Monument, Colorado.  The small city (pop. 5.000) is located on the I25 that connects Denver to Colorado Springs. Here, you keep it quiet and simple, nothing fancy and posh like in Aspen or Snowmass. Monument (named after a local rock concretion west of the city) is nestled in dry land and wooded hills, next to the Rampart Range, foothills of the Rockies. One year ago, Kori Ade, known as Jason Brown's coach since his early age, had her "7K International Aacademy" settled at the Colorado Sports Center, on Old Denver Road.  It is the highest training ice center in the United States : 7K for 7.000 feet (approx 2.130 meters). Romain Ponsart joined her team less than one month ago, team made of Rohene Ward, artistic director, Heather Aseltine, administrative director, and also Vincent Restancourt, who, in the past,  medalled three times at Junior World Championships and was the first French skater to land a quadruple jump during a competition when he was only 17 years old. This joint effort should assist Romain until the next Olympic Games.

- Hello Romain. A few days ago you were competing in French National Championship, and now you are on a short tour. On top of your very recent move to the US, aren't you a bit worn out? 

True, it is a strenuous lifestyle, packing and unpacking, constant traveling, but I do what I love so I cannot complain. Now [editorial note : Dec 24], I am going back home for Christmas and I will be able to rest for two days! 

- For once month, you have been working at the 7K Academy co-managed by Kori Ade. Can you describe a typical day of training?

For now, a typical day is waking up at 6.45 a.m. At 7.20 I am off to the rink. Once there, days are never the same. Sometimes I start the day working on my skating with Rohene Ward, sometimes I tuck into technique and jumps with Vincent [Restencourt]. We hold a series of different sessions. After lunchbreak, time for a lot of basic work with Kori. I call it a day towards 5.00 p.m.  

- Most of French athletes, regardless of their sport, who train in the United States say that the amount of work here exceeds by far what they were used to in France. Do you agree ?  

Yes, absolutely. Above all, they have another way of working and another way of thinking. And I really like the way they work.  

- Monument and the 7K Academy are 7000 feet/2.130 meters above sea level. It is even higher than Courchevel where you used to train in summer? Can you breath? :-) 

I must say that the first week was rather difficult. I was skating my routines but it felt like I could not breath, I was dizzy and all my body was aching. Add to it that when I arrived, I had not skated much since Bompard Trophy, I had only had two short sessions at my hometown rink. We have had to directly cut to the chase in order to present something decent at French Nationals. 

- How does one decide to go and work across the Altlantic? Did you have time to think about it or it was more like, I'm packing and there we go? 

I did not expect to leave for the US at all. When Brian [Joubert] and I stopped working together, I did not know what to do. Hang up my skates? Try one last time at Bercy Center? The [French] Federation told me that I could not come back to the center before January, that there was so many people there all the ice hours were already booked, that Claude [Péri-Thevenard] could not take care of everybody. I went back home. One week later, I had a phone call from Vincent Restancourt who offered me to come and train at the 7K Academy.  I asked myself the right questions. And of course, I said yes right away ! Working with such a team and with Jason Brown is an incredible opportunity. But we had a very short time window, Nationals were only three weeks ahead, so I jumped into a flight to the USA. 

- Who do you share the ice with? 

Mariah Bell, Jordan Moeller, Ben Jalovick, Courtney Hickx occasionnally, and of course Jason. And others but I don't know all the names yet! 

- What is Vincent Restancourt's role with you? 

Technique ! We work mainly on the quad. Often, I have sessions with Vincent, then I work on my routines with Kori. 

- Vincent says that you are motivated and truly passionate about your sport. What is your main driving force, what keeps you moving forward?  

I simply enjoy skating, I always try to push my limits, that's my driving force.

- On and off ice, you run more on feelings or on reflection ? Instinct or headache ? 

I am a guy who think a lot, and unfortunately, when it comes to sports, it's not always a good thing. Nowadays, I try to dwell less about stuff and to enjoy what I do more.

- In life, what is your bigget flaw? And your best quality? 

For the biggest flaw, I'd say my impatience ! When I start something I want results straighaway. Unfortunately it never works like this. And a quality... I don't really know. I'd say I'm rather kind... [Editorial note : we concur !]

- You wake up tomorrow morning, 10 years have passed. And you are a coach! Wo do you select as your trainees among French and foreign skaters? You can take as many as you want, ladies, men, pairs, ice dancers. 

Ouch, this is a difficult question. First, I wouldn't coach pairs or ice dancers because I know nothing about their discipline! No particular name comes to my mind, I would just like to work with a small group of motivated kids in a cool atmosphere, kids who really wants to work and improve! 

Romain's LP at French Nationals - December 2015