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Looking Ahead

Halverson's 'big adventure' continues at the U.S. Championships

St. Paul based skater making senior debut in front of hometown crowd

Eliot Halverson took home gold medals from the 2006 and 2007 U.S. Championships

(December 23, 2007) — For U.S. Junior Men's Champion Eliot Halverson, the current season has been about the transition from America's best junior skater to a senior contender.

Halverson, 17, worked on improving his program components. And now his Libertango short program and free skate, set to the music of 2046 Main Theme and Nostradamus, include the triple Axel, to boost his technical element scores.

He landed the triple Axel for the first time at the 2007 Junior Grand Prix competition in Chemnitz, Germany, before landing it in November's Midwestern Sectional Championship, his first senior competition.

"That feat was definitely the highlight of the (Junior Grand Prix Germany) competition and the whole trip," Halverson wrote in the notebook on his official Web site Eliot Halverson Online.

Halverson hopes the jump is a highlight again when he makes his senior national debut at the 2008 U.S. Championships in his hometown of St. Paul, Minn. The men's short program on Jan. 25 and the free skate is Jan. 27.

At the national level, Halverson previously won three medals, novice men's pewter in 2005, novice men's gold in 2006 and junior men's gold in 2007. He also finished third at 2006 Junior Grand Prix The Hague, third at 2006 Junior Grand Prix Hungary, seventh at 2007 Junior Grand Prix Germany and fifth at 2007 Junior Grand Prix Romania.

On a break from training at the St. Paul Figure Skating Club with coaches Ted Engelking and Ann Eidson, Halverson sat down with Figure Skaters Online to answer questions from his fans.

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Jamie (Arizona, USA): Eliot, congratulations on qualifying for your first U.S. Championships as a senior only a month after skating as a junior internationally. What has the transition between juniors and seniors been like for you?
Eliot: Thank you so much. More than any element in a program, the transition from junior to senior is all about maturity. Looking more confident and strong on the ice. Commanding the audience. I've been working very hard on that all year long in preparation for my first senior competition and I think it's gone very smoothly.

Diane (New York, USA): Eliot, how would you rate the season so far?
Eliot: This season has been a big adventure. I've had many ups and downs, but through it all I have learned so much. The competitions haven't gone exactly as planned, but isn't that skating? I've kept my head up high and have continued working hard all season long.

Marie (California, USA): It must have been disappointing for you to not medal at your Junior Grand Prix events. Is there anything positive though that you can take away from your experiences in Romania and Germany?
Eliot: Definitely! After my competition in Romania, part of me felt very discouraged, but I reminded myself of how much I loved skating just for skating. Take away all the competitions and I still love this sport. And of course in Germany, I landed my first triple axel in competition. Positive? I would say so.

Cathleen (Colorado, USA): One of the problems in Romania is that you had a lot of your triples were downgraded. I've seen your beautiful jumps before, when you won your title in Spokane, so I was quite shocked about the downgrades. What was your reaction?
Eliot: Immediately after it happened, I felt like I just got slapped in the face. I was very confused! I decided to turn it into a blessing in disguise and improve my skating. If one person thought there was something wrong, I would change and make sure no one thought there was a problem.

Llana (Pennsylvania, USA): What are you doing to help make sure you fully rotate all your triples?
Eliot: I've been working on pulling in tighter and going into my jumps more confidently, especially during competition when I get conservative sometimes.

Diane (New York, USA): How does it feel to finally land a triple axel in competition?
Eliot: It's very surreal! I still feel like 10 year old Eliot working on double lutzes sometimes and to think that I can do a triple axel is crazy. But don't get me wrong—I've put all the work into it.

Dave (Minnesota, USA): What are your goals for Nationals?
Eliot: I know I've said before that I want to place in the top six, which I do, but I think setting those kinds of goals can be dangerous. If I skated two clean programs to the best of my ability and didn't get top 6, would I be upset? No. My new goal is to do just that: Two fabulous programs in front of my hometown of St. Paul. I hope you're coming to cheer me on Dave.

Mary Ann (Minnesota, USA): Eliot, I think I first saw you skate when you were about 10 years old in a holiday show. I'm so happy that you're making your senior debut in St. Paul so I can cheer for you in person again. Do you feel any added pressure since your first senior nationals in in your hometown?
Eliot: Thank you. Personally I feel pressure at every competition I go to, but that all comes from me. I put tons of pressure on myself to skate well. This Nationals will be no different. Yes my friends and family will all be in the audience this time, but that only makes me more excited.

Brittany (Maine, USA): What was it like having a "Eliot Halverson Day" in St. Paul?
Eliot: I was so flattered when I heard the news. It was also kind of strange because I have not yet accomplished all of my skating dreams and goals and I am already being recognized. But, who wouldn't love to have their own day, right? Except the bigger question is: What do you do with your own day? Answer: Clean your room and take out the trash. Fun!

Anonymous (USA): Good luck in St. Paul. There is so much competition among the senior American men with Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir plus a handful of others including you without a doubt. Have you ever considered skating for Colombia since you were born there?
Eliot: Thank you. America has always been known for producing some of the best figure skaters in the world. I am still amazed that I am thought of as one of the top men in this talented nation. I haven't really considered skating for Colombia. It's America that has given me the sport I love and it's U.S. Figure Skating that has given me the opportunity to display my talents on an international stage.

Jorge (USA): I was adopted from Colombia when I was a couple months old like you. Have you even been there? I think that you would really love it.
Eliot: That is so amazing. I've never been back to my birth country, but I would love to visit Colombia someday. I know it would be an incredible journey, so I want to wait until I am old enough to truly appreciate all of Colombia.

Anonymous (USA): Will you ever do a Colombian themed program?
Eliot: I have actually never considered that idea. Just wait and see I guess.

Brittany (Main, USA): What are some things you like to do in your free time?
Eliot: Free time? What free time? Only joking. I love reading new books or the Harry Potter series over and over again, listening to my favorite artists on my iPod like KT Tunstall, Rooney, Feist, Jason Mraz and Bitter:Sweet, playing with my two dogs Cal and Achilles, and spending time with my friends. I am so lucky to have such supportive friends and wouldn't trade them for the world.

Brittany (Maine, USA): What is your favorite candy?
Eliot: Earlier this year, my favorite candy was Skittles. No question. But after eating a jumbo sized bag in one weekend creating three huge canker sores in my mouth that lasted for a couple weeks, I have turned to Swedish Fish. True story.

Matt (Massachusetts, USA): Where do you keep all your medals? Do you have a special place for all your old costumes and skates too?
Eliot: As much as I would love to say that I have a magnificent shrine for all my medals, and glass boxes for old costumes and skates, I am forced to reply that they are all in the basement. In boxes. Collecting dust. I should really do something about this.

Carlee (Colorado, USA): What's one word that describes you?
Eliot: Excellent question Carlee. If you've ever read my journals on my Web site, you would know that I love describing my competitions in one or two words, but I have never described me in just one word. After hours of contemplation, I have settled upon: genuine.

Mike (Alabama, USA): How much input do you have in your programs?
Eliot: I am very lucky to have such open and trusting coaches who let me have a huge say in my programs. I picked out my own music for this season and last season and I plan on doing that for a long time.

Liz (Pennsylvania, USA): What piece of music are you just dying to skate too?
Eliot: I would have to say there are three pieces that I have wanted to skate to for a long time: Ice Dance by Danny Elfmann, The Chairman's Waltz by John Williams and Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy.

Arlene (Minnesota, USA): Do you design your own costumes?
Eliot: I usually have a say in each costume I wear, but last years long program costume was the first that I actually designed all by myself. I made a sketch, monitored its production and was thrilled with the outcome.

Gary (Minnesota, USA): Do you do any coaching?
Eliot: Every Saturday morning I teach Basic Skills classes. The kids range in age from 3 to 12 years old and it is so much fun. Earlier this year I coached my first private student through her first competition and it was definitely a new experience being on the other side of the fence—or plexiglass I guess.

Amanda (USA): What helped you to get better at your Axels and double jumps? And how long did it take you to become consistent on your doubles?
Eliot: My big problem when I was learning Axels and double jumps was that I was too darn slow. Once I picked up some speed, they were definitely easier. And as for consistency on doubles—well, they're still kinda hard. Especially since I do triples now. I don't know how to stop my rotation after just two turns. But try and keep this little problem of mine on the down low. Shhh.

Beth (Pennsylvania, USA): Your style reminds me a lot of Johnny Weir in terms of grace and softness, but there's a touch of that Evan Lysacek spunk in there too. Have they had any influence on your skating?
Eliot: I look up to both of them immensely for what they have achieved in their skating careers. They have gone places that I hope to go and they also inspire me to work hard so I can be in their shoes someday.

Dee (Colorado, USA): Everyone compares you to either Johnny Weir or Evan Lysacek. How do you feel about the comparisons?
Eliot: I am obviously honored. They are magnificent skaters, so to be compared to them is an incredible compliment. However, I have always strived to be myself on the ice. I hope people can one day say that I had a style of my own.

Brittany (Maine, USA): Who is your role model and why?
Eliot: My role model is hands down Michelle Kwan. Do I even have to say why? She exuded such love for the sport every time she stepped on the ice and always carried herself with a grace unmatched by any skater in history. She certainly left her mark on the world as I hope to do someday.

Jamie (Arizona, USA): Eliot, thank you for taking a break from your training to answer some questions from your fans. Best wishes for the U.S. Championships.
Eliot: Thank you.

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For more information on Eliot Halverson, visit his official Web site Eliot Halverson Online at www.figureskatersonline.com/eliothalverson/.

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