A Look Ahead: Men of the GP Series May 22, 2012

Yesterday was the day. Where you surprised by the Grand Prix assignments? If you’re an Evan Lysacek fan, you were likely disappointed. Conversely, if you’ve been anticipating a Johnny Weir comeback, you may have squealed to see his name on the list twice.

Over the next few days, we’ll take a look at each discipline separately and how the assignments line up for each event.

Since the men have been the talk of the town (my “town,” anyway!) we’ll give them the first shake.

Here’s the Skate America lineup:

Michal Brezina (CZE)
Tomas Verner (CZE)
Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
Konstantin Menshov (RUS)
Alexandra Majorov (SWE)
Jeremy Abbott (USA)
Douglas Razzano (USA)
TBA (USA)

Not too shabby, eh?

As has become the norm, the biggest competition will come from the Japanese contingent, although it’ll be the Abbot — competing at Skate America for the first time in his career — who will have the support of the hometown crowd.

Last season proved we can’t count out quad-master Michael Brezina, and when he’s at his best, Tomas Verner is a force to be reckoned with as well.

Personally, I’m thrilled to see Douglas Razzano along side Abbott for Team USA. He’s a real “skater’s skater” with the elegance and musicality that can bring an entire arena to its feet. If he can match that artistry with technical difficulty, he’ll be well on his way!

Then there’s that haunting “TBA.”

What — or should I say who — is that spot for? Naturally, the rumor mill would lean naturally toward that spot being for reigning Olympic Champ Evan Lysacek who has made no secret about his wish to compete in Sochi. However, there have been more than a couple roadblocks along the way.

Last season, there was the “contractual issues” with the USFS that kept him from returning to competition. While the details of that conflict were not made public, it has been reported that it wasn’t simply “Evan wanting more money” like it came across the first time, but far more complicated than that.

With that assumed to be resolved, it was a bit surprising to NOT see Evan’s name on the assignment list. However, there are plenty of explanations (read: “assumptions!”) that don’t involve him not staging a comeback.

Perhaps he didn’t want the GP spot. He’s made mention of wanting to compete at Senior B events to ease back onto the international scene. He’s a proven champion, so maybe he simply feels it a better option to start small and work his way back up towards Nationals and Worlds, sans the fall series. Or maybe, he’s scheduled to compete on the Dancing With The Stars All-Star season this fall. Who knows, save Frank Carroll and Lysacek. But, perhaps that TBA spot is reserved should he choose to accept it after all.

How’s that for drama surrounding the first event of the season, eh?!

The early signs of the season! May 18, 2012

The off season can get really long. But it always makes things a little more bearable when things like schedules, team envelopes, and even Grand Prix assignments make their way through the interwebs!

Fortunately for us, that’s where we are!

First, the schedule. For a complete international schedule, check out usfigureskating.com. The page will be updated with assignments as they are announced.

As for the ISU Grand Prix series, the schedule looks like this: 

SKATE AMERICA – October 19-21, 2012 (Seattle/Kent, Washington)

SKATE CANADA INTERNATIONAL – October 26-28, 2012 (Windsor, Ontario)

CUP OF CHINA – November 2-4, 2012 (Shanghai, China)

ROSTELECOM CUP – November 9-12, 2012 (Moscow, Russia)

TROPHEE BOMPARD – November 16-18, 2012 (Paris, France)

NHK TROPHY – November 23-25, 2012 (Sendai, Japan)

GRAND PRIX FINAL – December 5-9, 2012 (Sochi, Russia)

Following the GP Series, we’ll get a whole host of national championships, including Canadian Nationals (Missisagua, ON, Jan. 13-20, 2013) and US Nationals (Omaha, NE, Jan. 20-27, 2013).

Then, the attention shifts to Osaka, Japan for the Four Continents Championships (Feb. 6-11, 2013) before heading to the World Championships March 10-17 in London, Ontario.

But, before we get to all that, there’s the Junior Grand Prix circuit to focus on! That kicks off the season with the JGP in Courchevel, France on August 22, 2012.

So, who might we see once the whirlwind begins? Well, for the US, the team envelopes are a good place to start! Here’s where we stand.

TEAM A

Ladies: Ashley Wagner

Men: Jeremy Abbott

Pairs: Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker, Caydee Denney & John Coughlin

Dance: Meryl Davis & Charlie White, Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani, and Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue

TEAM B

Ladies: Alissa Czisny, Mirai Nagasu, Agnes Zawadzki, Caroline Zhang, Christina Gao, Gracie Gold

Men: Douglass Razzano, Adam Rippon, Armin Mahbanoozadeh, Ross Miner, Jason Brown, Nathan Chen, Josh Farris

Pairs: Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir, Haven Denney & Brandon Frazier, Gretchen Dolan & Andrew Speroff, Britney Simpson & Matthew Blackmer

Dance: Lynn Kriengkraiut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt, Madison Chock & Evan Bates, Alexandra Aldridge & Daniel Eaton

TEAM C

Ladies: Rachael Flatt, Samantha Cesario, Vanessa Lam, Mariah Bell, Hannah Miller, Amanda Gleb, Ashley Wang, Ashley Cain, Courtney Hicks, Barbie Long, Karen Chen, Amber Glenn

Men: Richard Dornbush, Stephen Carriere, Keegan Messing, Max Aaron, Timothy Dolensky, Harrison Choate, Philip Warren, Spencer Howe, Lukas Kaugar, James Schetelich, Vincent Zhou

Pairs: Kylie Duarte & Colin Grafton, Madeline Aaron & Max Settlage, Caitlin Fields & Jason Pacini, Jessica Pfund & AJ Reiss, Jessica Noelle Calalang & Zack Sidhu, Chelsea Liu & Devin Perini, Alexandria Shaughnessy & James Morgan

Dance: Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles, Anastasia Cannuscio & Colin McManus, Rachael Parsons & Michael Parsons, Madeline Heritage & Nathaniel Fast, Lorraine McNamara & Quinn Carpenter, Holly Moore & Daniel Klaber, Hannah Rosinski & Jacob Jaffe, Whitney Miller & Kyle MacMillan

Click HERE for the full breakdown, including the reserve teams.

Also, check the list of the complete US International Selection Pool, including skaters like Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir who are attempting comebacks this season to prepare for the Olympics in Sochi. These athletes are also eligible to be selected for international events.

The Grand Prix assignments are announced Monday, so keep your eyes peeled!

But until then, who are YOU most looking forward to seeing compete this year?

So you may have heard (Or, news ’round the skating world) April 6, 2012

The Post-Worlds-Syndrom is probably setting in right about now. After the high of Nationals, the build up from Four Continents, to the climax in Nice, all the highest hopes of the 2012 season have reached a near end. A month from now, skating fans will be grasping at the slightest bit of news, hoping for tid bits on new music or costumes, and counting down the days until the season begins again.

A break is nice, so long as it’s not too long.

But, in contrast to other years, the season doesn’t quite end with the World Championships. We still have the World Team Trophy to look forward to!

Fan of this style event or not, it’s skating. And with the announcement of the teams, we can see that it will be star-studded in and of itself.

Based on qualifications from the 2012 World and Junior World Championships, six countries made the cut and will send a team of eight skaters to Tokyo, Japan for the team-style competition to be held April 19-22.

If you’re unfamiliar with the way this game is played, here’s the rundown from U.S. Figure Skating:

Gold's season isn't over yet. She'll have her chance against some of the world's best later this month in Tokyo.

World Team Trophy features the six best figure skating teams of the 2011-12 season, including Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. Each team consists of two ladies, two men, one pair and one ice dancing couple. The scores of each team’s skaters in the short programs/dance and free skates/dance will be added together and the highest point total will win.

The American team will be made up of National Champs Meryl Davis & Charlie White, Caydee Denney & John Coughlin, Ashley Wagner, and Jeremy Abbott, along with silver medalist Adam Rippon and Junior Champion Gracie Gold (who will be making her Senior-level international debut).

Remember, a version of this event will be present at the 2014 Sochi games. So, it’s important for this competition to go well!

Anyone up for making early predictions on who will win that event? Or on how the adorable and talented Gracie Gold will hold up against elite senior competition?

We’ll find out soon enough!

And, in other, completely unrelated news, Evan Lysacek has earned a prestigious, new position: a Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Sports Envoy.

Sounds fancy, right?

So what exactly will the Olympic Champ be doing? Following in long-time friend Michelle Kwan’s footsteps, it seems!

 On his inaugural trip done in partnership with U.S. Figure Skating, Lysacek will travel to Stockholm, Sweden and Minsk, Belarus April 6 – 13.

While in Sweden, Lysacek will hold ice skating clinics with youth from the Stockholm area, organized in cooperation with the non-governmental organization Sports Without Borders. In Minsk, from April 11 – 13, Lysacek will conduct clinics with the Skating Union of Belarus and speak with students of the University of Physical Culture about the importance of sports in society. He will also attend a competition for wheelchair fencers and wheelchair dancers.

[snip]

Sports Envoys are current and retired professional athletes and coaches from a range of sports that travel overseas to conduct clinics and team building activities, as well as engage youth in a dialogue on the importance of education, positive health practices and respect for diversity. The U.S. Department of State’s sports diplomacy division, SportsUnited, works in close partnership with professional sports leagues, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and respective National Governing Bodies so that American athletes may engage overseas youth in positive dialogue.

Interesting, for someone on a comeback trail of his own to add Envoy trips to his soon-to-be-full training schedule. But, if you’ve followed Lysacek through the years, he does like to be busy! And this is certainly a worth-while addition to his plans.

I don’t know about you, but a lesson or clinic with an Olympic Champion would certainly inspire me!

Congrats to Evan on his new gig!

What’s the magic word? January 26, 2012

The Senior events kick off later today with the Pairs and Ladies Short Programs. If you need a refresher on the contenders and potential surprises, look back here for Pairs and here for Ladies.

What magic words would YOU tell Mirai?

Meanwhile, we’ve all been sounding off on Twitter for weeks about who needs what to win. So, here’s your chance — channel your inner Frank Carroll, and offer up some last minute advice for your favorites, your Fantasy picks, or just someone you think might need a little word of encouragement!

Speaking of Frank Carroll, how ’bout I start with Mirai Nagasu?

She’s the kind of skater you dream of coaching (or at least, I would dream of coaching someone with her natural talent, if I was a coach). And yet, she can’t seem to make everything “click” in competition. The nerves do her in. She panics. Focuses on how bad it is to be nervous. Or now bad she skated last time out. Or how desperately she wants to win.

My advice to her: Don’t think, just do.

She honestly has it all. She has to forget about what that means, forget about how much she hates to lose, and forget the idea that nerves are a bad thing. Change those nerves into energy and the adrenaline into focus, and just do it (Nike was really onto something with that one way back when…)

How ’bout reigning champ Alissa Czisny?

Her focus has been pretty clear. Her reconstruction of a career — and, really, a skater as a whole — is inspiration in and of itself. And yet, she’s struggled to feel “on” this season. Now, she’s set to begin her title defense.

My words of the day for her: Calm and courageous

“Calm” is often how I’d describe her skating style. Sometimes, though, her competition style is anything but calm. She, too, needs to close her eyes, take a deep breath, listen for the first note of her music, then just let it flow. All the while, channeling the courage it takes to put yourself on the line for the sake of a dream. Courage into each jump, calm flowing out of it. That’s a winning combination.

Summer Spotlight – Sarah Hughes May 26, 2011

“Olympic Gold Medalist” is a title few people can ever attach to their email signature line. Not that most of them who canwould do that, but they could, nonetheless. But it’s a title that, once earned, can’t be taken away.

So is “College Graduate.”

Sarah Hughes owns both. And even now, she’s quick to remember the value of both accomplishments.

“It was unbelievable just to be a part of the Olympic team,” Hughes said when I caught up with her via email earlier this month. “And then for what happened after I made the team, well, as you can imagine, the 2002 Games was everything I ever dreamed of and more.”

But she never intended to stop there, even with such a significant dream fulfilled.

“Getting a college education was very important to me since I was in grade school,” she added. “I always knew I wanted to go to college and be there at the same time as other kids my age.”

Sarah Hughes poses with Dick Button at the RISE premiere in New York

Since graduating from Yale University in 2009, Hughes has stayed plenty busy utilizing both hard-earned titles. No, her love for the sport was certainly not lost in the shuffle of term papers and take-home finals. In fact, she’s almost more involved than ever, using her Olympic glory as a launching pad for enough activities to make your head spin.

She’s working with Figure Skating in Harlem, speaking at US Figure Skating dinners, being inducted into yet another Hall of Fame (this time it’s Nassau County’s Sports Hall of Fame), dropping in on the Kentucky Derby, attending charity dinners, and traveling to schools to share the values of being fit…to name a few.

Skating for Gold – Nationals 2011: the Men January 6, 2011

Every year since 2006, January brings a flood of memories to my mind. Early mornings, cold, rink-side arena seats, and the smell of freshly Zamboni-ed ice (Yes, the smell). But most of all, January makes me remember the anticipation and excitement of being at my first Nationals. Walking in that first night is as fresh in my mind as what I ate for breakfast this morning (a delightful blueberry scone, courtesy of my favorite Starbucks location!).

So the closer we get to the start of the 2011 National Championships in Greensboro, NC, the stronger those excited feelings become. And, thanks to my wonderful Twitter followers, I know I’m not alone!

Nationals seems later this year than normal, but for me that’s a good thing – a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have had time to even think about a preview blog! So, I suppose I should thank US Figure Skating for conveniently fitting Nationals into my 2011 schedule! Now, if only I could figure out a way to actually be in Greensboro for the week…

Daydreaming aside, it’s time for some Nationals chatter! But, oh, where to begin!

Knowing my constant challenge with being concise, I’ve decided to post separate blogs for my thoughts about the Men, Ladies, Ice Dance, and Pairs events, all of which present some pretty intense competition!

I’ve been asked a lot about my thoughts on the Men’s competition, so that is where we will begin.

All season long, I’ve been saying the men’s competition is by far the most competitive internationally, and I have a feeling that may be the case at the Coliseum, too. With the top guys from the last few years (Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir) not skating in NC, the door is wide open for some long-time challengers as well as some “fresh blood” to take a shot at the podium. First off, let’s take a look at the guys I feel are top contenders, and then I’ll tell you why.

• Jeremy Abbott
• Adam Rippon
• Brandon Mroz
• Armin Mahbanoozadeh
• Ryan Bradley

Obviously, Jeremy has to be considered the favorite. He’s the two-time and reigning champ, and he’s got all the confidence in the world. Plus, he has great programs, great jumps, great fan support, and great coaches. If he puts it all on the ice like we all know he can, I believe he can leave Greensboro as the three-time champion. However, if the pressure of defending gets to him, or his past consistency issues come back to haunt him, he could be in trouble because there are plenty of other guys hungry for the chance to be American’s #1 man.

Adam Rippon is, also without a doubt, the #2 guy right now. He’s the heir apparent to the American thrown, and for good reason. The guy has a depth of artistry and a level of emotion in his skating that surpasses anyone else on the US scene right now, as far as I’m concerned. He’s matured a lot in this last year, and you can tell that he really wants to not only skate well, but tell a story, and that is what makes figure skating so magical. You can also tell, though, that he wants to be considered among the best in the world, and Nationals is a great chance for him to show how well he can keep up with the Jeremy Abbotts of the skating world. He will need to hit it big technically, especially if others bring the quad (which Adam can do, as well…). I expect him to compete well, but his last competition of the Grand Prix series didn’t go as planned, so hopefully he’s moved past that and is full strength and ready to bring it!

Brandon rounds out the trio of men that, on paper, should make up the top three. Now, we all know what’s “on paper” doesn’t often translate accurately to the ice. That said, Brandon has made some big strides this year that make me really want to see him do well. His artistry is sill no where near that of Adam and Jeremy, but he does seem to be establishing more of a connection between the music and the movements. Technically, he’s got all the big tricks in his arsenal. It’ll be a matter of putting all the pieces together at the right time…and holding it together mid-program if something goes wrong.

Not to be overlooked (and looking to cement his status at the top of the US ranks) is, perhaps, the biggest surprise medalist of the Grand Prix season, Armin Mahbanoozadeh. This kid is something else. He skated to bronze in champion-like fashion, looking completely un-phased by the pressure that comes with opportunity. That, and he has a brilliant long program to music from “Avatar.” I love it. And I truly believe that he has a great chance to play spoiler and earn a spot on the World team.

Finally, the biggest question mark of the event, one of my long-time favorites, Ryan Bradley. If you read the latest blog from Sarah and Drew on icenetwork.com about his decision to compete, you know that he’s in it because YOU asked for it! You’ve got to love a guy who responds that way to his fans. I won’t lie, I was actually surprised when I saw him listed to compete in Greensboro. I hadn’t seen confirmation of his decision for this year, and coming back from foot surgery is hard enough, but to do it on comparatively short preparation time? He’s got guts, that’s for sure. But he’s also skating with a refreshed mindset this season; one in which he’s determined to enjoy skating for all of the simple, pure reasons that made him love it in the first place. And that, my friends, could be just the mindset that propels him to the podium. He has quite the challenge ahead of him, but I know a world of skating fans who would be thrilled to see him get his moment (including me!).

You know, the great thing about US Nationals – and any nationals, for that matter – is that you get a chance to see not only  the best the nation has to offer, but those who will be the best in the future. And this year, the list of guys hoping to make a big splash of their own, medal or no medal, is just as competitive as the competition for gold. Take a look:

• Ross Miner
• Josh Farris
• Jason Brown
• Douglass Razzano
• Parker Pennington
• Grant Hochstein
• Keegan messing
• Richard Dornbush
• Johnathan Cassar

Boy, will this competition be good! I wish NBC would show more than the final group, but thank God for icenetwork’s additional coverage, whatever it actually amounts to, so that we get to see all these guys pull out their best.

I hope the fans in Greensboro pack the Coliseum, and that these men really, really bring it…there is certainly the potential for some “skate of a lifetime” moments that Nationals has the tendency to draw out of people.

And that excited feeling is back. Full force, giving me chills…come on, January 22nd, get here faster!

Who are your picks for the podium? I’d love to know.

Stay tuned; other previews coming soon.

Until then…

Moments that take your breath away December 31, 2010

Being just hours away from 2011 here in the American midwest, my mind is automatically drawn to what this last year will be remembered for. Of course, here at FromTheBoards, it’s all about the skating world. And while there have been dozens of memorable moments, there are bound to be some that stand out more than others. As I looked back on what’s happened in the skating world in 2010, I compiled a list of the moments that stand out most to me. This is certainly not a comprehensive list of the great moments of 2010, but it’s a list of the moments that made me remember why I love this wonderful sport and the glorious memories it can create.

So, without further ado, my “Top 10 Skating Moments of 2010″

10. Salt Lake City’s Nathan Chen wins the Novice National Title
Having shared the ice with Nathan when he was only 4, watching him find such success was a thrill. He’s got a bright future.

9. The Shibutani’s 2010-2011 Free Dance.
These two light up the arena as it is, but the pure joy in this season’s FD, combined with their elegance and polish, makes this one of my favorite programs of the year.

8. Meryl Davis and Charlie White’s “Bollywood” Original Dance.
The widespread YouTube fame of this program speaks for itself, but this is one of the most brilliantly crafted programs I’ve ever seen, and certainly one of the best of the year. Their Olympic performance was equally brilliant.

7. Adam Rippon’s “Romeo and Juliet” Short Program
First of all, it’s hard not to love Adam Rippon. But this program takes him to a whole new level – one I’m a big fan of!

6. Mirai Nagasu’s Olympic FS/World SP
I know these are really two separate moments, but they were the culmination of a roller coaster season, in which she found herself. In these programs, Mirai proved to herself what we already knew – she could skate with the best in the world!

5. Yu-Na Kim’s Olympic Tears
Yes, her victory was sweet. Truly, it was one for the record books. But what touched me more than her flawless performance, was the emotion she shared with the world. After all the pressure she was under, she did it. And we were all so proud!

4. Alissa Cizny’s Grand Prix Final Victory
Really, I could just say Alissa’s entire season thus far. However, the GP win was also a culmination of a lifetime of dreams, and an off-season of hard work and focus. Few people expected her to come back after missing the Olympic team with this kind of passion, but she’s done it. And her excitement and joy is contagious.

3. Joannie Rochette’s Olympic Short Program
I still can’t watch this performance without tears running down my face. The emotion with which she skated, and the courage she showed, endeared her to the entire world – skating fans or not. That moment will forever be remembered as a great moment in sports, and in the power of the human spirit.

2. Evan Lysacek/Frank Carroll’s Olympic Victories
I combined these two because as thrilled as I was for Evan (and as significant as his win was to American skating), I was just as thrilled for his coach, Frank Carroll. For the lifetime he’s spent and the world-class champions he has coached,  he deserved his Olympic moment, too.

1. Michelle Kwan’s Return to American Ice, thanks to Kim’s “All That Skate LA”
It’s no secret that I’m a Kwan fan. And while some may say this choice is biased, well, it is my list! I love skating for many reasons, but one reason is the emotion it elicits from those who share in its moments. The moment Michelle stepped on to the ice at the Staples Center, I felt more emotion than I could have ever imagined. It wasn’t about the competition. It wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about the magic of pouring your heart out on the ice. And it was beautiful. Thank you, Yu-Na, for bringing Michelle home.

And there you have it!

What are your favorite moments from the past year?

Be on the look out for a new blog about the state of Figure Skating heading into 2011…what’s changed, what should change again, and what can’t be changed.

Happy New Year, and thanks for your support!

Until then…

Quiz: Figure skating history September 28, 2010

I’ve been promising a video blog for weeks now. And I will admit, I could have had it up before now. But last week wasn’t ideal for, well, being on camera, so it kept getting pushed back more and more! But I’m nearly healthy again, and I ended up with the day off, so I had no excuse not to get something done and up for you all today. Little did I know when I came up with the idea for the video how involved it would be. Nevertheless, it is filmed and in the process of being edited together as I type.

The video, as you will see soon enough, is an interactive quiz, testing your knowledge of figure skating trivia. I won’t pretend that I knew all the answers to the questions you’ll find below, but searching for them made me realize how much skating surely has changed since its early days. And that got me thinking about how much skating has changed just in the less-than-a-decade that I’ve been a die-hard fan.

Just after I became skating crazy, the 6.0 system came under scrutiny at the 2002 Olympics. What a mess that was! That next season, the “New Judging System” called the “Code of Points” was born. International events didn’t make the complete change until 2005 – the first World Championship to use the new system.

Since then, changes have been made to the system, to the requirements, and to how it works in “real life” each year.

I had a very interesting conversation the other day with someone about the new scoring system, which is undoubtedly the largest, most influential change of my time in skating. I will admit, as I did in this conversation, I’ve been highly critical of the Code of Points system, because some of the requirements make skating so inspiration-free. When every lady has to hold a spiral in 3 different positions for 3 seconds each, there are only so many ways to do that and make it unique. When spins stop being about quality centering and speed and become about how gumby-like you can be without toppling over, you lose some of the solidity things like a good, old-fashioned, one-position sit spin can bring. I even posted on a fan forum one time a post entitled “How Michelle (Kwan) made me hate COP.” Want to know how? Her sit spin. The back position, the centering, the speedy, the steadiness…all things I haven’t seen in a lady’s sit spin since then.

And yet, writing for this blog and analyzing the skaters who will be competing this season, as well as talking with my COP savvy friend, I’ve noticed even another change – COP is getting better with age.

Sure, it’s not perfect. There are still things I don’t like about it. But if we’re going for judging that is at least closer to fair, well, this certainly helps. It at least quantifies elements based on the difficulty and the quality – something 6.0 couldn’t ever do.

Skaters now are on level footing entering a competition; the favorites can’t be as easily held up because of their past successes. This is, perhaps, most notable in ice dance – a discipline rich in tradition, so much so that North American skaters weren’t even on the map until Bourne and Kraatz, Belbin and Agosto and the introduction of COP. Now, it’s anyone’s game. Or at least more so than ever before.

The system also forced skaters to become more well rounded. Take a Patrick Chan or and Evan Lysacek vs. an Evgeyni Plushenko or a Brian Joubert. It’s not enough to throw the big tricks. If you don’t have the transitions, the footwork, and the spins, the technical advantage the later two may have had under 6.0 is eliminated in favor of the complete skaters like Chan and Lysacek.

This I like.

My biggest concern has always been the fact that a program skated beautifully both technically and artistically seems to present a difficult situation – how do you quantify spark? Magic? Passion? How do you add in points for a skater who skates as though the music is coming from within? What “base mark” can you come up with to apply when a skater has a “skate of their life” moment where the entire arena is on its feet, wrapped in the emotion that comes with witnessing history? That emotion is such a part of skating’s past…how can COP make it a part of the sport’s future?

And yet, I may have recently discovered that, as with most things in life, there’s a pretty serious learning curve within this system. One that, once mastered, may make way for such memorable performances as Michelle Kwan’s 1998 Nationals Lyra Angelica, Torvill and Dean’s “Bolero,” or the teenage miracles of Tara Lipinski and Sarah Hughes.

See, while the technical demands are greater and the point values tend to overtake the creativity, it’s skaters like Patrick Chan that give me hope – he moves me. He’s pretty close to a “COP baby,” growing up in skating under this new system. And he’s comfortable enough with it, that you don’t see him counting rotations or numbers of turns – you see him connecting with the music, the movement, and the crowd. There may not be a mark for that, but as long as it doesn’t go away entirely, I think I can find it in my heart to appreciate the value of the Code of Points.

Afterall, nothing’s perfect. But people who have the passion to skate will find a way to always, always, always express that passion on the ice.

Changes will come, but that fact remains the same. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

So what about you? What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in your years of skating fandom?

Plus, are you confident in your skating trivia skills? Test them out with the video below! Good luck!

Until then…

Sensations of Skating – Top 5 Choreographers September 22, 2010

Two quick things: I miss Evan and Anna, and I’m tired of being sick!

Once again, I apologize for the delayed post. Seriously, this head cold has me up and down and up and down…every time I felt like writing something, just that fast I felt terrible again. I’ve got some medication now, though, so hopefully I’m on the mend. (But I didn’t say that out loud!)

As for Evan and Anna, of course I’m talking Dancing with the Stars. I’ll admit it…I’m one of THOSE people. I Love that show. I think it’s a breath of fresh air, generally speaking. Most of the time, people come on the show and it’s not overly dramatic, it’s not entirely scripted, and it’s not cut-throat and nasty. Besides, it’s ballroom. That adds a touch of class to just about anything, especially reality TV. But this season, I’m just not sure these stars are going to cut it. They certainly won’t live up to previous seasons, and there’s certainly no Evan Lysacek. Or Kristi Yamaguchi.

That said, I’m still somehow interested to see who will pull this off, although the favorites seem to be clearly set already.

What do you think? Are you watching the show? I’ve got to say, watching this show gave me a whole new appreciation and understanding of ice dance, which I’ve come to love over the last several years.

(You like that seamless transition to skating? Anyway…)

So, the Hidden Heroes post won the award for most popular blog post ever! I want to thank everyone for reading it and passing it around – that day was my biggest day at From The Boards thus far! You guys are awesome.

It’s always hard to follow something that’s so great, but here’s my attempt. We talked coaches, now let’s talk choreographers. This one was a little harder for me in some ways, but easier in other ways – namely, the fact that there are really two choreographers right now who are dominating the world of skating: David Wilson and Lori Nichol.

Time out here, just to say that the new judging system (how long do you think it will be the “new” system?) really put more pressure on coaches and choreographers, because with a more defined points system (a defined at all system!), things had to be more particular within the choreography. Initially, this seemed like a difficult transition, and in my opinion, choreography suffered. However, now that the system has been worked over and skaters, coaches and choreographers are all accustomed to the new demands, artistry is working its way back into elite competition, thanks in part to choreographers like Nichol and Wilson who seem to have it down to a science.

However, they’re not the only magicians on the scene. And this season, we’re seeing some new faces who have made the jump from competitor to choreographer and I’m thrilled to see what they bring to the ice.

So, without further ado, my top 5 choreographers in skating today.

5. Jeff Buttle and Stephane Lambiel

Yes, I’m aware of the fact that #5 is actually two people. But here’s the deal – these two have just recently begun to choreograph for some top tier skaters, and I’m beyond excited about it. Buttle has worked with Yu-Na Kim and Jeremy Ten, among others, and Stephane has choreographed Diasuke Takahashi’s new short program for this season. What’s so exciting to me about these two is that they both understand what makes up a great program – highs and lows, transitions that actually make sense with the music and the story you’re telling. They are truly “Skaters’ skaters” and I think they will translate that into their choreography very well.

4. Nikolai Morosov

I have a feeling this might be a controversial choice because most of what Morosov is known for is simply footwork sequences. And that is true. But, post 2002 he was all the rage. It was like if you weren’t getting choreography from Nikolai, you were simply at a lesser level. Morosov works as a coach as well, but his step sequences put him on the map – as well as putting a few other skaters there as well. He worked with U.S. stars such as Sasha Cohen and Michelle Kwan, the Chinese pairs team of Pang and Tong, and of course his world champion in Miki Ando. I feel like his effectiveness in the system has worn off in recent years, but his impact is still felt by the structure and complexity of step sequences these days.

3. Tom Dickson

Clearly, this man’s choreography skills are worthy of mentioning. He’s been the USFSA’s choreographer of the year four times, most recently in 2006. He’s worked with Jeremy Abbott, Rachael Flatt, Yu-Na Kim, Brandon Mroz, and Caroline Zhang. He’s one who can work the system, but also work with the skater to get the best out of them. And as great as he is, in the last four years, he’s been a tad over shadowed by the top two.

2. David Wilson

This was tough. Splitting these top two is like splitting hairs. In fact, I had it the other way around, but then decided to change it. I’ll do my best to explain why. David Wilson is magic on ice. The way he translates and idea to reality is mind boggling. He gets skaters to take hold of an idea and make it their own. He transforms them every time he gets to work on something new, and he never seems to run out of ideas. The list of athletes he’s worked with is remarkable: Jeremy Abbott, Miki Ando, Jeff Buttle, Sasha Cohen, Alissa Czisny, Denney and Barrett, Dube and Davison, Dubreuil and Lauzon, Christina Gao, Emily Hughes, Midori Ito, Brian Joubert, Yu-Na Kim, Adam Rippon, Joannie Rochette, Johnny Weir…to name a few. He just gets it. How to move, how to perform, how to incorporate technique…he gets it. And the best part is, he makes sure his skaters get it, too.

1. Lori Nichol

Ultimately, my number one spot had to go to Lori Nichol. David Wilson may get there in my book, but for now, so many iconic programs belong to Lori. Think Michelle Kwan (most of her career!) and “Lyra Angelica” or the Rachmaninoff short program from the Olympics (1998 and 2002). Think Shen and Zhao’s “Meditation” from the 2006-2007 season, or their Olympic short to “Who Wants to Live Forever.” Think Patrick Chan’s “Phantom” or Evan Lysacek’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” There are so many moments in skating that have made lasting memories that all start with the imagination of Lori Nichol. She’s now creating similar moments for Yu-Na Kim and Mirai Nagasu, as well as Chan and Abbott, among others. Because she’s had the same longevity as some of the skaters she’s worked with, and she’s still at the top of her game…still at the top of her sport. And I’m not the only one to notice. There was a fabulous article a while back about how she works and how she creates programs for each skater…you should probably check it out.

Now, I know there are so many others – Lea Ann Miller, Sandra Bezic, Kurt Browning, and on and on and on. But as with the coaches, I tried to key in on those who are making the biggest mark right now in skating. That said, feel free to disagree! I’d love to know what you think about the who’s who in choreography today as well.

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter for all kinds of tid bits there: twitter.com/fromtheboards

Hidden Heroes – top 5 skating coaches September 18, 2010

Just pretend today’s Thursday…okay?

Okay. So, I know this is a terribly belated blog post, but as I mentioned on Twitter, I got hit pretty hard with a cold that has kept me pretty out of it since Wednesday. Thank you to those who expressed their concern. I’m getting there…it’s just taking me a while. But I finally feel like I can think clearly enough to write something intelligent, so I’m back. A few days late…but think of it this way – now you don’t have to wait so many days till the next post!

Oh, and I know I said I’d have a vlog with this post, but…this being sick thing has me all out of whack, so I promise, a video blog wouldn’t be my best idea tonight! So we’ll keep working on that for another post.

I have plenty of skating news to chat about, but before I get to that, I wanted to make a quick comment on an issue entirely unrelated to skating but directly related to my own sports broadcasting aspirations.

You may have heard this week about a situation with the New York Jets where a female reporter claimed she was treated poorly both on the field and in the locker room. This prompted an investigation that questioned the professionalism of the Jets players as well as of the reporter, Inez Sainz. If you’re not familiar with the story, the idea is, Sainz was treated inappropriately because she’s an attractive female who wasn’t taken seriously by the players.

Why am I talking about this reporter and a football team in a blog all about skating? Good question. I guess it matters to me, so I figure I’ll share it with you.

See, I have my own goals in the sports broadcasting world, and I’ve seen first hand how challenging it is to be taken seriously as a woman in the sports world – a “man’s world.” So when I started seeing the various reports and responses to this story with Sainz, naturally I formed my own opinion. I have to say, I was a little surprised by the reaction from some other female sports journalists/reporters, some claiming, essentially, that Sainz asked for it. Don’t get me wrong, the pictures on her website and the image she’s chosen to create for herself send a very different message than anything I’d choose for myself. However, she is still a media professional, and in a work situation, it’s unfortunate that she had to deal with inappropriate reactions to her presence.

That said, I also understand those who feel the story was blown out of proportion. I actually agree. I’m very much aware of the challenges I face as a woman in this industry, challenges that include occasionally uncomfortable situations. The fact is, it’s part of my job to figure out how to deal with those challenges, and to gain the respect of those I work with and for.

I won’t make a judgment about Sainz’s decision making as far as how she presents herself. I won’t make a judgment about what was done or said to her by the players (I wasn’t there…so that isn’t something I can decide). What I will say is, as females in this business, we have enough of a hill to climb that we don’t need to make it more difficult by establishing an image that contradicts the credibility we are trying to achieve. But we also should be afforded the respect any professional deserves, in the locker room, on the sideline or in the studio. Ladies – we can be more than a pretty face. Don’t let the stereotype keep you from pushing the boundary and respecting your self enough to demand the same respect from our peers.

No worries…that’s the end of my non-skating rant! Now on to the good stuff.

Since I finished my analysis of the skaters ranked on icenetwork.com, I figured I’d change it up a bit and talk about the sometimes unsung heroes – the coaches. There are some amazing coaches in this business. Coaches in general are so inspirational to me. These are the people who take raw talent and turn it into greatness. They take physical skill and add mental strength.  They learn just the right thing to say to give their athletes confidence to succeed. And yet, when things go wrong, the coach is the first to go. They take on all that responsibility to help someone else win. So, here’s to all the great coaches out there, and here’s to a few specific coaches in skating. These are basically my top 5 – the coaches I think are making a big difference in skating right now. (This is in no way an exclusive list or the only top 5 there could be. It just happens to be my top 5.)

5. Tom Zakrajsek

The Broadmoor Skating Club coach in Colorado may not have reigning world or Olympic champs just yet, but he’s got quite the program going there in CO. He seems to have built up a great relationship not only between himself and his skaters, but between the skaters themselves. A lot of good things have come from the club in CO, and Zakrajsek has had a hand in several top U.S. skaters – formerly coaching Jeremy Abbott, now training Rachael Flatt, Ryan Bradley, Alexe Gilles, and Brandon Mroz…to name a few. He’s certainly got a good thing on his hands as those skaters move up the ranks.

4. Brian Orser

Despite the off-season drama surrounding Orser and Yu-Na Kim, there’s no denying he was the perfect coach for her leading up to her Olympic victory. His ability to communicate with his athletes and inspire confidence in them is such a powerful quality. Now that Kim has moved to LA, Orser still has some top prospects that can continue his growing legacy – Adam Rippon and Christina Gao (who just won the silver medal at the Junior Grand Prix in Austria this weekend!). I think Orser will rebound from the recent drama and I know I’m looking forward to what his skaters bring to the ice under his guidance.

3. Igor Shpilband

I believe it is thanks to Shpilband’s coaching team and the American duo of Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto that ice dance is what it is in N. American today. He has taken the new scoring system and run with it, taking his top skaters with him. Belbin and Agosto left him a few seasons back, but he still had the top two teams in the world in Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, and Meryl Davis and Charlie White. There’s no denying that Shpilband made those two teams into the magnificent competitors they are. He’s pushed ice dance to the next level, and is creating something of a dynasty that’s looking to live on for a while to come.

2. Yao Bin

If we want to talk about single-handedly altering the course of a nations figure skating future, this is the man to talk about. His story is one for the history books – literally. From finishing dead last as a competitor to his determination to never let another Chinese pairs team feel that same embarrassment, he is the stuff of legends. Now, not only is his most beloved team the reigning Olympic champs, but his pairs program has pushed the discipline to whole new heights…literally. The technical elements are superior among all international teams, and now we’re starting to see new emotional and lyrical improvements as well. His teams may not win every event, but they’ll always be challenging for the top spot. And when they win, he wins. And it’s wonderful.

1. Frank Carroll

I suppose there is a slight chance this pick is a little bit biased. So many of my own personal favorite skaters have been coached by Carroll, but even without that fact in play, I think Frank is one of the greatest coaches of all time. He only has 1 Olympic champion, but the legacy he leaves with his athletes is far greater than even that 1 notorious win. Whether he was settling Michelle Kwan with words like “Undaunted courage” or teaching Mirai Nagasu by telling her she’s not allowed to cry at a competition, he, as Evan Lysacek has said, always knows the perfect thing to say to give his athletes the courage and the confidence to succeed. But not only does he teach them to succeed, he teaches them to do it right. He teaches sportsmanship, he teaches class. He makes sure his skaters understand the value of their fans, and the value of hard work. He love the sport and inspires the same love in his athletes. Mirai Nagasu has said she thinks he’s the best coach in the world…Mirai, I completely agree.

So, what do you think? Who’s your pick for best coach in the world? Comment here or tweet your response @fromtheboards. I’d love to know!

Maybe next time we’ll talk choreographers.

Until then…