Two PRFSF Skaters Compete at Junior Grand Prix - Mexico

Rookie Alex Laboy  competed at his first ISU Junior Grand Prix event over the weekend of September 14-17, 2006.  Despite many technical setbacks, Alex ended the weekend landing a Triple Lutz in the Short Program and a Triple Toe Loop in the Free Skate.

Alex Laboy was coming fresh off a good warm-up at the Silicon Valley Open in San Jose, California where he scored 117 points in both Short Program and Free Skate.  In Mexico City, Alex scored 84.77 points in his first JGP event.  At this time, Alex is in 52nd place of 66 ISU Junior Men.  Alex is the current PRFSF Novice Men's Champion.  He was the second youngest Junior Men's Competitor at Mexico City.  Kevin Reynolds from Canada won the event.  Brandon Mroz and Daisuke Murakami of the USA came in second and third, respectively.

Alex's technical setbacks consisted of equipment failures that would be comical except for the importance of this occasion.  Just after the Silicon Valley Open, and within just a couple of weeks of Mexico JGP, Alex's boots literally came apart at the heels.  Only after a call from Federation President, Lynette Spano, to the boot manufacturer, Graf, was Alex able to get new boots in time for Mexico.  The day after Alex received his new boots, he broke  his blades.  Replacement blades simply were not available. Luckily, the husband of Alex's coach used the same size blades.  So Alex skated in Mexico City on new boots and blades that were not even his own.

Veteran Victoria Muniz completed her third ISU Junior Grand Prix event.  Victoria landed a Double Axel in her Short Program and a Triple Loop and Triple Flip in her Free Skate.  Victoria was also fresh off of a warm-up competition at the Silicon Valley Open where she scored 88 points throughout.  In Mexico City, Victoria scored 74.97 points in both her Short Program and Free Skate.  Caroline Zhang (USA), Sonia Lafuente (Spain), and Yea-Ji Shin (Korea) took 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively.  At this time, Victoria is in 41st place of 77 ISU Junior Ladies.

Per Marisol Brilliant, "the altitude at Mexico City had an impact on our skaters.  After just a couple of triple jumps, they found themselves gasping for breath."  Mexico City is a mile high.  "Our skaters have had some training in Colorado, so we had not expected the severity of this circumstance" said Marisol.  "Nonetheless, all competitors worked with the same altitude.  We commend the efforts of all the competitors.  Anyone who can compete well under these circumstances can compete well anywhere in the world."

Both Alex and Victoria train in Vaca Valley, California, USA under PRFSF Coach Marisol Brilliant.  During the summer, both Alex and Victoria were able to attend a 4 week training camp at the University of Delaware under the coaching direction of Barbara Roles Williams and Jeff DiGregorio.  Per Marisol Brilliant, Victoria has all of her triple jumps through the Triple Flip.  Alex has all the triples including one Triple-Triple combination

A couple of days after getting back from Mexico City, Alex called Marisol to let her know that "(he) did not do well enough, and Puerto Rico deserves a much better showing."  Both Alex and Victoria are scheduled and eager to attend the JGP event at the Hague, Netherlands in October, 2006.

Click here to see the Mexico JGP results

See what is said about PRFSF skaters on USFSA website (click here)
Clases de Patinaje

CoquíSkate & RicoSkate

Aprende y Diviértete,
Toma Clases de
Patinaje Sobre Hielo
Aguadilla Ice Skating Arena
Con el coach internacional
De Canadá Richard O'Neill
Diferentes Horarios
Para más información
Tel. 787-605-0577
E-mail: info@prfsf.com
Visita nuestra página de Facebook