The Future of Figure Skating

Episode Notes TW: Eating Disorders. Today's guest is Rachael Flatt. Rachael was the 2008 World Junior Champion, and the 2010 US National Champion and placed 7th in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. After retiring from competitive skating in 2014, she completed her degree from Stanford University and has gone on to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a focus on eating disorders and mental health in athletes. As an athlete member of the US Figure Skating board of directors, and as part of the US Olympic and Paralympic Task Force on Mental Health, Rachael has brought both her personal and professional expertise to making elite sport a healthier environment. This was a great conversation drawing connections between health and inclusion! The transcript is available here. You can follow Rachael on Twitter @RachaelFlatt and on Instagram @reflatt You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends! Resources: Changing the culture of mental health in sports | Rachael Flatt | TEDxUNC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7lumbNhZeM USOPC Task Force on Mental Health Recovery Record App Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Today I’m joined by figure skater and author Andrew J Sass. Andrew’s first middle-grade novel, “Ana on the Edge” features a 12-year-old non-binary figure skater coming to terms with her identity and what it means for her ambitions in the sport. It’s a sweet and compelling story that I think figure skating fans of any age will enjoy. Andrew is himself a non-binary adult skater and a judge, as well as the author of three novels for middle-school-age readers. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his husband and “two cats who act like dogs”. Episode Transcript and Links You can follow Andrew @matokah on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. You can also find more information about his books at https://sassinsf.com You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends! Find out more at https://futureoffigureskating.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes I’m joined by Kiira Korpi for a conversation about positive coaching and mental health in figure skating. Kiira Korpi is a two-time Olympian, a three-time European medalist, and a five-time Finnish champion. She is the author of a memoir, “Kiira Korpi: Surviving the Ruthless World of Championship Figure Skating” which was published last year in an English translation. Kiira currently works as a coach and as a figure skating commentator for Finnish TV. You can follow Kiira on instagram @ Kiira_Korpi and twitter @ kiirakorpi_fi . You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends! Episode Transcripts Kiira Korpi Academy https://kiirakorpi.com/ “Kiira Korpi: Surviving the Ruthless World of Championship Figure Skating” https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/kiira-korpi/ Open Ice Visionaries: a documentary by Kaitlyn Weaver, featuring Kiira Korpi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqa1cqQHE7Y&t=2608s “GOEing into Detail w/ Amber Glenn” Anna’s Interview w/ Amber, discussing body image https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaThbywF2W0

Episode Notes Welcome back to the Future of Figure Skating. My guest today is Asher Hill, who is a choreographer, commentator, and one of the founders of the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance. With his previous partner ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharis_Ralph)[Kharis Ralph, Asher was the 2008 Canadian national junior champion in ice dance, and went to the 2010 World Championships. Asher is a vocal advocate for racial justice. In 2020, he called out Skate Canada for making an essentially empty statement in response to the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter Movement. The statement was hypocritical to Asher, who had filed an official misconduct complaint with Skate Canada more than a year before, highlighting a number of instances spanning five years where a co-worker at his figure skating club was abusive with racist, homophobic, and misogynistic language. Asher’s comments sparked much of the progress that’s been made around diversity and inclusion in Canadian skating. Asher is smart, warm, and funny, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Episode Transcript: FoFS Google Drive You can follow Asher on Instagram @asherkwacie and Twitter @AsherHill You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends! Resources: Asher Hill interviewed on the Burn It All Down podcast https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/episodes/interview-asher-hill-figure-skater-coach-choreographer-and-activist Anna’s interview with Maddie Schizas for Anything GOEs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXpRkYpX0yQ “Figure Skater Asher Hill Sees Hypocrisy in Racial Equality Statements” (June 3, 2020) https://www.cbc.ca/sports/floyd-george-sports-organizations-hypocrisy-asher-hill-1.5597217 “Moir, Weaver advocates of gender-expansive ice dance and pairs figure skating teams” (cites Anna & Erica as an example) https://www.tsn.ca/figure-skating/scott-moir-kaitlyn-weaver-advocates-of-gender-expansive-ice-dance-and-pairs-figure-skating-teams-1.1904779 Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance https://www.fsdia.org/ FSDIA Conversations in Color on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4d9O3hbO8-4-Us3RNx9xrA “Kamila Valieva does viral 'Wednesday' Dance, but U.S.A. and Japan still without Olympic medals” Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch join Asher Hill on That Figure Skating Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LZDbUgLqtE&list=PLDsQU3UFA4hXMPS-ZioeBFuuxHMm98S0H&index=6 “The Cultural Importance of Papadakis and Cizeron’s waacking rhythm dance at the Olympics” Asher Hill and Dylan Moscovitch interview choreographer Axelle Munezero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njA_s7DZDzI&list=PLDsQU3UFA4hXMPS-ZioeBFuuxHMm98S0H&index=40 “Russian Ice Dance Sparks Indigineous Anger” Al Jazeera English - Domnina/Shabalin OD 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtXWE1CfbcM Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier RD 2015 “Sargeant Pepper” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zce2niUl870 Kharis RALPH / Asher HILL CAN Original Dance 2010 Four Continents Championships “African Folk” Somlandela/Hlohonolofatsa by Soweto Gospel Choir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNqW1zxNJdM

Episode Notes Jackie Wong of Rocker Skating has become a household name among figure skating fans as the go-to source for competition reports, live-tweeting, and analysis of the sport. I talked to Jackie about his pathways into skating, the media landscape in the US, and how Asian American representation matters. We also nerded out about rule changes this season, and how different federations determine their national team selections. I have to apologize a little to Jackie and to the listeners that this episode didn’t come out when I intended, before US Nationals. That means you’ll get to hear us be hopeful about Jason Brown in the knowledge it worked out for him! You can follow Jackie at @rockerskating on Twitter and rockerskating.com You reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use and share it with your friends!

Episode Notes Today’s guest is the first Olympic champion I’ve had on the podcast - Charlie White! Charlie and his ice dance partner Meryl Davis are the 2014 Olympic Gold Medalists as well as 2010 Olympic silver medalists. They are also two-time World champions and six-time national champions. In 2022, Charlie launched the Michigan Ice Dance Academy with his wife Tanith (herself an Olympic medalist in ice dance), and their friend, junior world champion Greg Zeurlin. They are already off to a strong start with elite dance teams such as Caroline Green/Michael Parsons, and Katarina Wolfkostin/Jeffrey Chen working with them. When announcing MIDA, Charlie talked about the importance of supporting athletes as whole people, and I am eager to learn more about their coaching approach! Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cpn9eDvW9KHQpOlDB115l7l7Vdwzd1lCDG0zbxnsLKc/edit You can follow Charlie at @CharlieAWhite on Instagram and Twitter, and MIDA @michiganicedanceacademy on Instagram and https://www.michiganicedanceacademy.com/ “Michigan Ice Dance Academy to Open in 2022” https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/michigan-ice-dance-academy-open-2022 Charlie’s tweets about having his students write essays on ice dance https://twitter.com/charlieawhite/status/1493058958617108483?s=46&t=_IVdmlHKhXmCA8l-mxBecw The Roeper School philosophy https://www.roeper.org/about/mission--philosophy You reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use and share it with your friends!

Episode Notes On this episode, I'm joined by author and professional skater Karina Manta. With her ice dance partner Joe Johnson, Karina competed internationally for the US. Karina and Joe made history as the first team where both partners were out as LGBTQ, and Karina was also the first woman skater to come out while competing - it took until 2018 to break that barrier, which is just mindblowing! Karina’s memoir is called "On Top of Glass, My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating." She’s a beautiful writer and I highly recommend the book! Since retiring from competition in 2019, Karina has also toured with Cirque de Soleil and won the British reality show Dancing on Ice. You can see a transcript for this episode here You can follow Karina @karinamanta on Instagram. Her website is karinamanta.com. You reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends! Resources and Links: “Karina Manta is Team USA’s First Out Female Figure Skater” The Advocate, 2018 “On Top of Glass: My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating” 2021 (linked to Amazon for reference but please support your local bookstore) Manta/Johnson FD 2019 US Nationals - their rendition of "Sweet Dreams" received a standing ovation in Detroit. Regan Gascoigne and Karina Manta skating in Dancing on Ice (Final) (27/3/22) Ice Dance International performance of “Revival” including Karina and Joe The Skating Body is on Instagram @theskatingbody I referenced “Little Girls in Pretty Boxes: The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters” by Joan Ryan. Originally published in 1995, it also has an updated edition from 2018

Episode Notes In this episode, a conversation with Dr. Tina Chen, member of Skate Canada's Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee. We talk cultural and systemic change, gender inclusion, combatting anti-Asian and anti-Bthe lack racism, and ethical choreography. Tina Chen has been named one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women. She is a distinguished professor of History at the University of Manitoba. Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of modern Chinese history, anti-colonial solidarity movements, feminist and socialist projects for social justice, and histories of race and anti-racism. She has long advocated for equity and diversity within academic settings, including the University of Manitoba. In February 2022, she was named the inaugural Executive Lead- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Manitoba. In the skating world, Tina is currently a coach with Skate Winnipeg. As a skater, she was a 3-time competitor at Canadian Championships in pairs (Novice) and dance (Junior), and was Ontario Intercollegiate Champion (with the University of Toronto Varsity Skating Team). She is also the mom of two skaters, so she has really seen the skating world from every angle! Recently, she has been combining her experience advocating for equity with her figure skating experience. She is active in the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance and is also a member of the Skate Canada Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee. Transcripts are available for each episode here Dr Tina Chen profile at University of Manitoba Skate Canada EDI Committee and Process: Skate Canada Statement on Anti-Racism (June 3, 2020) “Figure Skater Asher Hill Sees Hypocrisy in Racial Equality Statements” CBC (June 3, 2020) Public Statement on EDI working Group (October 2020) Skate Canada 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (October 2022) : Three “Strategic Imperatives” are Skating for Everyone, Skating for Life, Skating to Win Skate Canada Trans Inclusion Policy, Adopted 2018 For Comparison, ISU Transgender Policy, Communication 2422, Aug 2021 Anti-Racism and Ethical Choreography: Skate Ukraine “Why Skate Canada has Renamed the Mohawk and Chocktaw” Ivan Danyliuk Also useful: Skate Guard Blog: “How the Mohawk Got its Name” Conversations in Color: No, I’m Not Michelle Kwan: Being East Asian in Figure Skating (part 1 of 4) Asher and Acacia Hill host conversation w/ Mirai Nigasu, Patrick Chan, Michelle Hong & Tina Chen NexxIce performs their 2021/22 program “Mehcinut” music by Jeremy Dutcher; choreography by B Solomon The Creative Process: Narrated by B Solomon “The Cultural Importance of Papadakis and Cizeron’s waacking rhythm dance at the Olympics” Asher Hill and Dylan Moscovitch interview choreographer Axelle Munezero on That Figure Skating Show “Red Nails, Black Skates: Gender, Cash, and Pleasure on and off the Ice” 2012 book by Erica Rand (Professor at Bates College and my skating partner!) You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Episode Notes There’s been increasing discussion of stress fractures, as skaters like Rika Kihira, Wakaba Higuchi, and Yuma Kagiama have struggled with that injury this season. In today’s episode, I’ll be focusing on the biomechanical research can help prevent these kinds of overuse injuries. My guest Dr, Deborah King, is Professor and Grad Chair in Exercise Science and Athletic Training at Ithaca College in New York State. Dr. King has three decades of experience working with figure skaters, including in partnership with the US Olympic Training Center. Her research focuses on measuring the forces involved in jump landings, in order to better understand the impact on bones and joints. You can learn more about Dr. King's work on her page here. Transcripts are available for each episode here, You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Episode Notes Three-time Olympian Kirsten Moore-Towers is one of the most highly-decorated Canadian skaters of her generation. Kirsten has also been an outspoken advocate for athlete mental health and eating disorder awareness, including participating in the TSN documentary Disorder where she spoke openly about her own struggles with body image and bulimia. Kirsten and Mike retired from competitive skating at the end of the last season, and have since toured with Stars on Ice and begun coaching. My pairs partner Erica and I were lucky enough to work with them this past August! Kirsten's new consulting venture is KMT Performance and she's on Instagram and Twitter @Kirsten_MT. We discussed the Skate Canada Body Positive guidelines, and comments by Gabi Papadakis about gender presentation in the documentary Le Couple de Feu. Transcripts are available for each episode here, You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Episode Notes This episode is for the skating nerds - and for anyone who is curious about how judging works and how change is made at the ISU. My guest this week, Jeroen Prins, is a judge, technical controller, and referee and serves as the Acting Discipline Manager for figure skating for the Netherlands. Notably, he judged the pairs competition at the Beijing Olympics and the World Championships last year. At the ISU Congress in June, Jeroen presented several proposals on behalf of the Netherlands, including the idea of a split judging panel, with half the judges marking Grade of Execution and the other half doing program components. You can follow Jeroen on Twitter at @JeroenPrinsNL and see detailed judging reports at Skating Scores. The deliberations of the ISU are available to rewatch on YouTube. Transcripts are available for each episode here. You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Episode Notes Today's episode features six-time French champion Maé Bérénice Méité in a conversation about her new programs, race in skating, injury recovery, body image, and social media marketing. Maé is making her comeback this year, after having to withdraw from the 2021 World Championships with an injured achilles tendon and then missing the 2021-22 season while she recovered. In addition to her competitive career, Maé is already making an impressive impact on the sport, whether by working with the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance, educating skaters about nutrition, athlete development, and body image, or launching her own businesses. You can follow Maé @mae_meite and @businesswithmae on Instagram. You can also follow her journey on her Youtube channel Simply Mae . Watch her Olympic Channel feature Anatomy of a Figure Skater here. Find the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Alliance atfsdia.org Transcripts are available for each episode here You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Today's episode features two-time Olympian, Kaitlyn Weaver in a conversation about queer representation, building inclusive community, systemic change - and the future of the rhythm dance. With her ice dance partner Andrew Poje, Kaitlyn is a three-time World medalist, a two-time Four Continents champion, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, and a three-time Canadian national champion. Since retiring in 2019, Kaitlyn and Andrew have continued to skate in shows around the world. In addition to her impressive accomplishments on the ice, Kaitlyn is also a coach and choreographer, a commentator for the CBC, the founder of the non-profit Open Ice Collective, and is working with Skate Canada and the ISU on improving the rules and systems of the sport. Kaitlyn also made history last year when she became only the second female Olympic figure skater to come out as queer! You can follow Kaitlyn @ka2sh on Twitter and Instagram. Find the Open Ice Collective at https://www.openicecollective.com/ and watch Open Ice Visionaries on YouTube. Learn more about Skate & Sculpt at https://skateandsculpt.com/ Transcripts are available for each episode here Thanks also to Erica Rand and Evan Murray for their help with this episode. You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or on Instagram and Twitter @futurefspodcast Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating podcast on whatever platform you use, and share it with your friends!

Episode Notes This episode introduces the big question: How can figure skating be an inclusive, healthy, and joyful experience for all participants? Transcript available at: https://bit.ly/3Jmyrwk