Julie and Richard Westerlund - 2004 Adult Pair Skating National Champions :
Adult pair skaters, Julie and Richard Westerlund, won the United States Adult Pair Skating National Championship in 2004. Winning that title was the highlight of their adult figure skating experience.Julie and Richard Westerlund's Skating Philosophy:
Richard and Julie try to incorporate the best of ice dancing and pairs skating. They try to show the romantic relationship between a man and a woman. With each performance, they try to tell a romantic story to the audience.About Julie Westerlund:
Julie Westerlund is a professor. She was born in 1962. She skates at the Adult Gold Pair skating level.About Richard Westerlund:
Richard Westerlund is a high school football coach and teacher. He was born in 1961. He skates at the Adult Gold Pair skating level.Children:
Julie and Richard Westerlund have one daughter, Robyn Westerlund, who also ice skates.History of Julie and Richard's Skating:
Richard and Julie Westerlund started figure skating in December of 1995. They both knew how to ice skate from their childhood since they grew up in Minnesota, but figure skating was new to them.An event in November of 1995 changed their lives. On November 21, 1995 Sergei Grinkov (World and Olympic Champion along with his wife Ekaterina Gordeeva) died of a heart attack while practicing on the ice for the upcoming "Stars on Ice" show. It was shortly after Sergei’s death that Julie and Richard took up the sport of pairs figure skating to honor and to always remember Sergei and "Katia."
First Competitions:
Julie and Richard Westerlund began competing in small Ice Skating Institute (ISI) competitions at their local rink in Austin, Texas. They received gold medals in their first competition in November of 1996. Between the years of 1996 to 1998 they only competed in ISI competitions and they won gold every time they competed.First U.S. Figure Skating Competition:
In 1998, Julie and Richard Westerlund joined the Austin Figure Skating Club. They began taking lessons from a qualified pairs coach named Barry Kamber.In June of 1999, they competed in their first US Figure Skating competition, the 1999 Skate Austin Bluebonnet Open. They skated very well and to their surprise, won in their first U.S. Figure Skating competition.
Competition and Test Record:
Julie and Richard Westerlund have an impressive competition and test record.Tests Passed:
- Adult Silver Freestyle - May 2000
- Adult Gold Pair Skating Test - August 2003
Competition Highlights:
- Midwestern Silver Medalists 2001
- 7th Place, Adult Nationals 2001
- Midwestern Silver Medalists 2002
- 5th Place, Adult Nationals 2002
- Bronze Medalists, Adult Nationals 2003
- Pair Champions, Adult Nationals 2004
