tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22508914366392505502024-03-05T05:47:21.303+00:00Ice AddictionFor those whose minds are constantly on the iceKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-40475408734999034082014-03-09T16:18:00.000+00:002014-03-09T16:20:53.836+00:00Ice Addiction - What's Coming Soon?I thought I would keep everyone updated on what's going to be coming up over the next few weeks on Ice Addiction:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A round-up of the World Championships - who's attending, who the hot medal hopes are, and who might surprise us.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking Back - a series of articles looking back over the career of those skaters who have either already retired post-Olympics or who are looking to retire at the end of the season. I'll be looking back at their best performances, their highest-placed programs and their most memorable moments, on and off the ice. I'll also be looking back over the last season overall.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dancing With The Stars round-ups - two skaters who won't be heading to Saitama for the Worlds are Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who are instead competing again each other on Dancing With The Stars! I'll be keeping you all updated with their progress (my money's on Meryl!)</span></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Program of the Day - because sometimes you just need to take five minutes out of your day to watch some figure skating.</li>
</ul>
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And much more! Any suggestions are always welcome - either comment below or tweet me at <a href="https://twitter.com/theIceAddiction" target="_blank">@theiceaddiction</a>.</div>
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Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-90460706198913487542014-02-05T13:27:00.000+00:002014-03-09T16:19:23.415+00:00The Skating LessonToday's post is a message to all skating fans - check out <a href="http://www.theskatinglesson.com/">The Skating Lesson</a>! If you haven't heard of The Skating Lesson already, it's a joint venture between Jenny Kirk (former World Junior Champion) and David Lease (a.k.a. <a href="http://auntjoycesicecreamstand.blogspot.co.uk/">Aunt Joyce</a>) who are aiming to promote figure skating through online content. Originally starting out making podcasts, the pair now interview huge names from the skating world and upload the resulting video to YouTube for our viewing pleasure.<br />
<br />
Below are some of my favourite interviews thus far.<br />
<br />
<b>Mary Beth Marley</b>: The most recent interview by the pair is with Mary Beth Marley, who took up pairs skating to compete with Rockne Brubaker and, despite strong results, ended up quitting the sport. Her interview is incredibly detailed, candid and revealing. She also filmed a <a href="http://www.theskatinglesson.com/mary-beth-marley-a-day-in-the-life/">'Day in the Life' video</a> that's worth watching.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yxoeUC9N8dA" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<b>Frank Caroll</b>: Frank Caroll is an absolute figure skating legend. Enough said!<br />
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<b>Part One</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZG13j8A8siI" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<b>Part Two</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vfu6U5IT-R0" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Check out all the interviews <a href="http://www.theskatinglesson.com/category/interviews/">here</a>.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-72206114085728466812013-05-03T13:11:00.003+01:002013-05-03T13:11:34.854+01:00Program Of The DayHas anyone seen how Sasha Cohen has now added another string to her bow and become an entrepreneur? As if she wasn't talented enough already! In honour of her Snoxx Kickstarter campaign (socks with little poppers to hold them together, genius!), my lomg-awaited program of the day is her best short ever, in my opinion. Embedding wasn't possible but have a look <a href="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sI-cbt1u1uc">here</a> (2004 Worlds SP).Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-44810872771890263052012-01-20T11:24:00.000+00:002012-01-20T11:24:30.671+00:00Here's Johnny!Today's post coincides with a(nother) skating comeback, in the form of Johnny Weir! Johnny announced yesterday that he is to return to competitive skating, with the intention of competing at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Weir's last competition was Vancouver, where he placed sixth. Lynn Rutherford for Ice Network reported from Johnny's press conference, where Weir said:<br />
<blockquote>"I don't expect to come back immediately. It's going to be a slow process and a beautiful progression, hopefully, to come back as a national champion and a world medalist. Those are off in the distance. I don't expect instantaneous results. I expect hard work this summer." <br />
<br />
"I'll be training all of my jumps, and luckily I can still do my triples through the Axel, but Galina has already warned me [I have to] work on the quad and be a real threat. I want to show up and be competitive and have people actually take this seriously. This isn't a publicity stunt; this isn't anything other than a return to competitive figure skating." </blockquote>So how do you think Johnny will fair? With Plushenko also returning to competition at next week's European Championships, it seems to be the age of the comeback. Evan Lysacek has also been making noise about skating again but with an Olympic Gold under his belt it seems like a futile return if it happens (financial disagreements have hampered a return so far). Johnny, however, has something to prove and I feel he could again be a National champion and World medalist. Regardless of how he places in the future it'll be great to see his innovative and unique skating again!<br />
<br />
Program of the Day is Weir's last short program 'I Love You, I Hate You' from Vancouver, and it's an amazing performance - the last step sequence especially is just full of classic Johnny sass. I can't wait to see what he comes up with for the 2012-2013 season. For now, those of you in the US can check out Weir commentating at the US National Championships next week.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e1Yb_jdPAeI" width="420"></iframe>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-5700280531788390292012-01-13T19:20:00.001+00:002012-01-13T19:21:34.607+00:00Friday's Program of the DayToday's Program of the Day is Daisuke Takahashi's short program this season. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="215" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ytSVCcEEnTM" width="460"></iframe><br />
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I absolutely love this program but my question is - is it going to be enough to topple the mighty Chan at Worlds?Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-69755058216137976092012-01-06T15:49:00.000+00:002012-01-06T15:49:59.575+00:00New Year's Resolutions, Skating-StyleSo the first few days of 2012 have been spent finding out what each skater's New Year's Resolutions are.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Patrick Chan</b> - Attend the 'Learn to Talk to the Media without Putting Your Foot in your Mouth' seminar as per my federation's 'suggestion'.<br />
<br />
<b>Scott Moir</b> - Ditto.<br />
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<b>Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat</b> - To continue to have as much fun as we were having when <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiLAXV5zVPw&feature=player_profilepage">this video</a> was taken. (Ed Note: Click it. It's adorable.)<br />
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<b>Brian Joubert</b> - I do not make resolutions as that involves looking forward, and I only ever look back. You all love my return to <i>The Matrix</i> program, non?</blockquote><br />
Okay, so they might not be real....but Ice Network posted a few proper skating resolutions in <a href="http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120103&content_id=26254154&vkey=ice_news">this article</a>:<br />
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<blockquote><b>Meryl Davis</b>: My goal is to stop worrying about things that are out of my control and enjoy every day with my friends, family and truly blessed life!<br />
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<b>Mark Ladwig</b>: I would like to pay off more debt in the New Year! I got into debt becoming a better skater over the past 10 years. Last year, my goal was not to go deeper in debt, and I succeeded. This year's resolution is to get back to being in the black!<br />
<br />
<b>Ashley Wagner</b>: My resolution was to make time for more happy and special moments in my life, since I'm always so stressed!<br />
<br />
<b>Michal Brezina</b>: I just want to stay healthy for the rest of the season and for the next one, too! And I'll do all my best for it.<br />
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<b>Agnes Zawadzki</b>: I just don't want to have any regrets this year and go for everything that comes my way.<br />
<br />
<b>Parker Pennington</b>: My resolution is to spend more time trying to help skating grow.<br />
<br />
<b>Evan Bates</b>: I need to clean my room!!!! Ahhhhhh, it's bad.<br />
<br />
<b>Gracie Gold</b>: My New Year's resolution was to try to live more in the sunshine and less with the shadows, and to read every novel on the New York Times best-seller list.<br />
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<b>Jeremy Abbott</b>: My resolution this year is to make resolutions that I actually keep.<br />
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<b>Melisssa Gregory and Denis Petukhov</b>: 1. To go somewhere this year that we have never been. 2. Conquer a new challenge.<br />
<br />
<b>Sean Rabbitt</b>: My New Year's resolution is to give back to my community even more than this last year (which might be hard to top after Skaters Care!). I would also like to get better at speaking, reading and writing Japanese, and lastly get to meet lots of new people and make many new friends!<br />
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<b>Emily Hughes</b>: I didn't make one this year. I had such a great 2011 -- skating in some shows, graduating and getting a job -- I just want to continue on this path.<br />
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<b>Daisuke Murakami</b>: My New Year's resolution is for the people who have supported me through skating to have health and happiness, and also having two quads in my free program for the new year.<br />
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<b>Lucinda Ruh</b>: My New Year's resolution is to be a good mother, since I am pregnant with twins! And to continue to inspire people with my book, Frozen Teardrop.<br />
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<b>Jeremy Ten</b>: I think after everything that I went through in 2011 and even in 2010, this year in 2012 is all about loving skating and showing that to the world more than ever. It was almost taken away from me, so I hang on to it that much more everyday.<br />
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<b>Ryan Bradley</b>: My resolution this year is to spend more time at home with my family.<br />
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<b>Piper Gilles</b>: I need to stop biting my nails.</blockquote>Other skating bloggers have also made New Year's Resolutions, including <a href="http://xan-boni.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-skating-goals-for-2012.html">Xanboni</a> and <a href="http://icecharades.blogspot.com/2012/01/resolutions-for-2012.html">Ice Charades</a> so check them out!<br />
<br />
My New Year's Resolutions, skating-wise, are to post more on Ice Addiction! Life keeps getting in the way but I resolve to post at least every Friday, so if you check back on Ice Addiction every Friday there will be a new post. There's a lot to look forward to in 2012!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-33865758553171274752011-12-31T16:33:00.000+00:002011-12-31T16:33:18.870+00:00Happy New Year!Just wanted to stay a very quick 'Happy New Year' to all you lovely ice addicts out there! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a great new year this evening. I also hope that 2012 is filled with health, happiness and, most importantly, skating!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrabQCX-2oNCpS6r161bxjQpBELUk9iz65_taR9QfaXRgQILeKptVJgpmQQATOIShT_ytNh7nNu1rGHkMi7-Pqo7MwhhMpBlrxYnP8HfTn1pn7bM9wsfP-HdT6spA76FQJp0uJoFjWYL4i/s1600/hNY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="260" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrabQCX-2oNCpS6r161bxjQpBELUk9iz65_taR9QfaXRgQILeKptVJgpmQQATOIShT_ytNh7nNu1rGHkMi7-Pqo7MwhhMpBlrxYnP8HfTn1pn7bM9wsfP-HdT6spA76FQJp0uJoFjWYL4i/s400/hNY.jpg" /></a></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-32540493105305751472011-11-22T13:25:00.000+00:002011-11-22T13:25:26.012+00:00The Grand Prix Season So FarJust a quick note to check on here. So I haven't caught much of the Grand Prix season so far unfortunately (I don't have Eurosport on my TV at uni and I do have a lot of work to do sadly!) so I'm not really going to comment on what I've missed. Next week I am working at the British Championships so will get to see a lot of the practices and a little of the competition then, so if I see anything/anyone note-worthy I'll mention it here! I also went to my briefing for my role as a volunteer at the 2011 Europeans - it was extremely exciting and suddenly all felt very "real" but they still haven't let me know what my role is yet! I'm hoping Brian Joubert's personal assistant...hey a girl can dream! There will be a LOT of blogging from me when it gets to the end of January (especially as my volunteers accreditation gets me free access to all the practices!) so stay tuned for that. Hope you're all enjoying the Grand Prix season!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-78395705063962134432011-09-06T21:08:00.000+01:002011-09-06T21:08:15.874+01:00The awkward moment when......you realise you haven't posted on your blog in forever! I've been having a bit of a break over the off-season but receiving a couple of emails about my blog in the last week which reminded me that there still might be some readers out there waiting for new posts! I'm so excited for to the 2011-2012 season, and there is so much to look forward to. <br />
<br />
This year I am not attending Trophee Eric Bompard for the first time in three years....BUT I have been confirmed as a volunteer for the 2012 Europeans (eek!) which, this year, are in SHEFFIELD! (a.k.a my university town!). I'm really excited and will definitely be chronicling my experiences of volunteering at a major skating event here on Ice Addiction.<br />
<br />
Anyway, to the off-season. The off-season has, unfortunately, been categorised by me for the number of partnerships which have ended, due to retirement, injury or personal problems. The worst offender seems to be North America, which includes Caydee Denney / Jeremy Barrett and Vanessa Crone / Paul Poirer, Madison Chock / Greg Zuerlein, Emily Samuelson / Evan Bates, Madison Hubbell / Keiffer Hubbell. This season the pairs and dance events are going to be looking very different in terms of line-up - anyone else predicting Shpilband&Zoueva dominance at US Nationals and Worlds again? <br />
<br />
Therefore, my program of the day is in memorandum of one of my favourite pairs team - Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison (2003-2010). There have been a number of internet rumours and drama about why this partnership broke up, but essentially it seems that Bryce's injuries are serious enough that they have put his future skating career in serious jeopardy. Jessica is now skating with Sébastien Wolfe, and they have been confirmed for Skate Canada. The entire list of Canadian skaters who will be participating in Skate Canada in Mississauga, Ontario can be found <a href="http://www.skatebuzz.com/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?id=afa5b14a-fe0a-4a19-9a41-c14091823f65">here</a>. Program of the Day is their bronze medal-winning performance from the 2008 World Championships to Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter". All videos of this LP have been disabled from embedding by request (boo!) but it can be watched <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWD2L1qRSLo">here</a>.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-828363488460059462011-04-28T20:07:00.000+01:002011-04-28T20:07:43.357+01:00Lyrics and loose screws - the World mens freeskateResults results results! What a mixed bag of performances...if anyone put Artur Gachinski as their bronze medal prediction I will be very surprised.<br />
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1. Patrick Chan 280.98<br />
<br />
What a skate - beautiful, nuanced interpretation of Phantom. Plus those quads look like triples...and that is a good thing!<br />
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2. Takahiko Kozuka 258.41 <br />
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Also a great skate from Kozuka, so solid on his jumps and a well-deserved bronze medal.<br />
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3. Artur Gachinski 241.86<br />
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Gachinski totally dark-horsed this one, but anyone else just see him as baby Plushenko? Needs his own identity, which I think should start with a haircut!<br />
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4. Michal Brezina 233.61<br />
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Two quads and two falls - you don't see that very often. Definitely time to retire that "An American in Paris" routine though.<br />
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5. Daisuke Takahashi 232.97<br />
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Oh, Daisuke....boot problems are so harsh. Definitely should have been allowed to start from the beginning, and he skated very well considering the disruption.<br />
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6. Nobunari Oda 232.50 <br />
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Oda's performance was pretty good, but an extra triple toe that wasn't allowed made him drop in places.<br />
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7. Florent Amodio 229.68<br />
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Florent used the lyrical version of his program, but was not given the mark deduction which is usually reserved for doing so. Breaking the rules seems uncalled for, but then it does fit with his skating style, which often seems confident to the point of cocky. It wasn't his best skate, jump-wise, but it is SUCH a great program, especially for the audience.<br />
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8. Brian Joubert 227.67 <br />
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Brian Brian Brian. So proud of him for hitting a clean free skate, but sadly wasn't enough for a medal place for the sixth consecutive year. Maybe next year in Nice? Or maybe not.<br />
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That's all I got to see (due to Eurosport absolutely "snooker-ing" us) but the rest of the results are below. What did you think of the competition?<br />
<blockquote>9. Richard Dornbush 222.42 <br />
10. Javier Fernandez 218.26<br />
11. Ross Miner 217.93 <br />
12. Tomas Verner 216.87 <br />
13. Ryan Bradley 212.71 <br />
14. Denis Ten 209.99 <br />
15. Peter Liebers 205.59 <br />
16. Anton Kovalevski 201.64 <br />
17. Kevin van der Perren 197.10 <br />
18. Samuel Contesti 196.40 <br />
19. Jorik Hendrickx 188.24 <br />
20. Kevin Reynolds 187.23 <br />
21. Paolo Bacchini 183.13 <br />
22. Nan Song 176.09 <br />
23. Kim Lucine 171.93 <br />
24. Joey Russell 168.73 </blockquote><br />
Also here are some post-free skate interviews from the top placers, courtesy of Universal Sports. Not particularly insightful, but definitely worth a watch.<br />
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<iframe width="380" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uOBDfpyLPXo?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />
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<iframe width="380" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mXNpw4wesyg?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />
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<iframe width="380" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/q3RmOX_NOEw?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />
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<iframe width="380" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TaZRzzOVNtY?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />
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<iframe width="380" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hq_ovIrgITg?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-83656719450186528542011-04-27T22:41:00.005+01:002011-04-27T23:02:20.051+01:00World Championships - Men and PairsSo despite my promises of live-tweeting, it turns out that British Eurosport decided only to show the top three performances - how disappointing! Still, here's some commentary and video for the top nine skaters (i.e all I could find on Youtube.)<br />
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1. Patrick CHAN - 93.02<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9eHvtNMK8DE?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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Sandra Bezic recently tweeted that you don't "get" Patrick Chan until you see him live, and this is something I would absolutely agree with. His ease of movement, and flow across the ice, is just amazing when seen in person and is not really fully captured on tv. He achieved a world record score with this performance - fantastic. Having said that, to me it's not the most exciting program, in terms of music, but is still performed magically. I think I'll call it now that he has enough of a lead to take this.<br />
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2. Nobunari ODA - 81.81 <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_zrQDXtsMQA?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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A few stumbles and mistakes makes me think he was lucky to edge out Takahashi on this one - but can he hold it in the FS? Such a gorgeous triple axel on its own though - Oda has a knee bend on the landing of his jumps that is to die for.<br />
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3. Daisuke TAKAHASHI - 80.25 <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uVtWOiP6nrM?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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Loved loved loved this - this program absolutely plays to his strengths and is just so fun! Again, I question his positioning, behind Oda and so far behind Patrick Chan...hmm.<br />
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4. Artur GACHINSKI - 78.34<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sQXGv8C1bqU?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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I'll leave this comment to John Kerr who posted on his Facebook - "who the hell is Artur Gachinski's choreographer!?! Talented kid but the routine is pile of crap!" Loved the use of Pink Floyd though - gave me Virtue and Moir/Delobel and Schoenfelder flashbacks!<br />
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5. Florent AMODIO - 77.64<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Soq4dASAwZ4?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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Think Amodio could definitely move up over Gachinski on the long, since he has a really fun yet very consistantly well-performed long program. It was a nice performance, with a great opening jump sequence.<br />
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6. Takahiko KOZUKA - 77.62<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uOm6x2gBUt4?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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Kozuka's second performance of this competition so far - due to weird ISU rules he had to skate in the preliminary qualifying round. Kozuka also has gorgeous fluidity on the ice, and a great audience-friendly program, but a botched triple axel landing left him out of medal spots. But I definitely wouldn't rule out a medal just yet.<br />
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7. Michal BREZINA - 77.50<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YEzPeQdSPuQ?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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I have been a huge fan of Brezina for ages as he has amazingly high jumps, but they weren't quite on today. But with only one point between him and fourth place (him, Kozuka and Amodio are so tight) there's bound to be a lot of movement tomorrow.<br />
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8. Tomas VERNER - 75.94 <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w3OcGGJvoIU?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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Tomas's program is so light and fun - but a fall on the quad, not so much.<br />
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9. Brian JOUBERT - 71.29<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NGaKeEWE41M?fs=1" width="380"></iframe><br />
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Joubert has been on the podium here for the last five years - pretty impressive considering how inconsistent he's been over the past half a decade. However, with performances like this he's never going to retain his world title - he recovered from his opening mistake well but he's twenty points behind Chan, ouch.<br />
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And the rest of the results are below (I.E Youtube is letting me down so cannot see the rest of the programs) The skaters below who are in <b>bold</b> advanced to the free skate tomorrow - commiserations to the others. <br />
<blockquote>10. <b>DENIS TEN</b> - 71.00 <br />
11.<b> Richard DORNBUSH</b> - 70.54 <br />
12. <b>Ryan BRADLEY</b> - 70.45 <br />
13. <b>Ross MINER</b> - 70.40 <br />
14. <b>Javier FERNANDEZ</b> - 69.16 <br />
15. <b>Kevin VAN DER PERREN</b> - 68.34 <br />
16. <b>Peter LIEBERS</b> - 67.73 <br />
17. <b>Anton KOVALEVSKI</b> - 65.16 <br />
18. <b>Samuel CONTESTI</b> - 64.59 <br />
19. <b>Kevin REYNOLDS</b> - 64.36 <br />
20. <b>Nan SONG</b> - 63.78 <br />
21. <b>Joey RUSSELL</b> - 61.69 <br />
22. <b>Jorik HENDRICKX</b> - 60.74 <br />
23. <b>Paolo BACCHINI</b> - 58.96 <br />
24. <b>Kim LUCINE MON</b> - 58.81 <br />
25. Adrian SCHULTHEISS - 58.41 <br />
26. Viktor PFEIFER - 56.68 <br />
27. Min-Seok KIM - 56.19 <br />
28. Alexander MAJOROV - 54.24 <br />
29. Maxim SHIPOV - 50.10 <br />
30. Misha GE - 49.61</blockquote>And here are the pairs result - I have yet to find any performances on Youtube yet. However I have to say my favourite skate was Volosozhar and Trankov's. They absolutely lived up to the hype, such a perfect match for partners, and he looks so much happier than he was when skating with Maria Mukhortova! Both Savchenko/Szolkowy and Pang/Tong were sublime - tomorrow is going to be close. Major props also go to Eric Radford - he and Meagan did a great job for their first international outing together, made even more impressive by how he skated the majority of the program with a broken nose due to an ill-placed elbow during the opening triple twist! Commiserations also go to Kemp and King; being British I always cheer them on, but just missing out on qualifying for the free skate must be devastating. Below are those who qualified.<br />
<blockquote>1. Pang/Tong 74.00<br />
2. Savchenko/Szolkowy 72.98<br />
3. Volosozhar/Trankov 70.35<br />
4. Bazarova/Larionov 64.64<br />
5. Kavaguti/Smirnov 62.54<br />
6. Takahashi/Tran 59.16<br />
7. Duhamel/Radford 58.83<br />
8. Yankowskas/Coughlin 58.76<br />
9. Berton/Hotarek 57.63<br />
10. Moore-Towers/Moscovitch 56.86<br />
11. Evora/Ladwig 54.64<br />
12. Hausch/Wende 53.90<br />
13. Zhang/Wang 52.25<br />
14. Dong/Wu 49.29<br />
15. Kadelcova/Bidar 45.20<br />
16. Zabijako/Kulbach 44.35 </blockquote>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-32019788860047009272011-04-24T21:48:00.000+01:002011-04-24T21:48:51.684+01:00Preview - World ChampionshipsSo this week marks the start of the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships, now held in Moscow instead of Nagano after the devastating events in Japan. So who are the contenders to watch?<br />
<br />
<b>Mens<br />
</b><br />
Reigning Champion: <b>Daisuke Takahashi</b><br />
Forerunner for Gold: <b>Patrick Chan</b><br />
Potential Challengers: <b>Amodio, Kozuka, Takahashi, Joubert, Brezina</b><br />
<br />
Patrick Chan is definitely the main contender for this event - his performance at Canadian Nationals included a quad toeloop in his short and TWO quad toes in his long, and he's going to want to match that in Moscow. However, I suspect his competition will come from the 2014 kids, Florent Amodio and Michel Brezina, who have a history of consistency in competition that Chan does not. Brian Joubert, Takahiko Kozuka and reigning gold medalist Daisuke Takahashi will also be trying to take the gold. The mens event is undoubtedly one of the most exciting of the whole competition as it is notoriously hard to predict, especially with such a deep field.<br />
<br />
<b>Pairs<br />
</b><br />
Reigning Champion: <b>Qing Pang and Jian Tong</b><br />
Forerunners for Gold: <b>Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy</b><br />
Potential Challengers: <b>Pang/Tong, Volosozhar/Trankov, Basarova/Larionov </b><br />
<br />
The pairs event seems to be a two-horse race between Pang and Tong and Savchenko and Szolkowy. The Germans won at the recent Grand Prix Final by over 20 points; however, their lack of jumping consistency may be their downfall. The Russian team will also be the main challengers hoping to take a home gold - both Basarova/Larinov and Kavaguti/Smirnov have a good chance, but all eyes will be on Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov. It'll be interesting to see if their gamble in partner-swapping paid off - their sizable win at their only competition so far, the Mont Blanc Trophy, seems to suggest so!<br />
<br />
<b>Ladies</b><br />
<br />
Reigning Champion: <b>Mao Asada</b><br />
Forerunner for Gold: <b>Yu-na Kim (?)</b><br />
Potential Challengers: <b>Asada, Csizny, Kostner, Ando, Flatt, Murakami</b><br />
<br />
This ladies event marks Yu-na Kim's return to competition after her gold medal win in Vancouver, but how will she fare after a whole season out and a messy split from coach Brian Orser? Mao Asada has had a very mixed season but she's been known to pull a winning performance out when it's been least expected, so she might take a surprise gold. Also hoping for a medal will be Alissa Csizny, riding high on her Grand Prix Final win, and her teammate Rachael Flatt, as well as Japan's Miki Ando and Kanako Murakami.<br />
<br />
<b>Ice Dance</b><br />
<br />
Reigning Champion: <b>Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir</b><br />
Forerunner for Gold: <b>Virtue/Moir</b><br />
Potential Challengers: <b>Davis/White, Pechalat/Bourzat</b><br />
<br />
This is also a event which marks a return to competition; it is Virtue and Moir's first full competition of the season, as they were forced to withdraw from both Grand Prix assignments, Canadian Nationals and the long program of Four Continents due to Virtue's injury struggles. It'll be interesting to see if Davis and White have managed to leapfrog over their training mates due to their extra practice time - after all, they've always been a very close second! Pechalat and Bourzat will also be fighting for a medal, fresh after their huge win at Europeans.<br />
<br />
So that's my predictions/round-up - who are your picks? Also I've posted the dates and times of each event below - enjoy! I'll also be blogging about each event and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ice__addiction">live-tweeting</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>World Championships (Moscow Times)</b><br />
<blockquote>Monday, April 25<br />
14:00 Qualification round: Men<br />
<br />
Tuesday, April 26<br />
12:00 Qualification round: Ice dancing<br />
15:30 Qualification round: Ladies<br />
<br />
Wednesday, April 27<br />
13:00 Men's short program<br />
18:30 Pairs short program<br />
<br />
Thursday, April 28<br />
13:30 Men's free skating<br />
18:30 Pairs free skating<br />
<br />
Friday, April 29<br />
13:30 Ladies short program<br />
18:30 Short dance<br />
<br />
Saturday, April 30<br />
13:30 Ladies' free skating<br />
18:30 Free dance<br />
<br />
Sunday, May 1<br />
14:00 Exhibition<br />
</blockquote>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-51211646014831859532011-03-04T22:02:00.001+00:002011-04-25T22:24:03.138+01:00Program of the DayToday's Program of the Day comes courtesy of Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett, who announced the end of their partnership last week. Jeremy appears to be retiring and plans to skate in shows and coach, whilst Caydee is looking for a new partner. They were a very consistant couple, who had make leaps and bounds in terms of progress in the last two seasons, and so will be missed. The Program of the Day is their short program to Stravinsky's "The Firebird" from US Nationals 2010, where they took the gold medal.<br />
<br />
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="380" height="285" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tNkj8jR0AaY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-25293385609176355272011-03-03T18:21:00.001+00:002011-04-25T22:23:18.173+01:00Program of the DayToday's POTD needs no introduction - sit back and enjoy the most iconic skating performance ever.<br />
<br />
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="380" height="285" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t2zbbN4OL98" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-66671586953913396162011-03-02T15:28:00.003+00:002011-04-25T22:20:51.114+01:00Program of the DayBecause I think it's a good thing to take a couple of minutes out of your busy day to just relax and watch some high-quality skating!<br />
<br />
Today's program comes courtesy of the Europeans, which I'll be looking back on between now and the start of Worlds later this month.<br />
<br />
The Europeans were in Bern, Switzerland, and the home-nation hopeful was Sarah Meier. Despite two consecutive silver medals in this event in 2007 and 2008, Meier has struggled with both inconsistancy and injury and was by no means favourite to take the gold at this event. Her gorgeous free skate, land subsequent home win, was Meier's last ever competition. She called it "the perfect ending", and after watching it you'll have to agree. Her reaction at the end of the program and in the Kiss and Cry is unbelievably emotional and moving, and one of the best moments of a European championships that was somewhat lackluster in other areas. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="380" height="285" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vfWrARyEOOw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-20396371269272126312010-12-31T16:08:00.001+00:002011-04-25T22:22:35.429+01:00Ones To Watch - Russian RoyaltyYes, Ice Addiction is back, and diving straight in with comments on Russian Nationals - most specifically Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov, who had such a great debut at Russian Nationals it was absolutely a case of "Maria who?" - Maxim's last unhappy skating union is well and truly over! I felt Volosozhar's skating ability was on a par with Aliona Savchenko but she never the partner to show this of, but as their trouncing of Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov (214.66 to 201.44 as final scores) at Nationals shows, there is going to be a very interesting showdown for the pairs medals in Europeans in a few short weeks. See what you think of their short program below!<br />
<br />
<object width="380" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hhYkwZAnYP4?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hhYkwZAnYP4?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Oh and any comments on an Ice Addiction revamp, criticisms, ideas etc, would be very much appreciated - the link to my formspring is on the right!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-43310789917627659832010-04-30T20:07:00.001+01:002010-05-01T12:11:23.668+01:00Bits and PiecesSo, it might be the off-season, but there's still some skating news to be had. <br />
<br />
Firstly, the obligatory retirement/continuation announcements. Most skaters haven't committed either way yet, but some have - Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have stated that they will compete for another season at least! This is a fantastic decision; they might be Olympic and World champions but there is so much more they can bring to the sport. Plus, this will ensure a nice friendly "rivalry" between them and Davis and White will continue, giving them both the push to create such masterpiece FDs as they did this year. Kristoffer Berntsson has also stated he will keep competing, which is great news, and Meryl and Charlie have stated their intentions to be in Sochi!<br />
<br />
The coaching shuffle has also started; Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates are moving to train with Zoueva and Shpilband. I think this can only be a good thing for the pair, but not necessarily for the other teams Zoueva and Shpilband coach; they might be spreading themselves a little thin, and could be in danger of being the next Morosov. Speaking of Morosov, Nobunari Oda has left him and will be coached by Lee Barkell; a very sensible decision after his disastrous Worlds.<br />
<br />
There is also the partner shuffle happening; as predicted, Mukhortova and Trankov are over and he's been trying out with Volosozhar, but Stanislav will still be involved, as assistant coach. Also, Khoklova and Novitski are not longer skating together, and Jana has had a try-out with Fedor Andreev, the son of Marina Zoueva and former Canadian mens skater! Seems like a weird match, and a definite downgrade for Jana - it's only a tryout though, so it may not be successful. It was also assumed that Novitski was retiring due to his injury issues; however, there have been Russian rumours of HIM also looking for a new partner! Hopefully these will be false; it's always been considered that him and Jana had a very good relationship and he will definitely not be able to find a partner as good as Jana, she's such a talent. Piper Gilles and Zachary Donohue have also split.<br />
<br />
In weirder news, Nobunari Oda has apparently got married to his girlfriend who is four months pregnant! Kind of unexpected (I think because he looks so young!) but congratulations to him. Lots of changes in his life right now!<br />
<br />
The feud between Evan Lysacek (who seems to be doing pretty well on Dancing with the Stars over in America) and Johnny Weir shows no signs of being extinguished. Evan said, when asked about Johnny:<br />
<blockquote>“Stars on Ice” is really selective of who they hire and they only hire the best of the best to skate. It would’ve been hard of them to justify hiring him, and I think he was really upset because he wanted the financial benefit of the tour. A lot of us in the skating world were really disappointed in the way he reacted, basically whining that he wasn’t chosen.</blockquote><br />
Bit harsh, I think? But Johnny is still doing the media rounds, and on the Wendy Williams Show, the quote was read to him? Johnny's response?<br />
<br />
<object width="380" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QCGdNmAsQ1A&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QCGdNmAsQ1A&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I'm a teenager, and even I didn't know what "slore" meant! But Urban Dictionary filled me in. Honestly, Evan's comment was rude, and so was Johnny's, just in different ways. A bit of friendly rivalry in figure skating is always funny, but when their competitive careers are basically over and they're STILL sniping? Not cool.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-899794639900330362010-04-06T16:48:00.013+01:002010-04-07T10:48:47.638+01:00Figure Skating in Harlem or Dancing with the Stars?The annual Figure Skating in Harlem event took place on April 5th - here's what Ice Network had to say about it:<br /><blockquote>It's an annual event where stars and fans meet, greet and skate under the stars (hopefully no rain this year) at Wollman Rink in New York's Central Park. This year, Figure Skating in Harlem (FSH), an organization that provides innovative ice skating and educational programming for girls ages 6-18 from the Harlem community, will honor three women who share a commitment to kids.<br /><br />From the skating world, FSH has chosen Kristi Yamaguchi, who founded the Always Dream Foundation around the same time FSH came into being. On Jan. 16, the foundation celebrated the official opening of the Always Dream Play Park in Yamaguchi's hometown of Freemont, Calif. It's a place where physically challenged and able-bodied kids can play side by side.</blockquote><br />And it seems the Stars on Ice tour bus took a pit stop in Central Park, because a lot of familiar faces pitched up to support FSH:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTH7VGuBgwTOcm0X2_yzJbZykw31jSGJdIMEQGzyg0LENh7mzU82Q5TvRffL5Xzo5t_7Zmf-0Pbhe3zZj_oZcvsa77rCgk25bhUKzaGYILs4kGp9Y9XmsLZ59_r_uA9In5_BEjMGY3hjg/s1600/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+wSkZSkgoHvLl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTH7VGuBgwTOcm0X2_yzJbZykw31jSGJdIMEQGzyg0LENh7mzU82Q5TvRffL5Xzo5t_7Zmf-0Pbhe3zZj_oZcvsa77rCgk25bhUKzaGYILs4kGp9Y9XmsLZ59_r_uA9In5_BEjMGY3hjg/s400/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+wSkZSkgoHvLl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457321228979629778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju43ZHT8-yzgOKmCgAiAWvIa8l2VKB2kQ2KIjL2IMJKJqlkAffT051HKjF73MBpNaSGM9USNXjdPLmXREu2Ela5wRRHzaAfT6LDyt8Y9KjlHeFtL5IsuFvGeJfdbj2S7VGTjkZIfUfL20v/s1600/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+-SzH21ScD2Vl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju43ZHT8-yzgOKmCgAiAWvIa8l2VKB2kQ2KIjL2IMJKJqlkAffT051HKjF73MBpNaSGM9USNXjdPLmXREu2Ela5wRRHzaAfT6LDyt8Y9KjlHeFtL5IsuFvGeJfdbj2S7VGTjkZIfUfL20v/s400/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+-SzH21ScD2Vl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457321077363405266" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14DkxI2_doQnBCsh90yehumbFhjyWn3IdpcCifrOyA2O2LlEoYSxJkhLdk2bLevgAky27Kf21k30xXwQm3roF1YetqbMrHvivKuL0FswtYXqsJXqjRQPAXJdl9Jl95Fo1y93G6ZEQBi6K/s1600/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+MEyzCMWHc31l.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14DkxI2_doQnBCsh90yehumbFhjyWn3IdpcCifrOyA2O2LlEoYSxJkhLdk2bLevgAky27Kf21k30xXwQm3roF1YetqbMrHvivKuL0FswtYXqsJXqjRQPAXJdl9Jl95Fo1y93G6ZEQBi6K/s400/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+MEyzCMWHc31l.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457320897137103026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglptVp5gBBAcwLOnCeuDcUoMcwKBIX969Ohh3poR2JGBxzJn4CTi7r2I4Aa0yFohFVfpbqnlrcEpz4GzRLzeUarx2ZV8Gz0DYebxj8Ib4bfkSAtnPoie0WCMl900jZvXcytZE_NZFXOzM2/s1600/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+pMzpq9aZheNl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglptVp5gBBAcwLOnCeuDcUoMcwKBIX969Ohh3poR2JGBxzJn4CTi7r2I4Aa0yFohFVfpbqnlrcEpz4GzRLzeUarx2ZV8Gz0DYebxj8Ib4bfkSAtnPoie0WCMl900jZvXcytZE_NZFXOzM2/s400/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+pMzpq9aZheNl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457320576744274306" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVO0ev09e58IYxFnfSmVp7WshrHVrxSePFkPycOsFmHql4ii6gZBISJYbzohfc0KaD26LPOmHAqbtLOvKYKq0O_hh7FRFK7Y-Ns9lo6PHUWQDTgY1sSZ_TNage7xbHkktl-Z0s-9uWCyy/s1600/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+vAxPbTypnaFl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVO0ev09e58IYxFnfSmVp7WshrHVrxSePFkPycOsFmHql4ii6gZBISJYbzohfc0KaD26LPOmHAqbtLOvKYKq0O_hh7FRFK7Y-Ns9lo6PHUWQDTgY1sSZ_TNage7xbHkktl-Z0s-9uWCyy/s400/Figure+Skating+Harlem+2010+Skating+Stars+Benefit+vAxPbTypnaFl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457320409211771138" /></a><br />Also present from the skating world was Dorothy Hamill, Charlie White, Mirai Nagasu, Ben Agosto and Sasha Cohen. Donald Trump, Tamara Tunie and Christopher Meloni also attended the benefit due to their work with the cause.<br /><br />One FSH regular who wasn't able to attend was Evan Lysacek, due to his commitments to Dancing with the Stars. He topped the leaderboard this week with his Quickstep:<br /><br /><object width="380" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hTdOOkykAwU&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hTdOOkykAwU&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br />But one person who isn't too interested in Evan's footwork? Johnny Weir, NY Mag is reporting:<br /><br /><blockquote>"Evan is fine as a person. We've been competitors for years and years and years and that's kinda the forefront to us being people to each other," Weir said. "I think he worked very hard and he deserved that Olympic gold medal and he does a good job. He does his work. But as a person I don't really know him that well and we've never really made the effort to be nice to each other." But surely he must at least watch Lysacek on Dancing With the Stars? "No," Weir said. "And I won't." </blockquote><br />Ouch! But who'd expect anything less from Johnny?Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-87322802483537442452010-04-03T21:26:00.005+01:002010-04-07T10:50:04.819+01:00Post-Season SlumpPost-season slump is inevitable, especially after the Olympic season, so to combat this Ice Addiction is look back over the 2009-2010 season, and setting a sort of skating questionnaire, asking for some of your favourites over the season. Here are the questions:<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>Favourite Mens Short Program -<br />Favourite Mens Long Program - <br />Favourite Ladies Short Program - <br />Favourite Ladies Long Program - <br />Favourite Pairs Short Program - <br />Favourite Pairs Long Program - <br />Favourite OD - <br />Favourite FD - <br />Favourite Breakout Star of the Season - <br />Heartbreak of the Season - <br />Skater(s) You'd Most Like to See Saved From Their Imminent Retirement - <br />Skater You'd Never Like to See Again! - <br />Best Tweeter of the Season - </strong></blockquote>...and here are my answers! Remember, this is totally all for fun, and I've done my answers not on the best score of the season, or the most talented skaters, but on the performances and people I personally adore. I'm sure that there are some stars I've missed. Basically, answers from the heart and not the head!<br /><br /><strong>Favourite Mens Short Program -</strong> Jeremy Abbott's "A Day in the Life" Choreographical masterpiece! Honourable Mentions: Weir, Takahashi, Rippon, Lambiel<br /><br /><strong>Favourite Mens Long Program </strong>- This was a much stronger season for short programs, I thought. But Oda, Kozuka and Joubert all get mentions from me.<br /><br /><strong>Favourite Ladies Short Program</strong> - Mirai Nagasu's "Pirates of the Caribbean"<br /><br /><strong>Favourite Ladies Long Program - </strong>Joannie Rochette - "Sampson and Delilah" Honourable Mention - Yu-na Kim<br /><br /><strong><strong>Favourite Pairs Short Program</strong> -</strong> Evora and Ladwig's "Love Actually". Really embodied the Olympic spirit. Honourable Mention - Shen and Zhao, Denney and Barratt<br /><br /><strong>Favourite Pairs Long Program -</strong> Pang and Tong's "Impossible Dream" Honourable Mentions - Savchenko and Szolkowy, Dube and Davison<br /><br /><strong>Favourite OD -</strong> Virtue/Moir and Davis/White. How could you choose between the two?<br /><br /><strong>Favourite FD -</strong> Again, I could never pick between V/M and D/W. Honourable Mentions - Cappellini/Lanotte<br /><br /><strong>Breakout Star of the Season - </strong>Michal Brezina. I am so hoping he maximises his potential and becomes the star that he deserves to be!<br /><br /><strong>Heartbreak of the Season - </strong>Joannie Rochette, of course. Honourable (or not so) Mentions - Tomas Verner and his disaster of a season, Novitski's retirement, Joubert and Abbott's Olympics<br /><br /><strong>Skater(s) You'd Most Like to See Saved From Their Imminant Retirement - </strong>Belbin and Agosto - so, so fantastic. Honourable Mentions - Lambiel, Weir<br /><br /><strong>Skater You'd Never Like to See Again! - </strong>Sorry, Plushy, but my votes for you!<br /><br /><strong>Best Tweeter of the Season</strong> - Has to be Jeremy Abbott! He has been hilarious to follow all year. Honourable Mentions - The entire Team USA, they all seem to be on there!<br /><br />...and there you have it! Answers in the comments please - I'd be interested to know how your opinions differ.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-959162869371665742010-03-26T10:40:00.007+00:002010-04-07T11:03:15.588+01:00Magic of the MenSo...we have a new mens world champion! I'm going to forget about the OD for a bit and instead talk about the mens because it was eventful!<br /><br />The Highs<br /><br />Adam Rippon - Can you believe he is the FIFTH ranked American man? Apart from a bobble on the landing of the first triple axel, Adam put down such a good performance. I'd never really been sure about this long program music but thought he pulled it off really nicely last night. To finish sixth in his World debut is very impressive.<br /><br />Kevin VDP - I was sending Kevin good vibes before he started; it was probably his last ever competitive performance and I really wanted him to go out with a bang. Seemed to work; that quad-triple-triple was astonishing. Is that the highest ever tariff combination? The look of joy at the end of his program was just so adorable to see!<br /><br />Adrian Schultheiss - He never really gets mentioned as part of the twenty-fourteenies but I think that might change after that performance. The Eurosport commentators said that his program "really suited him" but is that a good thing when you're portraying a mental patient, complete with screams and a straitjacket? Anyway, it was stellar.<br /><br />Daisuke Takahashi - The gold was his to lose, after some disappointing skates in the final group, and so you have to really respect him for trying a quad flip, and landing it; he really didn't need to take that risk. It might have been downgraded, but the rest of the performance was perfect, and so much fun! He absolutely deserved that gold medal, and I'm so glad he managed to get his head together!.<br /><br />Brian Joubert - So Brian's skate could have come in the misses - after all, he fell on a triple lutz and had some very questionable jumps landings. However, landing a quad and a quad-double in the same program after his terrible Olympics is something he should be so proud of; I was afraid of a Verner-esque meltdown. But he managed to podium, for the fifth year in a row, which is some record and he'll probably surpass that, given that he's said he'll stay on until 2012 Worlds in Nice.<br /><br />Patrick Chan - So, it wasn't perfect, and I'll be honest, I'm not a Chan fan. But he got the silver medal, so good on him.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYO2sdu18pJFHGgjiE1ujjd78k-gSDObfL2N9TleeD-cX2HSMDfpHDTYRvDWoDAg9iOmG_Mhp6PcyNqj1Y86FumzaOtUdivzOVOqHkTf9DGDxqJzN3A0IUsdPxojEA53qruXDwfRWmD49/s400/Michal+Brezina+LP+3.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYO2sdu18pJFHGgjiE1ujjd78k-gSDObfL2N9TleeD-cX2HSMDfpHDTYRvDWoDAg9iOmG_Mhp6PcyNqj1Y86FumzaOtUdivzOVOqHkTf9DGDxqJzN3A0IUsdPxojEA53qruXDwfRWmD49/s400/Michal+Brezina+LP+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Michal Brezina - One of my favourite performances of the night. His jumps are absolutely out of this world, the speed on the landing and height and flow...incredible! He's also been really consistant this season, which hopefully will continue. In a couple of seasons, once he gets better performance skills, spins and maybe choreo, he'll be unstoppable.<br /><br />The Misses<br /><br />Jeremy Abbott - I feel pretty harsh putting Jeremy in the misses, to be honest. In his post-skate interview, he said he was proud of his performance because he didn't pop a single jump and fought until the end of the program. He also ended up 5th, which is a great improvement on his two elevenths. But he did fall twice, which was a real shame, especially as he was completely screwed over with the points for his exquisite short program.<br /><br />Denis Ten - I didn't see Ten, the Eurosport broadcast missed him off, but it seems he didn't do so great; his country now only have one spot for 2011 Worlds. But he's got a long career ahead of him, so it shouldn't faze him too much.<br /><br />Takahiko Kozuka - I absolutely adore him, and his jump problems broke my heart, because he's such a talent...but again, he's young.<br /><br />Nobunari Oda - Because we didn't even get to see him! Too sad - I bet he'll be making some big changes before the start of next season.<br /><br />And that's the mens event; congratulations to Takahashi, Chan and Joubert! Some of the judging though was very questionable for this event, I thought; leave your comments on that below!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-79815063681900405222010-03-24T19:05:00.007+00:002010-04-07T11:03:31.469+01:00Day Two of WorldsThe pairs event is just starting, so thought I'd comment on the mens event.<br /><br />Firstly, has there ever been such a deep competition at a post-Olympic Worlds? Jeremy Abbott managed to get his act together and skate a fantastic short program (the Eurosport commentators adored it, and rightly so!) but is down in sixth, showing just how great this competition is, even without Lysacek, Weir, Lambiel or Plushenko. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuBDib15pYKqR7GOYypjFXKDh7cK3bCvIjTEAVhXlBnAp6RlQxdM-geJaGjFYh6Vjb-Vz0D5dc89X8S1iGbIFEWnGTePD-OI_qZcuSQv8fiQYcGlhdArOMaMkZV2ldr5iiek6EU_Lo1h6/s1600/x610-72.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuBDib15pYKqR7GOYypjFXKDh7cK3bCvIjTEAVhXlBnAp6RlQxdM-geJaGjFYh6Vjb-Vz0D5dc89X8S1iGbIFEWnGTePD-OI_qZcuSQv8fiQYcGlhdArOMaMkZV2ldr5iiek6EU_Lo1h6/s320/x610-72.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452282808928487986" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of getting your act together, I have two words; Brian Joubert. To come back and skate like that after the agony of bombing in Vancouver was just amazing - he also got the highest technical score of the night with his quad-triple combo. His fist-pumping after his jumps and roaring at the end shows how much that must have meant to him, and even a Joubert hater couldn't fail to have enjoyed that.<br /><br />I've always maintained that the pattern when you have three skaters in an event will be that two will nail their program, and one will meltdown, and this event managed to prove this right. Jeremy Abbott and Adam Rippon both skated great, whilst Ryan Bradley had such a heartbreaking short (though not unexpected, given his injury issues). In the same way, Daisuke Takahashi and Takahiko Kozuka skated fantastically, whilst Nobunari Oda's meltdown (he popped every jump) means he doesn't even qualify for the long! Who'd have thought? Ice is slippery, after all.<br /><br />So questions for the long prgram; how much will the top ten move around? Can any of the twenty-fourteenies sneak up in the rankings - after all, Brezina, Ten and Rippon all seem to want to make 2010 their year, judging by their skates! Can Joubert pull out a clean long program? Who'll be the next World Gold medalist?<br /><br />I can't wait for tomorrow: comments on the event below!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-8575575744885233022010-03-24T08:21:00.002+00:002010-04-07T11:04:34.914+01:00Day One of WorldsSo the pairs short program and the ice dance compulsories happened last night;<br /><br /><strong>Pairs</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a href="http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2010/CAT003RS.HTM">Results</a><br /><br />Questions:<br /><br />Can Pang and Tong take the title, or will Kavaguti and Smirnov's "Blue Danube" end their gold medal dreams?<br />Will Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov EVER look happy?<br />Can Jessica Dube actually land a sbs triple salchow?<br />Can Savchenko and Szolkowy hang onto that precarious bronze medal position?<br />Will the American pairs come out and nail their free skates as well as they did their short programs?<br /><br /><strong>Compulsories</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2010/CAT004RS.HTM">Results</a><br /><br />Questions:<br /><br />Have Faiella and Scali made it a race for fourth, and not bronze, with their lead?<br />Can the Kerrs/Pechalat & Bourzat/Khoklova & Novitski move around their placings?<br />Does anyone have nicer costumes than the North American teams?<br />Will these be the last compulsories ever?<br />Can Davis and White take that World title?Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-5341856033767503422010-03-22T15:18:00.005+00:002010-04-07T11:05:30.282+01:00Ready for WorldsWorlds starts tomorrow and, as with all post-Olympic Worlds there is a real chance for some skaters who are usually low down in the top ten to potentially gain a medal. Here's my preview.<br /><br /><strong>Men</strong><br /><br /><strong>Notable Absences:</strong> Evan Lysacek, Johnny Weir, Evgeni Plushenko, Tomas Verner, Stephane Lambiel<br /><strong>Potential Medal Hopes:</strong> Nobunari Oda, Daisuke Takahashi, Takahiko Kozuka, Brian Joubert (though, as someone noted on Twitter, it depends which Joubert shows up!), Jeremy Abbott (same situation as Joubert), Patrick Chan<br /><strong>2014 Kids to Watch:</strong> Adam Rippon, Michal Brezina, Denis Ten, Florent Amodio<br /><br /><a href="http://goldsea.com/Text/images/3322.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 273px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 478px" alt="" src="http://goldsea.com/Text/images/3322.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>Ladies</strong><br /><strong>Notable Absences:</strong> Joannie Rochette<br /><strong>Potential Medal Hopes:</strong> Yu-na Kim, Mao Asada, Miki Ando, Mirai Nagasu, Rachael Flatt, Akiko Suzuki<br /><strong>2014 Kids to Watch:</strong> Ksenia Makarova, Mirai Nagasu<br /><br /><strong>Pairs</strong><br /><strong><br />Notable Absences:</strong> Shen/Zhao, Volosozhar/Morosov<br /><strong>Potential Medal Hopes:</strong> Pang/Tong, Zhang/Zhang, Mukhortova/Trankov, Savchenko/Szolkowy, Kavaguti/Smirnov<br /><strong>2014 Kids to Watch</strong>: Denney/Barrett<br /><br /><strong>Dance</strong><br /><br /><strong>Notable Absences:</strong> Domnina/Shabalin, Belbin/Agosto, Delobel/Schoenfelder<br /><strong>Potential Medal Hopes:</strong> Virtue/Moir, Davis/White, Faiella/Scali, Pechalat/Bourzat<br /><strong>2014 Kids to Watch:</strong> Cappellini/Lanotte<br /><br />Agree/disagree? Comment below!Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-73831209976494177082010-03-10T14:25:00.003+00:002010-04-07T11:09:41.028+01:00No more WeirDespite his promises of being in Torino, Johnny Weir joins his teammates Lysacek and Belbin/Agosto in skipping Worlds. Not really a suprise, judging by how many TV appearances and interviews he's been doing; no time for training when you've got Oscar parties to go to. Adam Rippon takes his place - who else is excited to see the Rippon Lutz once more this season?<br /><br /><a href="http://projectqatlanta.com/images/uploads/johnny_weir_olympics_2010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 601px;" src="http://projectqatlanta.com/images/uploads/johnny_weir_olympics_2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2250891436639250550.post-72044995574425374762010-02-26T18:40:00.001+00:002010-04-07T11:07:20.019+01:00Over and outSo the last medal has been decided! Yu-na could not be a more deserving champion. What a performance! Between her and Mirai, Rachael, Mao's triple axels and of course Joannie, it was quite a competition. Thoughts and analysis potentially coming soon...and now just got the gala to look forward to!<br /><br />Speaking of looking forward to (Worlds), Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have announced that they're joining Lysacek and skipping Torino. This means that the Olympics was probably Tanith and Ben's last competition; we'll miss them!<br /><br /><a href="http://media.tri-cityherald.com/smedia/2010/02/23/02/142-Vancouver_Olympics_Figure_Skating.sff.embedded.prod_affiliate.13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="http://media.tri-cityherald.com/smedia/2010/02/23/02/142-Vancouver_Olympics_Figure_Skating.sff.embedded.prod_affiliate.13.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146207754890578450noreply@blogger.com0