Rachel Halvorson was Star Tribune's Athlete of the Week Aug. 8 (Photos by Star Tribune).
Hi Rachel, I am really happy to have this opportunity to get to know you better. For starters, how did you begin figure skating as a hobby?
I started figure skating when I was eight years old. I took the 10 week winter session at the Elk River Ice Arena. I didn’t skate again until the next winter when I was nine years old. My mom didn’t realize that they offered skating classes all year round, but after the second winter session that I took I began skating all year round.
If you’ve skated nine years, your family has been supportive. Emily is also involved. Are either of your parents skaters?
Yes, my family has always been very supportive of me. My sister Emily is three years younger than me, and she began skating a year after I had started. She was six years old when she started. Neither of my parents were figure skaters. My mom did take a few skating classes when she was younger, but it was more recreational skating. She just did it more for fun. My dad was actually a hockey player though. When I was younger he always wanted my two twin brothers to be hockey players, but they decided to play football, basketball, and baseball instead. When my younger sister Emily and I started skating he wanted us to start hockey classes. My sister Emily and I didn’t want to take hockey classes. We wanted to be figure skaters.
Where do you skate on a regular basis?
I skate Monday-Friday at the Elk River Ice Arena. I have trained at other places though including the Blaine, Bloomington, Parade, Coon Rapids, and Brooklyn Park Ice Arenas. Elk River is where I usually train though, on a regular basis.
During winter, do you ever practice by the neighborhood warming house?
I do like to skate outdoors in the winter, for fun. It isn’t very good for training though because the ice is really bumpy. They aren’t always shoveled either so it’s hard to practice on outdoor rinks. Plus the outdoor rinks aren’t very good for my skates so when I do skate outdoors I have to wear different skates.
Do you wear the basic warm-up suit to practice and then one of those cute little outfits when skating in serious events?
To practice I typically wear tights, black-spandex type pants, and a t-shirt with a jacket. Sometimes I wear two jackets because our ice arena doesn’t have any heat. The clothes that we wear though can’t be baggy. They usually have to be pretty tight fitted. For competitions I do wear a skating dress. I have a long program and a short program. I have a different dress for each program. Whenever I get new programs I will typically get new dresses as well.
Is skating an expensive hobby?
Yes, figure skating is a very expensive hobby. It’s probably one of the most expensive sports. My figure skates range anywhere from $1,000-$1,500. The cost of my skating dresses and other girls skating dresses can really depend on the amount of Swarovski crystals added to the dress. A typical competition dress can range anywhere from $250-$1,000. Plus all of the ice time, off ice training (ballet, yoga, running, karate, ect.), private lesson costs, and competitions really adds up.
Along with skating, do you like to play hockey? And, are you a Wilds’ fan?
I have actually never played hockey on the ice. I’ve played street hockey (on rollerblades) before which is really fun, but surprisingly I have never played it on the ice. I have never even tried on a pair of hockey skates. I do like the Wild, but I don’t have a lot of time to watch their games on TV or anything.
Are you skating five days a week to earn a spot on the European skating tour?
Yes, I’m hoping that I can make the European skating tour. That is mainly what I am practicing for right now. I am also doing a few competitions as well throughout the year. There are other tours along with the European tour that I am also hoping to join.
Have you also considered competing in the winter Olympics?
When I was little I always wanted to compete in the Olympics. I’ve come to realize though that I just don’t have the time and money that it would take to go to the Olympics. To get to the Olympics in figure skating you must place in the top four at Regionals. Then you would go on to Sectionals and you must place in the top four again. Then you would go on to compete at Nationals. Then the top two skaters from Nationals would go on to compete at Worlds. Depending on how the skaters place at Worlds the U.S. would either be able to send two or three skaters to compete in the Olympics. So it requires an incredible amount of training, dedication, and commitment to make it to the Olympics.
Does skating this often ever become a grind?
Sometimes it does become a bit stressful, especially now that school has started again. I’m really busy all the time. It’s sometimes hard to fit everything in, but I love skating so much that I would never give up on it.
How do you get through those days when you absolutely don’t feel like skating at all?
Well, I know that I will have my good days and my bad days. You have to work hard for what you want, and it isn’t always going to be easy. I know that if I can get through it even when I’m having a bad day it will only make me stronger. My coaches help motivate me, but ultimately I’m the one pushing to be the best that I can be.
How has the large time commitment played into your academic studies? It was a struggle at first, and sometimes it still is, but I have learned to work with my schedule. Most of my life I have been homeschooled, which has allowed me to skate in the afternoons as opposed to the skating in the evenings like many other skaters at my club. I am able to spend more time on the ice because of this, and it is much less expensive. My junior year (last year) and this year (my senior year) I began going to Anoka Ramsey taking PSEO classes. Going to Anoka has allowed me to be able to go to school while still being able to choose what my schedule is like. I’m able to take online classes (like this one), but most of my classes I take in the morning before I go to skating. Two days a week I have evening classes that I go to after skating. This has allowed me to still be able to skate in the afternoons which is wonderful.
What are your academic goals?
This year I hope to graduate from high school with 40+ credits of college completed. That way if I make it on the European tour I will already have some college credits completed. I want to try out the tour for a year, and it I really like it, I will maybe go on another tour for a year. I want to seize this opportunity when I can because college will always be there for me. I’m not sure what I want to major in yet, but hopefully I will be able to decide soon. I’m thinking about attending Biola University though in California.
Do you feel your high level of discipline has helped toward being a student and in other areas of your life?
Yes, I have learned so much from skating, and I don’t think that I would be the person I am today if I had never started. Skating has taught me many valuable character qualities that will benefit me for the rest of my life. It has taught me to be self-motivated, disciplined, patient, and I believe I have a harder work ethic because of it. I have to work hard for the things I want, but if I set my mind to something I know I can accomplish anything.
Obviously, through your training and roller blading, you’re in excellent health. Are you concerned that skating for a lifetime could possibly cause premature osteoarthritis or another similar related condition?
I guess I haven’t really thought about that very much, but I’m not too considered about it.
At the young age of 17, you’ve accomplished a lot, which includes "Athlete of the Week," congratulations! From all the above, I think you’re well on your way to a European skating tour.
Thank you!
What all is involved to become a member and in the skating tour?
Well, you have to send an audition tape in, and submit it online. Certain jumps, spins, and footwork are required on the tape. You also have to send in a resume. You have to sign up online and become part of their program. There is a fee to this, but I’m not sure how much it costs. I think it’s around $100. Once you are in their system, you can send out your tape to different ice show tours, and they will review it, and let you know if you made it. I am currently working on finishing up my audition tape so hopefully I will be able to send it in soon.
What exactly does a skating tour involve?
Well, it depends on which tour you doing. Each tour begins with 2-3 weeks of rehearsal. (learning all of the ice show numbers) Each year they have a new show so if you do the same tour twice you will learn a new show the next year. The tours can last anywhere from six weeks to six months. They have some tours offered at theme parks, on cruises, or different places around the country. Once you start the tour there is usually 1-2 shows on the week days. On the weekends there is usually 2-4 shows a day. Usually you have one or two days during the week free that you can go sight seeing, or sometimes you’re traveling to another city. All of the plane tickets, food, and housing are paid for. Plus you get a weekly salary.
On a side note, I know you probably miss your brother who lives in Japan.
Does Josh like the Marines and/or plan to make it a career?
Yes, I think my brother, Josh, likes the Marines. He’s been learning a lot from it. A lot of valuable life lessons. He signed up to be in the Marines for four years. He has been in the Marines for almost two years now. After, the Marines he is planning on finishing his college education, and joining the FBI.
Will he have to do active duty in Afghanistan or Iraq?
I don’t think he knows for sure yet. He is still in training right now.
One last thing: it’s cool you were interviewed by Star Tribune. Since you have always been interested in writing and have kept a journal since the age of seven, is there room for a writing career anywhere in your future?
Possibly. From this course I have been learning a lot. I didn’t realize all the work that really went into journalism. There are a lot of rules that I didn’t know about, and you really have to be careful of what you write, otherwise you could get into a lot of trouble. Writing in a journal has a totally different feel to it because I am free to write whatever I want. So taking this course has helped me realize that I have to be careful of what I write, and think carefully about it before I publish it somewhere. I have always loved writing though, so I am keeping the option of a writing career open.
If you pursued media writing, which area would most interest you?
I’m not really sure. I would have to look into all of the different options, but I think writing for the paper could be fun.
Have you found JOUR 2121 helpful toward improving your writing skills and expanding writing capabilities?
Yes, I have found this class to be very helpful, and I am learning so much from it. I think the things that I have learned in this class will help me whether or not I pursue a writing career.
Thank you, Rachel, for answering my fifty questions and for all your time!
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