Skaters

Kiri Baga
Born:
April 15, 1995
Birthplace:
Detroit, Mich.
Height:
5' 1"
Level:
Senior
Hometown:
Duluth, Minn.
School:
Thomas Jefferson H.S. (2013)
Training Town:
Chicago
Club:
FSC of Bloomington
Coach:
Mark Mitchell, Peter Johansson
Choreographer:
Kelly Benzinger (SP), Pasquale Camerlengo (FS)

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

*2009 U.S. novice champion

 


SKATING NOTES

Also skates pairs with Taylor Toth view their bio here ... Began skating when she was 2 because her sister skated, and she wanted to try it ... Took Basic Skills classes in 1999 ... During the 2010-11 season, battled stress fractures, tendinitis and a sprained ankle which forced her to withdraw from the Junior Grand Prix Final and the 2011 U.S. Championships ... Previously coached by Sue Lien.

 

PERSONAL NOTES

Is the youngest of five children ... Siblings are Jen, Dan, Chris and Courtney ... Parents are John, a cardiologist, and Brenda ... National Honor Society member ... Expects to graduate in 2013 ... Won the Grassroots to Champions "Champions in Life" award in 2009 ... Collects used figure skates and skating clothes for KIRISKATES, which donates used skating equipment to an inner-city program in Washington, D.C. ... Also supports Skate for Hope and Skate for Life ... Volunteers with the Basic Skills Program at her rink ... Has a miniature poodle named Ccino and a pomeranian-Chinese crested mix named Diego.

CONNECT WITH ME

Twitter: @KiriBaga
Official site

IN MY WORDS

My favorite thing about being a figure skater is ... challenging myself every day to get better and better. Each day presents its own mini successes and failures, and enjoying these successes and getting past these failures has become a way of life for me. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I manage my pre-skate jitters by ... playing music while I get ready. I love to put on my favorite songs and relax before I compete. I also make sure to eat a banana or two before I compete because they relax me. My sports psychologist has taught me to deal with these jitters in other ways as well. I love to look at competition as a fancy practice, as if I can deal with any result. .

After I'm done skating, I want to ... pursue a career in sports psychology. With skating I've come to recognize the power of the mind, and I hope to learn more about this in the years after my skating career.

I always ... have to line my guards up perfectly with opposite colors aligned when I step onto the ice.

 

MY FAVORITES

Ways to condition: Yoga, dance, Pilates, biking

Jump: Triple toe

Skating maneuver: Split jump

Olympic sport: Gymnastics

Food: Ice cream

Program of my career: "Danse Macabre," my short program in the 2009-10 season. I skated this program well multiple times and the music inspired me more than any other program I've ever skated to.

Costume of my career: My costume for "Danse Macabre." Brad Griffies created the dress. It was dyed from dark blue to white, and it was beaded intricately and had an open back. It was different, so I felt like it stood out.

 

I PREFER

Gloves or No Gloves

E-Reader or Book

Jump or Spin

Theater or Rental

Homecooking or Restaurant

Treadmill or Trail

Short Program or Free Skate

 

PAST SEASON NOTES


  • 2013 Season Notes
    SP Music: Music from The Mission by Ennio Morricone
    FS Music: "Samson and Delilah" performed by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra

    Costumes designed by Elena Pollack
  • 2012 Season Notes
    SP Music: "Piano Fantasy" by William Joseph
    FS Music: "La Strada" by Nino Rota

    Short program costume designed by Brad Griffies; free skate costume designed by Elena Pollack
  • 2011 Season Notes
    SP Music: "Dance Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saens
    FS Music: "La Strada" by Nino Rota

    Costumes designed by Brad Griffies ... Goals are to have all her triples in her programs consistent

    Withdrew from the JGP Final because of an ankle injury.
  • 2010 Season Notes
    SP Music: "Dance Macabre" by Saint-Saens
    FS Music: Carmen by Bizet

    Costumes designed by Kelly Benzinger Grelle, Lorie Charbonneau, Rene Gelecinskyj and Baga's mother

  • 2009 Season Notes
    SP Music: "Piano Concerto in A minor" by Edvard Grieg
    FS Music: Selections from the Chaplin soundtrack

    2013 - U.S. Championships - 13th
    2013 - Midwestern Sectional - 3rd
    2012 - Junior Grand Prix (United States) - 5th
    2012 - U.S. Championships - 10th
    2012 - Midwestern Sectional - 3rd
    2012 - Upper Great Lakes Regional, 1st
    2010 - Junior Grand Prix (Czech Republic) - 5th
    2010 - Junior Grand Prix (Japan) - 2nd
    2010 - World Junior Championships - 7th
    2010 - U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Junior - 4th
    2009 - Junior Grand Prix Final - 7th
    2009 - Junior Grand Prix (Turkey) - 1st
    2009 - Junior Grand Prix (Germany) - 1st
    2009 - U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Novice - 1st
    2009 - Midwestern Sectional, Novice - 1st
    2009 - Upper Great Lakes Regional, Novice - 2nd
    2008 - Upper Great Lakes Regional, Novice - 5th
    2007 - U.S. Junior Championships, Intermediate - 8th
    2007 - Upper Great Lakes Regional, Intermediate - 3rd
    2006 - Upper Great Lakes Regional, Juvenile - 8th

    IJS Personal Bests

    INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
    SP - 58.70 (2009 Junior Grand Prix, Turkey)
    FS - 94.70 (2010 World Junior Championships)
    Final Score - 146.98 (2010 World Junior Championships)

    U.S. QUALIFYING COMPETITION
    SP - 55.51 (2010 U.S. Championships, Junior)
    FS - 91.48 (2013 U.S. Championships)
    Final Score - 143.46 (2012 Upper Great Lakes Regional)