Baga's star rising on the way to JGP Final
U.S. novice champ collects two JGP gold en route to Final
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| Kiri Baga captured the gold medal at both the JGP Germany and the JGP Turkey this season. (Paul Tortland) |
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Baga, the 2009 U.S. novice ladies champion, won the gold medal at her first international competition, the Pokal der Blauen Schwerter (Blue Swords), an ISU JGP event in Dresden, Germany in October.
She followed that up two weeks later by winning the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Istanbul, Turkey, even though visa problems had delayed her trip until the last minute.
"I was really happy about how I skated," Baga said. "I had never done an international [event] at all, so I didn't expect to win. That was great. There were a lot of new things I had never experienced before and a few surprises."
Baga started skating when she was two years old, but didn't start lessons until she was five. Her mother was a national-level competitive swimmer but didn't skate.
"My older brother started playing hockey on one of the outdoor rinks in northern Minnesota during the winter," Baga said. "I tried hockey for about five seconds until he ran into me and knocked me over. I was always at the rink while he was there because my mom took me with her."
Baga's sister, Courtney, who is five years older, sparked Kiri's interest in figure skating.
"Courtney is probably the real reason that Kiri began skating," said Kiri's mother, Brenda Baga. "When she was little, Kiri would imitate everything Courtney did. Courtney began experimenting with skating on outdoor ice and wanted lessons, so I signed her up for Learn to Skate."
"The following two winters, Kiri would copy everything that Courtney did on outdoor ice," Mrs. Baga related. "She was really skating quite well by the time she was four. After that winter, when the ice melted, Kiri decided that she would try lessons. Because she was enjoying the freedom of just learning on her own by imitation, we were not convinced it was the right choice at such a young age. She had never skated without a helmet and snowsuit at that point."
"Once she got on the ice indoors, figure skating became their sport," she continued. "I was not allowed to do hair, makeup or pretty much be in the locker room at competitions. Courtney took control of almost everything Kiri did in regards to skating. She just competed against Kiri for the first and last time probably, in the improvisational program at the Maplewood Competition this fall."
Baga landed a double Axel by the time she was nine and her first triple jump, a triple toe loop, a year or so later.
"The triple toe loop is my favorite jump," she noted. "I'm working on a triple toe-triple toe combination and double Axel-triple toe, but they're not in my program yet. Maybe by nationals. I'm working a lot on my triple flip and my triple Lutz and even a quad Salchow in the pole harness.
Baga has been doing a triple flip, double Axel and triple Salchow-double toe loop combination in the short program this season. In her long program, she adds a triple toe-double toe-double loop combination and double Axel-double Axel sequence, a triple Salchow and a triple toe loop.
"My goal for the season is to get all my triples consistent," Baga said.
Lorie Charbonneau, whose daughter Kate is the 2009 Canadian junior ladies champion, has coached Baga since she was nine.
"Kate's my best friend," Baga said. "She's like my sister. She's part of the reason why I wanted to train here."
Baga trains for three hours a day, five days a week, plus an hour or two on Saturday.
"I always do a run through of my long and short program every day," Baga said. "Sometimes I'll do more until my coach is satisfied. I also do pilates, ballet and cardio dance class."
Kelly Benzinger-Grelle choreographed both of Baga's 2009-10 programs, which are new for this season, as well as her gala programs.
"We fly Kelly out from Boston every couple of months to work on choreography," Charbonneau said. "I've worked with her for several years."
"Last year, I kept my long program because I thought I could do it better," Baga said. "This year, I wanted a fresh start since I was moving to juniors."
"I'm already looking at music for next season already," Baga said. "I'll probably have two new programs again."
"I love to skate to music where I can act out and portray a character," Baga noted. "I like to get into the story."
This season, Baga is skating to "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saens for her short program and "Carmen" for her free skate.
"I loved the short program music so much I almost used it for the long," Baga said. "I can really play it up."
"When Lori and I listened to 'Carmen', I thought it was really passionate," Baga stated. "It's great music that a lot of skaters have used, but I wanted to show it in a new way. I've done all types of programs before but this is my first Spanish program and my first mature program."
"I'm working on a new exhibition program," Baga added. "The last one I did was 'Smooth' by Santana at last year's nationals."
Baga listens to music when she's not skating, but not to anything in particular.
"I usually get music on my iPod from my friends at the rink," she said. "As long as it's fast and exciting, I like it."
Baga's off ice interests include hanging out with friends, dancing, watching So You Think You Can Dance on television, and reading.
"I love the Twilight series and Harry Potter," she said. "Those are the only ones I can read seven times."
"I wanted to try being an actress, but I'm too obsessed with jumping," Baga admitted. "I do wish I could act, but I don't because I don't have the time."
"My mom was an artist, and I love art but I'm really bad at it," she added, "but I love doing photography at school."
Baga is in ninth grade, studying through Connections Academy, an online public school. She enjoys studying English and science and is taking all honors classes this semester. Baga is also learning Chinese.
"I want to get a high GPA," Baga said. "School is very important to me. I want to go to college and study nutrition and physical therapy."
Baga also collects used skates to donate to "Kids on Ice," a program to help inner-city children to learn to skate at the Fort Dupont Figure Skating Club. When Baga came to Washington, D.C., to train in the summer, she agreed to perform in the club's annual show, where she noticed that all skaters were wearing brown rental skates and T-shirts for their numbers.
"Kiri got hooked on the idea of providing the kids with skates of their own," said coach and program sponsor, Audrey Weisiger. "She has been going around asking skaters to donate their used skates to her, and she the gives them to me. She is not only a great skater with unlimited potential, but just an awesome person. I named this program Kiriskates."
Skaters have donated dresses, sweaters and skate guards to the program as well as skates.
"We take whatever they are willing to give us," Mrs. Baga said. "So far we have collected more than three very large duffel bags full of mostly skates. We try and advertise before Kiri does a show, and get the skaters from that club to bring in any old skates that they might have at home."
"Kiri is a good sport too," Weisiger added. "The little kids wanted to see somebody 'fun' skate so she agreed to wear a penguin outfit. I was so impressed because at her age, being cool and beautiful is paramount, but she did it for the kiddies."