Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 24, 1994 TAG: 9402030028
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MELANIE HATTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's too bad, says champion skater Anita Hartshorn, that the skating world has gotten so much attention because of something negative. Last week Harding's ex-husband was charged with planning the attack on Kerrigan.
As the ``World Cup Figure Skating Champions'' continue their U.S. tour - the performers are getting bombarded with questions.
Reporters ``are all asking `do you know Tonya?''' says Hartshorn
``Originally, when they thought it was a random act of violence people were more on edge,'' she says. ``It almost makes you feel better that it was a planned, executed act of violence and that it wasn't some looney-toon guy out there.``
Hartshorn says she has performed with both Harding and Kerrigan.
``We're all pretty shocked,'' she says because ice skating has never been plagued by scandals. But, ``knowing her [Harding's], background we're not surprised,'' Hartshorn says. ``Tonya has a reputation of being a tough cookie.''
But Hartshorn, who performs with her fiance, Frank Sweiding, is not dwelling on the issue. The couple are concentrating on their act.
They grew up in and around Chicago and skated together as youngsters, but it was not until five years ago that they formed a professional team. Since then, they've earned titles including World Professional Pair Champions, U.S. Professional Pair Champions and U.S. Open Pair Champions.
Touring professionally is different from training for an amateur competition.
``In the amateur field you tend to train for the whole year, and your goal is two or three competitions,`` Sweiding says. ``You want to peak at those competitions. In a show you've got to peak in every single show because you`re performing for a group of people who will see you only that night.''
It takes a lot of practice, communication and concentration on a daily basis, he says.
The audience is a big factor in creating the atmosphere for a show.
``If the place is packed it's just like a bar, if you go in and no one`s there it's dead,'' Hartshorn says. ``The audience feeds off each other, if there's a couple of rowdies in there who clap and stomp and everyone picks up on that it really picks up your spirits.''
by CNB