Lady in Lavender Takes Lead in Novice Short
by Laura Fawcett
 (1/21/07) - Carolyn-Ann Alba and Ellie Kawamura share the same coach and choreographer. They are both from the All Year Figure Skating Club in Los Angeles, Calif. They’re both 13. They both finished in the top 10 at the 2006 U.S. Junior Championships, with Alba finishing sixth and Kawamura in third.
But, please, don’t call them rivals.
They’re best friends.
Alba and Kawamura are in first and third place, respectively, after Sunday’s novice ladies short program at the 2007 State Farm U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash. Angela Maxwell (Dallas FSC), who finished 11th in this competition last year, is in second.
Alba used music from the movie “Ladies in Lavender” to collect 45.04 points, just less than two points more than Maxwell. Alba treated the 3,000 or so spectators to a steady and clean performance, featuring a triple Salchow-double toe, triple toe and double Axel.
She was exceptionally pleased with her triple toe, something on which she’s worked since the Pacific Coast Sectional in November.
“I had it at sectionals, but since then I’ve worked to improve it,” she said. “I also worked on my [overall] programs and stamina and to prepare for this exact moment.”
Like many of the novice competitors today, Alba has few experiences competing in front of a large crowd, like the one at the Convention Center. But she used it to her advantage.
“I went in with a smile and excitement,” she said. “I was nervous, but it was nerves of excitement.”
Kawamura used visions of following the yellow brick road to bring a little magic to her short program to “Over the Rainbow.”
“I have fun out there and try to be a little like Dorothy in the movie,” she said. “I try to bring in the audience.”
The 13-year-old scored 42.06 overall. She was second in program components but only seventh in technical elements, due mostly to a step between her triple toe-double toe combination. She earned just 1.57 points on the combo.
Maxwell, 14, is in the race for a medal after staying novice for a second year. Her opening level four layback earned plus 2 GOEs from the judges, and her subsequent spiral sequence was also a level four. Her jumps were solid, with a double Axel, triple Salchow-double toe combination and a triple toe.
The fact that the novice ladies event is packed with talented young women was not lost on Maxwell. With the likes of Alba, Kawamura, and reigning intermediate champ Kristine Musademba, it’s a tough field to break into.
“It’s such an honor to be anywhere near the top,” Maxwell said. “I’m proud to be here.”
Flexibility is one of Maxwell’s strong suits, but it doesn’t mean it comes naturally. She says she works hard on extensions, doing the splits every night and having her coach lift her leg over head in a spiral position.
Fourth place went to Caroline Ferris of the DuPage Figure Skating Club. She landed a double Axel, triple toe and triple Salchow-double toe.
The novice ladies competition concludes Monday at the Spokane Arena.
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