Is there anything Japan's Takahiko Kozuka (小 塚 崇 彦) can't do? He can even pull off 70s disco! What's his appeal? Other than fantastic skating ability, a heartthrob who doesn't realize he's a heartthrob? After winning Skate America and coming in second at Trophee Eric Bompard, Takahiko went on to the Grand Prix Finals where he won the silver medal. With 2007 world silver medalist and three-time Japanese national champion Daisuke Takahashi taking this season off to undergo surgery on his right knee, it was Takahiko and Nobunari Oda (織 田 信 成) vying to be top man in Japan at the recent Japanese National Figure Skating Championships. In the end, Nobunari took the title followed by Takahiko.
Can you feel the excitement as we approach the 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland? Skating in Cleveland is getting some nice media attention -- FINALLY! -- and the latest is from NBC affiliate WKYC. They interviewed legendary coach Carol Heiss Jenkins and her student Parker Pennington, who gave a preview of what to expect at Nationals.
I really love this piece called Low Duet performed by Ice Theatre of New York members Alyssa Stith and Jamie Coffey Reynolds. They performed it at Ice Theatre's 2008 annual gala honoring two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan. The piece is choreographed by Susan Marshall and the description is that "Susan Marshall's dance work for stage often involves natural gesture and a kind of organic partnering in which the effort and weight of the couple's interactions are allowed to be part of the content of the work, and therefore are not disguised." If you understand that, great. I just know that it's a beautiful piece of work and very different from the usual ice performances. Enjoy!
How refreshing! Comedian Kathleen Madigan has devoted a whole segment to figure skating! Aside from Blades of Glory starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder, it's hard to create funny, original material out of the sport. Even Jon Heder's character in Blades of Glory was based on Johnny Weir. As an aside, did you know Johnny was asked to do a cameo in the film? Unfortunately, he had a scheduling conflict and couldn't do it, but he said he was flattered that the producers asked and that part of the movie was about him. (link to Johnny Weir article) Anyway, Ms. Madigan makes an astute observation about the pairs and ice dancing teams that have been together for years and years, as well as Dick Button's commentary style, and how much younger and younger these skaters are getting.
Andy Williams can skate! I was thoroughly impressed by everything he did. Yes, he was replaced by the "stunt double" skater for the spins, but still, I saw some nice forward and backward gliding. Plus, he was lip-synching while still keeping up with the choreography. I wonder how many takes they had to do. Can you imagine today's singers strapping on a pair of skates when they collaborate to do skating spectaculars? I think the last show that I watched through icenetwork was Seal on Ice. I can't really see Seal in the finale number with Kristi, Brian and Todd gliding around. Oh how times have changed...
