Meissner Sees the Stars and Stripes Rise (10/03)

Kimmie Meissner at the 2003 State Farm U.S. Championships Photo by Michelle Harvath

Kimmie Meissner didn't get to do much sightseeing at her first ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event last week in Sofia, Bulgaria. Between travel, practice, competition, and supporting her fellow U.S. Team members, there wasn't much time to take in the city's wondrous architecture and monuments.

But that's OK for the reigning U.S. novice champion, because she managed to catch the best sight of all - the U.S. flag being raised at the ladies award ceremony.

"It was very exciting, especially to skate for Team USA," said Meissner, who captured the silver medal after moving up from fifth place in the short program. "I felt a great sense of pride for my country."

Meissner's short program, which is skated to new age music called "Sand and Water," was marred by a mistake on her triple flip.

"My short program was OK for being the first time out," she said. "It certainly could have been better if I landed my triple flip, which is a new jump for me this year. It felt great to land my triple Lutz-double toe combination and do my double Axel."

Just like any young skater moving up to the junior level, Meissner spent the time between seasons not only choreographing new programs but adjusting to technical changes. She had to work on new elements like the triple flip, and she had to adjust to longer programs. A novice ladies free skate is three minutes (plus/minus 10 seconds), while a junior ladies free skate is 3:30. The short program is also longer.

Meissner has packed her new free skate with solid elements, and her performance in Sofia not only helped earn a medal, but also another Junior Grand Prix assignment. She'll skate at the Slovenia event Oct. 9-12.

Her free skate, which includes a triple flip and triple Lutz-triple toe combination, is skated to “Pines of Rome.”

"I really enjoy skating my long program because the music really fits my style of skating," said Meissner, who trains with Pam Gregory at the University of Delaware. "It is a very challenging piece to skate to, and I like having that kind of a challenge."

Meissner, 13 (she turns 14 Oct. 4), will take her experiences from Sofia into Slovenia, where she has a chance to earn a spot in the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final - and maybe see that U.S. flag rise again.