[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6663-S6664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MAIDA TOWNSEND

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I would like to take a moment to 
celebrate the achievements of Maida Townsend, a Vermont State 
Representative and now a decorated figure skater, who recently took 
home the gold medal in an international figure skating competition in 
Lake Placid, NY. Marcelle and I have known Maida for many years, and we 
have always been impressed with her dedication, artistry, and 
selflessness. While we have come to know Maida through her tireless 
work for the State of Vermont, we have been impressed, but not 
surprised, that she brings the same dedication to figure skating, a 
sport she picked up at the age of 50.
  Maida has served the State of Vermont over the years through her 
leadership as the president of the Vermont branch of the National 
Education Association, as a chair of the Vermont Democratic Party, and 
in recent years as a State representative for South Burlington. Most 
noteworthy though is Maida's long career as a public school teacher, a 
career in which she has taught young Vermonters the French language for 
well over 30 years. Maida's career of public service is exemplary. I 
know that she will continue to dedicate herself to Vermont for many 
more years to come.
  But just as inspiring as her long career in public service is her 
pursuit of a personal joy and passion, that of figure skating. Maida, 
proving it is never too late to pursue a new joy, is as dedicated to 
her sport as she is to her career. Starting her days hours before many 
of us see the sun rise, Maida hits the ice before she hits the halls of 
the State legislature. Maida is a friend, a true Vermonter, and a true 
treasure.
  Marcelle and I are proud to join her loved ones in offering a hearty 
congratulations to Maida Townsend on

[[Page S6664]]

this impressive win in one of her many passions. We are lucky to know 
her, and Vermont is lucky to have her.
  I ask unanimous consent that the article, ``State rep wins gold in 
international skating competition,'' originally published by ``The 
Other Paper,'' be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                     [The Other Paper Nov. 7, 2019]

            State Rep Wins Gold in International Competition

       It was an introduction even Townsend--Chittenden District 
     7-4 State representative--wasn't expecting to hear. But sure 
     enough, it's how she was presented to judges, the audience 
     and her fellow competitors at the International Adult Figure 
     Skating Competition in Lake Placid, N.Y., on Oct.17.
       ``I confess that it got my attention being introduced as 
     representing the United States as opposed to representing my 
     club, which is what I am used to hearing,'' Townsend said.
       But represent the U.S. she did, as skaters from around the 
     globe filled the Olympic-size rink. In her own category, 
     Adult Ladies Bronze V division--V designating competitors 
     born in 1951 or earlier--Townsend skated against three other 
     Americans and a Canadian to earn the gold.
       As she took to the ice, she noted the judges' position and 
     prepared herself for the music to begin. ``Bumpin' on 
     Sunset,'' a Jazz song by Wes Montgomery, filled the arena. It 
     was a personal selection, as most of Townsend's program music 
     is.
       ``There is the adage, let the music take you there,'' she 
     said. ``It does; you have practiced so long, over and over 
     again, this music is part of a person and the music just 
     carried me.''
       As she left the ice and awaited her score, Townsend felt 
     great pride. She knew she had skated well and met her 
     requirements.
       ``I'm my hardest critic,'' she said, but added, ``I knew 
     when I came off the ice that I'd skated it really well.''
       But getting to victory was no small feat. Townsend began 
     preparing her program with her coach, Martha Harding, in 
     early summer. The two worked an hour each day Tuesday through 
     Thursday, adding in Fridays the month before internationals.
       The program looked better each week, until just before 
     internationals.
       ``For two solid weeks before this competition, nothing was 
     working right, everything was falling apart,'' Townsend said. 
     ``I was psyching myself out.''
       But getting on the ``storied rink'' at Lake Placid--where 
     countless ``greats'' like the Russian duo, the Protopopovs, 
     Sonja Henie and Scott Hamilton have skated--made the rough 
     practices disappear.
       ``I got on the ice to do the program and it was like those 
     two awful weeks never happened,'' Townsend said. ``I was in 
     the zone and it just felt so good.''
       What's noteworthy about Townsend's skating is that it only 
     began 25 years ago, when she was 50 years old.
       Townsend was an avid fan of watching the elite figure 
     skaters on television.
       ``I'd find myself just so drawn to it, and oftentimes I'd 
     find it so beautiful I was there crying watching the 
     performances,'' she said.
       When an ad for group skating lessons stared up at her from 
     the pages of a newspaper, Townsend knew the message was meant 
     for her.
       Townsend wasn't fearful about safety when she hit the ice 
     for the first time. Rather, she said she was concerned about 
     being the ``tallest skater.'' Figure skating is a sport that 
     typically attracts a less aged crowd, but Townsend discovered 
     age is but a number. She practiced the basics in group 
     lessons, then found a coach to study under.
       With Coach Julie MacDonald's help, Townsend honed her 
     skills and grew tremendously. Though Townsend was content to 
     continue lessons with MacDonald, her coach saw a greater 
     future for her.
       ``At a given point in time, Julie [MacDonald] informed me 
     that she needed to kick me out of the nest,'' Townsend said. 
     ``I was very comfortable with Julie and she sensed I was too 
     comfortable.'' That's when Townsend paired with Harding.
       ``Martha [Harding] was this really big deal coach,'' 
     Townsend recalls. ``I was really scared, I remember saying to 
     Julia, 'What if she rejects me?'''
       But Townsend met all of Harding's requirements and the duo 
     has worked well together ever since.
       ``Julie knew what she was doing when she kicked me out of 
     the nest,'' Townsend said. ``Martha worked with me, 
     understanding as an older skater my goals are very different 
     from a kids'.''
       Harding and Townsend spend much of their time working on 
     ``quality skating.'' For Townsend, that means dedicating 
     effort to flow, posture and working the edges of her blades.
       ``To me, skating is when your foot is on the ice, as 
     opposed to jump, jump, jump, jump,'' she said. ``There's the 
     whole business of interpreting the music ... if all you're 
     doing is going back and forth jump, back and forth jump, it's 
     not being one with the music.''
       Don't let that fool you, Townsend still gets some air. In 
     her early years with Harding, she did all the single jumps--
     save for the Axel. Today she does what jumps and spins her 
     body permits.
       And one of her big requirements is looking confident and 
     competent on the ice. It's not uncommon for people who start 
     skating in their adulthood to be more cautious than their 
     youthful counterparts, according to Townsend.
       ``Adults are more cautious in skating, I think, than kids 
     are,'' she said. ``Kids don't have so far to fall, kids heal 
     a lot faster than adults and kids don't have to go to work 
     the next day.''
       But Townsend challenges that. In fact, she's had judges 
     assume she's skated for most of her life. And though Townsend 
     is the first to say she's learned a great deal from Harding, 
     Harding says the feeling is mutual. ``I've learned a lot from 
     [Townsend] as far as being disciplined,'' Harding said.
       Townsend's disciplined nature keeps her skating even when 
     the Legislature is in session. During the session, she's up 
     at 3:15 a.m. to walk her dog and prepare for the day, then 
     she's on the ice at 5:45 a.m. and en route to the Capitol by 
     6:35 a.m. But skating is good for both mind and body, 
     Townsend said. During the session it's a joyful event that 
     can be ``cleansing.''
       ``If I didn't skate I think I'd be a much older 75 than I 
     am,'' Townsend said.
       That's why Townsend would recommend the sport to anyone 
     who's interested but perhaps trepidatious to skate.
       ``You're not too old to do it. There's no reason to be 
     defined by a number,'' she said. ``I really believe that. I 
     intend to keep skating 'til my body tells me, 'Stop.' So far 
     my body's nowhere near telling me to stop.''

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