The oldest of six children, Adam Rippon grew up in a small town just on the outskirts of Scranton,  Pennsylvania. The area is best known as the home city of Dunder Miflin, the fictional paper supply company of the NBC comedy hit, ‘The Office.’

 “I enjoy watching the show. It’s fun to listen for the local references. It makes me less homesick…and there really is a Cooper’s Restaurant!” He attributes helping his mother mind his three younger brothers and two younger sisters that gave him an edge off the ice when acclimating to new cities. “As a kid I saw different things I was asked to do at home as chores; now as an adult I realize that I was learning life skills like cooking, laundry, cleaning or shopping. The way I was raised made living on my own a seamless transition.” Rippon explained.

Rippon relocated in June 2011 to the United States to the Detroit Skating Club after spending the past two seasons in Toronto. “I have had the great fortune to train short and long term in many countries over the past four seasons. I was excited to be able to make the US my home again.” Rippon hired former U.S. Pairs Champion and Olympian, Jason Dungjen as his head coach.

He explained his decision to work with Dungjen during a Skype interview on Universal Sports. When he was asked, "Why Detroit" Rippon responded, “When I went to Detroit, I liked everything about it, the way the schedule was organized, the close proximity to the off- ice training and most importantly the opportunity to train alongside many of my US teammates. I knew I had to think long term, not season to season if I wanted to improve my skating. I am confident I made the right decision.”

Rippon noted that he appreciates Dungjen’s technical expertise and admires his ability to psychologically meet the needs of his skaters—whether calming them down or psyching them up at competitions.

He describes one of his favorite times of year as early summer when preparations begin for a new season.  He loves finding new music and working through the choreographic process to create the programs he will use in competition. This season those preparations involve new choreographers. “At the end of the 2010 season David Wilson encouraged me to explore new choreographers and step out of my comfort zone. Last season I worked with Sebastien Britten and it was a very positive experience” Rippon explained.

The 2011-12 season will bring a new dimension to Rippon’s choreography, as he is working with Pasquale Camerlengo and Shae-Lynn Bourne. Both of them former competitive ice dancers, he describes the opportunity of working with these sought after choreographers and talented coaches as “incredible” and “innovative.” “I am excited about both of my programs this year and also excited to add a quadruple Lutz to both my programs this season,” Rippon added.  Rippon's signature move is a triple Lutz that he executes with both arms on his head, popularly called the "Rippon Lutz". Rippon suggested, “Training the Lutz with both arms over my head helped me to develop the strength I needed to complete the four rotations in the quad. The Lutz has always been my favorite jump.”

After enormous success in international junior competition, winning back to back ISU World Junior titles, the 2009-10 season was Rippon’s breakthrough in the senior ranks. He won a bronze medal at Trophée Eric Bompard on the Grand Prix circuit and claimed gold at the ISU Four Continents Championships—coming from seventh place in the short program to take the title with an incredible free skating performance.

He wrapped up his season with a strong six-place finish at the 2010 World Championships. He credits his years on the junior circuit with preparing him to tackle the pressures of competition. He added an additional ISU Grand Prix medal, bronze at Skate Canada, in the 2010-11 season.

On the ice, Rippon is a gifted performer, known for his grace, innovative spins and long lines. He has an international following with many fan supported websites in Russia, Japan, South Korea and the United States and has skated in tours and shows in the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Germany and Japan.

Rippon has been selected to compete in the ISU Grand Prix series at Skate Canada in Mississauga, Ontario, and Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris in the fall of 2011. When asked to comment on the new season and his recent move Rippon said, “I look forward to competing at my Grand Prix assignments and at Nationals this year and the only place I plan to move in the future is forward toward my goals of being a better skater each time I take to the ice.” 

Quick Facts

First Competition Keystone State Games. “I remember being really nervous because I put a single lutz in my program. I wasn’t sure how it would go and then ~swish~. Single lutz, no problem.” 

Most Memorable Competition “So far, winning my second junior world title has been my most memorable. It was the third time I was in Bulgaria for a competition and I just felt so comfortable being there.” 

Best Dish He Cooks “My favorite thing to make is a pesto sauce for pasta. It’s not the most complex, but it is the most enjoyable!” 

Favorite Meal “Hands down, tomato pizza from Colarusso's Pizza in Clarks Summit, Penn. It is the best pizza in the world. Whenever I come home, I always look forward to it.”  

Favorite Place to Shop “ H&M. They always have something cool.”  

How He Spent His First Prize Money “More lessons. At the end of the season, I did end up buying myself an iPod!” 

Dream Vacation Spot “I would love to go somewhere warm, with a beach, and maybe with one or two friends.”