Double vision: Skating since 3, twins glide to excellence

Twin sisters Jessica Shoemaker, left, and Jenna Shoemaker practice at the Hartland Ice House. The Hartland Township residents recently performed together in "The Grinch on Ice" in Oakland County. (Photo by GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS)

Fraternal twins Jenna and Jessica Shoemaker first tried on ice skates when they were both 3 years old.

They've been hooked ever since.
The 17-year-old figure skaters have shared the ice for the past 14 years, much as they've shared the spotlight growing up in their Hartland Township home. Inspired to try skating by their baby sitter at the time, Nikki Stoltman - a skater herself - both call ice skating their favorite passion.

"Skating is pretty much what we do," said Jenna Shoemaker, the elder sister by three minutes. "We do a lot of other things, but skating is our big thing. There's nothing like going out there on the ice, especially to perform."

Though skating is one of the many interests the twins share - including shopping, pop music, shopping and eating constantly - their skating also outlines their differences.

Jenna Shoemaker embraces the competition skating brings - instead of getting nervous, she often finds herself getting too jacked up prior to performances - and places a high level of emphasis on the moves and tricks she can pull off.

On the other end of the spectrum, Jessica Shoemaker tries not to think about the competition, but instead revels in the creativity she's able to employ during each performance.
Performing is nothing new for the Shoemaker twins - both are members of the Hartland High School figure skating team and each competes regularly on an individual level. Their latest show, however, was a holiday special for an audience of more than 1,000. Both were cast in "The Grinch on Ice," performed Monday at the Lakeland Arena in Waterford Township. They replayed the show Tuesday for 1,000-plus students.

Jenna Shoemaker skated as The Grinch, while Jessica performed as Martha Mae Who.

"These kinds of shows are a lot of fun," said Jessica Shoemaker, who added that she got to wear the "cute outfit" for the show. "We just get to skate and have a good time."

Though Jenna Shoemaker said the two have "polar-opposite" personalities, they share much more in common than just their parents (Karen and Bob Shoemaker), sibling (Marissa) and their birth date (Feb. 4).

Both love warming up for performances on the ice with hip-hop music, and both have had some pretty hard-core wipeouts in action: Jessica Shoemaker once sprained her ankle minutes before a show, and Jenna Shoemaker has broken her nose and bruised a tailbone in separate competitions.
Off the ice and in the classroom, both are gifted students with grade-point averages above 3.5.

Jessica Shoemaker will attend Central Michigan University next fall, possibly to pursue a career in sports medicine. Jenna Shoemaker is leaning toward studying computer science, though she has not decided between enrolling at Central Michigan University or Michigan State University.

Socially, the Shoemaker twins even have the same best friends, calling their group JJAP, which is an acronym for Jenna, Jessica, Anna (Cobb) and Piercyn (Hunt).

"We're very close, but unlike most twins, we compete with and support one another," Jessica Shoemaker said. "I really think we just help balance each other out."

Together, the twins' skating continues to improve. Both are close to mastering all three categories offered by the U.S. Figure Skating Association to its members free skating, moves and dance.

Whether it's on the ice or off it, Jenna and Jessica Shoemaker truly make a dynamic duo.

(Edit:Ruby)