By Lexi Rohner
After the pandemic canceled last year’s event, the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships are back, scheduled to take place June 23–26 in Rochester, Michigan.
The pinnacle of the U.S. adult figure skating season — often referred to among its participants as a family reunion of sorts — has seen its share of changes over its 26-year history. More opportunities to compete and an increase in technical difficulty with triple jumps and overhead pairs lifts are examples of those changes.
This year’s event is expected to be no different — except this time the most notable changes won’t be in rules or elements, but in competitive disciplines as Keiffer Hubbell and Chris Obzansky, both former Team USA ice dancers with national and international medals to their names, go head-to-head in championship pairs.
Hubbell, the 2010 Four Continents bronze medalist, two-time U.S. pewter medalist (2009, 2011) and 2006 Junior Grand Prix Final champion with his sister, 2018 Olympian Madison Hubbell, will team with Carol Cooper. Since stepping away from competitive ice dance in 2013, Hubbell, who majored in biology at Owens Community College, completed yoga teacher training and now works as a trainer himself, leading workshops at destination retreats in addition to coaching skating at all levels.
Cooper began skating 11 years ago after her husband gave her skating lessons as a gift. Three years later she was competing, and in 2015, she earned the U.S. adult bronze medal in championship pairs with Ethan Burgess, a former member of Team USA in pairs skating. The team continued with two subsequent wins at the U.S. Adult Championships, followed by Cooper’s stint with Matthew Blackmer, another former Team USA pairs skater, before teaming with Hubbell this season.
“Carol was a longtime skater at Detroit Skating Club, and we often crossed paths,” Hubbell said. “I taught group adult classes and one day Carol was the only student.”
They tried some dance lifts, Cooper asked Hubbell to skate pairs, and the rest is history.
“I ran to Jason Dungjen and asked if he could make Keiffer into a pairs skater,” Cooper said.
Coming together and competing in a new discipline was certainly a challenge. Hubbell had to start from scratch with pairs elements, took skating tests for the first time in years, and was reintroduced to larger toe picks as he traded his ice dance boots and blades for freestyle skating equipment. On top of all that, he experienced this facet of the sport for the very first time.
“I was fairly aloof to adult skating, but it’s a welcoming community,” Hubbell said.
Obzansky, the 2000 Junior Grand Prix China champion, 2001 U.S. junior silver and 2002 U.S. junior bronze medalist with Kendra Goodwin, will compete with Erin Krentz. Competing with both Mimi McKinnis, nee Whetstone, and Trina Pratt in the years following his run with Goodwin, Obzansky obtained a master’s in accounting from Gonzaga University post-retirement and worked for five years as a certified public accountant. Skating before work for exercise, he received lesson requests, and two hours of coaching quickly turned into 20. By 2017, Obzansky was coaching full time.
Krentz first competed at the 1972 Upper Great Lakes Regional Championships as a juvenile girl. While Obzansky partnered her through her ice dance tests in Park City, Utah, the team decided to try their hand at pairs skating when the 2019 U.S. Adult Championships were held in nearby Salt Lake City. Always up for a challenge, Obzansky knew pairs would push him out of his comfort zone, but they persevered to earn the silver medal.
“Chris coaches full time, and learning a new discipline and lift techniques/throws is very impressive.” Krentz said. “Chris is an exceptional pairs partner.”
Coached by 2010 Olympian Jeremy Barrett, Obzansky had previously landed Axels, but never double jumps. At 36, he landed his first doubles, to the delight of his young students. Krentz learned a throw Axel at age 60, and brought back her long-shelved double jumps.
“Erin has overcome many health issues and pushes her body to do overhead lifts and throw doubles,” Barrett said. “She’s an inspiration for anyone in skating.”
Obzansky’s longtime coach, Jerry Santoferrara, recalls his pupil as a passionate skater, always eager to learn. His current coach agrees, as do his former partners.
“Chris is one of the hardest working people I know,” Barrett said. Added McKinnis, “Whatever Chris committed to, he always gave 100 percent.”
The partnership provided Obzansky new appreciation of adult skating, and new respect for his body’s ability. It also sparked hope in Krentz to motivate younger skaters to recognize skating as a lifelong activity.
“In 2019, I felt nerves I hadn’t felt in 10 years, and the rush of skating well,” Obzansky said. “Skating is about having a great time, regardless of age and abilities.”
The 2021 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships schedule is available via EMS. Click here to access.
