Wednesday, April 07, 2010

And The Nominees Are...

Next week, the highly anticipated (humor me!) 3rd Annual Loop Axel Awards are announced. Like any big awards, the nominees are announced in advance, so I thought I'd follow suit. You also get a sneak peek at the new Awards created this year.

It'll be interesting to see who the pre-award buzz is for vs who I actually gave the award to. Care to conjecture on who some of the winners are? It's already decided...can you guess?

So without further ado...

*Best Ladies Free Program
+Mao Asada - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships
+Joannie Rochette - 2010 Canadian Nationals
+Akiko Suzuki - 2009 Samsung Anycall Cup of China
+Kim Yu-Na - 2010 Olympic Winter Games


*Best Men's Free Program
+Nobunari Oda - 2009 Trophy Eric Bompard
+Jeremy Abbott - 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
+Daisuke Takahashi - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships
+Evgeny Plushenko - 2009 Rostelecom Cup
+Evan Lysacek - 2010 Olympic Winter Games


*Best Free Dance
+Davis and White - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships
+Weaver and Poje - 2009 HomeSense Skate Canada
+Virtue and Moir - 2010 Olympic Winter Games
+Faiella and Scali - 2010 European Championships
+Belbin and Agosto - 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America


*Best Pairs Free Program
+Shen and Zhao - 2009 ISU Grand Prix Final
+Denney and Barrett - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships
+Savchenko and Szolkowy - 2009 HomeSense Skate Canada
+Pang and Tong - 2010 Olympic Winter Games
+Sui and Han - 2009 Junior Grand Prix: Belarus


*Best Comeback
+Evgeny Plushenko
+Sasha Cohen
+Stéphane Lambiel
+Shen and Zhao


*Best Olympic Performance (NEW)
+Joannie Rochette
+Davis and White
+Virtue and Moir
+Johnny Weir
+Kim Yu-Na


*Short Program/Original Dance of the Year
+Kim Yu-Na - 2010 Olympic Winter Games
+Mao Asada - 2010 Olympic Winter Games
+Sasha Cohen - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships
+Denis Ten - 2009 HomeSense Skate Canada
+Davis and White - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships


*Best Forgotten Performance of the Season
+Shawn Sawyer - 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America (Free)
+Tomas Verner - 2009 Eric Bompard Trophy (Short)
+Sergei Voronov - 2010 Russian National Figure Skating Championships (Short)
+McLaughlin and Brubaker - 2009 Rostelecom Cup (Short)
+Navarro and Bommentre - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships (Free)


*Worst Performance of the Season
+Nobunari Oda - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships (Short)
+Brian Joubert - 2010 Olympic Winter Games
+Jeremy Abbott - 2010 Olympic Winter Games (Short)
+Sasha Cohen - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships (Free)
+Jeremy Abbott - 2009 NHK Trophy (Free)


*Skater of the Year
+Davis and White
+Kim Yu-Na
+Shen and Zhao
+Virtue and Moir
+Evan Lysacek


*Best Throw/Jump
+Daisuke Takahashi - Quad Flip - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships (Free)
+Mao Asada - Triple Axel - 2010 Olympic Winter Games (Short)
+Evgeny Plushenko - Quad Toe/Triple Toe - 2009 Rostelecom Cup (Short)
+Inoue and Baldwin - Throw Triple Axel - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships (Free)
+Jeremy Abbott - Quad Toe - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships (Free)


*Hottest Skater
+Daisuke Takahashi
+Joannie Rochette
+Aliona Savchenko
+Charlie White
+Tanith Belbin


*The Twitterholic (NEW)
+Jeffrey Buttle (@J_Butt)
+Jeremy Abbott (@jeremyabbottpcf)
+Ana Cecilia Cantu (@cantufeelicks)
+Michael Weiss (@MichaelWeiss2)
+Charlie White (@CharlieAWhite)


*Best Coach
+Frank Carroll
+Brian Orser
+Yao Bin
+Igor Shpilband
+Jim Peterson


*Most Improved Skater
+Michal Brezina
+Adam Rippon
+Akiko Suzuki
+Zaretski and Zaretski
+Faiella and Scali

*Best New Face
+Kevin Reynolds
+Florent Amodio
+Ksenya Makarova
+Michal Brezina
+Adam Rippon


*Most Controversial (NEW)
+Evgeny Plushenko
+Sasha Cohen
+Johnny Weir
+Kim Yu-Na
+Domnina and Shabalin


*Best Outfit
+Davis and White - Original Dance
+Samuel Contesti - Free Skate
+Savchenko and Szolkowy - Free Skate
+Johnny Weir - Short Program
+Evan Lysacek - Short Program


*Memorable Moment of the Season (NEW)
+Amanda Evora's flood of tears after earning an Olympic Berth.
+Joannie Rochette hugging her father after her Olympic Short Program.
+Evgeny Plushenko's #1 finger upon completing his free skate at Rostelecom Cup.
+John Baldwin's expression and interaction with the judges upon Rena Inoue's successful completion of the throw triple axel.
+Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's final pose in their Olympic Free Dance.
+Sasha Cohen's entire U.S. Nationals short program.


*Blog of the Year
+Aunt Joyce's Ice Cream Stand
+Required Elements
+jumping clapping man
+XanBoni!
+Blips of Todd...
+Ice Charades


*Reader's Choice: Skater of the Year
+Shen and Zhao
+Daisuke Takahashi
+Virtue and Moir
+Kim Yu-Na
+Davis and White

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

haha, what an honor it would be to be nominated for "worst performance of the season". :) Anyway I like some of your nominees. Others not so much. For example, you like Contesti's outfit?! Hahah.

jumping clapping man said...

thank you very kindly for the nomination aaron! i respect you highly, so this is a very meaningful nod. (i'll be guerilla campaigning furiously for the next week ;-)

my only qualm is with your "hottest skater" nominees. i understand this is subjective, but what are you smokin'? no offense to him, but charlie white, really? he could be "cutest," "most likeable," "nicest," most adorable," etc., but "hottest"? i am on board with daisuke and joannie. but...

my nominees for that would be navarro AND bommentre, ksenia makarova, pechalat AND bourzon, mark evora, kevin van der perren, cynthia phaneuf, and yu-na!

Aaron said...

For Charlie...it's all in the hair. Someone on Twitter noted that his hair is "a National Treasure!" So...quit sippin' on the Charlie 'haterade.'

Anonymous said...

Wait, most controversial: Yu-Na?

Really? How so? I swear, I'm not an angry Yunabot. I'm only confused by the choice.

I think Lysacek is more appropriate for that category. His Olympic gold isn't controversial, but not that many were enthused by his win either. Especially for non-Americans.

Aaron said...

Did she or didn't she under rotate it...was that an illegal earring...was she over marked...should she told to go to the Four Continents Cup?

There's plenty about Kim that's 'controversial.' Comes along with the territory of being best.

Anonymous said...

Why do you even mention the earring thing? By the ISU rule book, there is nothing illegal or controversial about wearing them. That was one of lowest personal attacks from the most acidic and dedicated Maotas on Youtube. It is so unfortunate that you brought that rubbish up here; very disappointed with you.

Aaron said...

Rubbish or not (and I agree...it's rubbish), it caused a stir much like the other things I mentioned.

JYKang said...

Joubert and Lambiel left off the hottest skaters list?!

I too, am very disappointed with you.

:P

Anonymous said...

Eh, crazy Japanese fans making a story out of nothing doesn't equal controversy.

And by your list of reasons, Mao Asada should be added to that list then. Did she or didn't she under rotate it...was she over marked...is the JPN fed proposing rules just for her sake...is she going the wrong path with her obsession with the 3A...is her skating actually improving or does she only have a 3A...and on and on and on...

Aaron said...

Well...it's for me to decide. :-)

Anonymous said...

Haha~~ Looks like the poster above is already convincing us that Yuna's pretty controversial. Although I think the controversy goes along with the rivalry.

Btw, I like your list. I know you already decided, but I cast a vote for Required Elements as the best blog this year. The blogger's analysis are always insightful and the most objective I've read online.

Anonymous said...

I don't see Mirai in any category :(

Aaron said...

She 'almost' made best short program for Worlds!

Anonymous said...

"Well...it's for me to decide. :-)"

- fair enough :)

I thought Mirai would have at least made the Most Improved list. I mean, Zaretskis??

Gigi said...

I think it's funny how someone's already blaming everything on Mao's fans and Japanese people. Hey, it could be anyone, really. Who says it's not Europeans? Or Americans? It could be anyone under the protective anonymity of the internet. Let's be peaceful, people :)

I really love this list!! It would be so hard for me to gather my thoughts about the season as neatly as you!

Aaron said...

No hating on the Zaretski's...they made huge leaps this season.

Mirai has been talented all along...I don't think it was improvement so much as it was realization of potential.

Anonymous said...

"I think it's funny how someone's already blaming everything on Mao's fans and Japanese people. Hey, it could be anyone, really. Who says it's not Europeans? Or Americans? It could be anyone under the protective anonymity of the internet. Let's be peaceful, people :)"

- Gigi, the online petition is all in Japanese and translated into English. Even a fool can recognize it's the Japanese fans who started the petition to take away Yuna's gold medal.

"Mirai has been talented all along...I don't think it was improvement so much as it was realization of potential."

- I'm still not convinced she shouldn't be on the list since she improved from such a dismal season last year, but it's your blog and certainly, up to you. :)

- By the way, how can a skater be in the "Best New Face" category and the "Most Improved" category at the same time? This is Adam's second season on the senior grand prix so he's not a new face and I'm not sure how Brezina could be most improved when he's fresh on the scene...

Anonymous said...

aaahhh crazy koreans everywhere. pathetic!!!
I dont care about result or jumps.
Mao is most beautiful and beloved girl out there. Is It bothering you? Get over it!

jumping clapping man said...

omg...are you "Anonymous" for realz? get a life. OR, at least get some cojones and come out from behind your anonymity. this is all FOR FUN...it's not a war we're having here.

Everything said...

Geez! Someone started a petition to revoke Kim Yu-Na's gold medal?!! Hadn't heard of that "sour grapes" reaction before.

I am so fed up with sore losers esp vav the Olympics. Esp from people who have never set foot on Olympic ice. Really such bad manners.

I mean Plushenko's crazy ego trips after the men's event were dreadful but at least he can skate at that level. But most of these netizens' grudges are simply silly. Shame on you.

Otherwise enjoyed the design of this blog and its contest. I smiled a lot.

I am betting on Kim Yu-Na in any category in which she is listed. :)

Also I liked your selection of nominees. I don't have time to choose in each category but I do have definite faves in each category. :)

Best wishes to all the nominees.

Anonymous said...

I read the article on the World Figure Skating blog.It's about Joannie Rochette.I think she is the best.But I respect others opinions.By the way,the man who rules World Figure Skating respects very much your blog.He always talk me here's the sample of a very good concept.But I always think that Vlad's blog isn't bad too.Did you see how much interviews did this man?His blog is young but it's currently on the top in a different rankings.And one more interesting think-English is not his first language.
P.S.Sorry for my English-).Maria,Russia

Aaron said...

I love Vlad's blog and Vlad is great, he is always very supportive, not only here but also on facebook.

Maybe Vlad's blog will be Blog of the year next time! ;-)

Anonymous said...

my choices:
best ladies free: Kim Yu-Na
best men's free: Jeremy Abbott
best free dance: Virtue and Moir
best comeback: Shen and Zhao!!!
best olympic performance: Virtue and Moir AND Davis and White: they were both perfect!
Short Program/Original dance of the year: Davis and White
Worst performance of the season: Nobunari Oda
Skater of the Year: Davis and White
Best throw/jump: Evgeny Plushenko (i'm baaaaaaaack)
Hottest Skater: Daisuke Takahashi
The Twitterholic: there is no doubt. Jeremy Abbott.
Best Coach: oooh.... Frank, Brian, Igor, Yao tie?
Best New Face: Michal Brezina
Most Controversial: Domnina and Shabalin
Best Outfit: Davis and White, OD
Blog of the Year: Aunt Joyce's Ice Cream Stand

jurie said...

My choices :D

*Best Ladies Free Program
+Kim Yu-Na - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Men's Free Program
+Nobunari Oda - 2009 Trophy Eric Bompard

*Best Free Dance
+Virtue and Moir - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Pairs Free Program
+Shen and Zhao - 2009 ISU Grand Prix Final

*Best Comeback
+Shen and Zhao

*Best Olympic Performance (NEW)
+Kim Yu-Na
(special mention to Joannie Rochette and Weir)

*Short Program/Original Dance of the Year
(not in the list of nominees but..) +Kim Yuna - 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America SP

*Best Forgotten Performance of the Season
+Tomas Verner - 2009 Eric Bompard Trophy (Short)

*Worst Performance of the Season
+Jeremy Abbott - 2010 Olympic Winter Games (Short)
(special mention to Yuna for her 2010 Worlds SP)

*Skater of the Year
+Kim Yu-Na
+Shen and Zhao

*Best Throw/Jump
+Evgeny Plushenko - Quad Toe/Triple Toe - 2009 Rostelecom Cup (Short)

*Hottest Skater
???
no Lambiel?

*Best Coach
+Frank Carroll
+Brian Orser

*Most Improved Skater
+Akiko Suzuki

*Best New Face
+Adam Rippon

*Most Controversial (NEW)
+Johnny Weir
+Kim Yu-Na -in a good way ;)

*Best Outfit
+Davis and White - Original Dance
no Yuna?!?!? i also liked Cheltzie Lee's outfits

*Memorable Moment of the Season (NEW)
+Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's final pose in their Olympic Free Dance.
(!!!! Yuna finally showing some real "human" emotion after her gold medal winning LP; Mao's 3 3A's)

*Blog of the Year
+Aunt Joyce's Ice Cream Stand

*Reader's Choice: Skater of the Year
(obviously...) +Kim Yu-Na

Anonymous said...

my choices is ;

Best Ladies Free: Kim Yu-Na

Best Men's Free: Jeremy Abbott

Best Free Dance: Virtue and Moir

Best Pair Free Dance : Shen and Zhao

Best Comeback: Shen and Zhao

Best Olympic performance: Absolutely Kim Yu-Na

Short Program/Original dance of the year: Bond girl, Kim Yu-Na

Best Forgotten Performance of the Season : Nobody

Worst Performance of the Season : Nobunari Oda

Skater of the Year: Perfectly Queen Yu-Na

Best throw/jump: Evgeny Plushenko

Hottest Skater: Tanith Belbin

The Twitterholic: Jeremy Abbott.

Best Coach: Brian Orser & Yao Bin

Best New Face: Michal Brezina

Most Controversial: Sasha Cohen

Best Outfit: Davis and White

Blog of the Year: Aunt Joyce's Ice Cream Stand

James C. said...

*Best Ladies Free Program
+Akiko Suzuki - 2009 Samsung Anycall Cup of China


*Best Men's Free Program
+Evan Lysacek - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Free Dance
+Davis and White - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships

*Best Pairs Free Program
+Pang and Tong - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Comeback
+Shen and Zhao

*Best Olympic Performance (NEW)
+Joannie Rochette

*Short Program/Original Dance of the Year
+Davis and White - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships

*Best Forgotten Performance of the Season
+Navarro and Bommentre - 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships (Free)

*Worst Performance of the Season
+Nobunari Oda - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships (Short)

*Skater of the Year
+Davis and White

*Best Throw/Jump
+Daisuke Takahashi - Quad Flip - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships (Free)

*Hottest Skater
+Charlie White

*The Twitterholic (NEW)
+Jeremy Abbott (@jeremyabbottpcf)

*Best Coach
+Igor Shpilband

*Most Improved Skater
+Adam Rippon

*Best New Face
+Michal Brezina

*Most Controversial (NEW)
+Evgeny Plushenko

*Best Outfit
+Davis and White - Original Dance

*Memorable Moment of the Season (NEW)
+Joannie Rochette hugging her father after her Olympic Short Program.

*Blog of the Year
+Aunt Joyce's Ice Cream Stand

*Reader's Choice: Skater of the Year
+Davis and White

yonaman said...

Y-U-N-A
K-I-M

Stef said...

*Best Ladies Free Program
+Joannie Rochette - 2010 Canadian Nationals

*Best Men's Free Program
+Nobunari Oda - 2009 Trophy Eric Bompard

*Best Free Dance
+Virtue and Moir - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Pairs Free Program
+Savchenko and Szolkowy - 2009 HomeSense Skate Canada

*Best Comeback
+Shen and Zhao

*Best Olympic Performance
+Joannie Rochette

*Short Program/Original Dance of the Year
+Davis and White - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships

*Best Forgotten Performance of the Season
+Shawn Sawyer - 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America (Free)
(I was there.. it was great!!)

*Worst Performance of the Season
A tie between:
+Nobunari Oda - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships (Short)
+Brian Joubert - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Skater of the Year
+Davis and White

*Best Throw/Jump
+Daisuke Takahashi - Quad Flip - 2010 World Figure Skating Championships (Free)

*Hottest Skater
+Tanith Belbin

*The Twitterholic (NEW)
+Jeremy Abbott (@jeremyabbottpcf)

*Best Coach
+Frank Carroll
(honoralbe mention to Brian Orser)

*Most Improved Skater
+Zaretski and Zaretski

*Best New Face
+Florent Amodio

*Most Controversial (NEW)
+Evgeny Plushenko
(Honorable mention to Domnina/Shabalin)

*Best Outfit
+Davis and White - Original Dance

*Memorable Moment of the Season (NEW)
A tie between:
+Amanda Evora's flood of tears after earning an Olympic Berth.
+Joannie Rochette hugging her father after her Olympic Short Program.
+Evgeny Plushenko's #1 finger upon completing his free skate at Rostelecom Cup.
+John Baldwin's expression and interaction with the judges upon Rena Inoue's successful completion of the throw triple axel.

*Blog of the Year
+Required Elements

*Reader's Choice: Skater of the Year
+Virtue and Moir

Anonymous said...

*Best Ladies Free Program
+Kim Yu-Na - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Men's Free Program
+Jeremy Abbott - 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

*Best Free Dance
+Virtue and Moir - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Pairs Free Program
+Pang and Tong - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Comeback
+Shen and Zhao

*Best Olympic Performance (NEW)
+Kim Yu-Na

*Short Program/Original Dance of the Year
+Kim Yu-Na - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Best Forgotten Performance of the Season
+Shawn Sawyer - 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America (Free)

*Worst Performance of the Season
+Brian Joubert - 2010 Olympic Winter Games

*Skater of the Year
+Kim Yu-Na

*Best Throw/Jump
+Evgeny Plushenko - Quad Toe/Triple Toe - 2009 Rostelecom Cup (Short)

*Hottest Skater
+Joannie Rochette

*The Twitterholic (NEW)
+Michael Weiss (@MichaelWeiss2)

*Best Coach
+Brian Orser

*Most Improved Skater
+Adam Rippon

*Best New Face
+Ksenya Makarova

*Most Controversial (NEW)
+Evgeny Plushenko

*Best Outfit
+Davis and White - Original Dance

*Memorable Moment of the Season (NEW)
+Joannie Rochette hugging her father after her Olympic Short Program.