Ice princesses

DARRELL L. BREESE/ Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Emily Gelino-Bequette, of Wasilla, laced up her first pair of figure skates shortly after she learned to tie a bow as a 5-year-old. Merely a month later she entered, and won, her first figure skating contest.

Charissa Gliori, of Willow, of Willow was a 3-year-old when she saw the figure skating events of the Lillehammer Winter Olympic Games on television, and knew that was the sport she wanted to try.

&#8220I asked my mom then if I could start skating,” she said. &#8220I had to wait until I was five, but I still remember how graceful and beautiful the skaters looked when I first saw them on TV.”

The two Valley teenagers have come a long way from those early days, and will be representing Alaska at the U.S. Figure Skating Junior National Championships in Denver starting Tuesday.

The pair skated in a send-off fundraiser Wednesday at the Brett Memorial Arena, in Wasilla, before departing for the competition.

&#8220I can't believe it,” Gliori said. &#8220It was a dream. I had in the back of my mind, to skate for a national title. But I never imagined that it would come true.”

Gliori, 13, will compete in the intermediate ladies division in Denver. She finished fourth overall at the Northwest Pacific Regional championships, thanks in part to a third-place finish in the free skate program.

Gelino-Bequette, 15, will also compete in the intermediate ladies division after placing first in the short program and third overall at the Northwest Pacific Regional held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

&#8220I was bouncing around the arena like mad after I realized I qualified for nationals,” Gelino-Bequette said. &#8220Then I was afraid we were going to get in trouble at the hotel afterwards. We were so loud.”

For the girls it is the first trip to a national competition, which features the top 3 percent of the nation's intermediate skaters.

To reach the finals of the competition, each girl must place in the top half of the qualifying group of 36 skaters. In the finals they will be judged on both their short program and free skate.

According to Gliori, in order to be successful at the championships she will need to complete double-double jumps and land a double axel.

&#8220The axle is the toughest jump for intermediate skaters,” Gliori said. &#8220The winner will be the person with the best one in the competition.”

Both girls are members of the Anchorage Figure Skating Club and are coached by Ralph and Rory Burghart, of Wasilla. They will be joined by a Keegan Messing, of Girdwood, who is also coached by the Burgharts.

Living in Willow, Gliori has logged countless miles driving back and forth for practice five or six days a week.

&#8220It's 38 miles from my front door to Wasilla,” she said. &#8220But on days when we practice in Anchorage it is a 180 round-trip.”

Gelino-Bequette had to overcome an obstacle of her own on her way to the regional championship, and is facing another hurdle heading into nati onals.

&#8220I was a basket case in Jackson Hole,” Gelino-Bequette said. &#8220My nerves were so bad that I lost 10-pounds. My coach slapped me before I went on the ice to settle me down and get me focused.”

Wednesday, Gelino-Bequette struggled through her long program as she is fighting off the lingering effects of a recent cold.

One thing she said will help her is having a friend and teammate competing with her.

&#8220Having Charissa there will really help,” Gelino-Bequette said. &#8220During competitions skaters tend to be ruthless and stand-offish. It will be nice having a friendly face amongst the competition.”

Qualifying rounds for the intermediate ladies will be held Wednesday, the short program is scheduled for Friday and the free skate long program will be Saturday.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.