Sunday, December 26, 2021

Vincent Zhou's "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" from 2021 Skate America

Vincent Zhou's 2021 Skate America freeskate was my favorite program of the Fall season. Coming off of a devasting performance at last year's World Championships, in which he didn't qualify for the freeskate, Vincent never lost belief in himself and earned a decisive victory over an undefeated Nathan Chen. The technical proficiency and joy that Vincent exhibited was inspring!

Kristi Yamaguchi & the 1993 Stars on Ice Cast: Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever"

The glory days of Stars on Ice yielded many memorable programs, including this pairs routine featuring Kristi Yamaguchi and all the men pair skaters in the cast, including the great Sergei Grinkov. This was Kristi's first year of 10 with the Stars on Ice tour. the

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Jamie Sále and David Pelletier, Elena Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze & Todd Eldredge in "Sing Sing Sing: Part 2" from 2003 Stars on Ice.

In this performance, two of the best pairs teams of all-time skate in a group number with the great Todd Eldgredge in their first year on Stars on Ice, following the Salt Lake City gold medal scandal. Power, beauty, and grace combine in this dynamic piece to "Sing Sing Sing Part 2." I was fortunate enough to see it in person at the Wilkes Barre stop on the 2003 Stars on Ice Tour.

Friday, October 22, 2021

Start of the 2021-2022 Olympic Season Inspiration: Stephane Lambiel part 2

During the 2010 Olympic season, reigning Olympic silver medalist Stephane Lambiel, came to Vancouver with this fantastic short program to "William Tell Overture" by Gioachino Rossini. The footwork sequence is my favorite part. Stephane's creativity, musicality, and passion is what makes him one of skating's most talented artists and athletes.

Start of the 2021-2022 Olympic Season Inspiration: Stephane Lambiel part 1

I'm a few minutes away from tuning in to the first event of the 2021-2022 Olympic Skating season. As I look toward the season ahead, I can't help but recall some of the great Olympic seasons of the past. In 2006, following his silver medal at the Torino games, Stephane Lambiel delivered one of his finest, most exciting freeskates to the dynamic "Four Seasons," by Vivaldi. Skating head-to-head with French Champion Brian Joubert, Lambiel rose to the occassion and clinched his second-straight victory in this emotionally-charged win. This program has everything: difficulty, unique choreography, blurred spins, and intensity.

Friday, March 19, 2021

Friday Inspiration: Katarina Witt's "Girl in the Red Dress," Program from "Schindler's List"

Hauntingly beautiful.

Friday Inspiration: Elene Berezhnaya & Anton Sikharulidze's 2002 Short Program to "Lady Caliph"

This is what pairs skating is all about. This program is celestial, ethereal, and elegant.

St. Patrick's Day Throwback: Jason Brown's 2014 "Riverdance" Free Skate

St. Patrick's Day was this week and it's only fitting to celebrate all things Irish with Jason Brown's iconic "Riverdance" free skate from the 2014 U.S. National Championships. I was lucky enough to be in the audience for this performance in Boston. It was electric! After Nationals, this program went viral on YouTube, for good reason. It's an awesome combination of athleticism, artistry, and full-out fun. Enjoy!

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Alena Kostornaia Bonus: Freeskate to the "W.E. Soundtrack" from 2020 Rostelecom Cup

This season, Alena Kostornaia skates to the music of Abel Korzeniowski from the "W.E." soundtrack. Some say she is following in the footsteps of fellow Russian, Evgenia Medvedeva, 2018 Olympic Silver Medalist, who used the same music in her debut senior season in 2015-16, but Kostornaia's rendition is not the same. Medvedeva's skating featured a lot of pantomiming, a style that worked for her; whereas, Kostornaia's artistry is more organic and flowing--she is a true artist on ice. The music's passion and likability matches that of Kostornaia.

Alena Kostornaia's "Departure Lullaby" and "November" by Max Richter Record-Breaking Short Program

Mesmerizing. Haunting. Powerful. A concrete rose.

Sunday, January 10, 2021

Todd Edredge's "Lord of the Rings" Olympic Freeskate

Six years removed from his World title, Todd Eldredge was still in championship form at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Plagued by the elusive Quadruple toe loop, the quad was Todd's only miss in an otherwise stellar freeskate. Gives me chills every time!

Brian Boitano's "Les Patineurs" Short Program

Me with Brian Boitano at the 2014 U.S. Nationals in Boston. Brian Boitano is a master of larger-than-life, bold, sweeping movements. Love the confidence he exudes in this program to "The Skaters Waltz." Have you ever seen a better Death Drop?!

Michelle Kwan's "East of Eden" Short Program

Pure magic.