All That Skating

The 2010-11 figure skating season doesn't start proper for another 3 weeks, but most of the stars from Vancouver are busy this weekend with 4 major shows/competitions taking place.

First -3 of the 4 Vancouver olympic champions can be seen at the Staples Centre for Queen Yu-Na's All That Skate LA.

Yu-Na's first major show in North America and Michelle Kwan's first time performing for a home crowd since 2006. There is no doubting Yu-Na is an international star - but she may not be the biggest star in LA. The full cast includes.

Kim Yu-Na
Michelle Kwan
Ashley Wagner
Patrick Chan
Stéphane Lambiel
Johnny Weir
Shen Xue & Zhao Hongbo
Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir
Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto

Aunt Joyce has linked to videos from the show here.

Also State-side, the Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular is taking place in Texas. The cast for this is somewhat more limited (as many skaters are in Yu-Na's show and many gymnasts are busy training for worlds) but includes Evan Lysacek, Nastia Liukin, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, among others.

On the other side of the world. The Japan Open was taking place with Team Japan taking the honours (barely) over a very strong looking Team North America. Joannie Rochette put in the best Ladies performance and Adam Rippon topped the men. Mao Asada debuted her new free skate which had some lovely qualities but the jumps aren't all there yet.


Videos for many of the Japan Open skaters can be found online already - follow these links to youtube.
Joannie Rochette, Miki Ando, Mao Asada, Daisuke Takahashi
Adam Rippon, Cynthia Phaneuf, Jeffrey Buttle, Evgeni Plushenko, Takahito Kozuka

And Finally, the JGP Great Britain is wrapping up. The medallists were: -

Ladies
Adelina Sotnikova (RUS - 166.70)
Yasmin Siraz (USA - 161.75)
Yuki Nishino (JPN - 135.58)

Men
Joshua Farris (USA - 187.74)
Zhan Bush (RUS - 172.80)
Liam Firus (CAN - 166.38)

Pairs
Ksenia Stolbova/ Fedor Klimpov (RUS - 151.64)
Narumi Takahashi/ Mervin Tran (JPN - 144-69)
Natasha Purich/ Raymond Schulz (CAN - 126.98)

Dance
Ksenia Monko/Kirill Khaliavin (RUS - 155.04)
Victoris Sinitsina/ Ruslan Zhiganshin (RUS - 133.86)
Nicole Orford/ Thomas Williams (CAN - 133.66)

Russia's Mini Divas

The Soviet Union and later Russia have for decades been leaders of the world in gymnastics and figure skating. Wilst their dominance has been challenged in recent years by upstarts such as the USA, China and others, they still have the ability to bring out incredible talents. At the moment though Russia has a slight problem- many of it's brightest stars may be among the best in the world, but they are currently too young to compete on the world stage!

Russia's tweenage talents (L-R) Viktoria Komova, Adelina Sotnikova,

Anastasia Grishina and Elizaveta Tuktamisheva.

Many of the 'older gymnasts' will be breathing a sigh of relief that Viktoria Komova and her team-mate Anastasia Grishina will not be age eligible for the World Championships in Rotterdam in 3 weeks. Komova's 'junior' routines from the european championships and youth olympic games would certainly put her in contention for medals on several events and in the all around. Those gymnasts better be looking over their shoulders though as the London olympics are only 2 years away. Komova will be age eligible and ready keen to add olympic gold to her extensive medal collection.
The Russian press had an enlightening look into Komova's life and medal filled home here.

One year out from Vancouver 2010 the Russian Skating Federation had a slight problem. It's National champion and silver medallist would not only be too young for the olympics, they wouldn't even be old enough to compete as juniors internationally until after Vancouver. Adelina Sotnikova and Elizaveta Tuktamisheva have had to wait, practice their skills and bide their time.

Sotnikova trains in Moscow with coach Elena Vodorezova and under the watchful eye of legend Tatiana Tarasova. Tuktamisheva trains in St Petersberg with Alexei Mishin and his group of skating champions. In 2010 these two have finally been let out and about to compete on the junior grand prix circuit - the first step for many skaters to compete internationally. They both won their first events in Austria and Romania respectively.

Sotnikova is currently sitting in first place at JGP Sheffield after her impressive short programme yesterday. These two will likely compete against each other for gold at the JGP final in December, and then many more times before the Olympics come to Russia for Sochi 2014.