I Declare Shenanigans

I recently read an article on HuffPo from way back in February, before the Sochi Olympics, about how figure skating is a little girl's sport (I also read the book on the right when I was a kid). In it, it raises the notion that once you hit 20 or 21, you become a grandma. No Olympic gold yet? To bad, time to be put out to pasture, with a spectrum of psychological trauma.

Yes, it's true. Five of the last six Olympic gold medalists in the ladies event have been teenagers. The exception is 2006 Olympic Champion Shizuka Arikawa, who was 24 when she won. Yes, it's true, some young girls who pursue the sport are put under immense pressure to fit into a mold if they want to become elite-level champions, which leaves lasting psychological marks.

But at the same time, I couldn't disagree more that you cannot achieve success in figure skating unless you're a tall, slim teen, and that the sport as a whole destroys body image or causes mental and emotional distress. The majority of skaters aren't going to feel that intense pressure that lands one in therapy. As well, the VAST majority of skaters are never ever going to make it to the Olympics. So why don't we all just quit?

Because figure skating is not about little girls in pretty boxes anymore. It has become even more of a recreational activity these days than a competitive one, in the absence of the media attention it used to get. People of all ages are doing it primarily for fun, and for exercise. One just as to point to the rise in popularity of synchro and theater on ice, and the need to create separate sectional events for Adult Nationals, because it was getting so popular.

And (this should come as no surprise) I couldn't disagree more with the idea that you cannot achieve success as a singles skater unless you're a tall, stick-thin, bird of a person. I am over 21 (by how much I will not admit) and I've never skated better in my life. I've given birth to a child, and I've never skated better in my life. And even when I was a youngling, it wasn't until after I put on a few pounds and grew some boobs that I could actually land a double axel or any triples.

Of course, my rant is not to disprove or detract from the suffering many young girls (and boys) have endured as a result of their participation in the sport. I am truly sorry for those who have had negative experiences, and would lend all the support I can give in a heartbeat. But I declare some BIG shenanigans on those who claim that the sport as a whole is responsible for destroying the lives of little girls by pushing a youth-biased agenda. I think that bad crap happens to aspiring young skaters because they are vulnerable and at the mercy of misguided parents or coaches, which is something that can and does happen in ANY sport.

Fashion Friday: Tights w/ Rhinestones

There seems to be a growing trend among competitive female skaters to wear tights with crystals sewn into them.

I can't get behind this. At least, I can't get behind tights like those in the image on the right. It makes skaters look like they have a bad case of the measles. It's distracting and unflattering. I first saw this at the Olympics this year. This has got to stop.

I've also seen some tights with patterned crystals, which I can tolerate a little more (pic below), though I think it adds nothing to the overall effect of competition attire. If I squint at it though, it looks like a bad rash, dirt or a tattoo.

I think we'll see a lot more of it in the coming competitive year. In which case, you'll probably hear a lot more of me complaining about it.

Weird News

In weird figure skating news, World Champ and Olympic Bronze Medalist Daisuke Takahashi was involved in a sexual harassment scandal. Apparently, he and the president of the Japan Skating Federation, politician Seiko Hashimoto got a little too frisky at a post-Olympics party.

Takahashi denies he was the victim, and blames the booze.

Maybe this just seems weird to me because many champion figure skaters these days are under 21? Or that skaters are too busy training to party?

Crazy Eyes Was a Skater

Just learned this awesome fact about new Emmy award-winning actress Uzo Aduba—she was a competitive figure skater!

I had been wondering ever since she did a few axels in the Christmas pageant episode of "Orange Is the New Black." No one just pops off axels on the floor like that without experience on the ice.

Congrats on your Emmy, Uzo! I'm a huge fan.

#Icebucketchallenge

Several notable figure skaters have taken the viral #icebucketchallenge to raise awareness of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) this month, including Olympic Gold Medalists Sarah Hughes and Tessa Virtue.

No one has nominated me yet, most likely because they know I won't do it—I prefer to donate $$ to the cause, which I have done.

But it bears mentioning...

The cold never bothered us figure skaters anyway.

Happy B'day, Midori Ito!

An old skating pal alerted me to the fact that it's 1992 Olympic silver medalist and triple axel pioneer Midori Ito's birthday today. Happy birthday, Midori!

Midori is admirable for many reasons. Her past glory as an amateur skater is endlessly impressive, but its her career as a competitive adult skater that really wows me these days. She's not doing triple axels anymore, or even any triples, but at 45, she is still skating, and even competing!

Here's a video of her at the 2013 ISU Adult Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany—a competition in which I someday hope to skate—and nailing it (and winning gold).

The Queen of Coaches

Word on the street is that 2010 Olympic Champ and 2014 Olympic silver medalist "Queen" Yuna Kim just got her certification to teach figure skating in South Korea a few weeks back.

A lot of great skaters have made great coaches. Maribel Vinson-Owen, Carol Heiss-Jenkins, Brian Orser, Irina Rodnina, Tamara Moskvina, Yuka Sato, Jason Dunjen....I could go on. I think Yuna probably has it in her to be a great coach.

But I wouldn't be surprised at the same time if it wasn't for her. A lot of champion skaters don't go on to teach. Just because you're really good at something, doesn't make you qualified to teach it. There's a somewhat unfair and unkind saying among football fans that mediocre players often make the best coaches. I don't believe that goes for everyone, but there's a little truth in it. Someone who's naturally good at something may not have the best understanding of why they're good at it, or the mechanics of it.

And not everyone has the teaching "gene." I certainly don't. I tried teaching, but found it unfulfilling. I worked with an excellent skating school that made every effort to encourage and support its coaches, but my heart wasn't in it. I wanted to be out on the ice doing my thing, not standing still, freezing my butt off watching someone else do theirs. Maybe that makes me selfish. But I think I'm doing any potential students a favor by letting them take up with a more dedicated coach who will help them flourish.

I'm always happy to lend advice to another skater, watch a few moves and give a few pointers, but my calling is not in coaching.

Rest in Peace

As the world mourns the loss of actor/comedian Robin Williams (myself included), I found myself thinking of other famous people whose deaths really hit me in the gut. One of those deaths was that of pairs champion Sergei Grinkov, who I'd seen skate live a week before he died.

Another famous figure skater who passed away in 1994 escaped my "celebrity death list" (if you will), but really should be on it: 1976 Olympic Champion John Curry. I was born well after his heyday in the sport, and at the time of his death, was too young to comprehend it.

Today though, I read an article in The Guardian today about an author who just finished a book on Curry, who died of AIDS penniless and mostly forgotten. Learning about this skater's achievements, followed by the sad circumstances of his death, socked me in the gut as if it happened today.

John Curry left a huge mark on the sport of figure skating, whether we realize it or not. He essentially transformed men's figure skating from a boring, mechanical event into an art form. Spectators discovered that men could be as scintillating and artistic on the ice as the ladies! Here's his 1976 Olympic gold-winning long program in Innsbruck:

It's downright lyrical! He doesn't skip a beat, look winded or bobble. He spins in both directions on both feet. And he was twizzling long before it was cool. Unbelievable.

He was a difficult personality, according to those who knew him, and suffered from some sociopathic tendencies. But as is the case with Robin Williams, some folks with extraordinary talents do not see themselves as we do.

RIP Robin Williams and RIP John Curry.

#tbt Throwback Thursday

Finally getting back to some #tbt!

This week's #tbt is brought to you by 1992 Olympic champ Kristi Yamaguchi. Two days ago, we had a freak thunderstorm in the evening. My 18-month-old daughter was a little on edge with all the noise. At the time, she had been playing and I was watching old skating videos on YouTube (you know, because that's what I do in my spare time). She ran over to me crying after a particularly loud clap of thunder, so I pulled her onto my lap to watch with me. I pulled up Kristi's gold-winning long program from Albertville.

Well, it calmed her right down. Thanks Kristi! #skatingmommywin

Janet Lynn, Cultural Icon

Maybe this was common knowledge. But I just didn't know it.

Apparently the 1972 Olympic bronze medalist, American Janet Lynn, is responsible for the widespread Japanese cultural phenomenon of flashing the two-fingered "V" sign. Time published an article today all about the origins of the V sign (not to be confused with the Churchill "peace" sign) that alerted me to its figure skating origins. (The photo below is of a South Korean gal, but said phenomenon is now globe-spanning.)

After Janet Lynn fell during her long program (on a flying sit spin, for cryin' out loud) in Sapporo, she knew the gold was lost. But she smiled an arguably genuine smile as she finished an otherwise fantastic program that even earned a 6.0. I guess the Japanese audience loved the spunky little blonde and her positive attitude, and she became a media sensation there. And when she started flashing the V sign during media tours, a trend was born.

At least, that's how the story goes. Here's video of Lynn's performance:


What's more important and interesting to me though, is that Janet's performance in 1972 signaled the beginning of the end for school figures. After Beatrix Schuba of Austria finished first overall despite placing 7th in the freeskate--due to the heavy weight figures carried in competition in those days--figure skating fans revolted, and it resulted in a lowering of figures' value in the final results of a competition.

Did I Call It, or What?

Jeremy Abbott is SKATING magazine's Skater of the Year.

I'd like to think it had something to do with my subtle campaigning for him (wink wink!). But I'm fairly certain Abbott's record this season spoke for itself. He's a great skater, and an inspiring one at that.

Congratulations to him on his first Reader's Choice win here, and I can't wait to see him get the well-deserved Michelle Kwan Trophy at Nationals next year.

Fashion Friday

Saw this going 'round the interwebs.

A multipurpose hair clip that can simultaneously tame the flyaways, tighten the screws on your blade and put together Ikea furniture?

It's a skater's dream!

I want one, now.