Aileen Arenson and partner Chuck Philipps

my drive to compete was worth it.  I was fortunate to find my first two partnerships locally,  but my third partner involved a move to Florida and a great opportunity to spend the summer training in Russia.  This was a great experience for me,  especially at the age of 14.

My next partner was from Delaware.  Fortunately,  he agreed to train half of the season in California,  although this was another partnership that wasn’t meant to be.  After Nationals,  I was back home.  My luck was about to change because  Ian Ross-Frye was now without a partner.  Ian and I had been friends for the past three years training with the same coach when I was at home.  Although we were at different levels and pursuing tryouts,  we decided to test my Gold and our International dances with each other.  After skating at a judges’ school and testing some dances, we were encouraged to start a partnership.  This was a very easy decision since we were having so much fun,  and we knew that our friendship and respect for each other would get us through any difficult times.

 

Where and with whom are you training?

   Ian and I are currently

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How old were you when you started to skate?

   I started to skate when I was 7.  I was shopping at UTC Town Center Mall with my mom when I saw all the skaters at the rink.  I told my mom I would like to learn how to skate, so we went down the stairs to inquire about lessons and signed up for the next group classes.

 

You are accomplished in so many skating disciplines… when and why did you decide to focus on ice dancing?

   After one of my group classes at The San Diego Ice Arena there was an ice dance class about to start.  I wanted to stay and watch,  and after a few minutes,  I knew it was something I wanted to do.  I went to the director of the skating school with my mom to inquire about joining the class.  She said it was an adult class and was worried that I might be ignored.  She suggested I come back when I was older,  so on my next birthday,  I went back to her office and said,  “I’m older now,  may I take the class?”

   The first couple of dance tests I took were a bit boring,  but I loved learning something new.  While I was learning the first three dances in my group class,  I would also watch the adults on the dance session skating the Gold and International

dances.  I just couldn’t wait until I was at that level of dance.  During my first year in dance,  I was also taking lessons with Yuri Ovchinnikov for freestyle and synchronized skating with the Starlights,  (aka Team Del Sol).

After a year of competing in all three disciplines,  my mom said it was time to focus on just one, and it was an easy decision.

Tell us a little about your background.  Where were you born and raised?

Well,  where do I start?  My full name is Alexis Andreah Pearl Fernandez,  but I’ve always gone by Lexie,  since I was little.  I only get called Alexis when I’m in trouble,  by my mother!

I’m the youngest of four children.  I have two brothers and one sister.  My older brother is a stand-up comedian,  my sister is a make-up artist,  and my other brother restores cars.  I guess you could say I come from a

very artistic/athletic family.  My dad and siblings all played soccer growing up

People will often see my parents at the rink and at competitions.  They love to come watch and see how my students are doing. 

I was born and raised in San Diego.  I now live in Encinitas.  I love it here so much,  I couldn’t possibly imagine living anywhere else!  Being so close to the beach and having the great weather is awesome!

 

How and when did you first become interested in skating?  Did you have any skating role models?

I remember this like it was yesterday.  When I was 6,  my parents and I were at

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Stephanie and here partner Ian

April 2006

Volume 1 Issue 2

Lexie Fernandez

 

Tell us about your journey to find the right dance partner.

   My journey took me all the way to the other side of the world, literally.  It’s very difficult to find the right partner,  and there is a serious shortage of boys for ice dance.  The girls outnumber the boys by at least twenty to one.  Like so many girls,  I had to move for some of the boys in order to skate with them.  While I didn’t like the initial idea of leaving my family, friends and coach, 

and my mom did ballet and Polynesian dance.  I was never interested in soccer,  so that makes me the odd ball,  but I loved dancing.