Did Skate Canada lose virtue with gift pushing star skater's brand?

/
Did Skate Canada lose virtue with gift pushing star skater's brand?

It is customary for skaters, judges and other officials to receive a welcome gift from the organizers of Grand Prix figure skating competitions.

But a gift provided at Skate Canada, the International Skating Union Grand Prix series event last month in Regina, Saskatchewan, has raised ethical questions.

The gift, presented by the Canadian figure skating federation, was a pair of crystal earrings from the Regina-based company that manufactures and markets a jewelry line created by ice dancer Tessa Virtue, who, with partner Scott Moir, is reigning world champion and a favorite to win the Olympic gold medal next February in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Read More

While waiting for Hanyu and Chen in Grand Prix opener, a look at stumbles, struggles and success

/
While waiting for Hanyu and Chen in Grand Prix opener, a look at stumbles, struggles and success

After a hectic first month of the Olympic figure skating season, there finally is a weekend to catch our collective breath, with just two low-level international events before the senior Grand Prix series begins with a bang:  Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan and Nathan Chen of the United States at the Rostelecom Cup Oct. 20-22 in Moscow.

Chen established himself among the world's top skaters when he topped Hanyu in the free skate at last season's Grand Prix Final (Hanyu won the event for a record fourth straight time) and then beat Hanyu  for the Four Continents Championship title on the 2018 Olympic rink in South Korea.  Hanyu had the last (and definitive) word at the World Championships, rebounding from a subpar short program with a brilliant free skate to win worlds for the second time, while Chen stumbled to sixth overall.

The six Challenger Series events so far this season (and last weekend’s free-skate-only Japan Open) have produced some noteworthy performances, good and bad.

Ten random observations:

Read More

Good vibrations for ice dancers Hubbell-Donahue in season debut

/
Good vibrations for ice dancers Hubbell-Donahue in season debut

SALT LAKE CITY -- This is the time of year when figure skaters are just beginning to put the first layer of polish on their programs for the season while seeing what judges think of them.

"Kind of test the waters," U.S. ice dancer Madison Hubbell said. "Let everyone see the material…and build upon that."

Hubbell and her partner, Zachary Donohue, did all that Saturday at the 2017 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and wound up with a couple bonuses: their fourth-best international score in the free dance, 107.65 points (0.72 from their personal best), and a third straight title in this Challenger Series event.

Read More

For U.S. dancers and Canadian pair, comeback season starts well

/
For U.S. dancers and Canadian pair, comeback season starts well

SALT LAKE CITY - Kirsten Moore-Towers suffered a severe concussion in Aug. 2016 in a practice collision with her pairs partner, Michael Marinaro.

It would eventually knock the Canadian team out of the previous Grand Prix season.

"It was the day that changed my life, for the better," she said Friday. "I learned a lot about myself and my partnership."

Moore-Towers learned it wasn't a good idea to keep to herself how badly she felt for a month, a month where she vomited every day and often suffered from blurry vision. Or to compete two days after the accident happened.

Read More

Healthier than ever, pairs skater Alexa Scimeca Knierim still rebuilding her body

/
Healthier than ever, pairs skater Alexa Scimeca Knierim still rebuilding her body

SALT LAKE CITY - Alexa Scimeca Knierim, who battled serious illness for much of 2016, said Thursday that she is "probably the healthiest I've been ever."

But, she and husband/pairs partner, Chris Knierim, are both far from the skating shape they want to have later this season.

"We're not trying to be at a peak here," Alexa said after a mistake-riddled performance left them third in Thursday's short program at the 2017 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. "It's hard to maintain all the way to February for, hopefully, the Olympics. Pacing is a huge factor. We don't feel totally prepared for this competition, and that's OK."

The Knierims, top U.S. finishers at the last three World Championships, lost points when he doubled their side-by-side triple salchows and because they received low levels on their pair combination spin and step sequence. Their skating throughout the program was tentative.

Read More