Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Photo courtesy of Suzie Lazarowitz

An edge above the rest

By Elisabeth Glad

Suzie Lazarowitz, a Virginia Wesleyan freshman, started competitive ice dancing in the Fall of 1999. Her and her partner, Nathan Jarmuth, competed successfully for four years until her recent retirement in Aug. 2004 after winning first place in the U.S. Future Champion Series Pacific Coast Novice Dance Division.

Lazarowitz was not always an ice dancer. In fact, her first passion was horseback riding. She met her inspiration, who is now her stepfather, through horses. He introduced her to ice skating at a local ice rink. From the first time she stepped out on the ice, she was a natural. Lazarowitz started taking lessons and her natural abilities made it easier for her to excel through her lessons.

After multiple injuries to her knees and ankles from doing jumps on the ice, Lazarowitz decided to take up ice dancing instead of freestyle.

“I did not want to leave skating so I considered my options and dance seemed like the best way to go,” said Lazarowitz.

To be an ice dancer it takes great dedication through many hours of hard work and practice. The pair worked with their coaches, Doug Mankovich & Peter Sasmore. Lazarowitz and Jarmuth practiced seven days a week, with three hours on the ice and one hour in the gym every other day. Also, dance lessons and ballet lessons were incorporated into practice to inspire their ice dancing.

The pair decided to have two training centers, one in Maryland and one in California since there was a higher level of competition in the western area. Since Lazarowitz was often in California or on the ice rink, she often missed high school functions and activities. However, the time that skating took away from school paid off during the competition.

“I still had the supportive friends and the occasional sport event or formal as fond memories,” said Lazarowitz.

The ice dancing season takes place between September and January. The pair competed in Regionals in September, Sectionals in November and Nationals in January. They also competed in monthly competitions to keep their performance level at its peek in between major events.

Performing in front of a stadium of people can be somewhat intimidating for a skater.

“For me, as soon as I take my first two strokes on the ice all my nerves seem to go away and I feel very at home,” said Lazarowitz,and adds, “I love to perform and skating is the perfect way for me to do that.”

Lazarowitz and her partner competed in the 2001 South Atlantic Regionals and 2001 United States Figure Skating Junior Championships at the intermediate level. They placed in 6th in the 2002 Pacific Coast Sectionals, 4th in the 2003 Pacific Coast Sectionals, 1st in the 2003 Pacific Coast Future Champion Series, 10th at the 2004 USFS Championships and 8th in the 2004 North American Challenge Skate at the novice level.

The U.S. Future Champion Series, the competition that the pair placed first in 2003, serves as an opportunity for all levels of skaters to compete and encourages them to stay in the sport.

“The US Future Champion Series is a fairly new concept, in fact Nathan and I were the first West Coast team to win it,” said Lazarowitz.

Although competitions and practice takes up a large part of her time, Lazarowitz still has hobbies that she enjoys. She loves spending time with her horse, Leggo. Leggo resides in New Market, Md. where Lazarowitz’s permanent home is.

“My life would not be complete without my horse,” said Lazarowitz, “The two best things in the world are being on an empty ice surface and riding bareback through a field or woods.

She is also an Alaskan Malamute dog breeder and enjoys showing her Pembroke Welsh Corgi at dog shows. Lazarowitz is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma at VWC.

Lazarowitz is also a skating instructor in Maryland. She teaches freestyle and dance skating for skaters of all ages.

“Teaching is the best way for me to give back to the sport that treated me so well.”