Making Friends:

Trent Thueson of Bountiful, Utah—
Practice Makes Perfect

By Dora D. Flack

For several months a large poster hung in the front hall of Meadowbrook School in Bountiful, Utah. It read:

“Watch Trent skate; he is the best.

He was the first to pass the test.

In freestyle and figures, too,

He won first place. Yes, it is true.

Way up in Tacoma he has a date,

And with that chance he now will skate.

Just watch the TV and paper so

In February ’87 you’ll see the show.”

Poem by Donna Harding

Photos of young Trent Thueson with Scott Hamilton and other world champion iceskaters surround the verse.

Trent is one of the first handicapped children to pass the United States Figure Skating Association preliminary tests. These are difficult for regular skaters and much harder for handicapped youth.

Although Trent looks like other children his age, he has a “hidden” handicap—a learning disability. Proper connections have not been made, so it is difficult for Trent’s brain to control opposite sides of his body, and as a result, Trent has trouble learning to read, write, spell, and do math.

As a very young child Trent was too shy to talk to anyone eye-to-eye. First-grade testing showed that he had a learning disability, so since then he has attended special education classes at Meadowbrook School, where fifth and sixth graders become tutors and buddies of the special education students. Tutors drill them one-on-one in speaking, reading, spelling, and math. Buddies play with them on the playground and take them to lunch.

Trent’s self-esteem zoomed sky-high when the older students at his school asked him to play on their soccer team. He could excel in something! But another, greater achievement awaited him.

Special education students and their buddies skate each Friday afternoon at the Bountiful Ice Rink, which is half a block from their school.

A buddy encouraged Trent to skate, and the ice immediately captivated him. As he progressed, Trent became a skating buddy to others. When one child was too timid to try, Trent said, “Come on. If I can do it, you can too.” He flashed his smile and soon had the boy gliding easily on the ice.

Trent is now a member of the Utah Figure Skating Club and the United States Figure Skating Association; he is climbing the same difficult steps that world champion skaters have taken. Trent practices on the ice sixteen hours each week. It took him three long months of practice before he could land an axel—a jump made by taking off in a forward position, spinning one and a half times in the air, and landing on the opposite foot, going backward.

“The intense concentration of skating helps to build the connectors in Trent’s brain,” Trent’s mother explains, “so that his body will follow his brain’s commands. When he is discouraged with his studies, I remind him about how many hours it took him and how many times he fell before he could perform an axel.”

Trent’s coach, Barry Kamber, says, “Trent listens carefully and practices a lot. He attacks each new challenge with an ‘I get to do this!’ attitude.”

He enjoys doing things with his parents, LaDean and Dennis, and with his brothers and sister. His brother Travis (15) excels at golf, and another brother, Todd (13), excels at ice dancing. Trent’s little sister, Tara (4), says, “Trent’s my best buddy.”

In March 1984, the International Special Olympics, in which only handicapped skaters compete, were held in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Salt Palace. Trent was only nine years old then and too young to compete, but he did perform a solo exhibition number before an audience of thousands—and he had been skating only five months!

In February 1987—the date on the poster—the United States Figure Skating Championships were held, and Trent performed another exhibition number. As Trent arrived at the Tacoma Dome, all the top United States skating competitors welcomed the eleven-year-old blond boy and treated him like one of them. He signed posters and autographed programs along with the champions. Another handicapped skater, Katie Crawford, also did an exhibition number.

In front of the crowd of more than 27,000 in the Dome, Trent was unbelievably composed. He listened for his music, then concentrated on every movement. His first axel was flawless. The crowd rose, stomped their feet, clapped, and cheered. Trent finished his spectacular number, then modestly clasped his hands behind his back and bowed from the waist during the long standing ovation.

“You’re the star of the whole show!” many people praised him. Trent smiled, his eyes glistening. He had achieved his goal!

Skating helps Trent to organize his time wisely for other activities and for doing his homework and chores around the house. “I do the dinner dishes,” Trent says. “I keep my room straight. I put out the garbage and mow the lawn and rake leaves. Sometimes I do things for other people without being asked.”

On his return home Trent began coaching a young learning-disabled girl for the Special Olympics to be held in Salt Lake City. He gives confidence to others, on the ice and off. His classmates feel better about themselves because one of them has achieved.

Photos by Jed Clark

Skating practice

Putting on his skates

Finishing a performance

Practicing doubles with Shayna Lund

With Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Boitano

With Debi Thomas, World Figure Skating Champion

Accepting trophy at Sun Valley Competition