Lögberg-Heimskringla - 07.07.2000, Qupperneq 6

6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday 7 July 2000
Waterloo
Continued from page 1
Nationals in 2002 is a dream come true.
Lauren and Leifur will try for the Junior
World team this year but it is more real-
istic to consider that they may make the
team in 2002.
The Junior Grand Prix 2000 is a
prestigious event with the highest level
of skating in the world with skaters
from Europe, Asia, Mexico, Canada,
and United States. The Canadians of
course would like to medal in this event
and this pair is aiming for the top five. It
is known that it takes longer for the
Canadians to be recognized, so it is very
important that they make a name for
themselves right away. It is a definite
advantage if the judges become aware
of the new young skaters and begin to
recognize them by name and style.
Leifur points out that they have a clas-
sicai style of skating and have taken the
time to develop and hone their technical
expertise to the degree that they can.
spend rnore time now to focus on the
intricate and quick footwork that is so
much a part of their routine.
Both Lauren and Leifur are quick to
name their heroes in Ice Dance with our
Canadian champions Shea-Lynn
Bourne and Victor Kraatz at the top of
their list. The French champions
Marina Anassina and Gwendal Piezerat
are also highly regarded by them for
their superb presentation and artistry. I
suggested that in the few clips that I had
seen of Lauren and Leifur that I had
been very impressed with their similar-
ity to Bourne and Kraatz and the degree
of smoothness and polish that I found
surprising in such a young pair.
Interestingly, the response was that Rod
Black as a commentator had made an
almost identical remark to Debbie
Wilkes during the Canadian Nationals.
When I asked if their technical expert-
ise tended to make their routines appear
almost too easy, they both agreed that
this could happen especially since in
their classical style they do not use a lot
of upper body movement, concentrating
on strong smooth footwork with precise
quick intricate choreography developed
for the various dance forms and tempos.
Their coaches are a major factor in the
selection of music. Lauren and Leifur
both agree that their guidance in this
area is very important.
In answer to my query regarding
Enjoy a favourably priced
Friday smorg,
either lunch or evening
at the Nordic House of Canada
— the cultural home of the
Winnipeg Frón
Membership in the club is not required.
764 Erin Street, Winnipeg
Telephone: (204) 774-8047
explained that Novice is the 7th highest
of the levels with Junior rated as the 2nd
highest level. When a pair at the Novice
level win the gold medal, they must
move up to the Junior category even
though the age limit is set at nineteen.
There is no age limit at Juniors. They
are further required to pass two tests to
become Juniors, and have already
passed their first test so there ís only one
more to pass. Leifur is too modest to tell
me but his father very proudly told me
that Leifur’s technical skills are such
that he is often required to be the model
or base against which other skaters are
judged. He frequently partners the
female Ice Dancers so that they can be
judged fairly on their own individual
merits. Only if they had an outstanding
year would they consider moving on up
to Senior level. At this point it is much
more realistic for them to gain more
experience while developing and honing
their skills.
With such heavy work schedules,
how do they manage to balance school
work with skating practice? Lauren
laughingly replies, “With lots of work in
the evenings and weekends to catch up.”
When I mentioned that I had been made
aware that they are consistently at the
top levels in their classes, she laughed
again and said, “We have been very
lucky.” As if luck had anything to do
with it!
The immediate goal for Lauren and
Leifur is coming up in August when
they will compete in the North
American Challenge. There are many
such challenges ahead for them but they
have as their major goal in the future,
competing as Seniors at the 2006
Olympics. May they take with them the
knowledge that the fans in Manitoba,
especially those of Icelandic descent,
are cheering for them all the way.
Lauren’s parents are Patrick Flynn
and Susan Peturson; paternal grandfa-
ther, Mark Flynn; maternal grandpar-
ents, Edith and Petur Petursson; great-
grandparents, Ólafur Petursson and
Annie McNab; great-uncle Reverend
Philip Petursson.
Leifur’s parents are Stefan Gislason
and Barbara Flynn; patemal grandpar-
ents Thor Gislason and June McKnight;
maternal grandparents, Frederick
William Flynn and Rita Fletcher;
Leifur’s uncle is Conrad Gislason.
Most rccent achievements ofLauren
Flynn and Leifur Gislason:
• North American Challenge—Gold
Medal
• represented Canada in the Dallas
Meet which included the USA,
Mexico, and Canada
• SaskSkate in Saskatoon—Gold
Medal Westem Canadian
Competition
• Central Canadian Competition—Gold
Medal
• Canadian Nationals in Calgary—
Gold Medal
• title—Canadian National Ice Dance
Champions
Pholo courtesy of Leifur Gislason
Lauren and Leifur at the Canadian National lce Dance Championships.
costumes, Lauren and Leifur said that it
is necessary to have three or four new
costumes every year and yes, they are
very expensive. Here in Winnipeg,
Diane Melcosky has been wonderful.
She has often been able to custom make
their costumes on very short notice and
right now has come through yet again,
by completing new outfits for them to
wear at the North America Challenge
which comes up August 12 -14. Yvonne
Rempel of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
has designed and made costumes for
them. In the east, Ann Scott of Ontario
has been another who has contributed in
the designing of their dance costumes.
At 14 and 15, Lauren and Leifur are
the youngest to be awarded the Gold
Medal as Canadian National Ice Dance
Champions. Lauren and Leifur
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