Beekman, Nelson 1-2 heading into final day

Feeling at home on a rink can only help a figure skater’s confidence.

But landing a double axel, holding a spiral for 3 seconds or executing a double-lutz, double-loop combination builds confidence.

Spokane skaters Ashley Beekman and Heidi Nelson had both going on Friday morning and find themselves in first and second place, respectively, after skating their ladies novice short programs at the Northwest Pacific U.S. Figure Skating Regional Championship. Both skaters represent the Lilac City Figure Skating Club of Eagles Ice-A-Rena, site of this year’s Northwest Pacific regional and their home rink.

Beekman’s position entering today’s free skate comes as no great surprise. She finished second in the novice division last year, making her a favorite to win this year.

But there are still 3 minutes of work to be done.

“You have to stay on your feet tomorrow (Saturday),” said Berkley Villard, Beekman’s coach. “It’s going to come down to who’s trained and who can hold it together under the pressure.”

Beekman, 17, skating with grace and emotion, scored 37.16 points. Nelson, 13, starts the day with 31.67 points. Only 6.15 points separate second place from eighth.

The top four finishers advance to the Pacific Coast Sectional, Nov. 14-18 in Seattle. The top four finishers in Seattle will compete in the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Jan. 21-27 in Spokane.

“That’s what I like,” Beekman said, while looking at the standings for the first time and noticing more than five points separate her from second place.

Beekman also liked landing her double axel early in her program, shortly after opening with a double flip as her first of the six required elements. Her only bobble came late in the program when she stepped out of a double-lutz, double-loop combination.

Only four of the 12 ladies attempted a double axel, the most difficult jump because of its forward takeoff. Beekman, who fell on her second double-axel attempt in Thursday’s qualifying round, was the only skater who landed the jump without falling or touching the ice with a hand.

Beekman and Nelson also held their spiral moves for the required 3 seconds, while many of the skaters failed in the element, which amounted to no points.

Nelson, however, went the safe route and stuck to the easier single axel. She over rotated on the jump, but her more noticeable miscue came late in the program when her toe pick slipped and she turned her double flip into a single. Her choreography and skills vaulted her into second place, and she is just one free skate away from her first sectional championship as a novice.

“She just needs to do a nice program,” said Randy Clark, Nelson’s coach. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, just a nice program and she’ll be fine.”