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Times-shamrock communiTy newspapers 149 Penn Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 Phone: (570) 348-9185 Fax: (570) 207-3448
February 4, 2016
abingtonsuburban.com
Icy Gold
ON THE INSIDE The latest happenings in our area Page 2
SUBURBAN
Clarks Summit native is a champion skater best scores,” he said. Adam belongs to the Skating Club of New York and is coached by Rafael Arutyunyan. He has Adam Rippon is a native of been Adam’s coach since 2012. Clarks Summit. The 26-year-old During the 2009 and 2010 professional ice skater recently season, he won a bronze medal won the gold medal in the 2016 at Trophee Eric Bompard on Prudential United States Figure the Grand Prix circuit and won Staking champions in St. Paul, gold at the ISU Four Continents Minnesota. championships. Adam came Adam skated to the music of from seventh place in the short Queen’s “Who Wants to Live program to take the title. Forever” and a medley of Adam’s Here are some other highfavorite Beatles songs. lights of his career: “I love to experiment with 2007: Junior Grand Prix, different music choices and diffirst place. ferent styles of dance,” he said. 2008: Junior Grand Prix, “When I heard the scores and Final, first place. I was announced as the national 2008 and 2009: World Junior champion, I couldn’t believe it,” Championships, first place. he recalled. “I waited so long for the moment to come. I was so 2010: Skate Canada, third happy, not only for me, but my place; Four Continents Champifamily and coaches who have onships, first place. helped me so much along the 2011: Four Continents Chamway,” he said. pionships, fifth place. The thing he misses most 2012: U.S. Championships, about the Clarks Summit area is second place. his family, who are still in Penn2013: Skate America, sylvania. Adam is the oldest of second place. six kids. 2014 and 2015: Finlandia “I now live in Los Angeles, Trophy, second place. and my favorite thing to do, “I have thought about retirwhile not at the rink or training, ing but I am so glad I didn’t,” he is to go relax by the ocean,” he said. “My coaching team, family said. and friends are what have kept At times during his past perme believing in myself,” he said. Ripon savors his recent gold medal. formances he sported blue hair, PHOTO LEAH ADAMS Adam has skated in tours and but the blue was gone when he shows in the United States, Canto get ready for nationals I decided to change won the championship. ada, Germany, Italy, Korea, China and Japan. it to a more natural color,” he explained. “I had a rock-and-roll -themed program “It feels amazing to be National ChampiHis next event will be the ISU World Figthis year, and I wanted to try a hair style that on. I think it feels good because I have worked ure Skating Competition in Boston in March. was daring and fun,” he said. “I loved having the blue hair. I also love to always change my “I hope I can better my performance from na- so hard and been through so much. It makes look up and keep it fresh, so when it was time tionals there and come away with personal this victory that much sweeter,” he said. by Linda Scott
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