Michelle Kwan to perform in Yu-Na Kim's show in August

Never have I been so excited about seeing an ice show. Thank goodness for the amazing Korean fans who will undoubtedly upload the performances on YouTube in no time. From the New York Times yesterday:

Kwan Returning to Ice for August Show

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 3, 2009

Filed at 6:01 p.m. ET

Michelle Kwan will skate before an audience for the first time in three years when she joins world champion Kim Yu-Na in Ice All-Stars 2009 in Seoul, South Korea, in August.

The five-time world champion and nine-time U.S. champ has been practicing and working out for most of this year. Her performance in Seoul could be an indication that competitive skating is still a possibility with the Vancouver Olympics looming.

Kwan's agent announced her plans on Friday.

''Michelle has turned down other invitations, but she and Yu-na have a mutual admiration society going,'' Shep Goldberg said. ''Michelle is feeling healthy and has her abilities up to the standards she sets for herself, which are very high standards.''

Kwan, who recently graduated from the University of Denver and has been accepted into the master's program at Tufts, has not been in a competitive environment since a foot injury forced her withdrawal from the Turin Olympics in 2006.

Her last public performance was Aug. 16, 2006, in Las Vegas with Champions on Ice.

When Kim invited Kwan to the Aug. 14-16 show, the two-time Olympic medalist felt the timing was right.

''The timing was a factor,'' Goldberg said. ''She is skating at the standards she demands of herself to perform in front of an audience.''

Kwan, who turns 29 on Tuesday, has until September to enter U.S. competitions leading to January's national championships, which also serve as the Olympic trials. She would need to qualify through regional events to get to nationals in Spokane, Wash.

Goldberg said Kwan has not made a decision yet about trying for another Olympics. She won silver in Nagano in 1998 and bronze in 2002 in Salt Lake City. But Kwan told The Associated Press in March, when the world championships were in Los Angeles, that she always will test her limits.

''I don't have a timetable. I do have goals,'' she said. ''Right now, I want to do one thing at a time before I make any decisions. I want to make sure everything is out there and I look at all the options. Eventually, I'll get to a place I am comfortable with.''

Angela Maxwell draws inspiration from dolls

I'm always interested in what the young people are wearing these days. How did my closet ever become a sea of black, brown, gray and the occasional charcoal gray? At the New York premiere of Pop Star On Ice starring Johnny Weir on June 11, Angela Maxwell (8th at 2009 U.S. Championships) and Daniella-Bella Favot (4th at Canadian Junior Championships) attended to support Johnny and they looked fabulous. Both ladies train at the Ice House in Hackensack, New Jersey. Daniella was decked out in a silver ensemble and said she brought her Louis Vuitton bag "in honor of Johnny." Angela described her look as "sort of doll-like...I get my inspiration from doll clothing." Hm...Maybe I've been looking in the wrong stores. Forget Macy's, I need to start visiting American Girl Place.

Tai Babilonia honors mentor and coach Mabel Fairbanks

• Rachael Flatt turns to Big Band era and Rachmaninoff for inspiration. [icenetwork]

• Report card on the U.S. ice dance teams and only one team got an A! [Required Elements]

• Jennifer Kirk warns skaters: Stay away from Figure Skating Universe. [True Slant]

• An all-star lineup for Michael Weiss' 5th annual Champions LIVE. [MichaelWeiss.org]

• Forget Borat! Denis Ten is the real star in Kazakhstan. [Goldenskate]

• Swine flu hits Ice Jewelry show in Japan. [The News] My sources tell me all fan meet-ups with their favs, including Johnny Weir, were cancelled. :(

• Nancy Kerrigan is honored as one of Boston's best. [US Figure Skating]

• Related to above, yesterday was an anniversary of sorts: Tonya Harding was stripped of her national figure skating championship title by the U.S. Figure Skating Association and banned from the organization for life for her part in an attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan during a practice session. [Tulsa World]

• Is the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Village plagued with mold? The athletes sure hope not. [National Post]

• After watching this video, I really do see Michelle Kwan in some sort of political role. [YouTube]

• New reality show to bring NHL players and figure skaters together in Battle of the Blades. [Edmonton Journal]

• Synchronized skater India Lewis of the Ice-Lantics in New Jersey likes doing circle formations and her reason is very profound for a 15 year old. [KYW Newsradio 1060]

• Tai Babilonia, World pairs champion with Randy Gardner, accepted the Professional Skaters Association Hall of Fame induction award, at the 2009 Conference in Orlando, Florida, on behalf of the late Mabel Fairbanks. Ms. Fairbanks was Tai and Randy's coach and mentor, and is credited with bringing the pair together. (At right, Tai models her new line of activewear for women and girls called The Tai Collection, (c)Peter Serling 2009)

Pop Star On Ice: Bonus interviews with Johnny, Patti and Paris

Here is my extended conversation with Johnny Weir, mom Patti, and best friend Paris Childers at the New York premiere of Pop Star On Ice. PSOI is a documentary by filmmakers David Barba and James Pellerito that profiles Johnny's rise to the top of the figure skating world. It's been showing at various film festivals around the country and luckily for us, most of the cast and crew made it to the New York premiere and stayed after the movie to answer questions from the audience.

In this bonus interview footage, I ask Johnny, Patti and Paris about how much editorial control Johnny had over the film, the infamous bathtub scene, the recent decision to have David Wilson choreograph his programs for the coming season, why Johnny's father couldn't make it to the premiere, how he'll celebrate his birthday (he'll turn 25 on July 2) and if Paris has a budding acting career on his hands. (Photo above, Johnny Weir and mother Patti Weir on the red carpet)

Click here to watch my conversation with filmmakers David Barba and James Pellerito!

Skating in Iceland

Heading to Reykjavik, Iceland, at week's end for a little stroll around the island. But wherever we go in the world, figure skating is never far behind. And that means we always bring our video camera to capture skating stories (see here and here for a few examples).

So, as this website has a number of Icelandic visitors each month, the question to you all is: who should we talk to regarding figure skating in this island nation? Any interesting up-and-coming skaters or champions from yesteryear whom people want to hear from? Please leave your comments on this post, or if you want to e-mail me directly, it's susan [at] icedigitalmedia [dot] net.

Is Yu-Na Kim switching over to roller skating?

• Kimmie Meissner adds a ballet dancer to her coaching team. [Baltimore Sun]

• Day job: Kill bugs. After hours: Championship skater. [Pittsburgh Tribune]

• Born and raised in Houston, Texas, ice dancer Kaitlyn Weaver now calls herself a proud Canadian. [Canadian Press]

• The science of jumping gets really high tech! [NYT]

• Joannie Rochette, Canada's darling, gets a reality check in Peru. [icenetwork]

• This little girl is obviously a figure skater. Thanks to Ice Charades for the clip! [YouTube]

• Johnny Weir thanks Lady GaGa for bringing back his love of skating. [Official site]

• Listen to one of my favs, Tai Babilonia, talk about and how she hated figure skating in the beginning. [manleywoman]

• Meet retired cabinet maker George Knakal, a self-taught skateologist. [NYT]

• Skating icon Dorothy Hamill vomited before every single competition. Yikes. [Wall Street Journal]

• Did you know you can burn nearly 30,000 calories per hour figure skating? [Buddy Slim]

• Watch Stephen Carriere's triple axel in super slow motion. [YouTube]

• Evan Lysacek updated his journal and life is very hectic and great. [Official Website] 

• Alissa Czisny also updated her journal AND she'll turn 22 tomorrow. Happy Bday! [Official Website]

• Yu-Na Kim endorses her own line of Samsung AnyCall mobilephones. Cute print ad but what's with the roller skates? (see above)