Jenna Syken – 19/10/90
Coach: Slava Uchitel

Jenna Syken: I feel very lucky and I am very proud to skate for the State of Israel and represent the IISF internationally in the sport of figure skating, something that I love so much
-Jenna, for how long have you been skating as a member of the IISF team?
-I have been skating as a member of the IISF since April 2006 when I came to Israel, competed in the 2006 Israel Nationals, and won the Junior Ladies Champion title.
-Who introduced you to figure skating?
-I started skating when I was 2 1/2 years old at the Skating Club of Wilmington, because I wanted to be on the ice with my older sister Shayna. At the age of 3 1/2 I started taking ice dance lessons. At the age of 4 1/2,  I passed my first 3 USFSA dance tests: Dutch Waltz, Rhythm Blues, and Canasta Tango. When I turned 5,  I decided that I didn't want to do ice dance anymore I wanted to jump and spin. I switched to freestyle and have been doing freestyle ever since.
-What are the major events you have taken part in and their results?
-I have taken part in several competitions:
March 2006: 2006 Israel Nationals, Metulla, Israel
First Junior Ladies
September 2006: JGP Courcheval, France
Short Program: 7th Long Program: 9th Overall: 10th
October 2006: JGP Liberec, Czech Republic
Short Program: 14th Long Program: 17th Overall: 17th
February 2007: 2007 European Youth Olympic Festival, Jaca, Spain
Short Program: 13th Long Program: 23rd Overall: 20th
March 2007: 2007 Junior Worlds Championships, Obersdorf, Germany
Short Program: 37th
Between the 8 months of August 2006 and March 2007 I went through 9 pairs of boots. I was breaking down about a pair a month. November 2006 I started physical therapy for an injury to my landing foot: anterior tibial tendonitis and then I developed posterior tibial tendonitis.
Returning from EYOF and Junior Worlds I went to my physical therapists and found out that my posterior tibial tendon had now detached from my navicular bone at the point of insertion. We found out my injury was caused a bent blade that kept getting transferred to every pair of boots I was going in. My sharpening also had 2 different hollows in the bent blade (it changed by the bend) and a totally different hollow on my left blade.
This was not how I dreamed my first year of skating, competing internationally would be and I wanted everyone to know why and what caused it.
-Things just go awry sometimes. But we saw you at the Nationals in August and you are getting back on track. What are your favorite elements and what elements would you like to improve in your skating routine?
-My favorite elements are double axel, triple toe, and triple flip. The elements that I would like to improve on would be my loop jump and my artistry. I have been working a lot on my artistry and having skates with blades correctly mounted really makes a big difference.
-Have you already started preparing the next seasons programs?

-Both my programs are already choreographed for next season. Slava and I decided that I would skate to music from the soundtrack "Amelie" for my long program. We both picked out pieces from the soundtrack using a combination of music that has never been used before and some music that has been used.
I am keeping my short program from last year "Cristoforis dream"

- How does the choice of music affect your skating?

-The choosing of my music is very important, because I have to enjoy skating to it and I have to relate to it. I have to feel the music. I have a lot of input and a very big say as to the decision of what music I skate to.

-What do you see as the biggest strength of your tandem with your coach?

-The biggest strength of working with my coach is that we are very comfortable with each other and respect one another. We have known each other for years. He has watched me grow up on the ice skating and compete since I was 7, and I have known him from all those years being in the rink while he was coaching skaters that I know. He makes my lessons fun and takes my mind off the extreme amount of work that I am actually doing. Slava works hard also as he has all his skaters at 3 different rinks in 2 different states and he travels to them daily. His day starts at 7:00A.M. and he doesn't get home to his family until late in the evening. We can both relate to each other as far as working very hard in the sport of skating, especially when you want to do your best and excel.

-An athlete has a life different from that of others. Does your training routine impose any restrictions on your life?

-There has to be a balance in your life. I skate, train, and have school Monday-Friday. This is my job: skating and getting an education. That is how my life has been for the past 10 years. On week-ends I go to the movies, shopping at the mall, sleep, go on my computer, do laundry, clean my room, watch TV, hang with my friends, play with my cats and dogs, in the summer I'm in my pool, and sometimes I relax and just do nothing.
An athlete has to be physically fit and eat healthy. If you work hard all week and accomplish what you set out to do, then reward yourself on the weekend with something special. Just don't go crazy! Exercising, working out, and eating healthy happens to be good for you whether you are an athlete or not.
If you eat healthy and workout, your body will perform at a top level. That is where an athlete has to be, at the top of their game in order to excel and succeed.

-How would you define your main character trait? Does it make or break your performances?
-I guess my main character trait would be my strong will and determination.
What breaks my performance is when I compete when I'm injured. When I do that, I know I'm not that well trained, in pain, and upset because I know I'm capable of more than what I'm actually doing at that time.

-We all wish you a full recovery from your injury and keeping the same mindset which is just right for your life as a person and a skater.

> http://www.jennasyken.com