European Championships Preview (Ladies)

I get the feeling that this event is wide open. No European women has really stepped up to the plate this season and really delivered. It's been a hodge-podge of ho-hum performances for the majority of these ladies. Therefore, I think there are lots of ladies we should keep an eye on. I have no idea how this will pan out.

Kiira Korpi, Laura Lepisto, and Susanna Pöykiö - The Finnish team is the strongest boasting the reigning Champion Laura Lepisto. Also, all three of these ladies have medaled at this event at one time or another. I guess if I had to predict a winner for this event I'd go with Laura but even her performances this season have just been so-so. Laura's so-so performances, however, have been better than Korpi or Pöykiö's sub-par performances. Despite the pervasive mediocrity, a Finnish sweep is possible.

Elene Gedevanishvili - The little Georgian spitfire has been known from time to time to dazzle crowds. Recently she's downgraded the technical content in her programs. She'll need to add the difficulty back in to be a top contender.

Jenna McCorkell - The British National Champ has never finished higher than 8th at this event but as wide open as it is she has as good chance as anyone to be competitive. She'll have to get her head around landing triple jumps consistently though.

Julia Sebestyen - One of three previous champions competing here, I might consider her the biggest threat to Lepisto. Her biggest issue this season has been rotating jumps. She's a gifted jumper and when she's on technically she's impressive. Trouble is, often she doubles her jumps. If she can rotate her jumps she has a great shot at reclaiming her title.

Carolina Kostner and Valentina Marchei - The Italian subplot is one of the more interesting stories. Ever since Kostner's L.A. meltdown, her stock has been sinking. Poor performances on the Grand Prix didn't help her case. Then she lost Italian Nationals to Valentina Marchei with only one available Italian berth at the Olympics (due to Kostner's disastrous free). I don't believe (someone please let me know if they have) the Italian Federation has picked which of these ladies will compete in Vancouver. Cat fight on ice for an Olympic run?

Alena Leonova and Ksenya Makarova - Luckily for Alena Leonova she's not in the same scrappy situation as Kostner. While Alena also lost Russian Nationals to Ksenya Makarova, Alena has the good fortune of having qualified two berths to Vancouver for Russia after a solid free skate in L.A. Still, she needs to get the ball back moving her direction after some rough skates as of late if she wants to be a contender. Earlier in the season she looked solid, she needs to get back to that form.

Sarah Meier - The Swiss Champ has been struggling with injuries off and on for some time keeping her from training consistently and being a podium threat. For her, I think, she's just wanting to get through two programs without major fault and get her feet under her before Vancouver (officially I think she must still hit a score threshold to qualify for the Olympics but it shouldn't be an issue). But again, in this open field, if she can manage two solid skates she may find herself in the medal equation.

Tuğba Karademir - While probably not a medal threat or contender, I just love to root for Tuğba. Also, an update. If you weren't following the story, Tuğba Karademir's parents were having trouble getting tickets to see her skate in Vancouver. However, a corporate benefactor stepped in and fixed the situation. Good news there!

Who is John Wilson/MK?

Well...John Wilson is a manufacturer of Figure Skating blades...MK is the name of the blade John Wilson produces.

John Wilson/MK is also the title sponsor of the 2010 British Figure Skating Championships which wrapped up in Sheffield, UK this weekend.

While there weren't any surprises, it's worth noting the winners. Matthew Parr won his second consecutive title. Unfortunately for Matthew, Great Britain did not qualify a men's berth in Vancouver (sad face) but he will have the opportunity to compete in the European Championships in Tallinn. The Pairs title went to Kemp and King who will get to compete in their first Olympics in Vancouver. That was their fifth consecutive win. Also competing at their first Olympics is Jenna McCorkell who won her sixth title. The dance title went to Britain's most prestigious skaters, Kerr and Kerr, who took their fifth consecutive title and head to Tokyo this week for their first Grand Prix Final.

Full results here.

Who Knew!

News to me! Apparently on Monday Kevin van der Perren tied the knot! He and British Skating Champion Jenna McCorkell became Mr. and Mrs. van der Perren!

How do two competitive skaters make time to get married? “May was the only time we could really have the wedding as September to March is competition season, with usually all of the summer to train" said McCorkell.

The Honeymoon? “We leave for our honeymoon to Los Angeles and California on Thursday and we will simply be relaxing during the two weeks we have" says van der Perren. “It will then be back to work again when we return, so I am definitely making the most of it.”

Congratulations to them both!