Corwin Looking for "Magical Moment"

By Shayne Schroeder

If nothing else, Amber Corwin is persistent, especially when it comes to her passion for figure skating. She fell for the sport at the age of five, even though the first time she attempted it, "they had to hold me up, but I just loved it," she noted.

"I wanted to do it then, and I knew it would be something in my future," said Corwin, who has been competing internationally for 10 years. "I am one of those people who really sticks to something. It's been an amazing ride."

So, here she is now, 21 years after her initial skating experience, still competing at the highest levels of the sport. In January, she hopes to qualify for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

"It's definitely one of my huge goals," said Corwin, who was one of three alternates for the 1998 Olympics. "It's not my only goal, but it's always been a goal for me to go to the Olympics and it's in reach. It's not going to be easy and it's not the most probable thing, but it is possible."

One thing that may work in her favor, ironically, is her age. Though she doesn't look it, Corwin is 26, which in the past has been considered "old" by figure skating standards. A December 2004 graduate with a degree in fashion and merchandising, she knows that stigma all too well, but feels her age might actually work in her favor.

"I feel I have gotten better as I have gotten older. I am wiser, my body is stronger and I get more confidence every day," said Corwin. "It's not usually been the best skaters that win. It's the ones who are mentally the strongest and train the hardest. I really think I have everything I need, but mentally I need to believe I can go out and do it, no matter what the conditions are. I have to be trained for any situation, so for me it's a mental thing and to keep up my training and hope it just all comes together for that magical moment."

Right now, skating is her job. Besides an intensive practice schedule, last spring and summer she went on a 23-city nationwide tour called the Champions on Ice Tour, skating with Olympic and world champions, including Michelle Kwan.

Corwin says she has faced the decision to retire from competition numerous times, but admitted her love of skating, continued improvement and her Olympic dream keep her pushing on.