Kimmie Meissner Back on Track, Ready To Tackle a New Season Options

[IFS Photos]

Kimmie Meissner Rediscovers Her Love of Skating

By Susan D. Russell

Coral Springs, Florida, located some 20 miles northwest of Ft. Lauderdale, is the place Kimmie Meissner now calls her “home-away-from-home.” In early February the Bel Air, Md. native relocated to the sunny south to work with renowned coach Richard Callaghan and his talented team.

After claiming the gold medal at Skate America, her first Grand Prix event last season, she placed second at Trophée Eric Bompard. But after that, things started going steadily downhill for the talented young skater. The 2008 Grand Prix Final was a disaster for Meissner; she fell on three jumps and wound up in a distant last place. The writing was on the wall.

Following her disappointing seventh-place finish at the 2008 U.S. National Championships Meissner knew it was time.

“Nationals was hard for me, but it put everything in perspective,” she said. “I had known things were not working in my old situation for some time. There were a lot of personal issues last summer with my former coach and our working relationship changed. I said to myself, ‘I have to make a change.’ But it was hard to deal with that realization initially.”

"After nationals I felt so much pressure, I said to myself ‘I have no more time, I have to make a change.’ It was hard for me to make that decision. My parents told me to do ‘what you feel you have to do. You have to decide.’” Two weeks after nationals she made the move.

Her decision to go to Florida to work with Callaghan was enhanced by the fact that Todd Eldredge was working with Callaghan. “I had worked with Todd on my spins before, and I really enjoyed working with him. He knew I was really upset after nationals and called me and said, ‘Why don’t you come and work with Richard, I learned everything from him, and I think he would be really good for you.’ I thought to myself, ‘I have nothing to lose.’”

By the time Meissner went to Worlds she was in a totally new head space. “I felt happier and just wanted to compete. I got really determined after nationals,” she said. “Coming ninth [at Worlds] was not where I wanted to be, but considering the circumstances I felt like I had done the best I could. I really went out there and attacked, and in my long I was able to get through some of the hardest parts that had affected me in the past.”

The transition into her new environment took time the effervescent teenager said, but the change has made the world of difference in so many ways. “It is a big difference – I am more relaxed, and I think somewhere along the way I lost some of my love for skating the last couple of years," Meissner said. "But I feel like I am back where I once was – I just love to get on the ice every day.

“I feel very comfortable working with Mr. Callaghan and Todd is here so it has been really fun. Todd is so much fun. I don’t see him as coach Todd I see him as a friend. He is so funny, he does all these different voices on the ice, and he makes a joke out of anything. If I start getting really frustrated, he will say something funny and all the pressure disappears. It is so different for me. It is great, it is so much fun.”

Meissner has made new friends and spends time in Naples with a buddy who has pets. “I just go over and have an animal fix. She does not mind,” Meissner said with good humor. “I miss my dogs and cats, and because I can’t have any here in the apartment my mother and I rent, that is the next best thing.

“I am exploring regions of Florida and I get to go to the beach. I don’t actually like to go into the water to swim, but I like to wade in the water. And I am working on my tan. I am still pale, but I am working on it.”

Though she misses her father and brothers Meissner is consoled by the fact that the move is flexible. “I go home sometimes on the weekends. I am going home in a couple of weeks and a friend and I are going to see the 'American Idol' tour – I am so excited! And I can catch up with my friends and be with my pets.”

The 18-year-old is too young to drive a rental car in Florida, something she found frustrating, so they brought her mother’s car down. “I miss my car and I am too young to drive a rental - but now I am driving again.”

Long-time choreographer Lori Nichol crafted new programs for Meissner in June. Her short program is set to music from “Un Ange Passe” by Alain Lefevre and the long program is a compilation from Vivaldi's "Concerto Grosso No. 11 in D Minor" and "Adagio in G Minor" by the Eroica Trio.

Her season opens at Skate America in Everett, Wash. “I think it will be tough but I am really happy that my first competition is going to be a real competition. I am excited about that,” the upbeat teenager said. She is also looking forward to her second assignment, Cup of Russia.

Meissner said that the fan support she received during those difficult months helped her get back on track. “Many fans have been supporting me and it has been great,” she said. “I was so down and they helped me pull it all together. I got a lot of nice letters of support and that really helped. I am looking to come back from that dark time in my life. I am still healing.”

International Figure Skating magazine has gone digital. The August 08 issue's digital extra features a four-page photo spread of Johnny Weir and Brian Joubert. Click here for a sneak peek of the spread.