2025 Texas Trophy | Sep 30 - Oct 4 | Page 2 | Golden Skate

2025 Texas Trophy | Sep 30 - Oct 4

ice coverage said:
I hope things work out for @moonvine to watch her big favorite.

Because she also is good at appreciating "unknowns", I will mention that Alex Liu is an enjoyable skater, as well as a nice guy.
I suspect that he will compete in Senior Men at Texas Trophy. He trains (and coaches) in the Dallas area.
I am not saying that his scores will be noteworthy (his tech content and consistency are not top-tier), but Alex first caught my eye at 2023 Nats (when he was a junior), and I think his skating is lovely.



What was the date of the article?
I don't see anything more recent than August. Thus moonvine's understandable interest (before long-distance travel for her) in whether KM's plan as of weeks ago for Texas still remains up to date.
Click to expand...
I have a stuffie ready!

I do like unknown skaters. But if USFS wants to grow the sport they need to let people know who will be there. Maybe Kirk Haugeto - probably not not maybe. I have a fowl stuffie in case.

This is no way to grow interest. The entries are still not up. I’m just this crazy.

In typical Moonvine fashion, there was drama incoming. I was listening to my Queens book and somehow the navigation got turned off so i had a nice side trip all over Dallas. Fortunately I had planned for something to go wrong and prepaid the hotel so my reservation didn’t get cancelled.

I broke the brake off my walker but hopefully someone can fix it.
 
moonvine said:
I have a stuffie ready!

I do like unknown skaters. But if USFS wants to grow the sport they need to let people know who will be there. Maybe Kirk Haugeto - probably not not maybe. I have a fowl stuffie in case.

This is no way to grow interest. The entries are still not up. I’m just this crazy.

In typical Moonvine fashion, there was drama incoming. I was listening to my Queens book and somehow the navigation got turned off so i had a nice side trip all over Dallas. Fortunately I had planned for something to go wrong and prepaid the hotel so my reservation didn’t get cancelled.

I broke the brake off my walker but hopefully someone can fix it.
Click to expand...
So glad you will be able to see Keegan !
 
Have fun, moonvine!
Thanks for reading my comments about Alex Liu.

I applaud Dallas FSC for their heavy lifting to grow the sport -- such as giving hundreds and hundreds of skaters the opportunity to participate at Texas Trophy and other annual competitions hosted by the club.
For example: In addition to its many NQS categories, 2025 Texas Trophy also offers a long list of non-qual categories: Well Balanced Singles Events -- PrePreliminary, Preliminary, PreJuvenile, Open Juvenile; Excel Singles Events -- Aspire 1-4, Pre-Preliminary, Preliminary, Prelim Plus, PreJuv Plus, Juvenile, Juv Plus, Intermediate, Int Plus, Novice, Junior, Senior; Adult Singles Events -- Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Masters Int/Nov & Masters Jr/Sr.

USFS does not have hands-on responsibility for running individual NQS/club competitions, AFAIK.
I think that volunteers who organize club competitions have their hands full with managing all kinds of logistics pertaining to skaters, officials, and the like. Given that most club competitions have limited volunteerpower and resources, it is fine by me that their procedures are not driven by any goal of catering to potential spectators who are not family or close friends of a competitor.
It is a total fluke that a long-retired Olympian from a non-U.S. federation is returning to competition at a U.S. domestic event that is half a continent away from his homebase. And you are an exceedingly rare breed who is "crazy" enough to drive umpteen hours round-trip from a non-adjacent state (and pay hotel costs) to attend a relatively obscure competition, with the laser-focus of watching literally one particular super-favorite who is not a family member or personal friend. It is your choice to make such a major effort. I do hope you have a great time!
 
Last edited:
ice coverage said:
Have fun, moonvine!
Thanks for reading my comments about Alex Liu.

I applaud Dallas FSC for their heavy lifting to grow the sport -- such as giving hundreds and hundreds of skaters the opportunity to participate at Texas Trophy and other annual competitions hosted by the club.
For example: In addition to its many NQS categories, 2025 Texas Trophy also offers a long list of non-qual categories: Well Balanced Singles Events -- PrePreliminary, Preliminary, PreJuvenile, Open Juvenile; Excel Singles Events -- Aspire 1-4, Pre-Preliminary, Preliminary, Prelim Plus, PreJuv Plus, Juvenile, Juv Plus, Intermediate, Int Plus, Novice, Junior, Senior; Adult Singles Events -- Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Masters Int/Nov & Masters Jr/Sr.

USFS does not have hands-on responsibility for running individual NQS/club competitions, AFAIK.
I think that volunteers who organize club competitions have their hands full with managing all kinds of logistics pertaining to skaters, officials, and the like. Given that most club competitions have limited volunteerpower and resources, it is fine by me that their procedures are not driven by any goal of catering to potential spectators who are not family or close friends of a competitor.
It is a total fluke that a long-retired Olympian from a non-U.S. federation is returning to competition at a U.S. domestic event that is half a continent away from his homebase. And you are an exceedingly rare breed who is "crazy" enough to drive umpteen hours round-trip from a non-adjacent state (and pay hotel costs) to attend a relatively obscure competition, with the laser-focus of watching literally one particular super-favorite who is not a family member or personal friend. It is your choice to make such a major effort. I do hope you have a great time!
Click to expand...


I’m sorry I was unclear.

I was more meaning If the entries were up esrlier, I could say to a friend “oh look, I’d really like to see Keegan, and I enjoy Sonja Hilmer’s skating too, and I hear Alex Liu is a Great perforen. Dallas is a big city and we could also do X, Y and Z.”

(This would be a more likely scenario for a small comp in Chicago, which is much closer)

The club members didn’t know who was competing. Only Numbers.

But the entries are up and praise all skating Gods, he’s on there.
 
Ok now that the entries are up, anyone have any favorite skaters I should look out for not already mentioned?
 
Tera Gropp (Intermediate women group C) competed internationally recently, I think. Jessi Jurka posts pictures with her often, so I think they're training buddies.

Nathan Chapple (in senior men) is fun to watch, too.
 
moonvine said:
Ok now that the entries are up, anyone have any favorite skaters I should look out for not already mentioned?
Click to expand...

Thanks for asking! More skaters who I would try to catch if I were attending:

Angela Shao, #17 in Junior Women starting order.
6th at her JGP debut this season; 3rd at 2025 U.S. Junior Team Cup; 6th at 2025 Nats; etc.

Junior Men as a whole.
At least four of the six entries have qualified for Nationals in the past.

Yes to Sonja Hilmer.

Yes to Nathan Chapple, #3 in Senior Men starting order.
He represented U.S. at 2023 World University Games in Lake Placid.

Yes to Tera Gropp, #10 in Intermediate Women Group C starting order.
3rd at 2025 Cranberry Cup international in Advanced Novice. For me, she has the "it" factor.
 
What score does Keegan need for Skate Canadá to send him to a Challenger?
 
Seven Sisters said:
Ice Monitor! That is an important, prestigious job—I’m impressed!

This experience should qualify you for a Volunteer spot at Nationals. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Don’t be too impressed. There was no one else to do it so they just gave me a 5 minute orientation and I worked Intermediate Women Groups B and C - so no Tara Gropp video, sorry. She did well though. One poor young lady didn’t have a coach so I held onto her jacket for her.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

gsk8
2026 Peach Open | Sep 4-6
Replies
0
Views
145
gsk8
gsk8
gsk8
2026 Austin Autumn Classic (NQS) | Sep 24-27
Replies
0
Views
78
gsk8
gsk8
gsk8
2026 Boston Open (NQS) | Oct 1-4
Replies
0
Views
81
gsk8
gsk8
gsk8
2026 Oktoberfest (NQS) | Sep 17-20
Replies
0
Views
112
gsk8
gsk8
gsk8
2026 LA Autumn Classic (NQS) | Oct 2-4
Replies
0
Views
164
gsk8
gsk8
Back
Top