For middle schooler, skating is almost a late-life transition.

Byline: Steve Farley

NORTHBRIDGE - While it's too late for Danielle St. Martin to become an Olympic figure skater at the ripe old age of 12, that doesn't mean the relative newcomer can't dream of becoming a professional figure skater.

The sixth-grader at the Northbridge Middle School says she is determined to become a Disney on Ice performer when she's older, but she realizes it's going to take a lot of hard work, focus and dedication to get there. Danielle admits she's never been to a live Disney on Ice show, but has watched one on television and hopes she gets an opportunity to tour with them when she's an adult.

"You learn something different each week," said Danielle, who trains at the Daniel S. Horgan Memorial Skating Rink in Auburn every Wednesday. "It's fun to compete."

Danielle, who started training last April, couldn't have picked better role models than Sasha Cohen - her favorite, she said - and figure skating icons Tara Lipinksi and Massachusetts' own Nancy Kerrigan.

Last month, Danielle took second place at the third annual Brockton Blizzard figure-skating competition held at ASIAF Arena in Brockton. She competed as a Delta-level skater at the two-day event that featured skaters of all levels and ages. "When I competed, I was the oldest," said Danielle, who is also a member of the U.S. Figure Skating Association and the Ice Skating Institute. "In the Delta level, there's no jumps and spins. It's really basic stuff. I do know how to jump and spin."

When asked if she'd like to be an Olympian, Danielle said, "I think that I'm too old."

"You have to be able to learn triple jumps. I'm only doing single jumps. Plus, I'm only (training) once a week. It would take a long time."

Prior to skating, Danielle was taking karate lessons but realized that sport wasn't for her.

"I stopped doing that because it was getting boring," she said. "

She credits her dad David's friend Michael Joyce, also a Northbridge resident, with teaching her skating basics when she was a little girl. Her coaches are Jackie Darling and Christine Groleau. She met Darling while taking group lessons at the Charles J. Buffone Skating Rink in Worcester.

"We liked her so much, she became my private coach," said Danielle, who is a member of the Bay State Blades of Auburn and the Central Massachusetts Figure Skating Club. "Jackie is more of a basic-skills coach. She suggested Christine because she's more a footwork coach, and she helps with jumps."

Danielle's next competition is March 14 and 15 at the Natick Competition. She will still compete in the Delta level, but will be upgrading her program with different, more difficult techniques and skills going forward.

According to Danielle, the next level after Delta is Freestyle 1, which contains easy jumps. She has set a goal of learning, then mastering, a double jump in the near future.

"My new program will have some jumps and spins," she said. "We're going to have a song in it, too."

ART: PHOTOS

PHOTOG: RICH DUGAS PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Danielle St. Martin, a sixth-grader at Northbridge Middle School, has turned to ice skating recently in a big way. Now she has her eye on a professional skating career. (2 AND 3) Above and below, Danielle St. Martin, 13, of Northbridge practices her skating routines at the Daniel S. Horgan Memorial Skating Rink in Auburn.