the juvenile free dance to catch up to Justin. Then they both need to pass six more pattern dances and the intermediate free dance. They're ready to take the first six pattern dances, but the first test session they can do that at is in several weeks. Most clubs only have one test session a month, sometimes less than that.
"Whether we get first or last or whether we go to regionals or not," Justin says. "I want to have fun. That's why I started ice dancing - for fun." He pauses and then adds: "But regionals would definitely amplify the fun."
To follow are a series of questions and answers to get to know the ice dance team of Madi Taylor and Justin Brown both on and off the ice.
Q: What do you like about ice dancing?
Justin: It's fun to skate with somebody. I like skating to the beat of the music, and how music plays a more important role.
Madi: I like skating with a partner because it develops team sportsmanship skills. I like expressing my ability through someone else, through my partner as one, because that's what ice dancing is you're skating as one.
Q: What do you like to do when you're not skating?
Justin: I pretty much sit motionless at the computer all day. And I also like to spend time with Mei Mei. (His girlfriend.) And I like to watch Anime.
Madi: I like singing, being with friends off the ice, and the beach.
Q: What is your perfect Saturday?
Madi: Lazy day, not doing anything after skating all week.
Justin: I actually like having my dad take me to skating on Saturday mornings, and I like when he cooks stuff all day. I also like to sleep a lot, and go out to eat somewhere.
Q: Who are you listening to now on your iPod?
Justin: Neon Trees. fun. Amy Winehouse. Maroon 5.
Madi: I really like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Sublime.
Q: What is your favorite food?
Madi: Fettucini Alfredo, and anything chocolate.
Justin: Chinese food, and chocolate.
Q: If a movie star were to play you in the story of your life, who would it be?
Justin: Ryan Gosling. That would bring in lots of movie-goers.
Madi: Taylor Swift.
Q: You both have significant others. (Justin's is Mei Mei. Madi's is Zack.) How did you meet?
 |
| Madi & Zack. |
Justin: We met at a gathering at the mall.
Q: What are some characteristics you really like about your significant others?
 |
| Justin & Mei Mei. |
Q: What are your favorite dance patterns and moves so far?
Madi: The Canasta and the Swing. And I like the lifts.
Justin: The Swing. The Fiesta Tango. And Twizzles.
Q: Who is your favorite figure skater?
Madi: My biggest inspiration is Sasha Cohen and I really like Yuna Kim. For ice dancers, it's Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto.
Justin: My favorite skaters are Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Mao Asada and Diasuke Takahashi. My favorite ice dancers are Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto, Meryl Davis & Charlie White. (Dramatic pause.) And us, Taylor & Brown.
 |
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Justin Passes Intermediate Moves
 |
| Justin practicing some of his intermediate moves. Even though his new boots were hurting him, he passed his intermediate moves in the field test on Saturday, June 9th. :) For those who may not know, intermediate moves are the 5th of 8 skills tests that require figure skaters to focus on increasing levels of form and accuracy on the ice. |
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