2018 National Championships Round-Up

I usually wait to post this round-up until the New Year but with U.S. nationals starting in a few days, I wanted to make sure to get this post up so I don't fall too far behind.  Several countries have already crowned their national champions for 2018, including Japan and Russia.  I'll take a quick look at the results from those events and give the results for a few other countries.

2018 Japanese National Championships

Four in a row for Tiny Queen

End of Grand Prix Power Rankings: 2017-2018

We've made it through the Grand Prix and the first half of the season.  Based off of what we've seen so far we have a decent idea of where everyone is as we head into nationals.  As usual, I will take a look at the top 10 ladies of the season so far and give an idea of what we can expect as we move into the second half of the season and the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

10. Kaori Sakamoto (JPN)

2017-2018 Grand Prix Final & Junior Grand Prix Final: Review

I'm back!  My vacation was great and I had a blast but now it's time to play catch up.  While I was in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico the Grand Prix Final and Junior Grand Prix Final took place.  I'm all caught up on what happened and ready to give a quick review of both events.

2017-2018 Grand Prix Final

A new Russian takes the crown

2017 Skate America: Review + Final Grand Prix Standings

I don't think I'd be out of line in saying that this event was cursed by the skating gods.  Thankfully, some good came out of it for a few people.

Tiny Queen back on top!

2017 Internationaux de France: Review

This competition started off roughly for just about everyone.  By the end most people were able to redeem themselves...

Remember when this used to be called Trophee Eric Bompard?

2017 NHK Trophy: Review

We're into the second half of the Grand Prix season.  Most skaters are on their second event but we still had a few late debuts at this event. 

New meets old

2017 Cup of China: Review

Every year there is one competition where the judging is so deplorable it makes me want to quit watching the sport.  Cup of China is that event for this season (so far anyway).  If you're not in the mood for a rant on how f**ked up the judging was at this event, you might want to skip the review this week...

I can't even...

2017 Skate Canada: Review

The second event of the Grand Prix season was a bit of a toss up.  With so many potential medalists in the field there were so many different outcomes that could have happened.  It all depended on who showed up.

Kaetlyn is back on top in Canada

2017 Rostelecom Cup: Review

The first competition of the season went as expected for the most part.  There were a few surprises along the way of course...

First set of medalists of this Olympic season!

2017-2018 Season Preview

Is it just me or did those last three and half years fly by?  The Olympic season is here!  This is going to be an exciting season full of drama and tension.  There are so many skaters all aiming for the same target: a trip to the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.  For some, the way should be easy; for others it's going to be a season long battle.  Here's where the top competitors stand as we head into the 2017-2018 season...

Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS)

Can she go undefeated 3 seasons in a row?

2017 JGP Enga-Neumarkt: Review + JGP Final Standings

The final event of the Junior Grand Prix season turned out to be the closest race of them all...

2017 Japan Open + 2017 Finlandia Trophy + 2017 JGP Baltic Cup: Review

Plenty of skating last week.  We've got three events to cover so here we go!

2017 Japan Open

Team Europe takes back the gold!

2017 JGP Croatia Cup + 2017 Nebelhorn Trophy: Review

The main focus shifted back to the JGP this past week (for the women's event anyway).  We're getting down to the last few events of the season and spots to the Final are on the line.  Also, I'll take a very quick look at Nebelhorn Trophy.  There weren't any big names this year but the winners earned a very special prize for their country...

2017 Ondrej Nepela Trophy + 2017 Autumn Classic International + 2017 JGP Minsk-Arena Cup: Review

Tons of skating this week! Three events to take a look at.  Let's dive on in...

2017 Ondrej Nepela Trophy

Another season, another win

2017 U.S. International Classic + 2017 Lombardia Trophy: Reviews

With the JGP series on hiatus for this week the Challenger Series (also known as "Senior B" events) took center stage.  We have two competitions to get through so let's go...

2017 U.S. International Classic

The newbie takes the gold!

2017 Russian Test Skates + 2017 JGP Riga Cup: Review

Like most fans I look forward to seeing the Russian test skates.  The Russians are at the forefront when it comes to women's skating so it's always a good idea to see where the bar is being set for the upcoming season.  There weren't as many participants this year but we'll take what we can get.  After we check out the Russians we'll take a look at the results of JGP Riga Cup.

I Like...

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva

2017 JGP Cup of Austria: Review

I'm a bit late with the review this week but here it is!  Really solid competition all around for this event...

2017 JGP Brisbane: Review

The 2017-2018 season is here!  As always we kick off the figure skating season with the Junior Grand Prix.  First up was JGP Brisbane and, as expected, we saw quite a bit of talent right out of the gate.

Off Season Fun 2016-2017: Favorite Free Skates

Off Season Fun moves onward!  Next up, my favorite free skates from last season.

5. Ashley Wagner: "Exogenesis"

Off Season Fun 2016-2017: Favorite Short Programs

Off Season Fun continues.  Now it's time to revisit my favorite programs from the 2016-2017 season.  Up first, my favorite short programs!

5. Mariah Bell: "Chicago"

Off Season Fun 2016-2017: Fashion Review - Free Skate

Off Season Fun chugs along.  Next up my favorite free skate looks from last season.

5. Anna Pogorilaya: "Modigliani Suite"

Off Season Fun 2016-2017: Fashion Review - Short Program

It's that time again!  We're about halfway through the summer off season which means it's time for my Off Season Fun series of posts.  I always love going back and reviewing some of my favorite looks, programs and moments from the past season.  First up, my favorite short program looks!

5. Kaetlyn Osmond: "Sous le Ciel de Paris"

End of Season Power Rankings: 2016-2017

Another season in the books!  With all of the competitions over and done with it's time to look back at how the skaters from my End of Grand Prix Power Rankings did in the second half of the season and give some notes on what we can hope to see from them next season.

10.  Karen Chen (USA)

Goodbye, Farewell & Thank You: Kanako Murakami

Less than a week after Mao Asada announced her retirement Kanako Murakami performed as a guest at the World Team Trophy exhibition and announced her retirement as well.  My heart can't take much more of this!

Thank you Kanako!

2017 World Team Trophy: Review

I always love this competition.  It's more of a fluff competition in terms of it not really counting for anything important other than bragging rights, but it's still an opportunity for skaters to make one final statement before we head into the off season.

Japan reclaims the title!

Goodbye, Farewell & Thank You: Mao Asada

Mao Asada's exit from the sport is definitely the end of an era.

Thank you Mao-chan!

2017 World Championships: Review

This World Championships carried a lot of weight, not only for the participants this year but for those who hope to make the trip to Pyeongchang next year.  With the winner of the event pretty much a given coming in, the focus was on who would step up to round out the rest of the standings.  Needless to say there were some surprises, both good and bad.

Evgenia goes back-to-back and the Canadians make history

2017 World Championships: Preview

It's almost time for the main event!  This is a crucial one as the Olympics are next year.  The placement of the competitors at this event will determine how many skaters each country gets to send to Pyeongchang.

As always I'll take a look at where each skater stands coming into these championships and give them a bottom line for this event.

Who (other than Medvedeva) will stand on the podium?

2017 Junior World Championships: Review

Okay, so...yeah.  This was not what I expected at all but I can't say I'm disappointed.

Not the podium I was expecting but yay!

2017 Junior World Championships: Preview

The junior season is SO long!  It started way back in August of 2016 and will finally wrap up at the Junior World Championships which will take place in Taipei City on March 15-19.  As usual the major battle for the podium will be between Russia and Japan but there are a few others who could shake things up.

Team Russia

Alina Zagitova, Polina Tsurskaya, Stanislava Konstantinova

L to R: Tsurskaya, Zagitova, Konstantinova

2017 Four Continents Championship: Review

Four Continents is usually a warm-up for the non-European competitors before the scene shifts to the World Championships in March.  For others this is a final hoorah before the end of the season.  All eyes were on a number of women at this event, particularly the Canadians and the Americans...but no one was watching the Japanese women...

Didn't even see her coming...

2017 European Championships + 2017 Canadian National Championships: Review

More skating to cover this week!  I'll take a quick look at the results of the European Championships and give my thoughts on the outcome of last week's Canadian national championships. Let's go!

2017 European Championships

Back-to-back for Medvedeva

2017 U.S. Championships: Review

I was hoping to see some good skating here from a number of the competitors.  Luckily some of them didn't disappoint.  Unfortunately, a few others did...

A brand new champion is crowned!

2017 U.S. Championships: Preview

The 2017 U.S. National Championships are just around the corner.  In most cases there is a clear front-runner...unfortunately, that ain't the case this year.  Everyone seems to be struggling in some way which means this could be a very interesting competition, especially if someone has a breakout performance.  I'll take a look at where the skaters are coming in and give them a bottom line for these championships.

Who will stand on the podium?

2017 National Championships Round Up

Late Happy New Year everyone!  I'm still playing catch up after the holidays and being sick with the flu but I definitely wanted to get my review in before U.S. Nationals kick off.  I'll take a quick look at the two major national championship competitions from December (Russia and Japan) and give some updates on a few of the other countries.

2017 Russian National Championships

Team Tutberidze for the win!