About Us

KID SPOTLIGHT

December 2002

Julie Tucker

Age: 16

Hometown: Skaneateles, N.Y.

Club: Skaneateles FSC

Skating Level: Juvenile freestyle, silver dance and novice moves

Favorite Skaters: I admire Michelle Kwan for her courage to believe she can do anything even without a coach; Sasha Cohen for her flexibility; Sarah Hughes because she is from New York, won the Olympics and stretches every move to its potential; Jamie Salé and David Pelletier because they portray stories through music; and Todd Eldredge for not giving up and trying his best in Salt Lake City.

How long I've been skating: 7 years

Favorite jumps/moves: Axel, split jump, sit spin and spirals

Favorite skating moment: When I took my juvenile freestyle test, I skated the program nearly to perfection, and my coach Lisa Esterguard was almost in tears.

Goals: To skate at North Atlantic Regionals, to compete individually at the Empire State Games and to land my double jumps consistently.

What I like about skating: I love the challenge of working on new moves, jumps and spins. I enjoy competing and always have a drive to do better. I like to skate programs to music that I like and have even helped pick out.

What else you should know about me: I have skated on the CNY Synchronettes synchronized skating team. This past year we placed first in Buffalo, N.Y., third at Eastern Sectionals, first in Oswego, N.Y., and ended our season with a first-place finish at the Empire State Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., on the junior classic level. I take ballet to help my skating, run cross-country at Skaneateles High School, participate in Special Friends (spending time once a week being a friend to a younger child at school), and I do mission projects and youth group at church. I live on a farm and love animals.