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.