icenetwork.com: Skaters

Skaters

Dance

Rachel Parsons

Born:

November 19, 1997

Birthplace:

Rockville, Md.

Height:

5' 2"

Level:

Junior

Hometown:

Rockville, Md.

Club:

Washington FSC

Michael Parsons

Born:

October 3, 1995

Birthplace:

Wheaton, Md.

Height:

5' 6"

Level:

Junior

Hometown:

Rockville, Md.

Club:

Washington FSC

Coach:

Dmytri Ilin, Alexei Kiliakov, Elena Novak

Choreographer:

Elena Novak, Alexei Kiliakov

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

*2012 U.S. junior pewter medalists
*2011 U.S. novice champions
*Represented the U.S. at the first Youth Olympic Games in 2012

SKATING NOTES

Started skating together in February 2010.

Rachel started skating when she was 6 because she I loved watching skating on TV and wanted to learn how to stand up on the ice ... Previously competed with Kyle MacMillan, with whom she won the 2009 U.S. juvenile and the 2010 intermediate titles.

Michael began skating at age 7 because he wanted to could play hockey ... Previously competed with Kristina Rexford, with whom he won the novice pewter medal at the 2010 U.S. Championships.

PERSONAL NOTES

Parsons family includes parents Richard, a PR consultant, and Christine, a teacher, and youngest sister Katie (13) ... Have a dog named Luke and two cats named Jasper and Midnight ... Both are honor roll students.

CONNECT WITH US

Official site

IN OUR WORDS

If I wasn't a figure skater ... (Rachel) I would be an artist, ski or run cross country.
... (Michael) I would spend my time playing guitar and participating other sports like football and skiing.

I look up to ... (Rachel) Tanith Belbin and my coaches.
... (Michael) Oscar Pistoriu. He is the most inspirational athlete I have ever seen. He had his legs amputated from the knees down but he still competes against able-bodied athletes every day. My favorite quote from him is, "You are not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."

My favorite thing about being a figure skater is ... (Rachel) competing with my best friends, and the costumes!
... (Michael) having the opportunity to travel around the world, meet new people and experience new things like feeling the pressure just before stepping on the ice of your first international competition and the feeling you get when you're done. I wouldn't have it any other way.

My figure skating hero is ... (Michael) Charlie White. Because of the way he skates and how he seems to never let the pressure of a big competition get to him.

Something most people don't know about me is ... (Rachel) I play guitar, sing and love to draw.
... (Michael) I am in a band.

The best moment of my skating career thus far was ... (Rachel) representing the USA at the 2012 Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria.
... (Michael) performing our free dance at 2012 World Junior Championships in Minsk, Belarus.

OUR FAVORITES

Rachel

Off-ice conditioning: Running and stretching
Warm up music: Anything country
Thing to do on a day off: Spend time with family
Olympic sports: Gymnastics
Costume of my career: My short dance costume this year for our hip hop program. It's different than any skating dress I've ever had.

Michael

Off-ice conditioning: Running
Warm up music: "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" by Jet, "Come on Get It" by Lenny Kravitz, "Numb/Encore" by Jay-Z and Linkin Park
Skating manuever: Twizzles
Thing to do on a day off: Try to make it to the beach and back in a day
Ways to relax: Guitar, food
Olympic sports: Alpine skiing
Beverage: Dr Pepper
Snack: FUNYUNS
Meal: A good ribeye with some mashed potatoes and green beans
Teams: Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals, Washington Capitals, Boston Red Sox, D.C. United
Book: Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn

WE PREFER

Rachel

Gloves or No Gloves
E-Reader or Book
Lift or Footwork
Theater or Rental
Homecooking or Restaurant
Treadmill or Trail
Short Dance or Free Dance
Pre-competition nap: No

Michael

Gloves or No Gloves
E-Reader or Book
Lift or Footwork
Theater or Rental
Homecooking or Restaurant
Treadmill or Trail
Short Dance or Free Dance
Pre-competition nap: Yes

PAST SEASON NOTES

2013 Season Notes
SD Music: "4 Minutes" by Madonna and Justin Timberlake, "Cyber Shanty Town Blues" by Christian HipHop Factory
FD Music: "Walpurgis Night" by Charles Gounod

Costumes designed by Stephanie Handler
2012 Season Notes
SD Music: "Psychedelic Sally" by Eddie Jefferson
FD Music: "To Glory, Enigmatic Soul" by Thomas J. Bergersen

Costumes designed by Del Arbour, Scoti Marie Ice Couture
2011 Season Notes
FD Music: "Firebird" by Igor Stravinsky

Won the novice title at the 2011 U.S. Championships

IJS Personal Bests

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

U.S. QUALIFYING COMPETITION

Sarah and Drew blog gallery: Jan. 25

Parsons' Eastern Sectionals FD Watch