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GREENSBORO — When ice skater Kay Bergdolt comes off a double twist in the air and lands gracefully in partner Miles Addison's arms, she locks eyes with him and then shares a seemingly "he takes good care of me" glance with the audience.

The "I'm skating with the hottest girl on the ice and she nailed it" look on Addison's face sets off the crowd.

This chemistry at the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships' Novice competition is tempered only by the fact that back at the practice rink in Raleigh, Bergdolt, 14, and Addison, 16, act more like siblings.

Pillow-fighting siblings, some days.

"I guess those days aren't the best days," Bergdolt said. "If you're not getting along you'll fight like siblings do. But the next day you'll be fine. You have to keep coming to practice. It's not like you can stay mad forever."

That's because they spend as much time together as some biological sisters and brothers. The Wake County high school students, the only team competing from North Carolina, are also among the minority in the world of pairs team skating longevity. In the past five years, the Skating Club of North Carolina members have placed in regionals and sectional competitions, including the bronze medal at the 2011 Eastern Sectional.

"Staying together is often difficult to do," said Brad Hislop, a former ice dancing world champion. "You do well and then one person loses interest, or wants to move to be nearer to a certain coach or skating club. My first partner and I did very well until she decided she wanted to go to college and major in fraternities."

In some cases one partner might be better, which creates an imbalance, said Mark Militano, a coach and former nationals pairs skating champion.

"The goals of one partner might be more intense than the other," Militano said. "The levels of dedication may be different. Even though they look good together, it's usually because one wants to pursue a longer career and maybe the other reaches a point where they discover their limitations."

Bergdolt and Addison are living in the now.

During Sunday's short program, the easy movement honed over the years excited the crowd along with their clean lines and tightly executed axels. The scoring, however, placed them eighth out of 11 going into today's free skate (they'll go out fourth in a session that begins at 5:45 p.m.).

"I think something didn't count," a still-stunned Bergdolt said.

It's been important to both of them to train in Raleigh, to go to school in Raleigh and to be full-time students.

The two arrive at the rink about 5:40 a.m. daily and start with a warm up off the ice. They skate from 6 to 6:45 a.m., when Addison heads off to school on weekdays and Bergdolt skates another half-hour because she still competes individually as well. In the afternoons, they skate together for another hour.

The focused Bergdolt is balanced by the spontaneous Addison — and they appreciate those differences.

"I get too nervous sometimes," Bergdolt said. "He kind of balances me out because he's more laid back."

Before he goes out on the ice, Addison likes talking to competitors.

"She's more in keeping to herself and thinking about the program we're about to do," Addison said. "But I think that makes us a stronger team."

The two even weathered Addison's growth spurt that caused him to tower over his partner, which ended up improving their routines.

"At first, artistically, it was harder for him ... because his body was bigger and bigger every day, but it's made him stronger every day," Bergdolt said.

Visually, it was perfect. With his strength and the height difference, his tosses and catches were more controlled.

As they sought critiques over the years, they've found ways to amp up that natural chemistry the two seem to share — i.e., the quick looks at each other and the audience.

"The judges have said the biggest thing we need to work on is our connection," Bergdolt said.

That led to ballet classes.

The ballet teacher "makes the time to make sure every moment is in unison and together," Bergdolt said. "In every little place you can you try to look at each other so you are acknowledging that they are there."

Addison saw the improvements almost immediately.

"It helps to be in charge of your body and be aware of yourself on the ice and what you look like," Addison said.

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com