With the Nebelhorn Trophy under way, here are the people and events I'm most looking forward too this season:
Who will have the most Micheal Jordan-like comeback ala coming back to play basketball for Bulls comeback after playing baseball versus coming back to play for the Wizards after a first retirement.
The 2006 Olympic men's champ, Evengy Plushenko, will be competing again after four years of touring in Russia, dabbling in Russian politics, getting divorced and married again. Will he still have the jumps, especially the quad? Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov worked with him on his programs.
Stephane Lambiel, the silver medalist in 2006, is also coming back. He is coming out of his 2nd retirement since the last Olympics. Plushy's last competition was the Olympics. Lambiel followed his silver by winning the world title after the games. He was entered in a few Grand Prix events the following season. Mid-season he said his heart wasn't in it anymore and retired. He found some passion later and ended up with a couple more medals at worlds, but no titles. Last year, he retired after some injuries were not healing as quickly as he would of liked. His biggest obstacle comes this week in working to gain Switzerland a spot for a man in the Olympic competition at the Nebelhorn. If he assists in earning that spot, I'll be interested to see if he keeps his interest in competing.
Sasha Cohen, the ladies silver medalist in 2006, has decided to return to competition as well after attempting an acting career in between touring with Stars on Ice. Looking forward to seeing the spins and spirals she's known for in competitive programs. I hope see found some consistency and focus through having to perform almost nightly on tour for stretches at a time.
Isabel Delobel and her partner Olivier Schoenfelder will have a comeback of sorts. Isabel is due to deliver her first child soon. This working mom will be a skater, I love it!
Beyond comebacks I'm looking forward too:
Watching and comparing the seasons of Belbin & Agosto and Davis & White before the US Nationals. Then seeing the battle for first at Nationals. I have a feeling Davis & White could overtake Belbin & Agosto this year in a head to head match up.
Johnny Weir's programs choreographed by David Wilson.
The ladies competition at Nationals with two spots to the O's and worlds.
Seeing how skaters who changed coaches in the off season fare:
Mirai Nagasu and Carolina Kostner to Frank Carroll, should give them some confidence and better preparation.
Jeremy Abbott with Yuka Sato after parting with his coach of many years, Tom Zakarasjc.
Caroline Zhang after swtiching coaches and then going back.
Brian Joubert made a change over the summer in his quest for Olympic gold and gaining 2nd last year at worlds.
Finally, I'll be interested to see the continuing saga/answer of that burning question, "to quad or not to quad?" Particulary in the case of Brian Joubert.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
The season begins: Nebelhorn Trophy this week!
The first major senior event of the season gets underway this week in Oberstdorf, Germany at the Nebelhorn Trophy. The Nebelhorn serves as an official Olympic qualifier for countries to fill the remaining slots available for the Olympics. There are a few countries who were unable to qualify skaters in certain disciplines due to their skaters' low placements at the 2009 World Championships.
The remaining slots are generally filled by some of the smaller countries such as Azerbijan, Luxembourg, or New Zealand. Generally there are bigger countries that traditionally supports skaters that just missed qualifying in a discipline. Switzerland falls into this category. Their current champion, Jamal Othman, finished 26th at Worlds. I don't believe he even qualified to continue the freeskate after his short. Switzerland is without a spot for the Olympics in the men's competition from his 26th place finish. What makes this pursuit interesting this year is the return of a two-time World champion and Olympic silver medalist: Stephane Lambiel.
Lambiel is the Swiss Brett Favre, perpetually going in and out of retirement. I'm anxious to see if this Favre can still prove himself. (He would instantly lose the Favre-title if he doesn't succeed, right?) I'm looking forward to catching his skate on YouTube... come on European fans, get your camera phones ready, it's Stephane Lambiel making a comeback (for the 2nd time!)
Ah, catching skating on YouTube. There was a stir on a message board that NBC's Universal Sports would be televising Nebelhorn. Alas, they just posted upcoming skating competitions on the calendar on their figure skating site. Hopefully, some info on the event will show up there. I've heard the US Olympic Committee has something in their bylaws that anything deemed an "Olympic Trials" comes under their jurisdiction which I think usually extends to broadcasting rights. NBC is so big into promoting Olympic Trials they usually will cover and promote those events. It would make sense to have some coverage of an international Olympic Trial, even if it's just a webcast or posting updates. Online coverage counts these days.
Beyond searching for Stephane Lambiel's skates, I'll also be searching for the six American skaters competing. The US can't qualify anymore slots for the games, they were set at Worlds (3 men, 3 dance teams, 2 pair teams, and 2 ladies). This is an international competition debut to test drive programs before the Grand Prix season. Alissa Czisny, Ryan Bradley, Brooke Casitle & Ben Okolski and Meryl Davis & Charlie White will be there. I'll be searching for Davis & White's new programs for sure. I've heard the original dance is a mix of Bollywood music. Ryan Bradley and Alissa Czisny always do well early in the season and I hope that trend continues and gives them confidence for the rest of the season. I've not seen Castile & Okolski too much, but I think the last time they competed here, they did well and ended up winning the US Champs later that year. Here's hoping to a great competition for all!
The remaining slots are generally filled by some of the smaller countries such as Azerbijan, Luxembourg, or New Zealand. Generally there are bigger countries that traditionally supports skaters that just missed qualifying in a discipline. Switzerland falls into this category. Their current champion, Jamal Othman, finished 26th at Worlds. I don't believe he even qualified to continue the freeskate after his short. Switzerland is without a spot for the Olympics in the men's competition from his 26th place finish. What makes this pursuit interesting this year is the return of a two-time World champion and Olympic silver medalist: Stephane Lambiel.
Lambiel is the Swiss Brett Favre, perpetually going in and out of retirement. I'm anxious to see if this Favre can still prove himself. (He would instantly lose the Favre-title if he doesn't succeed, right?) I'm looking forward to catching his skate on YouTube... come on European fans, get your camera phones ready, it's Stephane Lambiel making a comeback (for the 2nd time!)
Ah, catching skating on YouTube. There was a stir on a message board that NBC's Universal Sports would be televising Nebelhorn. Alas, they just posted upcoming skating competitions on the calendar on their figure skating site. Hopefully, some info on the event will show up there. I've heard the US Olympic Committee has something in their bylaws that anything deemed an "Olympic Trials" comes under their jurisdiction which I think usually extends to broadcasting rights. NBC is so big into promoting Olympic Trials they usually will cover and promote those events. It would make sense to have some coverage of an international Olympic Trial, even if it's just a webcast or posting updates. Online coverage counts these days.
Beyond searching for Stephane Lambiel's skates, I'll also be searching for the six American skaters competing. The US can't qualify anymore slots for the games, they were set at Worlds (3 men, 3 dance teams, 2 pair teams, and 2 ladies). This is an international competition debut to test drive programs before the Grand Prix season. Alissa Czisny, Ryan Bradley, Brooke Casitle & Ben Okolski and Meryl Davis & Charlie White will be there. I'll be searching for Davis & White's new programs for sure. I've heard the original dance is a mix of Bollywood music. Ryan Bradley and Alissa Czisny always do well early in the season and I hope that trend continues and gives them confidence for the rest of the season. I've not seen Castile & Okolski too much, but I think the last time they competed here, they did well and ended up winning the US Champs later that year. Here's hoping to a great competition for all!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
USFS announces the international synchro assignments
US Figure Skating posted the international assignments for the senior synchronized skating teams. The US will be well represented this spring in synchro-crazed Europe:
The Haydenettes and Evolution will kick off the international season at the Cup of Berlin, January 14-17.
The Crystallettes will get a chance to shine outside of the long shadow from the Haydenettes and Miami Synchro (is it five times in a row the Crystallettes have been 3rd while those teams battle for gold?) The Crystallates skate at the Prague Cup, the following week.
Then it's on the Rouen, France the first weekend of February. One of my favs, California Gold, will be there along with the Starlights. The Starlights just moved up to the senior level this year, causing a minor stir on synchro boards. The team never had an international assignment at the junior, so why the sudden assignment in the move up? Shouldn't they be a reserve team? Maybe it points to the growth and strenght of US Synchro... I don't know. Oooh, the gossip!
Western Michigan University will be the first to represent senior college teams when the Spring Cup goes to Sesto San Giovanni, Italy. That's a nice reward for winning the Midwestern Sectionals this year and coming onto the scene.
Finally, closing out the final international before the national and world championships is the original college team, and first varsity synchro team. The Miami RedHawks will be skating at the Neuchatal Trophy in Swtizerland.
Searching for music selections this evening. Not much is posted anywhere. I'll keep snooping.
The Haydenettes and Evolution will kick off the international season at the Cup of Berlin, January 14-17.
The Crystallettes will get a chance to shine outside of the long shadow from the Haydenettes and Miami Synchro (is it five times in a row the Crystallettes have been 3rd while those teams battle for gold?) The Crystallates skate at the Prague Cup, the following week.
Then it's on the Rouen, France the first weekend of February. One of my favs, California Gold, will be there along with the Starlights. The Starlights just moved up to the senior level this year, causing a minor stir on synchro boards. The team never had an international assignment at the junior, so why the sudden assignment in the move up? Shouldn't they be a reserve team? Maybe it points to the growth and strenght of US Synchro... I don't know. Oooh, the gossip!
Western Michigan University will be the first to represent senior college teams when the Spring Cup goes to Sesto San Giovanni, Italy. That's a nice reward for winning the Midwestern Sectionals this year and coming onto the scene.
Finally, closing out the final international before the national and world championships is the original college team, and first varsity synchro team. The Miami RedHawks will be skating at the Neuchatal Trophy in Swtizerland.
Searching for music selections this evening. Not much is posted anywhere. I'll keep snooping.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Great 8 by Scott Hamilton
I've been picking over Scott Hamilton's autobiography/self-help book released earlier this year. It's a good little read. It can be a bit corny at times, but I've really enjoyed a few sections about his career decisions and learning to "fall, get up and land your first jumps" as the 1st chapter is named.
The intro is a great metaphor about learning fundamentals and how to focus and practice to attain goals through learning figure eights. Every time I read this section, I have come away with a renewed focus in my personal and professional life. To be good at figures takes repetition and practice. It takes clearing your mind of distractions while finding a rhythm to the repetition and focus on each step to create and then trace the figure in the ice.
Figures could be frustrating and even boring at times, going over and over the same spot trying to cut clean edges into the ice without flats, wobbles or skids. I spent an hour on figures in my patch of ice starting with a basic eight on outside edges a progressing through serpentines, double threes, brackets and loops. It was all a great warm up for the freestyle session that would come next. Over time that daily hour of figures build greater strength, posture and speed in my skating. Figures allows skaters to practice the body positions needed for jump entry and footwork at a slow and methodical pace. By doing serpentines and rockers, I was perfecting take off for a double lutz over and over again without even realizing it. I was forced to spend an hour each day practicing fundamental positions in the sport.
Life can bring its own frustrations and sometimes boring tasks, but success comes from thoughtful and dedicated practice of fundamentals.
The intro is a great metaphor about learning fundamentals and how to focus and practice to attain goals through learning figure eights. Every time I read this section, I have come away with a renewed focus in my personal and professional life. To be good at figures takes repetition and practice. It takes clearing your mind of distractions while finding a rhythm to the repetition and focus on each step to create and then trace the figure in the ice.
Figures could be frustrating and even boring at times, going over and over the same spot trying to cut clean edges into the ice without flats, wobbles or skids. I spent an hour on figures in my patch of ice starting with a basic eight on outside edges a progressing through serpentines, double threes, brackets and loops. It was all a great warm up for the freestyle session that would come next. Over time that daily hour of figures build greater strength, posture and speed in my skating. Figures allows skaters to practice the body positions needed for jump entry and footwork at a slow and methodical pace. By doing serpentines and rockers, I was perfecting take off for a double lutz over and over again without even realizing it. I was forced to spend an hour each day practicing fundamental positions in the sport.
Life can bring its own frustrations and sometimes boring tasks, but success comes from thoughtful and dedicated practice of fundamentals.
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