During the Olympics I got the chance to chat with some local and international media about the figure skating events, the outcomes and the sport’s appeal.
I made some predictions about the Ladies event on the Global TV’s morning show and chatted with Lisa Christiansen on CBC 3’s “Appetite for Distraction” about my favourite Olympic moment [...]
Last week I spoke with ABC News for their story about Olympic figure skating costuming, Vancouver Olympics: In Figure Skating, Women Go Classy, Men Stay Flashy. The article asks this question: Why are men donning outrageous costumes while the women are toning it down with sophisticated dresses? It was fun to weigh-in on the discussion [...]
Seven-time Canadian Champion Elvis Stojko has been speaking out about a lack of masculinity in the men’s figure skating event. As a life-long figure skating fan, I too have seen a rise in effeminate costumes and choreography. When Dick Button, Brian Boitano and Kurt Browning were skating, men didn’t do ladylike layback spins or make [...]
Watching Joannie Rochette battle through the short program last night was inspirational and, of course, heartbreaking. Her courage is astounding.
Many fans have expressed their support for Joannie with messages and texts. In this statement, she says that she appreciates all the support:
We both want to thank all the people here and across Canada for their [...]
I feel so lucky! I was one of 11,000 skating fans at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver to witness Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir dance their way to Olympic gold. It was an evening of perfection led by the Canadian duo whose complex, powerful and emotionally profound free dance left the audience in an awestruck, [...]
On Monday I attended an Olympic figure skating practice at Pacific Coliseum. The men prepared for the short program event and the pairs got in their last practice before the free skate. When you’re at ice level, the athletes’ speed and power is spectacular!
Here are some photos from the event:
A reader asked me for some information on recent advancements in figure skate construction. Here are a few points of interest that might be helpful for his granddaughter’s fourth grade report on Figure Skating.
The oldest pair of skates apparently date back to 3000 BC, found at the bottom of a lake in Switzerland. The blades [...]
Last weekend I went to Robson Square to see Elizabeth Manley and Katarina Witt reunited 22 years after the Calgary Olympics. Hundreds of fans came out to get a glimpse of the figure skating icons. For so many Canadians, Manley’s flawless free program in Calgary was the highlight of the ‘88 Games.
Manley and Witt certainly [...]