Urgent Matters

The ISU has posted "Urgent Matters" to be addressed at the ISU June Congress in Barcelona. One caught my attention in particular...

The French Skating Federation is proposing that in Olympic Years, Europeans and Four Continents Cup go bye-bye and World's be placed before the Olympics. The reasoning:

Olympics after Olympics, the statistics show very clearly that since 1994 the number of Olympic medalists present at the World ISU championships just after the Games is continuously decreasing. After both the 1998 Olympics in Nagano and the 2006 Olympics in Turin the four Olympic winners of the 4 gold medals did not compete in the ISU World Championships (in Minneapolis in 1998 and in Calgary in 2006). Out of the twelve Olympic medalists since 1998, at least half of them did not participate in the World Championships a month later. Therefore, revenge becomes impossible. The Olympic Winter Games should logically be the summit of the Olympic season and the ISU World Championships, if held just before the Games, would become the theater of a much greater enthusiasm due to the increase in top level participation.

Hmmmm....

My initial reaction without giving it much thought is...not a bad idea. But then I really started to think about it. Couldn't the reverse happen and top competitors not show up at World's to instead focus on the Olympics? And then it really hit me! This would be a terrible timeline for North American skaters. The U.S. and Canada in particular hold National Championships relatively close to the Olympics. This season both countries were right on top of the Four Continents Cup, with competitors flying directly from Spokane and London to Korea for the event. I'm envisioning a similar scenario for World's...the biggest annual event in skating, not cool. IF something like this were to pass, the U.S. and Canada would have to change their national championships schedules...and that's a big adjustment.

I say in Olympic years...move those events behind the Olympics and before World's. No matter how you slice it, you're going to have competitors not showing up at one event or another, there is so much at stake when it comes to the Olympics. Or...move the Olympics to mid-March as opposed to February. Forgiving Vancouver, most places still have snow in the mountains in March. A good portion of the events don't necessarily need real snow. And an even bigger portion of events are inside.

In the end I think this may be one of those 'unsolvables.' There really is no good solution. Any ideas?

Other urgent matters included Japan's desire to award bonus points for difficult original elements and the ISU's plan to make sure they have control of a possible (theoretical?) team figure skating event in the Olympics (hadn't heard about that).

Evan Can Dance...but not as good as Nicole

So Evan pulled it together and got himself to the Finale of Dancing With the Stars. He followed in the footsteps of Apollo and Kristi and made his pitch for the Mirror Ball Trophy.

Trouble is I think his pitch was a bit weak. :-(

He was the lowest scorer coming out of Monday's Dance and I thought he was toast at that point. On Tuesday he managed to sneak past Erin and Maks who finished 3rd (wamp wamp) and get himself to the final dance.

That is where he really got pounced on. Evan did a nice Quick Step for one final set of judges scores, but Nicole came out and killed a jive. She danced to "Proud Mary" and I think she was channeling Tina Turner. It was ridic!

So when the final judgement came, it was a surprise to no one that Nicole won the Mirror Ball Trophy...and honestly...she deserved it. I could give a hoot rather all her dances where 'proper' dances...she was the funnest to watch.

But, and I may open an old can of worms here, this competition showed what is absolutely amazing about Evan Lysacek. Does he have the most natural talent, no. Does he have the most engaging personality, no. But was he willing to work the hardest to overcome his disadvantages...yep! That's the thing about Evan. He may not be the best but he will out work anyone in his quest to get to the top. He did it at the Olympics and he almost did it here.

Now if we can just get Michelle Kwan on Dancing with the Stars...

A Tale...

I have been crazy busy at work these past couple of weeks...I mean crazy! You might have noticed my absence on this blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I have to open my appointment book to schedule in breathing let alone blogging.

I apologize for my lack of updates but I WILL be doing a post DWTS update but between me, you, and the fence post...I think Evan blew it last night. :-(

Anywho, the whole Gold Blogger Olympic thing got lots of my coworkers interested in my blog here. The local newspaper did a story and they posted my website address and instantly I had co-workers lurking around the blog (I know your there!).

I had scheduled a couple of moments to grab a bite to eat and I was in the cafeteria and a co-worker points at me...walks over to me and says, "Why no recent skating news?" I looked at her puzzled and she says "On your blog!" Note, this is the first conversation I have ever had with this particular employee.

In short, people are now on my case for not updating enough! Not even just skating fans, but coworkers too! So, I will try to schedule a few moments here and there to do a bit more blogging. Try being the important word.

The good part is I am far less busy during the skating season so if I was going to be overloaded with work, now is the time!

Evan Can Dance

It's crunch time. The past two weeks on Dancing with the Stars has resulted in an all out brawl and tonight we find out who makes the finals...and who goes home.

Last week Evan was off his game a little with iffy dances, one of which was an awkward futuristic Cha Cha.

But this week in the semi-finals he came out fast and furious with two amazing dances. First a foxtrot that was full of spunk (almost bordering on too much but not quite going over the line!). Bruno called him "High as Kite" he was so happy.

Next came Evan's best dance ever when he went all Twiglight on us and did a vampire inspired Paso that was magnificent. Each of the celebrities had to do a solo in the routine and Evan's was amazing! He grabbed Anna's dress and used it in a cape and then did these cool leaps and stuff...I was impressed!

I liked both dances so much I've posted them both below!

Last week Neicy didn't make it through and who will it be tonight. The finals are so close! Can Evan hang on?

Round-Up

Time to catch up! Everything you may have heard recently that I didn't blog on!

*Lori Nichol will be choreographing Mao Asada's new programs this upcoming season...no word yet on who the new coach is.

*Last Saturday, Michelle Kwan gave the commencement address at Southern Vermont College.

*U.S. Figure Skating announced the Team Envelopes for 2010-2011. Don't read too much into the fact that Lysacek, Weir, Belbin/Agosto, Cohen, and Bradley still appear on the lists.

*Lots of splits and new pairings. Gilles/Summerssett...split. Bereswill/Young...new pair. Craziest new pairing...Fedor Andreev and Jana Khoklova! Who will they compete for? Canada? Russia? Azerbaijan? Federated States of Micronesia? Poor Sergei Novitski...wamp wamp.

*Joubert is considering working with a North American coach...intriguing?

*Rachael Flatt got accepted to Stanford...but she isn't going this year.

*Johnny Weir will be a judge on Miss USA Pageant...and has a spat currently with Chelsea Handler...and is recording a single...and is trying to out Evan Lysacek...and getting blasted back at by Evan Lysacek...it never ends with this guy!

*Meissner has left Florida to train in Virginia with Chris Conte, Alissa Czisny is staying in Detroit but is now working with Yuka Sato.

*Liang, Castile/Okolski, and Navarro/Bommentre have officially retired.

*Olympic Bronze Medalists Savchenko and Szolkowy will continue competing for the next four years.

Did I miss anything?

Change Management

Assuming they are approved by the ISU Congress in June, there are some pretty substantial changes coming to the way figure skating is judged.

First, it would appear the entire rule book on Ice Dance has been rewritten! Lots of changes on levels, lifts, requirements blah blah blah all coming down the pike. They aren't releasing the details yet on the new "Short Dance" that's associated with the elimination of compulsories. Check out the changes here (downloadable PDF file).

One of the really cool things they are proposing are these bullets that give the judges clearer guidelines on how to assign GOE's. They have tables with 8 bullet points and you get GOE based on how many bullet points you hit. For example, Spiral Sequences in Singles, they have the following bullet points:

*Good flow, energy, and execution.
*Good speed during sequence.
*Good body line and full extension.
*Minimal delay between spiral positions.
*Good Flexibility.
*Creativity and originality.
*Ability to attain positions and variations quickly and effortlessly.
*Element matched to the musical structure.

You have to do two of these to get a +1, four for a +2, and at least six for a +3. At least now judges have some basic guidelines to guide them as far as GOE's are concerned. Now each judges opinion on if certain bullets were achieved is still subjective, but there isn't much way around that. Any time a sport is "judged" there is subjectivity.

But of course what will no doubt be the big talking point for all the pundits is the new jump rule (downloadable PDF file)...already being passed around the internet (unfairly I believe) as the Asada Rule. In addition to the values jumps have, jumps values will also now exist on a scale. They are going to break the under-rotation rule up a bit by assigning a new point level for those barely cheated jumps. The ones that are more than a quarter rotation cheat but less than half a rotation cheat. These jumps will now be worth 70% of the base value of the jump.

Why are people calling it the Asada rule? Well the base value of a triple axel is 8.5 points. So if you do two in a program you stand to gain upwards of 17 points (perhaps more because one will likely be performed in combination). Mao Asada was often only earning a base value of 3.3 points for her axels because she was getting downgraded to a double. Now that just slightly downgraded triple axel is still worth 6 points. Two in your program is still earning you upwards of 12 points. It's a hit, but not nearly the hit it was before and still is a pretty lucrative jump element even with the downgrade. Quads, like axels, will also still be hefty point grabbers with the slight under-rotation. In short, everyone thinks this rule has been pushed to help Asada out.

Rather it was or not, it's a smart rule. I've said countless times that almost nailing a perfect triple axel should not be counted as a crappy double axel. That's just stupid. And as much as this rule helps Asada, it helps others too. This rule would have worked wonders for Flatt and Nagasu at the Olympics. Speaking of Nagasu, she'd probably be the reigning U.S. National Champ with this rule. Kim Yu-Na wouldn't have lost the short program to Miki Ando at the Grand Prix Final with this rule. It's a smart rule and I hope people don't use it as an excuse to continue petty bickering.

The Op-Ed: Too Family Friendly?

Every time I'm at the gym working out and listening to my iPod (I'll do a separate post on who I think should skate to what) I find myself thinking, "Oh I wish so and so would skate to this song."

And then I actually listen to the lyrics and think, "Oh but might be a little risqué for figure skating..."

Part of me thinks we need to 'keep it clean' for skating, but another part of me thinks if skaters could use more music choices and be riskier it could give a jolt to the often boring and very PC world of skating.

For example, I keep envisioning Rachel Flatt skating to Not Myself Tonight by Christina Aguilera. I think it would be a great piece of music for her to let loose a little and not be so...I don't know...cute? PC? Safe? But the lyrics...too much for figure skating? Take a look (warning...expletives ahead):

Mot Myself Tonight by Christina Aguilera

You know tonight
I am feeling a little out control
Is this me
You wanna get crazy
Because I don't give a...

I'm out of character
I'm in rare form
And If you really knew me
You'd know its not the norm

Cause I'm doing things that I normally won't do
The old me's gone I feel brand new
And if you don't like it fuck you

The music's on and I'm dancing
I'm normally in the corner just standing
I'm feeling unusual
I don't care cause this is my night

I'm not myself tonight
Tonight I'm not the same girl same girl

I'm not myself tonight
Tonight I'm not the same girl same girl

I'm dancing alot and I'm taking shots I'm feeling fine
I'm kissing all the boys and the girls
Someone call the doctor cause I lost my mind

Cause I'm doing things that I normally won't do
The old me's gone I feel brand new
And if you don't like it fuck you

The music's on and I'm dancing
I'm normally in the corner just standing
I'm feeling unusual
I don't care cause this is my night

I'm not myself tonight
Tonight I'm not the same girl same girl

I'm not myself tonight
Tonight I'm not the same girl same girl

In the morning
When I wake Up
I'll go back to the girl I used to be
But baby not tonight

I'm not myself tonight
Tonight I'm not the same girl same girl

I'm not myself tonight
Tonight I'm not the same girl same girl

Yah, that feels good
I needed that
Get crazy
Let's go
That's right
Come on
Give it to me now, don't stop

So perfect for Rachael Flatt, right? She has the total good girl image but can through it off for a night and let loose. Problem is I'm envisioning mom's looking at the ice in horror, grabbing their 8 year old, and holding their hands over their ears. I also am envisioning those Sorority Girls from the University of Michigan (shout out to Meryl Davis!) out of their seats loving LOVING skating for the first time.

Which way do you go. Do you spice it up and have a little fun or do you keep doing family friendly?

I call this an Op-Ed by I don't know what my opinion is! I'm so torn. Of course there is a radio friendly version of this song without the F-Bomb...but is it still to risky for figure skating?

I'm dancing alot and I'm taking shots I'm feeling fine
I'm kissing all the boys and the girls
Someone call the doctor cause I lost my mind

Drug references, bisexuality references, oh my!

I've decided. I think it would be okay to spice it up a bit. No major bad words but I think a little bit of pop culture isn't terrible. What 8 year old is going to be paying that close of attention to the lyrics and pick up on the subtleties of what the lyrics really mean? And what 14 year old isn't already listening to Christina Aguilera or some other pop/hip-hop/rap artist? If you're the parent out there saying "Well mine doesn't," believe me...you're likely wrong, you just don't know it.

I don't know...weigh in. What do you think?

The Perfect Program Music

I've had lots of random thoughts on figure skating recently and I've been itching at getting to the computer to get them all down. Fortunately work has afforded me a few free moments to type.

So I was just randomly thinking about my favorite kind of free programs. What types of music do I like to see skaters use on the ice. It's oddly compartmentalized based upon discipline:

For Men I like Soundtracks. You don't see them very much anymore but I love them. Kurt Browning's Casablanca, Alexei Yagudin's Man in the Iron Mask, Todd Eldredge and First Knight...I'm a sucker for a good soundtrack. I would love to see someone tackle Avatar this upcoming season...could be epic.

With Ice Dance I'm a little more open to musical exploration with. My favorite Ice Dance programs are to music that hasn't been used or has rarely been used. I only like odd "out there" choices for Ice Dancers. I want Ice Dancers to be innovative and weird music choices allow for that. Anyone remember the Finnish team of Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko? To this day they remain two of my favorite dancers because of their innovation.

For Pairs I like classical pieces of music that are heavy on the piano. Something about Piano's and Pairs that just go together like bread and butter. Or quiet romantic music...that works really well for pairs too. Just about anything Puccini or Rachmaninoff work for me. Gordeyeva and Grinkov's Moonlight Sonata, one of those heavy piano pieces, pure genius.

The only discipline I can't pin a music choice down with is women. What I can determine is that I tend to like music for women that has big endings...music that crescendos to a climax and ends on a big or emotional note. Think Michelle Kwan's Tosca program (there's Puccini again!). Akiko Suzuki did a great job this season with West Side Story. I guess with women I say go big or go home.

Okay...so what kind of programs do you like?

Evan Can Dance

Dancing with the Stars infuruiated me this week...but more on that in a bit.

First let's talk about Evan who killed it this week. I mean it was something! I don't think he is the best dancer...but I think he has the best work ethic of anyone on the show. And hard work, as can be seen by his success on this show and his Olympic Gold Medal, can get you pretty far. He may not be outdancing Nicole...but he's out working her.

I had to take a cold shower after that Tango...it was steamy, sexy, seductive, sensual...how many "S" words can I come up with to describe it? And how about that score...season's first perfect 30. Not to shabby eh?

The group Cha-Cha was interesting. I hated that Evan was on Team Madonna because the song "Holiday" sucked in comparison to Lady GaGa's "Telephone."

What infuriated me was the vote! C'mon America! We need to keep the best around and I hate it when two of the best are up for elimination. Erin and Pam? What! How about Niecy Not or Chad Osoneedstobedoneo!?!?!

Pam, who was totally one of my faves, got the ole boot. It sucked so bad because she deserves to be there. Poop!

Well, at least Evan dances on!

Work, Work, Work

This has been the week from hell at work! I work in healthcare so I can say I'm saving lives, right? Anywho, I promise, I'll be blogging soon!

While my job has kept me from blogging as much as I'd like I've been banking lots of great blog post ideas in my brain.

Sit tight...they are coming.