Finding the Edge
Page 8
I feel that way when Jeffrey and I are together on the ice. It doesn’t happen as much anymore, because he’s training as an ice dancer now, and our lives are busy, but we still manage to goof off from time to time. Skating with Jeffrey, I always feel confident to try things I otherwise wouldn’t, like tracing the figure of a tiny heart over and over again. That’s how I started to love skating. I pushed out on the ice, and every time, it was new. Nothing seemed silly or stupid. I was learning, growing, and discovering. Yes, there were right and wrong ways to execute the techniques, but I succeeded by doing, by trying. Over and over and over again.
Skating allowed me to become an individual, because it demanded courage. For a skater, the biggest embarrassment is not sliding on our backsides across the ice. No, the worst thing we can do is back away from a challenge, give in to the fear.
Life is complicated, and it can be frustrating. Sometimes I feel like I’m working my tail off and yet I don’t see results.
And that’s when I remind myself, Keep going, you got this, because I’m not done writing my story yet.
EPILOGUE
THE OLYMPIC CREED OF 1894
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE OLYMPIC Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well.
CAREER SUMMARY
2017 US champion
2015 US bronze medalist
2012 US novice champion
2011 US intermediate champion
All-Time Results
2017—World Team Trophy—3rd (team)
SP: 60.33, LP: 108.62
2017—World Championships—4th (199.29)
SP: 69.98 (5), LP: 129.31 (6)
2017—Four Continents Championships—12th (166.82)
SP: 55.60 (12), LP: 111.22 (10)
2017—US Championships—1st (214.22)
SP: 72.82 (1), LP: 141.40 (1)
2016—Golden Spin of Zagreb—7th (155.63)
SP: 54.60 (6), LP: 101.03 (7)
2016—NHK Trophy—6th (178.45)
SP: 58.76 (7), LP: 119.69 (5)
2016—Cup of China—7th (179.39)
SP: 58.28 (9), LP: 121.11 (5)
2016—US International Classic—3rd (162.08)
SP: 51.50 (6), LP: 110.58 (3)
2016—Four Continents Championships—12th (161.52)
SP: 53.55 (12), LP: 107.97 (10)
2016—US Championships—8th (168.75)
SP: 54.86 (12), LP: 113.89 (8)
2015—Golden Spin of Zagreb—3rd (175.35)
SP: 56.82 (4), LP: 118.53 (8)
2015—Cup of China—5th (175.93)
SP: 58.30 (7), LP: 117.63 (5)
2015—Skate America—5th (172.54)
SP: 62.28 (4), LP: 110.26 (6)
2015—US International Classic—4th (159.18)
SP: 60.94 (3), LP: 98.24 (5)
2015—World Junior Championships—8th (157.30)
SP: 51.64 (12), LP: 105.66 (8)
2015—US Championships—3rd (199.79)
SP: 64.66 (6), LP: 135.13 (3)
2015—Pacific Coast Sectional—1st (171.58)
SP: 54.83 (2), LP: 116.75 (1)
2014—Junior Grand Prix, Croatia—2nd (169.41)
SP: 62.71 (1), LP: 106.70 (3)
2014—Junior Grand Prix, Czech Republic—3rd (160.95)
SP: 60.68 (1), LP: 100.27 (4)
2014—World Junior Championships—9th
2014—US Championships, Junior—Withdrawn
2013—Junior Grand Prix (Slovakia)—1st
2013—Junior Grand Prix (Latvia)—3rd
2013—Gardena Spring Trophy, Novice—1st
2013—US Championships, Junior—4th
2013—Pacific Coast Sectional, Junior—2nd
2012—US Championships, Novice—1st
2012—Pacific Coast Sectional, Novice—1st
2012—Central Pacific Regional, Novice—1st
2011—US Junior Championships, Intermediate—1st
2011—Central Pacific Regional, Intermediate—1st
2010—US Junior Championships, Juvenile—4th
2010—Central Pacific Regional, Juvenile—1st
IJS Personal Bests
International Competition
SP—69.98 (2017 World Championships)
LP—129.31 (2017 World Championships)
Final Score—199.29 (2017 World Championships)
US Qualifying Competition
SP—72.82 (2017 US Championships)
LP—141.40 (2017 US Championships)
Final Score—214.22 (2017 US Championships)
Career Notes
2011 Junior Nationals, Intermediate Ladies Division
Karen’s score (combined short program and long program) was 119.92 points—the highest score at the intermediate level since the International Judging System was implemented in 2007. The opening Level 4 layback spin earned 4.20 points and received straight 3 grades of execution from the judging panel.
2012 US Nationals, Novice Ladies Division
At age twelve, in her debut at the US Figure Skating Championships, Karen captured the novice ladies title with 140.17 points, the highest competition score recorded in the current judging system. Her margin of victory was 14 points.
2017 US Nationals
At age seventeen, Karen became the national champion and set a new short program record with 72.82 points.
Season Notes
2010–11
Short Program music: “On Golden Pond” by Dave Grusin
Long Program music: “My Sweet and Tender Beast” by Eugen Doga
2011–12
SP music: “The Chairman’s Waltz” by John Williams
LP music: Selections from The Godfather soundtrack by Nino Rota
2012–13
SP music: Music from The House of Flying Daggers soundtrack by Shigeru Umebayashi
LP music: “Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra” by Joshua Bell
Competition dresses designed by Karen’s mom, Hsiu-Hui Tseng
2013–14
SP music: “Esperanza” by Maxime Rodriguez
LP music: Selections from the Miss Saigon soundtrack by Claude-Michel Schönberg
2014–15
SP music: “Requiem for a Tower” by Clint Mansell
LP music: “The Godfather Suite” by Carmine Coppola and Nino Rota
Competition dresses designed by Lilya Dukler (SP) and Elena Pollack (LP).
2015–16
SP music: “Nessun Dorma” by Puccini
LP music: Selections from Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Both dresses designed by Lisa McKinnon
2016–17
SP music: “On Golden Pond” by Dave Grusin
LP music: Jalousie “Tango Tzigane” aka “Jealousy Tango” by Jacob Gade
Both dresses designed by Lisa McKinnon
2017–18
SP music: “El Tango de Roxanne” from Moulin Rouge, sung by José Feliciano
LP music: Carmen Suite after Bizet’s opera, by Rodion Shchedrin
FIGURE SKATING COMPETITIVE SEASON TIMELINE
• Seasons begin in July and extend through June of the next year, and events are all sanctioned by the International Skating Union.
• ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are invitationals that run from October through December.
• ISU Challenger Series events are ranked below the Grand Prix series; skaters can enter a maximum of three Challenger events.
July and August
Unofficial showcase events
September
US International Classic (Challenger)
Autumn Classic (Challenger)
October
Skate America (Grand Prix)
Skate Canada (Grand Prix)
November
Cup of China (Grand Prix)
NHK Trophy (Grand Prix)
December
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Golden Spin of Zagreb (Challenger)
Grand Prix Final (Grand Prix)
January
US Figure Skating Championships
Four Continents Championships (ISU Championships)
February
Winter Olympics (every four years)
March
World Championships
April
World Team Trophy
GLOSSARY OF FIGURE SKATING TERMS
Technical Terms
ACCOUNTANT
An official at a figure skating competition who compiles and computes marks awarded by judges to determine the placement of competitors.
AXEL JUMP
One of the most difficult jumps, which takes off from the forward outside edge and is landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. A single axel consists of 1.5 revolutions, a double is 2.5 revolutions, and a triple is 3.5 revolutions. The jump is named for its inventor, Axel Paulsen. It is easily recognizable, as it is the only jump that takes off from a forward position.
BIELLMANN POSITION
Named after Denise Biellmann, this is a difficult variation where the skater’s free leg is pulled from behind to a position higher than and toward the top of the head.
BRACKET
A turn from forward to backward or backward to forward that is executed on one foot in the direction opposite the curve from an outside edge to an inside edge or vice versa, with the exit curve continuing on the same lobe as the entry curve. The pattern the turn creates on the ice looks like a bracket ({).
CAMEL SPIN
A spin that is done on one leg, with the non-skating leg, or free leg, extended backward with knee higher than hip level. The body remains in this “spiral” position while spinning.
CHOCTAW
A turn from forward to backward (or backward to forward) from one foot to the other in which the curve of the exit edge is in the opposite direction to the curve of the entry edge. The change of foot is from outside edge to inside edge or from inside edge to outside edge.
COMBINATION SPIN
A spin in which the skater changes feet and/or positions.
COUNTER
A turn made on one foot from a forward to backward (or backward to forward) edge maintaining the same character, i.e., outside to outside or inside to inside, where the body rotation is counter to the natural direction of progress.
CROSSOVERS
A method of gaining speed and turning corners in which skaters cross one foot over the other. There are both forward and backward crossovers.
DANCE LIFTS
A movement in which one of the partners is elevated with active and/or passive assistance of the other partner to any permitted height, sustained there and set down on the ice. Any rotations and positions and changes of positions during the lift are permitted. Lifts should enhance the music and be performed in an elegant manner.
DEATH SPIRAL
A pairs move in which the man rotates in a pivot position while holding one hand of his partner, who is rotating in a horizontal position around him with her body low and parallel to the ice.
DIFFICULT VARIATION
A movement of a body part that requires physical strength or flexibility and has an effect on the balance of the main body core. Only these variations can increase the level of an element.
DOWNGRADED
A jump, throw jump, or twist lift that is missing one-half revolution or more. A downgraded jump is indicated on a skater protocol with a “<<”symbol and receives the value for the jump of one rotation less (i.e., a downgraded triple loop will receive the value of a double loop).
DRAW
The process to determine the starting or skating order for each event. Either the referee or chair of the competition conducts the process in the presence of other judges (closed draw) or in an open setting where the athletes participate and actually draw a number from a pouch (open draw).
EDGES
The two sides of the skate blade on either side of the grooved center. There is an inside edge—the edge on the inner side of the leg—and an outside edge—the edge on the outer side of the leg. There is a forward and backward for each edge and each side, equaling a total of eight different edges.
EDGE JUMP
A jump where the skater takes off from the entry edge of the skating foot without bringing the free foot in contact with the ice to assist the takeoff. The axel, loop, and Salchow are common edge jumps.
ELIGIBLE
The term used to define skaters or competitions that meet the requirements and follow the rules of US Figure Skating and/or the International Skating Union (ISU). All eligible skaters, judges, and officials are members of US Figure Skating and have not participated in any activities, competitions, or events that are not sanctioned by US Figure Skating or the ISU.
ENVELOPE SYSTEM
In the United States, the envelope system is a part of the US National Team and separates skaters for ASUPP funding levels. Based on prescribed criteria, US athletes can be placed in Team A, B, C, the reserve team, or the developmental team. The US Figure Skating Athlete Support Fund (ASUPP) financially supports the US Team envelope athletes by assisting them with their skating expenses.
FEATURES
Additions that make elements more difficult and increase the base value.
FLIP JUMP
A toe-pick-assisted jump taken off from the back inside edge of one foot and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.
FLYING SPIN
A spin in which the entrance is a jump. No rotation on the ice is permitted before the takeoff.
FOOTWORK
A series of steps and turns that immediately follow one another, executed in time to the music and choreographically related to one another. Also referred to as a step sequence, footwork is intended to show the precision and dexterity of the skater’s movements.
FREE DANCE
The free dance is relatively unrestricted, and skaters select the mood and tempo as long as it is danceable. Couples (for senior level) are allowed four minutes to display their full range of technical skills, interpretation, and inventiveness. It is preceded by the short dance.
FREE SKATE (OR FREE SKATING)
The free skate does not have required elements, so skaters select their own music and theme and choreograph the many difficult jumps, spins, and step sequences that best display their technical and artistic skills. The free skate (for senior level) has a length of four and a half minutes for men and pairs, and four minutes for ladies. It is preceded by the short program.
HAND-TO-HAND LOOP LIFT
A press lift in which the man raises his partner, who is in front of him and facing the same direction, above his head. She remains facing the same direction, in the sitting position with her hands behind her, while her partner supports her by the hands.
HYDRANT LIFT
A lift in which the man throws his partner over his head while skating backward, rotates one-half turn, and catches his partner facing him.
INTERMEDIATE SPIN POSITION
Any position that does not fit the definition of a camel, sit, or upright position.
JUMP COMBINATION
A jump element consisting of two or three listed jumps where the landing foot of one jump is the takeoff foot of the next jump.
JUMP ELEMENT
An individual jump, a jump combination, or a jump sequence. Singles and pairs skaters are limited in the number of jump elements they can attempt in a program.
JUMP SEQUENCE
A jump element consisting of any number of listed jumps that are linked by nonlisted jumps and/or hops immediately following one another while maintaining the jump rhythm. There can be no turns, steps, crossovers, or stroking during the sequence.
LASSO LIFT
A hand-to-hand overhead lift in which the man swings his partner from one side of his body, around behind his head, and into a raised position. Once in the lift, the lady is in a split position facing the s
ame direction as the man. There are four different types of lasso lifts, determined by the takeoff: toe lasso, step in lasso, reverse lasso, and axel lasso.
LAYBACK SPIN
Generally performed by women, the layback spin involves an upright spin position where the head and shoulders are dropped backward and the back arches.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
A measure of the complexity of an element. Skaters can achieve higher levels of difficulty through the use of features. In singles, pairs, and ice dancing, levels range from 1 to 4, with Level 1 having the lowest base value and Level 4 having the highest base value.
LISTED JUMP
A jump that is listed in the scale of values. Listed jumps are defined by their takeoff. There are six different types of listed jumps: toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip, lutz, and axel.
LIFTS
Pair moves in which the man lifts his partner above his head with arm(s) fully extended. Lifts consist of precise ascending, rotational, and descending movements.
LOBE
The pattern made on the ice by an edge or steps, forming an arc of a circle that starts and finishes on an axis.
LONG LIFTS
Dance lifts with a maximum duration of twelve seconds. There are three different types: reverse rotational, serpentine, and combination.
LONG PROGRAM
Old term for the free skate portion of the singles and pairs competitions.
LOOP
A one-foot movement where the skater skates an oval pattern within a circle without changing direction or edge. The entry and exit of the loop must cross.
LOOP JUMP
An edge jump, taken off from a back outside edge and landed on the same back outside edge.
LUTZ JUMP
A toe-pick-assisted jump taken off from a back outside edge and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. The skater glides backward on a wide curve, taps his toe pick into the ice, and rotates in the opposite direction of the curve. The jump is named for its inventor, Alois Lutz.
MIRROR SKATING
Any movements in pairs skating or ice dancing where the partners perform the same movements but in opposite directions, thus creating a mirror-image effect.
MOHAWK
A turn from forward to backward (or backward to forward), from one foot to the other, each edge forming parts of the same curve.