The Summer Sizzler Sets Boston Ablaze

The stars shined bright at The Skating Club of Boston's Tenley E. Albright Performance Center in Norwood on August 27th. The annual Summer Sizzler event brings together the U.S. Figure Skating community to showcase budding talent and living legends. Fans were in for a treat as skaters like Isabeau Levito debuted new short programs, Olympian Alysa Liu skated her iconic Exhibition Gala program to "Stateside + Zara Larsson" by PinkPantheress, and Albright herself, the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating, was in attendance in the front row wearing a chic red sweater and matching flower tucked behind her ear.

The evening began with a press conference featuring some of the top national team athletes who attended The Skating Club of Boston's Champs Camp this season. Jacob Sanchez chatted about his excitement to build a new program that challenges him and encourages him to strengthen his choreography design skills. Recently, Sanchez and Olympian Ilia Malinin have been live-streaming themselves playing video games and chatting with fans. Sanchez is grateful to spend time with one of his best friends on another hobby they love.

A major theme of the conference was the importance of mental health and balancing passion with practice. Sanchez reflected on how strengthening his mental game to deal with low points in self-esteem and confidence in his sport is just as important as physical strength training. He realized "discovering what helps me get through those hard days and finding strategies was huge."

These sentiments were echoed by ice dance partners Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, who spoke about how they stayed on the same page throughout their 4-year partnership: a great sports psychologist. They also feel that their shared goal of going to the Olympics, love of the sport, and limitless ambition keep them in sync. While they agreed "comparison is the thief of joy," they know that showing up and outperforming competitors in training is key, expressing "if they’re doing one circle we’re going to do 3." Kolesnik shared that "confidence comes from repetition...[but] at the end of the day it’s not the end of the world if something doesn’t go right."

Liu closed out the press conference by pulling back the curtain on her decision to take the 2026-2027 competition season off. If she weren't a skater, she'd want to be a dancer. She revealed that she's "excited to have unlimited freedom to experiment and I want to really work on my dancing and choreography...and strength." This much-needed break follows a non-stop schedule for the star who returned to competitive skating in 2024 to train for the Olympics. After becoming the first American woman to take home the Olympic gold in singles figure skating in 24 years, she immediately embarked on an extensive press tour, became the face of world-renowned brand campaigns, attended red carpets and fashion shows, and made special appearances at world-class events like the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards where she presented another master of their craft, Taylor Swift, with the Artist of the Year award. After the Sizzler, she will finally have the time to rest and focus on what sparks her passion.

One member of the press asked her how it felt to debut her free skate routine to Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park Suite" just a year ago in Boston to now returning with her gold medal for the routine. Liu's response is a reminder of why she is so good at what she does, because she approaches skating with genuine excitement and love first, not purely with the hope of winning titles and awards: "This just feels like coming to camp like it does every year," she said with a wide smile and casual shrug of the shoulders.

New England packed the Tenley E. Albright Performance Center and welcomed Albright with thunderous cheers. Hosts and beloved skaters Ashley Wagner and Adam Rippon kickstarted the show, effortlessly inserting wit and elegance between performances, and rightfully hyping up each skater who performed. Many skaters who participated train year-round at The Skating Club of Boston, including the Sizzler's opening act, 13-year-old Deborah Liu, who dazzled in a firebird red costume. Skaters like Patrick Blackwell, Aleksandr Selevko, and Andrew Torgashev leviated above the ice as they executed death-defying backflips to hits like "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls and "Dirty Diana" by Michael Jackson.

Though the skaters might have been intimidated by being in the presence of greatness, they didn't let it show. They made sure to charm Albright, with some athletes starting their programs sitting on the boards next to her, blowing her a kiss, or kicking up their feet as they sat on a black folding chair prop. Blackwell, who brought out the black folding chair, then decided to lay it on the ice to flip over after his performance. Fans grabbed on to their seats as he stuck the landing. Before Gen-Z icon Torgashev took the ice, Wagner revealed a behind-the-scenes fun fact: he once ate 50 frozen pizzas in a row.

Some new ice dance pairs debuted at the Sizzler as well. Audrey Shin and Spencer Akira Howe floated across the ice in heavenly blue garments that mimicked their light, airy performance set to Cody Fry's mashup arrangement of "Clair de Lune / Photograph". As well, new ice dance partnership Starr Andrews and Daniil Parkman delivered gorgeous spins and throw jumps.

An exciting moment was when the Sizzler welcomed world champion Deanna Stellato-Dudek, who is returning to represent the U.S. in a new partnership with Daniil Siianytsia. At age 43, she is the oldest female figure skater to win a World title in any discipline. The talent showcased this night defied outdated and preconceived notions of age, reminding everyone that it is never too late to be in your prime. Stellato-Dudek might be 3 decades older than Deborah Liu, but she delivered a sprightly, sharp program that felt like a breath of fresh air.

Other seasoned partnerships took a funkier approach, like Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, who skated in vibrant costumes to “Love Shack” by The B-52's, rocking 80s and 90s dance moves. Another unique performance featured Zingas, who returned to her solo roots after her partner, Kolesnik, sustained a minor ankle injury. She executed impeccable jumps in an ice-dance-length skirt, quite the feat. Other solo skaters included Sarah Everhardt, who spent almost as much time on the ice as in the air. She shared a cheeky sentiment after her set, "I am an angel of death and the victims are all of the judges."

Olympian and Blade Angel Isabeau Levito debuted a breathtaking new short program set to "Memória" by Rosalía & Carminho. One could hear a pin drop as the audience sat with bated breath, mesmerized by the program. Levito conquered the ice with grace and athleticism, executing stellar Biellmann spins and Y-spins. She wore a baby blue custom piece designed by Lisa McKinnon Designs, which was on display at the previous night's U.S. Figure Skating x Styling event at View Boston. Witnessing the dress in action, glistening and reflecting the light and enhancing her fluid movements reminded audiences about the important role fashion plays in the sport. After her performance, Levito and Rippon sang a quick duet to the tune of "Diamonds" by Rihanna for fun.

Alysa Liu closed out the night with perhaps her last performance before her break. She skated out in the iconic navy blue bedazzled bubble dress seen around the world at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Exhibition Gala and snapped into position. Eyes widened as she scaled the ice, utilizing each corner to split jump, Biellmann spin, and donut spin with sleek and visually stunning arm movements that accentuated how fast she was turning. She closed out her time in the spotlight with the same energy she brought to the Olympic stage, executing a triple lutz jump with ease. She beamed as she hit each beat, adding dynamic choreography that underscored the lyrics and instrumental elements in the catchy track. She brings an indescribable air to her live performances, making incredible feats that took years of training look effortless, as if she could do them in her sleep, a sign of a true virtuoso and artist.

Make sure to stay connected with U.S. Figure Skating and The Skating Club of Boston for future once-in-a-lifetime events like these and for updates on all your favorite skaters.