MORGAN HILL -- They have had consistent success at the national level of roller figure skating, but Candice and Ashley Clifford admit they still get "some butterflies" even for regional finals.
You can't blame the guileless Morgan Hill pair. They are, after all, 12- and 11-years-old.
It would be more unprecedented to say they don't get nervous, considering the nature of their sport. For starters, it's not the same as ice figure skating. Although the routines, costumes and performances are similar, roller figure skating includes an array of events performed with heavier skates on an uncompromising surface. Also, judges can walk onto the rink during figures competition -- while the skaters artistically trace lines on the floor.
"When you see the judges feet out of the corner of your eye, it makes it more intense," Candice, the elder sister, said with a laugh. "I try to block it out and forget they're there, but you know they are. Even when you can't see them, you know they're watching."
No pressure, right?
As humbling as figure skating can be, the Cliffords have batted their brown eyes at its spine-tingling demeanor and risen to great heights.
"When you're out there, the pressure is, like, wow," Ashley said. "But you have to focus. You have to practice hard for it."
Candice has parlayed eight top-five regional finishes into four consecutive trips to the national championships, plus two gold medals in creative solo dance at Gold Skate, a major competition. Ashley has seven gold medals and one silver at the national level -- and her name engraved on the same plaque as Tara Lipinski.
Today, they begin competition at regional finals in Fresno, hoping to place in the top four of their events and, thus, qualify for the U.S. National Championships in Peoria, Ill. Both will do figures, freestyle and dance, with Candice adding a solo dance and Ashley joining world-class phenom Gustavo Casado, 17, of Brazil in pairs.
"We want to place in every event," Ashley said with modesty. "We're excited."
While they admit their goals are lofty, Candice and Ashley have put in their prep time. During the school year, they make the hour drive from Morgan Hill to their club's rink in Redwood City, where they practice with their parents and coach "Kadu" Paiva from 4 to 8:30 p.m. The sisters, both 4.0 students at Crossroads Christian School, do their homework in the car. On Saturdays, they off-skate training with their fitness coach, Eduardo Cravina. They spend eight to 10 hours in the club each day during summer.
"It's a lot of dedication, but it's something they've learned on their own," their mother, Lori Clifford, said. "They have the drive and desire to do their best.
"Their club and the community in Morgan Hill have been very supportive."
Skating runs through the blood of the Clifford clan. The sisters' parents -- Lori and Scott -- and grandparents met each other at skating rinks. Lori and Scott, both coaches and former competitive skaters, help organize figure roller skating events for the Special Olympics. Scott also is a licensed skating judge -- a slight upper hand for his daughters.
"He tells us what judges look for," Candice said. "It makes competition feel like practice."
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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