icenetwork.com

Before he started skating, Grant Hochstein was interested in a variety of other sports. (Paul Tortland)

By J. Barry Mittan, special to icenetwork.com

(11/02/2009) - Grant Hochstein, a 19-year-old skater from Allenton, Mich., started out in athletics in tae kwon do when he was just five years old. But a different Kwan, Michelle, changed his mind about his future when he was about nine.

"I was really good at tae kwon do," Hochstein said. "I was fourth in forms at the Junior Olympics in 1998, but I wasn't as good at sparring. I was just one or two tests away from getting my black belt, but I saw Michelle Kwan skating at the 1998 Olympics and decided that's what I wanted to do. I stopped tae kwon do and started taking skating lessons."

"I always wanted to try track because I'm a good runner," he added, "but skating is the love of my life. I don't run very often for conditioning now because I get enough impact on the ice. "

"I was always good at jumps," Hochstein stated. "I could do an Axel before I could really skate. I was about 12 when I landed my first triple Salchow. I started working on the triple Axel last summer, and I've been landing it, but I don't have it in the program yet. It's better to do a clean program than risk it. If it matters at the Junior Grand Prix Final, I'll do it there."

Hochstein, who was fourth in junior men at U.S. Nationals in 2009, won the silver medal at his first ISU Junior Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary, and placed fourth at the Pokal deu Blauen Schwerter in Dresden, Germany, in October. That qualified him to compete at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Japan in December.

Hochstein has a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, triple flip and double Axel in his short program. In his free skate, he adds a triple flip-double toe-double loop combination, triple Lutz-double Axel sequence, triple loop, triple Salchow and another double Axel. "I was never that good at footwork, but I'm working hard to get higher levels with it," he said. "I'm trying to focus on improving my skating skills to become a more balanced skater. I'll need that in seniors and my goal is to be in the top eight at Nationals to position myself for next season."

"I figure I can compete for another eight years as long as my body holds up," he added.

Although his parents never skated, Hochstein's younger sister, Veronica, is also a competitive skater. He sometimes practices pairs with her just for fun.

"We can do throw double Salchow and press lifts," Hochstein said.

Lindsay O'Donoghue and Maria Moscato coach Hochstein, who trains in St. Claire Shores, Mich. Hochstein has always worked with O'Donoghue, who also trained at St. Clair Shores when she competed.

"I could not have done what I have without her," he said.

"Grant's a very hard worker," O'Donoghue said. "He's very focused, sometimes too much. He sets very high goals for himself and is willing to look at the things he needs to work on. He's a great role model at the rink."

Moscato, who is also his ballet teacher, works with him on his spin positions and body line and puts the finishing touches on his programs.

Hochstein practices for two hours a day, six days a week on ice and does another hour of off ice training every day including ballet, Pilates and yoga.

Jodie Tasich choreographed his programs for the 2009-10 season, both of which are new.

"I don't usually change both programs," Hochstein explained, "but I wasn't happy with my old short. Since I was moving to seniors, I thought it would be good to push myself artistically and show a more mature side to my skating."

Both of his programs are classical pieces by Peter Tchaikovsky. For the short, he is using music from The Sleeping Beauty and for the free skate, he is skating to Romeo and Juliet

"I know that Sleeping Beauty is not a typical program for a male skater," he said, "but I portray Prince Charming. For every princess, there's a prince. We had thrown around a bunch of music, but I couldn't decide so Lindsay picked it. She skated to it when she was competing."

"The short is light and easygoing with a harp, while the long is passionate and intense," Hochstein said. "It's a good contrast."

"Classical is my style," Hochstein added. "There's a lot of range in classical music. I'm more comfortable with who I am when I skate to classical. It was much harder when I did a Spanish program last year."

For shows, Hochstein skates to "The Impossible Dream" by Luther Vandross or "Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde."

Off ice, he usually listens to early 2000s pop music and is a big Britney Spears fan.

He enjoys reading and travel, collects skating videos and tries to bring back something from every competition.

"I take back a small piece of the road from every everywhere I go," he said. "In 2008, I bought a Fabergé egg at the Gardena Spring Trophy and brought it back to show my costume designer to make a costume based on it."

Hochstein is in his second year of studies at Macomb College in Warren, Mich. He plans to become a teacher after he finishes school.

"I'd like to transfer to Wayne State University," Hochstein added. "It's only fifteen minutes from the rink."

He already teaches Learn to Skate classes at the rink five hours a week and teaches on club ice for another four hours.

"I'd like to continue to build the skating club in St. Clair Shores," Hochstein said. "Giving back is the greatest gift you can give."