Dancers chase best in business

Spokane is breaking new ground in American figure skating circles.

It’s not because the Lilac City is the smallest city to host the U.S. Figure Skating championships nor the fact that the weeklong event that began Sunday morning could set an attendance record by next weekend’s conclusion.

The most unusual aspect of this year’s competition is that the face of American skating is actually two faces. The dominant personalities are ice dancing Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.

Thanks to the charismatic pair, also third in last year’s World Championships, ice dancing shares top billing with the singles competition.

Though all eyes are focused on the dynamic duo, their success has elevated their event into the consciousness of skating fans.

The battle behind Belbin and Agosto includes last year’s runners-up Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, but there is also some intrigue since last year’s third-place team of Jamie Silverstein and Ryan O’Meara quit competing after the Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Something to prove

Morgan Matthews and Maxim Zavozin, the 2005 U.S. Junior champions, made a smooth transition to Seniors last year but they were less than satisfied with fourth place at nationals because of a fall.

“We didn’t have a very good skate,” Zavozin, 21, said. “We’ve had a good year. We’ve tested ourselves at competitions and we’re trying to repeat our success.”

The three-time Junior champions aren’t overconfident as the logical choice to move into top three and a berth in the World Championships.

“I don’t think it takes any pressure off,” Matthews, 19, said. “We have to concentrate on ourselves and not worry about the other skaters. We’re out there to do a real clean skate. You worry about (placing) maybe a month before hand but not when you’re skating.”

Despite the fourth-place finish, Matthews and Zavozin picked up international experience when Silverstein and O’Meara elected not to go to the World Championships after placing 16th in the Olympics.

With the experience of a 16th place finish at the Worlds, Matthews and Zavozin aren’t taking anything for granted.

“It’s figure skating, you can’t compete for second or third,” Matthews said. “We just try to skate really well and be confident, have fun. All those things, I’m telling the absolute truth.”

Acing chemistry

With less than a year together, Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre were thrilled with their fifth-place finish last year and have high expectations for this week, though placings are the furthest thing from their minds.

“Last year when we came to nationals we really had a unique performance,” Bommentre, 22, said. “People will talk about it this year.”

He said fans could pick up on their relationship on and off the ice.

“It will be good to see it here,” Navarro, 25, said. “This whole city seems to be real excited and I think it will be perfect.”

Though they have high expectations, their goals are personal.

“We were together 10 months at nationals last year,” Navarro said. “This year we’re very confident going in. We’ve worked hard. It’s hard not to be tricked into thinking (about placing) but that’s not the main focus. We’re trying to concentrate on ourselves.”

Bommentre said, “If we had a placement goal then we could fall short. But we don’t allow ourselves to think that way. It’s definitely unique and hard for people to understand. With professional sports, most people want to win.”

Like a certain couple, Bommentre and Navarro want to make an impression.

“We need to be ourselves and be known as Kim and Brent,” Navarro said, “not the fifth-place team.”

Moving up

Nationals have a different feel for Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Though they have been together for 10 years, Davis, 20, and White, 19, students at the University of Michigan, are competing as Seniors for the first time.

“Last year we knew what to expect in terms of the junior level and how it all works. It was our third year at nationals as Juniors,” Davis said. “This year it is more exciting (but) if you’re not nervous, there is something wrong.”

There was pressure last year but the twosome came through, winning the championship. Then they placed third in the World Juniors.

“There’s not as much pressure coming in, we’re coming in as the underdogs,” Davis said. “It’s kind of nice to have no expectations.”

No expectations may be a slight exaggeration.

“It’s new and different, we’re looking forward to it,” White said. “This is such a big competition, you always want to do your best (but) we have nothing to lose.”