She decided it was time to get serious about figure skating.

After all, since joining the city of Sunnyvale learn-to-skate program at Cupertino's Ice Chalet as a 5-year-old, Dano had won 11 recreational competitions between 1998 and 2000, and she placed second or third in four others. And, with the help of coach Danielle Schultz, she had just captured first place in four categories at "Reflections On Ice."

So, a decision was made. The Sunnyvale youngster joined the University Ice Skating Club of San Jose with Julie Lowndes and former U.S. Olympian Charlie Tickner as her coaches. The Ice Oasis in Redwood City became her home rink.

A few years later, at age 12, Dano is a U.S. Figure Skating Association juvenile regional winner, gearing up for junior nationals next month in Jamestown, N.Y. She will compete against 36 other girls at the national event Dec. 1­4.

She qualified for the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships by beating out 11 other skaters at the Central Pacific Regional championships held Nov. 5­7 in San Jose. Dano was voted first place on the scorecards of six of the seven judges.

Dano's long-term skating goals are the highest--to earn national and world championships and compete in the Olympics. Certainly, some past U.S. Olympians have started their figure skating careers in Bay Area youth programs, including Kristi Yamaguchi, Debi Thomas, Rudy Galindo and Sunnyvale native Brian Boitano.

Only time will tell if Dano will join that illustrious group. For now she will concentrate on December in New York.