Spotlight on Mauro Bruni
By Sarah. Exclusive to Unseen Skaters. January 14, 2003.

Mauro Bruni, 18, trains in El Segundo, CA. He is coached by Frank Carroll and Ken Congemi. Pat Curio is his choreographer. Bruni is originally from the New York area, and he skates for the SC of New York. He won the Junior Men’s event at North Atlantic Regionals and finished second at Sectionals.

When and how did you being skating?
I skated for the first time when I was four years old. My parents had signed me up for the learn-to-skate classes at the Ebersole Rink near where I used to live in White Plains, NY. After hitting my head on the ice and throwing a fit that day, I didn't skate for another three years! When I was seven, all my little friends in elementary school were signing up for the hockey team, and so I signed up as well. Again, that ended quickly when I saw some people figure skating on a public session and decided that I wanted to do that instead! It must've been the right choice because I've been doing it ever since!

What are your long-term goals, in skating and off the ice?
I don't really have any definite long-term goals for my skating, like winning the Olympics or anything like that (although that would be nice!). I've always dreamed of being a precise and consistent skater, and I feel that if I can achieve this, success will come along with it. Off the ice, I would love to graduate from college one day, although I am still deciding on what I want to study.

How is living and training in California different from living in New York?
Life in California is totally different from life in New York! First of all, the weather is great because you never have to deal with snow and the "summer months" really last year-round. Also, the people are much more laid back and nicer. In New York, everyone is so cutthroat and rushing around everywhere so you feel like you have to be that way too and it's exhausting. Of course, the biggest difference is at the skating rink. Just to be able to train everyday with really quality skaters is so motivating! It is something to really get used to because I was not accustomed to practicing with more than ten other national competitors. Overall, moving to the West Coast was definitely the right decision. I feel like I have learned more in the past five months than I have ever before!

What elements are you planning for Nationals, and what music are you using?
At Nationals in Dallas this year, I am looking forward to completing three triple/triple combinations, (one in the short program and two in the long). This will be the first time I will be attempting these elements in a competition performance and I think they are some of the highlights of my programs. I will be skating to "Romeo and Juliet" by Tchaikovsky in the short program and "Miss Saigon" in the long.

What was qualifying for Nationals like?
Qualifying for Nationals is always a great thrill not only because it gives me a chance to compete against the best skaters in the country, but also because it gives me a chance to see some of the best skaters in the world perform. This becomes my inspiration for the next season!

What are you working on to improve for Nationals?
Consistency is something that I am working very hard on for Nationals so that I can be in top shape for my competition. I feel that this past year I have made great strides in this direction, but I also feel that no one can ever be too consistent and so this is my main focus. The artistry within the programs is also a very important aspect that I am working on. My choreographer and I have really put our heads together this season in hopes of creating an emotional and stylistic free program, in addition to upping the ante in technique.

Do you have a most embarrassing or memorable skating moment?
I don't really have a most embarrassing skating moment, although it is always embarrassing to pop jumps in competition after working so hard on them all year!

I guess my most memorable skating moment to date took place at the North Atlantic Regionals this year. In the long program, I missed the first jump, but came back and nailed the rest of the program. "Staying in the moment" as my coach Ken Congemi always tells me, is something I had been working on all summer and I was glad to have been able to turn the program around just as it started to go bad. This competition was also motivating for me because I did not have a coach at the side to put me on the ice, and yet, I handled myself well.

What do you consider to be the strongest and weakest aspects of your skating?
I have always tried to make myself a well-rounded skater in the sense that I don't really have any weaknesses, and I feel that I have achieved this to a certain extent. I do think that my jump consistency can always be improved upon, but other than that, I feel that my overall strength is my style and artistry.

What is your favorite jump? I don't have a specific favorite jump. When I land something, it’s a good jump for me, but when I fall, oh God! I guess my worst jump is the triple toe loop - yuck!

How about a favorite skater?
Of course I love Michelle Kwan, who doesn't? She has been so consistent, for so many years it's amazing! For the overall artistic side of skating, I really favor Angela Nikodinov and Alexei Yagudin over all the rest. Angela has such a balletic and emotional style - I wish her programs wouldn't end, and Alexei has a soft strength about him that captures your attention. Tim Goebel is also one of my role models because of his precise jumping technique.

What are some of your off-ice hobbies?
When I'm not skating, I love shopping, going to the movies and watching TV, (Friends and Will & Grace of course!).

What makes you love to skate?
I love skating because I can get lost in my movements on the ice. I love just playing music and not having to think about anything - I let my body take over and the music brings the moves to life.