Long Live the Kween!!

Hall of Fame Class of 2012: Michelle Kwan

Michelle Kwan will be inducted into the Figure Skating Hall of Fame next year in San Jose, CA--the site where she began her historic march to 9 US titles back in 1996.  Of course we all knew this was coming...duh.  I mean, it's Michelle Kwan!

End of 2011-2012 Grand Prix Thoughts

I'm so behind!!  Thanks to new responsibility at work (and stupid internet restrictions) I'm no longer able to update my blog while I sit at work waiting for something to do.  So, expect my postings to be a lot less frequent than they were a few months ago.  I don't want to shut it down because I really enjoy brain-dumping about skating on this blog, so I'll keep it up and do what I can to keep it going.

The 2011-2012 Grand Prix Final Medalists

I'm so far behind on posting and commenting that I'll just skip trying to do a complete review for all of the events. Instead, here's my quick thoughts on everyone at the end of the Grand Prix season:

2011 Cup of China: Ladies Review

I should really just stop trying to predict who is going to win these things...I'm never right...

If I find a podium pic I'll post it...

2011 Cup of China: Preview & Predictions

Man, I've been so busy this week!  I usually try to post this a few days before the competition but hey--better late than never...

Another showdown is on the way...

2011 Skate Canada: Ladies Review

As expected, we saw some pretty good skating at Skate Canada...of course, the competition was not without its disappointments and trainwrecks.

The Russian domination begins...

Leave Your Comments!

Just a quick notice:

It was brought to my attention that the comments section was set to allow only Registerd Users to post comments.  That was my bad...I'm still figuring out how this thing works!  Anyhoo, Anonymous posting has been enabled so if you feel so inclined, by all means feel free to comment, discuss, debate or criticize (though I ask that you be kind...I'm very delicate and sensitive).

Happy commenting! :)

2011 Skate Canada: Ladies Preview & Predictions

One event down, five more to go.  The next stop on the Grand Prix is Skate Canada and, with any luck, the level of skating will be much better than last week's...

Maybe these three...maybe not...

2011 Skate America: Ladies Review

Damn, that was some terrible skating.  As per usual, my predictions were off...

Alissa's got more than just Skate Canada gold now

2011 Skate America: Ladies Preview & Predictions

So I said I wasn't going post until after Skate America, but what they heck, I'll do a preview.  Why? 'Cause it's Friday and I'm bored as hell at work...

My money is on these three...

2011 JGP Tallin Cup: Ladies Review + Yu-Na Kim News and More

A lot has happened in the figure skating world in the last few days.  So here's a quick run-down of what's going on as we gear up to begin the Grand Prix series...

2011 JGP Tallinn Cup

2011 JGP Lombardi: Ladies Review & JGP Standings

To say the outcome of this competition was a surprise is a huge understatement.  With four of the six spots locked for the JGPF, those final two spots are up for grabs in this final week of competition.  But I'll get to that in a minute.  First, we'll look at the JGP Lombardi results...

Flashback: Rostelecom Cup Through the Years

At last, I've reached the final stop on my flashback tour:  Rostelecom Cup or Cup of Russia...I'm still shocked I stuck with this and did a review for all of the events!

Miki won...I seriously couldn't find a podium picture

All Hail the Kween: Aranjuez

She is the best thing to happen to ice skating since the invention of the zamboni.  I'm talking about the illustrious Kween of the ice, the legend, the one and only, Michelle Kwan.  It's time to revisit one of the Kween's many, many fine moments in the sport: her free skate from the 2003 nationals...

Passion of the Kwan

2011 Japan Open & 2011 JGP Austria: Ladies Review

Lots happened over the weekend in the skating world.  I'll start with the first big senior competition of the season, Japan Open, before wrapping things up with the junior ladies at JGP Austria.

Japan Open 2011

Flashback: Trophee Eric Bompard Through the Years

It's time for another blast from the past!  Now we'll look back at some of the wonderful performances from Trophee Eric Bompard...

2010 Trophee Bompard winners...aren't they a pretty podium?

2011 JGP Brasov: Ladies Review & JGP Standings

Another week, another event.  The fourth stop on the JGP brought a few surprises...but not too many.  Also, I'll take a look at the standings thus far in the series and make my predictions for who we'll see in the final later this year...

2011 Nebelhorn Trophy: Ladies Review

Just a quick post here.  If I find some videos I'll make sure to post them, but as of right now the ladies have skated their SPs and, YAY!, my girl is on top!  Mirai Nagasu easily won the segment with a score of 58.38, nearly 8 points higher than Elene Gedevanishvilli who is in 2nd place with 50.56.  Sarah Hecken is in 3rd with 49.07.  It appears as though Ksenia Makarova had some trouble; she's in 6th place with 45.95.

Unless Mirai has an implosion of epic proportions, she should easily win this competition tomorrow...

Update:  
As expected, Mirai Nagasu won Nebelhorn Trophy...

Flashback: NHK Trophy Through the Years

Continuing with my trip down memory lane, here are some memorable performances from NHK Trophy...

2010 NHK Trophy winners...looks just like Skate America...

2011 JGP Baltic Cup: Ladies Review

I've been super busy this weekend BUT I didn't want to let the week pass without saying something about the ladies at the JGP Baltic Cup...

Flashback: Cup of China Through the Years

Continuing with my flashbacks of the Grand Prix events, now we'll take a look at Cup of China...

Cup of China 2010 winners...2011 will be good!

2011 JGP Brisbane: Ladies Review

Okay, well...I've had time to watch the videos of the top ladies and, dear readers, you're about to be treated to the first Naked Ice rant of the 2011-2012 season...

Dear John Nicks...WTF?

2011 JGP Brisbane: Ladies SP

JGP Brisbane has brought a few surprises!  I haven't had time to watch everything yet, so I'll comment on the performances later.  For now, here are the standings and videos of the top 4 ladies:

Flashback: Skate Canada Through the Years

Continuing with the Grand Prix series flashbacks, now we'll take a look at some memorable Skate Canada performances.

2010 Skate Canada winners and their budget-cut glass medals!

2011 JGP Volvo Cup and Other News

A quick look at the JGP Volvo Cup ladies' free skate and winners, plus a little Caroline Zhang news (No, she's not retiring).  I didn't have enough time to watch all of the free skates from the JGP Volvo Cup this weekend, what with Labor Day and my attempts at having a life and all...so I'll just give you the top finishers.

2011 JGP Volvo Cup

2011 JGP Volvo Cup: Ladies SP

I don't have time, nor do I care to do a full review of the scary skating that was the ladies SP.  I went through the pain of watching all of the ladies so I could post the few videos that are worth watching...

Before I post the videos, let me say how thrilled I am that the ISU finally has a YouTube channel!  There has never been full coverage of the JGP; Ice Network airs the JGPF but that's it.  Last season, the ladies' JGP events were better and more exciting than the senior level GPs.  Hopefully, the ISU will continue to post all of the junior competitions so we won't be reduced to digging for low quality bad angled fan cam versions.

Anyhoo, on to the junior ladies worth mentioning:

Flashback: Skate America Through the Years

2010 Skate America podium...who will win it this year?

Gah!  I'm getting really aggravated waiting for October to roll around so the season can finally begin.  So to pass the time and maintain my sanity, I've decided to look back at some memorable performances from the various Grand Prix events.  I'll start off with with Skate America, seeing as it's the first event we'll be treated to when the season finally starts.

Mirai & Ashley: Is This (Finally) the Season?

This week US skaters selected to participate in the upcoming 2011 Grand Prix events attended the annual Champs Camp held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorodo Springs, Colorado.   Universal Sports caught up with Mirai and Ashley to talk about the upcoming season.  New programs, new coaches, new outlooks on their skating...will this be the season Mirai and Ashely step it up?  Man, I hope so.

Ahead of the Curve?

I post at various figure skating forums and, like all figure skating fans at this time of year, I'm itching for the season to begin.  This year brings a few newbies to the senior ranks, most notably the Russian 1-2 punch aka Adelina Sotnikova and Elizaveta Tuktaymsheva.  Both are technically gifted skaters; however, there is something I find lacking in both of them...

Adelina and Elizaveta, the Russian 1-2 punch

Mao Asada: Queen of the Exhibitions

Exhibition programs vary from skater to skater.  For the majority, it's time to throw on some shorts or pants, let their hair down (literally), and shake their money maker to whatever soon-to-be out of date pop song is currently in rotation.  It's rare to find a skater who takes the time and puts real effort and thought into their exhibitions.  For this reason, exhibitions (this includes most ice shows) have greatly lost their appeal in my book.  However, there is an exception to this...

Kurt Browning STILL Rocks My World!

I'm not feeling much like posting a long in-depth review of the All That Skate Summer 2011 show, mainly because that would involve watching all of it and that ain't gonna happen...

US Ladies in a Slump?...Um, Yeah.

What has happened to US ladies?  I mean, once upon a time it was a rarity that an event went by and at least one American lady wasn't standing on the podium holding ugly flowers and waving when all was said and done.  What happen to those days, huh?

She's the only one...I'm not even kidding...

OSR (Oh So Random) Web Stuff

Coolest thing I've found in a long time.  See how long you play with this...

http://www.sembeo.com/media/Matrix.swf

2011 Glacier Falls: Ladies Review, Part 2

The conclusion to my little Glacier Falls Summer Classic Review...

Senior Ladies: Free Skate

2011 Glacier Falls Summer Classic: Senior Ladies Review

This weekend one of the most anticipated summer figure skating competitions took place: Glacier Falls Summer Classic.  This one tends to be a draw for some of the better known senior level figure skaters in the US and this year there were quite a few recognizable names: Mirai Nagasu, Ashley Wagner, Caroline Zhang, Vanessa Lam, Courtney Hicks...

As this is a summer competition and has little to do with what will happen when the season officially kicks off in the next two months, we'll take this as a snapshot of where these skaters are so far.  It also gives me an opportunity to give my bitching, ranting, raving, etc. a good warm-up before the season starts. So here we go...

Senior Ladies SP

Hello, hey and whaddup y'all!  This is my first  entry on my blog, "Naked Ice."  Get your minds out of the gutter--it's not that kind of naked.  This blog will be all about ladies' figure skating: my love and occasional hate for the sport and the skaters who make it great awful.  I spend so much time at various figure skating blogs (FSU, Golden Skate, YNKF, MKF, MAF, etc.) I figured it'd be a good idea to compile all of my thoughts in one place.  Hell, it's free, so why not?  I'll give it a shot for a while and if it doesn't work out, oh well.  Like I said, it was free.

While I do like men's, pairs and ice dance, I don't pay enough attention to those disciplines to rant as competently as I can when it comes to the ladies.  I've been a figure skating fan for all but eight years of my life, so I have knowledgeable (albeit somewhat biased) opinion when it comes to skating.  I'll try to stay as objective as I can and keep the snark to a minimum...FYI, those last two statements were a total lie.

With the season a little more the two months away things will be quiet for a while, but look for it to pick up soon.  I'll cover the senior and junior ladies' events and any gossip/news/crap that comes up in between.  Til later...