Vick444~No Spam~@aei.ca
06-23-2008, 10:55 PM
June 16, 2008
In many ways Alanna De Mello is your average teen. Among
her favourite pastimes are hanging out with friends and
shopping.
But there’s nothing average about the 15-year-old
Richmondite’s talent on ice, where she’s one of the best
young skaters in the province and poised to become one of
the best in the country.
She recently passed her Skate Canada Senior Competitive
Test at the Victoria Day Interclub competition held in
White Rock and is determined to qualify for the national
championships to be held in Saskatoon next January.
There are a few challenges in between - including the
B.C. sectional championships and the senior challenge -
but De Mello has the mindset and talent to make the
grade.
Certainly Kevin Bursey, director of programs at the
Richmond-based Connaught Figure Skating Club, believes in
De Mello.
"Not only did she pass the requirements for the test, she
won the senior ladies event in her first time competing
at this level," he notes.
The senior events are the highest level of competition
within the sport of figure skating, and it is at this
level skaters are striving to gain a berth on the
Canadian team to compete at the world championships and
the Winter Olympic Games. Currently, Canada is eligible
to send two women to the worlds (as it has for the past
three years). Those spots have been held by Quebec’s
Joannie Rochette, who placed fifth at the 2008 worlds in
Gothenburg, Sweden, and Vancouver’s Mira Leung, who was
15th.
De Mello has continually shown an ability to fast track.
Each year she has moved up the competitive ladder, and
has passed all seven of her required tests in just under
six years.
"This is a feat not matched by many skaters in B.C.,"
says Bursey, who coaches De Mello along with Marilyn
Grubb.
"The great thing about Alanna is her ability to rack up
the points with her great jumping technique," he says.
"She has the power to do the big tricks and she is fast
in the air, which is something you look for in an elite
figure skater."
Adds Grubb: "She has always been a very determined
individual, right from her early days on the ice."
This is the first time in many years that Connaught has
had a competitive athlete at the senior level and De
Mello is axious to represent Connaught at next season’s
qualifiers.
"It has always been my dream to compete for Canada and I
am now on my way to developing that dream into a
reality," De Mello says.
De Mello’s passion for skating began early. She
"absolutely loved" watching figure skating on TV and
would think, "I want to learn how to do that too."
As young as three years old she enthusiastically joined
her family for public skating. In her moulded velcro
skates, she’d weave in and out of the pack of people to
chase her dad around the rink.
She began competing when she was eight, and dipped her
toe into the competitive stream at the age of 11.
"When I was younger I used to get really nervous in
competition," she says. "But over the years I’ve learned
to control my nerves and I now thrive on the adrenaline.
What I love the most about skating now is the feeling of
accomplishing my goals and the thrill of landing one of
my big jumps."
De Mello is a huge fan of American figure skater Sasha
Cohen, who placed second at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
"She’s always been my favouite skater. Her grace, beauty
and presence on the ice are so captivating. She has the
complete package."
De Mello, who attributes much of her success to hard work
and the support of her parents and coaches, sports
similar qualities to Cohen. She has a strong double axel
and triple toe and is close to landing a couple more
triple jumps. Her biggest strength is probably her jumps
as she is able to rotate quickly in the air with power
and height.
But De Mello is not content just yet, which is why the
Grade 10 Matthew McNair Secondary honour roll student is
prepared to sacrifice some of those long summer days to
focus on her craft.
She’ll be spending three to four hours, five days a week,
on the ice with an additional hour in off-ice
conditioning throughout July and August.
"I need to get my competitive programs ready to take out
on the road again, and I want to make certain I have all
the elements I need to compete with the best this
season," De Mello explains. "Last year I was the B.C.
team alternate in the Junior Ladies and it was upsetting
to miss the team by one place. This year I want to be in
that top four."
"She certainly has the capabilities," Bursey concludes.
"She now just needs to become mentally tough so that she
can handle the extreme mental pressures athletes face in
elite individual sports."
http://www.bclocalnews.com/sports/19909159.html
In many ways Alanna De Mello is your average teen. Among
her favourite pastimes are hanging out with friends and
shopping.
But there’s nothing average about the 15-year-old
Richmondite’s talent on ice, where she’s one of the best
young skaters in the province and poised to become one of
the best in the country.
She recently passed her Skate Canada Senior Competitive
Test at the Victoria Day Interclub competition held in
White Rock and is determined to qualify for the national
championships to be held in Saskatoon next January.
There are a few challenges in between - including the
B.C. sectional championships and the senior challenge -
but De Mello has the mindset and talent to make the
grade.
Certainly Kevin Bursey, director of programs at the
Richmond-based Connaught Figure Skating Club, believes in
De Mello.
"Not only did she pass the requirements for the test, she
won the senior ladies event in her first time competing
at this level," he notes.
The senior events are the highest level of competition
within the sport of figure skating, and it is at this
level skaters are striving to gain a berth on the
Canadian team to compete at the world championships and
the Winter Olympic Games. Currently, Canada is eligible
to send two women to the worlds (as it has for the past
three years). Those spots have been held by Quebec’s
Joannie Rochette, who placed fifth at the 2008 worlds in
Gothenburg, Sweden, and Vancouver’s Mira Leung, who was
15th.
De Mello has continually shown an ability to fast track.
Each year she has moved up the competitive ladder, and
has passed all seven of her required tests in just under
six years.
"This is a feat not matched by many skaters in B.C.,"
says Bursey, who coaches De Mello along with Marilyn
Grubb.
"The great thing about Alanna is her ability to rack up
the points with her great jumping technique," he says.
"She has the power to do the big tricks and she is fast
in the air, which is something you look for in an elite
figure skater."
Adds Grubb: "She has always been a very determined
individual, right from her early days on the ice."
This is the first time in many years that Connaught has
had a competitive athlete at the senior level and De
Mello is axious to represent Connaught at next season’s
qualifiers.
"It has always been my dream to compete for Canada and I
am now on my way to developing that dream into a
reality," De Mello says.
De Mello’s passion for skating began early. She
"absolutely loved" watching figure skating on TV and
would think, "I want to learn how to do that too."
As young as three years old she enthusiastically joined
her family for public skating. In her moulded velcro
skates, she’d weave in and out of the pack of people to
chase her dad around the rink.
She began competing when she was eight, and dipped her
toe into the competitive stream at the age of 11.
"When I was younger I used to get really nervous in
competition," she says. "But over the years I’ve learned
to control my nerves and I now thrive on the adrenaline.
What I love the most about skating now is the feeling of
accomplishing my goals and the thrill of landing one of
my big jumps."
De Mello is a huge fan of American figure skater Sasha
Cohen, who placed second at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
"She’s always been my favouite skater. Her grace, beauty
and presence on the ice are so captivating. She has the
complete package."
De Mello, who attributes much of her success to hard work
and the support of her parents and coaches, sports
similar qualities to Cohen. She has a strong double axel
and triple toe and is close to landing a couple more
triple jumps. Her biggest strength is probably her jumps
as she is able to rotate quickly in the air with power
and height.
But De Mello is not content just yet, which is why the
Grade 10 Matthew McNair Secondary honour roll student is
prepared to sacrifice some of those long summer days to
focus on her craft.
She’ll be spending three to four hours, five days a week,
on the ice with an additional hour in off-ice
conditioning throughout July and August.
"I need to get my competitive programs ready to take out
on the road again, and I want to make certain I have all
the elements I need to compete with the best this
season," De Mello explains. "Last year I was the B.C.
team alternate in the Junior Ladies and it was upsetting
to miss the team by one place. This year I want to be in
that top four."
"She certainly has the capabilities," Bursey concludes.
"She now just needs to become mentally tough so that she
can handle the extreme mental pressures athletes face in
elite individual sports."
http://www.bclocalnews.com/sports/19909159.html