XXI Olympic Winter Games Figure Skating Dance Preview

The fact that we've finally come to the Olympics is unbelievable! It's what so many athletes have worked so hard far! Over the next four days I'm going to break down who to watch in Vancouver beginning today with Ice Dance.

The Ice Dance competition will be the first time we get to see all the World's best in one competition this season. Odd viral infections, bum knees, newborn babies, and even teeth have kept the best from going head-to-head this season but it all changes in Vancouver. Who are the six teams I think we need to watch?

Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto (USA) - The 2006 Olympic Silver Medalists had a great Grand Prix season with two wins at Samsung Anycall Cup of China and Cancer.Net Skate America but hit a road bump when they had to withdraw from the Grand Prix Final due to a tooth infection from Tanith. The team hit another hurdle when they were unable to win back their U.S. Title in Spokane, settling for Silver. Even still, they have tons of experience to bank on including the fact they've managed Olympic Pressure before. Despite the loss at Nationals it was an extremely close race and I suspect they'll be right in the thick of it in Vancouver.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White (USA) - They enter these Olympics as the team to beat. Two wins on the Grand Prix at Rostelecom Cup and NHK Trophy, a win at the Grand Prix Final (becoming the first American team to win that event), and a win at Nationals has put the target squarely on their backs. With success comes expectations and pressure and this team doesn't have the base of experience to fall back on that many of the others have but they seem to be in a groove. At U.S. Nationals they skated one of the best Free Dances I've ever seen and had the audience out of their seats instantly. If they can hold up under pressure they may find themselves with some hardware around their neck...the bling bling kind.

Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA) - The 2008 World Champs have been out of competition for over a year now due in large part to Isabelle's pregnancy. They enter the Olympics as the complete wildcard...nobody knows how they will perform, if they are prepared, how their programs will stack? They stated they were ready to compete at the European Championships but the French Skating Federation opted to not send them to Tallinn wanting to keep their programs a "secret." It will be interesting to see how this team re-enters the mix. I'm still convinced they are a Gold Medal threat...they have so much experience that cannot be ignored. They have been skating together the longest of anyone in the competition...20 years! 16th in Salt Lake City, 4th in Torino, Gold in Vancouver?

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin (RUS) - The Olympics haven't yet begun and already there is controversy. Domnina and Shabalin have been all over the skating headlines due to their controversial Original Dance they are set to compete in Vancouver. People are already speculating as to what the fall out would be should the reigning World Champs win Gold in Vancouver with what many are calling a highly offensive dance. Everyone will be watching to see if they've made the modifications that Aboriginal Leaders have asked them to make. Many in the skating world fear this controversy will be the black cloud that hangs over the figure skating event in Vancouver. To be sure, it will be an interesting game of 'Public Relations Chess' to watch. Having won at Europeans, they enter this competition as the top seeded Europeans.

Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali (ITA) - I thought this team was toast after a disappointing finish at World's last season. Despite a bumpy beginning to this season which included some illness and minor injuries, this team is surging at just the right time. While only second overall at Europeans, they did manage to beat Domnina and Shabalin in both the Original Dance and Free Dance at the competition. This team has an amazing ability to tell stories, something they do brilliantly in their programs this season. This veteran team which, like Delobel and Schoenfelder, are entering their 3rd Olympics and are looking to land on the podium this time.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (CAN) - They'll have the crowd behind them and they have looked great this season. They traded season best scores back and forth on the Grand Prix with Davis and White and came desperately close to winning the Grand Prix Final, less than two points behind Davis and White. They recently gave a performance at Canadian Nationals that was equally impressive to Davis and White's U.S. Nationals performance. I'm not certain if having the crowd on their side will be helpful or put un-nerving pressure on them. I suspect this team will do very well here in Vancouver and I wouldn't be surprised in the least bit if they managed to nab the Gold right at home.

I promise you, Ice Dance will be one of the (if not the most) closest competitions in Figure Skating at the Olympics. It promises to be exciting. There is quite a cast of second string players that may factor in if teams at the top make critical errors. Don't forget to keep an eye on: Pechalat and Bourzat, Khoklova and Novitski, Cappellinni and Lanotte, Zaretski and Zaretski, Kerr and Kerr, and Crone and Poirier.

European Championships Preview (Dance)

The last of my European Championship Previews before the event kicks off next Monday, the Dance event in Tallinn is quite unusual this season. The teams that we might consider the favorites have either not competed at all this season or are making some slight comebacks from injury and such. This aura of uncertainty makes me believe this title is possibly up for grabs. The teams to watch? I'm keep an eye on:

Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder - This team has competed since winning the 2008 Grand Prix Final. A shoulder injury kept them out of last season's Europeans and Worlds and Isabelle's pregnancy kept them out of this season's Grand Prix. It's is still unclear if the 2008 World Champs will compete in Tallinn. FFSG (French Skating Federation) is weighing the pros and cons of having them compete there with an announcement expected anytime. I think anytime you can run your programs and get feedback pre-Olympics it's a good thing (but I'm not the one on the ice). They've said they are ready to compete no matter FFSG's decision so we may be seeing them next week.

Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat - In Delobel and Schoenfelder's competitive absence this other top French team has been slowly moving up the ranks. They won the bronze at the recent Grand Prix Final and look to be possible Gold contenders in Tallinn. Their program, however, has looked less put together each time I've seen it this season. Let's hope the break between Tokyo and Tallinn has given them some time to polish things up. If Delobel and Schoenfelder are rusty/don't compete and Domnina and Shabalin aren't put back together yet...this is the team to beat.

Alexandra Zaretski and Roman Zaretski - This team was just 5th at Samsung Anycall Cup of China but then shocked me at Skate America taking the bronze medal (actual was second in the free skate ahead of Cappellini and Lanotte). They also won the recent Golden Spin of Zagreb competition. This team apparently is doing something right as far as the judges are concerned. This competition gives them the opportunity to move into the top ranks of ice dancers. They are exciting, have beautiful programs this season, and are perhaps coming together at the perfect time. On a side note, and maybe someone can answer this for me...why do Israeli skaters compete at European's and not Four Continents Cup? I'm pretty sure I didn't fail Geography and Israel is an Asian nation. I suppose the same question applies to Azerbaijan...

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin - This team is attempting to quick get it back together prior to the Olympics. They won Russian Nationals (although Khoklova and Novitski didn't compete) convincingly despite looking a hot mess. They looked a little better at a recent send-off show...a little. The reigning World Champs easily have the most unique OD set to Aboriginal music but I think it's going to take more than that to win this. If they somehow manage to show up in Tallinn in top form, well that would be a miracle! But if any team could pull it off I think it's them. This team may be helped along by the rust prevailing in the other teams, lack of consistent competing by other teams, and good ole Russian Ice Dancing luck!

Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte - One of only two teams competing in Tallinn that have done the full gambit of competition this season (two Grand Prix's, Grand Prix Final, Nationals) which may help them in the long run. They've had more time to put their programs in front of international judges and tweak them. After a surprisingly (surprisingly!) easy qualification into the Grand Prix Final, they struggled in Tokyo finishing 5th (actually was last in the free dance losing to Canadians Crone and Poirier). They also enter this event as the number two Italians, not the national champs. Still, this team can be exciting to watch and given the special circumstance of this competition they may find themselves in a race for the podium.

Sinead Kerr and John Kerr - The other team that has had a full plate this year, the British brother and sister duo seem forever stuck as the bridesmaids and never the brides. At the Grand Prix Final, they didn't look as sharp as they had in the past. This team is always one of the crowd favorites and it's hard not to like them this season with a Linkin Park Free Dance but this team needs to make a big move here to push through to the top. The best thing about this team is the passion and abandon they skate with when they are 'in the zone.' I say at Europeans hold nothing back and just go for it. Throw caution to the wind and let it all hang out...they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Jana Khoklova and Sergei Novitski - After a promising start to their Grand Prix Season in Beijing (they won the silver) they came undone a bit at Cancer.Net Skate America, fell off the podium, and failed to make the Grand Prix Final. Then they actually made the final when Belbin and Agosto withdrew (I will let the tooth saga go...) but decided not to compete. They didn't compete at Russian Nationals either due to a knee injury for Sergei. This team heads to Tallinn a little beat up and needs a turnaround performance to get themselves back in the judges good grace. Their programs are...um...unique? Russian to the core I'd say. Their best asset is their 'in your face wow factor.' They have to use it or I think they will not be happy with their result. The defending champions may have a rough time defending here.

Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali - This team has yet to get their footing under them this season. A shaky start at Samsung Anycall Cup of China where they were just third, they were then forced to withdraw from HomeSense Skate Canada when Federica took ill. They do enter European's having won Italian Nationals and can hopefully get back on track. They won the silver at last season's European's and are hoping to at least match that performance here. They have a great program this season that tells a great story. This team is great at telling stories on the ice. Again, no team looks like clear front runners so anything is possible...perhaps a step higher up the podium this season?

UPDATE: Delobel and Schoenfelder have withdrawn from Europeans

Around the World

I think I just coined a new spot on my blog. It seems like every time I check out all the other amazing skating blogs, there is a whirlwind of activity!

I love to travel, so every now and then I'll take everyone on a brief trip around the world!

Starting in Korea, Figure Skating is going Prime Time. Not competition, T.V. Drama! The new MBC series, 'Triple,' is about the dreams and loves of a figure skater and three passionate men from the advertising industry. This couldn't have anything to do with Yu-Na Kim's big win could it? Best thing, this show will also air on MBC America...so if you're lucky enough to get their broadcast (West Coast heavy) you'll have to fill me in on if it's any good. Webisodes please?

To France we go. First, most have heard that Isabelle Delobel is expecting...congrats. Can't imagine that it will be easy to train for the Olympics while having a baby...but that's the plan for she and Olivier Schoenfelder. Good luck with that. On the other side of French Ice Dancing, Carron and Jost have decided to call it quits. Apparently, they had 'differences' they couldn't work out. Too bad.

Here in the U.S., Adult Nationals have wrapped up in Grand Rapids Michigan. Lots of reports and coverage can be found here and here. U.S. Figure Skating has announced the Team Envelopes, no real shocks, but State of the Skate brings up a good question about Katrina Hacker. Evan Lysacek was busy last week getting a L.A. Lakers Game started. Speaking of splits, Vise and Trent have decided to end their partnership, however, a bit more amicably than did Carron and Jost. Vise and Trent made history in 2007 when they hit a throw quad salchow at Eric Bompard Trophy in Paris.

Finally in Russia, there is some disagreement as to if the 2014 Sochi Winter Games planning is on track. Some think they are, others think they are not. And speaking of babies, Tatiana Totmianina is expecting as well...and Yagudin is the baby's daddy (I didn't even know they were dating!)...twins!

BREAKING NEWS: Well crud!

I log in this morning for my daily dose of figure skating and I see the news that several of my blogging compatriots have already reported...Tanith and Ben have withdrawn from Nationals.

This is not good news for them. It gives their closest American competitors (Davis and White) a chance to shine and steal the spotlight in a season where Meryl and Charlie were already stealing some of the spotlight. Tanith and Ben were unable to win a Grand Prix Event, Meryl and Charlie did (Skate Canada). Tanith and Ben had to withdraw from the Grand Prix Final due, in part, to the same injury that is forcing them out of Nationals, Meryl and Charlie won the bronze. Seems to me it would have been in their best interest to stop the momentum of Davis and White right there on the ice in Cleveland...but we must listen to doctors...and doctors say no.

They do intend to compete on the World Team and I see no reason why US Figure Skating wouldn't put them on the team so whoever gets the Bronze in Cleveland, well, sorry. I have a feeling that will be a battle royale between Samuelson/Bates and Navarro/Bommentre.

Across the pond, it appears the reigning World Champs, Delobel and Schoenfelder, are dealing with injuries of their own and won't compete at Europeans. Similar story for them with teams like Khoklova/Novitski and Faiella/Scali nipping at their heals, in addition to Domnina and Shablain that have always been a thorn in their side...not a great time to be sidelined.

Well I hope for a speedy recovery for all teams that are 'under the weather.'

Another Grand Prix Season Complete

And so, the 2008 Edition of the Grand Prix has come to it's conclusion...for Ice Dance we barely made it there! It was fun wasn't it. Six Events all chock full of intrigue and surprises. A huge (well, mostly huge) final with some surprising...and expected happenings.

Like I stated before, in Ice Dance, we were lucky to reach the end after a full 1/3 of the field decided to withdraw from the event. Khoklova and Novitski called it quits after the OD Warm-up, citing an upset stomach. Belbin and Agosto decided to pull the plug after the Free Dance warming with complaints of back pain from Ben. Aye aye aye! But that left the door open for Davis and White who managed a bit of an upset, taking the Bronze ahead of veteran Italians Faiella and Scali whose 'Moonlight Sonata' couldn't compete with the Americans' 'Samson and Delilah.' After a ridiculously clunky and awkward Free Dance, Russians Domnina and Shabalin still managed a good score and took the Silver medal (the fact that Free Dance was scored so well simply amazes me...they must have gotten the better selection of the 5 judges whose score counted!). But favorites and clear class of the field, Delobel and Schoenfelder of France skated away with the Gold...and their first Grand Prix Final title (hard to believe that a team that has been at this for so long is just now winning this event!).

I found myself completely shocked by the turn of events that took place among the men. First, like Ben Agosto, Joubert decided to withdraw prior to the free skate because of back pain. Apparently he sustained a bit of an injury on the morning practice. Patrick Chan who I had pegged to win this thing couldn't land a triple axel to save his life in Korea and finished last. Tomas Verner, who also had some technical issues, barely slid past Chan to finish fourth. Johnny Weir, had a solid free skate (still a little front loaded) and won the bronze. It reminded me quite a bit like his free skate from last season's worlds...steady, consistent, a little slow, but overall okay. More importantly, he continues to be solid and consistent, a testament to his new mental attitude and Galina Zmievskaya. Takahiko Kozuka, who had the lead after the short, crumbled a bit in his free skate and had to settle for the silver. After a solid opening, which included a quad he almost got done, he took a couple spills and had a downgraded triple loop. He actually finished behind Weir but had a solid lead after the short and was able to stay ahead of him. There was no staying ahead of, however, American Jeremy Abbott who showed he is a contended on the 'big boys' stage. An amazing free skate that earned him not only a killer technical score but amazing component scores as well and he took the Gold Medal, quite to his surprise. A new face for American Men's skating perhaps?

In Pairs, it was Russia's day with both teams coming in 5th and 6th. Mukhortova and Trankov, who again had a terrible outing with their 'Lady and the Hooligan' routine (it's time to ditch it I think!) brought up the rear while their countrymen Kawaguchi and Smirnov weren't much better and finished just ahead of them. The Ukranian team of Volosozhar and Morozov was uninspiring and finished fourth. Savchenko and Szolkowy had fall from grace and only managed the bronze after a terrible free skate. The Chinese teams reigned supreme, Zhang and Zhang taking the silver and Pang and Tong with a very solid free taking the Gold and earning their first Grand Prix Final Title. Three first time winners this season.

The ladies event, where to begin. First lets go back to the short where, as much as I love and adore her, Yu-Na Kim should not have had the lead...but she did. I could care less that Asada's Triple Loop on the back half of her flawless Triple Flip was downgraded, overall the program was better. Who pop's a Triple Lutz in the short program and still get's the lead...Yu-Na Kim! Fast forward to the Free Skate... and poor Miki Ando. What appeared to be an impressive skate, with what appeared to be a beautiful Quad Salchow in it. Interestingly, she ditched 'Giselle' for Saint-Saens 'Symphony No. 3.' But her celebration quickly came to an end when the scores went up. Half her jumping passes were downgraded (quad included) and her component score was less than great. After what she thought was a completely successful free skate, she found herself finishing last...unbelievable. Yukari Nakano didn't fare much better. Her usually consistent downgraded Triple Axel was not so consistent and she putzed her way through her program to finish 5th. Joannie Rochette skated better than she did in the short to finish 4th, however it was a far cry from what she was putting down in her previous Grand Prix appearances this season. As per usual, Carolina Kostner with a clunky program manages to win a medal, a bronze this time. The showdown really was between the top two ladies. Mao Asada again put down two Triple Axels, only this time she got full credit for them both! Those two jumps alone netted her 19.90 points alone. She went on to have a solid free skate (she did get a downgrade on her second flip) to easily take the lead. I'm noticing she's removed the lutz from her free skate and going with the axels instead...risky decision. Yu-Na Kim had a solid opening of her own but another popped lutz and then a fall on triple salchow and she couldn't over come the technical muster of Asada. Therefore she had to settle for the silver and Asada manages to reclaim her title (she last won the event in 2005, defeating Slutskaya).

That's it for the Grand Prix. Now we get to look forward to all the National Championships, Russia and Japan are first up with Canada and the U.S. in January. Stay Tuned! Also, here's the video of Mao Asada's free skate.



UPDATE: This (the blank YouTube video above) is beginning to infuriate me! How is it that the video is removed due to a copyright claim by U.S. Figure Skating? The coverage was Korean SBS! Out of pure spite for what State of the Skate calls the "Powers that Be"...here the video is again...Japanese coverage this time...let's see if the powers that be can get this video erased!

浅田真央 Mao Asada 2008 GPF FS
Uploaded by hawaiiantommy

Day late and dollar short!

So I'm a day behind on my posts...you'll have to forgive me. Earning a Master's Degree has a tendency to occupy my time. Having a cold doesn't help either, but, tis the season.

But what an exctining Trophee Eric Bompard was. First can I say what a stud Craig Duhamel is! There was blood everywhere but that wasn't stopping him at all. After the unfortunate finger slicing which caused the program to stop, he just went out there and gave it everything. I actually thought he and Megan looked better in the second half. I was kind of under the impression that maybe they should have won the silver instead of the bronze, but, I guess that's just me. Mukhortova looked a little better than they did at Skate America. They seemed to improve technically as the program went on but that choreography is still dreadful. Silver for them. German Savchenko and Szolkowy again took the gold but had mistakes of their own including a throw triple salchow that just never happened. The Germans may have big problems when they finally face Zhang and Zhang later in the season. Also, I have to gloat...I called the podium!


Big upset for Joannie Rochette who takes another title! She turned in another solid program on her way to Gold. She wasn't quite as good as she was in Ottawa, but it was far better than Mao Asada who just didn't seem quite ready for her season to begin. A free skate plagued with errors left her in second. Caroline Zhang bettered her performance from Ottawa to pick up the bronze, however, her performance is lifeless and the technique on the lutz and flip seem worse than last year. Also, she is still being hit with downgrades here and there. Lots to work on before Nationals in Cleveland. Way off the podium was Emily Hughes who was a disaster. Poor thing went down three times. Hopefully she can pull herself together for Nationals.

Wonderful ice dancing. The Kerrs looked sharp in their free dance. I just love the speed and abandon they skate with. Another bronze for them. I was a bit worried when I say Maximo come out in this Pagliacchi outfit but the music was 'Moonlight Sonata' but I must say I thought it was brilliant. I loved how the concept for the program wasn't difficult to understand and the lifts were amazing on their way to silver. I'm finding myself really liking Delobel and Schoenfelder's Free Dance the more I see it. It's easy, light, and easy on the eyes while still managing to be crazy difficult. Another Gold for them and a very happy French crowd that got their money's worth! Got this podium right too!

Operation Pummel the Podium has failed. Ryan Bradley didn't pull off an upset...he didn't pull much off at all. Jumps that were his friend in Canada betrayed him here and hell fell down the standings. Joubert didn't fare well either. I don't know if it is equipment issues or mind games but he turned in a lack luster program as well and failed to make the podium. My advice to Brian is to avoid this event. I know it's your home event but you rarely compete well here and usually compete very well elsewhere...stick with what works! His teammate, Preaubert, however was stellar and pulled up to win the Bronze. I loved how excited he was at the end of that program! Takahiko Kozuka again showed some amazing skating skills with an even better program than he did in Everett to take the silver. Patrick Chan successfully defended his title to win. He looked much stronger than he did in Canada and made good on his promise of actually 'earning' his win this time.

All that fun and the GP Final is starting to take some definite shape. Savchenko and Szolkowy have locked a spot and Mukhortova and Trankov look good to make it as well. Joannie Rochette is in. Delobel and Schoenfelder have qualified and the Kerr's are on the fence. Good thing for them is that Crone and Porier who won the silver in Canada were fourth in Paris so the Kerr's look okay. Both Chan and Kozuka have also locked up spots in the Final. Lysacek is still hanging in and got some help with Joubert's fourth place finish but it's still a rocky road ahead for him.

Skate America Report 3

Right into it with the Free Dance. Summersett and Gilles were able to pull up a spot after a great Free Dance. This young U.S. team has a great deal of promise. Carron and Jost of France stayed in 5th after a not so special Free Dance. Speaking of young U.S. teams with promise, Samuelson and Bates stole the spotlight again. I saw Evan in the lobby and that guy is tall but he along with Emily move like liquid silk on the ice, amazing to watch and a nice ovation from the crowd. They finished 4th overall but were actually third in the Free Dance. The Kerr's from Great Britain managed to hang on to the bronze medal despite being eclipsed by Evan and Bates in the Free Dance...this team was another crowd favorite and winning the bronze wasn't their big moment...more on this in a bit! It was super close at the top. Belbin and Agosto finally managed to break through and win the Free Dance. Their program set to 'Tosca' is very intense and dramatic. You can tell there are some places in the program that need a bit of tweaking but it's well on its way. Tanith and Ben are a completely different team from the past, they have completely revamped themselves, we'll have to see if it pays off. Despite losing the Free Dance to the Americans, Delobel and Schoenfelder managed to take the title. Like the Americans, their Pink Floyd program still needs a little work but it's good as well. In the end, they won by just over a point. Wait...did I correctly predict the Dance podium too?

The ladies free skate didn't go well for the American ladies at all. Poor Kimmie Meissner...poor poor Kimmie. I just feel so bad for her because it appears her confidence still isn't there. She had a bit of meltdown, dropping all the way to 8th overall...ouch! She just keeps heading further and further down the rankings. I don't know what she needs to do...but she needs to do something.

Bad news for Mirai Nagasu as well. She had some jump issues here and there and on top of that, most of her jumps got downgraded because of cheated landings. You could tell at the end of her program, she knew it wasn't going to be good. She finished 5th overall. Rachael Flatt was the lone American to do okay, but she was up against a brick wall with the ladies from Japan and Korea! She did a pretty good skate and was the highest amongst our ladies finishing 4th.

The top three were very good. Miki Ando landed a lot of jumps in her program, problem was she didn't do a great deal of choreography. It was just jump to jump to jump. That was why her teammate, Yukari Nakano, with less technical difficulty surpassed her for the silver. Interestingly, both Ando and Nakano are skating too 'Giselle' this season. But Yu-Na Kim was stellar. Her only error came when she singled a loop, otherwise she was near flawless. She was simply amazing and at the end of her performance the crowd erupted, superfans and all! The score was huge, she beat the other ladies by about 20 points, it was crazy.

The exhibition performance was nice. Some of the highlights included the Kerr's Scottish Folk Dance, Kilts and all! They got a huge ovation and solitified themselves as the definite crowd favorites of the event. Evan Lysacek danced his butt off to a Michael Jackson/Chris Brown combo. Yukari Nakano impressed again with a gorgeous piece to Barbara Streisand's 'Somewhere.' McLaughlin and Brubaker continued to wow the crowd with their pairs skills. Delobel and Schoenfelder did this amazing number with huge scarfs. And Yu-Na Kim again (rhymes!) was mesmerizing.

10 things I've learned at Skate America about this skating season...

1. The judges plan on being very, VERY nitpicky this season. Rotate those jumps!
2. I really hate the fact that the judges are anonymous!
3. The Yu-Na Kim superfans are amazing!
4. By no means do Delobel and Schoenfelder have this season locked up.
5. Johnny Weir continues to be reliable and consistent....unbelievable.
6. U.S. ladies figure skating is in trouble...even our A team couldn't bring it.
7. The U.S. has a bright spot in pair skating in McLaughlin and Brubaker, they rock!
8. Skating in Japan is huge, NHK cameras where everywhere!
9. The U.S. Dance field is becoming extremely deep!
10. Never, NEVER count Japan out!

Well that's it from me...I'm gonna get all these amazing shots loaded onto a public album and share with all of you. Now that it's all over you can see the full results here. Next week I'll be just like everyone else watching the Grand Prix at home (on the computer for those of us in the U.S., crud!). I'm off to bed for an early flight tomorrow. Goodnight!

Poll of Polls

No I'm not talking Presidential Politics, but it's just as close.

I've had on my blog for what seems like forever a poll asking which of the reigning World Champions would do best this season and the results are in!

Jeffrey Buttle came in last with only 7 votes...but since he decided to retire from competitive skating, that seems right. Pairs Champions from Germany Savchenko and Szolkowy came in third with only 12 votes. They were incredibly dominant last season, are skating enthusiasts having doubts about this year?

But the race to the top was clear. It was very close between Ice Dancers Delobel and Schoenfelder and of course Mao Asada. Asada was the early leader pulling out in front of everyone but Delobel and Schoenfelder began a massive surge. I can tell you that my blog tracker was recording lots of hits from France and actually about three weeks ago Delobel and Schoenfelder took the lead and it's been back and forth since. With the poll closing today, somehow, Mao Asada managed to squeak back ahead of them with 33 to 32 votes.

Only time will tell how these four (well three I guess...ah Buttle) do this season. But it's clear that the readers of this blog think both Asada and Delobel and Schoenfelder will do well.

FYI...just added a new poll!

Perhaps Savchenko and Szolkowy are a bit rusty. For your viewing pleasure here is Aliona and Robin's free skate from the recent Nebelhorn Trophy. They won the event but weren't perfect by any means in the process. The video includes a little fluff on the team and their coach Ingo Steuer. My German is terrible but if you watch I think you'll get the idea.

On the other side

One veteran Ice Dance team announced their retirement while another stakes their claims at Vancouver in 2010.

Delobel and Schoenfelder have announced their plans to continue competing through to the Olympic Games. The team, which after 11 trips to worlds, finally won a medal in Goteborg (and it was Gold) and feel they have a shot at Olympic Gold.

They'll have tough competition from around the Globe. At the Olympics. Virtue and Moir of Canada will be the home-team favorites. They'll also have to contend with the two American Teams of Belbin and Agosto as well as Davis and White. Russians Khoklova and Novitski as well as European Champs Domnina and Shabalin will be a problem too and we have no idea who will break through between now and then.

I wish them all the luck...it won't be easy!

Pic of the Week

They deserved it! Eleven (I can't get over that number!) consecutive trips to the World Figure Skating Championships and to never have even medaled in the previous ten just astounds me. The pure ability to continually persevere for all these years is just amazing.

Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France not only picked up their first World Championship medal this past week, it was gold! Their program, set to the beautiful sounds of Michael Nyman's score from the "Piano" soundtrack was amazing. I just love how they speak to one another in sign language (if you haven't seen the movie...do!) throughout the program and the deep edges they use in their footwork...breathtaking.

The future for this team is unclear...they hinted this past week that this could be their last World Championships. Isabelle, the oldest competitor in the entire competition, as well as her partner, have been competing since before some of the competitors were even born.

Whatever path they choose, this moment will certainly be remembered! This was their statement about their free dance on their website:

"It's a message of empathy towards them, who supported us for so many years, for those who believe in us... They gave us a certain strength and it's with joy and our biggest satisfaction that we have offered them a Marseillaise here in Goteborg.

These World's were "royal": an extraordinary organization, a magnificent site with a grandiose ice rink and a Wow! audience. Each competition, be it ice dance or the other events, were rewarded with a packed arena full of enthusiasm and an energy that gave us wings! People are really nice and you, our fans (no doubt not all of you) were here for us... In spite of all this, the competition was beautiful and difficult (especially for the free dance where there was a palpable tension backstage), we had a program with no mistakes and we won the gold... it was royal! So much emotion and especially beautiful moments and wonderful memories for the future..."

2008 World Wrap-Up

The 2008 World Figure Skating Championships have wrapped up in Goteborg (here in North America we call it Gothenborg...but I'm going with the Swedish spelling!) and what an unexpected and at times unusual set of events.

Let me begin with the Ice Dance competition. I was very happy to see Delobel and Schoenfelder of France win this. Eleven (yes...eleven!) consecutive appearances and in the first ten they had never won a medal...what perserverance! Their program set to the movie soundtrack "The Piano" is beautiful. While I felt they didn't skate as well as they did at the Grand Prix Final or Europeans, they were clearly the class of the field! What a huge outcome for the Canadians, Virtue and Moir, who took silver! I made a bold prediction earlier this season...that this team would challenge for the podium...and not to toot my horn but I was right! Their "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" program is just magical and I think Igor Speilband has truly worked his magic with this team...breathtaking. They had fantastic speed at the end of the program. Also, Susie Wynne made some great comments at the Four Continents Cup and they actually made the changes, going back to their original outfits that worked better and redoing the choreography to really bring back the speed, outstanding! I have a bit of an issue with the brionze medalists. While RussiansKhoklova and Novitski have made improvements in their skating and their lifts are amazing and crowd pleasing, I don't beleive their connective footwork, step sequences, or side by side movements are great and I feel they were given a big gift in that bronze medal. Kudos to the the Americans Belbin and Agosto for sticking with it after the fall in that Compolsory Dance and skating well from that point on...they just had to much ground to make up after that fall (however, a bit ridiculous that they lost ground to the Russians in the Original Dance!). They too had, in my opinion, an amazing Free Dance. Three spots for the U.S. in Ice Dance in L.A. due to Tanith and Ben's fourth and Davis and White's sixth place finishes.

With the men I must first issue an apology. True story: I had written Jeffery Buttle off this season. In my poll, I didn't even include him because after his less than great Grand Prix Season and failure to recapture his Canadian title, I just didn't think he had it in him to win...or even medal really. But alas, Jeffery Buttle has won the men's title in Goteborg, becoming the first Canadian since Elvis Stojko in 1997 to do so. Buttle had a clean free skate that lacked a quad so when the huge technical score came up I was at first shocked considering Brian Joubert, who ended up with the silver, had posted a big number just before him and seemed like the easy winner. But I rewound the TiVo and grabbed a calculator and added up the jump points between Joubert and Buttle and sure enough Buttle had a higher number. France's Joubert took out his quad combo and played it safe. Buttle threw everything he had and did it all with positive GOE's. That, along with level three and four spins and footwork made the difference. Not to take anything away from Joubert, he was great, especially considering the season he's had, that was an accomplishment. Nice to see the imporvements in his skating as well. And very well done for Johnny Weir as well, winning that bronze (the only medal for the U.S. at these worlds), and showing that his hard work has paid off. Also, that bronze medal when combined with Stephen Carriere's 10th place finish will earn three spots for the U.S. men in L.A. next year. The top three men's performances which dazzled were a stark contrast to the other men who seemed to self-implode. Verner, Takahashi, and Lambiel...all considered to be leading contenders for gold self-destructed and failed to skate well here in this event. I kind of feel like this event went to the underdogs!

I found the pairs event anti-climatic. The German team of Szolkowy and Savchenko took the title with a less than stellar free skate. The Chinese team of Zhang and Zhang were uninspiring in their silver medal. The best team, in my opinion, was bronze medalists Dube and Davison from Canada. I felt they had a heart out there and were really working at putting on a great performance. I just love this team and was very impressed with them at this event. How cool was the throw Quad Salchow from Kawaguchi and Smirnov of Russia! A shame the rest of their program didn't work out as well. And what was up with Maxim Trankov's (of Mukhortova and Trankov) costume/slash arm...use better material! And not such a good day for the U.S. I think U.S. Figure Skating needs to make a better effort at improving our Pairs program through funding and seminars because 10th and 12th just doesn't cut it. I'm also not happy with the age rule that prevented McLaughlin and Brubaker from competing here. My guess is that the U.S. is going to be squawking about this at the June ISU Congress!

I am really confused with the ladies competition. Confused isn't a good word...baffled! Let me begin with saying this..."in my opinion the judges got this one wrong...way wrong!" Japan's Mao Asada won the competition, as expected, but rather unexpectedly...let me explain. When she completely biffed it on that opening Triple Axel, I didn't think she was getting back up. But she went on to complete her program well (although she did get dinged on her Lutz for a wrong edge). Italy's Carolina Kostner is all over the place (which by the way, how did she ever win that short program? Meissner had a better short than she did!) but still gets great marks...okay? She wins the silver. Yu-Na Kim of South Korea was her cool elegant self. A single Lutz was her only mistake and actually she won the free skate and took the bronze. Here's my biggest beef...best program of the night was delivered by Yukari Nakano of Japan. Beautiful Triple Axel (that was ridiculously downgraded to a double!) and all the triples to boot and she loses ground and finished fourth...what? I could understand her not getting ahead of Asada and Kim but Kostner was horrific and no way should have beaten Nakano. It is times lke these when the I really don't like the current judging system. Kimmie Meissner wasn't great, but it was better, and it was clear improvements were made since Nationals...seventh place isn't a disaster but unfortunately only two U.S. ladies will get to compete in L.A. next year (shame considering we'll have the deepest field of ladies in the World!). I think the future is unclear for her. I will be a tough road to hoe moving forward for her to make next years' World Team and ultimately the Olympics...we'll have to wait and see. Also, wishing Miki Ando a speedy recovery as she had to withdraw due to a calf muscle tear, she was obviously devestated.

Interesting week in Goteborg. Seemed like a great audience for the event and I think it was over all a well done event. Also, weird to know that is the last time for ESPN/ABC to host the event. The figure skating banner is officially passed to NBC at this point.

Full results can be viewed here.

Grand Prix is complete...on to the Final!

NHK Trophy wrapped up this week and what an unusual turn of events it was!

As I reported Friday...U.S. Pair Skaters McLaughlin and Brubaker won the silver, edging Skate America Champions Dube and Davison, and secured a spot in the final. They also made sure that the U.S. was represented in all disciplines at the Grand Prix Final. That hasn't happened since 1997 (Kwan, Kwiatkowski, Lipinski, Eldridge, Meno and Sand, Punsalun and Swallow). Germans Savchenko and Szolkowy skated to an easy victory.

The ladies event was the huge shocker! Miki Ando who was supposed to qualify easily had a complete meltdown and finished 4th...and failed to make the Grand Prix Final (which gave Caroline Zhang the final spot in Torino). To her credit she injured herself in the warm-up but didn't use that as an excuse for her poor performance. Her freeskate was judged 7th best on the night...ouch! Japanese up and comer Nana Takeda was the highest Japanese finisher winning the bronze medal. Switzerland's Sarah Meier bettered her 4th place finish in Paris with by winning the silver medal. Top honors went to Italy's Carolina Kostner who benefited from the win by earning a spot at the Grand Prix Final.

In Ice Dance the crunch was really on with 5 teams attempting to make the final. 3 competing and two at home biting their nails! Russians Khoklova and Novitski skated to the bronze and earned the final spot in Torino. In a very close showdown, Canadians Virtue and Moir were barely edged by France's Delobel and Schoenfelder. Virtue and Moir won both the OD and Free Dance but Delobel and Schoenfelder's lead after the compulsories held them to the title by less than a point. All three teams that medaled made the final making both Italian teams of Cappellini and LaNotte and Faiella and Scali the end losers. Both teams were edged for the final. Shame given the Grand Prix Final is in Italy.

The men's event was very exciting. First off, how about Jeremy Abbott's 12th place to 4th place jump. Those are the times when it is really easy to get behind current (we can't call it new anymore!) judging system. The men skated great. Stephen Carriere from the U.S. had a shot to make the final if he could win the silver. He skated well but was only good enough for the bronze. He did, however, become the first alternate to the Grand Prix Final. Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic had a great free skate to the Japanese themed "Kodo Drums" to win the silver. He showed strong triple jumps and a beautiful quad toeloop. His only flaw came when he singled a planned triple axel...he did a turn around the ice and attempted the jump again and nailed it! But the clear winner was Japan's Daisuke Takahashi. He stumbled out of his opening quad but it was smooth sailing from that point. He went on to land 8 clean, beautiful triples...most of which came in the back half of the program earning a bonus. He also earned solid component scores for his program set to Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet."

So this is how it looks for the Grand Prix Final (barring any withdrawals):

Men
1. Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
2. Johnny Weir (USA)
3. Patrick Chan (CAN)
4. Evan Lysacek (USA)
5. Stephane Lambiel (SUI)
6. Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL)

Ladies
1. Yu-Na Kim (KOR)
2. Mao Asada (JPN)
3. Kimmie Meissner (USA)
4. Carolina Kostner (ITA)
5. Yukari Nakano (JPN)
6. Caroline Zhang (USA)

Pairs
1. Zhang and Zhang (CHN)
2. Savchenko and Szolkowy (GER)
3. Dube and Davison (CAN)
4. Pang and Tong (CHN)
5. McLauglin and Brubaker (USA)
6. Kawaguchi and Smirnov (RUS)

Dance
1. Delobel and Schoenfelder (FRA)
2. Belbin and Agosto (USA)
3. Virtue and Moir (CAN)
4. Domnina and Shabalin (RUS)
5. Pechalat and Bourzat (FRA)
6. Khokhlova and Novitski (RUS)

There you have it...some of the best skaters in the world...may the best ones win!

Where it is

Sunday brought the conclusion of Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris. Remember how Joubert's withdrawal opened the door for some skaters...well...Patrick Chan of Canada decided to walk through that doorway with a win in Paris and a guaranteed spot to the Grand Prix Final. Leader after the short, also trying to wiggle his way to the Grand Prix Final, Alban Preaubert fell to third and most likely will not have the points to go. Russia's Sergei Voronov climbed to the silver medal. Kevin Van Der Perren might have blown a chance to the final with his fourth place finish...he sits on the bubble with 22 points.

In pairs, none of the other teams could crack the Chinese juggernaut. The Zhangs are back in business after injury last season with a win in Paris. Teammates Pang and Tong, competing in their 3rd event of the season (Paris was a nonscoring event for them) captured the silver. Mukhortova and Trankov of Russia took the Bronze. Also of note are Americans Vise and Trent who finished fourth. I saw this team put down a clean performance in Canada and then they actually finished 3rd in the Free in Paris. American Pairs is wide open (and I mean Wide!) right now and I think this is a team to watch in St. Paul.

In Ice Dance Delobel and Schoenfelder started the season with a win at home despite running into a bit of a issue in the Free Dance. Russians Khoklova and Novitski, who took silver, out skated the French veterans in the Free Dance. Americans Davis and White took the bronze. I also think this team has been seriously under marked this season. Their difficulty is top notch and they aren't getting the credit for it, shame on the judges. Their scores were higher than what they had previously achieved at Skate America. Maybe the Grand Prix gods will smile down upon them and they'll eek into the final...but it doesn't look promising (sigh). Cappellini and Lanotte, who finished fourth, sit on the Grand Prix bubble with 22 points (they did get the better placement ahead of their veteran teammates Faiella and Scali who also have 22 points due to their silver in Canada...interesting).

In ladies it was Mao Asada on top...again. She defeated American Kimmie Meissner by close to 20 points even with 2 points deduction. Kimmie apparently had a less than stellar free skate as she was out skated by teammate Ashley Wagner who won the bronze. Ashley showed very high technical marks in her free skate and is among what I call "the sleeping giants" of ladies American figure skating (Zhang, Wagner, Nagasu). With that Mao Asada clinches a spot at the Grand Prix Final with the max possible points of 30. Kinmberly Meissner actually clinches a spot as well and qualifies for the first time in her career to the Grand Prix Final (hard to believe the 2006 World Champ has never been to the Grand Prix Final).

Next week skaters will be in Moscow for Cup of Russia!