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: 2013-2014 Season Photo Album

And now, for the last bit Off Season Fun.  It's time for my second annual Season Photo Album.  Here are some of the pictures and moments from the past season:

Off Season Fun 2013-2014: Top 5 Favorites From the Past 4 Years (2010-2014)

Off Season Fun continues with me attempting the impossible! Okay, I'm exaggerating but still, attempting to condense four long years of skating down to only five favorite things per season wasn't an easy task.  So much has happened over the last quad but these are the things I will remember the most.

2010-2011 Season

1. Yu-Na Kim's "Homage to Korea" FS

Off Season Fun 2013-2014: Favorite Free Skates

Off Season Fun pushes onward! I usually love this part of OSF, but I found myself struggling to complete my favorite FS list this year.  To be honest, none of the top skaters' programs stood out to me this Olympic season.  Everyone had good programs but I think nearly all of them had better programs last season.  As a result, I have a shorter list of favorites this year and then quite a few honorable mentions.

3. Julia Lipnitskaya - "Schindler's List"

Off Season Fun 2013-2014: Favorite Short Programs

Continuing on with Off Season Fun, now it's time to take a look back at the programs that made last season great.  First up, my favorite Short Programs...

5. Ashley Wagner - "Shine on You Crazy Diamond"

Off Season Fun 2013-2014: Fashion Review - Free Skate

The Off Season Fun Fashion Review continues!  Time for my favorite Free Skate looks from the  2013-2014 season...

5. Samantha Cesario: "Carmen"

Goodbye, Farewell & Thank You: Akiko Suzuki

It's time for me to gush about the one and only Akiko Suzuki.

2014 World Championships: Ladies Review

It has been one long exhausting season for everyone.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting to see good skating at this event but some of the world's best turned in some amazing performances to close out this Olympic season in style.

The 2014 World Championships medalists

2014 World Championships: Ladies Preview

Oftentimes the World Championships are glossed over in a Olympic year.  After the high of the Olympics, going to worlds is a bit like stepping down.  Well, gloss or no, the World Championships are still a huge deal and winning a medal here, even if it's in an emotionally/physically depleted field, is also a huge deal.

The top ladies vying for gold

2014 Sochi Olympics: Ladies Review

The ladies' event at the 2014 Sochi Olympics was full of highs, lows and some of the most controversial scoring we've seen in a very long time.

Whether you like it or not, here's the 2014 Olympics ladies' podium

2014 Sochi Olympics: Team Event - Ladies Review

We saw some of the top skaters from each discipline take the ice to battle in the team event.  There weren't any surprises in the overall standings but there was a rather large shift that took place in the ladies event...

The Russians reigned supreme

2014 Sochi Olympics: Top Teams of Ladies

It's a dream come true or a life's goal for some, and a chance to do it all again for others.  The 2014 Sochi Olympics are right around the corner.  The ladies won't begin their quest for gold until February 19 (though some of them will take part in the team event which starts this Thursday).  Here's a look at the countries with the top entrants for these Games.

2013-2014 National Championships Round-Up

A number of countries held their national championships over the last few weeks.  Here's a look-see at the two major ones (Japan and Russia) and a few of the minor ones as well.

Japanese National Championships

I never would have predicted these results!

End of Grand Prix Power Rankings: 2013-2014

Now that the regular season is over, we have an accurate snapshot to base the second half of the season on.  Of course things can and often do change once the year rolls over so nothing is set in stone. However, based on what we've seen so far and what we expect to see in the next few weeks, here are my power rankings for the top ten ladies:

10. Anna Pogorilaya (RUS)   

2013 NHK Trophy: Ladies Review

And just like that we're already in the second half of the Grand Prix season.  NHK Trophy is always a big deal because Japan is where figure skating is the most popular.  It's the most exciting place to skate and, thankfully, NHK didn't disappoint this year...at least not too much.

Mao and Elena are on a roll! 

2013 Skate Canada: Ladies Review

Please forgive me if this review rapidly descends into incoherent babbling.  I spent 18 of the last 48 hours on a bus and I'm running off of only a few hours of sleep.  I enjoyed my lightning fast mini vacay to Orlando (yay Disney World!) but it's time to get back to business.  I was able to watch the ladies SP on Friday but I had to check my phone while waiting on the fireworks show at Epcot to see who won the event.  So, here's my catch-up review...

A new darkhorse has emerged for Sochi...

2013 Japan Open, 2013 Finlandia Trophy, 2013 JGP Czech Skate & 2013 Ondrej Nepela Trophy: Ladies Reviews

So so SO much skating to talk about!  A number of competitions featuring several of the top names in the sport went down this past weekend: Japan Open, Finlandia Trophy, JGP Czech and Ondrej Nepela Trophy.  Get ready cause I'm going for the high score: four competitions in one post!  Here we go...

2013 Japan Open

I always enjoy Japan Open and this season we were treated to some really strong performances, especially from the ladies.

Team Japan wins again!

Off Season Fun: A 2012-2013 Season Photo Album

A picture is usually worth a thousand words, but I'm going to keep it much shorter than that.  Here are some of my favorite photos from the 2012-2013 season:

Off Season Fun 2012-2013: Favorite Free Skates

Let the Off Season Fun continue!  Time for my favorite Free Skates of the 2012-2013 season.

5. Kanako Murakami – “Adios Nonino”

Off Season Fun 2012-2013: Favorite Short Programs

Yay for Off Season Fun!  Now I’m going to take a look back at my favorite programs from the 2012-2013 season.  First up, the Short Program!  Here are my favorites from last season…

5. Mao Asada - “I’ve Got Rhythm”