This newsletter is a long time coming, and a lot has happened since June.

But before I go back in history, I wanted to tell you that…….dum, dum, dum…..I am 2015 National Solo Ice Dance Champion in both Silver Pattern and Novice Combined! Can you believe it?! I can’t! I have worked so hard this year to make it to Michigan and it all went well! I had so much fun skating, then winning and standing on the podium, and finally getting to have fun with friends on the ice. Skating isn’t all work, although it is most of the time!

I do want to tell you about one very special moment. I have been skating my Free Dance all year with a lot of attention to movement and expression. When we were in Michigan, my Mom told me to make it real (I had made the mistake of "trying" in the Oakland competition). She asked me who I was looking up at throughout my dance. I told her it was our cat, Chi-Chi, who had to go to forever sleep in May. She told me to believe he was up above me. I did.  And you know what? I heard him meow when I finished my footwork!

I will send links to the videos and pictures when they come next week.

Now it's time to focus on partner ice dance

Back in June, my ice dance partner, Jeffrey, and I started training more often. My Mom and I spent more time in San Jose since Jeffrey had to go to stay with his Dad. When we are there, we get to train with Coach Sergei. He is so cool and has won lots of medals for Russia.

Jeffrey and I have started competing. We competed our dance patterns in Silicon Valley Open, and then our pattern dances and free dance at Skate San Francisco and Skate St. Moritz. We have improved at every competition and won too!! Skate San Francisco was really cool because we also won a trophy for being the highest scoring free dance in the nation! I have never won such a trophy before and it was exciting!!!!

I am sad that my solo ice dance season is over but I am excited to get ready for sectionals with Jeffrey, and hopefully make it to Nationals in Minnesota this winter!

Find me on Instagram!!

Please find me at laylaonice. It is fun to see everyone’s photos. It is like looking into a window.

THANK YOU!

Thank you everyone for your support and interest!  

Without your help, I would not be able to keep working with all of my on- and off-ice coaches. Skating is so expensive. The dresses, the skates, the coaches, the ice time. So thank you all so much!

Every little bit helps!!!

Love,

Layla