Aaron Van Cleave

Aaron Van Cleave

Mari Vartmann and Aaron Van Cleave during the exhibitions at the 2011 German Championships
Personal information
Country represented Germany
Former country(ies) represented United States
Canada
Born March 14, 1987
Comox, British Columbia, Canada
Residence Berlin, Germany
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Partner Mari Vartmann
Former partner Lauren Cowley
Sarah McCoy
Ameena Sheikh
Coach Knut Schubert
Choreographer Paul Boll
Mark Pillay
Skating club SC Berlin
Training locations Berlin
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 162.81
2013 Nebelhorn Trophy
Short program 56.70
2013 Nebelhorn Trophy
Free skate 106.11
2013 Nebelhorn Trophy

Aaron Van Cleave (born March 14, 1987 in Comox, British Columbia, Canada) is a pair skater who holds dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship. Van Cleave currently competes for Germany with partner Mari Vartmann. They are the 2015 German national champions, the 2011 NRW Trophy champions, and 2010 Warsaw Cup champions.

Career

Early in his pair career, Van Cleave skated with Sarah McCoy, representing Canada. The pair participated in Junior Grand Prix events. He later teamed up with Ameena Sheikh representing the United States. The pair placed 8th on the junior level at the 2009 U.S. Championships.

In 2010, Van Cleave teamed up with Mari Vartmann to compete for Germany.[1] Their coach is Knut Schubert. The pair made their international debut at the 2010 Warsaw Cup where they won the gold medal. Their first major international event was the 2012 European Championships. On January 26, during the morning practice before the long programs, Vartmann collided with Daniel Wende while they were attempting to avoid a French couple.[2] Vartmann and Van Cleave finished 5th at the event.

Vartmann and Van Cleave withdrew from the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy following the short program – Vartmann picked into her right foot when she fell on a throw triple loop during the short and was unable to put on her skate the next day due to swelling.[3] They withdrew from the 2012 Coupe de Nice and their first assigned Grand Prix event, the 2012 Cup of Russia, after Van Cleave sustained a broken cheekbone while catching Vartmann on a triple twist.[4] They later withdrew from their second GP, the 2012 NHK Trophy.[5]

In December 2014, they won the pairs title at the 2015 German Championships.

Programs

(with Vartmann)

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2014–2015
[6]
  • Waltz from "Petersburg's Secrets" (soundtrack)
    by Andrei Petrov
  • Concierto de Aranjuez
    (soundtrack) by Joaquin Rodrigo
2013–2014
[6]
  • Where the light gets in
    by Sennen
  • Notre Dame de Paris
    (soundtrack)
2012–2013
[7]
  • Passion of the Christ
    (soundtrack)
  • Blood and Glory
    by Audiomachine
2011–2012
[1]
  • Le temps des Cathédrales
2010–2011

Competitive highlights

With Vartmann

Results[8]
International
Event 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014-15
Worlds 14th 16th 15th
Europeans 5th 8th 9th 7th
GP Cup of Russia WD
GP NHK Trophy WD 5th
GP Skate Canada 7th 8th
Nebelhorn 8th WD 3rd
Bavarian Open 3rd 3rd
Challenge Cup 3rd
Cup of Nice 6th WD 3rd
Golden Spin 5th
Ice Challenge 2nd
Lombardia Trophy 6th
NRW Trophy 4th 1st 5th
Warsaw Cup 1st
National
German Champ. 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st
GP = Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew

With Sheikh

Event 2010–2011
United States Champ. 8th J.
J. = Junior level

With McCoy

International
Event 2005–2006 2006–2007 2007–2008
JGP Norway 10th
JGP United States 6th
National
Canadian Champ. 6th J. 3rd J.
J. = Junior level; JGP = Junior Grand Prix

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Mari VARTMANN / Aaron VAN CLEAVE: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Weiterer Schlag für deutsches Team" [Another blow for the German team] (in German). Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012.
  3. ↑ Flade, Tatjana (September 30, 2012). "2012 Nebelhorn Trophy". Golden Skate.
  4. ↑ "Deutsches Duo sagt Grand-Prix-Start ab" [German pair withdraws from Grand Prix event] (in German). Die Zeit. Sport-Informations-Dienst. October 18, 2012. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Savchenko/Szolkowy sagen Start in Paris ab" [Savchenko/Szolkowy withdraw from Paris event]. Deutsche Presse-Agentur (in German) (Stern). November 14, 2012. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Mari VARTMANN / Aaron VAN CLEAVE: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Mari VARTMANN / Aaron VAN CLEAVE: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Competition Results: Mari VARTMANN / Aaron VAN CLEAVE". International Skating Union.

External links

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