THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 31, 1994 TAG: 9407290285
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
TWO YEARS AGO, when her cousin took her to the Plaza Skating Center, Jessica Bowers wouldn't even try roller skating.
``I was too scared to go on the floor,'' said 12-year-old Jessica of Portsmouth. ``I was really shy back then.''
Two years has made a lot of difference.
This weekend a confident Jessica is in Lincoln, Neb., competing in the national roller skating competition.
``I started taking lessons about three months after I first went to the rink,'' said the tall young student, a rising 8th-grader at Hunt-Mapp. ``And I liked it.''
Jessica is one of five young women representing Plaza Skating Center, located on Hodges Ferry Road, in the national competition.
The others are Crystal Holloway, 14, and Jennifer Gaskins, 11, both of Portsmouth; Courtney Black, 8, and her sister, Stephanie Black, 17, of Great Bridge.
All are eligible for the national championship events after placing in regional competition in Richmond. They competed against roller skaters from Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
A sixth member of the group that practices together, 11-year-old Jennifer Hewlett of Portsmouth, is going to the roller skating junior olympics in Buffalo, N.Y., on Labor Day weekend.
The young competitors are serious about roller skating. The evidence: They work out for two to three hours Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The payoff for the long practice hours was winning the regionals.
``I think it's fun,'' Jessica said. ``But I want to win.''
At 8 years of age, Courtney Black is unusually young to be competing at the national level, said her coach, Hazel McCaskill. This was Courtney's first year of participation in the regionals and she won her event.
``She started skating at 5, but still she's young,'' McCaskill said.
The skaters practiced going around in circles and loops on the rink's hardwood floor one day recently while they waited for a photographer to get pictures.
With the exception of the Black sisters, all of the young women are at what generally is considered the awkward age.
But there's nothing awkward about the willowly young bodies gliding around the rink.
``Jennifer is very conscious of her body,'' said Joanne Gough, her grandmother. ``She counts fat grams - sometimes too much, I think.''
Gough is her granddaughter's chauffeur, transporting her to the skating rink four afternoons a week while Jessica's parents are at work.
However, the trip to Nebraska is a family vacation for the Bowers family: Donald, an architect, and Theresa, a dental technician, and Jessica's little brother, 6-year-old Donnie.
They flew together to Nebraska last week and will be gone until next weekend.
``It's the farthest I've ever been from home,'' Jessica said. ``I've been to Delaware and that's as far as I've gotten.''
The trip to Nebraska will substitute for vacations in most of the participating families, Janet Gaskins said.
``It'll cost at least $3,000 for the week,'' she said.
Gaskins, however, is proud of Jennifer's skills. She herself once skated.
``But you get past 40 and you quit,'' she said.
The cost of competing is steep. Not only do the families have the expense of transportation and accommodations to the competitive events.
They've spent about $40 a month for lessons and rink time.
They've paid out $100 or more in a skating costume.
``Just the sequins and rhinestones on that costume cost $40,'' Gaskins said, gesturing to her daughter's twinkling outfit.
They've invested hundreds of dollars in skates. Most of the girls have two or three pair of skates purchased for $250 to $300 a pair. For rehearsals, they don't use their figure skates.
The local skaters will be competing this week in three categories: freestyle, loops and figures. Other categories include dancing and pairs events.
Crystal Holloway was a finalist last year in the natonal figures compeition. She hopes to move up to winning this week.
A team from the Plaza Skating Center was the United States champions in 1991 and local skater James Taliaferro won the national men's open loops competition last year.
The young group spending this week in Nebraska hope to bring home some honors too.
Jessica said she likes challenges. But not only does she like roller skating because she wants to win. Asked to explain why a 12-year-old would spend most of her free time on skates, she replied simply, ``It keeps me busy and I like that.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MARK MITCHELL
Color on the Cover: Crystal Holloway practices at the Plaza Roller
Skating Rink shortly before leaving for the national competition in
Lincoln, Neb.
Shelly Brugal helps her daughter Lara put on her roller skates at
Plaza Roller Skating Rink in Portsmouth.
Skaters discuss the routines they will be doing in national
competition during a lull.
Stephanie Black goes through a routine where a prescribed pattern
has to be followed precisely.
Jennifer Gaskins, left, practices her skating routine. The cost of
competing is steep. Not only do the families have the expense of
transportation and accommodations to the competitive events. They've
spent about $40 a month for lessons and rink time. They've paid out
$100 or more in a skating costume. And skates sell for $250 to $300
a pair.
by CNB