THERECORD.COM | INSIDER | HOME Page 1 of 2 in S p o r t s Taking flight Figure skater Erin Scherrer's love of jumps has helped her to the sport's elite level L I ANNE ELLIOTT (Dec 8, 2004) She lives for that one brief moment. That split second when her body is sailing over the ice. That tiny moment where she's spinning through the air. It's over in a heartbeat. But Erin Scherrer loves it nonetheless. "Jumping is the closest thing I'll ever get to really flying," says the young figure skater. Watching her practise, it's easy to see just how much she loves her jumps. Loops, axels, flips, lutzes. The Waterloo teen banged them out one after another at RIM Park late last week. She hit each one with great speed, always getting good height. These jumps helped her win a bronze medal at RECORD S T AFF the junior national championship last season. Figure skater Erin Scherrer, of Waterloo, will compete at the These jumps also helped her rise to the senior Canadian championship next month ranks this year. She recently placed first in a in London, Ont. qualifying round for the upcoming Canadian championship. "I really love jumping," said Scherrer, 17, who started skating when she was 3. "There's no way to describe it. You don't feel a lot in the air, but when you land, you just think, 'Wow.' " Wow because she's able to spin three times in the air in a split second. She's mastered her triple loop and now she's got her eye on the triple lutz. As much as Scherrer loves her jumps, she's knows they can't be her only focus. She's expressive on the ice, skating with feeling to her Spanish short program and classical long program. http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Pri... 12/8/04 THERECORD.COM | INSIDER | HOME Page 2 of 2 Her artistry is aided by her choreographer, Robin Wagner, who also works with 2002 Olympic gold medallist Sarah Hughes and world silver medallist Sasha Cohen. Under Wagner and longtime coach Dianne Rouleau, Scherrer surprised herself by finishing first in last month©s Western Ontario sectionals in Sarnia . She skated two clean programs, clean enough to place her ahead of Lauren Wilson, a London-area skater who was expected to lead the pack. The sectionals qualified Scherrer for the Canadian championship next month in London. There, she and the other skaters will have to go through another qualifying round before being eligible for the main competition. As a rookie in the senior field, Scherrer does not have any expectations for the event. She©s just looking for all the experience she can get. "I©ll be skating with all these girls that I©ve always looked up to," said Scherrer, who admires Canadians like Cynthia Phaneuf, Joannie Rochette, Annie Bellemare and Jennifer Robinson. "I©ve always thought they were so good and now I can©t believe I©m skating at their level." It©s Scherrer©s tireless work ethic that has got her this fa r. The Grade 12 student rushes to the rink every day after her classes at St. David. She skates for three hours every afternoon and then does at least another hour and a half of either weights, cardio, Pilates or ballet. "She has the heart of a champion," said coach Rouleau, watching Scherrer fly around the rink last week. "She©s somebody who believes in herself and knows where she wants to go. She has a vision and that©s what pushes her here day after day. " Her vision pushes her, but so does her love of the sport -- and her love of jumping. [email protected] View news paper page ( PDF ) Printer friendly format http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Pri... 12/8/04.