Angela Maxwell: The Last Interview (video)

PLEASE don't let this be the end of Angela Maxwell! She's one of the brightest stars out there for the US ladies. Okay, okay, I know she's been erratic with her training and coaching situation (went through Robin Wagner, Olga Orlova, Craig Maurizi) and she's been dealing with back injuries which caused her to miss the 2010 US Championships. But little miss Angela (I can say that, we're the same height) is only 18 and maybe she's meditating somewhere trying to decide where she wants to go with her life.

I reached out to her for an update but no response. If anyone can confirm that she is well and planning for the upcoming season, please leave a comment. So above is the last interview I did with Angela in March when she skated at the One Step Closer AIDS benefit in Central Park, NYC. Afterwards she skated to a Michael Jackson medley and you will see flashes of her brilliance on the ice. Angela, if you're out there reading this, please know you have tons of fans rooting for you.

(Photo above right courtesy of Keenen Brown Photography, Angela at the 2010 One Step Closer AIDS benefit)

One Step Closer skating exhibition on March 27 to benefit children with AIDS (video)

There's going to be a terrific skating exhibition on Saturday, March 27, at Lasker Rink in Central Park, NYC. Produced by Tim David, an adult competitive skater and director of the Lasker Rink Skating School, the show is called One Step Closer and all proceeds will go to the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. Tim is a great guy and with Brian Mancuso, Executive Director of One Step Closer, they are trying to improve the lives of children and families living with AIDS and HIV, well, one step at a time. Tim has reached out to the figure skating community for any donations to support the show. We attended rehearsals a few weeks ago and spoke with Tim, as well as scheduled performers Angela Maxwell and Melissa Bulanhagui. Come on everyone, let's support One Step Closer and let's meet at Lasker Rink on March 27! (Visit One Step Closer on Facebook here.)

2010 US Figure Skating Championships: Angela Maxwell withdraws from ladies competition

Oh no! One of my favorite senior ladies, Angela Maxwell, has withdrawn from the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships citing a back injury. The senior ladies short program begins tomorrow evening so what a huge  disappointment. It's also reported that she and coach Craig Maurizi from the Ice House in Hackensack, New Jersey, parted ways a few weeks ago. Now Craig was a last minute fill in for Angela's last coach, Olga Orlova, who left Angela to compete for France in ice dance. Much to Angela's chagrin, Olga advised of this move I think when she was literally on the airplane to Paris. I'm exaggerating but it was a sudden announcement as Angela told me when I caught up with her in New York City in December (see below video, begins at 2:00). And Olga was a fill in for Robin Wagner (who relocated Angela from Dallas to NY) when Angela and Robin split. So who will be Angela's next coach? Maybe that should be the poll that you see on the right hand side bar, instead of the ladies predictions.

Angela Maxwell brings new attitude and maturity to her skating

Angela Maxwell, silver medalist at Junior Grand Prix Germany and Hungary, was at Lasker Rink in Central Park a few weeks ago to shoot a promotional video for One Step Closer, an exhibition to benefit the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. Angela is settling down in more ways than one: She relocated from Dallas to New Jersey last year and her mother has finally been able to join her, she has been working hard on stopping her self-described "nervous breakdowns," and she is adjusting to her new coach Craig Maurizi of the Ice House in Hackensack. In a bizarre twist of events, former coach Olga Orlova told Angela several weeks ago that she was leaving to compete in ice dance for France and wished her well. Uh...I think I see the value in contracts now. Angela is now in Tokyo preparing for the Junior Grand Prix Final and meeting her grandmother for the first time...Best of luck to possibly the cutest and bubbliest skater in the world!

[UPDATE: Angela finished sixth overall at the 2009 Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final]

Angela Maxwell draws inspiration from dolls

I'm always interested in what the young people are wearing these days. How did my closet ever become a sea of black, brown, gray and the occasional charcoal gray? At the New York premiere of Pop Star On Ice starring Johnny Weir on June 11, Angela Maxwell (8th at 2009 U.S. Championships) and Daniella-Bella Favot (4th at Canadian Junior Championships) attended to support Johnny and they looked fabulous. Both ladies train at the Ice House in Hackensack, New Jersey. Daniella was decked out in a silver ensemble and said she brought her Louis Vuitton bag "in honor of Johnny." Angela described her look as "sort of doll-like...I get my inspiration from doll clothing." Hm...Maybe I've been looking in the wrong stores. Forget Macy's, I need to start visiting American Girl Place.