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When he is on the ice, the world changes for Lewes resident Richard Carinci.
Synchronicity and precision prevail. As a doubles ice dancer, Carinci displays a combination of superb physical conditioning and studied movement that has brought him great success over three decades in the artistic sport.
“Much like any sport, when you are skating, the outside world is not your focus, although it is still very much reality. You are in your own space, doing the very best you can at something you love,” Carinci said.
Ranked second in the nation in adult ice dancing, Carinci is training for adult nationals in April with skating partner Mara Schmittinger. The talented pair, who met less than two years ago, train to perfect their complementary styles at the Centre Ice Rink at Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington.
The duo brought home a gold medal in 2004 Eastern regional competition for adults after working together for only four months last year. More recently, they performed at a regional skating exhibition in New York City.
And now they advance to the nationals to be held in Overland Park, Kan., next month.
At 44 years old, Carinci is a testament to tenacity and true commitment to the tough sport of ice dancing, a form of pairs figure skating that draws upon ballroom dancing.
For those who know Carinci from his day job at Illusions by Christine in Rehoboth Beach or as a familiar face at the Frogg Pond, it may be difficult to picture him as a competitive ice dancer. To the New York City native, however, it seems completely natural.
“I’ve been on skates as long as I can remember, growing up in Manhattan. First it was roller skates and soon ice skates. I guess the ice dancing is a good fit because I am rather competitive,” he said. Carinci has excelled at championship level competition while maintaining a career in jewelry design and sales. He also holds a degree in marketing and advertising from New York University and worked for Tiffany & Co. in North Carolina before relocating to the Cape Region in 2003.
His successful partnership with Schmittinger evolved through an introduction by Harrington Centre Skating Director Deanna Vokes.
She identified both Carinci and Schmittinger as excellent technical skaters who also shared the very expressive style integral to ice dancing. After a few hand-in-hand twirls and knowing glances, the duo agreed they were ready for the sequins and stress of competition.
“He is a beautiful skater,” said Schmittinger. “We matched perfectly. It’s unusual, because you spend a lot of time looking for the perfect partner. It’s hard to find someone you match so well with,” she said.
Ice dancing requires both a compulsory routine with predetermined steps and music as well as an original routine where the footwork is up to the skaters. Carinci and Schmittinger are the first skaters to represent the Centre in national competition since it was founded in 2002. In addition to competing, they teach popular introductory ice dancing classes together at the Centre.
With their focus now on the 2005 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships, Carinci said he is as committed as ever to developing his skating. “There really is no age restriction as long as you keep up with it,” he said. “Of, course you may become dubbed a dinosaur but you can go as far as you are willing to go if you love it.”
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