Elladj Balde shares passion for skating in viral video(s)

[Sylvia]

This is :

Calgary figure skater shares passion for skating in viral video

A video of a Calgary man's infectious energy and skating talent has gone viral, just days after he posted it.

calgary.ctvnews.ca

Elladj Balde, a former competitive figure skater, posted the video online with the caption 'When you FINALLY find some ice during lockdown'.
"It's been hard to find time to escape, so the joy of finding ice outdoors and then being able to escape was really cool," Balde said, "The actual backflip and meaning of it and the song and dance was really trying to show that skating can be cool. I want to make skating cool again."
The attempt was successful and within hours, the video had racked up millions of views.
"On TikTok I think it's about 13 or 14 million views in 48 to 72 hours, something like that. On Instagram, on my page it's about two million views," Balde said.
The video has also wowed celebrities, with actress Jada Pinkett Smith reposting the video, racking up another 5.2 million views.

Balde hopes that his video will inspire others to get into the sport.
"I'm connecting with people all over the world and they look at something like this and say 'this is really cool', and it might inspire some people to want to pick up skates and go skate. It's a beautiful thing."
Figure skating is in Balde's blood as his mother was also a competitive figure skater in Russia, where he was born.
Balde said posting videos online allows him to express his artistry and creativity in a way that he couldn't portray as a competitive skater.
"I've been wanting to explore different things and I've been wanting to go into the hip hop world, the funky groove urban style of movement that I wasn't fully able to explore when I was a competitive figure skater."

Link to his IG account: https://www.instagram.com/elladjbalde/

 

[Sylvia]

This Elladj Baldé interview article was originally published in the IFS October 2020 issue (posted online on Dec. 16, 2020):

Account Suspended

 

[Sylvia]

"No one knows me like the piano
The Evolution of my relationship with the ice (part 1)": https://www.instagram.com/p/CJbtPfBJK1y/

"No one knows me like the ice
The evolution of my relationship with the ice (part 2)": https://www.instagram.com/tv/CJhDxLCJx2o/

(Filmed on Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park.)

 

[made_in_canada]

Dan Levy just shared Elladj’s videos on Instagram so I expect he’ll be getting some more well deserved attention.

 

[Sonata]

I saw his video posted on Jennifer Aniston's account.

 

[Sylvia]

He's certainly reaching a wider audience beyond skating fans! Today's article:

Watch: Elladj Balde's Epic Figure Skating Routine Set to Sampha Wows the Internet

A video surfaced on social media recently that showed former professional figure skater Elladj Balde doing a majestic routine on a frozen lake. He wore a Chicago Bulls jacket and street clothes but didn’t have any limitations. He moved with fluidity and showed off the skills that helped him...

popculture.com

 

[Lemonade20]

Crazy how his career took off this year!!! I’m so happy for him, he’s always been so talented but under-appreciated till now

 

[Habs]

Crazy how his career took off this year!!! I’m so happy for him, he’s always been so talented but under-appreciated till now

I remember the terrible, terrible junior men's free skate at Canadian Nationals in 2008. It was absolutely the worst live competition I've ever seen and Elladj skated last and won by a mile. My mom and I still talk about that awful competition but how staying to the bitter end to watch him skate made it worth it.

 

[Sylvia]

Article today (Jan. 8):

Whoa! I Was Not Ready For This Professional Figure Skater's Badass Dance Moves on the Ice

See professional figure skater Elladj Baldé shred up the ice with his impressive backflips, axels, cartwheels, and more!

www.popsugar.com

Excerpt from the end:

When asked what advice he has for his fans, Baldé said, "Continue to try and figure out what's unique about you and how you can share that to the world. I believe that we're all different and we all have a gift. Part of our purpose here as humans is to share our gift with the world." Through a winning combination of technique, skill, and charisma, Baldé is able to pull off everything from the latest TikTok dance to the most beautifully choreographed routines. Enjoy a mini marathon of his most mind-blowing TikTok videos ahead.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Balde skating through snow :
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZpJJ5LpZOc/

 

[kwanfan1818]

I am drawn in every time Balde skates on snow-covered ice, this time a tribute to his parents:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaK8XQxpuKy/

 

[kwanfan1818]

Balde posted this new video, which got a + comment from Ari Zakarian:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClmeIVNvOj_/

and love from Polina Edmunds.

 

[kwanfan1818]

This is delightful:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpgVjA-DTA7

 

[Sylvia]

Canadian skater Elladj Baldé is changing the way we see figure skating - Vancouver Sun article by Aleesha Harris (March 23, 2026):

Canadian skater Elladj Baldé is changing the way we see figure skating

Social media has given new platform to skater's unique style. Read more ...

vancouversun.com

Excerpts:

The Calgary-based skater went far in his career, competing professionally and stealing his fair share of the spotlight around the sport. But periodically sidelined by injuries, Baldé narrowly missed making the 2014 and 2018 Canadian Olympic teams.
He retired from competitive figure skating in 2018.
Eight years later, Baldé’s career is skating faster than ever. He’s performed with Stars on Ice, appeared on the show Battle of the Blades, and was a CBC correspondent for the recent Italian Olympics.
And he also has amassed a following of more than 830,000 people online along the way.
He says his path proves there’s more to figure skating success than just medals.
“When you grow up as a figure skater, you often think there’s one path to success,” he says. “I’ve discovered 1,000 other paths. And I think that’s something that has liberated myself, but also has shown other skaters, and the next generation of skaters, that you can experience and find success in so many different ways.”

The Moscow-born skater will be taking part in a public event on March 26 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Apple Pacific Centre store. Part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations, and the only event of its kind in Canada, the discussion will see Baldé share his story around skating, as well as how he shares his point of view online.
“What I hope people take away from this conversation is that we all possess such unique stories and unique skills,” he says. “And for me, on my journey, it’s been so important to connect with the part of myself that feels courageous enough to show up authentically in this world. And to share my story.

“I’ve never had any formal dance training,” he said. “I feel like dance has always been something I’ve been passionate about, ever since I was a kid.”
Working with his wife Michelle, who is a pro dancer and choreographer, Baldé aims to create moments on the ice that haven’t been seen before.
“And also presented in a way that hasn’t been seen before,” he says.
An example of this, a recent project with Apple saw Baldé hike into Banff National Park in order to skate on frozen Mistaya Lake.
Filmed by Canadian director Paul Zizka, the resulting clips perfectly embody what Baldé and his ice skating are all about: freedom, creativity and passion.
“(It’s) a full-circle moment, where I’ve gone through this entire journey of skating for joy, and then going through the competition system, and then, not winning, failures. Being stuck in a box,” he says of his journey on the ice. “And then, finally, coming back.”

Celebrated skater Elladj Baldé will be at the Apple Pacific Centre [in Vancouver] for a Skating My Truth talk, part of the company's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Talk: Skating My Truth with Elladj Baldé - Apple (CA)

Join us to celebrate 50 years of thinking different at Apple with professional figure skater Elladj Baldé.

www.apple.com