Another One Bites the Dust

Ah Spring...Tis the Season for Partnership Endings. In this chapter, Brother/Sister duo of Madison and Keiffer Hubbell call it an end.

"We wish to thank all our friends and fans for years of support," the Hubbells said in a Press Release. "We extend a special thanks to our coaches, Pasquale Camerlengo, Angelika Krylova, Elizabeth Swallow, Natalia Annenko-Deller and Britta Ottoboni, and to everyone at the Detroit Skating Club."

The team had good success on the Junior Level. Madison will continue competing Ice Dance with Zach Donohue while Keiffer "evaluates" options.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Can someone answer me why the shelf-life for American Pairs Teams is nil? No wonder we constantly struggle in this discipline!

If you didn't catch this in the news wires...Yankowskas and Coughlin have decided it's the end. "I will forever cherish the memories and successes that John and I had together," Yankowskas said in a statement to US Figure Skating. "I respect and support John unconditionally with his future endeavors."

So Caitlin is looking for a new partner, John is 'weighing options' (whatever that means), and yet another U.S. Champion Pair Teams bites the dust.

Pic of the Week

It was such a rocky road from the outset. But I thought they had finally put themselves on the right path this season...I thought Oleg's money collection jar finally had them liking each other and not screaming at one another. I thought Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov had finally figured it out...I thought wrong.

Yes, it's splitsville for the #2 Russian duo. Sadly, it comes after one of their most successful seasons together as a team, even if it didn't include an Olympic Medal...or a top six at the Olympics...or a World Medal.

Their career has been like the throw triple salchow they did in their free skate at World's this season. Maria landed it beautifully...trouble is Maxim went splat on his face after he threw her. Beauty mixed with disaster.

Maxim has made the big split, not only leaving Maria...but leaving coach Oleg Vasiliev as well. Maria will stick with Oleg. Both are looking for new partners.

Hey Max...I hear Tatiana Volosozhar is free? Perhaps Evgeny Plushenko could embark on a new career as a pairs skater and team with Maria. Wouldn't that be something? We could call it the "Blonde Ambition World Tour." Wait...that's been taken.

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!