THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512220058
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Groovey Sapien
SOURCE: SPECIAL REPORT
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
COLIN RUSSELL SHAW, a promising young figure skater and a seventh-grade student at Kempsville Middle School, leads a hectic life trying his hardest to keep up with his skating and his school work.
Colin is a hard worker. He has to be since he wants to become a professional figure skater. He attends five to six competitions per year, practices daily and still gets passing grades. Colin has won 12 first-place awards. Win or lose, he says, ``I am pleased with my efforts if I feel I have tried my best.''
Kyki Razos, his guidance counselor, said, ``Colin had to make a tremendous sacrifice, surrender his freedom - time to goof off - to skate and to complete school assignments missed while on the road.''
Colin said he prefers skating more than any other sport, for it offers a feeling of freedom, not to mention, ``getting to see the girl skaters in miniskirts.'' When not competing, his skating continues as he and his pairs partner, Tyler Rosenberg, serve as the mascots for the Hampton Roads Admirals.
Colin's future plans include possibly returning to Knoxville, Tenn., where he earlier won three gold medals, and competing at the South Atlantic Regional Championships where, no doubt, other championships await him.
My full, entire, birth name: Colin Russell Shaw
I was born: Nov. 8, 1982
Job: Student and mascot for the Hampton Roads Admirals.
Bros and sisters: None.
Educationally speaking, I am . . . a seventh-grader at Kempsville Middle School.
The killer day means . . . awakening at 5:00 a.m., arriving at ``Iceland'' by 5:30 a.m., skating until 7:30 a.m., rushing to school, getting out of school quickly and returning to the ice to skate for two to three hours.
Boy, I was pretty smart when . . . I learned you don't go Roller Blading down the ramps at Mount Trashmore. It's pretty scary.
But I sure felt like an idiot after . . . I joked this guy, so the guy beat up my friend.
When I have a crazy midnight snack craving, I want . . . pepperoni pizza, cold or hot.
My personal oscars go to . . . the main characters in ``The Cutting Edge.''
The song of the century is: ``F.O.D.''
The grooviest musical artist is: Coolio.
When I don't have anything else to do, I'm . . . wishing I was on the ice.
If I could change one thing about me, I . . . would not be an only child.
I wish my parents . . . didn't ride me so hard about my school work and using my time on the ice wisely.
The best place for mouth-watering chow is: Pizza Hut.
I love shopping at: 17th Street Surf Shop or Uptons.
The ultimate night on the town would include . . . going to the mall to play the video arcades.
I make special arrangements to watch . . . ``Home Improvement''
The last time I had a vacation . . . was near Hershey, Pa., - Chocolate World.
My best job: Working as a Golden Star, mascot of the Hampton Roads Admirals.
And the worst? School, especially homework.
In 10 years, I'd like to be . . . a professional figure skater so I can make some money.
If I could change one thing in America . . . there would be no school or at least shorter days and definitely no homework.
My heroes are: Scott Hamilton and Tim Allen.
I am unique because: I am one of the few male figure skaters in this area.
What makes you mad? When I or my friends get joked.
If a film were made about your life, what would be the dramatic turning point? Breaking my wrist because it taught me that if I practice until I get too tired, I might make a mental mistake, get hurt and lose all I have practiced for.
Who would star in it? Jonathan Taylor Thomas
I should be a veejay on MTV because . . . I wouldn't play the dorky songs they play.
If I was a guest on a talk show, it would be: David Letterman
My life summed up in four words: Strange, weird, boring and fun. ILLUSTRATION: D. KEVIN ELLIOTT /The Virginian-Pilot
Kempsville seventh-grader Colin Shaw, 13, skates at Iceland with
Tyler Rosenberg, 10.
CHARLIE MEADS\The Virginian-Pilot
Larkspur Middle School students from left, Tiffany Nixon, Tracy
Phelps, Charlene Fuentes, Katie Baines, Mandy Rose, Robbie
Carpenter, Paul Manansala and Daniel Perez compiled this story.
by CNB