Burton Powley is back.
It's been six years since Powley last competed at the U.S. Adult
Championships, but he picked up where he left off, winning the championship gold
men's competition with four double jumps.
Powley (Des Moines, Iowa) collected all but one first-place ordinal for his
"Firebird" program highlighted by the sureness and height of his jumps. With his
convincing victory, it's no surprise that Powley said he hopes to test up to the
next level. But for now, he's thrilled to just be back.
"I really came back to challenge myself," Powley said. "I didn't expect to be
this strong. It's a great feeling. After I hit the third jump I couldn't stop
smiling. My mouth hurt I was smiling so much."
Shortly after he left the competitive ranks in 1999, Powley said he began
suffering from ongoing health problems that eventually resulted in the removal
of his gallbladder. Once that was taken care of, he as back on track.
Back on track for Powley, who is also a skating coach, resulted in gold. He
landed a double flip, double Salchow, double toe and an Axel-loop-double toe
combination.
"I felt like I was 20 today," said Powley, 47. "The standard has really
improved over the years."
Powley thinks his experience at the 2005 Midwestern Adult Sectional
Championships in high-altitude Colorado Springs helped prepare him for this
event.
"I had to have oxygen when I came off the ice at Mids," he said. "Since then
I've been doing double run-throughs, and I really sailed through my program
tonight."
It's been six years since Powley last competed at the U.S. Adult
Championships, but he picked up where he left off, winning the championship gold
men's competition with four double jumps.
Powley (Des Moines, Iowa) collected all but one first-place ordinal for his
"Firebird" program highlighted by the sureness and height of his jumps. With his
convincing victory, it's no surprise that Powley said he hopes to test up to the
next level. But for now, he's thrilled to just be back.
"I really came back to challenge myself," Powley said. "I didn't expect to be
this strong. It's a great feeling. After I hit the third jump I couldn't stop
smiling. My mouth hurt I was smiling so much."
Shortly after he left the competitive ranks in 1999, Powley said he began
suffering from ongoing health problems that eventually resulted in the removal
of his gallbladder. Once that was taken care of, he as back on track.
Back on track for Powley, who is also a skating coach, resulted in gold. He
landed a double flip, double Salchow, double toe and an Axel-loop-double toe
combination.
"I felt like I was 20 today," said Powley, 47. "The standard has really
improved over the years."
Powley thinks his experience at the 2005 Midwestern Adult Sectional
Championships in high-altitude Colorado Springs helped prepare him for this
event.
"I had to have oxygen when I came off the ice at Mids," he said. "Since then
I've been doing double run-throughs, and I really sailed through my program
tonight."
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