PHS Student Kevin Shum Skates in Nationals

Piedmont High School freshman Kevin Shum is taking his skates to San Jose this weekend to compete in his second consecutive U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Shum will skate in the men's short program Sunday at 2:45 p.m. and in the men's free skate Monday at 3:45 p.m. at the HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose.

He can also be seen practicing Saturday from noon to 12:35 p.m. at Sharks Ice, 1500 S. 10th St., San Jose, and from 3:35 to 4:10 p.m. at the HP Pavilion. He will be practicing as part of the novice men's Practice Group B.

Although officially a student at PHS, Shum has recently been taking his high school courses online to accommodate his training schedule. He trains at the Oakland Ice Center as a member of the St. Moritz Ice Skating Club and skates three to five hours a day, six days a week (every day except Sunday). He will likely return to PHS in person following this week's nationals.

Shum was the U.S. Juvenile National Champion in 2008, and last year qualified for the first time for men's nationals, placing ninth in the novice men's category in Greensboro, N.C. He hopes to place even higher this year so that he may begin competing internationally.

Shum has been skating since he was 6. Asked how he feels about skating, Shum considered for a moment and then quietly replied as a broad smile broke out on his face, "I like it very much." 

The 2012 national championships run Jan. 22-29 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Tickets are available at www.skatesanjose2012.com or by phone at 408-287-9200.

NBC will air portions of the event on its two final days, Jan. 28 and 29.