Europeans Are Under Way

The 2015 European Figure Skating Championships started on Monday in Stockholm. They're a huge deal for figure skaters from the European continent, which includes Russia.

And it's no surprise that after the short program, the Russian ladies lead by a landslide. Radionova, Tuktamysheva and Pogorilaya are 1-2-3 going into Saturday's long program. They're just too darn good.

In the men's event, I'm happy to see Spain's Javier Fernandez leading the pack over Russia's Sergei Voronov, who to me looks like a bull in a China shop on the ice.

The dance event concluded with the French on top of the podium, and the pairs event has yet to start. My (fake) money is on a tight match between Kavaguti/Smirnov and Stolbova/Klimov.

Among the spectators, the event seems to draw quite a few royals!

Patriots TE Gronkowski Talks Figure Skating

Jack Newton /Wikimedia Commons

In advance of Sunday's Super Bowl XLIX, a potential game MVP talks about what's really important here: Figure Skating.

Yes, that's right, New England Patriots tight end Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski has a vested interest in the winter sport. Last year he made a video with a local sports blogger spoofing the Olympics, in which he acted as commentator for a fake figure skating competition. It's crude, shoddily done and completely lam-O, but I guess I'll award him points for trying? Anytime a superstar athlete can reference figure skating on social media is a win, I guess.

Anyway, in his last media avail before the big game on Sunday, the sports blogger caught up with Gronk and asked him if he'd be willing to do more figure skating commentary.

His response:

"Maybe I'll be the figure skater next year, we'll see what we got."

Nationals Recap

So much to say about Nationals. I said a lot of it on Twitter as the events aired on NBC. But here are a few additional thoughts.

Ladies
Ashley Wagner said after she won the gold by a landslide that she "was a force to be reckoned with." She certainly was at this competition. She rightly trounced the field, and it proved me dead wrong. I thought she was a fool to keep competing, but she worked her butt off since Sochi and deserves the win. Not sure she has the stuff to beat the Russians at Worlds though, unless they seriously mess up. Gracie Gold looked like the pressure of the last year got to her, plus I didn't like her long program very much, it wasn't very exciting. And Polina Edmunds is clearly going through some puberty, and it's just really awkward to watch her. Her free program and costume were just so...off. Whoever is responsible for the costume and the program should be made to walk across the rink barefoot. Karen Chen, however, who I'd never seen before last week, is in my humble opinion the key to future American domination in ladies figure skating. She hails from the same town in Cali that brought us Kristi Yamaguchi (that's such a marvelous coincidence!) and she's a pint-sized jumping machine to rival any of the Russians. She may not do it this year, but watch out next year, World.

An interesting side note - both Ashley Wagner and Mirai Nagasu said very clearly before going out to skate their long programs that they were "terrified." You don't see skaters admitting that publicly very often. It's good to be terrified though. It means you're challenging yourself. If you're not at least a little terrified, you're doing it wrong (and you're a robot).

Men
Jason Brown's gold medal was also deserved, even though he didn't actually win the long program portion of the event. His skating is what all skating should be. Fun! He looks like he's having so much freaking fun out there. It's about fun, remember? Need I write the word fun one more time? I was sad to see Jeremy Abbott fall to 5th, as I do so enjoy watching him skate. But he has had his day in the sun, and I am thrilled with two out of the three gentlemen who placed ahead of him. Josh Farris is a wonderful skater. He would have gotten the silver if he hadn't thrown in a third 2toe in his program, which canceled his score on the 3lutz, 2toe combo. The jump limit is a pesky rule, but it has to be followed, or it will have seriously negative consequences. I love Max Aaron's skating too (he's nice to look at!), though his jumps are a bit wonky in the air. Adam Rippon, who took home the silver, I'm not so sold on him. His quad lutz is barely a quad. Seems like he could easily get a downgrade every time. And I don't think he's consistent enough to do well on the World stage, despite the stellar performance at Nationals. We shall see. I've been proven wrong before.

Pairs and Dance
I didn't watch, so I can't really comment other than to say I there was a heck of an upset in the pairs event, and the USA still has a chance to be dominant in dance with Madison Chock and Evan Bates leading Team USA at Worlds.

For full results and score breakdowns, hit up icenetwork.com!

Toller Cranston Has Died

Olympic bronze medalist (1976), Canadian Toller Cranston is reported dead at 65. Cause of death not known.

When you think of artistry in figure skating, this guy is responsible for it. He was a pioneer of and a boundary pusher of the presentation score.

Fashion Boots

#FashionFriday:

When you get to the competitive level of figure skating, there are few options to customize your skates from a fashion standpoint. Granted, these days there are more options than there were previously, but the function of a competitive skater's boot is still the priority by a landslide when it comes to choosing a pair of skates.

But when you're doing it purely for recreation now and again, you have options. Crazy, weird and wonderful options. Like this boot from designer Jacknife. From a de zeen article:

Having spotted a gap in the market between low-priced beginners' skates and expensive professional models, Jacknife created the designs to provide "comfortable" recreational ice skates for men, women and children.

No toepick, so unusable in my opinion, but I'm biased :)

She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown

#TBT:

One of my favorite scenes in animated movie history, from a Charlie Brown TV special from the 1980s.



Peppermint Patty was way ahead of her time on the ice...I saw a twizzle in there!

Take a Bow

I've always had trouble with the bow/curtsy at the end of a program. It feels awkward and forced. I just want to get off the ice and catch my breath!

But this guy makes it look fun. Maybe I'll try this?

Post by The Skating Lesson.

The Art of the Triple Axel

A new video from the Olympic YouTube channel features Olympic Champ Alexei Yagudin and Olympic bronze medalist Dennis Ten attempting to explain how to do a triple axel.



And much like the most frustrating moments of literature and film, the answer to the question of how to do a triple axel is...something you have to figure it out for yourself. So there you go.

Nationals Results

For the most up-to-date results, head over to USFS Fan Zone's Competition Central or to IceNetwork.com.

The lower levels are competing now. Nationals is so exciting!

Kostner Banned from Skating

The Italian Olympic bronze medalist can't compete for 16 months for her involvement in a cover-up of Olympic gold medal race-walker Alex Schwazer's doping.

She says she panicked and lied at his request when drug testers came a-knockin' in 2012. She's appealing the case through the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but has taken the year off from competition anyway.

Nationals Preview

USFS has been drumming up excitement for Nationals by posting "getting to know" videos of athletes competing.

With or without those videos though, I'm excited. It's Nationals, people!

Here are some of my thoughts on how it may pan out:

Ladies:
Everyone has their money on Gracie Gold. Bleacher Report calls her "scary good." I disagree with that of course - Gracie is good, but her skating does not overly impress me. She's not winning world championships, and her skating is far less impressive than some of her competitors on the international stage. That said, she is head and shoulders the best female skater from the United States. I'm going to bet on her to win, hoping the stress fracture that took her out of the Grand Prix Final is sufficiently healed. Otherwise, Ashley Wagner could be looking at her third US title, which is no small achievement.

Men:
Jason Brown is expected to take the title this year. I'm not sure I agree. He's American figure skating's sweetheart, and he certainly could win if he skates well...but the lack of a quad is troubling. In my conversation with commentator Johnny Weir last month, I asked him if a guy could win without a quad, and his reply was "I think we're past the point of winning without a quad." However, no American men have consistent quads, so that could work in his favor. Brown faces stiff competition from past champs Max Aaron and Jeremy Abbott, as well as new up-and-comer Nathan Chen (whose quads do look promising).

Pairs
I quite literally have no idea. I hardly recognize any American pair teams, because they're all so meh.

Dance
Madison Chock and Evan Bates did quite well during the Grand Prix season, as did the Shibutanis. It will probably be Chock and Bates with the win. American ice dancing did not die with the retirement of Meryl and Charlie.

This Is a Heck of a Thing

Where skating truly meets gymnastics. Don't try this at practice...

Post by IceSkating&Ritmica.

Buzzing About Synchro

Well, synchro made it to Buzzfeed. Granted, it's Buzzfeed Community, but it's a start. Something easy and fun to pass around that gets the word out about how cool synchro is, and why it should be an Olympic sport.

There's still no official word on whether synchro's a go for 2018, but we've just entered the synchro season, and things are heating up on the ice.

Meanwhile, my old team won big at the Colonial Classic this weekend (go GCS!).

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva's Triple Axel Is Amazing

The Russian skater posted a video on Instagram of her 3axel, and it is amazeballs! I really hope she tries it at Europeans and Worlds.

3 axel

@liza_tuktikが投稿した動画 - 2015年1月 1月日 1:48午前 PST

It's the best 3axel I've seen from a woman since Tonya Harding. That's not surprising, given Elizaveta's skating reminds me a lot of Tonya's.

Figure Skaters Are Special Creatures

Read an interesting article the other day about how prolonged spinning over a period of years can alter your inner ear.

Not in a bad way though. It's just that figure skaters' bodies likely adapt to make themselves better spinners - improving balance by teaching the brain to ignore that inner ear signal that tells us we're dizzy. Pretty cool, huh?

Though it's clearly reversible, at least for me because taking a few years off clearly made a difference. After 8 revolutions of a sit spin, dizzy doesn't even begin to describe it. 

It Just Got Real...

I officially entered the competitive circuit. Filled out my forms, submitted my entry fees, took a deep breath...and commenced freaking out.

Now I have to figure out how to get to Pittsburgh for Easterns. I've never had to fly to a competition before, and I think this will be my maiden voyage. The thought of over 6 hours in the car makes me a little jittery.

I won't know the competition schedule until at least the end of February (sectionals are March 12-14). That would be fine...if I didn't live hundreds of miles away. I wish they could at least tell us what events are planned for which days. Some of us (most if not all of us!) have jobs that we have to take time out of to compete...advanced notice is a lifesaver. I am hoping because I am doing the Championship level, that they'll save us for Saturday.

It's National Skating Month!

It's January, so you know what that means...

It's National Skating Month, woohoo!

US Figure Skating is encouraging people to get out and give skating a try. Affiliated clubs and rinks will be offering free lessons and accessible ice to all. The theme this year is, "Skating is for everyone." You can get information on where to skate over at USFSA.org.

Give it try! You may not end up competing, or even doing it again, but I'm pretty sure you'll have some fun.