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Catching Up Skating on hold as Ryan O'Meara focuses on new roles 2006 Olympian is thriving as ice dance director and interior designer in Arizona
(July 9, 2007) — For more than half his life, Ryan O'Meara was known for being a figure skater. It was his ice dancing talent that put his name in headlines as he and his partners collected medals from Middle America to Gangneung, Korea. But with his competitive skating career now on hold as partner Jamie Silverstein attends Cornell University, the 2006 Olympian is focusing on his lesser known talent—interior design, which he studied at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. "I have always been interested in creating spaces," said O'Meara, 23. "As soon as I could push furniture around and paint with a roller, I was changing my space." "I have always wanted to own a design store," he said. The dream was recently fulfilled when he opened Palavela Home in Scottsdale, Ariz., just outside his hometown of Phoenix. "It is very exciting to have my own business," he said. "Palavela Home offers furniture, accessories and one of kind pieces. In addition, my design services are offered through the store. We also offer custom draperies and window treatments." O'Meara describes his design style as European Elegance. "I like antiques and new pieces and merging them into a modern feel," he said. "You should walk into a room and feel relief. This is my personal style but I am capable of all styles."
His work was featured on the pages Phoenix Home & Garden magazine. "It feels great to be recognized for something that I have a passion for," O'Meara said. "Skating will always be a part of my life and the opportunities I got during that time were amazing. I feel like I took the drive and desire from the rink to the business world." But O'Meara has not left the rink completely. After finishing 16th at the Olympics, he accepted his current position as ice dance director at the Alltel Ice Den in Scottsdale. "I was anxious to return to Arizona and Alltel Ice Den gave me the opportunity to start a program and use my expertise," said O'Meara, who started skating in Arizona. "I like teaching young skaters and watch them take the information and improve." "I have a novice dance team that I am working with and it has been fun to watch them come together and actually start to dance," he said. O'Meara also recently choreographed programs for singles skaters Madeline Aaron and Molly Aaron, a nationals competitor in novice ladies who formally skated pairs with Daniel Curzon and Taylor Toth. "I think skating and design are the same because in both you are creating something beautiful," he said about the similarities in his roles on and off the ice. "Skating is about beautiful movement and design is about beautiful rooms." O'Meara has not ruled out competitive skating in the future. But even if the two-time U.S. Championship bronze medalist does return, his proudest moment is likely to remain the same. "I am most proud that my family and I were able to bond and survive the tremendous stress of a competitive skating career," he said. "My family helped me so much to stay focused and provided me with what I needed to compete." ____________________________________ For more information on Ryan O'Meara, visit his official Web site with Jamie Silverstein, Silverstein and O'Meara Online at www.figureskatersonline.com/silverstein-omeara/. Information on Palavela Home is available at its Web site www.palavelahome.com. [TOP] |
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