Meet Laiken Lockley
Laiken Lockley is a current sophomore at Rolling Meadows High School, located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. However, do not let her age fool you. Although she is young, her accomplishments are massive.
Laiken is a competitive pairs figure skater. Together, Laiken and her current partner, Keenan, have competed and represented Team USA at international pairs competitions in countries such as Germany, Latvia, and Croatia. Some of Laiken’s accomplishments as a pairs skater include being a three time national competitor. While competing at nationals, she had earned fifth place in three different levels, with two different pairs partners.
When Laiken was three years old, the gymnastics facility that she took classes at had an ice skating rink on the other side of the building. One day, she was early for her gymnastics class so she and her mother walked down to the other side of the building to explore. There, Laiken was instantly captivated by the figure skaters who were practicing. From that moment, her skating career took off and life was never the same.
Laiken was 10 years old when she began pairs skating. One of the coaches at the rink she regularly skated at had a son who was looking for a pairs partner, and asked Laiken’s mom if Laiken would be interested. At that point, Laiken had only skated on her own or with a synchronized skating team and never thought about trying pairs. However, changing up her usual routine was something that excited her. Eager at the challenge to try new things, she agreed.
“What drew me into pairs skating was the idea of being lifted or thrown into the air,” Laiken admitted. “But, after I had fun trying it, I decided to continue with it and compete.”
Pairs skating is unique and different to other disciplines of skating, such as solo or synchronized skating. Because there are two skaters, the door is flung open to a wide variety of new tricks that cannot be done alone. In pairs, skaters have lifts, twists, throws, death spirals, pair spins, side-by-side spins, footwork, and choreographic step sequences. “You have to rely and trust one other person,” Laiken explained. “In solo, you work by yourself; and, in synchro, you can rely on more than one person.”
Unlike solo skating, where the skater is only concerned with him or herself, the biggest overall challenge of pairs skating is being with another person. “Everything has to be the same between the partners, such as availability, practice times, and costumes,” Laiken said. “You have to coordinate and plan events so it fits into both schedules, and you can’t just worry about yourself.”
Throughout their time together, Laiken and Keenan have built an immensely close relationship together, professionally and personally. The experiences they have had together and the achievements they have shared are unmatched, and every tough time together is merely viewed as another challenge to overcome.
Laiken believes that pairs skating has personally shaped her in multiple ways. To start, pairs skating has taught her how to work with a team in a way that synchronized skating does not. “I have to put my partner’s needs over my own to help us reach success,” she said.
For synchronized skating, there are set times and days the team gets together to practice. Pairs skating does not always have a similar structure. “Going to the rink to practice instead of hanging out with friends is always a common sacrifice that has to be made,” Laiken explained.
Because pairs skating is a dangerous sport, which requires Laiken and Keenan to try new things day after day, trust is extremely critical. Although something may go wrong, Laiken cannot lose her trust in Keenan. However, trust needs to go deeper than the physical aspect. Not only does Laiken have to trust her partner to not drop her while doing a lift or a twist, she has to trust that her partner will show up everyday, ready to give 100%.
“Sometimes, trying new elements is scary,” Laiken said. “It is important that each partner is in the right mindset for practice and competition. Both partners have to also trust that the other person is trying their best.”
Competing is a huge part of Laiken’s life. When somebody becomes a member of Team USA, he or she is considered an ambassador and representative of U.S. Figure Skating. Then, the United States Figure Skating Association sends those members to other countries to compete and represent the United States. It is a huge honor that Laiken and Keenan were lucky to receive in August 2016.
Despite that skating requires Laiken to miss many days of school, it is a sacrifice and responsibility that she understands is necessary. However, Laiken’s hard work during skating helps motivate her with her schoolwork. “When I work hard in skating and see good results, I know that I can get good results in school if I put in the work,” Laiken said. “Skating in general, not just pairs skating, has also taught me how to get through tough times. Learning to deal with a bad skate helped to deal with a bad grade on a test.”
Although traveling to new countries may be initially intimidating, Laiken always feels welcome into the skating community when she arrives. In fact, it is common for Laiken to meet other skaters and form friendships with them at the competitions, regardless of competing against them. She believes that building relationships with others helps lighten the competitive environment.
“At these competitions, the athletes spend a lot of time with one another and are able to get to know each other,” she said. “You become more than just competitors and part of Team USA. You become friends.”
As Laiken advances towards higher competition levels, her experiences change with her. “I’ve traveled to places to compete where there are better skaters and harder competition,” Laiken said, noting that competing in other countries is immensely different than her experiences in United States competitions. “Through these experiences, I’ve learned to deal with pressure and nerves differently.”
Laiken and Keenan are currently preparing for nationals, which will be held in San Jose, California, at the end of December.
