Nicholas LaRoche

Nicholas LaRoche (born July 29, 1983) is an American figure skater. He is the 2002 United States National Jr. Men's Figure Skating Champion,[Nebelhorn Trophy]] bronze medalist, 2007 Ondrej Nepela Memorial silver medalist, and placed tenth at the 2002 World Junior Championships.

Nicholas LaRoche
Personal information
Country representedUnited States
Born (1983-07-29) July 29, 1983
Gardner, Massachusetts
Former coachBurt Lancon, Nedda Soltani, Ken Congemi, Debi Leeming, Robin DeFazio
Former choreographerHeather McGlaughlin, Eric Stretch
Skating clubAll Year FSC
Began skating1992
Retired2009
ISU personal best scores
Combined total172.14
2003 Nebelhorn
Short program59.16
2003 Nebelhorn
Free skate112.98
2003 Nebelhorn

Career

LaRoche debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series in 1999. He won the junior title at the 2002 U.S. Championships. He was assigned to the 2002 World Junior Championships where he placed tenth. Later that year, he won a bronze medal on the JGP series, in Germany.

From 2003, LaRoche competed on the senior level at the U.S. Championships. He won the bronze medal at the 2003 Nebelhorn Trophy and silver at the 2007 Ondrej Nepela Memorial. His last competition was the 2009 nationals. On April 13, 2009, he announced his retirement on his official site.

LaRoche coaches at the Toyota Training Center in El Segundo, California. He also runs the US Athletic Foundation, which he started with his sister Tricia, to assist athletes in all sports obtain funding.

Personal life

LaRoche's private life has been marred by tragedy. In 2003, his older brother, David, died at the age of 23. On July 1, 2008, his father, William LaRoche, apparently bludgeoned to death Nicholas' mother, Bernadette, before killing himself.[1]

Programs
Season Short program Free skating
2007–2008
[2]
  • Fiesta Flamenca
    by Monty Kelly
2006–2007
[2]
  • Unchained Melody
    by Alex North
  • Unforgettable
2005–2006
[2]
  • Kodo Drums
  • Fiesta Flamenca
    by Monty Kelly
2004–2005
[2]
2003–2004
[3]
2002–2003
[4]
  • JFK
2001–2002
[5]
  • Star Island
  • B-Tribe

Competitive highlights
Results[6][7]
International
Event 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
Finlandia Trophy5th
Golden Spin8th
Nebelhorn Trophy3rd
Ondrej Nepela4th2nd
International: Junior
Junior Worlds10th
JGP Canada5th
JGP Germany3rd
JGP Netherlands12th
JGP Norway5th
National
U.S. Champ.4th N.2nd N.7th J.7th J.1st J.8th12th8th11th11thWD
Pacific Coast Sect.1st J.1st1st2nd4th5th4th
Eastern Sect.4th J.
SW Pacific Reg.2nd J.1st
New England Reg.1st N.1st J.
JGP = Junior Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew; Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior

References
  1. Przygodski, Linda (June 2, 2008). "Tragedy strikes figure skating family". IceNetwork.
  2. "Nicholas LaRoche". IceNetwork. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012.
  3. "Nicholas LaROCHE: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004.
  4. "Nicholas LaROCHE: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 15, 2003.
  5. "Nicholas LaROCHE: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
  6. "Competition Results: Nicholas LaROCHE". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012.
  7. "Nicholas LaRoche". IceNetwork.
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