Alison Schumacher 2020 Canadian National Silver Medalist STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE EARL
WHEN ASKED TO DESCRIBE the sensation of figure skating, Alison Schumacher sparkles. “It’s indescribable,” Alison admits. “Gliding on freshly Zamboni-ed ice. It’s freeing, never static. It’s moving! A form of expression. You’re just flowing with energy.” Alison is Windsor’s own prodigious 17 year old Canadian ladies’ singles figure skater of national and international acclaim. And, as of this year, she is a 2020 Canadian national silver medalist. Born in Zhuzhou, China, Alison Schumacher was adopted by Jen and Albert Schumacher. Alison grew up in Tecumseh and has a difficult time remembering life before taking to the ice. “My Mom and Dad put me in skating lessons when I was four,” Alison recalls. “That’s basically how it started. I guess people thought I was good!” Alison’s first coaches were Stacie Diemer and Jen Jackson at the Riverside Skating Club. From an early age, Alison excelled, periodically performing at ice shows. “The ice shows were hosted to raise money,” Alison states. “They were always fun. They brought a lot of energy to the arena. I always enjoyed that, the social aspect of skating.” However, early on, Alison was had mixed feelings about the competitions. “I wasn’t a fan of training for the competitions,” Alison admits. “The multiple run-throughs. The expectations, the pressure. I wasn’t a big performer. That wasn’t my thing when I was younger.” Ironically, despite being lukewarm about competing, Alison continuously did well. “I did pretty well, in my early days,” Alison states. “Pre-Juvenile is when I started doing a lot better in the competitions. And in Pre-Novice I really surprised myself. I came in third at Challenge, Skate Canada’s national competition. That was a big step for me, because when you advance a level it’s hard to know where you’re going to end up. So that was definitely one of my highlights. I saw a lot of improvement in those years.” As Alison began ranking higher and higher, her long-dormant competitive side began to ferociously reveal itself. “Expectations kept rising, but I kept meeting them,” Alison
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laughs. “I started to enjoy skating a lot more. With more success, I started developing more confidence. And when you become more successful, the social aspect becomes more important, too. You keep meeting new people at new competitions. I really liked that.” During her time in the Novice league, Alison experienced some difficulty with ranking. However, during her first Junior year, she moved east to train at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. She later went on to place third at the Junior Canadians. “That was a big confidence-booster for me,” Alison states. “A breakthrough.” The following year, Alison received two international Junior Grand Prix assignments. “That was my first time competing internationally against people from different countries,” Alison states. “It was really cool. You’re with a Canadian team with people from different disciplines, from all over the country. You really get to know them when you’re abroad. We all travel together and face things as a team.” Additionally, while skating solo at the international level, that season Alison shared the ice with her first and only partner at the national level. “I skated with Zachary Daleman,” Alison reports. “It’s very different. You always have to be aware of your partner. But at the same time, you need to focus on your job and what you need to do. It’s definitely a team effort. You need to work together in order to be successful.” Alison has since performed at many different competitions, at higher and higher levels. Her most recent competition at the 2019 World Junior Championships remains her proudest moment. “I placed 10th at my most recent competition,” Alison states. “Which was unexpected.”
