Celebrating Black Excellence in Figure Skating

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Joel Savary, and then his brother Emmanuel Savary who both skated for the US IIRC.

Joel skated in the early 2000s and he's written a book about his experience as a POC in figure skating. https://joelsavary.com/ He also has a foundation http://www.diversifyice.org/index.html

That's fantastic! Kudos to Joel!

 

[ladyjane]

Emmanuel did pretty good at the PFT. He was impressive.

 

[labgoat]

Representing her native country of Norway, Louisa Warwin won a bronze medal at her very first international, which was in Iceland in Feb 2020.

Interestingly, she also has been competing in the USFS qualifying season for a number of years. (She is part of the @laeliteice training group in SoCal.)

In the 2019-20 season, she qualified for U.S. sectionals for the first time (by winning the bronze at regionals).
At the age of 26.

ETA (on Jun 12):

Oops, my mistake: Louisa actually won the pewter at regionals.
BTW, she represented SC of Nevada in USFS qualifying.​

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Very cool.



Lysacek has been involved with Figure Skating in Harlem for years.

Other prominent U.S. skaters too. Timothy Goebel immediately comes to mind as another example.

Meryl Davis was a leader in expanding the FSH model and establishing Figure Skating in Detroit.

ABC News Nightline Features Figure Skating in Harlem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTjqHPOZNvk

 

[labgoat]

Aaron Parchem, who was a US Pairs skater with Stephanie Kalesavich then Marcy Hinzmann, whom.he went to the Olympics with.

Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem LP at the Torino Olympic Games
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwW_7ztrx8g

also...The Aaron Parchem story on being adopted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrUSzjW_Evs

 

[labgoat]

From 2009 Worlds Men Short Program
14 Justin PIETERSEN RSA

 

[cmk]

I believe Rory Flack's son competed for Australia (father was Ralph Burghardt (sp). I forgot the son's name though. I did see a clip of a exhibition he did with his mom a few years ago.

 

[sakurano]

It's a very good idea this son, as a French I am proud that Surya Bonaly and Mae Berenice Meité represent France they accomplished good things and brought a lot to skating like the backflip of Bonaly and programs as well as placing in the top 10 skaters in the world of Maé Berenice : luv17:

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I believe Rory Flack's son competed for Australia (father was Ralph Burghardt (sp). I forgot the son's name though. I did see a clip of a exhibition he did with his mom a few years ago.

Remington Burghart: He's 2011 US Juv Bronze Pairs medalist. He now competes for Austria, not Australia.

 

[elbkup]

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGVa9fDDl2o/?igshid=1enxyul5lh6h

Part 1 of Interview with Canadian ice dancer Asher Hill.. he discusses how he got into the sport, his passion for ice dancing, his experiences frequently being the “only” black skater on the ice sometimes, the support of family, friends and his future as a full time coach and choreographer. It is a fine interview but ends rather abruptly and I guess Part 2 is yet to come.. worth a look.

 

[el henry]

Reviving thread for USFS fan zone article posted today on Rohene Ward

The tapestry that is Rohene Ward

And Jackie Wong posted this clip today:
"There are few skaters out there who can do reverse jumping, and then there are the even fewer skaters like Rohene Ward who could do reverse 2A sequenced into 3S"

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/1362503458558005249

 

[rollerblade]

And his reversed-foot euler looks better than whatever passes for eulers we see in competition.

 

[labgoat]

Axel MEDERIC FRA Free Skate Calgary 88 Olympic Games​

I always wanted to see this skater with the perfect name for the sport...

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Ladies and Gentlemen: Zabato Bebe (they misspell his name in video).

He's most recently performed in Cirque du Soleil Crystal and you can find out more about him here: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-zabato-bebe.html

He's amazing.

 

[Harriet]

Interesting article from The Guardian about Elladj Baldé's viral skating videos, his experiences as a Black Canadian figure skater in elite competitive sport and his and post-competitive career: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/19/elladj-balde-ice-skater-canada

 

[joeonice]

Hey folks I just wanted to add myself I’m johansan Jones I’m from Philadelphia currently coaching but I perform in shows and at 35 still doing triples !!! Everyone have a look and enjoy!!! https://youtu.be/UWxkqT83gxo

 

[el henry]

Hey folks I just wanted to add myself I’m johansan Jones I’m from Philadelphia currently coaching but I perform in shows and at 35 still doing triples !!! Everyone have a look and enjoy!!! https://youtu.be/UWxkqT83gxo

Thank you for posting @joeonice and good luck with your performing and coaching.

 

[cathlen]

I think this video coversation has it's place in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QII3mhSQrpA&feature=youtu.be
From description: "Co-Hosts Acacia and Asher Hill are joined by the highly melanated and excellent Vanessa James, Maé Bérénice Méité, and Elladj Bladé to talk about their experience as Black figure skaters." I loved it! Each of them has different experience and it's definitely worth hearing about it

 

[ladyjane]

I think this video coversation has it's place in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QII3mhSQrpA&feature=youtu.be
From description: "Co-Hosts Acacia and Asher Hill are joined by the highly melanated and excellent Vanessa James, Maé Bérénice Méité, and Elladj Bladé to talk about their experience as Black figure skaters." I loved it! Each of them has different experience and it's definitely worth hearing about it

Definitely fits here, and very interesting.

 

[el henry]

Rohene Ward talks about choreographing the Sinnerman piece and what it means to him in this article about Jason, Rohene and Sinnerman, with quotes from Jason, Rohene and persons in the modern dance community :

Jason Brown, Rohene Ward seek to spread the light with “Sinnerman” program

When choreographer Rohene Ward contemplates a new program for Jason Brown, he asks himself: How are we trying to touch people? With frustrations in the Black community growing and COVID-19 tightening its grip, Ward thought it was time to honor Alvin Ailey.

olympics.nbcsports.com

Last spring, with frustrations in the Black community growing and COVID-19 tightening its grip, Ward thought it was time to honor Alvin Ailey (1931-1989), founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and choreographer of “Revelations,” a landmark work telling elements of the Black American experience through modern dance.
....

Rohene is now working out of the Fox Valley rink in the Chicago area and wants to do more outreach to students of color:

“I’ve reached out, but with COVID it’s been difficult,” he said. “It’s about going into the community and doing the work. I’m ready to do that, once COVID clears.”

 

[elbkup]

Figure Skating in Harlem Virtual Gala
April 22
from Vanessa James Instagram...
Lots of interesting celebs & skaters
Starr Andrews
Elladj Balde
Adam Rippon
Gal Gadot
Vanessa James
Alex & Maia Shibutani
Vlad from CBS (can’t remember his last name)
And more!!
Mae Berenice Meite is also mentioned tho not sure she will be there since her Achilles surgery...

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNpdbnFHS1I/?igshid=9o0sw3ik0tav