It's a season of returning retirees--Plushenko, who hasn't skated competitively since he won in Torino in 2006, is returning for Vancouver 2010. Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, known for his artistry, his quads, and his struggles with the triple axel, has also come out of retirement to compete this season. Daisuke Takahashi, the current record-holder with the highest combined score ever under the new judging system, is returning after having missed last season with a severe injury and surgery.

Lambiel's SP

Takahashi's SP

Plushenko's SP

I remember back the season before last, there was a preview of the skaters on Outsports. Takahashi was left out despite being one of the frontrunners, possibly because of a scarcity of information in English.

He's done some interesting commercials:

Oronamin C

TBC Commerical

Has the television coverage schedule, or lack there of, come out yet? Haven't seen anything in International Figure Skating Magazine. Being an Olympic season, I sure hope there's a little bit more than there was last year...which was pretty non-existent.

There will be much more coverage this year:

TV Schedule

I was watching Skate America last week and was really excited to see Ryan Bradley do well, going from 8th to 3rd in the free skate. Plus, of the next generation of American male skates, Bradley has the hottest butt. It's almost sticking out at you.

Anywho, wondering what people thought about his free skate? He does chamber music, but does it tongue-and-cheek, really playing up the courtsies and flick of the wrist of that era. At times, it's very effeminate. I'm sure he's not intentionally poking fun at effeminate guys, but it just preserve the attitude that effeminate behaviors should be laughed at. It just feels odd for me.

I don't know if Bradley was poking fun at effeminate skaters, but rather at the groan-provoking pretentiousness of some skating programs. I did like his routine, although it would have been more interesting if he had eased off the schtick for longer stretches. It's like he was telling the same joke over and over again. Even the most generous listener can't summon up even a courtesy laugh after the third time hearing it.

I first noticed Ryan at the US Championships 9 (I think) years ago. He was just 16 then and was featured as one of the new faces in American skating. He didn't have a triple axel at the time, but he had the other 5 triples down pat. More important, he had a rare streak of flair and bravado, especially coming from one so young. He's definitely had his ups and downs since his big debut, but I'm glad he stuck with it.

Patrick Chan flopped at Skate Canada, falling three times. Joannie Rochette won the women's event.

Not only did he flop, but they way he fell looked so awkward too so it was hard for him to flow back into his choreography. Too bad because I think he's one of the most artistic male skaters on the circuit today. I hope he improves by the Olympics because I'd like to see him contending.



I agree BoSox, it was a satirical routine that may have gone over the top too often and too long. But I did enjoy the overall quality of his skate and hope he does well.

Anybody know how I can see the original dance and free dance of Belbin and Agosto?
I think I've heard the free dance is to "Ave Maria"

I'm glad you asked about it, WM; otherwise I never would have seen it. Ave Maria is now on YouTube. The video quality is pretty good, but there's no commentary, just music and skating. Ice dancing is beautiful, but it's the most difficult to appreciate because the difficult moves (change of edges and direction, complicated footwork sequences) are tough for the untrained eye to pick up. At least I'm not alone because I know Tanith and Ben have struggled for years to pack in as much difficulty as possible while maintaining the artistry and fluidity of their programs. They definitely succeeded here because they got their best score of the season at SkateAmerica with this program.

While I'm glad Evan Lysacek won the Grand Prix final, and has solidly shown himself as a threat for an Olympic medal, I just can't bring myself to like what appears to be a "flailing style" of skating. His footwork, and everything else between the jumps and spins has so much arm flailing that I can't really get into it. I like his athleticism and think he's kind of cute, I just wish he'd tone down the spastic arm movements.

Thanks for the YouTube link. It is a great showcase for passion and artistry - but they really need to work on their "unison" at about one minute in or they won't be high on the medal podium. They absolutely have the talent and plenty of time to tighten things before the Olympics so I remain hopeful.

It certainly was a beautiful piece of music to skate to. I would have never thought that it would work. But yeah, clean it up a bit & hopefully they do well in the Olympics.

Does anyone know if the European Championships are to be televised in the US? They are in Estonia this year from the 19th to the 24th of January.

try living down here, we might get an entire hour of coverage this year just because it is an olympic year.

Patrick Chan has officially parted ways with his coach. Don Laws. Strange, that this news would happen so close to the Olympics. Toronto Star: Skater Patrick Chan parts ways with 'mentor'

ESPN.com has a big feature on Johnny Weir: Johnny Weir is a Real Man. It features a video of Weir taking writer Jim Caple for a mani/pedi at a Fifth Avenue spa (where Caple conducts the interview), among other things.

Patrick Chan wins Canadian Championship. He and Vaughn Chipeur will be heading to Vancouver for the Olympics. Other results.

Canada's Olympic Figure Skating Team.

Thanks canmark for the video link to Patrick Chan's performance. He certainly has made an impressive comeback from injury, coach change, and program changes. If he skates that program clean in Vancouver, he will certainly contend for a medal. Here are the US Nationals results for men.
US Men's Final Standings
1 Jeremy Abbott
2 Evan Lysacek
3 Johnny Weir
4 Ryan Bradley
5 Adam Rippon
6 Brandon Mroz
The top 3 men were officailly announced as the US representatives to the Vancouver Olympics next month. To view their peformances go to link.
Jeremy defended his national championship title and was the only skater with a clean program. Lysacek, in what seems like a bid to defuse any worries about his ability to place at the Olympics called the US Nationals a practice event for him. I bet the officials were not to happy about that. I don't think it showed him in a very good light. Johnny Weir was just happy to make the team. And he should be beacuse Ryan Bradley was magnificent and I feel bad that he won't be able to show his program to a world audience. He is the alternate should any of the top 3 drop out due to injury or whatever.

European Championships start this week (Tuesday) in Estonia. Schedule website says official entries available shortly before events.

Jeremy Abbott did a quad, executed every jump, and showed a real maturity in between the big technical elements. If anything, the 25-point margin of victory was an understatement. Evan Lysacek was just awful. Wait, that's too strong. Yes, the footwork sequences are impressive, but after he blew the opening quad, the whole program seemed kinda frazzled. After singling a planned triple axel, Johnny Weir was in a spot of trouble, but he pulled it together and got through the program pretty well. My heart broke a bit for Ryan Bradley, who pulled off TWO quads but lost out on an Olympic berth because he was too far behind after the short program. In his final shot, he mouthed "bye bye" to the camera.

Nice program from Patrick Chen, but a score of 177.88 with no quad, a step-out on a triple axel, and a hand down on a triple toe?? Come on, that's some serious grade inflation. I will say that Chen's speed, edging, and footwork sequences were superb. Everyone gushes about Lysacek's footwork sequences, but I much prefer Chen's (no flailing).

If Abbott skates in Vancouver the way he did in Spokane, he's a sure bet for a medal. Lysacek and Weir will have to step up their games considerably if they want to stand on the podium.

Re: the Johnny Weir Sundance show -- are there really going to be eight episodes just like the one tonight? At times it felt like I was watching a feature film documentary.

European Championships 2010

Men

1 Plushenko 255.39
2 Lambiel 238.54
3 Joubert 236.45

Their 3 LPs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT9YbKRW20A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuwYCYlFuIs...feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tX4XUUWAlg...feature=related

Pairs competition held on Tuesday-Wednesday

1 Yuko KAVAGUTI / Alexander SMIRNOV 213.15
2 Aliona SAVCHENKO / Robin SZOLKOWY 211.72
3 Maria MUKHORTOVA / Maxim TRANKOV 202.03

Their 3 LPs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJhbTbYKNSI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqwzJn5r5-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYy1RVfYoT4

Thank God someone else doesn't like Lysacek's arm flailing during the footwork sequences.I thought it was just me. I don't get why no one ever mentions that. It's so distracting. But I never did like any of his choreography to begin with. Weir's and Abbott's were always better.
Also, I hope Belbin and Agosto can workout what ever they have to in order to beat Davis and White. I don't hate Davis and White, but was prepared to root for them at the next Olympics...Charlie White is just too cute, by the way. But I'd judt love to see Belbin and Agosto take a gold at a major international compettion before they retire.

Naming the members of the women's figure skating Olympic team 11 days before the start of the Olympics?? That is wrong. This should have been done months ago, Nationals or not.

Usually, Nationals were never this close to the Olympics, but the other naion's teams are usually not filled until Europeans and Four Continents for skaters who are on the bubble for the team. Their results at Europeans determine who would go for their respective nations. However, why were US Nationals done on 2 weekends? It used to be a one week event.

Hey, does this thread get transferred to the Olympics topic or do we have to create a new one? I think the men's competition starts one week from today...
NBC Universal finally showed the European Championships over the weekend. Does Plushenko get on anyone else's nerves? Get a haircut...

Patrick Chan is the latest Harry Rosen model (video). Patrick's YouTube channel (P.Chiddy) featuring a video called Shirtless Patrick Chan!

You can follow P.Chiddy on Twitter @PChiddy. His website: http://www.patrickchan.ca/

=====

Vaughn Chipeur, Canada's other male figure skater in the Olympics seems to have recently started on Twitter. He's @vaughnchipeur.

Johnny Weir was walking the blue carpet of the Independent Spirit Awards last night. Not crazy about this look, but the man does have his own style.

Apparently he was interviewing people... perhaps a career change? Will we see him reporting for Entertainment Tonight soon?

I can't support Patrick Chan like you do. After his comments on Johnny Weir at the Olympics, he is contaminated goods. I wish he would just retire already. The future in mens skating in Canada, if Skate Canada didn't mess him up already, which is quite possible, is Garrett Gosselin. Else, time for a decade off.

Johnny Weir knew he was not going to medal, unless Plushenko, Abbott, Lysacek, Takahashi and Lambeil all had 2 very bad skates. Well 2 of them did (Abbott and Lambeil). I think Johnny knows show business is his only real future, short of being a Zamboni driver, so he is playing to that.

Johnny exposed the homophobia in figure skating, which was long, long over due. Orser did his little PrideRun, but you can see Orser, is a reluctant warrior at best and a very quiet one lately. So Johnny did it alone, ripped it open and there are many in the entertainment biz, who will give Johnny a break for doing that. He is trying to stay officially, not Out, but I don't think that will last or matter. It is already semantics.

For future, I think Johnny is flying a bit high, which he should be, but in order to make it, he has to offer a viable product to the entertainment world. They will throw him some mini gigs, but he needs to learn to interview, act, produce or something. As long as companies like Smuckers and people like Jamie Sale attack Weir, he will keep the spotlight, but it will pass. After it does, he is going to need to become grounded and offer a marketable, flamboyant, but marketable product. I'm thinking we may see him in a few years, appear in something non-figure skating related.

I like Pang and Tong. I have a soft spot for them because I saw them on COI a couple of years ago, and I'm happy they won another worlds.

I'm equally happy for both Mao and Daisuke, so I love this video. Jian helped Mao and Daisuke learn their moves for the exhibition finale.


Jian Tong teaches Mao and Dai

Dai Takahashi said...

I almost fell in love with him

and

this