If you’ve been bold enough to step on to a senior free skating session, you know it takes the concentration of an air traffic controller, the guts of a tight rope walker and agility of a simian not to get mowed down. I recall watching one disastrous pairs practice session where the tip of a pinky finger was separated from its owner in a spinning collision.

Despite some gruesome tales, it’s incredible how rarely bad accidents happen. More often than not, free skate sessions are beautiful chaos.

8. Ice dancers have a flare for the melodrama. Melissa Gregory manages to injure herself after only falling two feet to the ice.

7. It usually is, but it’s not always the woman who suffers the worst in pairs falls.

6. I don’t know who this is, but their overhead lift needs some work.

(more…)

Okay, there are some drawbacks. For starters, you have to watch the programs in low res on a tiny screen. But there are advantages too: you can choose which performances you want to watch when, there are no commercials, and you get snippets of international commentary. Plus, I heard that CBC’s coverage of Worlds in Canada was so pitiful that I’d have had to watch it between midnight and 2 pm.

Small screen aside… maybe YouTube viewing is the way of the future.

I was chuffed with how Canadians performed in Sweden. I may be wishful thinking, but I believe that if Joanne Rochette would have put in two clean programs she too would have been on the podium.

It’s great to see our Canadian skaters mature and succeed. In every discipline, the skaters’ emphasis on performance made the difference. The truth is, everyone at the top can do the tricks. But not everyone can skate with Jeff Buttle’s passion or Virtue and Moir’s chemistry. Figure skating is magic when elements and artistry come together.

It’s all looking very promising for 2010!

Olympian and World Professional Champion, Gary Beacom, and 2008 Canadian bronze medalist, Shawn Sawyer, perform in the production.

March 22, 2 PM & 7 PM
March 23, 2 PM
Tickets: $12
Archie Browning Sports Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Rd.
Ph: 250 412-8510

I don’t think so. Yesterday’s bronze at the World Figure Skating Championships in Sweden is a confidence booster. It’s a clear message that the judges like their style, their programs and their elements. They are officially on the radar. Now… with just two years to go to 2010 there’s plenty of work to do: increase speed, polish elements and work on consistency to name a few. But, this weekend Dube and Davison showed they’ve got it in them, and that’s a very good sign.

Clearly I missed out because synchronized skating is wildly popular. In fact, some skating federations claim it’s the sport’s fastest growing discipline. There are synchronized skating competitions for all levels, right up the World Synchronized Skating Championships, which will be held this month in Budapest, Hungary. Synchro skaters are pushing to be part of the Olympic Games.

Here’s my problem. Figure skating without jumps or spins, and only minor artistic achievement seems boring for both the skaters and the audience. What am I missing? Enlighten me.

But, Elvis’ stint as the McCains man doesn’t compare with this strange ad from Japan. It features Mao Asada–a star in the competitive field of women’s figure skating. Not only is it highly unlikely Asada is fueling her grueling all-day practices with chocolate, but her co-star is a figure skating dog!

Yes, a real dog in doggie skates doing doggie skating tricks. Though disturbing, the dog is surprisingly agile. Please, dear readers, don’t let this ad tempt you to teach your Terriers to twirl or your Labradors to do loop jumps. Or at least not with the help of some computer animation experts.

1. Skaters of all levels can do spread eagles. Don’t be afraid to try.
2. A spread eagle follows a circular curve on the inside or outside edge. Don’t be tempted to glide in a straight line–follow the curve.
3. Knees and legs should remain as straight as possible.
4. Tuck your hips beneath you; don’t stick out your backside. It detracts from the visual and can force you off the curve onto a straight line.
5. Are you flexible? Try a spread eagle leaning back on your outside edges. Not so flexible? Try it leaning forward on the inside edge.

If you’ve never tried a spread eagle before, start with the inside edge because it’s a bit easier. Once you’ve got the move down, incorporate graceful arm and head movements and try it with some speed. You’ll feel like you’re flying!