The Op-Ed: What's in a Coach?

If you follow U.S. Figure Skating you'll know that there has been a flurry of coaching changes the past several weeks. Inoue and Baldwin, McLaughlin and Brubaker, Mirai Nagasu, Jeremy Abbott, did I miss anyone?

I'm wondering why make a switch with perhaps the most important season of your life in front of you? For many, my question may in fact be the answer. "It's the most important season of my life and I feel I need to do something bold and different to be prepared."

My approach would be totally different. I love the show Survivor on CBS. I'm always in amazement when they decide to vote out the most predictable tribe member. "I may not like tribe member x...but I know what I'm getting with tribe member x...I'll keep predictable and vote out tribe member y who is unpredictable." I guess, in an Olympic Year if I was a skater I'd stick with what I know and not go with the unknown. But then, I'm not the skater...

Perhaps it's that they feel they know their new coaches by seeing their work with other students, or perhaps even their own careers. I can respect that Inoue and Baldwin can look at Meno and Sand and say, "Wow, when they competed they had something we need." Or Mirai Nagasu looking at Frank Carroll and saying, "He's done such an amazing job with Evan Lysacek, I think I need that kind of training situation."

Perhaps it's that they felt like they need more attention. In the cases of McLaughlin and Brubaker and Jeremy Abbott, they were training in...shall we say...crowded situations. Keauna and Rockne were training with, realistically, 70% of the top pair teams in the U.S. with Dalilah Sappenfield. Abbott had to not only share his time with Rachael Flatt, but also two of his chief competitors Ryan Bradley and Brandon Mroz with Tom Zakrajsek.

What I desperately hope isn't the case is a bad result at the end of the season (all of these skaters that have recently switched kind of ran into that) and they believe it's the coaches fault. Rarely that is the case and so often I feel that is what happens. Seems, at the very least in the case of Nagasu (Charlene Wong appears very supportive of the decision) and hopefully all of them, this isn't what has transpired.

I'm forced to look back and see if recent Olympic Season coaching switches have been successful. In 2006 I can think of only one and its success is debatable. Sasha Cohen switched from Robin Wagner back to John Nicks and she won the Silver Medal (she kind of backed into it but a Silver Medal nonetheless). In 2002 Michelle Kwan went coachless after working for years with Frank Carroll, she won the Bronze but many saw that as a failure and less a success (I think any Olympic Medal should be celebrated...that ain't easy!). Going as far back as 1998, I can think of one success. Lu Chen's Bronze Medal performance, with new coach Liu Hongyun, was seen as an amazing result given her performance the previous season. However, the best results seem to be with those skaters who, at the least, have a season or two under their belt with their coach.

So we'll have to see how this season plays out with all these coaching switch-ups. History, frankly, is not on their side. Maybe this will be the group to defy the odds...perhaps not.

Around the World

To begin, in Australia, the death of 4 people on Sydney Harbor including Australian Skating Champion Morgan Innes, is again coming under investigation. In March 2007, a Sydney Ferry collided with a cruiser carrying a large group of the Australian Figure Skating Community late at night. The New South Wales Deputy Coroner Hugh Dillon is investigating the crash in which witnesses will testify that the Sydney Ferry did not have it's lights on. Tragic indeed.

To Japan where apparently Mao Asada has her own 5 minute spot on Sunday afternoon television that looks at her training, nutrition habits, and her staff as she "aims for victory" in 2010. Interesting...

In Canada, Emanuel Sandhu, has again ditched the skates for the dance floor as he has once more made it past the initial trial rounds in the Canadian Television hit 'So You Think You Can Dance Canada.' "I consider myself a performance artist" said the 28 year old Sandhu who has been absent from figure skating for the past two years. Last season he was cut before the top 20 was picked. The finalist will be announced when the show airs this fall. Also, World Silver Medalist Patrick Chan is meeting Joubert's challenge and has begun working on 'the quad.' Remember this comment: "I think Joubert is constantly, always complaining because he never has anything else to say." If you recall, Joubert threw a small tempur-tantrum due to then Buttle's and now Chan's lack of the jump in competition during both the 2008 and 2009 World Championships. Joubert won neither while a Canadian has placed higher than him for two years running. Also, program update for Chan. Free Skate will be 'Phantom of the Opera.'

In the U.S. Johnny Weir's 'Pop Star on Ice' debuted to good reviews. Johnny's screen presence will continue with a show later this year on the Sundance Channel. Also, some very fun pics were taken of some of the Figure Skating hopefuls for 2010...check out the gallery here.

Pic of the Week

"He doesn't skate like a man. He doesn't skate like a woman, but he doesn't skate like a man."

That's my favorite line when Johnny is doing the voice-overs in the preview for Pop Star on Ice.

Pop Star on Ice, of course being the documentary...or perhaps docudrama given Weir's tendencies for the dramatics, that premiered at last weekend's International Film Festival in Seattle.

Subsequent showings are planned in different locations in the coming weeks.

The reviews are in and they appear to be generally quite good. One critic wrote, "A documentary that follows Johnny Weir, the openly flamboyant U.S. champion figure skater, through three years of triumph, frustration, hard work, and self-expression. Taking a restrained yet self-assured approach, the film lets all the different sides of Johnny Weir come through, without either demonizing or idolizing this undeniably intriguing young man."

When is Pop Star on Ice 2? Well, it comes in the form of series slated to air on the Sundance Channel entitled "Be Good Johnny Weir."

A star is born! Well, that's assuming you didn't consider him a star to begin with.

Happy Memorial Day

To all my American Peeps, have a wonderful Holiday Weekend. I'll be back to posting on Tuesday (maybe Wednesday...we'll see).

;-)

This close...

Once I figured out what people were talking about I was instantly intrigued.

For the record, I almost flew out to Seattle to see this. As I was punching my Mileage Plus Number into the search field at United Airlines I thought to myself..."Really? What are you doing?"

Someone else will have to fill me in on Johnny Weir's screen debut. Pop Star on Ice premiers tomorrow at the Seattle International Film Festival.

Around the World

In Finland...there seems to be some disagreement between some remarks Laura Lepistö, 2009 Ladies European Champ, and her male teammates; especially Ari-Pekka Nurmenkari. In the April Edition of the Finnish Cosmopolitan, Lepistö gave an interview where she described her Finnish male colleagues as very feminine, and "a bit that way". (I don't know if I know what that means?) She goes on to say things are different...like in France (read: Joubert's excessive manliness!). Anywho, Lepistö says that she is being misinterpreted and her comments are not directed at her teammates. Not the best time for Lepistö to get bogged down in this controversy (effeminate skating, etc.) which has heated up considerably over the past several weeks.

Here in the U.S. there is this massive coaching reshuffle taking place. A plethora of past and present U.S. Champions have all done the coaching summer shuffle. Inoue and Baldwin are now with Meno and Sand, Nagasu is now working with Frank Carroll, McLaughlin and Brubaker are taking from John Nicks, and just yesterday (thanks for the update) Jeremy Abbott announced he will leave Colorado (and Tom Zakrajsek) and take from Yuka Sato in Detroit. Don't know if it really counts as a coaching 'change' but when Sasha Cohen announced her return to competition she announced she would be working with Rafael Artunian, not John Nicks, her coach as she temporarily stepped away from competition. Lots of shuffling and it will be the topic of my next op-ed. Also, we found out the Michelle Kwan on Twitter is a fake...boo!

In Russia, Plushenko has officially stated that he is absolutely committed to competing next season. Axels and quads back under his belt, he is currently in training with Alexei Mishin in St. Petersburg. Will it actually happen this season...who can say? I will say this is the most 'serious' he's seemed about it and with the Olympics this upcoming season I think we can expect a legitimate attempt at a return. Plushenko seems to think that Stéphane Lambiel will return to competition as well. Not sure what would prompt him to say that? Nothing official yet from camp Lambiel.

Finally, in Canada...these days no news is good news. While many are still irked by the push to make skating a bit less 'frilly' on the ice, Skate Canada appears to have backed off from asking their athletes to promote the tough side of skating. This combined with the fact that Stojko's 'self-appointed press tour' appears over is causing the story to lose press steam, a fact I'm sure Skate Canada is happy with. They certainly don't want this hanging over their head come February 2010...you know...when the whole world will be in their backyard!

Summer Shuffle...Again!

Wow...I mean really? This is getting bizzarre...

Now Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker have switched it up! No longer with U.S. Pairs Guru Dalilah Sappenfield, they'll be training now with John Nicks.

John Nicks is of course famous for coaching the likes of Starbuck and Shelley, Babilonia and Gardner, Meno and Sand, as well as Sasha Cohen.

Rockne Brubaker told U.S. Figure Skating, "After careful consideration, and with support from Dalilah, Keauna and I made the decision to make this change as we approach this very important season. We look forward to working with Mr. Nicks this season to attain our goals of qualifying for the Grand Prix Final, retaining our U.S. title and preparing for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games."

The duo will train with Nicks at Aliso Viejo. In a case of coincidence, that is also where Inoue and Baldwin will be training with Meno and Sand, Nicks' former pupils.

Any bets on who the next to switch will be?

BREAKING NEWS: Summer Shuffle

The coaching summer shuffle continues...

This time it's Mirai Nagasu. Nagasu has left long-time coach Charlene Wong and will train along side Evan Lysacek with Frank Carroll for this very important upcoming season.

"At the end of the season I felt like I really needed a change. After a lot of thought and deliberation, we decided that the right choice was to begin training with Mr. Carroll" Nagasu told NBC's Universal Sports.

An important decision, as the ante has been up'd for next season with Sasha Cohen's return to competitive skating and only two Olympic Berths available for the women. Next season it will take everything Mirai can bring to the table for her to make the U.S. Olympic Team.

And if you're following Michelle Kwan on Twitter...let's just say she's keeping the guessing game going...

So will Nagasu's big move pan out in the end? Only time will tell...

Pic of the Week

This Pic of the Week is purely selfish on my part! Nothing to do with skating at all...nothing!

Obviously, I'm a fan! And if you don't know who this is...well, we ALL know who this is!

All I'm saying is if he doesn't win...I'll probably be devastated!

BREAKING NEWS: It's official?

Sasha Cohen got the Olympic Comeback Bandwagon rollin...

Now, apparently, Evgeny Plushenko has made it official that he will return to competition next season.

However, with Plushy, I'm still gonna file that under believe it when I see it.

Plushy told the Russian Newspaper 'Kommersant' "I've missed competing badly. As for an Olympic medal, I'd be pleased with any, regardless of the color. But, obviously, I'm coming back to win."

Apparently, for the past three months, he's been working on getting his triple axel and quads back. Per his account, he has them under his belt. He also eluded to the fact that there will be two quads in his free skate next season.

No word yet on where that season debut will be (should it actually happen) but my guess is it will be Cup of Russia which takes place earlier than usual in next season's Grand Prix Season.

Ice Network, which also broke this story, is suggesting that Stéphane Lambiel may in fact return to competition as well. Wouldn't that be interesting...

No news is...

No news is boring!

The skating world is like a ghost town right now...I need exciting stories!

Maybe I'll just start concocting my own...

Anyone heard anything interesting lately?

Anything...

Summer Shuffle

Let the skating coach summer shuffle begin.

Rena Inoue and John Baldwin have announced they are switching coaches. They have decided to go with 3-Time U.S. National Pair Champions Jenni (Meno) and Todd Sand. The pair was previously coached by Phillip Mills.

John told Ice Network, "We have always looked up to Jeni and Todd as a pair, and we see many similarities between their career and ours both on and off the ice." Rena added, "Johnny and I are so lucky to have the opportunity to work with one of the most accomplished teams in the history on the sport."

Hopefully Jeni and Todd can bring the inner grace out of this team, assuming it's in there, and put them back on the skating map. Last season was a bit of a wash after a poor showing at U.S. Nationals that left them off the World team. Unfortunate as the World Championships were right in John's backyard, Los Angeles.

The biggest things I hope Jeni and Todd do for them is help them with the choreography which, for the past two seasons, has been less than stellar and work out the side-by-side triple toes. Ironically, John's biggest hurdle, the side-by-side jumps was also Todd Sand's Achilles Heel.

Maybe if they all put their head's together they can figure out a plan that works for this team.

p.s. When is the wedding?

Like the new colors?

I'm debating if I'm going to go with the new do...thoughts?

Sweet Tweet

Just bored at work and discovered some more skaters on Twitter for all of you to keep tabs on...

Evan Lysacek (@ EvanLysacek)
Armin Mabanoozadeh (@ Armin_hammer)
Denis Petukhov (@ OlympianUncut)
Molly Oberstar (@ uuberstar)
Johnny Weir (@ JohnnyGWeir)

As always...don't forget me (@ skating102)!

John and Rockne best coaches ever?

Thinks to a tweet from @USFigureSkating I discovered the Mike and Myles Show at teamusa.org.

Apparently these guys run around the USOC Training Center in Colorado Springs checking in with athletes. This past week they found U.S. Pairs Skaters John Coughlin and Rockne Brubaker.

John and Rockne attempt to teach Mike and Myles the 'basics' and laughter ensues...enjoy!

Pic of the Week

Now that Sasha has ended our suspense and indeed will attempt to make the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team, we turn now to the only other U.S. Skater keeping us in "Olympic Limbo," Michelle Kwan.

She commentates, she golfs, she travels around the world as a Government Diplomat, but will she skate?

Phil Hersh, amongst others, doesn't seem to thank so and I'm starting to agree. With Sasha in the field, not to mention the talented group already out there, it seems a big leap.

If she wants to compete in the Grand Prix next season, she'll have to tell U.S. Figure Skating as much by May 30th. If she doesn't do that, I think we can all but rule out the comeback. Her limited experience (and by limited I mean 1 competition, 2005 Worlds) under the current judging system would almost necessitate her competing at least one event to get two programs worked out to allow any chance of making the Olympic Team.

Who knows though, she may yet surprise us...

Around the World

In the U.S. we are all busy placing our bets on Cohen's Olympic chances. Me personally, I put it at 50/50. I'll have to re-assess after the Grand Prix, assuming she gets to skate in an event or two (and the ratings draw she would generate makes me think that'll happen). U.S. Figure Skating helds it's annual Governing Council and elected a new president...meet Patricia St. Peter. There's lots of other reports and bits to check out. Also, they picked the CD's to be used next season (why was I under the impression the Compulsory Dance was going away?).

In Canada, Skate Canada is still getting flack about it's 'Tough' campaign, but it would appear Stojko has stopped his press tour so maybe the bleeding will stop. Also, a terrible story, a Toronto area skating coach has been charged with sexual assault. Think your fit...try Joannie Rochette's workout regime and get back with me!

In Russia, Elena Berezhnaya speaks! And guess what...she's expecting too! What's with the figure skating mommy run?

The Op-Ed: The Cohen Conundrum

Sasha Cohen's presumptive return to competitive skating still has the figure skating world in a bit of a buzz. It's kind of like drinking a lot of caffeine and that energy that ensues for the next few hours.

But that buzz is certain to wear off and then the crash. And that crash, for many hardcore Cohen fans, will be the actualization that this isn't in the bag...by a long shot!

As much as this sport needs Cohen right now (and believe you me...it needs her), it may be that she is left shrugging her shoulders and saying "I tried" on that January evening in Spokane, Washington.

Many are saying, "have you looked at the state of our ladies figure skating now...she's so in." But I say hold your horses! There will be formidable competition.

First off...for her debut at Senior Worlds, Rachael Flatt was pretty spectacular (I was there...I saw it!). Equally impressive was Caroline Zhang at the Four Continents Cup a few weeks prior (I was there...I saw it!). Let's none of us forget Ashley Wagner's big come from behind at Nationals (again...I was there...I saw it!). Speaking of Nationals, when our National champ Czisny manages to put a short and long together, magic ensues.

And what about the cast of others out there. Question marks all, inconsistent maybe, but they can't be written off. I'm talking about Meissner, Hughes, Liang, Musademba, Gilles, and dare I say the big question mark Kwan (I darest...but her window to decide is getting shorter, she doesn't have the same Olympic Medal luxury that Cohen had...she'll have to qualify the good ole' fashioned way!).

By accounts, however, Cohen is in the thick of it. Just last week the Baltimore Sun reported that she's been training with Artunian now for six months now, is fit as a fiddle (save a little tendinitis...but don't all elite skaters deal with that a little?), and on the verge of hitting those triple-triple that she'll desperately need to compete with not only her American peers, but the international heavy hitters (see top 4 at Worlds!).

The two things I love best about all of this is the fact that American's will have a reason to tune in to skating this season...something that has been sorely lacking in recent years, and I love the fighting spirit she has. It takes chutzpah to go after an Olympic Dream that seems very hard to attain!

BREAKING NEWS: Sasha Cohen to Compete!

BREAKING NEWS!

Sasha Cohen has announced plans to compete next season and attempt to make the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team.

In a press announcement from Winnipeg, Canada, Sasha announced she will be training in Lake Arrowhead with Rafeal Artunian.

Sasha has also informed U.S. Figure Skating that she would accept an invitation to compete at Skate America in Lake Placid should one be offered her (I think my decision to go or not may have just gotten easier!).

Sasha will begin full training June 1 after resting a sore ankle.

A formal announcement is expected a week from Friday.

Pic of the Week

I don't know what to make of this guy these days...

Elvis Stojko is making Skate Canada uneasy right now with his persistent interpretation of what they are looking for in figure skaters. His remarks are being interpreted by many as being "anti-gay" and he's starting to get many skating fans all worked up.

So much to the point that Skate Canada Execs are publicly distancing Skate Canada from Stojko, pointing out that he in no way speaks on behalf of their organization. Trouble for Skate Canada is, Stojko is speaking to the press left and right, and many are connecting his remarks to Skate Canada creating a PR Mess for them. I have this vision in my head of the Board of Directors in a meeting about this screaming..."I wish he'd shut up already!"

What is Stojko's beef with, to quote him, "soft, lyrical, feminine" skaters? To be sure, Stojko was the exact opposite of that...jumps full steam ahead. But as a great champion (and I do respect Elvis as one of the greatest champions this sport has seen) I would have thought that he would have a broader view of what skating should be, not just a narrow view that highly resembles his own personal style.

I do recall a small temper-tantrum from Stojko at the 1994 Olympics. One of those "soft, lyrical, feminine" skaters beat him out for Olympic Gold (Alexei Urmanov)...maybe he just has a slight complex with the issue?

I'm curious to know which skaters that are competing today exemplify those qualities Stojko believes is the core of figure skating? I'd also be curious to see where those skaters are in terms of ranking?

Skate Canada I think will shoot themselves!

Skate Canada, rather unintentionally I think, has created quite the PR Mess!

Believe it or not (I didn't even know it!), I can do true journalism! Check out my first 'big boy' story!

Skating ratings may get a boost as this plays out, but for all the wrong reasons!

Octo-Mom Wipes Out Ice Skating; Son's Meltdown Ca

Octo-Mom on Ice...too much! Visit the site for video...

read more | digg story

From Radar Online...

Ouch. That's gotta hurt.

Octo-Mom Nadya Suleman exclusively invited RadarOnline.com along Friday night when she took some of her older kids ice skating at an indoor rink near her home in La Habra California.

Unfortunately for Nadya, all didn't go as planned. Nadya had a major wipeout on the ice and hurt the palm of her hand. Our cameras also caught her 7-year-old oldest son Elijah in the midst of a major meltdown.

In this brand new interview, Nadya talks about how she handles her kids' temper tantrums. She also addresses the fallout over the recent black eye story involving her 3-year-old autistic son Aidan.

And because she's become an instant celebrity, during all of this, Nadya still found time to pose for photographs with strangers who approached her at the rink.

BREAKING NEWS: Skate Canada in the hot seat!

ABC's World News with Charles Gibson will air tonight a story showcasing Skate Canada's attempt to make mens figure skating more macho.

It will air at 6:30 p.m. EST

Get the full scoop here!

UPDATE: I received several reactions to this story via twitter last night. It was a wide range of opinions.

One person compared Skate Canada to Hitler...they're attempting to exterminate gays like he exterminated Jewish people.

A few people were just generally angered and said Skate Canada should butt out of what skater are doing on the ice.

One comment in particular I liked was a person hoping Brian Orser would speak out on the issue and give his opinion. Orser's opinion would certainly carry some weight.

Another tweeter made a good point that while skaters ought to be able to express themselves how they like, it can't hurt to try to broaden the appeal of the sport...good point.

Two tweeters commented on the fact that Elvis Stojko looks much better without a mullet...no joke...they did.

Just received another tweet, one is concerned that the same thing is happening in the U.S., just covertly.

Feel free to tweet me (@ skating102) your thoughts or post them here.

The Face of 2018

We haven't even decided where the 2016 Summer Olympics will be (vote in October...go Chicago!) and the race is already fierce for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The Pyeongchang 2018 Organizing Committee got a boost yesterday when Yu-Na Kim was made honorary ambassador for Pyeongchang's bid to host the 2018 Games.

Yonhap News Agency quoted Kim, "It gives me joy to imagine that young Korean figure skaters might compete in the international competition held in their native land."

Many feel Pyeongchang is the leading candidate for the 2018 Games (even though the official bidding process hasn't begun) despite two previous failed attempts to land the Olympics. Other possible cities in the running include Annecy, France, Geneva Switzerland, Harbin, China, and either Denver or Reno in the U.S. However, the U.S. bid push from those two cities doesn't have USOC support currently as they are putting all their chips in for Chicago 2016. Of course, should Chicago lose the bid, I have a feeling the USOC will come around for Reno or Denver.