Ariana Weintraub
Born –May 19, 1995
Started skating at the age of 6 (freestyle)
Occupation – school student, 8th grade
Hobbies – sports (skiing, tennis), socializing with friends
Avidan Brown
Born – June 4th, 1991
Started skating at the age of 9
Occupation – school student, 12th grade
Hobbies – sports, computers
Coach – Galit Chait
Competitive history
2005 – US Regional (East Coast) Juvenile Championships, 1st place
2005 US National Juvenile Championships, 7th place
2008/09 music selections
OD –Dodge ("Leatherheads" soundtrack) by Randy Newman
FD – Malaguena by 101 strings Orhestra
Double A – Ariana and Avidan have joined our team and will be representing Israel in junior ice dance. Both of them grew up in New York, went to Jewish schools (Solomon Schecter School in Westchester for Ariana and a Westchester Day School yeshiva for Avidan) and were first teamed up when Ariana was only 9 years old. A year later the barely fledged duo fell apart because Avidan switched to being home schooled while Ariana remained in a regular daytime school, which didn't fit their training schedules. But 4 years later they are back together again with a new ambition, a new vision, and a new coach. And being home schooled for both to tune in the training.
A few questions to meet and greet the new kids on the block:
-You have done ice dancing since rather early age, especially you, Ariana. How is it different from single skating for you?
(They share the answer) – It is a team effort, and it affects the performance of both if something goes right or wrong with one of the partners. So, if one of us has a bad day, the team has a bad day, and the opposite.
-What is your favourite programme segment?
(Again, a joint answer) – The OD. It is less physically demanding than the FD but still makes room for the freedom of expression.
-The traditional question to a duo – who is the leader?
(Not surprisingly, they almost part ways in the answer):
(Ariana) – I think there is no leader. It is a pretty much an equal effort.
(Avidan) – In our duo, as I believe, in most ice dance teams, I am "the leader" but we mostly work in unison helping each other.
Coach Galit Chait comments:
"Ariana and Avidan are a new team who has to learn a lot and eager to do it. They are very excited about training and competing and I hope they will retain this spirit."
