Rachel Blount: A new look for a new level

At age 16, Eliot Halverson already is worrying about being typecast. That's what happens when a figure skater achieves so much so young, with so much ice yet to be covered.

Halverson, of St. Paul, is a two-time defending national champion after winning the U.S. novice title in 2006 and the junior title last year. His mad dash to his sport's highest level will continue this season, when Halverson's hometown will christen his move up the ladder to senior competition when the U.S. championships come to Xcel Energy Center in January. First, though, he will debut a new look on the international stage at this week's Junior Grand Prix in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania.

Gone is last year's playful skate to horror-movie music, which began with a scream and ended with a flourish. In its place is a more mature, classic program, a tale of lost love and revenge performed to the main theme from the film "2046" and music from the Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica. As Halverson creates a new character on the ice, he's also providing a peek behind the curtain, at the evolution of an athlete from teen phenom to a young artist expanding his boundaries.

"Going to seniors this year, I wanted to take my skating to a completely different level," said Halverson, who competes in the men's short program Friday and the free skate Sunday in Romania. "One of my goals is to develop different looks each year, to show a wide range as a skater.

"It's a little scary. But after last year, which was really fun and really exciting, I knew that wasn't the furthest I want to go. I'm a very goal-driven person, and I needed new goals."

Halverson's coaches, Ann Eidson and Ted Engelking of the St. Paul Figure Skating Club, supported that philosophy. Their skater has possessed the soul of an artist since he began performing backyard skits as a child. On the ice, he blends passion, energy and charisma into a 5-6½ body made for elegant spins and nimble footwork.

Last year, after his victory at the U.S. championships in his first year at the junior level, Halverson finished 10th at the world junior championships. He took a short break -- and celebrated "Eliot Halverson Day" in St. Paul -- before heading for Connecticut to develop his 2007-08 programs with choreographer Svetlana Kulikova.

Halverson chooses his own music and collaborates with Kulikova in creating his performances. Since June, he has been working on his programs for three hours per day, five days a week, with special emphasis on getting more consistency on the challenging triple axel that is new to his repertoire.

Eidson and Engelking fully supported his choice to compete at the senior level domestically and the junior level internationally this season. "I was hoping he'd go that way," Eidson said. "It's a natural process, and he is more than ready to go there. We don't want Eliot to limit himself."

After the Junior Grand Prix in Romania, Halverson will draw another international assignment based on his finish: He hopes to accrue enough points in those competitions to make the Junior Grand Prix Final, then finish in the top six before the home crowd in St. Paul before returning to the world junior championships.

The U.S. championships, he said, will feel like a grand debut in the town that has been his home since he was adopted from Colombia as an infant. By the time the weeklong competition starts Jan. 20, Halverson's programs will have been tested internationally and fine-tuned at his local base at St. Paul's Pleasant Arena.

He has no desire to leave for a more famous coach or training ground. At the State Fair, where he made his first visit in August, kids he had skated with -- and their mothers -- greeted him and wished him well in the upcoming season. Knowing they will be cheering him in January in his debut against such skaters as Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek will make this season special.

"I feel very fortunate to have my family and friends here," Halverson said. "I haven't had to change anything, and I feel very lucky to be able to stay here to train.

"I've never felt like any of my friends have been able to watch me skate. They've just heard about it. This year, everyone is going to be able to see me at Xcel, and I'm very excited for that."

Rachel Blount • rblount@startribune.com