OK so I’m frantic right now. It’s all come down to sorting out my life and prioritizing what is truly important to my daily survival…Venti Starbucks Americano. Check…No I don’t want any room for cream! Do I look like I want to dilute my piping-hot espresso/boiling water mix (sweet nectar of the gods)…of course not. Now I can get down to business. Do I work on the three research projects/papers that I’ve been procrastinating on and pontificating about for weeks (It’s just Grad-School right?), do I see who’s advancing into the Sweet 16 for this year’s March Madness and begin my predictions for the advancement to the NCAA final four! What about the World Figure Skating Championships in L.A.?! Do I take my dog on a walk who’s been staring at me with his sad droopy eyes and half-cocked head for 25 minutes straight! Stop staring at me Cody, I’m thinking!!! Sorry, this is a hectic week; flipping channels from ESPN to ESPN2 to ESPN8 “The Ocho” (Sorry, had to throw a Dodgeball reference in there) and most importantly Oxygen Network. I have to be honest…It took me 5 minutes of channel surfing to finally cave on my “mantuition” (that’s dude-speak for man-intuition) and stop for directions (T.V. guide).
The 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships are under way as I live and breathe! There’s a record number of skaters competing this year- 216 skaters from 52 ISU members have been entered. Brazil, Ireland and Montenegro (the sovereign independent state located just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy) will participate for the first time in a World Championship. This is the last, I’ll say it again, the last top major global skating event until the 2010 Winter Olympics next year in Vancouver. Will the U.S. ladies be able to clinch three spots for the Olympic team? Rachael Flatt and Alissa Cizny need a combined placement of 13th or better (for example placing 6th and 7th or say 4th and 9th…You catch my drift). So here it is ladies and jelly-spoons, the skinny on the competition and the stats so far.
Pair Skating: German Pair Skaters, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy (the defending champions) received 72.30 points last night, putting them roughly three points ahead of the Russians (Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov) going into today’s free skate. China's Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao finished third with 67.42 points. U.S. champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker (making their senior-level debut) landed ninth with 53.62 points, while Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett (52.74) placed 10th. McLaughlin/Brubaker are only in their third season together and Denney/Barrett, less than 10 months, so not too shabby at all.
Ice Dancing: Russia's Ice Dancing team Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin won the compulsory dance with 40.77 points, clinching an early lead in the ice dance competition. The Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are holding on to second place with 39.65 points. This is their first competition since Ben injured his back in South Korea. Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are third. Injury has plagued ice dancing with the French team and reigning World Champions out due to a shoulder injury and Agosto’s herniated disc nearly keeping the U.S. pair from qualifying for Worlds. But the U.S. duo is resilient as Ben himself noted in an online post, "There's nothing like a little adversity to light a fire under your butt," It’s anyone’s game right now, but I’m confident Belbin and Agosto will shine. They’ve made it clear in recent interviews that they aren’t looking for a spot on the podium, but fighting for the gold. The original dance is Thursday, and the free dance Friday.
Ladies: Everyone is wondering if Japan’s Mao Asada (reigning Grand Prix & World Champ) or South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na will enter next year’s Olympics as the world champion. The two have fluctuated back and forth with placement in preceding international events. But Canada’s Joannie Rochette could upset both. She’s managed to defeat Asada twice this season and is a formidable opponent.
Men: With the 2008 World Champion and Canadian skating extraordinaire, Jeffrey Buttle, retiring, there definitely will be a battle for the new World Champion crowned in L.A. this week. 18-year-old, Canadian, Patrick Chan, won his first ISU Championships title in February with a new season best of 249.19 points (the highest score any skater has achieved this season so far). Grand Prix Figure Skating Final Champion Jeremy Abbott (United States) is a strong podium contender as well. Another big question is can the charismatic, Two-time World bronze medalist Evan Lysacek (United States) make it to the podium in his home town of L.A.?
Here’s the schedule of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2009 (Caveat- I hear there’s some sort of 3 hr delay on airing so keep that in mind when looking at posted schedules):
Tuesday, March 24: Compulsory Dance, Pairs Short Program
Wednesday, March 25: Men’s Short Program, Pairs Free Skating
Thursday, March 26: Original Dance, Men’s Free Skating
Friday, March 27: Ladies Short Program, Free Dance
Saturday, March 28: Ladies Free Skating
Sunday, March 29: Exhibition Gala
For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and http://www.isuworlds2009.com/
Cheers!
Matt
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