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What do Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have in common with ski racing? Aside from the fact that both are associated with the Winter Olympics, they also happen to be the reasons Christina Chitwood and Mark Hanretty first laced up skates and glided onto the ice. In 1994, Mark was inspired by Torvill and Dean\u2019s return to Olympic competition. Two years later, Chrissy began skating as a method of cross training for ski racing. Mostly for cross training, anyway\u2026 \u201cI also loved the dresses!\u201d she says. <\/p>\n
Though Mark was inspired by his ice dancing countrymen, he started out as a free skater. It was only after he was hampered by injuries that he switched disciplines to become an ice dancer. \u201cI still wanted to skate and started to dance.\u201d It turned out to be a happy switch for him. \u201cNow,\u201d he says, \u201cI\u2019m thankful for the injuries.\u201d <\/p>\n
Chrissy was a multi-tasking skater, competing in both pairs and dance, before eventually deciding to specialize in dance. \u201cI always loved any type of dance and had done ballet since I was 5. I enjoyed many of the pair elements but preferred ice dancing.\u201d <\/p>\n
When both of them ended up partnerless in the fall of 2005, their respective coaches thought they might be a good match for each other. \u201cWe were brought together by our coaches, Jimmy Young from Sheffield, England, and Sandy Hess from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jimmy and Sandy had coached together in Denver a few years back and spoke with each other about us. We began e-mailing each other in November 2005. We developed a friendship by e-mail before we met and tried out at the end of December in Scotland. After our first session skating together, we decided to become an ice dance team.\u201d <\/p>\n
Of course, making the decision was one thing, but working out the details took a little longer. \u201cWe decided to skate together December 31, 2005, but didn\u2019t get to train together properly till May \u201906 because of a small issue of the Atlantic Ocean in the way!\u201d Once Chrissy moved to England, the commute became a little easier. They now alternate training in Sheffield and Colorado Springs. \u201cWe\u2019re lucky to have coaches with such extensive knowledge and experience. What we most appreciate is the positive environment Jim creates for us in daily training.\u201d <\/p>\n
The positive environment helps keep them working toward their goals, even when things don\u2019t go according to plan. \u201cLast season, we set high goals that didn\u2019t come to fruition for various reasons. We still believe in aiming high and intend to do so, but this year we\u2019ll keep our goals in our training diaries and hopefully let everyone see them as they materialize!\u201d <\/p>\n
Having a good attitude helps as well, both in their personal outlook and their working relationship. \u201cWe are both highly motivated and optimistic people. \u201c Mark says of his partner, \u201cChrissy is just awesome.\u201d Chrissy echoes his sentiments: \u201cMark is such a great friend of mine, and I couldn\u2019t imagine a better partner.\u201d In fact, they each say that their partner is their role model (they also admire Lang and Tchernyshev and Sinead and John Kerr). <\/p>\n
They\u2019ve already reached the point in their partnership when things start to click and flow together. Ice-dance.com\u2019s interview screen asks teams what their favorite element is, but Chrissy and Mark can\u2019t separate it into pieces like that. \u201cWhen skating is really \u201con,\u201d we can\u2019t pick one thing in particular. If you really pushed us to give an answer, we\u2019d both say lifts.\u201d <\/p>\n
This seamless flow of elements is reflected in the non-training aspects of their lives. Both have incorporated something of ice dance into their career goals. For Mark, it\u2019s physically being on the ice and training that will always be part of his life. \u201cI coach young skaters which I love to do. People fascinate me, so I see myself working with people: perhaps through my fitness knowledge, e.g., Pilates or yoga. I\u2019d be interested in training as a life coach.\u201d For Chrissy, it\u2019s the performance aspect that she plans to keep in her future. \u201cI am studying for a bachelor\u2019s degree in performing arts.\u201d Eventually, she plans to pursue an acting career. <\/p>\n
Training, coaching, and college takes up most of their time these days, but when they do find some free time, Mark likes to go to the gym or watch a film, while Chrissy says, \u201cI like to read, listen to music, dance, watch movies, and spend time with my family and friends.\u201d In the more distant future, Mark would like to have time \u201cto travel and experience more of the world.\u201d <\/p>\n
Or maybe that\u2019s not as distant as he thinks. In a week, he and his partner will travel to Lake Placid, NY to compete at the Ice Dance Championships. And from there, maybe. . . Helsinki or Gothenburg?<\/p>\n