Who is your favorite American ladies star of the 1980s (The Reagan years)?

[TheIronLady]

When I look at videos of the ladies who the represented USA in the 1980s, several things stand out. There was a variety of talent equally matched by a variety of personalities. It would not be until 99-03 that so much diversity appeared on the USA scene again. From the powerhouse skating of Thomas and Zayak to the interesting and graceful lines of Tiffany Chin and Caryn Kadavy to the poised Jill Trenary with Bezic choreography, there was a lot to choose from. The performances tended to be upbeat, and the women, regardless of their skill level, seemed to concentrate on making the spectator feel that every movement was a dramatic moment in time.

Which of the ladies from the Reagan era of skating is your favorite? Which do you like/dislike? Do you hate them all? Share and discuss the skating of 1981-1988, a time when even the Asian skaters had enormous, curly hair and the shoulder pads kept getting bigger.

Tiffany Chin
1985 US Champion
'85 and '86 Worlds Bronze

Elaine Zayak
1981 US Champion
1982 World Champion

Rosalynn Sumners
82, '83, and '84 US Champion
1983 World Champion
Olympic Runner Up 1984

Priscilla Hill
1981 US Silver
1981 Worlds 7th

Vikki de Vries
1982 US Silver
1982 Worlds 7th

Deborah Thomas
86 & 88 US Champion
1986 World Champion
Olympic Bronze 1988

Caryn Kadavy
1986 US Silver
1987 World Bronze Medalist

Jill Trenary
'87, '89, & '90 US Champion
1990 World Champion

Jerri Campbell
1988 US Pewter Medalist

[lulu]

Debi Thomas

[TheIronLady]

Rosalynn is probably my least favorite lady on this list.

I certainly like Jerri Campbell better than Rosalynn because Jerri had amazing spins. If anyone has never seen Jerri spin, you should check it out.

Go to 3:12 on this video and enjoy her combination spin beginning with a traveling camel and culminating in a headless layback.
Jerri Campbell 1988 Skate America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiMxDGfHilM

[professordeb]

For me it's a toss up of Sumners and Kadavy.
Ahhhhh, I'm a sucker for lovely lines so it's Kadavy for me.

[Rex]

Rosalynn is probably my least favorite lady on this list.

Sumner was okay sometimes, but not spectacular. I actually enjoyed her more as a pro.

Debi was my favorite amateur lady from that era...what with her "street smarts" and all .

[TheIronLady]

Sumner was okay sometimes, but not spectacular. I actually enjoyed her more as a pro.

Debi was my favorite amateur lady from that era...what with her "street smarts" and all .

That street smart musicality was very exciting.

[Rex]

That street smart musicality was very exciting.

I hear she carried her switchblade in her left skate ...

[TheIronLady]

I hear she carried her switchblade in her left skate ...

That's no joke. Debi never went out there to lose.

[bardtoob]

That street smart musicality was very exciting.

Sounds like her choreography was done by a Fly Girl

[Nomad]

I hear she carried her switchblade in her left skate ...

Well, she couldn't cut up Witt's Debi Thomas voodoo doll with a barrette, could she?

[TheIronLady]

Tiffany Chin's mother carried a machete.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5W5EQqXBMU

[skateboy]

I've always had a soft spot for Elaine Zayak, so I voted for her.

[judgejudy27]

Rosalynn was the most boring skater of all time. One of my least favorite skaters ever, sorry to offend some people on this forum like skateboy and Olympic who love her. I am so glad she choked at the 84 Olympics and made those 4 or 5 mistakes she apparently needed to lose the Oly Gold (considering she missed by only .1 even as it was) as the thought of all the attention she would have gotten as a pro all those years as an Olympic Champion is more unbearable than even the thought of Nancy Kerrigan being the Olympic Champion of Lillehammer (which for the record I think Nancy should have been, but am glad as heck in another sense she wasnt).

I loved all of Chin, Thomas, and Kadavy but I would pick Thomas. I loved everything about her, her feisty and in your face personality and skating style, her athletic, her line and power on the ice, her great basics and the quality of her spins and other elements, how she was having a great education and went on to a great career all through this. I like de Vries, I am sorry her career fizzled out after 82. I am one of the few on this forum who seems to actually like Trenary, and I felt bad her career kind of got stuck between two eras, then again while I like her there are many more talented skaters than her who never got a World title, so she didnt end up too badly off. Hill, Zayak, Campbell, I dont have any strong feelings of love or dislike either way.

[kwanette]

I voted for Tiffany Chin. She was everything that I love in a skater.

[TheIronLady]

I wonder if Johnny would vote for Priscilla Hill.

[DarrellH]

Didn't Elaine also win the 1984 Worlds bronze?

[falling_dance]

Didn't Elaine also win the 1984 Worlds bronze?

She did.

[FunnyBut]

I had a tough time choosing between Thomas and Kadavy, I had no idea they be the top vote getters! I went with Thomas because she had the better competitive career. Kadavy was an awesome pro and for me had many more memorable pro programs than Thomas, but Thomas's Wanda program is a standout.

[skateboy]

Rosalynn was the most boring skater of all time. One of my least favorite skaters ever, sorry to offend some people on this forum like skateboy and Olympic who love her.

I am as far from "loving" Rosalynn Sumners as it gets. Definitely not a fan, not even close! From that era, I'm a Zayak fan.

[orbitz]

I thought Rosalyn was very engaging and enjoyable to watch in her 82 and 83 LPs. She totally deserved those National Championships and the 83 World title also.