by Anne Calder | Pictures by Daphne Backman
The Grosse Level Farms, Michigan native spent 13 years honing her abilities in singles prior to creating the transfer to ice dance. Brooke Castile O’Keefe, 2007 Pairs US Nationwide and Nebelhorn Trophy gold medalist with Benjamin Okolski was one in every of her coaches.
The youngest of 4 siblings, Zingas was the 2018 U.S. Nationwide Novice silver medalist in San Jose, California. Since she has twin citizenship with Cyprus, a call was then made to characterize that nation.
“Since they’ve a Federation, my mother and father, teaching crew on the time, and I made a decision it might be a good suggestion to characterize Cyprus as a result of it was a reasonably straightforward transition,” Zingas defined. “I competed internationally for them for 2 seasons attending 4 Challenger Collection competitions and the 2021 World Championships.”
The Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany was the ultimate qualifying occasion for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Igor Shpilband was there with a crew and so was Emilea Zingas hoping to earn a spot for Cyprus.
“After my skate, Igor requested me about making an attempt out with Vadym,” Zingas stated. “The thought of ice dance was a bit bit stunning at first as a result of I’d by no means actually thought of it in any respect. I later agreed to a tryout.”
In the meantime, Kolesnik had been trying to find a associate whereas nonetheless coaching at Novi. At some point he acquired a name from Shpilband. “I discovered this superb woman at this competitors,” he stated. “I’ll attempt to prepare a tryout. You’re going to like her, however she’s nonetheless competing.”
Kolesnik, who had been in Ukraine for his birthday, Zingas, and Shpilband ultimately met on the Novi Ice Enviornment for what the coach stated was for simply an introduction. Since she had a contest in per week, there can be no tryout. Shpilband then instructed Kolesnik simply take her hand and take a look at skating.
“We skated round and it felt good,” Kolesnik stated. “It was a bit awkward at first, as a result of Igor didn’t inform me we have been truly going to skate.”
“I didn’t know we have been going to skate collectively both,” Zingas confessed. “I had by no means skated with anybody in any respect on the ice. Even holding his hand felt actually bizarre at first. I bought used to it fairly shortly.”
Their adjustment was one thing good from the primary strive – their personalities and all.
“I take pleasure in working with this woman,” Kolesnik stated. ”I felt some form of understanding from the primary time we skated, which I didn’t really feel for some time. I missed it. It had been a very long time. I’m nonetheless adjusting – coming again to competitions – it’s like child steps once more.”
“We’re each very devoted individuals,” Zingas added. “We each like to skate, and the fervour comes from there. That’s why we clicked instantly. The transition to bounce was tough – I believe I’m nonetheless transitioning – there’s a lot to be taught. Studying all that and adjusting my skating fashion and being conscious that I’m skating with another person was a difficult transition for positive, however I’ve loved each second of it.”
Kolesnik thinks skating shut in place has been essentially the most difficult. Parts are one thing you simply apply. They’re repetition and repetition.
Zingas added, “Truly, I had by no means taken even a sample dance. I by no means did any dances earlier than this. The previous months, I’ve needed to take a look at all my dances, which I discovered to be difficult.
The crew drives forty-five minutes to an hour every morning to apply on the Novi Ice Enviornment. On the Chesapeake Open in June, they carried out solely the Rhythm Dance. The Free Dance made its debut on the current Dallas Traditional the place the rookie crew tried the brand new Choreographic bounce and earned a 1.68 GOE.
The Free Dance is a Philip Glass medley, which incorporates “Metamorphosis”, Violin Concerto No.1, “Truman Sleeps” (The Truman Present) and “Escape!” (The Hours).
With the tough scenario in Ukraine,” Kolesnik defined. “We have been fascinated by what sort of program we wish to do. We had many choices with some fashionable items, however ultimately we determined to do one thing dramatic by Philip Glass. It’s one thing I might relate to very carefully. It’s my interpretation of what’s taking place proper now.”
“There are quite a lot of blended feelings, so it’s good to have the ability to specific them whenever you skate,” Zingas stated.
Kolesnik’s mom is now in Michigan, however his dad, aunt and grandmas are nonetheless in Ukraine. His brother serves within the navy. His neighborhood in Kharkiv was just lately bombed.
The crew intends to compete at Lake Placid. “We’ll skate there, then after that we’ll see what occurs,” Zingas stated. ”I can’t compete internationally till late November as a result of I competed for an additional Federation.”
“We’ll attempt to do as many home competitions as we will,” Kolesnik added.
Along with studying new ice dance abilities, Zingas is working towards her neuroscience diploma at Wayne State College in Detroit.
“It’s been a bit little bit of a problem to stability all of the skating and faculty, however I actually take pleasure in each,” Zingas stated.
Two weeks in the past, Kolesnik acquired his Bachelor in Sports activities Psychology from Ukraine.. Thankfully, it was on-line since elements of the College have been destroyed.
“The way it works in Ukraine is my mother and father despatched me to highschool at age 5,” Kolesnik defined. “We have now eleven years plus 4 extra for my diploma. My brother is a lawyer in Ukraine. I used to be tempted to try this, but it surely’s form of tough with skating.”
In February 2017, sixteen 12 months outdated Vadym Kolesnik moved to the U.S. to skate with Avonley Nguyen. The crew achieved nice success in three years, together with quite a few worldwide medals and gold on the 2020 World Junior Championships. Two years in the past he bought his inexperienced card and is anticipating receiving his passport.
Zingas & Kolesnik will subsequent compete in Lake Placid, NY on the 2022 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships from July 27-29.
