Rohene Ward

Rohene Ward

Ward performs a layback spin in 2008.
Personal information
Country represented United States
Born (1983-06-28) June 28, 1983
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Former coach Page Lipe
Robin Wagner
Choreographer Rohene Ward
Skating club Starlight Ice Dance Club

Rohene Andre Ward (born June 28, 1983) is an American figure skater. He competed four times at the U.S. Championships, in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. He also competed for Puerto Rico and is the 2004 Puerto Rican national champion.

Career

Ward is known for his flexibility, as well as jumping and spinning in both directions.[1] His moves include the cantilever, the hydroblade and the splits.

Rohene Ward (aka Roh-roh) is the first and only skater (that I'm aware of) to successfully land all his triple jumps in both directions. Meaning: much like when a toddler is learning to write, they choose the left or right hand depending which one look and feels more natural. In figure skating it's the same type of deal, you learn the entry into your spins and jumps on your left or right foot. Often at times kids will play around in practise and attempt to do single jumps and spins on the opposite foot/entry because it's difficult, it looks silly and it's something to do with other skaters. Not only is this physically demanding to do and extremely hard to successfully achieve but it also take great mental strength to comprehend changing your technique in the opposite direction. Skaters work extremely hard on mastering a technique that works best for them. I am incredibly amazed that Rohene Ward has mastered the technique for both direction all the way through to his triple jumps. I've been actively in the skating world for the past 26 years and have only met & seen one person ever to do this and that person was Rohene Ward. He is a beautiful skater, a beautiful person and in my eyes the worlds best skater.

Ward was coached by Page Lipe in Minneapolis for 18 years.[2] In 2007, he and Lipe co-coached Kirsten Olson who played the role of Nikki Fletcher, the 'Jumping Shrimp,' in the Disney movie Ice Princess (2005). Ward competed (senior men's) and coached Olson (junior ladies) at the US Championships in January 2008 in St Paul, Minnesota - a feat never achieved before is US Figure Skating.

During the 2010–11 ice show season, Ward played Aladdin in Holiday on Ice's (HOI) European tour. He was then asked to be a principal skater in the HOI shows "Speed" and "Speed II", touring parts of Europe from the Netherlands to Norway from 2011–2013.[3] In the 2013–14 season, he performed as a principal in the new HOI production of "Platinum"[4] in France and Germany.

Ward graduated from Minneapolis North.[5] In 2007, he began co-coaching with Kori Ade in Highland Park, Illinois. In spring 2013, Ward and Ade moved to Monument, Colorado.[6] to further expand 7K Skating Academy. They have several top students including Jason Brown, the 2015 U.S. national men's champion, a two-time World Junior medalist, and 2014 Olympic team event bronze medalist.

Ward is also a choreographer, working with a variety of skaters including Jason Brown,[7][8] Courtney Hicks, Jordan Moeller, and Mariah Bell.[5] His choreography won critical acclaim when Brown's long program "Riverdance" ("Reel Around the Sun" by Bill Whelan) created an internet sensation garnering over five million YouTube hits following the 2014 US Championships. Ward won "Choreographer of the Year" at the 2015 PSA conference in Bloomington, Minnesota. He choreographed the opening ceremonies at the 2016 U.S. Championships.[9]

Ward avoids music with lyrics, saying that "It inhibits the ability to create, because the words dictate."[5]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating
2013–2014
[4]
  • Din Da Da
    by Kevin Aviance
  • Weather Storm
    by Craig Armstrong
2007–2008
2006–2007
  • Eleonore
    by Maxime Rodriguez
2005–2006
[10]
  • Primavera Portena
  • Oblivion
  • Tango Ballet
    by Ástor Piazzolla
2004–2005
  • The Messiah Will Come Again
    by Roy Buchanan
2003–2004
2002–2003
2001–2002
  • Medley
    by Michael Jackson
  • Violin Fantasy on the opera Turandot
    by Giacomo Puccini
    performed by Vanessa-Mae
2000–2001

Results

International
Event 96–97 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08
Schäfer Memorial 8th
Triglav Trophy 2nd J.
National[10]
U.S. Championships 5th N. 6th J. 14th 16th 17th 18th
Puerto Rican Champ. 1st
Midwestern Sectionals 3rd N. 7th J. 6th J. 1st J. 3rd 5th 3rd 6th 3rd 6th 2nd
UGL Regionals 4th N. 1st J. 6th J. 1st J. 2nd J. 2nd 1st 1st 1st
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior

References

  1. ↑ Bangs, Kathleen (October 26, 2005). "Rohene Ward: Under the Radar". Golden Skate. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008.
  2. ↑ Berlot, Jean-Christophe (March 17, 2014). "Choreographer Ward creates pieces of art for Brown". IceNetwork.
  3. ↑ Elfman, Lois (June 21, 2012). "Performing is a holiday for Rohene Ward". IceNetwork.
  4. 1 2 Brannen, Sarah S. (May 21, 2013). "Tour skater Ward decides on competitive return". IceNetwork.
  5. 1 2 3 Hewitt, Chris (January 20, 2016). "U.S. Figure Skating: Rohene Ward finds choreography is music to his ears". Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016.
  6. ↑ Brannen, Sarah S. (May 15, 2013). "Ade and Co. find new home in Rocky Mountains". IceNetwork.
  7. ↑ Clarey, Christopher (February 12, 2014). "For Skater Jason Brown, a Disciplined Approach Yields Joy on Ice". The New York Times.
  8. ↑ Walker, Elvin (July 10, 2011). "Brown is ready for anything – except a haircut". Golden Skate.
  9. ↑ Lueck, Shane (December 10, 2015). "Rohene Ward: From Competitor to Performer to Coach". Lavender (magazine).
  10. 1 2 "Rohene Ward: 2006 Nationals bio" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2011.
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