Handra and Sinek

[kayskate]

Does anyone know if they are still competing as eligibles?

Kay

[Amy L]

They aren't going to compete any more. They're coaching now.

[BootyDancer]

I think it's a shame that they didn't stick with it for just a few more years. They really had talent, they could have really gone somewhere.

[RoaringSkates]

I was so happy to see them at the Olympics. I think making the Oly team was their big goal. If I remember right, it may have been one of the major things that pulled Sinek out of his first retirement.

They've been scraping for money for so long now, they can finally coach, work on their skating-related businesses, and go back to school if they want to. I was happy that they retired on such a high note.

[flippet]

I agree. I was absolutely thrilled for them, that they got to go to the Olympics. After such a long road, making it there (no matter how) is such a great reward.

[Jack]

Originally posted by BootyDancer
I think it's a shame that they didn't stick with it for just a few more years. They really had talent, they could have really gone somewhere.

Are you being serious here?? I mean, c'mon.. Charlie was almost 40 years old, the only place he was headed was towards his AARP card. I"m so glad they were named on the Olympic team, because no one has worked harder or longer than they have, but holy crap, it was time to give it up already!! btw.. they are amazing coaches, and I think they will have far more impact on the skating world as coaches than they ever did as skaters

[kayskate]

I think Charles is in his early thirties. I believe Handra is ten years younger.

Kay

[rack]

The USFSA media guide lists Charles Sinek's_birthdate as Dec.28, 1968 and Beata Handra's as Jan. 3 1977.

I have always enjoyed their skating and wish them well in all future endeavours (but AARP membership is going to take them a while).;)

[Trillian]

Originally posted by kayskate
I think Charles is in his early thirties. I believe Handra is ten years younger.

I want to say they were born in 1968 and 1977 respectively? That would make them 34 and 25 this year. While that's not exactly ancient, by skating standards it definitely tends to signify the point when your results are going to get worse, not better. And in fact we were already seeing that, as they kept losing to newer young teams at nationals.

I wish them the best in their coaching career--it was nice to see them finally make an Olympics after working so hard for so long, but I think retiring was definitely the right choice for them. Besides, I've heard some really good things about the little intermediate (?) team they've been working with!

[kayskate]

Just curious. Does anyone know where they are coaching?

Kay

[karina1974]

Originally posted by kayskate
Just curious. Does anyone know where they are coaching?

Kay

Yes. They are coaching at a rink in Clifton Park, NY, about 10 miles north of Albany. I posted an article about this a few months back, but the thread sank like a stone. I was able to find it again, and I am reposting the portion of the article discussing their coaching. There is more to it than this, but I didn't want to violate the posting rules. The entire article is available from www.timesunion.com but you will have to pay for access to it.

The coaches are Olympians
Olympic ice dancers Sinek and Handra set up shop to teach area skaters

By KATE BISHOP, Staff writer
First published: Tuesday, August 13, 2002

While the rest of the Capital Region is melting under the summer sun, Olympic ice dancers Beata Handra and Charles Sinek spend their days teaching the sport they love in ice rinks throughout the area.


"It's like creating art work, in a way," Handra said. "You put your own experiences into it. It's a challenge to adapt lessons to different students."

"This is an untapped area for coaching," said Sinek, a Boston native who taught in the Albany area from 1992 to 1995.

Handra and Sinek have been married for six years and moved to Clifton Park from Pamona two months ago to begin coaching careers. The couple finished 23rd in ice dancing at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Sinek, 33, and Handra, 25, who have been skating partners for seven years, give private ice-dancing lessons at rinks throughout the Capital Region, including Clifton Park, Troy, Delmar, Glens Falls and Saratoga. Their students range in age from 8 to 62 and are in awe of their Olympic experience.

"I was so excited," said 10-year-old Michaelee Scarincio.

"I think they're brilliant," added her partner, 14-year-old Justin Morrow.

Handra and Sinek's private lessons last from 20 minutes to two hours, at a rate of $70 an hour. In late September, the pair will start an Olympic Skating School for group lessons hosted by the Uncle Sam Figure Skating Club.

The group lessons, which range from $80 to $90 for eight weeks of 30-minute sessions, will cover basic skills for young children and will be held at Knickerbacker Ice Rink in Troy and B.I.G. Arena in Delmar.

"We want to teach kids, as young as (age) 4, basic skating skills in order to prepare them for private lessons," Sinek said.

"Group lessons are really rewarding," Handra said. "It's great to see so many kids have so much fun at the same time."

[Trillian]

The two kids quoted in the article, Michaelee Scarincio and Justin Morrow, are the young dance team I've heard people praise. I was surprised to find out Michaelee is so young--even at the intermediate level she must be younger than a lot of her competitors. It'll be interesting to see how they progress.