Dion Headed To Nationals In St. Paul

By Scott Kindberg

1/15/2008 - Peter Max Dion is an avid fan of the world champion Boston Red Sox and has enjoyed the New England Patriots’ record-setting, and unbeaten, blitz through the NFL.

Peter Max Dion lives in suburban Boston, but trains with Kirk Wyse and Lenel van den Berg of the Jamestown Skating Academy. Submitted photo

"It’s been a good sports season," said Dion, a 16-year-old from Lexington, Mass., which is a 10-minute drive from downtown Beantown.

But what has made the last few months especially gratifying for Dion is what has been happening about 600 miles to the west in, of all places, the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena.

For it’s there on Third Street in Jamestown that Dion has prepared for and ultimately assembled an impressive resume as a student of the Jamestown Skating Academy, under the watchful eyes of co-directors Kirk Wyse and Lenel van den Berg.

In fact, since October, Dion, competing in Novice Men’s, has: placed second at the North Atlantic Regionals in Amherst and fourth at the Eastern Sectionals in Raleigh, N.C. All that has earned him a berth in the U.S. Senior Nationals in St. Paul, Minn., this weekend.

"I just want to go out and skate my best," Dion said, "and hope to rack up some points."

Judging from his performances of late, that’s entirely possible.

Behind improved presentation, Dion finished just two points out of third place at Easterns, giving him renewed confidence that he can indeed be in the medal hunt when he skates in St. Paul.

"This was my breakthrough," said Dion. "I could do two triples last year, but now I do five triples and a triple-triple combination."

Such improvement is the result of improved size and strength — he’s grown seven inches in a year— and the instruction of Wyse and van den Berg, who have coached him the last 31/2 years.

"Kirk and Lenel can handle me well," Dion said. "It’s not just the training, but it’s how you train. They keep you motivated, on track and they have ways to keep me interested. They know their stuff."

"Peter Max took ownership of his skating," said van den Berg, who with Wyse will be making their 11th trip to the Senior Nationals as coaches. "That’s the difference for him this season. He wants it. You can’t teach that."

Dion’s arrival in Jamestown came as the result of a recommendation from a former coach in Boston who was retiring. After nine years in his hometown, he and his parents, Peter and Mary, were taking their show on the road.

"Between Kirk and Lenel, our personalities click," Dion said. "We can train, but we laugh and joke. It’s fun. All the parents get along and it’s just a good community."

"Some of our local skaters take our training atmosphere for granted," said Wyse. "They’ve never experienced anything else. Peter Max knows what it’s like in a lot of other rinks and that’s why he appreciates our program in Jamestown."

To be part of the JSA "community," Dion spends summers in the area — his parents rent a home in Bemus Point — and then he spends about two weekends a month in the area during the competitive skating season.

"The Dion family loves Bemus and the entire Chautauqua region," said Wyse.

Despite the hectic schedule, Dion tries to live the life of a typical teenager. A junior at Lexington High School, he enjoys hanging out with his friends, rooting for the Red Sox and playing Xbox 360.

"Me and my sister stay up late playing it," he said.

Among their games of choice?

Guitar Hero.

That’s only fitting. Dion has been making sweet music on the ice for years.

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