ELLENTON - Senior pairs figure skaters Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig glide gracefully across the ice, their movements choreographed to present an image of beauty and elegance.

Their exquisite performance is a byproduct of long hours training on and off-ice at the J.P. Igloo Ice and Inline Sports Complex. Although their long program might look suitable for framing, getting there entails a fair share of scrapes, bumps and bruises.

While practicing their triple twist several weeks ago, Evora's elbow collided with Ladwig's eye as he attempted to catch her on her descent. The mishap fractured Ladwig's nose and right eye socket, disrupting their training schedule for two weeks.

"I've hit him in the face before with my elbow, but this was the first time he was injured," Evora said. "It kind of scared me because blood was coming out of his nose. I was afraid I had broken it or he couldn't see."

"It was a freak accident, but those kinds of things are part of training," said Ladwig, who recovered in time for the duo to compete at the Indy Challenge in Indianapolis, where they finished third in the Senior Pairs Free Skating event and fourth in the Short Program.

"I know many pairs skaters who boast of the number of times they've had their nose busted. It's one of the scars I can show off now."

Evora, a 19-year-old Manatee Community College honors student, and Ladwig, 24, were scheduled to depart Monday with J.P. Igloo figure skating coach Kerry Leitch for Oberstdorf, Germany, where they will compete this week in the 36th Nebelhorn Trophy International.

The competition in Germany is the second major international U.S. Figure Skating Association assignment for Evora and Ladwig. In November, they won the Golden Spin of Zagreb, Croatia.

"The Nebelhorn means a lot in the world of figure skating because it is directly below a Grand Prix event (in terms of stature)," Leitch said. "If they do well and there is an opening at a Grand Prix, they could be selected to do that.

"The standard is much higher at the Nebelhorn than the Golden Spin, but they certainly have a chance," Leitch said. "Amanda and Mark have great style, great speed and great unison, and they have added some original moves to their program."

Evora and Ladwig, who in January finished 10th in senior pairs at the nationals in Atlanta, have been partners for three years since she arrived from Houston and he came from Fargo, N.D.

In Germany, they plan to perform two triple jumps (one in combination), two throw triples and a lift called the Militano, named for 1973 national champions Melissa and Mark Militano.

By the nature of pairs skating, "If we were a theme park, she'd be the front of the house and I'd be the people in back," Ladwig said, jokingly.

But putting the elements together takes tremendous teamwork, communication and an ability to shake off a mistake and act as if nothing happened.

"Mark and I have a good connection, on and off the ice," Evora said. "We are always there to support each other."

"Amanda is very lyrical to the music," said Ladwig, describing his partner's innate ability to interpret during a routine and "tell a story."

"She is able to pick up on the soft, subtle tones in the music and make it very dramatic," Ladwig said. "She might hear a small violin piece in the back and be able to bring it to the front as loud as any trumpet."

In both events at the Indy Challenge, Evora and Ladwig finished behind fellow J.P. Igloo skaters Shantel Jordan and Jeremy Barrett, who finished second twice to Marcy Hinzmann of Lakewood, Ohio and Aaron Parchem of Detroit.

In January, the team of Jordan and Barrett won a gold medal in the Junior Pairs competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Since Barrett turned 20, he and the 12-year-old Jordan have graduated to Senior Pairs.

J.P. Igloo has a third Senior Pairs team, Miguel Alegre and newcomer Crystal Hancy.

"We've always been family, and it's always going to be that way," Evora said. "We always hope they do a clean program and they hope the same for us. Then, when we get on the ice, we hope we can beat their program."

"Amanda is a very goal-oriented person, and I am, too," Jordan said. "I just try to follow what she does."

Evora and Ladwig are on the ice by 9 a.m. five days a week. She trains on and off-ice until mid-afternoon and takes four classes at MCC three days a week. She also works in J.P. Igloo's accounts payable department.

"Amanda is an inspiration to everyone," Ladwig said. "She helps keep the younger kids going. She'll tell them, 'Maybe you have homework, but we all have something to do.' She is definitely a positive influence."