It was wonderful to see Rhode Lee skate. She was my Dad's cousin. My family attended her funeral. Such a sad time. We lost touch with the family over the years but have never forgotten the dedication that Rhode and Mike had to skating and the support of their parents.
@jmichels0n Rhode and Mike were my Dad's cousin's. My family went to her funeral. It was such a sad time. We kept in touch with her parents for awhile but eventually lost touch. I have thought about them a lot over the years. I began to look online after I saw the add for Rise. We will see it. I remember seeing a home video of Rhode. This was wonderful to see. I had heard about her great skating but never had a chance to see her skate in person.
@jmichels0n Rhode and Mike were my Dad's cousin's. My family went to her funeral. It was such a sad time. We kept in touch with her parents for awhile but eventually lost touch. I have thought about them a lot over the years. I began to look online after I saw the add for Rise. We will see it. I remember seeing a home video of Rhode. This was wonderful to see. I had heard about her wonderful skating but never had a chance to see her skate in person.
I Just found out this is a distant relative of mine! She was my Grandpa Niemi's Cousin. My dad, Bill Niemi, and my Aunt Barbara, attended her funeral when they were little.
Wow she really moves on the ice. Strong jumps too. Anyone that thinks these skaters couldn't compete now growing up with the same kind of training are crazy.
@jmichels0n I'm so very sorry for the loss of your dad and aunt. It is lovely he was his sister's biggest fan. She seemed to be a real power skater of the day for sure! I'm impressed by the speed she had and her jumps! :)
I had always heard Linda Fratianne started the trend towards more glittery costumes following the somewhat subdued styles of Peggy Fleming, anet Lynn, and Dorothy Hamill-NOT! Some of those 1961 ladies appear to be wearing shortened ball gowns! :)
Such a lovely skater. A double Lutz! Very impressive for the day! I am continually amazed-I had no idea the ladies jumped so much by 1961-for silly reason I thought they mostly skated like they did in Sonja Henie's day. My bad! They were VERY athletic! And such beautiful dresses they wore in those days! I am so grateful you posted these! I too have heard of this lost generation of gifted figure skaters all of my life-but I've rarely seen footage, usually only of Maribel and Laurence Owen.
@jmichels0n One of my coaches was a really good friend of Rhode. He always talks about her. She must have been fantastic. I'm so glad this video is up so I can see her.
I grew up in Paramount..Arctic Blades was my home club. Iceland was the home of both my sister Dianne De Leeuw and I. There is a plaque on the wall in the rink that commemorates all the lives lost of that wonderful american team of skaters. I remember seeing that bronzed plaque everyday, those skaters were never forgotten. How awesome to be able to watch one of the performances!
The effect of the crash was felt as it wiped the entire 1964 Olympic squad. Skaters like Peggy Flemming were immediately thrust into the spotlight. 1960 Olympic bronze medalist Barbara Roles had to come out of retirement so that there will be senior skater since at that time the likes of Peggy were only 13
I knew and admired Rhode from 1957 to 1961 while I competed in figure skating on the West Coast. At the time of her skating career she was considered the greatest female jumper ever in skating. The traveling camel was a signature move and was introduced by her in 1958 when she won the National Novice title. The effect of that move on the audience was absolutely jaw dropping! The coach greeting her at the end of her skate was Bill Kipp, also killed in the crash.
@billy98102 I don't doubt Rhode was considered the greatest female jumper ever at that time-as I watched I thought of Midori Ito. Rhode had grace, speed, and POWER in those jumps! :) So heartbreaking all these years later. Wasn't Bill Kipp Peggy Fleming's coach at the time?
Thanks so much for this wonderful video! I was 10 and not really aware of figure skating at the time, so I missed out on these talented skaters. I certainly agree that as many videos of the 1961 world team should be posted. Yes, it's fantastic skating is availble to us 24/7
Wonderful video, she skated so well......do you know who the coach greeting her off the ice? I skated often at Paramount.....was she training there when it did not have a roof??? Did she pull up and make the World team? We should probably try to get all the Sabena crash victims programs on here.......it's so wonderful to see these people skating everyday, 24/7....anytime we want to see them!!!! Thanks and best wishes
It was wonderful to see Rhode Lee skate. She was my Dad's cousin. My family attended her funeral. Such a sad time. We lost touch with the family over the years but have never forgotten the dedication that Rhode and Mike had to skating and the support of their parents.
bjdebevec 1 year ago 4
@jmichels0n Rhode and Mike were my Dad's cousin's. My family went to her funeral. It was such a sad time. We kept in touch with her parents for awhile but eventually lost touch. I have thought about them a lot over the years. I began to look online after I saw the add for Rise. We will see it. I remember seeing a home video of Rhode. This was wonderful to see. I had heard about her great skating but never had a chance to see her skate in person.
bjdebevec 1 year ago 3
@jmichels0n Rhode and Mike were my Dad's cousin's. My family went to her funeral. It was such a sad time. We kept in touch with her parents for awhile but eventually lost touch. I have thought about them a lot over the years. I began to look online after I saw the add for Rise. We will see it. I remember seeing a home video of Rhode. This was wonderful to see. I had heard about her wonderful skating but never had a chance to see her skate in person.
bjdebevec 1 year ago 2
I Just found out this is a distant relative of mine! She was my Grandpa Niemi's Cousin. My dad, Bill Niemi, and my Aunt Barbara, attended her funeral when they were little.
msniemi 1 year ago 2
Wow she really moves on the ice. Strong jumps too. Anyone that thinks these skaters couldn't compete now growing up with the same kind of training are crazy.
dsfddsgh 1 year ago 3
@jmichels0n I'm so very sorry for the loss of your dad and aunt. It is lovely he was his sister's biggest fan. She seemed to be a real power skater of the day for sure! I'm impressed by the speed she had and her jumps! :)
faeryquene 1 year ago
I had always heard Linda Fratianne started the trend towards more glittery costumes following the somewhat subdued styles of Peggy Fleming, anet Lynn, and Dorothy Hamill-NOT! Some of those 1961 ladies appear to be wearing shortened ball gowns! :)
faeryquene 1 year ago 2
Such a lovely skater. A double Lutz! Very impressive for the day! I am continually amazed-I had no idea the ladies jumped so much by 1961-for silly reason I thought they mostly skated like they did in Sonja Henie's day. My bad! They were VERY athletic! And such beautiful dresses they wore in those days! I am so grateful you posted these! I too have heard of this lost generation of gifted figure skaters all of my life-but I've rarely seen footage, usually only of Maribel and Laurence Owen.
faeryquene 1 year ago 4
@jmichels0n One of my coaches was a really good friend of Rhode. He always talks about her. She must have been fantastic. I'm so glad this video is up so I can see her.
r3sfernjbb 1 year ago 3
the traveling camel starts at 1:15, after the split jump and axel.
billy98102 2 years ago
I grew up in Paramount..Arctic Blades was my home club. Iceland was the home of both my sister Dianne De Leeuw and I. There is a plaque on the wall in the rink that commemorates all the lives lost of that wonderful american team of skaters. I remember seeing that bronzed plaque everyday, those skaters were never forgotten. How awesome to be able to watch one of the performances!
Kounting6 3 years ago
What a lovely skater. And what a sad loss. thankfully, these videos help people remember the great skaters of the past.
dvdneely 3 years ago 2
The effect of the crash was felt as it wiped the entire 1964 Olympic squad. Skaters like Peggy Flemming were immediately thrust into the spotlight. 1960 Olympic bronze medalist Barbara Roles had to come out of retirement so that there will be senior skater since at that time the likes of Peggy were only 13
lexlib 3 years ago
sorry to hear about your dad and aunt.
lexlib 3 years ago
She was so ahead of her time, technically. Man, how sad to have something like that happen.
jmichels0n, so sorry about your aunt and your father.
Mehgann 3 years ago
I knew and admired Rhode from 1957 to 1961 while I competed in figure skating on the West Coast. At the time of her skating career she was considered the greatest female jumper ever in skating. The traveling camel was a signature move and was introduced by her in 1958 when she won the National Novice title. The effect of that move on the audience was absolutely jaw dropping! The coach greeting her at the end of her skate was Bill Kipp, also killed in the crash.
billy98102 4 years ago
What does the traveling camel look like? Does she do it on this video and if so, what time? Thanks.
ProudKansan08 2 years ago
@billy98102 I don't doubt Rhode was considered the greatest female jumper ever at that time-as I watched I thought of Midori Ito. Rhode had grace, speed, and POWER in those jumps! :) So heartbreaking all these years later. Wasn't Bill Kipp Peggy Fleming's coach at the time?
faeryquene 1 year ago 2
Thanks so much for this wonderful video! I was 10 and not really aware of figure skating at the time, so I missed out on these talented skaters. I certainly agree that as many videos of the 1961 world team should be posted. Yes, it's fantastic skating is availble to us 24/7
grenoblefra 4 years ago
Wonderful video, she skated so well......do you know who the coach greeting her off the ice? I skated often at Paramount.....was she training there when it did not have a roof??? Did she pull up and make the World team? We should probably try to get all the Sabena crash victims programs on here.......it's so wonderful to see these people skating everyday, 24/7....anytime we want to see them!!!! Thanks and best wishes
k9henrydog 4 years ago