European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse From left Todd Sand lifts Natasha Kuchki during a performance Kuchki executes a Little step As she returns to the ice the partners gather themselves after Kuchki takes a spilt during practice. A amps photos by Ken George Merican pair skating toward a dreamy Ron Mckinney staff writer Todd Sand Lias been troubled by a dream that won t Quot end. A a a a a \ a a a / it began two weeks ago the night before he and Natasha Kuchki clinched a Bronze medal with a stunning performance in their Long program at the world figure skating championships in Munich Germany. In his dream they won the pairs Competition. In reality they placed third a far above the fifth or sixth place finish they had hoped to achieve in their second world championships together. It was quite a climb from 1990, when they finished 11 the in the worlds and now he was wondering if it was t a dream after ail. ,. Quot i said i re going to Wake up and i m going to have to really do my Long program now said Sand. J l was a saying that for two Days when am i going to Wake a up Quot a a a a / a a Sand 27, does t have to worry about waking up anytime soon. He s on a whirlwind european exhibition tour with Kuchki 14, and an All Star cast from the world championships. That was t the first dream of stardom for Sand who was Denmark s National singles Champion in 1982-83. His father is danish. Quot As my singles career progressed i Kinda saw the writing on the Wall. Now if you Don t have a triple Axel you re not even in the game. I figured i was better suited for pairs Quot Sand said. At the 1983 world championships a record was set when three men landed triple axes at this year s worlds two women landed triple axes. So Sand of Costa Mesa calif., turned to pairs skating. Quot there s More to do than just jump jump jump which is what singles skating has turned into Quot he said. Kuchki of los Angeles has put her singles competitions on hold since she began skating with Sand 18 months ago in that time she said they have grown. Quot pretty . Sand said he enjoys Kuchki s competitiveness and. Determination. Quot Shell work at something until she can do it. If something s a Little off she May get a Little angry at herself and then Shell want to do it even More Quot he v said \ a a a. A Kuchki said Sand is fun to be with and he does t always act his age. Quot he gels a Little goofy during practice sometimes Quot she said. Sand is anything but goofy when he in t skating he s in his Junior year at California state University at Fullerton,.where he s studying economics. Away from school Sand relaxes by playing Golf or Tennis skiing or playing on a remarkably bad softball team. Even Kuchki saw him play softball. Once. Quot that s. When you Guys won Quot she Sand. 1 Quot yeah Quot a \ a. Quot it was the Only time you won Quot she reminded him. Quot she walked away for five minutes and i hit a Home run. She missed All the excitement Quot he said. Not so. Kuchki said the real excitement entered around her Bax racing last year. It nearly gave Sand a heart attack she said until she quit after placing second in both of her races. Quot i did t really Tell her anything. But i was a Little nervous Quot Sand admitted. Kuchki a fun Loving and free spirited teen Ager continuing her education through correspondence courses understands that figure skating represents a career to her. She works at keeping her weight below 115 pounds which Sand said is the most a female pairs skater should weigh. Her weight is Arv important element due to the throws the male partner must make in pairs Competition. The 199 National champions work together in los Angeles in the rink four hours a Day five Days a week while training for competitions. On saturdays they put in two hours. And then Kuchki 5-feet-2 and 106 pounds works with a Trainer or Heads Home where she puts in some Miles on her bicycle. Quot but i Don t ride a Bax anymore Quot she said smiling at 1 Odd. Quot now i have a Mountain . Skating is also very important to Sand who lifts weights to maintain his 5-foot-10, 165-Pound Sie. Quot it s kind of what l am t guess Quot he said Quot i m concentrating All my efforts on skating right now. I guess it s the most important thing in my life at this Point Quot at the same time i realize there s a lot More to life than just right. Like Bax racing and hitting Home runs. And fulfilling your dream s prophecies. Following is a Hal of Iba remaining Sites and the skaters on the tour March 30 a the Eisse Orthall Frank Tun Germany april 1 Bordeaux France april 2 a Parle april 4 Grenoble France april 5 Schat Hausen a a Switzerland april 6 r Davos Switzerland april 9 Milan Italy Panl 11 a. Rome standing room Only licks at .15 Marks each about s9 50 Are still available Tor the Frank Titre performance Tor details Call 069 615034 Check locally Tor exact locations and ticket details Tor other cities participating skaters Are women Kristi Yamaguchi Tonya Harding and Nancy Kern Gan All United states. Surya Borraly France and Josee Chouinard Canada men a Viktor Petrenko soviet Union Todd fid Redue United states. Petr Barna Czechoslovakia. Michael Slipchuk Vanatia and Eric Millet France pairs a Natalia Dmitriev soviet Union Isabelle Brasseur Loyd Eisler Canada and Natasha Kochi i Todd Sand United. States ice dancing a Isabelle and Paul Duchesnay France. And manna Klimova Sergei Ponomarenko and Maia Usova Arenander Zhuolin both soviet Umon a a a. March 28, 1991 stripes Magazine 3
