Led by figure skating coaches Franca Bianconi and Rosanna Murante, the Italian skaters participate in a comprehensive summer training program that includes freestyle, moves in the field, pairs, dance and choreography.
Bianconi, a resident of Milan, is head coach of Sesto Ice Skate and a technical commentator on RIA (Italian national television and radio).
“The skaters follow the same schedule here that they would at home,” Bianconi said. “There are three 40-minute sessions on the ice, as well as training in ballet and gymnastics with UD coaches Jeff Schneider and Barbara Roles.”
Sessions on the ice allow the skaters to work on perfecting technique, and movement in the various spins, jumps and elements used in competition, such as double axels, throw jumps and lifts for pairs.
“These are all movements that require great coordination, skill and technique,” Bianconi said. “During the season we work on our program, the things we do in competition. The summer gives us a time to work on new things.”
Creating a new program involves looking at what worked well and what didn't during past seasons, Bianconi said.
“We see how things went and what their potential is for use in the upcoming season,” Bianconi said. “We decide what is best for each individual skater, taking into account that skaters get stronger with age and the development of new skills.”
The visiting Italian skaters, who range in age from 8-24, include Jennifer Cuciuella and Bianconi's daughter, Victoria Manni, who have accompanied the Italian skaters on all four trips to UD.
Also making the trip to UD this summer are Laura Magitteri, who with partner Ondrej Hotarek, finished 13th in the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships in Goteborg, Sweden.
Carolina Gillerse and Daniel Aggiano, the junior pairs team who finished second in 2008 Italian National Junior Championships are joined by Roberta Rodeghiero and Sofia Curci, also members of the Italian national junior team in Merano, Italy.
Bianconi said that ice skating continues to grow in popularity in Italy, due to the good showings from skaters such as Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio, the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships ice dancing champions, and Carolina Kostner, who took a bronze medal in the 2005 World Figure Skating Championships and a silver medal at the 2008 world competitions.
Jeff Schneider, an instructor and athletic trainer in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, said that what began from the friendship between Jeff DiGregorio (free skating and pairs coach at UD) and Franca Bianconi has led to a special relationship between UD and the skaters from Sesto Ice Skate.
“UD now attracts skaters from all over Italy who come to spend several weeks with us each summer, something that both our coaching staff and our skaters look forward to,” Schneider said. “They are a great group of coaches and athletes to work with.”
Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Kathy Atkinson