Anyone remember Bebe Liang as a junior skater?

[krenseby]

I haven't followed the junior circuit in the early 2000s but seems that Bebe was making a name for herself as a young skating prodigy in those years

I love her LP from the 2003 Junior Worlds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4ArD472jGE.

It's technically impressive and beautiful, and yet Bebe's skating in it is totally different from it is today. You can't really recognize the current lady skater in the young girl that she used to be.

 

[ks777]

yep. I been following her since she was 12. I thought she was going to be someone like Michelle when I first saw her skate. Ever since she left Tiffany Chin(Tiffany had to take a break to raise a baby), she lost her consistancy at the same time, not that bebe was ever consistant but it got worse.

 

[Tonichelle]

I remember hearing she was teh next big thing, but I didn't get to see her until Portland 05... and I didn't get all the hype... it'd be interesting to see her stuff from before then

 

[ks777]

here is another video of her at 2002 jr worlds.
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZUHA3iTH0w&feature=related

She reminds me of Zhang a lot. or Zhang reminds me of Liang.

 

[luckyguy]

here is another video of her at 2002 jr worlds.
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZUHA3iTH0w&feature=related

She reminds me of Zhang a lot. or Zhang reminds me of Liang.

That´s why we should wait a little to make a realistic prognosis about the future of Caroline Zhang.

 

[ManyCairns]

Didn't they announce on the ABC broadcast yesterday that Bebe's been going to senior nats for 10 years?

Were they wrong about that, or did she have several "crossover" seasons, or were they counting junior appearances at "big nats"??

Off to wikipedia to check ... but please share your thoughts.

 

[ks777]

Didn't they announce on the ABC broadcast yesterday that Bebe's been going to senior nats for 10 years?

Were they wrong about that, or did she have several "crossover" seasons, or were they counting junior appearances at "big nats"??

Off to wikipedia to check ... but please share your thoughts.

I think they said 8yrs. She's been competing as a senior since 12yo at nationals.

 

[ManyCairns]

^ As you said, 8 years is right. I must've misheard them. Thanks for the clarification. She did compete as a novice one year, junior the next, then on to seniors!

 

[luckyguy]

The ISU Biography of Beatrisa Liang:

http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005324.htm

 

[Cal Girl]

I remember Bebe from her novice and junior years and now that I have reviewed some old tapes, she really is a mixture of Caroline and Mirai. Her jumps were big like Mirai's and her carriage and spins was a little like Caroline. I always thought that Bebe would really make it big, but I thought that of Danielle Kahle, Naomi Nari Nam and a few others from the LA area. Everything changes when the body goes through it's transition and most skaters don't adjust well or easily. Not that any of these women are big by any standard, but it just gets tougher to do what you did before that time.
I cant wait to see what the new "ice Princesses" do in the future and I truly hope they are able to maintain their consistency and dominance in the sport but I think we shall see some "de throning" before long.

 

[krenseby]

I remember Bebe from her novice and junior years and now that I have reviewed some old tapes, she really is a mixture of Caroline and Mirai. Her jumps were big like Mirai's and her carriage and spins was a little like Caroline. I always thought that Bebe would really make it big, but I thought that of Danielle Kahle, Naomi Nari Nam and a few others from the LA area. Everything changes when the body goes through it's transition and most skaters don't adjust well or easily. Not that any of these women are big by any standard, but it just gets tougher to do what you did before that time.
I cant wait to see what the new "ice Princesses" do in the future and I truly hope they are able to maintain their consistency and dominance in the sport but I think we shall see some "de throning" before long.

I think that right now she is more like Mirai than Caroline: speed, energy, and a very aggressive, lively style. She's thought not gentle and lyrical like Caroline whose whole posture and movement is very delicate, precise, and slow.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

yep. I been following her since she was 12. I thought she was going to be someone like Michelle when I first saw her skate. Ever since she left Tiffany Chin(Tiffany had to take a break to raise a baby), she lost her consistancy at the same time, not that bebe was ever consistant but it got worse.

I don't really see Bebe as an inconsistent skater as I see her more as what I call an SP skater.

(There are others, but I do not wish to open a can of worms on Bebe's thread)

I think her coach should make her do many power exercises to give her the needed energy in the LP.

Joe.

 

[feraina]

Thanks for these interesting early footages of Bebe.

She reminds me of Zhang a lot. or Zhang reminds me of Liang.

Without having seen these videos, I wouldn't have believed it! But having seen them, I do see the resemblance -- Bebe in her '03 JW LP is especially more lyrical and graceful than her current style of powerful skating. But I also see some differences:
1) Bebe didn't have an especially balletic style (the way Caroline is eye-catchingly so).
2) Bebe was faster than Caroline is now, especially at 14.
3) Bebe didn't skate very clean programs, even though these two are the cleanest LP's I've ever seen her skate; whereas Caroline at her two junior worlds skated four perfect programs.

Things to take away (for me): Caroline has still got puberty to contend with, her fighter spirit and general ability to put out clean programs will help her, she may gain speed and power yet a la Bebe (see how much Bebe improved between 13 and 14, and by now), and although ladies skaters can change a great deal, I don't see Caroline losing her grace, flexibility, or the spins.