After sitting out all last season with a foot injury, Anna Peng, 15, has qualified for 2005 U.S. Nationals in Junior Ladies by placing 2nd at South Atlantic Regionals and 3rd at Eastern Sectionals. She represents the University of Delaware FSC and trains in Newark, Delaware. Pam Gregory is her coach and choreographer. Peng finished 5th at 2002 Novice Nationals in Los Angeles, and won the Junior Ladies’ bronze medal at the North American Challenge Skate in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in August 2002.

How would you describe and summarize your performances at South Atlantic Regionals (2nd place) and Eastern Sectionals (3rd place) this season?
I am glad to see that my performances are improving with each successive competition. Being my first qualifying competition in more than a year, I was a bit nervous at Regionals. The competition was a good stepping stone for me to making Nationals; although I tightened up in the short, I skated very well in the qualifying round, and in the final long, I fought through the nerves and was determined to go for every landing in my program. Also, my performance quality remained high throughout the entire competition. At Sectionals, I just let go, and my performance reaped the benefits. I skated two clean programs, just like I do in practice at home. I found that comfort zone where I shut my brain off and let my body do what it has been trained to do. Because I released myself from any expectations, I was able to give a full performance that was even better than I did at Regionals.

How do you feel about qualifying for "big" Nationals three years after your first time?
I am excited to be going to Nationals. Working hard for the past year, it is exhilarating to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Nationals is just another stepping stone to bigger goals that I have for myself, and I want to keep my experiences in perspective so that I enjoy every minute in Portland.

When and how did you begin skating?
I began skating at age six, when I attended group lessons with a friend from school. I felt a sense of freedom being on the ice where I could do whatever I wanted. I fell in love with the ice the minute I got on, even though I was falling all over the place! Each time I fell, I picked myself right up until I got the hang of it.

What has been the most memorable moment in your skating career so far?
Skating well at Sectionals this year was a special moment for me. I was able to block out the pain of an injury to skate two of the best programs I have ever done. Also, I realized the resilience and determination I have to be off the ice not competing for a year and then to perform like I did at this year’s Sectionals.

What was your experience like at 2002 Novice Nationals (5th place at age 12) and what did you learn?
My experience at 2002 Nationals was a rocky one. Even though I got sick the day before competition, I skated a clean short. I had a fever the night before the long program, and I let nerves get the best of me in the long. I learned to keep things in perspective at this competition, because even though physically I was sick, I made my illness worse by dwelling on it. I worried excessively over how the illness would affect my performance instead of focusing on how I could put out a good program.

What has been the biggest challenge or disappointment that you have overcome in your skating career to date?
Compared to what is currently happening in the world, my challenges and disappointments are miniscule. However, the one occurrence that tested my love for skating would definitely be the injury I sustained to my foot last year. I had come off a disappointing performance at Sectionals, and was training for the next year when my foot started hurting. I was on and off the ice because of the recurring injury, so finally I decided to sit out the season and take a good chunk of time off to make sure my foot completely healed. The break was a time of introspection for me, watching Nationals and realizing that that is where I want to be. I returned motivated and healthy, and ready to take on a new season!

Do you have an embarrassing or humorous moment on the ice that you're willing to share?
The only time that comes to mind is when I was six years old, taking a dance test, maybe the Dutch Waltz. I was wearing this adorable sweater with a cartoon dinosaur and pompoms on it, and when it came time to take the test, I forgot to take it off! Well, I don’t know if it is that funny or not, but it was kinda cute. I still have a video of it.

How long have you been working with your current coaches and how would you describe their respective coaching styles?
I have been working with Pam Gregory for five years. Her effervescent personality makes my lessons so enjoyable, and it never feels like work. She is an unsurpassed technician and I like her teaching of precise and detailed technique. She not only excels at jumping mechanics, but also devises great programs. The intricacy of her choreography greatly contributes to my second mark, and I love performing the programs she creates for me. She always emphasizes that the in between skating is just as important, if not more, than the jumps. Not only does she teach me to be an excellent skater, Pam also stresses the importance of being a good person. She teaches me to handle situations with class and elegance, and to always believe in myself and in what I can accomplish. I also work with Scott Gregory with the jumping harness and Dartfish. Dartfish is a software used to analyze skating technique by capturing one’s skating on video and analyzing it on the computer program, breaking down the jump frame by frame and comparing it to a previous move or even that move of another skater’s. I also take from Mr. Ron Ludington. He is quite comical, and always reminds me to view everything with a positive perspective; there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and nothing’s ever too serious. Mr. Jerry Renaud works with me on my spins. He is an excellent technician; he claims he’s fussy, and I agree because he works on every hand movement and every detail to make my spins better and faster. Currently he is recovering from brain cancer surgery to remove a brain tumor, and I wish him a quick and comfortable recovery.

What music are you using this season? How do you usually pick your skating music?
My short program is "Fairy of Water" by Kitaro, and my long is set to Vivaldi's “Winter” from The Four Seasons. I usually pick music by listening to CDs borrowed from the library and ones that Pam recommends. It was not hard to pick music for my long because I had “Winter” in my mind, but for the short I listened to a variety of CDs that Pam recommended, and found Kitaro.

What are your goals for Nationals? Will you be making any significant changes in your programs for Nationals?
My goal for Nationals is to enjoy the experience and to perform like I do everyday in practice. Currently I am not making any changes.
[Editor’s Note: Anna’s jump content at Easterns was as follows: triple salchow-double toe loop, double loop and double axel from an Ina Bauer in her short program, and two double axels, two triple toes and two triple salchows (both solo and in combination with a double toe), and a double loop in her free skate.]

What do you feel are the strongest and weakest aspects of your skating?
I think the strongest aspects are my skating skills, my performance quality, and my spins. I love how Pam incorporated the deep edge work into my choreography, and how the spins are placed in my program. Speed is on aspect I could improve, as well as including more difficult jumps in my program.

What improvements have you made in your skating this season?
I think that I have improved mentally in the way I view competitions and my skating. I have learned to put things in perspective and embrace Carpe Diem. I skate because I love to, not for any other reason. As for my actual skating, my consistency has improved tremendously and my performance quality has gotten better. I credit Pam for these improvements because she has high demands of me and encourages and pushes me to a new level that she believes I can achieve.

What is your current favorite jump, spin and connecting move?
As I mentioned before, I love jumps, spins, edge work and choreography. There isn’t one particular aspect that I favor; I love everything there is to skating.

What are your long-term goals in skating and off the ice?
My long-term goal in skating and off the ice is to be the best I can be, and to have fun while I am realizing my goals.

What country are your parents from and do you speak English with them or another language? Do you have any similarly athletic siblings?
My parents are from China, and I speak both English and [Mandarin] Chinese with them. I don’t have any other siblings.

Who are your favorite skaters and why?
I look up to Michelle Kwan (who wouldn’t?) because of her longevity and her ability to cope with all the obstacles she has faced in this sport. Her mental toughness is nonpareil, which accounts for her longevity. I admire the way she handles both the success and setbacks of her career with grace, and she is down to earth. She has a great work ethic, and has such heart when she skates. She is not only an excellent athlete, but an excellent person as well.

Who has influenced your skating the most and how?
My parents and Pam are the greatest influence in my skating because of the support and guidance they give me. I am grateful for the strong work ethic they instilled in me, and their belief in me. Giving me encouragement, they devote themselves one hundred percent to helping me realize my dreams.

What are some of your off ice hobbies? What do you like to do for fun away from the ice?
When I’m not skating, I like to do homework (yes, it’s true!), read, watch Jeopardy, and go biking with my mom and dad. I also like hanging out with friends, going shopping with my mom, and cooking with my dad. With my busy training schedule I have not been able to play the piano as much as I'd like to, but I love listening to music of all kinds - classical, pop, R&B, etc. My favorite singers/bands are Maroon 5, Shania Twain, and Alicia Keys.

What is your current schooling arrangement? Favorite subjects in school?
Right now I skate in the morning, go to school, and then head back to the rink after school is over for afternoon training. I like math and the sciences, which are the easiest subjects for me, but I also like social studies and English.

What is it about skating that motivates you to keep going day in and day out?
I go to the rink everyday because I love taking on the challenges each day brings. I love setting goals for myself everyday and then realizing I have achieved them. Essentially, I go to the rink because skating is where I feel at peace. For some people, it may be the mall or friends, but the rink is my haven. My love for skating is what fuels me everyday.

Biographical Information