out there today, but this was a very stressful week because I was expecting so much more out of my-
self, especially in the short program.”
She’s got the look Cesario shares her fashion sense BY TROY SCHWINDT
Samantha Cesario LADIES
Gold leads U.S. ladies with bronze effort U.S. champion Gracie Gold kicked off her
Grand Prix Series by claiming the bronze medal be- hind the Russian tandem of Elena Radionova and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva. Gold, who scored a combined 179.38 points,
ran into problems at the end of her short program, missing out on a combination spin. After nailing her opening triple Lutz-triple toe combination in her free skate, she doubled a few intended triple jumps. “It was OK,” Gold said of her free skate. “I left a lot of points on the table. I had to fight through it and think on my feet, but I was still able to put out a solid performance.” Radionova, second after the short program, rallied to win the free skate and title with 195.47 points. Te two-time and reigning World Junior champion overtook short program leader Tuktamy- sheva, who settled for silver with a score of 189.62. Samantha Cesario, making her second Skate America appearance, finished fourth with a score of 174.58.
“I had a little spin trouble,” Cesario said after
the free skate. “I’m still suffering a bit with that an- kle and it was bothering me a little in practice but I tried to fight through it. Te jumps were good. I felt confident going out. It is definitely a good start for the season.” Mirai Nagasu, the 2014 U.S. bronze medalist, rallied after a tough short program to finish sixth overall with 158.21 points. “Obviously it was a better skate than yester-
day,” Nagasu said. “One-hundred and eight is an OK score, but I know that I can get a much higher score. I know I underrotated a lot of those jumps
Don’t be surprised if you someday see Saman- tha Cesario sitting in as a guest on the popular E! Network program “Fashion Police.” Te 21-year-old from Long Island, New York, is immersed in the world of fashion and design, which she carries over to all areas of her life, includ- ing her skating. Cesario finished fourth at Skate America and competed in late November at Tro- phée Eric Bompard in Bordeaux, France. She has always played a major role in the de- sign of her costumes and now works with popular designer Tania Bass on her current creations. “When I went to Tania it was perfect, because she has such amazing taste and her opinion is so great,” Cesario said. “When I would draw a design, she would say, ‘Maybe we’ll do this instead’ and we would just feed off each other.” Cesario’s dress for her Carmen free skate last
year and her two dresses this year are a collaboration between the two. She’s a fan of other skaters’ costumes, too, such as those of U.S. champions Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner. “Gracie’s are really classy and that’s what I look
for,” Cesario said. “Less is more, I always feel. I just try to stay with classy, classic looks, because I think that’s what works best.” Cesario looks at gowns for inspiration. “A lot of times the top of a gown can be some-
thing you can use for a skating dress,” she said. Off the ice, Cesario maintains her chic look.
Her hair, nails, makeup and clothes are always com- plete even if she’s headed to the grocery store. Cesa- rio’s mom and 16-year-old sister Cassie shake their heads sometimes over her attention to those styling details.
“My family kind of makes fun of me, because
my sister is really athletic and she’s in sweatpants and a T-shirt all the time and I’m walking around the house with my wedge heels on,” Cesario, who hopes to one day learn more about the beauty in- dustry and open her own salon, said “Even if I’m going out to CVS (pharmacy), I’ll try and put it together. “I love looking on Pinterest and all these dif-
ferent websites, getting ideas.” Cesario considers herself a shopaholic, regu-
larly stopping by T.J. Maxx and Marshalls to pick up beauty products and search for bargains. A favorite purchase of hers is boots. “I’m always ready, as if I’m going to dinner,”
she joked. “You never know who you are going to see.”
When going to a nice restaurant in the sum-
mertime, for example, she’ll wear a maxi dress. “Right now, it’s all about the booties and
heels,” she said. SKATING 15
Cesario is a big fan of the fashion shows on TV and was saddened with the recent passing of Joan Rivers, who hosted “Fashion Police.” She looks at what is trending in the celebrity world when making some of her voguish choices. She admires the fashion sense of Taylor Swift,
Miranda Kerr and Rachel McAdams, and is make- up-inspired by other celebrities. “I have hair extensions and I love looking at
makeup products and I do my own acrylic nails,” she said. “It’s a big interest for me.”
When it comes to fashion and guys, Cesario has some thoughts on the subject. “I don’t like it when guys wear skinny jeans; I
think that’s weird,” she said. “I like a more preppy style and not a lot of facial hair. Clean cut.”
MEN’S
Hometown boy brings home silver Defending champion Tatsuki Machida won
Skate America by some 35 points, the largest win- ning margin at any Grand Prix event since 2006. Skating with supreme confidence and techni-
cal command, Japan’s World silver medalist landed quadruple toe combinations in both of his pro- grams, racking up 269.09 points. Jason Brown came away with the silver medal
after musical programs marked by innovative jump transitions and impressive spins. Although the U.S. silver medalist fell on triple Axels in both of his pro- grams, he generated 234.17 points. Te Sears Centre crowd roared its approval
for Brown, who grew up in nearby Highland Park, Illinois, and stuffed animals rained down after the 19-year-old’s free skate. Brown donated the gifts to local Ronald McDonald charities.
Jason Brown hangs out off ice with Monument, Colorado, rinkmates Tamia and Lauren Ellison.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAULA ELLISON
PHOTO BY JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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