Laney Diggs
Encyclopedia
Melanie Paige "Laney" Diggs (born October 9, 1992) is an American figure skater. She has competed twice at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and represented the United States internationally.
. She is of Japanese, Norwegian, Swedish, and British descent. She attended Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
, but is currently attending the University of California, Berkeley
as a media studies major.
compete at the Olympics. In the 2004-2005 season, competing on the novice level, she placed 8th at her regional championship and did not qualify for the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
In the 2005-2006 season, Diggs won the pewter medals at her regional and sectional championships, qualifying her for the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships on the novice level, where she placed ninth.
In the 2006-2007 season, Diggs moved up to the Junior level, but placed 5th at her sectional championship and did not advance to the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Diggs moved up to the senior level in the 2007-2008 season. She won her regional championship and won the silver medal at her sectional championship. She qualified for the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and placed 20th.
In the 2008-2009 season, Diggs won the silver medals at her regional and sectional championships and placed 10th at the 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She was assigned to the 2009 International Challenge Cup
and placed 6th in her first international competition.
in Simi Valley, California
, with her programs choreographed by Alex Chang. She changed coaches to Frank Carroll
, Christa Fassi and Galina Barinova in El Segundo, California
. Chang remains her choreographer. She recently switched coaches yet again to Angela Nikodinov
and Ivan Dinev
in Torrance, California
Personal life
Melanie Diggs, nicknamed Laney, was born in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. She is of Japanese, Norwegian, Swedish, and British descent. She attended Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School is one of three public high schools on the Palos Verdes Peninsula...
, but is currently attending the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
as a media studies major.
Career
Diggs began skating after watching Michelle KwanMichelle Kwan
Michelle Wingshan Kwan is an American figure skater. She is a two-time Olympic medalist, a five-time World champion and a nine-time U.S...
compete at the Olympics. In the 2004-2005 season, competing on the novice level, she placed 8th at her regional championship and did not qualify for the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
In the 2005-2006 season, Diggs won the pewter medals at her regional and sectional championships, qualifying her for the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships on the novice level, where she placed ninth.
In the 2006-2007 season, Diggs moved up to the Junior level, but placed 5th at her sectional championship and did not advance to the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Diggs moved up to the senior level in the 2007-2008 season. She won her regional championship and won the silver medal at her sectional championship. She qualified for the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and placed 20th.
In the 2008-2009 season, Diggs won the silver medals at her regional and sectional championships and placed 10th at the 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She was assigned to the 2009 International Challenge Cup
2009 International Challenge Cup
The 2009 International Challenge Cup was the International Challenge Cup figure skating competition for the 2008-2009 figure skating season....
and placed 6th in her first international competition.
Coaching changes
Early in her career, Diggs was coached by Tiffany ChinTiffany Chin
Tiffany Chin is an American figure skater who grew up in San Diego, California. She dominated the junior circuit in ice skating prior to her Olympic career, winning the US Junior National title as well as the World Junior title...
in Simi Valley, California
Simi Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Simi Valley had a population of 124,237. The population density was 2,940.8 people per square mile...
, with her programs choreographed by Alex Chang. She changed coaches to Frank Carroll
Frank Carroll
Francis M. "Frank" Carroll is an American figure skating coach and former competitive skater. He has coached three skaters to win the World Figure Skating Championships: Linda Fratianne, Michelle Kwan, and Evan Lysacek...
, Christa Fassi and Galina Barinova in El Segundo, California
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
. Chang remains her choreographer. She recently switched coaches yet again to Angela Nikodinov
Angela Nikodinov
Angela Nikodinov , is an American figure skater. She is the 2000 Four Continents Champion.-Biography:Nikodinov is the daughter of Bulgarian immigrants and speaks Bulgarian fluently...
and Ivan Dinev
Ivan Dinev
Ivan Dinev is a Bulgarian figure skater. He is an 11-time Bulgarian national champion and competed at 14 European Championships. He is the first Bulgarian skater to medal at a Grand Prix event, which he did at Trophée Lalique in 1999. He is also the first Bulgarian skater to land a quadruple jump...
in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
Programs
| Season | Short program | Free skating |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | Pas de Trois Pas de trois Pas de trois. French term usually referring to a dance in ballet between three people. Typically a Pas de trois in ballet consists of 6 parts -#The Entrée... performed by the London Symphony Orchestra London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:... |
Un Sospiro performed by the Gamley Orchestra Spellbound Concerto performed by the London Promenade Orchestra |
| 2008-09 | Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor by E. von Sauer |
Selections from the Les Misérables soundtrack performed by Tony Britten Tony Britten Tony Britten is an English composer, best known for writing the music for the UEFA Champions League Anthem.-Career:Britten is a graduate of the Royal College of Music. He spent the first few years of his career in theatre as a musical director, including working for Cameron Mackintosh as music... and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"... |
| 2007-08 | Flamingo Loco | Symphony in White |
| 2006-07 | ||
| 2005-06 | Waka Ala Balh by Amir Diab |
Mishima by Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with... Bamboo Oralion by Violaine Corradi |
Competitive highlights
| Event | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
9th N. | 20th | 10th | 15th | ||
| Junior Grand Prix, Belarus | 13th | |||||
| International Challenge Cup International Challenge Cup The International Challenge Cup is an annual figure skating competition held in the spring... |
6th | |||||
| Pacific Coast Sectional Championships | 4th N. | 5th J. | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | |
| Southwest Pacific Regional Championships | 8th N. | 4th N. | 2nd J. | 1st | 2nd | |
- N = Novice level; J = Junior level