Life After Competition with Taiwanese-American Wild Ice Skater Angelina Huang
Lake Michigan, Door County, Wisconsin. Photo by Colton Mansavage.
In the frigid winters of Wisconsin, three miles from shore, a lone figure glides across the wild ice with such beauty and poise that it leaves any witness spellbound, mesmerized as she soars beneath a cloudless sky, arms outstretched, elegant, and free. Cracks spiderweb across the surface, the sun slowly dips below the horizon, and Angelina Huang, 22, lunges into a double axel, spins in a dazzling blur, and finishes in a dramatic pose. Her past life as a competitive, gold medalist figure skater is long behind her as she skates in distorted circles, free to do as she pleases—no routines, no choreography, no rules, just vibes.
“I was always told that competitive skating was the skating, the only real way to have a career in the sport,” said Angelina. “But now, looking back, I see that was just the beginning for me.”
Houston, we have a problem.
Madison, Wisconsin. Photo by Kenton Fowler.
A former Team USA figure skater and U.S. Nationals Gold Medalist, Angelina Huang first stepped onto the ice at just six years old. By 11, she was training professionally at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, and by 12, she had landed her first double axel. There was something special about life in the rink that touched her soul, lifted her spirits, and opened her world to dream big.
“What I loved most was the freedom of movement,” Angelina reflected. “When you reach a certain level of skating, you stop thinking so much, and suddenly, every possible move becomes available to you, and you get to create.”
As the years rolled by, the Olympic Training Center became her second home. And her parent’s unwavering support laid the foundation of her success, guiding Angelina through countless practices and competitions around the nation, and eventually, the world.
“They let me put everything else aside because they knew how passionate I was, and honestly, I wouldn’t have had the career I had if it wasn’t for them,” said Angelina. “Having their support, especially in a sport as lonely and individualistic as skating, was a huge part of my development.”
But as she advanced in her career, the level of isolation intrinsic to high-pressure, competitive environments grew harder to ignore. Figure skating isn’t all fairy tales and rainbows. Behind the grace and beauty lies a grueling reality—the dedication, commitment, and talent required to be the best demands sacrifice. And while the pursuit of perfection can be inspiring, it can often breed an obsession that overshadows the purity and joy that drew people to the sport in the first place.
“In figure skating, competition is ingrained in you as you grow,” said Angelina. “Coaches, parents, and the environment train skaters from a young age to go at each other’s throats. People are focused on competition to the point where it can be hard to form genuine friendships.”
For example, Team USA has only 15-18 spots on the national team, yet thousands of skaters across the country are competing to claim a seat at the table. Even at the Olympic Training Center, where Angelina trained, more than 15 girls were vying for a spot. So it’s not just a nationwide competition. It’s happening in every facility, with everyone fixated on the same prize.
Such high stakes give birth to even more problems. Eating disorders and body dysmorphia are alarmingly common in figure skating. And because of the relentless emphasis on being thin, skaters often compete to see who can be the smallest, even when it’s unhealthy.
“We’re kind of brainwashed into thinking that’s the right way, and I think it fuels a lot of the competition,” said Angelina. “Better support and resources, like therapy and nutrition, are crucial to helping the sport become a healthier environment overall.”
While proud of her career representing Team USA, Angelina realized it was time to move on. The pressures of the sport piled on top of one another, the flame that fueled her passion for figure skating began to wane, and growth felt impossible. Determined not to be boxed in, trapped, or paralyzed by her fear of the unknown, Angelina chose to take control of her destiny, believe in herself, and, without any guarantee of success, take a courageous leap of faith.
So in 2021, at just 18, she made that leap. Unlike many athletes who plan a final season or farewell competition, Angelina walked away abruptly—burnt out and ready to start the next chapter of her life.
“I like to joke that I retired on 45 minutes’ notice,” said Angelina. “I had a lesson with one of my choreographers, and we ended up talking the entire time instead of having an actual lesson. During that conversation, I realized I wasn’t truly happy. I went home, stopped skating for a week, thought about it, and then officially announced my retirement.”
Follow your heart.
Twin Lakes, Colorado. Photo by Angelina Huang.
“When you’ve dedicated your whole life to one thing, walking away can feel impossible,” said Angelina. “But change is good. Sometimes, it’s about having the courage to take that first step and explore something new.”
Angelina Huang first stepped onto wild ice at Lake Winona in Madison, Wisconsin, a year after leaving competitive figure skating behind. It felt like revisiting something she’d set aside, a passion she wasn’t sure she still loved. But as she skated carefully in circles on the frozen lake, a nostalgia she had locked away began to resurface, and her love for the sport reignited in a new, unexpected way.
“No one cares what you’re doing out there,” said Angelina. “In a competitive environment, everyone in an ice rink—whether it’s your coach, other parents, skaters, officials, or judges—is there to critique your skating.”
“But with wild ice, I could be rolling around on the ground, and no one cares,” adds Angelina. “I just love that difference. There’s no “right” way to do anything. You have a lot more freedom to move. And the biggest thing? You get to enjoy skating one hundred percent for yourself.”
During her first season on wild ice, Angelina documented her adventures on Instagram and TikTok—not to chase followers or go viral, but to create a personal collection of memories. To her surprise, her content skyrocketed, with multiple reels reaching millions of people. Sponsorships with brands like Insta360 and Fjällräven followed naturally, simply because she was already using their products while doing what she loved.
Glacial ice cave near Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo by Angelina Huang.
Her content shows a different side of skating—one that’s raw, creative, and deeply connected to both the natural world and personal growth. From fiery sunsets to mystical Alaskan caves, she uses choreography and improvisation to amplify the scale and beauty of nature, creating something entirely new. For her, it’s not just about skating—it’s about how skating interacts with and transforms the world around it.
“My content is always evolving, but the one thing I hope never to lose is capturing moments I’d enjoy watching,” said Angelina. “It sounds simple, but it’s important to me. Even if I didn’t have any followers, I’d still be making the same kind of content.”
Initially, Angelina never thought of herself as an Asian American outdoorswoman. She was simply someone who loved being outdoors. While diversity is common in competitive figure skating, the world of outdoor content creation presents a different picture.
“That’s where it hit me, and it was eye-opening,” said Angelina. “I started receiving messages from people saying how powerful it was to see someone who looked like them out in nature.”
“It’s been incredible to connect with people, not just Asian Americans, but even individuals living in Asia, who’ve said they never thought they could do the things I’m doing,” adds Angelina. “Knowing my content inspires others to see themselves in these spaces is the most rewarding part for me.”
Fortune favors the bold.
Well, what’s left to say about Angelina? She’s amazing, isn’t she? Her story is one of reinvention, proof that the end of one dream can be the beginning of another. At just 22 years old, with a bright future ahead, the world is at her fingertips. In May 2024, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Marketing and now lives in Chicago, where she balances her work with creating inspiring content.
“One of my dreams is to grow the wild ice skating community,” said Angelina. “Wild ice skating deserves the same kind of attention as backcountry skiing, ice climbing, and ultramarathon running. I want to help make a proper film about it to put it on the map and show people the beauty of our sport.”
Like radical surfers tracking swells, you can find Angelina at home, glued to satellite images, watching lakes freeze, taking notes on dates, temperatures, and the thickness of the ice. When the conditions are right, she ventures off-grid, tool kit in hand, walking on ice at least an inch and three-quarters thick. To test its strength, she picks up a hefty rock, tosses it into the air, and listens intently as it collides with the surface.
“When you follow what you love, better things will come,” concludes Angelina. “You might end up somewhere you never dreamed possible. I never thought I’d love skating more than I did during my competitive career. I never dreamed I’d be wild ice skating, creating content, or sharing my story. If you told me all this when I retired, I probably would’ve laughed.”
And with her skates now on, her flotation vest securely strapped, and GPS tracking shared, Angelina takes off, unbound, flying across frozen waters. The wind blows through her hair as her skates draw beautiful lines that intertwine, twist, and turn on the frosty surface. She moves to the beat of her heart, wild and free.
Connect with Angelina by following her on Instagram @theworldwithangelina and TikTok @theworldwithangelina, and visit her website to see her incredible photography and film at itsangelinahuang.com.
A former Team USA figure skater and U.S. Nationals Gold Medalist, Angelina Huang first stepped onto the ice at just six years old. By 11, she was training professionally at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, and by 12, she had landed her first double axel. There was something special about life in the rink that touched her soul, lifted her spirits, and opened her world to dream big.