Young Skater Documents One Magical Week on YouTube

Preliminary skater Madeline May Baker recently lived a dream come true.

"Maddie", as she is known to family and friends, had the honor to serve as an ice sweeper at the 2012 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, Calif. The experience was so special; she documented it in a YouTube video called "Maddie B Sweeps the 2012 Nationals".

"I just love telling stories by making movies," said Maddie's grandmother Sharon Baker, who helped Maddie document her big week. "Although I make movies for everything including school events and do semi-professional wedding photography, I did not originally intend to make a movie. In fact, I only took a small digital camera to take pictures. When we got home and started looking through the photos, I realized I had some pretty good shots that would make a fairly complete documentation and a great story."

The road to ice sweeper was not a simple one, but this dedicated 9 year old from the Stockton Figure Skating Club made it her number one goal. After attending an event planning meeting with her grandmother, Maddie heard talk of assembling ice sweepers for the U.S. Championships, but her club wasn't considered.

"I didn't think that was fair that our club was not going to be included because we all work so hard and love skating and deserve a chance," Maddie said. "When I got home I told my grandma that I really wanted to talk to those people and tell them it wasn't fair. She told me that I could write a letter."

Maddie immediately sat down and penned a letter to the ice sweeper committee. She also had to work on passing her preliminary freestyle test, a prerequisite for sweepers. But pass she did, and her moving letter earned her the honor of ice sweeper.

"My grandma already had tickets for the whole week so I got all my work from school because we didn't want to miss anything," Maddie said.

The whirlwind week included meeting and making friends from other clubs as Maddie "swept" the novice dance free skate, junior pairs free skate, senior pairs short program and senior dance free skate.

"I especially liked watching the novice and juniors because they are closer to my age and it makes me feel that I could be there too someday," Maddie said.

Maddie skates four to five days a week and six days if she is getting ready for a competition. Coaches Joy Siu, Monica Poncini and Sara Maretti coach her in test moves, synchro and power. Olympic bronze medalist and World champion Charlie Tickner, is her technical coach.

"I like working with Mr. Charlie because he is funny and he makes me laugh, but he makes me work hard, too," Maddie said. She also attended the Hall of Fame Reception for Michelle Kwan.

"The reception for Michelle Kwan was the most exciting moment because I got to meet so many famous skaters," Maddie said. "I was so glad Mr. Charlie was there to take us to meet everybody."

For Sharon, who is responsible for taking Maddie to and from skating lessons and events, the week at U.S. Championships was their time together, "as skating is kind of our thing we do together."

Maddie's parents Patrick and Katie, and little brother David joined Sharon and Maddie on Maddie's event days. Maddie is proud of her family's support and proud to be a part of a "skating family". Maddie's father Patrick serves as club vice president and helps with music, announcing and technical issues for club competitions and shows. He also sponsors and fabricates the synchro team float during the annual Lodi Holiday Light Parade. Maddie's mom Katie serves as club hospitality hostess.

"The hope of Maddie being chosen as a sweeper was on our collective minds as a family with it being discussed regularly," Patrick Baker said. "When her participation was confirmed there was an initial sigh of relief because Maddie really had her heart set on going.Then as the week came and went we were just so proud of her following through in fulfilling her goal."

"Maddie is also supported at shows and competitions by our large family and most times has her own rooting section," Sharon said.

Maddie recently competed at the Crystalline Classic in Santa Rosa, Calf., and took first place with a program she choreographed herself. She also received the Haley Gans Award for the most inspiring program at the preliminary level.

"She was very touched by this award after she learned that it was given in honor of a skater who apparently had many of the same skating attributes as Maddie," Sharon said. "Haley Gans was described as a sweet, free spirited person who loved to choreograph her own programs, and she was a clockwise spinner and jumper, just like Maddie."

Maddie loves to skate "because it is like dancing on ice". This determined young skater will work tirelessly to add another jump or move to her set, and outside the rink she practices her moves while waiting for the school bus, in the dentist's waiting lobby and even the grocery store checkout line.

And she will tell you she does her best off ice Axel in the frozen foods section.

To view Maddie's adventures in San Jose, click on the video below: