Above: Tristan Pond practices hydroblading. Photo credit: Debbie Minter
By Aviva M. Cantor
When looking at the scope of American figure skating, one wouldn’t expect to find many enthusiastic figure skaters in South Dakota.
Despite being the 16th-largest state, South Dakota has only five U.S. Figure Skating clubs: Black Hills FSC, Sioux Falls FSC, the Watertown FSC, Mitchell FSC and the Central South Dakota Skating Club. The state is home to just a handful of coaches and three officials. Despite all odds, skating newcomer Tristan Pond exudes an unwavering dedication and passion for his sport.
“Tristan chose ice skating just as much as ice skating chose him,” his mother, Randi Morrison, said. “He started on a pond near our home in hockey skates. His father and I would clear the snow so he could skate. We got him a hockey stick and pucks. After a while, he became more interested in figure skating, so we started making the drive to Rapid City for lessons.”
Pond is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He and his family live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, also known as the Oglala Lakota. He is a descendant of Horn Chips (Lakota: Ptehé Wóptuȟ’a), a notable Oglala Lakota medicine man who was the spiritual advisor to Crazy Horse. Pond is also a grandson of the legendary Billy Mills, who won a gold medal in the 10,000-meter run at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is about an hour and a half from the Roosevelt Park Ice Arena in Rapid City, where Pond began taking lessons in January 2023.
“I saw Nathan Chen’s Elton John program and I thought the spins and jumps were really cool. That’s when I decided to try figure skating,” Pond said. “I got a pair of figure skates and began practicing. I attempted an Axel, not knowing at the time that it was difficult jump, and I couldn’t land it. After looking up tips online, I came across a YouTube video that recommended joining a Learn to Skate USA program. I found the program in Rapid City and my mom signed me up. I completed the program within six months. After that, I joined the Black Hills Figure Skating Club.”
Pond’s parents used to be responsible for every rink commute, ensuring that their son was present for practices and private lessons.
“Along the route, you may encounter wildlife or livestock, so being a cautious driver is important,” Morrison said of the local landscape near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Now that he’s 17, Pond has a driver’s license and will sometimes drive himself to the rink for his lessons with coach Debbie Minter.
Minter has been amazed by Pond’s natural talent, noting sizable progress in a lightning-fast timeframe.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone learn so quickly,” said Minter, who has been coaching more than 40 years. “He has probably skated for just about one-and-a-half years. Last week he passed his pre-bronze skating skills and preliminary dance tests. He will take his pre-bronze singles test and more dances in December. He landed his Axel the first day off the harness and has since added a double Salchow and double toe loop to his repertoire. He is never without a smile on his face and is a joy to teach. I feel privileged to be able to work with him.”
Though new to the sport, Pond has big goals he hopes to achieve, including the goal of becoming a U.S. Figure Skating gold medalist. His quickness to learn and his newfound passion will help him get there.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had so far, and I want to keep pushing myself to improve,” he said. “I hope my journey inspires others, especially from my community, to follow their passions, even if it means stepping outside the norm.”
On his heritage and background, Pond said, “I’d like people to know that being part of a tribe and living on a reservation comes with a deep sense of community, history and tradition, but also challenges that we work hard to overcome.”
Morrison added, “We are rich in culture and spirituality and always welcome others into our homelands. There is so much talent in our communities — whether it’s in beadwork, sewing, painting, singing, dancing or sports. We have many gifted artists and athletes. We hope Tristan continues to pursue skating, testing and achieving his goals.”
U.S. Figure Skating is proud to celebrate our diverse membership. Click here for Native American Heritage Month Resources, and click here to share your story with us for a chance to be featured on U.S. Figure Skating’s website or social media channels.
