2018 U.S. National Championships: Review

There's nothing like the Olympic Trials to remind everyone that this sport is the epitome of grace, athleticism and controversy.

This was one for the books!

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?

We'll Be the Judge of That: 2014 Sochi Olympics - Results

So this was a much more massive undertaking than I originally thought.  I'm not the Excel wiz I wish I were otherwise this might not have taken so long.  Regardless, it was still a fun project.  I'm not surprised with the outcome but I am surprised with some of the scores we came up with.

Let's see if our judges agreed with the standings

Off Season Fun 2015-2016: Fashion Review - Short Program

My Off Season Fun series is 5 years old! I can't believe I've managed to keep this going for that long.  Well here's to 5 more years!  This is my favorite way to waste time during the summer.  As usual, I'll kick things off with my Fashion Review.  First up, my favorite Short Program looks:

5. Maria Sotskova: "Black Magic Woman"

2016 U.S. National Championships: Ladies Review

This went from being one of the worst competitions I'd seen since last year's NHK Trophy to rather interesting at the end.  Put on your reading glasses and get comfortable.  I have a lot to say about this one...

Gracie is back on top!

2016 U.S. National Championships: Ladies Preview

The U.S. National Championships will take place later on this week and I'm so ready to watch this one shake down.  With the 2016 World Championships taking place in Boston, a much bigger spotlight will be trained on the U.S. champion this year.  The U.S. champ skating on home ice at Worlds...that's a major advantage.  So who will have it?  I'll take a look at where the top contenders stand coming in and give them a bottom line for these championships.

This year's top contenders have their work cut out for them

2015 Rostelecom Cup: Ladies Review

There were plenty of big Russian names at this event.  We had the reigning national champ, the reigning world junior champ and the reigning Olympic champ...needless to say inflation was expected.

It's a Russian sweep!

2015 Skate Canada: Ladies Review

Traditionally, Skate Canada is somewhat of a snoozer.  Luckily that wasn't the case this year...

Not what I was expecting at all...

Off Season Fun 2014-2015: Favorite Free Skates

More Off Season Fun!  Now it's time to take a look back at my favorite Free Skates from last season

5. Rika Hongo - "Carmen"

2015 Glacier Falls: Thoughts & Impressions

One of the major summer competitions took place over the weekend: Glacier Falls.  It's a chance to see early/rough cuts of skaters' programs and get an idea of where they are in terms of their summer training.  We got a good look at a number of the top U.S. ladies at this event and, from what I saw, there are some promising programs to look forward to in October.

Gracie Gold: 202.54 (1st)

Gracie won this event...and she won it in a pretty convincing fashion which is not usually the case for her, especially this early in the summer.  I'm a huge critic when it comes to Gracie so for her to turn in such strong performances in August has me thinking she may be on the right path this season.

2015-2016 Grand Prix Assignments: Thoughts, Speculations & Non-Predictions

Skating fans got a big off-season boost last week when the Grand Prix assignments for this upcoming 2015-2016 season were released.  It's always entertaining to take a look at the line up of competitors and allow our minds to run rampant with speculations and predictions.  I'll take a quick look at each Grand Prix event and then give my Non-Prediction as to how I think it will turn out.

Skate America: October 23-25

End of Season Power Rankings: 2014-2015

Wow, what a season!  We had comebacks and meltdowns and even skaters who made it into the history books.  The year after the Olympics tends to be somewhat boring and lackluster.  Thankfully, this new generation of skaters (and some of the older ones as well) made this an exciting and interesting season to watch.

With a full season in the books, I've reassessed my End of the Grand Prix Power Rankings from earlier in the season.  There has been some movement in the rankings since then with some people moving up, others moving down, and some falling out of the standings completely.  Here are my End of the Season Power Rankings...

10. Julia Lipnitskaya (RUS)

2015 World Championships: Ladies Review

Down to the final major event of the season: the 2015 World Championships.  I had a good idea of what to expect at this competition...or at least I thought I did.  Man oh man, was I wrong.

The 2015 World Medalists

2015 World Championships: Ladies Preview

The 2015 World Championships are just a few days away!  It's been a long season but this is the competition everyone has been aiming for.  In preparation for the big event, I'm going to take a look at where the top skaters stand coming in and give them a bottom line for this competition.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS)

2015 Four Continents Championships: Ladies Review

I always go into a competition knowing that anything can happen. I have to admit though, I really really was not expecting this...

The 2015 Four Continents Championships medalists...wait, what?

2015 U.S. National Championships: Ladies Review

All of the promos for this event centered on one thing: Gracie vs. Ashley.  This is the new "it" rivalry in U.S. skating.  Both want the crown...only one can wear it.  Drama, drama, drama!  Everyone was expecting a big showdown and, thankfully, that's pretty much what we got.

Diva Wagner reclaims the throne!

2015 U.S. Nationals: Ladies Preview

Nationals are right around the corner!  The senior ladies will take the ice for their SP in less than a week!  There have been plenty of story lines in US skating this year but it always comes down to who does what at nationals.  I'll take a look at where the top competitors stand coming in and give them a bottom line for these championships.

Battle of the Blondes!

2014 NHK Trophy: Ladies Review & 2014 Grand Prix Final Standings

This final event started off as a real nail biter but, like so many of the competitions this year, turned out to be a little less thrilling than I expected it to be.

Gracie is finally Golden!

2014 Cup of China: Ladies Review

At first I figured they should've renamed this competition Splatfest 2014...it was that bad!  Luckily by the end a few skaters were able to step up and save the competition from being a total waste of time.

Apparently Julia missed the ceremony...hmmm

Top Ladies 2014-2015 Season Preview

It's almost time!  It has been a long summer full of speculation, rumors and rehashing (as it always is) but the light at the end of the tunnel is rapidly approaching: the 2014-2015 season is upon us!  The top names of the last era are gone and as much as I'll miss them, I am super excited to see what this new crop of post-Sochi ladies can do.  Here's my speculation-filled preview of what the top ladies have in store for us this season.

Julia Lipnitskaya (RUS)

Can she win it all this year?