Nicholas jumps up
Penrith Press
15 September 2006

NICHOLAS Fernandez has added a national title to his NSW crown, creating his own bit of history in the process.

The 16-year-old Cranebrook ice skater won the National Figure Skating title in Brisbane recently by winning the junior men's division in both the short and free programs.

In his free program Nicholas became the first junior male skater to achieve four different triple jumps.

Nicholas had previously won national titles in Primary Men (2002) and Novice Men (2003).

With his latest achievement in the bag Nicholas has headed to Colorado, USA, to train for five weeks under American coach Kathy Casey in preparation for his next big challenge.

That will be the inaugural Australian Youth Olympic Festival, an international competition under the auspices of the IOC.

If he scores higher than his only Australian teammate he will be selected for the Junior World Championships to be held in Munich next year.

"Nicholas is the first boy to achieve four different triple jumps in this country but it must be put into perspective as in America he will see many boys doing the same jumps," coach Sharryn Hollins said.

"But he is a boy with a great future."

He is currently trained at the Penrith Ice Palace and the Sydney Ice Arena coached by Hollins and Slav Baboshyn.