Ice dancing duo Kova and Ross prepare for U.S. Figure Skating National Championships

By Matt Liebowitz

Kassy Kova and Justin Ross are on the ice every weekday morning at 4 a.m., perfecting their figure skating dance routine for four hours. On the weekends, Kova and Ross work out at the gym.
“We have a brother-sister kind of relationship,” said Kassy, 16. “We work together really well and don’t fight or ever blame each other.”
This partnership, the tight bond they share as both athletes and friends, is vaulting the team of Kova and Ross into the national skating spotlight.
From Jan. 14-24, Kova and Ross will compete in the Novice division at the 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, a national competition held at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash.
As notable as this accomplishment is, it’s even more momentous because the team of Kova and Ross is the only competitive African American ice dancing team in America at any level.
When they won entry to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships— by placing fourth in their freedance routine at the 2009 Pacific Coast Sectionals, in Jackson Hole, Wyo. in November—it marked the first time an African American ice dancing team ever took home a medal at the Sectional competition.
Kassy is understandably proud of their groundbreaking skating achievement.
“It’s really exciting to be the first of something,” said Kassy. She said she is eager to perform with Ross, 19, in front of “top notch judges” and Olympic champions such as Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski, and Sarah Hughes.
A figure skating pair for the past five years, Kova and Ross have known each other since they were kids. Their on-ice chemistry has landed them trophies at several high-profile figure skating events, including the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships in 2007, and the Junior National Championships in Salt Lake City in 2008, where the duo finished seventh out of 23.
Though Kova and Ross’ entry into the national competition is emblematic, breaking down stereotypes in the sport, the important part for Kova and Ross is not what they represent, but that they continue to enjoy getting up and following their dreams every morning.
“It’s easier to wake up at 4 a.m. when you know you’re going to have fun,” said Ross.
For more information, including directions on how to sponsor Kova and Ross’ trip to the 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, visit www.kovaandross.com.