UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 18, Page 3
February 6, 1992
U.S. champions; Delaware skating pair aim for Winter Olympic gold

     In a sport that has been dominated for years by Russians, the
United States has its own powerful weapon in the battle this winter for
an Olympic medal in pairs figure skating.
     Calla Urbanski and Rocky Marval, who train at the University's Ice
Arena, captured the U.S.  national title and, in three days, will be
competing in their first Olympic competition in Albertville,
France.
     "It's an accomplishment that we have both worked hard for our
entire skating careers," Marval said.  "It's the ultimate goal. And it's
even more of an honor because it only happens every four years."
     The two skaters, who have been training together as a pair for only
17 months, are optimistic about their chances for success.
     "We have a lot of speed and power," Urbanski said.  "We don't just
complete the difficult tricks. We work on getting them to be the biggest
and the best. We've just got to go out there and perform it."
     Ron Ludington, their coach and director of the University's Ice
Skating Science Development Center, also says he believes the two are
possible medal contenders.
     "They're both in excellent shape, and the way they're skating, it
looks like they could do very well," he said.
     Urbanski and Marvel will use the same winning routine for the
Olympics that they performed at the U.S.  Nationals in Florida, although
they say they usually like to add a few moves between competitions to
polish the routine. Major changes are avoided when there is only a short
period to practice before the next competition, Urbanski said, because a
routine should be second nature when it is performed.
     They also have selected different music for the Olympic Games,
notably the French piece "Can Can"-music they felt would appeal to the
home audience.
     But Urbanski and Marvel have never had a problem gaining audience
support.  Last year at the nationals, in a moment they describe as the
highlight of their skating careers, they received a standing ovation for
their long program.
     "The emotional rush was unbelievable," Marval said.  "Everyone was
on their feet; 15,000 people were clapping for us."
     The pair placed second, but, according to Urbanski, "When we came
out for our medal, the audience knew who they wanted to win."
     They continued to earn their status as top national and
international competitors. They claim that the international
competitions are an important part of their training, because they give
them the opportunity to compete against elite skaters from others
countries.
     "We also need international judges to see us and to know what we
are capable of," Urbanski said.
     Although skating takes up much of their time, their work doesn't
end when they leave the Ice Arena.  Urbanski works from 6 p.m.  until
midnight as a cocktail waitress, and Marval owns a small trucking
company in New Jersey.  Although his father is running the company for
him while he trains, he still drives a truck occasionally when he's
needed.
     Urbanski began skating pairs eight years ago at age 23, and Marval
was 19 at his first pairs competition seven years ago.
     "When you take two skaters and make a pair," Urbanski said, "he
skates one way and I skate another. You have to learn how to compromise.
But I know that my partner is always going to be there."
     And because they have only been training together for a short
period of time, Urbanski said, there may be future Olympic
competitions.
     "We're competing with Russians who have been together for 10
years," she said.  "We are much younger in experience.  Besides, it's
not a bearing on age.  It's a bearing on talent."  -Julie Alperen