This page holds basic information on skaters I like but don't get as much attention as I think they deserve. I plan on having pictures up of some of these skaters as soon as possible (i.e. when I can get back home to use the nice computer), so stay tuned!
Skaters That Don't Get the Credit They Deserve
Scott Davis
Date of Birth: January 29, 1972
Place of Birth: Great Falls, Montana
Hometown: Great Falls, Montana
Training Town: Simbury, Connecticut
Coach: Galina Zmievskaya
1998 U.S Championship bronze medalist
1993-1994 U.S. National Champion
1993 World Championships-5th
1990 U.S. Junior Champion
In my opinion, Scott Davis has never gotten the credit he deserves. He is a two time National Champion (actually beating Brian Boitano for one of those!) and Olympian. His spinning ability is considered the best in the field. It is fitting that he admires Dan Jansen for his perserverance because Scott too has perservered through the last few years and finally making it back to the medal podium at the U.S. Nationals this year after a two year absence. He has now decided to turn professional and there is rumor that he might be joining Stars on Ice next season.
Shepherd Clark
Date of Birth: March 1, 1971
Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Training Town: Boston, Mass.
Coaches: Slavka Button, Diane Agle
1998 U.S. Championships-4th
1995 U.S. Championships-5th
1993 U.S. Olympic Festival-5th
1989 U.S. Olympic Festival-3rd
1989 U.S. Junior Championships-1st
1989 World Junior Championships-2nd
So maybe the reason I like Shepherd is because he is from my hometown, but I think his skating speaks for itself! Many skating fans have been eagerly awaiting this man to take his place on the National medal podium. You have never seen a more happy pewter medal winner than Shepherd this year at the Nationals. I do hope he decides to continue on the amateur circuit and win the National medal he really deserves (pull a Galindo, Shep!). When he is not on the ice, he can be seen taking care of his very own jewelry business!
Dan Hollander
Date of Birth: May 9, 1972
Place of Birth: Royal Oaks, Michigan
Hometown: Huntington Woods, Michigan
Training Town: Bloomeild Hills, Michigan
Coach: Mitch Moyer
1998 U.S. Championships-6th
1997 U.S. Championships-3rd
1996 U.S. Championships-3rd
1996 World Championships-10th
Dan Hollander is one of the most entertaining amateur skaters today. When I saw him live on the Tour of Champions (now Champions on Ice) a couple of years ago and I thought I was seeing a young Scott Hamilton and was excited to see what would happen over the next few years. Inconsistancy has plagued him recently, but don't ever count him out. When Dan is on he is definately one to watch and could shock everyone at the upcoming U.S. Championships
Skaters To Watch Out For
Derrick Delmore Date of Birth: December 12, 1978
Place of Birth: Camp Springs, Md.
Hometown: Fort Washington, Md.
Training Town: Alexandria, Virginia and Redwood City, California
Coach: Shirley Hughes
1998 U.S. National Championships-5th
1998 World Junoir Champion
1994 U.S. Olympic Festival-1st
I have not had that much of an opportunity to see Derrick skate, but from what I have seen I am really impressed (in my own ignorant about skating way). He has potential to have the classic style and passion of Paul Wylie and the power for the jumping ability of Brian Boitano. Derrick actually follows in Paul's footsteps by continuing his education at Stanford University as he skates and looks up to Paul for his persistance in skating and education. Derrick is also a classical pianist!
Date of Birth: June 17, 1980
Place of Birth: Largo, Florida
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Training Town: Marietta, Georgia
Coach: Dale Wright
1998 U.S. National Championships-7th
1998 World Junior Championships-4th
1995 U.S. Olympic Festival-2nd
1995 U.S. Junoir Championships-3rd
Okay..so I am bias here, but it is wonderful to see someone from where I live (the metro Atlanta area) doing so well! Brittney has always been one of those that people are just waiting to move up in the ranks; it is just a matter of when. She actually began skating at 4 because her mother was a skating instructor, but I doubt her mother expected all this! Keep your eye out for her.
Date of Birth: May 9, 1980
Place of Birth: Spartanburg, SC
Hometown: San Pedro, California
Training Town: Lake Arrowhead, California
Coach: Peter Oppegard
1998 Goodwill Games-4th
1998 U.S. National Championships-5th
1997 U.S. National Championships-4th
1995 Olympic Festival-5th
1994 U.S. Junior Championships-5th
I had read about Angela and heard of her on several occasions, but did not think much of her until just recently while watching the Goodwill Games. I was amazed at her performance to the music from the ballet Cinderella. She really proved to the others they better watch behind their shoulders! Angela still has a ways to go, but her jumps are solid and her artistry will continue to grow as she matures. She reminds me of a young Nancy Kerrigan...is Olympic medals in her future?
Date of Birth: Tiffany: January 14, 1984 Johnnie: April 25, 1982
Place of Birth: Santa Monica, California
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, California
Training Town: Lake Arrowhead, California
Coach: Irina Rodnina
1998 U.S. National Championships-5th
1997 U.S. Junior Championships-1st
1995 Olympic Festival-2nd
1995 U.S. Novice Championships-1st
This pair is like a breath of fresh air in the world of figure skating! So young and fresh, their energy captivate even the coldest judge. Where they really seem to shine, however are the exhibitions. Whether they are performing to Tina Turner or the broadway show Chicago, they have the audience thundering with applause! In my opinion, they ARE the future of pairs figure skating in the USA. With the surpirsing turn over in US pairs skating, don't be surpised in they end up on the medal podium at the next Nationals. And remember, Tiffany will have just reached the age where they she would be allowed to perform at Worlds! Skating really the only "clean" LP at the Goodwill Games, this pair proved that they are ready for the big time!
Date of Birth: September 10, 1980
Place of Birth: Evanston, Illinois
Hometown: Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Training Town: Lakewood, Ohio
Coaches: Carol Heiss Jenkins and Glyn Watts
1998 Goodwill Games-5th
1997 Junior Championship Series Final-1st
1997 World Junior Championships-2nd
1997 U.S. Championships-6th
1996 U.S. Junior Championships-1st
Timmy and his quad have started quite a frenzy in the American skating world. Timothy is the first (and to this point only) American skater to successful land a quad jump, a salchow, in competition. It was first done at the Junior Championshps Series Final and most recently, the Goodwill Games. He hopes to work on a quad toe loop and loop and have two or three quads in his long program next year! It wasn't until the Goodwill Games that I had my first good look at Timothy, and he really impressed me! He still needs to work on style (and those hunched shoulders!) but the potential is there, and he is still so young. He has the drive and the energy to match any elite skater. In my opinion, he reminds me of a young Todd Eldredge (remember when Todd was known only as a technican?). This is one skater to look out for at the Nationals this year and on the international circuit years to come!
Date of Birth: Jessica: March 31, 1982 Charles: April 4, 1979
Place of Birth: Jessica: Royal Oaks, Michigan Charles: Salt Lake City, Utah
Hometown: Jessica: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Charles: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Training Town: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Coaches: Igor Shpilband and Elizabeth Coates
1998 Goodwill Games-4th
1998 U.S. Championships-2nd
1998 World Junior Championships-1st
1997 U.S. Junior Championships-1st
I was amazed to see such a young dance team jump onto the international scene the way they did. Being the first U.S. dance team to win the World Junior title and they surrpised even more people by winning the silver medal at their first U.S. National senior competition. This allowed them not only a spot on the World team, but a chance at the Olympics. This team has the potential to make a big splash on the international dance circuit and give a U.S. dance team what they have never won before...a World Championship. Now all that is needed is time, which they have plenty of considering they are only 16 and 19. Look for them in years to come; if not the 2002 Olympics perhaps 2006?
