While Alysa Liu may be on the other side of the globe, basking in her gold medal-winning performance at the Winter Olympics in Milan, her presence still looms large at her home training ground, the Oakland Ice Center.
Quite literally, in fact. A blown-up printed cutout of Liu’s smiling face is taped to a door to a staff room near the entrance. Look up when you’re in the ice rink, and you’ll see an extreme version of a proud parent’s display. Numerous banners celebrate her world and national championships and prior Olympic achievements.
On Friday afternoon, a day after the Center’s watch party, amateur ice skaters of all ages — and even one coach, who bragged that he instructed Liu when she was a child — continued the celebration of her historic win.
One girl, Abby P., 11, of Alameda, characterized Liu’s performance as “graceful,” and “elegant.”
“I feel passionate — it makes me want to skate more!” she said. “An Olympian was skating here, and I’m skating here too! She’s the celebrity of this place!”
Skaters get laced up at Oakland Ice Center | Source: Alexa Treviño for SF Standard
Lisa Foster, a parent, also chimed in, and was equally admiring.
“I haven’t fangirled on somebody like this in a long time — she’s just so joyful!”
“In a world where we have people who think that you have to be a bully to win, to have her be so sweet, that makes me happy!”
Liu, who grew up in Richmond, grew up at this rink while attending Oakland School of the Arts just next door (opens in new tab). She reportedly (opens in new tab) continues to train regularly at Oakland Ice Center.
This two-rink complex — one for figure skating, one for hockey — was completed in 1995, and sits, somewhat improbably (opens in new tab), in the heart of downtown Oakland, just blocks away from City Hall and an even shorter distance to the Fox Theater.
The Oakland Ice Center, built on a prior vacant lot, was conceived of just a few years after another Bay Area figure skating legend, Kristi Yamaguchi (opens in new tab), won Olympic gold at the 1992 Olympic Games in France.
Yamaguchi, who grew up in nearby Fremont, was in attendance at Liu’s historic performance, and personally congratulated (opens in new tab) her afterwards.
A family of four (left to right) Harper Dizon, Kristie Koehler, Hunter Dizon, and Patrick Dizon were skating at Oakland Ice Center on Friday. | Source: Alexa Treviño for SF Standard
Kristie Koehler, of El Cerrito, said it was inspirational to watch Liu on Thursday.
“I love the girl power,” she said. “I love her individuality! She’s totally enthusiastic! It’s a joy to see.”
Koehler’s daughter, Harper, 13, echoed the sentiment.
“She had great spins!”
Meanwhile, Tenshi Vilchis, a recent UC Santa Cruz graduate who grew up in Oakland but now lives in San Leandro, said that she just started ice skating a month ago. She’s now invigorated to continue practicing after twice watching Liu’s “magnetic” achievement.
“I’m honing my Alysa Liu!” she said. “I like her style, very alt. She has a cool sense of style!”
Coach Michael Chack (left) and one of his students, Charlie M., pose with a banner of Alyssa Liu at Oakland Ice Center. | Source: Alexa Treviño for SF Standard
Charlie M. said she had been skating for more than a decade and shared her own Olympic dreams.
“I got inspired — I want to go to the Olympics in 2030!” she said, awaiting the start of her lesson. It came with the somber realization that it would be a life of “eat, sleep, skate, bed.”
“I started tearing up while watching [Liu],” Charlie added.
Charlie’s coach, Michael Chack (opens in new tab), himself a former competitive figure skater, said that he had coached Liu when she was younger and hoped her success could help further raise the profile of Oakland Ice Center.
“We love our sport and it’s very demanding — one little mistake, you go from first to 10th,” he said. “We hope to produce champions.”
The Town is poised to celebrate Liu’s return, even beyond her adoring ice skating community. Shortly after her win, just two miles away from Oakland Ice Center, Fenton’s, a local ice cream parlor, announced on Instagram (opens in new tab) that it would give her “ice cream for life” to celebrate her accomplishment.
“When you’re ready to celebrate, we would love to host your homecoming party at Fentons Creamery,” the legendary ice cream shop wrote. “The sundaes are on standby.”