Figure Skating in
Northern Ontario
Espanola Skating Club Carnival 2005,
Gotta Dance
Rachel LeClair
While I have been a figure skating
fan since the days when Toller Cranston was heating up the ice and
changing men's figure skating forever, regular visitors to this site may
already know that it was watching little Rachel and her brother Challen one afternoon that was the
catalyst for
creating the figure skating section of this website. Since that time,
I've gotten to know them and am now not only a fan, but I hope, a
friend. At times however, I may be their most demanding fan. When you've
come to expect a lot, well... you expect a lot.
I had not seen Ray's Diamonds are a
Girls Best Friend routine until that afternoon, but I had heard
others talking about it in various northern arenas over the last couple
of weeks. (After her winning a gold medal with the routine at a recent
competition.) After seeing it myself, I know why they were talking.
"Little
Rachel" isn't so little anymore! Her routine was expressive, mature,
powerful, and artistic beyond any expectations I had for that afternoon.
(And as I've said, my expectations of this young woman are usually
pretty high.) The choreography rocked! After hearing the buzz about the
routine, I had expected to like it, I hadn't expected to be floored by
it. And there I was... finding myself floored.
I have no idea whether or not Rachel
LeClair has a natural talent that is above average, I don't know enough
about the technicalities of figure skating to say, although I tend to
think she has something. What I have come to know over
the last year or so since first meeting her, is that Ray is focused,
determined, hard working, courageous, and passionate. And just like a
diamond, if adversity and pressure comes into her life..., she just
shines all the brighter! She's sometimes as insecure and frightened as
all the other girls out there
skating, and she doesn't always take criticism, or her own
imperfections, well. But, she realizes these
things about herself
and is working on them. And take criticism well or not, she always hears
it, takes it to heart, considers it, learns from it, and is ready to act
upon it. These are all qualities that can take her far beyond the
horizons that raw talent alone could ever offer.
She is also a fortunate young woman in
that she has the full support of her family, and a growing body of
fans and admirers, in pursuing her goals in figure skating. That support is
generated because of a true generosity of spirit that many of us have
seen in her. Her kind heart and gentleness make her an easy person to like. Her
determination makes her easy to admire. And her sometimes dazzling
performances make many people easy fans, because after all, everyone enjoys
standing near the brightest lights. And whether it's diamonds or talent
or courage that do the sparkling, we'll be looking for Rachel LeClair to continue shinning
for some time to come.
PS. About that most demanding fan
thing.... next time Ray... smile more!!
☺
