Inoue and Baldwin Move Back to California to Train with Peter Oppegard

Rena Inoue and John Baldwin at the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

(2/23/05) - 2004 U.S. pairs champions Rena Inoue & John Baldwin announced today they have moved back to Santa Monica, Calif., and are now training with three-time U.S. pairs champion Peter Oppegard. The pairs team trained under Oppegard's former competitive partner, Jill Watson, for the past four and a half years.

Inoue and Baldwin trained with Watson in California until October 2004 when Watson relocated to Peoria, Ariz., to develop an elite skating program at the Desert Schools Coyote Center owned and operated by Polar Ice Entertainment. At that time Inoue and Baldwin moved to Arizona, but they have since decided to return to California.

"California is our home," Baldwin said. "We wanted to give Arizona a try because Jill was worth it to us - we didn't just want to let her go. Without a question she's one of the best coaches in the world. Without her we wouldn't be where we are today - she's an integral part of it. She has the ability to turn skaters into champions, and that's what she did with us. We know she'll be successful out there. The Polar Ice Facility was great to us, too. Arizona right now just wasn't the best fit for us."

Inoue and Baldwin moved back to California last week and began training with Oppegard Feb. 22. Oppegard will accompany the pairs team to the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, Russia, next month.

"Things went great with Peter yesterday," Baldwin said. "It's neat to get a new perspective on things. He has a good track record, has had some great pairs teams and I definitely see the potential in him. He's our first and only choice out here."

When Inoue and Baldwin first paired up in the summer of 2000, their initial try-out was with both Watson and Oppegard, who were working together at the time. The coaches went separate ways shortly after, with Watson staying in Los Angeles and Oppegard working in Lake Arrowhead. Inoue and Baldwin stuck with Watson, as Santa Monica has always been their home.

Since pairing up Inoue and Baldwin have won all four medals at the State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships: a pewter in 2002, bronze in 2003, gold in 2004 and silver in 2005. They have placed 10th at the World Championships twice, and recently qualified for and competed in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, marking the first appearance by a U.S. pairs team since 2002.

"To get the right kind of training, it's important to be in the right frame of mind," Baldwin said. "Our friends and our family and our life are out here. It's important to be happy."