Jennifer Iacopelli - Finding Her Edge

Break the Fall

The pair floats across the ice, hands clasped together, skates scraping against the surface in perfect synchronicity.

Or, at least, theyre trying to.

Okay! I shout, my voice hoarse after a long day of lessons. Despite my aching legs, Im circling around them on my own skates with a smooth, natural glide that, hopefully, theyll be able to mimic one day. Keep your grip firm, but not too tight. Dont pull her with you, Jackson. Remember, shes smaller than you. You need to adjust your stride to match hers. The two eight-year-olds Im coaching are getting used to holding hands and skating together, one of the foundational basics of ice dance.

My voice echoes up into the rafters of Kellynch Rink of Greater Boston, the place Ive spent more time in than my own home. It practically is home. My sisters and I were on skates before we could see over the boards surrounding the ice, because thats what you do when youre born a Russo.

Hes not pulling you along anymore, Sadie, so you have to stay with him, I remind her after he stops yanking at her arm and she drifts behind.

Finally, they fall into step, her shorter legs stretching a little longer, his longer legs striding a little shorter, and from my vantage point, it looks like perfection.

Thats it! They beam up at me, still holding hands. Great job.

Sadie barely comes up to my hip, and she casts her eyes longingly at my legs. I wish I was as tall as you, Adriana. I wouldnt have to stride so long.

Youre perfect exactly the way you are. Make sure you stretch tonight, especially your feet and ankles. Gotta keep them nice and strong for when I see you two again.

Ugh, thats so long from now, Jackson whines as I lead them off the ice.

Not too long, I say, clicking my skate guards on as soon as I pass through the gate. Just until after Worlds.

Thats forever, Sadie says, probably because when youre eight years old, two months is an eternity.

To be fair, even at sixteen, it feels like forever for me, too, because by then Junior World Championships, the biggest competition of my life, will be over. It cant get here soon enough. My ice dance partner and I qualified for the second year in a row, but this year, we finally have a great shot of winning gold. So two months from now, Ill either be a World Champion... or not.

Right now, though, Im a coach. Ive been picking up more and more lessons in the last couple of years, trying to do my part to keep the lights on.

I wave to Sadies and Jacksons moms as we approach them outside the rink. Theyre sitting in the parents viewing area adjacent to the lobby. Banners cover the walls, citing the successes of the skating club in the half century its been open.

Ah, Adriana! Sadies mom says, racing up to me, her strides way faster than the ones her daughter can produce on the ice. Im so glad I got to see you before you left!

Oh, I say with a small smile.

Please tell Elisa I said good luck! Well all be watching her!

I dont let my smile slide at all, but instead let it grow. Of course, I will.

You must be so proud of her. Your big sister going to the Olympics, what an accomplishment. Your father must be ecstatic.

He is. I hold that smile, big and tight across my face. Its not the first time this has happened, and it wont be the last. Olympic Games trumps Junior World Championships, obviously. Elisa is a ladies singles skater, and their careers tend to peak way younger than ice dancers. Four years from now, if everything goes as planned, Ill be headed to my first Olympics.

Well, we dont want to keep you, Sadies mom says, her eyes darting around the lobby, probably to make sure she didnt miss Elisa or Dad. Jackson and his mom are already gone.

Sadie, great job today. Ill see you when I get back.

I lock the doors to the rink behind them, the last lesson well have for a while. Its sad, but necessary. I flick off the lobby lights before turning the COME IN, WERE OPEN sign hanging on the door to SORRY, WERE CLOSED .

While Dad and Elisa head to Beijing for the Olympics, were hosting the other athletes and their coaches in the lead-up to Junior Worlds. Dads always been able to charm people, especially anyone who understands our familys legacy. Weve had elite camps here for years, and before Mom died, she ran summer camp intensives that were famous for getting athletes ready for the next level. The lure of training at our legendary rink was just too much to resist.

The fees Dad negotiated with each individual coach are nearly double what we usually make in skating lessons and birthday parties and hockey leagues. And as much as I hate it, hate letting down our students and all the people whove supported Kellynch over the years, there was no way we could afford to turn down that kind of money. Because as famous and successful our family has been, we have this nasty habit of spending way more money than we bring in. Like, way more.

Kellynch was opened by my great-grandparents back before even my dad first started skating. In the last fifty years, its become the most prestigious club in the country. Weve won more World and Olympic medalsmost of which belong to my parentsthan some countries, and its a state-of-the-art facility. Dad wont stand for anything less.

It would be impossible for him to work in a place that was anything less than what someone would expect for an Olympic gold medalist, the patriarch of the most famous family in figure skating. That would be okay if it wasnt