With most of the attention going to the Senior skaters at the Grand Prix Final, it's easy to forget that there is a very talented group of Juniors competing this week in Tokyo as well. Ross Miner is certainly in the mix to medal, if not win, this weeks' men's event at the Grand Prix Final. Ross qualified to the Final right behind Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu on the strength of a win at JGP Lake Placid and a silver medal at JGP Croatia. Miner is just one of several American Juniors competing this... Read Full Story
Literally the final stop in this year's Grand Prix Series, the Grand Prix Final comes to Tokyo this week. The field, as of now, looks strong with only two withdrawals to this point (Joubert, Belbin/Agosto). However, last season there were several "in progress" withdrawals (Joubert, Khoklova/Novitski, Belbin/Agosto) so fingers crossed that doesn't happen this time. The men's field, even without Joubert, Chan, and Plushenko, looks solid. I did some research and three U.S. men have never... Read Full Story
Former world champion Brian Joubert's preparations for the Winter Olympics were dealt a blow on Thursday when the French figure skater was forced to pull out of next month's ISU Grand Prix final in Tokyo with a right foot injury. Joubert, who earlier this month won the NHK Trophy in Japan, suffered the injury in training in the French city of Poitiers and the French Skating Federation (FFSG) said he will miss the December 3-6 meeting. After his NHK Trophy win Joubert set his sights on using... Read Full Story
Evan Lysacek and Kim Yu-na have discovered that the spoils of being a world champion are matched by the obligations. They're learning that their own high expectations might not measure up to those placed upon them by outsiders. And if they're not careful, that can lead to impatience, stress, even mediocrity. "I feel a little bit of pressure," says Kim, the 19-year-old South Korean who has revitalized women's skating with several surpassing performances this year. "My first competition (this... Read Full Story
Reigning world and Olympic silver medal ice dance duo Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto of the United States said Tuesday they are pulling out of the Grand Prix final next week in Tokyo. The five-time US ice dance champions will not compete December 3-6 because Belbin underwent oral surgery Tuesday to ease the pain of an impacted wisdom tooth and was advised to avoid strenuous activity for at least a week. "Tanith and I are very disappointed that we won't be able to compete at the Grand Prix... Read Full Story
World silver medallist Joannie Rochette won her second straight Skate Canada women's title and booked her ticket to the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo. Reigning US and Grand Prix Final champion Jeremy Abbott held on to win the men's gold ahead of Japan's Daisuke Takahashi. Both men earned trips to the prestigious Grand Prix Finals, which will serve as the final showdown for the sport's elite ahead of the Vancouver Olympics in February. Abbott finished second to Takahashi in the closing free skate... Read Full Story
US champion Jeremy Abbott was the surprise men's leader at Skate Canada as world silver medallist Patrick Chan struggled through his short programme to wind up back in sixth. But home fans had something to cheer as Canada's other world silver medallist Joannie Rochette topped the women's leaderboard with a flawless short programme that earned a career-best score of 70.0 at this, the final stop of six in the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix. Abbott finessed his way through his short programme... Read Full Story
Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, the reigning Olympic and world silver medalists in ice dance, have withdrawn from next week's Grand Prix final. Belbin had surgery Tuesday to treat an infected wisdom tooth and has been advised to avoid strenuous activity for a week. Agosto says the pair is confident it will be ready for the U.S. championships in January. This is the second straight year Belbin and Agosto have withdrawn from the Grand Prix final. They were forced out last year by Agosto's back... Read Full Story
Each year, the Grand Prix Final takes place a month or so before the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Next week, the event will be held in Tokyo, Japan. The final is comprised of the four figure skating areas - ladies, men, pairs and ice dance - and competitors must qualify through winning medals at a series of six events. Usually it's a preview of the top skaters we'll see at the Olympics, but a few of the best always seem to be missing, so it's not a perfect indicator of who will win in... Read Full Story
Canada's world silver medallist Joannie Rochette skated to the top of the women's leaderboard at Skate Canada on Friday with a flawless short programme that earned a personal best score of 70.0. In other early action at the sixth and final stop in the ISU figure skating Grand Prix series, Germany's reigning two-time world pairs champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy turned in a poignant performance to Send in the Clowns to take a sizeable lead in their opening round. Rochette, 23... Read Full Story
