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by **cekoni** » 11 Jan 2010, 02:47

http://loopaxles.blogspot.com/2010/01/u ... w-men.html
January 08, 2010

U.S. Nationals Preview (Men)

The mens event event promises to be exciting with one of the most accomplished field of men the event has seen in some time. The U.S. has the extra advantage of being able to send three men to Vancouver making the event all that more exciting. The field includes, among others, six men who have medaled at Nationals at the senior level (wow!), a World Champion (wow!), three national champions (wow!), and three Junior World Champions (wow!). Here's who I am watching out for:

Stephen Carriere - Of all the top men he's had the roughest season. After winning the 2007 Junior World Title he went on to claim the bronze medal at the 2008 U.S. Nationals. In fact you can partially credit him for the reason we get three men at the Olympics this season. Huh you say...follow my logic: He placed just high enough at the 2008 Worlds in Goteborg, Sweden to (along with Johnny Weir's bronze) qualify three men to the 2009 Worlds. Remember, Evan was third at the 2009 National Championships and had it not been for Stephen (and Johnny) he wouldn't have made the world team and thus Mroz and Abbott would have only qualified two spots for the Olympics...see? He's come on tough times recently but in the past he's proven he can be a top contender. In recent competition he placed 6th at Samsung Anycall Cup of China and 8th at HomeSense Skate Canada.

Johnny Weir - Reality T.V. star and U.S. Figure Skating's Diva, he's looked much more focused and prepared this season. After last season's National's disaster (after falling ill after doing skating shows in Asia) he took some time to reflect, get some perspective, put out a movie (Pop Star on Ice) and get his act together. He's one of three U.S. men that have looked solid this season and if he can continue to skate at the level he's shown this season, making the Olympic Team should be easy, however. the three time National Champ has stumbled as much as he has succeeded at this particular event (he's never had more than one real stumble in a row at Nationals so he's do for a success!). As one of only two guys in this event that has felt Olympic pressure, he has the opportunity to apply lessons learned from Torino to this run at Vancouver. After a 4th place finish at Rostelecom Cup to work out the kinks, he went on to win the silver medal at NHK Trophy and the bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final.

Adam Rippon - In the season Grand Prix opener Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris Adam stole my heart with two beautifully choreographed programs. I commented on Twitter that his Jonathan Livingston Seagull short was one of the best ever. He's shown flashes of what could be called brilliance this season. His big hurdle is his triple axel which has been inconsistent. It's something that he and coach Brian Orser (also coaches Kim Yu-Na) have been working on; getting that triple axel solidly under his belt. He's kind of a wild card, as the two time (and reigning) Junior World Champ we know he has what it takes to get to Vancouver, the question is if he'll be up to the challenge in Spoakane. Adam won the bronze medal at Trophee Eric Bompard and was 6th at NHK Trophy.

Brandon Mroz - He's had quite the roller coaster of a season thus far. In his season opener at Rostelecom Cup he was a disaster in the short program landing in last place only to come roaring back in the free skate with a quad and a solid skate. At Cancer.Net he did the exact opposite, hitting a solid short and then went to pieces in the free skate. Perhaps it's all been too much too soon for Mroz. In his first attempt at Nationals as a senior he won the silver medal and went to the World Championships. With such quick advancement it easy to forget he is still a bit on the young side and the pressure of expectation may be starting to weigh on him heavier than before. Still, he has to be considered one of the top contenders. Brandon finished 7th overall at Rostelecom Cup and 8th at Cancer.Net Skate America.

Evan Lysacek - The reigning World Champion has proven this season that his win last season in L.A. was no fluke. He looks well trained, consistent, and has been posting impressive numbers this season. "In the last Olympics, I was young and really excited. I've learned a lot in the past four years and want to take the experience I have gained and put it all into effect in Vancouver." He is certainly doing just that. He's had a stellar season thus far, nabbing the silver at Samsung Anycall Cup of China, the Gold at Cancer.Net Skate America, and the Gold at the Grand Prix Final. Barring catastrophic disaster, Evan Lysacek will be in Vancouver.

Ryan Bradley - During a recent teleconference he made it clear he was going for broke at Nationals. He's the veteran of the field and the oldest men's competitor. He is also the competitor who will attempt the hardest content...a for sure quad/triple combo in the short and two quads, one in combination, for the free skate. He's employing the 'Go Big or Go Home' strategy. Ryan certainly has to see this as his final shot at making it to an Olympic Games. The master showman put on quite the production last time he was in Spokane, taking the silver medal and having the skate of a lifetime. He'll need to summon those spirits again inside Spokane Arena to compete in this even deeper field. Ryan had a tough start to his season placing 9th at Trophee Eric Bompard but kicked it up a notch at Cancer.Net Skate America to win the bronze medal.

Jeremy Abbott - The reigning National Champion had a full plate last season. He was one of just three (Meryl Davis and Charlie White were the other two) U.S. skaters to do two Grand Prix Events, the Grand Prix Final, U.S. Nationals, Four Continents Cup, and World's. By the time he reached L.A., he was just out of gas. "Last season I got burned out toward the end and it didn't go as expected. I started early and pushed really hard all the way through and I think it was just too much to handle at the end of the season." The mid part of that season was fantastic where he won not only the Grand Prix Final, but the national crown as well. "This year, I took a different approach. I started a little bit later and I'm allowing my body and my mind to rest so I don't get overextended at the end of the year. I think it's certainly an attainable goal to be on the Olympic podium." After a so so start to his season at NHK Trophy with a 4th place finish, he rebounded nicely with a win at HomeSense Skate Canada. While he only placed 4th at the Grand Prix Final he had a tremendous free skate and was within a point or so of beating Lysacek in the free. He seems to be peaking just right this season. He and his new coach, Yuka Sato, have clearly made that a priority.

There is quite the cast of second-string men competing in Spokane including previous novice and junior champions, some other well rounded veterans, and some hot-shot young up-and-comers. Don't be surprised if you see a few other names amongst the top contenders!

Who are the ones to watch...to beat? You tell me...

by **cekoni** » 11 Jan 2010, 08:30

http://www.examiner.com/x-20118-Figure- ... review-Men
January 9, Figure Skating Examiner, Jackie Wong

Canadian Championships preview: Men

The men’s event at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships starts next Friday in London, Ontario. All eyes will be focused on two-time and reigning Canadian champion Patrick Chan and how prepared he is to take on the best in the world in his home country at the Olympics next month.

But though Chan will be the one to watch at Canadians, the intriguing drama will be unfolding in the race for the second Canadian men’s spot at the Olympics. There are a number of young and veteran skaters who are capable of grabbing that second berth.

Here is the scoop on the some of the key names at Canadians:

Patrick Chan – The World silver medalist is Canada’s best hope for a medal in the men’s event. He is one of the purest skaters in the world, with effortless movement across the ice and the ability to seamlessly string together jumps, spins, and steps. But this season has not gone according to plan, with an injury earlier this season that delayed his preparation and a disappointing sixth place finish at Skate Canada, his only international competition thus far. To further complicate things, he has switched coaches from Don Laws to his choreographer, Lori Nichol, amidst Laws’ relocation to Florida. A great showing at Canadians, though, will put aside all doubts about his readiness for the Olympics.

Vaughn Chipeur – The reigning silver medalist had a breakthrough season last year, making his first World team and finishing a very respectable 12th. He is a powerful, but inconsistent, skater. And his results in the Grand Prix series were less than stellar, with a 12th place at Trophee Eric Bompard and an 11th place at the NHK Trophy.

Kevin Reynolds – There is no doubt that the 19-year old can jump. He will likely be the only skater in the event to attempt two different quad jumps in the free skate. The question is whether or not he will be able to put together two clean programs to be competitive with the other men. Known more for his technical ability, Reynolds has worked on his musicality this season. If he finds his rhythm in Ontario next week, he could very well plan a trip to Vancouver in February.

Shawn Sawyer – A complete contrast to Reynolds, Sawyer has always been known to be a musical and artistic skater without the best handle on the most difficult jumps. He has won the bronze medal at Canadians three times. But he has not had a season quite like his 2005-2006 season, when he made the Olympic and World team. Since then, he has not made it back to Worlds. His silver medal at Skate America in November was a promising sign. He will need to avoid underrotating his jumps and land a couple of clean triple axels to earn his second trip to the Olympics.

Jeremy Ten – Ten is the defending bronze medalist, and like Chipeur, he also made the World team last season. But he has also had his own struggles this season, with his highest placement being tenth at the NHK Trophy. He had a few breakthrough performances last season, which he will hope to repeat next week at Canadians.

Medals predictions
1. Patrick Chan
2. Shawn Sawyer
3. Kevin Reynolds

by **Kudryavka** » 13 Jan 2010, 19:57

12 January, 2010
Daisuke Takahashi's Comment at Send-off Party
http://www.boom-sports.com/archives/51783095.html

......
- You have many rivals.
- Yes, there's a black hole ..... ? No, dark horse. LOL - there's a dark-horse, a scary competitor, Plushenko is the alien territory. If possible, I do not want to compete against him though.

- If you win a medal at the Olympics, what do you ask to our university?
- Well... Please build another ice rink. If we have it, we can train more. I know I shouldn't say a lavish thing but ...

- Do you take something to Vancouver?
- I want to take a manga because I love One-Piece (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Piece) :pi_rat:

but it's too heavy. (So he won't take it)

- How did you spend at the Olympic village in 2006?
- I was alone last time... Yes, I was alone. At Vancouver, I will listen to music with my mobile phone :mu_zyk:

and watch DVD ... And this time, we are three men (Oda and Kozuka and he) So they will murmur something. LOL

by **cekoni** » 14 Jan 2010, 08:13

www.skatebuzz.com/ViewNewsArticle.a...94-563e57ed9ee1
Jan 12, 2010 By Graham Dunbar , The Associated Press

Swiss figure skater Lambiel says he can win Olympic gold in comeback season

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Swiss figure skater Stephane Lambiel believes he can win an Olympic gold medal even after missing a whole season with an adductor muscle injury.

The two-time world champion said Monday that it's "an unbelievable dream" but a realistic objective to win the men's individual gold in Vancouver next month.

"Quite simply, for me the Olympic Games are a competition apart," said Lambiel, a silver medallist at the 2006 Turin Olympics.

Lambiel also competed in Salt Lake City in 2002 at the age of 16, finishing 15th.

"I've lived through it twice and it's so different, the emotions are so different," he said. "I said to myself that if you have the opportunity and the health you must go and face it in Vancouver."

The 24-year-old Lambiel will test his Olympic readiness next week at the European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
Lambiel expects to compete there against Evgeni Plushenko for the first time since the Russian beat him at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Plushenko, who won the silver medal in Salt Lake City, also is making a comeback after a three-year break.
But Lambiel said he is not interested in Plushenko - only in impressing the judges with his new free program set to music from the opera La Traviata.

"I'm not expecting anything about this rivalry," he said. "I don't feel this competition like a tennis game where you have your competitor against you and you have to beat him.
It's more like a show. When I'm on the ice I have five minutes to show what I can do and there is no one against me."

Lambiel said he has the confidence to compete at full strength after constant pain in training forced his retirement in October 2008.

"I know that it's possible for me to give my best for the next competitions," he said. "It's the judges that will decide if I'm going to be European champion or Olympic champion."

Lambiel had been training in Wayne, N.J., with Ukrainian coach Viktor Petrenko, the 1992 Olympic champion, when he decided to focus only on exhibition shows.
Now he is reunited in Switzerland with coach Peter Gruetter, who guided him to back-to-back world titles in 2005-06, and support staff for his physical therapy.

"It's going well. I've built a training program with my team ... which allows me to train with the minimum pain possible," Lambiel said, while noting that "it's difficult to be an elite sportsman without anti-inflammatories.
The most important thing for me is ... to be able to do all my competitions with serenity and good health."

Lambiel goes into his third Olympics with "a little bit more maturity" and fresh enthusiasm.

His new free program will reflect the change. Gone is the weighty, emotional tango routine he worked on two years ago in favour of an expressive piece climaxing with the drinking song aria from La Traviata.

"It really has a festive air," Lambiel said. "You search for your partner then, finally, everybody dances a little more."

He hopes to see a production of Guiseppe Verdi's work at the Zurich Opera House in May.

"I would love to go and watch it live because it could be amazing," Lambiel said.

Wearing an Olympic gold medal?

"Hopefully."

----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-skat ... xt=rambler

Стефан Ламбьель: «От соперничества с Плющенко не ожидаю ничего»

Швейцарский фигурист Стефан Ламбьель считает, что ему по силам выиграть медаль на Олимпиаде в Ванкувере, несмотря на то, что он пропустил сезон из-за травмы, и рассказал о противостоянии с Евгением Плющенко.

«Выиграть золото в мужском катании – это невероятная мечта, но в то же время и реальная цель. Олимпиада – особые соревнования. Я уже дважды выступал на Играх, и они отличались, были разными с разными эмоциями. Я сказал себя, что если есть возможность и позволяет здоровье, то нужно ехать в Ванкувере.

От соперничества с Плющенко не ожидаю ничего. Не ощущаю, что эти соревнования подобны тем, что есть в теннисе, когда вы встречаетесь с соперником лицом к лицу и должны победить. Это больше шоу.

Когда же нахожусь на льду, то у меня есть пять минут, чтобы показать свое мастерство, а против меня никто не играет. Судьи решат, быть ли мне олимпийским или европейским чемпионом», – приводит слова серебряного призера Турина-2006 АР.

-------------------------

http://www.championat.ru/other/article-46862.html
12 января 2010 года, вторник. 15:30

Грюттер: это будет чудесная программа

О чемпионате Европы в Таллине, здоровье Ламбьеля, тройном акселе, новой системе и её недостатках, скандале в Солт-Лэйк-Сити и программах швейцарца рассказал его тренер Питер Грюттер.

Чемпионат Европы, который в этом году пройдёт в Таллине, уже совсем близко. Открытие турнира назначено на 19 января. Одна из его интриг – возвращение в любительский спорт серебряного призёра Олимпиады в Турине, двукратного чемпиона мира Стефана Ламбьеля. С его тренером, Питером Грюттером, наши корреспонденты поговорили во время прошедшего недавно национального чемпионата Швейцарии.

— Как вы оцениваете форму своего ученика? На турнире Nebelhorn Trophy в Оберстдорфе вы сказали, что к чемпионату Европы в январе будете полностью готовы.
— К Таллину нужно быть в лучшей форме, это точно. Но прошлая неделя была очень хорошей. Я удивлён, что здесь тренировки прошли не настолько успешно.

— А здоровье?
— Без улучшений. Но всё под контролем. Стефан - очень стойкий человек и может терпеть очень сильную боль. Всегда мог, даже когда был маленьким мальчиком. Он долго не жалуется. Если у него что-то болит, я узнаю на пару дней позже, чем должен был бы.

— Зимой Стефан говорил, что не может кататься дольше получаса. А потом, летом, во многих интервью упоминал, что теперь тренируется в полную силу.
— У него примерно семь часов тренировок на льду в неделю: пять дней по полтора часа. Стефану не нужно разучивать много новых элементов. Думаю, с возрастом все спортсмены начинают тренироваться меньше, понимая что "машина изнашивается". Кроме того, Стефан каждый день делает физиотерапевтические процедуры и занимается в зале, словом, всё необходимое, чтобы выдержать этот сезон.

— Как обстоят дела с прыжками? Нам показалось, что лутц у него более проблематичный. И есть ли улучшения с тройным акселем?
— В какие-то дни лучше идёт флип, в другие лутц, а бывают дни, когда вообще ничего не идёт (смеётся). После Оберстдорфа Стефан начал было прыгать аксель на тренировках, понемногу, и в сентябре этот прыжок у него получался довольно хорошо. Но потом однажды он очень неудачно упал на больное бедро... Поэтому мы решили пока аксель не форсировать. Я должен ждать, пока он сам не скажет, что готов. В конце концов, это не единственный прыжок. Сегодня есть фигуристы, которые вообще не делают четверной, а он может прыгнуть сразу два в одной программе. Но я никогда не диктовал ему, что сделать во время проката, всегда позволял решать самому по ходу проката, по ощущениям. Кому-то другому нужно всё проговаривать, иначе не хватит фантазии что-то поменять, но он умеет принимать решения во время проката.

— Мы также заметили, что Стефан в этом сезоне не меняет ребро во вращениях.
— Да, мы нашли другой способ получать четвёртый уровень за вращения, без смены ребра (то есть держать одну позицию в течение 8 оборотов. - Прим. "Чемпионат.ру"). От смены ребра падает скорость, да и выглядит он некрасиво, особенно в приседе, в "волчке". Раньше такие вращения смотрелись красиво в позициях с прямой спиной, сейчас же все фигуристы скрючиваются, как грибы. Выглядит ужасно! Такая жалость, что это приходится делать, чтобы получать больше баллов.

— Похоже, вы не любитель новой системы!
— Мне она не нравится. И никогда не понравится. Я надеюсь прожить достаточно долго, чтобы застать другую систему, которая будет менее арифметической: сейчас мы считаем баллы, как в банке. Новая система создана математиком Лакерником. Он хороший человек, у него была неплохая идея, но он математик, а не художник. Наш вид спорта по-французски называется patinage artistique (художественное катание), а по-английски - "фигурное катание". Но что такое фигура? И как, например, определили стоимость тройного флипа? Почему сальхов ценится меньше, чем флип?

— Считается, что сальхов легче флипа...
— Легче? Но на сальхове ошибаются чаще всего. Если посмотреть прокаты с чемпионатов мира, вы увидите, что очень многие ошибаются на сальхове. При этом что делают флип и лутц! Значит, сальхов должен стоить дороже. Статистика подтвердит, что сальхов - прыжок, на котором ошибается больше всего чемпионов. Получается, он должен считаться самым сложным. Всё индивидуально...

Почему обязательным прыжком в короткой программе стал именно аксель? Кто так решил? Если бы один год обязательным был лутц, другой год – какой-нибудь ещё… но был выбран аксель. Почему? Это прыжок прыжков? Нет, прыжок прыжков — риттбергер.

— Tогда нужно что-то делать. Вы пробовали как-то на это повлиять?
— Я пытался. Я говорил господину Лакернику, что когда Стефан делает вращение первого уровня в начале разминки, быстрый волчок и потом винт, все аплодируют; а когда делает вращение четвёртого уровня, никто не реагирует. В Швейцарии была отличная фигуристка Люсинда Ру с чудесными вращениями: сейчас ей поставили бы за них, может быть, второй уровень. А она вращалась лучше всех в мире. Сейчас судьи должны просто ставить оценки, не сравнивая спортсменов и программы. Но я хочу, чтобы сравнивали! Тогда можно было бы сказать: это вращение лучше, оно должно стоить больше. Это логично.

— Возможно, опасаются судейской необъективности.
— Именно поэтому судей в бригаде так много. Если один или два арбитра предвзяты, у других двух будут другие предпочтения. Думаю, судейство в рамках прежней системы было не настолько несправедливым и результаты были не такими уж неправильными. А скандал в Солт-Лэйк-Сити раздули СМИ. Тогда голоса разделились пять против четырёх, у русской пары программа была сложнее, а канадцы представили милую постановку, но очень лёгкую, в ней было много катания на двух ногах. За год до этого русские не жаловались, когда в Канаде (на чемпионате мира 2001. - Прим. "Чемпионат.ру") канадцы победили с гораздо более лёгкой программой. Они просто согласились с таким решением. Весь скандал был раздут журналистами, потому что им нужно было продавать газеты, им нужно было поднимать тиражи.

— Но при старой системе спортсменов как раз сравнивали между собой. Многие до сих пор считают, что канадцы должны были победить, потому что у них был чистый прокат, а у Антона Сихарулидзе - помарка на выезде из двойного акселя. Зрители не понимали, какая программа сложнее. При новой системе у нас хотя бы есть список исполненных элементов с базовой стоимостью и оценками за качество исполнения (GOE).
— Если судей девять или одиннадцать, возможно, четверо предпочтут чистый прокат, а остальные предпочтут более сложную программу, пусть даже и с ошибками. Я бы принял итог такого судейства, даже если бы решение было другим, если бы пятеро судей предпочли чистый прокат более лёгкой программы. Но скандал я не принимаю.

— Ещё пара вопросов о программах уже вашего ученика. В одном из недавних интервью вы сказали, что вам не нравится танго и вы хотели бы поменять произвольную программу.
— Я не говорил, что она мне не нравится, я сказал, что это не олимпийская программа. Программа для Олимпиады должна запоминаться, быть особенной, как, например, программа на музыку Чарли Чаплина у Нобунари Оды или на музыку La Strada у Дайсуке Такахаши. "Времена года" в костюме с полосками зебры с Олимпиады в Турине тоже запомнились. А нынешняя произвольная - это просто очень хорошее танго, но его не будут помнить. Стефан оставил её, потому что катал весь прошлый год в шоу, и она у него в крови. Для Олимпиады понадобится что-то другое. В Оберстдорфе мне многие сказали, что хотя произвольная программа хороша, короткая сильнее. Неправильно начинать с более сильной программы. Поэтому я и не хотел оставлять танго для Олимпиады.

— У вас уже есть какие-то планы, идеи?
— У нас даже программа есть, но я не хотел бы об этом говорить. Она уже поставлена, Стефан катает её на тренировках каждый день. Сначала танго, потом короткую программу, а потом новую произвольную, пока без прыжков. Это будет чудесная программа. Думаю, люди её будут помнить. И надеюсь, что многим понравится музыка. Мы могли бы взять "Шехерезаду", поначалу я думал именно о ней. Публике обычно нравятся восточные мотивы. Но поскольку у Эвана Лайсачека произвольная программа на эту же тему, я подумал, что двух "Шехерезад" быть не должно.

— Мы не знали, что новая программа уже готова и беспокоились, что до чемпионата Европы осталось не так много времени, чтобы успеть что-то поменять.
— Мы скоро попробуем прокатать новую произвольную программу со всеми прыжками. Если окажется, что Стефану неудобно, он, конечно, решит в Таллине катать танго, но я надеюсь, что этого не случится.

В начале нового, 2010 года, Стефан Ламбьель официально объявил, что покажет в Таллинне на чемпионате Европы новую произвольную программу на музыку из оперы Верди "Травиата".

by **cekoni** » 14 Jan 2010, 08:20

www.skatebuzz.com/ViewNewsArticle.a...09-3f2e37cf1ab8
Jan 12, 2010 By The Canadian Press

Quirky and eccentric on the ice, Weir is dead serious about taking on the world

Colourful. Eccentric. Talented. Artistic. Quirky. Entertaining. Outrageous.

All of those adjectives (and about a hundred others) have been used to describe Johnny Weir. The three-time U.S. champion and 2008 world bronze medallist is figure skating's most oversized personality, the court jester who commands everyone's attention.
Make no mistake, though, Weir is nobody's fool.
When the U.S. championships begin this week in Spokane, Wash., Weir is determined to prove that not only is he still the best in his country, he can contend for gold at the Vancouver Olympics.

"I don't want to be that skater that people just kind of keep around for whatever reason. I want to be a champion," Weir said. "That lights me every day to go into practice, to work harder, to try harder, to be more creative, to kill myself on a daily basis so I can be prepared never to fall into mediocrity."

For much of the last decade, Weir was a fixture atop both the U.S. and world scenes. One of the most lyrical, expressive skaters around, he can make basic crossovers look artistic, and his insights and antics - who else would liken a costume to a "Care Bear on acid" - have given the sport some badly needed pizazz in the post-Michelle Kwan era.
But Weir found himself at a crossroads last year. His risky decision to travel to South Korea for a show a month before the U.S. championships resulted in a severe case of the flu that left him weakened and undertrained, and his performances at nationals were dismal. He finished a distant fifth, but hoped his impressive resume would be enough to persuade U.S. Figure Skating officials to put him on the world team, anyway.

They didn't.
For the first time since 2003, Weir found himself on the sidelines for a world championships. With worlds in his own country, no less.

"Not competing in the world championships last year was a terrible thing for my career, and I was so disappointed I wasn't able to compete in Los Angeles," he said. "But at the same time, I think it was very good for me. It kind of knocked me off the cloud I'd been riding, and made me pull myself back up again."

Not that it happened right away. Weir admits he spent a few months moping around, even quitting for a few weeks. But a heart-to-heart with his mother made him realize he didn't want to squander what could be his last chance at an Olympic medal.

"She said, 'You're going to regret this. You're going to be my age one day, and you're going to regret every second of sitting here feeling sorry for yourself,' " Weir recalled. "I said, 'I haven't worked this hard for this long to let myself crumble and kind of disappear.' "

Since then, the 25-year-old has committed himself with a vengeance. Aside from a New Year's Eve party at a Russian restaurant in New York City, he rarely goes out. He travelled to Chicago twice in September for the U.S. Olympic Committee media summit and a show, but that's about the extent of his non-competition globe-trotting.
He doesn't even see his family that often, sticking to a Spartan schedule that has him either at the rink or home.

His programs were done by respected choreographer David Wilson, who also is responsible for world champion Kim Yu-na's programs, and last week he invited monitors from U.S. Figure Skating to the rink to see his progress.

"I didn't want to take any chances this year," he said. "I wanted them to see I was prepared and healthy and ready, and I think it was great to show them that."

Of course, just because he's taking his training seriously doesn't mean Weir is taking himself (too) seriously.

He's redesigned his costume for his "Fallen Angel" free skate so some of the detailing stands out more. And he's added fur.

He's the subject of a reality series, "Be Good Johnny Weir," which premieres Jan. 18 on the Sundance Channel. The eight-part series, which chronicles the ups and downs of an elite athlete, is a follow-up to this summer's "Pop Star on Ice" documentary.
Weir said the commercial for the show pokes fun at some of his most infamous moments, featuring, among other things, him popping out of a Faberge egg and wearing heels.

"The show's insane," Weir said, laughing. "You get to see really what my life is like behind the scenes." The show ends with the national championships and, Weir hopes, a spot on his second Olympic team.

Weir's season started slowly, with a disappointing performance at the Rostelecom Cup in Russia, one of his favourite countries. He rebounded with a silver medal at NHK Trophy, which qualified him for the Grand Prix final.

"I knew that I had to show myself," Weir said. "If you have one bad competition, it's one thing.
But two in a row like I'd had, the national championships and then the Rostelecom Cup, if I had a third, I'd be completely written off for the season. I may as well have just stopped there."

Weir went on to win the bronze medal at the Grand Prix final, joining winner Evan Lysacek, the world champion and fellow American, on the podium. Jeremy Abbott was fourth.
The three figure to be the main contenders again at the national event, which also serve as the Olympic trials. The men's competition begins Friday with the short program, followed Sunday by the free skate.
Lysacek is considered the heavy favourite. No surprise considering his win at worlds in March was the first by a U.S. man since Todd Eldredge In 1996, and he's followed up with wins at the Grand Prix final and Skate America. Abbott gets plenty of attention, too, as the defending champion.

That leaves Weir as somewhat of a, dare we say it, afterthought.

"In no way do I feel like I stopped commanding the spotlight. I think I travel with one," he said, laughing.

But, Weir pointed out, some of his best results have come when people haven't expected much. He won his first national title in 2004, a year after withdrawing during his free skate. His spectacular 2008 duel with Lysacek that ended with them tied (Lysacek won the title on a tiebreak) came a season after he lost his title to Lysacek with a lacklustre performance.

"It's very cliche to actually say this, but the main competitor for me is myself at this point," Weir said. "I think the only thing that can get in my way right now is my mind and my own brain. If I can step over that, I don't see a problem with anyone.

"I think I can compete with any of these boys."

--------------------------------------------------------

http://www.championat.ru/other/news-390888.html

Вейр: я сам себе конкурент

Американский фигурист Джонни Вейр, ставший знаменитым после Игр в Турине, ответил на вопросы о подготовке сборной США к Олимпиаде. Ему был задан вопрос о том, кто является лидером сборной в данный момент.

"Быть в центре внимания очень поучительно. Не всякий сможет это вынести — взгляните хотя бы на Бритни Спирс. Я думаю, что лидер национальной команды должен быть сильным и чувствовать, что он на самом деле № 1 в собственной стране. Думаю, основным конкурентом для меня в данный момент являюсь я сам", — передаёт слова спортсмена сайт CTV Olympics.

http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-skat ... xt=rambler

Джонни Вейр: «США – самая сильная страна в мужском фигурном катании»

Американский фигурист Джонни Вейр считает, что у США на данный момент самый сильный мужской состав по сравнению с другими странами.

«У нас самая сильная страна в фигурном катании, если говорить о мужчинах. Давайте посчитаем – у России есть Евгений Плющенко, у Швейцарии – Стефан Ламбьель. По одному спортсмену.

У США есть восемь сильных фигуристов, каждый из которых может попасть в состав олимпийской сборной», – цитирует Вейра CTV Olympics.

by **cekoni** » 14 Jan 2010, 08:50

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/va...-vanishes_N.htm
By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY

Lost art of quadruple jump a risk few skaters willing to take

Plenty of eulogies have been written for the dearly departed 6.0 scoring system in figure skating. Now, a moment of silence, please, for another of the sport's most recognizable elements: the quad.

After a points-based scoring system was adopted following the judging scandal in the 2002 Olympics, to most the risk of doing a quad didn't match its reward. As a result, only a few elite male skaters regularly do the four-rotation jump in their programs.

Heading into the U.S. championships, which begin Friday in Spokane, Wash., and determine the U.S. team for next month's Vancouver Olympics, the inclusion or exclusion of the quad will be a compelling story line.

Three Olympic spots are on the line.

Which skaters will play it safe, relying on what they do best, and avoid the quad?

Who will go-for-broke and attempt the sport's most difficult and exciting jump?

It's a matter of math, strategy and execution. If a skater doesn't routinely hit the jump in practices leading into a competition, he won't attempt the quad in his program.

"There's so much scrutiny on every single element," says reigning world champion Evan Lysacek, 24, who also won the Grand Prix final last month without a quad. "You can't hit the quad and make a mistake on anything else. You literally have to be perfect, whether that includes doing a quadruple jump in your program or not."

End of an era?

First, the math. In the confounding scoring system, a quad toe loop is worth 9.8 points. A triple axel is worth 8.2.

"The quad is a huge point-getter, but it's only 1.6 more than a triple axel," Olympic champion Scott Hamilton says. "Do a beautiful triple axel with a plus 2 grade of execution, and all of a sudden the quad doesn't mean anything anymore." (Judges give a plus or minus grade on each element.)

Jeremy Abbott, the reigning U.S. champion who placed fourth in the Grand Prix final, says he plans on attempting a quad at nationals.

"If you fall and it's downgraded, you get zero points," says Abbott, 24. "That's very tough. I do feel very confident in this jump. I feel it is worth the risk to get the reward."

This is what the new scoring system has wrought. In the 2002 Olympics, when the 6.0 was still in use, the three medalists landed nine quads in their programs. The last two world champions, Canada's Jeffrey Buttle in 2008 and Lysacek, won gold without attempting a quad in either program.

Some coaches feel the sport has taken a significant step back as a result. Former U.S. champion Michael Weiss was practicing a quad lutz before the 1998 Nagano Olympics. That would be unheard of today. His coach then, Audrey Weisiger, says there is no incentive for current skaters to even attempt new quad combinations given the scoring system.

"I'm kinda old school. I know a lot of older coaches are sad to see it go because that's what branded our sport," Weisiger says. "When you watch other sports, they're doing these blackflippyaerials in skiing, and I think that's why extreme sports are popular. People are doing things that are scary, and everyone knows how hard it is to do that.

"We like to see people push to their fullest potential. That's really why we like sports. And when people have been doing things previously in a sport that are no longer part of the sport, people are like, 'Wait a minute.' We'll be lucky if our Olympic champion this year does one quad and a triple axel or two. If the Olympic champion wins without a quad, I'm going to be so sad."

Mapping out a plan

As for the strategy, Lysacek has shown he can win at the highest level without a quad. Still he practices the quad regularly and has landed them in previous competitions. In nationals, it probably won't be needed.

"The program you put down at nationals is one you can depend on," Hamilton says. "With a strong field, the last thing you want to do is come out all guns blazing and not make the Olympic team. Use the nationals as a solid tuneup for the Olympics."

Like Lysacek, Johnny Weir, 25, a 2006 Olympian who won the bronze medal most recently in the 2009 Grand Prix final, probably doesn't need a quad to make the Olympic team as long as he skates cleanly.

However, Brandon Mroz, just 19, might need to channel the chutzpah he showed in last year's nationals when he won the silver by landing a quad.

Then there's Ryan Bradley, who certainly doesn't see the quad as a four-letter word.

Bradley won the bronze in November's Skate America by landing two quads in his free skate. He became the first U.S. skater to accomplish that feat since Timothy Goebel, aka "The Quad King," did it in the 2003 world championships.

"I wanted to do something this season that set me apart," says Bradley, 26, who has been mentored by Goebel on the physical and mental demands of doing multiple quads in a program.

Without the résumé or total package of a Lysacek, Bradley knows he has to hit the quad to make the Olympic team.

"Artistry is not my strength, so I like to power through and do tricks," he says. "I'm going for broke this year."

Next month at the Olympics, the quad strategy for all might change again, when facing Russia's Evgeny Plushenko, the 2006 Olympic champion making a comeback, and France's Brian Joubert, the 2007 world champion who recently had foot surgery and also is a quad-loving contender.

Lysacek will continue to practice the quad and perhaps pull it out of his pocket if needed in Vancouver. It's not a jump he enjoys.

"I used to really like doing it in competition," he says. "Now it's a little harder to do it. The mental hurdle is there because I know there's a risk of injury.
Now it's not so fun, honestly."

Last season, Lysacek suffered a stress fracture and spent much of 2009 rebuilding the strength in his left foot.

"I think in Vancouver, somebody will skate clean with a quad," he says. "Probably only one person, and I want it to be me, so I'm doing everything in my power to make that happen."

by **cekoni** » 14 Jan 2010, 09:25

http://www.examiner.com/x-20118-Figure-Ska...y-for-Canadians
January 13, Figure Skating Examiner, Jackie Wong

Chan feels ready for Canadians

Patrick Chan (CAN) greets fans at practice today at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships. (Photo: AP/The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson)

World silver medalist Patrick Chan has had an eventful season thus far, but not because he has been busy with competition. In fact, Chan has only competed once all season. He has had to deal with a calf injury that forced him to withdraw from Rostelecom Cup. And more recently, he had to process the somewhat surprising news that his coach, Don Laws, made the decision to leave permanently for Florida a month before the Olympics. And the one competition? Well, he fell multiple times and finished a disappointing sixth at Skate Canada in November.

But it was business as usual for Chan today at the practice sessions for the 2010 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships. He is the defending champion, chasing after his third consecutive title and hoping to gain momentum toward Vancouver, which is now just about a month away. His practice was “excellent,” in his words, and he should feel confident that this week will turn out much differently than the last competition he entered.

When asked about Laws today, Chan was diplomatic. "I can only move on and I'm looking forward to the Olympics and the next 30 days," he said. "Of course I miss him, that's why I totally respect his decision, and I still will talk to him. I'm not going to totally cut off lines and burn my bridges, we're still going to be friends off the ice."

Chan now trains with his choreographer, Lori Nichol, as his primary coach, with Christy Krall assisting with technical matters. It was the addition of Krall into the coaching team during the off-season last year that Laws was none too happy about. And as Laws became busier with his coaching arrangement in Florida, the distance made the student-coach relationship difficult when he trained with Krall in Colorado Springs.

Chan is hoping to give Canada its second consecutive medal in men’s figure skating after 2008 World champion Jeffrey Buttle won it in Torino. Canada has never won the gold in men’s figure skating, with the silver medals won by Brian Orser and Elvis Stojko – two each – being the most successful outings.

But for now, Chan will look forward to getting his competitive edge back this week at the Canadian Championships in London, Ontario. The men’s short program takes place this Friday.

by **Scarlett** » 14 Jan 2010, 14:05

Поместила текст и не заметила что он уже есть :smu:sche_nie:

Вообще судя по интервью, соперники" ваще потеряли нюх" :-)

, не бояться Женю совсем, тем интереснее. Женя надеюсь уже на ЧЕ заставит с собой считаться :du_el:

by **Scarlett** » 14 Jan 2010, 14:06

Джереми Эбботт: "На Олимпиаде рекорды Плющенко ничего значить не будут"
12.01.2010 11:50 | Sports.ru

Действующий чемпион США Джереми Эбботт скептически относится к рекордам Евгения Плющенко, установленным на чемпионате России.

"На Олимпиаде его рекорды ничего значить не будут. Оценки на национальных чемпионатах всегда завышены. Чувствую, что на последнем чемпионате США получил очень высокие баллы. Но это никак не скажется на международных соревнованиях", – приводит слова Эбботта AP.
http://sport.rambler.ru/news/figureskat ... 28790.html

by **cekoni** » 15 Jan 2010, 07:04

Scarlett wrote:Поместила текст и не заметила что он уже есть
Вообще судя по интервью, соперники" ваще потеряли нюх" , не бояться Женю совсем, тем интереснее. Женя надеюсь уже на ЧЕ заставит с собой считаться

Much ado about "nothing" :-)