In 1969 I was born in Brighton, Massachusetts and named Deborah Karchenes — I went with Debbie as a child. At age three I was exploring the ice with my mother, father and sister. At age five I began to move through the Learn to Skate program that US Figure Skating Assoc. organizes. My sister, who is two years older, was also advancing in skills. (During my infancy my family resided in Watertown, Massachusetts. About age three my family resided in a large and beautifully kept home located in Waltham, Massachusetts where I attended the Plympton Elementary School through the sixth grade.)

At age five I began to move through the Learn to Skate program that US Figure Skating Assoc. organizes. My sister, who is two years older, was also advancing in her skating skills.

My parents contacted private coaches for my sister and me. So, from age six until age eleven I trained a lot at the rinks in Boston and surrounding areas. I participated in several exhibitions and competitions. I would practice the figure eight patterns (called patch back then) freestyle and dance patterns too. I tested up to the Novice level before I stopped skating. I passed the first set of dance patterns, but my preference was for Freestyle. Most of the performances and competitions that I was in were held in the greater Boston area, but I also have pleasant memories of traveling to New York for competition on three occasions.

My competitive action culminated when I won the Gold medal at the 1979 New England Regional competition (First test level A) and the Gold medal the following year at the 1980 New England Regional compeition (Juvenile level) Unfortunately, I did not have a good showing at my very last competition which was the 1981 New England Regionals (Ladies Intermediate Level.)

In 1989 I transferred to the U-Maine Orono campus and I was excited about the campus having a prestigious ice rink—the Alfond Arena. I studied physical education with a minor in Developmental Disorders. An expansion project was underway at the Alfond Arena about that time and the rink was only open for skating during the winter season.

After an eight-year break from ice-skating, when I started skating again, at the Alfond Arena, I had brought a used pair of low-grade skates with me to campus.

I signed up to be an instructor for the Learn-To-Skate program that was offered on the college campus. I then was invited to practice (at no cost) with the local small skating club when they held weekly practices in the winter season. I took advantage of that and this gave me the opportunity to perform in a few exhibitions while in college. My father traveled over to Waterville, Maine one time to watch me perform in one of those events. After the show, my father made arrangements and bought me a new pair of skates.