Archive

December 2012

Dec. 18 - The Japanese pair team of Narumi Takahashi & Marvin Tran, who won the bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships announced their breakup.  Takahashi has been injured which prevented the team from competing thus far this season.  Both skaters will be seeking new partners.

Dec. 18 - Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje will miss the upcoming 2013 Canadian Figure Skating Championships.

Weaver broke her left fibula near the ankle in training on Dec. 14 at their Bloomfield Hills, MI training site, the Detroit Skating Club. She will undergo surgery in Toronto, Ont. later today.

“We really appreciate all of the support of our followers and fans. We wanted to wait until we were sure of the situation, and all the implications before we confirmed what had happened,” said Kaitlyn Weaver. “Andrew and I will definitely keep you posted on the results of the surgery and the progress as the weeks unfold.”

Dec. 17 - Three-time U.S. Champion Rudy Galindo and choreographer Lori Nichol have been elected to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. The induction will be held in conjunction with the 2013 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships Jan. 20-27 in Omaha, Neb. Galindo also won U.S. pairs titles with Kristi Yamaguchi in 1989 and 1990.

Nichol is renowned for crafting artistic and technically difficult programs. She choreographed 2010 Olympic champion Evan Lysacek’s programs. Nichol’s choreography credits include eight Olympic medals and 30 World medals. She also will be inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame.

“Rudy Galindo and Lori Nichol’s contributions to the sport of figure skating are deserving of inclusion to the U.S. Hall of Fame,” said Larry Mondschein, chair of the hall’s nominating committee. “In addition, both continue to contribute to our sport. As a coach, Rudy is training a new generation of athletes, while Lori remains one of the most recognizable and respected choreographers in the world.”

Dec. 10 - 2010 Olympic figure skating champion Yu-na Kim made a return to competition after a 20-month absence, competing at the NRW Trophy in Dortmund, Germany.  Kim earned 72.27 points in the short program and 129.34 points in the free program, winning her event with a total score of 201.61 points.  She secured the minimum technical scores (28 for the short
program and 48 for the free program) required to enter next year's World
Championships.

Dec. 8. - U.S. Champion Ashley Wagner has withdraw from Sunday’s Exhibition program at the Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia, after sustaining an injury to her left hip and right knee when falling badly on the second jump in a sequence of triple loop to double Axel, which was her eighth of 12 moves. She went down hard but bravely continued her Free routine. She had been second going into the long but dropped to fourth overall.

Dec 7. - Johnny Weir, a two-time Olympian and three-time U.S. champion, announced today he will end his season after deciding not to compete at the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Omaha, Neb.

Weir did not compete for two seasons after the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Last January, he announced his intention to return to competitive figure skating. He received two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series assignments this fall, but withdrew due to a hip injury after the short program Nov. 10 at Rostelecom Cup in Moscow. He also withdrew from Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris the following week. Weir began the season with a fourth-place finish at 2012 Finlandia Trophy in Espoo, Finland.

“It is with deep regret that I announce my withdrawal from the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships,” Weir said. “Since my return to competition this fall, I have worked very hard to compete this season with many obstacles and detours, but I made good on my promise to return to competition and I am very proud of that. My performances so far have not been to my satisfaction and, combined with the stress of competing, I feel that I need to take a step back, prepare more and be ready for the Olympic season beginning next fall.”

Dec 5. - John Coughlin, the 2012 U.S. pairs champion with partner Caydee Denney, is recovering after having successful surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. The surgery was performed in Vail, Colo., by Dr. Marc Philippon.

Coughlin’s rehabilitation will take place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. No exact timetable has been set for his return to practice.

The acetabular labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the socket of the hip joint.  Its function is to deepen the hip socket, making it more difficult for the head of the femur to slip out of place.

Elite athletes in other sports who have had this surgery have taken two to six months to recover.  Singles skater Alissa Czisny is currently recovering from the same type surgery earlier this year.

January 2013

Jan 31 - Evgeny Plushenko has artificial spinal disk replacement surgery in Israel, and will not compete at the 2013 World Championships.

Jan 25 - Alissa Czisny, a two-time U.S. champion, underwent successful surgery to repair damage in the joint capsule of her left hip caused by a hip dislocation. Czisny dislocated her hip on Jan. 12, while performing her free skate at the 2013 Fox Cities Invitational in Appleton, Wis.

The surgery was performed in Nashville by Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd, who has served as a physician for the U.S. Olympic Team and the Tennessee Titans. Czisny will be off the ice for approximately six weeks.

Jan 24 - Evgeni Plushenko withdraws from the European Championships after sixth place finish in Short Program.

Jan 21 - Skate Canada announces partial World Team

Men
Patrick Chan
Kevin Reynolds
One athlete to be named later

Dance
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Gilles & Paul Poirier
One team to be named later

Pairs
Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford
Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch

Ladies
Kaetlyn Osmond

Jan 20 - A leading Russian pair, Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov, who won silver last year in the European championships behind Russia's top pair, Tatiana Volosozhar & Maxim Trankov, have withdrawn from this year's European Championships.

After finishing second to Volosozhar & Trankov in the Grand Prix Final in December, they withdrew from their recent national championship citing his broken skate blade. The reason given for them withdrawing from the Europeans is his hand injury which prevents them executing lifts.

They have been replaced by Ksenia Stolbova & Fedor Klimov, who took bronze in Russian nationals, and were third in last year's European championships.

Jan 20 - Isabelle Tobias and her ice dance partner, Devidas Stagnius, who train with Igor Shpilband in Novi, Michigan, have withdrawn from the European championships in Zagreb, which open with a day of practice on Monday, due to his back problem.

On their Facebook, they revealed they had just been snubbed by the Lithuanian government, who ruled that Tobias met none of the requirements for her to receive a Lithuanian passport, which was necessary for them to compete in next year's Olympics. They finished ninth in the European Championships last year.

They wrote that they are devastated. His previous partnership, with American born partner, Katherine Copely, ended after Copely refused to give up her American passport to apply for Lithuanian citizenship before the last Winter Olympics.

Jan 18 - Evan Lysacek announced
today that he has withdrawn from the 2013 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Lysacek had surgery in November to repair a sports hernia, and has been training in southern California with Frank Carroll and Karen Kwan-Oppegard.

“It’s disappointing because health-wise I’m fine,” Lysacek said. “Due to the long layoff from the surgery I still need about three more weeks to get back into competition form. The good news is I am finally healthy, back to a full training schedule and already working hard to be ready for next season to defend my Olympic title at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.”

Jan 17 - The French Association yesterday announced that Natalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat, who train at the Detroit Skating Club, will not defend their European Championship ice dance title they won the past two years, due to his injury incurred in the United States on January 9. The event begins on Wednesday.

In a Press release, the French Federation said that Pechalat will be in Zagreb as a team captain but that Bourzat would stay in the French city of Lyons having physio-therapy for a torn right leg adductor. The French Association believes he will be fit for Worlds in March.

Pechalat, 29, and Bourzat, 32, are ranked third in the world behind the current champion, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, CAN, and Meryl Davis & Charlie White, USA.

Jan 14 - Alissa Czisny withdraws for the 2013 U.S. National Championships.  Czisny, who had been recovering from surgery on her left hip last summer, dislocated her left hip in her first competition since the surgery, which was also her first competition since the 2012 World Championships.

Jan 10 - Genrikh Sretenski appeared in Essex County Court in Elizabethtown, NY and entered a guilty plea on the reduced charge of endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced to one year in jail, fined and ordered to pay a court-imposed surcharge.  The prison sentence was conditionally discharged, so he will avoid prison time as long as he fulfills the conditions of his probation.  A final order of protection was issued for the victim.

February - March 2013

Mar 26 -  Skate Canada announces team members for their entry in World Team Trophy competition in April. 

LADIES
  Kaetlyn Osmond
  Gabrielle Daleman

MEN
  Patrick Chan
  Kevin Reynolds

PAIRS
  Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford

ICE DANCING
  Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje

Mar 25 - Skate Canada announces Benoît Lavoie will not seek reelection as president of Skate Canada at the end of his current term in May.

Mar 25 - U.S. Figure Skating announces 2013 Skate America will be held in Detroit, MI.

Mar 23 - Russian skater Polina Shelepen announces she will compete for Israel next season.  This will disqualify her from competing in the Grand Prix next season and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games

Mar 21 - ISU warns skaters and officials not to participate in unsanctioned competition in Dubai.

Mar 20 - U.S. Figure Skating announces members of team members for U.S. entry in World Team Trophy competition in April.

LADIES
  Gracie Gold
  Ashley Wagner

MEN
  Max Aaron
  Jeremy Abbott

PAIRS
  Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir

ICE DANCING
  Madison Chock & Evan Bates

Feb 3 - Yesterday we were at the Lake Arrowhead training center wondering why Adam Rippon was not skating, preparing for the Four Continents Championships.

Today we learned the reason. Rippon injured his foot and will not be competing at 4C. Ricky Dornbush is his replacement and will be leaving for Osaka Monday.  Dornbush placed sixth at the recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

About his selection for Four Continents Ricky told us, "I would just like to say that although my selection was not made in an ideal way, that I am very grateful for the opportunity to compete at the Four Continent Championships. I wish Adam the speediest of recoveries with his injury."

Features and Editorials 

• Reconnoitring at Lake Arrowhead
• Ashley Wagner Exhibits Season's Programs at Southern California Invitational Championships
• Jessica Dubé & Sébastien Wolfe Retire from Competitive Figure Skating - Jessica Dubé & Sébastien Wolfe, who paired up in 2011, gaining silver in the last Canadian pair championship and finishing 12^th in Worlds in Nice, announced today they will not compete next week in Canadian Nationals.
• Virtue and Moir Prepare for Canadian Nationals - Tuesday, Olympic Champions, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, spoke in a rare press teleconference.
• Canadian Pair Champions Reveal Their Secrets - Taking a short break from their preparation for next week’s defense of their national pairs title in Mississauga, Canadians Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford talked on Monday from their training site in Montreal.
• Former Judge Nancy Meiss Gone at Age 90
• Strengths and Weaknesses of Skating Powers Illustrated by Grand Prix Final Entries - The qualifiers for the 2012 Grand Prix provide a concise snapshot of how the five skating powers currently dominate elite international competition, and give glimpse into the current health of skating in those countries.
• China Skating Association Prepares for First World Championships in China - The ISU Council provisionally allotted some of the 2015 Championships at the ISU Congress in June at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Oda Welcomes Second Son, Places Fourth at Japanese Nationals
• Kevin van der Perren Gains Unexpected Success in Ballroom Dancing
• Russian Outrage Over Fifth Ranked National Newcomer Maxim Kovtun Picked for Europeans over Older National Bronze Medalist Konstantin Menshov
• 18^th Grand Prix Season Begins with Skate America
• Lysacek Out of Skate America, Believes He is Still Competitive - Is this a pie in the sky illusion?  Gold in Sochi for the 27-year old may be an impossible dream.
• PSA Forum Addresses Prepping Skaters for Performance Golden Ticket - Competitions serve as a forum where skaters get to showcase their skills, gain experience and build their strength, but most importantly, they represent a bottom line and a place where an athlete can make or break their reputation, future and career.
• Two-time Canadian Champion Cynthia Phaneuf Retires from Figure Skating - Cynthia Phaneuf, the two-time Canadian National Champion has announced her retirement in Montreal, Que.
• No Japanese Competitors for Cup of China? - Japanese team may potentially skip Cup of China.
• U.S. Sends Team of Eight to JGP in Istanbul - U.S. Skaters depart for fourth Junior Grand Prix event of season.
• U.S. Figure Skating Seminars Shine Light on IJS Rules Panels of top ISU and U.S. Figure Skating officials made themselves available to explain their thoughts and the reasoning behind the recent rules changes. These experts dissected the latest developments in international competition in two fascinating seminars, in fun but extremely accurate ways.
• Johnny Weir Monitored at Mid-Atlantic Championships - "Secretly" performs during competition in New York.
• Former Skater Charged in Sexual Assault
• ISU Responds to French Proposals for Championships Qualification
• French Federation Seeks Change to ISU Championships Qualification
• Israeli Federation Pushes Back on Minimum TES Scores
• Lysacek Returns to Competitive Skating - Evan Lysacek, the 2010 Olympic champion, announced this morning on NBC’s “TODAY” his plans to return to competitive figure skating after a two-season layoff.
• Christy Krall, A World-Class Act - These days, Krall still manages to play a paramount role in the sport. Reputed to be one of the finest technical coaches in the world
• Pasquale Camerlengo a Leader in Programming - Pasquale Camerlengo, the 2012 Professional Skaters Association Paul McGrath Choreographer of the Year award recipient, has become known as one of the hottest creative commodities of the sport today and with perfectly good reason.
• PSA Conference Draws Big Crowd, Coaches Urged to Cultivate Good Skaters in All Ways - The future of figure skating looks rather bright at least based upon the strong turnout and optimistic mood among those who attended the 2012 Professional Skaters Conference at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Skating Club of Boston at the end of May.
• Four More Years - By a vote of 74-35-1 the ISU Congress has approved extending the terms of the current office holders two more years.
• After Ottavio, Who's Next?
• 2012 ISU Congress Proposes More of the Same
• U.S. Figure Skating Sets Course for Coming Year in Myrtle Beach
• U.S. Figure Skating Financial Accountability
• U.S. Figure Skating Governance - Reader Comments
• U.S. Figure Skating Governance on the Chopping Block
• Abbott Out, Dornbush In for Four Continents, as Skaters Get Altitude Training at Lake Arrowhead
• A Conversation with Richard Dornbush:  Part 1, Ricky on Skating
• A Conversation with Richard Dornbush:  Part 2, Ricky on Ricky
• Jeremy Abbott: I Keep Getting Happier
• Mirai Nagaus Living Life to the Fullest
• Czisny Back on Track after Injury Plagued Grand Prix Final
• Evora & Ladwig Turn Eyes Towards National Title
• Plushenko Granted Waiver to Compete in European Championships -  Rules requirements slide off the Teflon champion
• Suppose They Held a Grand Prix and Nobody Came - Skate America and Skate Canada on Track for Zero Spectators by 2015
• Shoddy Testing Compromises ISU Grand Prix Scoring Calculations
• When the Mighty Have Fallen
• Rebuilding Skating's Popularity - Easy!  Find a ladies superstar, tweak IJS, build at the grassroots level and work the media.
• David Dore Opens Up About ISU and IJS - ISU vice-president and other figure skating luminaries discuss future of figure skating.
• 2011 Dallas PSA Conference a Winner - Coaches rally together in Lone Star state to build business and better teaching.
• 2011 Worlds Moved to Moscow
• ISU Decision on Worlds Expected Soon
• ISU Seeks to Relocate Worlds, World Team Trophy Postponed until 2012
• Waiting for the Other Worlds Shoe to Drop
• 2011 Worlds in Limbo  
• ISU Promising Statement Monday Morning, March 14
• 2011 Worlds.  Should the Show Go On?
• Skaters Care: A Benefit for Japan Tsunami Relief
• Evan Lysacek Named 2010 James E. Sullivan Award Winner
• Skyliners Soar to Pinnacle of U.S. Synchronized Skating
• A Conversation with David Dore - An audio interview with the ISU Vice President for Figure Skating recorded at 2010 Skate America
• News From Liberty Open
• Flip, Flutz, Lip, Lutz - Valuing edge calls in IJS
• The First Skate America Part 4 - Springboard for a Beloved US Pair
• The First Skate America Part 3 - A Judging Controversy and a Worrying Premonition
• The First Skate America Part 2 - A grand, vintage crop of ladies and a real life murder
• The First Skate America - How it all began
• Coach Proposals for the Improvement of IJS - An independent group of coaches are at it again proposing revisions to IJS
• Coach Proposals Recap - Big picture summary of the coaches' proposals for the ISU Congress
• Fall Deduction - Another unnecessary IJS complexity that should Die Die Die
• Dump the Downgrade - Will someone please put a stake through the heart of this vampire!
• IJS Seminar: All About Having Top-of-the-line Components
• Mingzhu Li to Return to China
• 2010 PSA Conference Sets Golden Tone for New Season
• Illegal Third Chinese Pair Team Allowed to Compete at Junior Worlds
• Lysacek, Nagasu Honored at Home Rink Reception
• Skill Mix for the 2010 Olympic Figure Skating - How do the skill categories of the Olympic competitors compare.  We sort through the tea leaves
• Where Is She? Producing the Next U.S. Olympic Ladies Ice Queen
• Hamilton Turns Darkness into Light - Scott Hamilton seems to typify the concept that it is always darkest before the dawn in looking at his many achievements and also personal challenges.
• Measuring Skating - IJS attempts to measure the absolute merit of skating performances.  Does it succeed?
• Casey Helps Build Team Spirit - Kathy Casey seems to have an uncanny ability to light up a room, or a rink, for that matter, with her presence
• Keep on Movin' - U.S. Steadfast About Maintaining a Top-Level Standard
• Brian Orser Still Stands in World Spotlight - Former Canadian star rises to the top as coach
• Laws Gifted with a Golden Touch - U.S. coach guides Canada’s Chan toward possible Olympic gold
• Fewer Is Not Better - Judges that is!  How has the decrease in panel size affected competition results?
• 2009 Worlds Banners, Revised Policy - Staples sees the light!
• 2009 Worlds Banners and Cameras - Policies fans need to know before they show up at Worlds.  Updated 2 March.
• 2009 U.S. International Team Assignments
• Finnstep - Frothy, Fabulous Fun or a Frustrating, Financial Flop?
• Fun With Numbers - Ladies Event - Numerology from 2007 U.S. Nationals
• Fun With Numbers - Men's Event - Numerology from 2007 U.S. Nationals
• Scoring Mystery Resolved? - Comments on 2007 U.S. Nationals
• Rounding, Ties and Tie Breakers - How the ISU rounding method skews IJS results
• So, Who Won the Men's Event? - Comments on 2007 U.S. Nationals
• Scoring Drift in IJS Events
• Compulsories Not Going Out Declares ISU Council Member Courtney Jones
• Let the Deal Making Begin
• Japan's Finest Thrive in New Jersey
• Rippon Ripe for Debut Championship Season
• Coaches Propose Changes to IJS - Text of proposals submitted to the ISU in 2008 by a group of international coaches.
• The Impact of IJS in Club Competition
• Janet Lynn's Address at 2008 Governing Council
• Poaching Skaters
• 2008 Congress Urgent Proposal - Dance
• 2008 Congress Proposal - Jump Combinations - Proposals to change the evaluation of jump combinations.
• 2008 Congress Proposal - Rule 353 - Does the math for this proposal add up?
• Werner Groebli - April 21, 1915 - April 14, 2008
• Cecilia Colledge - December 28, 1920 - April 12, 2008
• Christopher Bowman, March 30, 1967 - January 10, 2008
• Better How?
• How Many Judges Does it Take to Screw in a Light Bulb?
• How Many Clowns Can You Fit in a Volkswagen?
• The Ice is Very Slippery
• New Judging System Debuts in U.S. Domestic Competition
• Book Review --  On Edge: Backroom Dealing, Cocktail Scheming, Triple Axels, and How Top Skaters Get Screwed.
• Jon Jackson Press Release -- Dec. 2005
• New Dance Partnerships for 2005
• Ron Pfenning Runs for USFSA President -- The Sky is Falling!
• WSF Founders Lose ISU Eligibility
• Ron Pfenning Runs for USFSA President
• A Geek's Eye View of the European Ladies Championship
• The Presentation Marks -- What is the ISU Thinking?
• 2004 Skate America Afterthoughts
• More Exploiting the New Judging System
• Exploiting the New Judging System
• An Interview with Sonia Bianchetti
• Olympic Gymnastics, A Cautionary Tale for Figure Skating
• Early North American Champions
• Video Replay Debuts at U.S. Competition
• Cracked Ice Excerpt
• Book Review: "Cracked Ice"
• Cracked Ice
• Southern California Club Prepares for ISU Junior Grand Prix
• Jon Jackson and Ron Pfenning Exonerated
• Next Please!
• International Style of Skating in the U.S.
• Dancing on Ice
• Atlanta Aftermath
• Next Stop U.S. Nationals
• Objectivity in CoP. Not!
• Plushenko at the Grand Prix Final
• Instant Replay for the Masses
• Urban Legends - Skating First is a Disadvantage
• The Underrated Spin
• Fires Threaten Ice Castle Training Center (California wildfires, October/November 2003)
• Book Review: Forever Two as One
• Book Review: Artistry on Ice
• International Athlete's Commission Formed
• A Reader Writes  
• Japan Skating Federation Protests Actions of 2002 ISU Congress
• USFSA Press Release Regarding ISU Judging Systems
• More of Everyone Out of the Pool
• A Reader Asks
• Everyone Out of the Pool!
• It's the Accountability, Stupid!
• Ethics and Accountability in Judging
• Biomechanics - Bones
• Biomechanics - Lifts
• Biomechanics - Muscles
• Biomechanics - Joints
• Biomechanics - Jumping
• Biomechanics - Spinning
• Buying Used Boots
• Boot and Blade Basics
• Coplanar Boots and Blades
• Compulsory Dance - Will it Survive the 20th Century?    (Jan 00)
• The Grand Prix Final The New ISU Tinker-Toy    (Jan 00)
• Eligible and Ineligible Skating    (Aug 98)
• Lipinski Joins the Circus    (May 98)
• Skating in America             (Book Review)
• A Visit to the 1997 World Tour    (Jul 97)
• Vlandis & Guzman          (1996 Junior Pair Champions)
• USFSA vs. Coaches - Part 1    (Feb 96)
• USFSA vs. Coaches - Part 2    (May 96)
• Professional Competition: Sport or Spectacle?    (Jan 96)