Month: April 2014

  • Skating Articles on Wednesday, April 30, 2014

    Davis, White pushed U.S. ice dance to new heights: Duo's drive, commitment make them Elfman's pick for People of the Year - by Lois Elfman, IceNetwork News

    Olympic official: 2016 Rio de Janeiro preparations 'the worst' - by David Wharton, Los Angeles Times

    Figure Skating: ISU tweaks figure skating judging criteria - Source, Arirang News

    Olympian Gracie Gold keeping spins, blades sharp with 'Stars on Ice' - by Chris Hewitt, TwinCities.com

    New Device Shows How Strong Ankles Have to Be to Win Figure-Skating Gold - Source, The Blaze

    Holistic medicine/acupuncture practitioner & adult figure skater Karen Kan pens bestseller - by Ashleigh Livingston, Press Republican

    This isn’t a Guns N’ Roses song – Why Synchro should be an Olympic sport - Source, The Skating Scene

    The Inside Edge: Hamilton stays heavily involved; Olympic legend to emcee 'Skate for Hope,' develop skating school - by Sarah S. Brannen and Derw Meekins, IceNetwork News

    Zhang Hao is getting married on May 1st (use google translator) - Source, Sina Sports

    Skater plans return to ice after robot-assisted surgery - by Lindsay Peyton, Chron.com

    New Jersey man who led massive sports betting ring with Russian mob boss hit with 5-year prison sentence: Caught in a 2012 phone call recorded by the feds, with Alimzhan Tokhtakounov who was involved in 2002 Ice Dance Fixing in SLC - Source, NY Daily News

  • Skating Articles on Tuesday, April 29, 2014

    The Battle in Seattle Heats Up: George Rossano's Take on the race for USFS President and the fear mongering tactics being used against Ron Pfenning - by George Rossano, Ice Skating Internation: Online

    Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot are set to make their international debut in Korea - Source, International Figure Skating Magazine

    Denis Ten's Ice Show to Feature Nine Olympic Medalists - Source, Tengri News

    Meryl Davis and Charlie White bring busy gold medal tour back to Detroit - Source, WXYZ.com

    Charlie Gets Advice from Meryl during Rehearsal - Source, YouTube.com

    Hanyu parade attracts 92,000 - Source, The Japan News

    Interview With Christopher Nolan - by Ryan Stevens, Skateguard1.blogspot.ca

    Older Figure Skaters Put New Spin on Sequined Sport at Championships - Source, The Wall Street Journal

    Yuna Kim attends ceremony unveiling series of mint medals - Source, YunaKimFan.com

    IOC visits Pyeongchang to check on current status - Source, Arirang News

    ISU Communication No. 1861 - Scales of values - Source, ISU.org

    Rio worse than Athens - Coates: IOC Vice President John Coates on situation critical - Source, Olympics.com.au

    Ekaterina Riazanova to compete for Italy - Source, World Figure Skating

  • To Skaters Everywhere and to the Delegates of the 2014 USFS Governing Council Meeting in Seattle this week!

    Consider the Following 

    1) Please ask  yourself  if you like  the way skating is Going! 

    2) Ask if you want a change.. a fresh face that is nevertheless experienced in US  and International  skating but is not  part of the existing  administration and who  couldn't care less about ISU Council appointments

    3) Ask if your club needs less regulation and a lesser work load

    4) Ask if athlete support should be increased to be on track with other countries

    5) Ask why no one from the USFS has challenged the control of a speed  skater over the rules of figure skating.

    If  your answers  are not  satisfactory with the status quo, I urge you to vote for  Ron Pfenning  for President! 

    I would also urge you all to read the blistering comments and full support of the endorsement of  Ron Pfenning  by Benjamin Wright, past President of the USFS and Honorary Member of ISU. 

    Now is the time to seriously think about USFS, and it’s future. Should we continue on the road we’ve been on, or is it time for fresh ideas, real change and for someone to lead this sport out of the self-dealing type of non leadership? 

    Ron Pfenning is USFS's hope for the future!

    Dick Button 

  • Skating Articles on Monday, April 28, 2014

    Charlie White, Meryl Davis dance into Detroit for ice show at the Joe - by Katie Bailey, MLive.com

    Imagine on ice: Last gala for eminent German pair - by Olga Fluegge, World Figure Skating

    Figure skater Hanyu among 684 spring decoration recipients - Source, The Japan Times

    Tatsuki Machida Flipping kanji around for new meanings - by Mark Scheiber, Japan Times

    White smoke Riazanova / Vaturi and other news in the Italian dance (use Google Translator) - Source, Neveitalia.it 

    ISU Communication #1860 – Ice Dancing – Requirements for Technical Rules with Ongoing Validity – Source, U.S. Figure Skating 

    Banner season concludes for Nelson Figure Skating Club; Ice Show May 10 - Source, The Nelson Daily

    Performers prepare for the Rochester Figure Skating Club's Ice Show - by Kimberly Davis, KTTC.com

    Zhukov Ready for Second Term; Figure Skating Bid Concerns - Source, Around The Rings

    Timmins skaters figure it out - Source, Timmins Press

    Brewin’ bruin bags bronze: Coffee Club skater, 81, reminds Cape Cod of hockey past at Adult Nationals - Source, Lake Placid News

  • Skating Articles on Sunday, April 27, 2014

    American top skating official reacts on Cinquanta’s “proposals” - Source, World Figure Skating

    Petition, Dick Button demand resignation of skating union president - by Monica Friedlander, San Francisco Figure Skating Examiner

    SkateCast # 75 with Sjoukje Dijkstra. She dominated womens' figure skating in the early 1960s - by Allison Manley, Manleywoman.com

    Skaters pay tribute to variety of dance and music in Royal Oak Ice Show - by Mike McConnell, The Daily Tribune

    Elements of an Ice Dancing Free Dance: Ice Dancing Moves and Positions - by Jo Ann Schneider-Farris, FigureSkating.About.com

    2014 Skate America to be held in Chicago - Source, World Figure Skating

    Jason Brown's life still spinning after Olympics: Figure skater from Highland Park building on success in nationals and Winter Games, and offering some local payback - by Philip Hersh, Chicago Tribune

    Skate For Hope raises money to fight cancer - Source, 13ABC.com

    Getting all up in Olympic Gold Medalist Charlie White's hair - by C.J., Star Tribune

    Our Ukrainian is now Frenchwoman: Savchenko will skate with Bruno Massot of France and they go on tour in Korea at Yuna Kims All That Skate 2014 - by Sebastian Kayser, Bild.de

  • Skating Articles on Saturday, April 26, 2014

    Russian Sports Minister criticises "premature" Sochi bid for 2017 World Skating Championships - by Nick Butler, Inside The Games

    56 skaters vie in World Development Trophy - by Jonathan Perez, Business Mirror

    Yevgeny Plushenko wants to compete again, agent says - by Nick Zaccardi, NBC Olympic Talk

    Commemorative medals for Kim Yu-na go on sale - Source, Yonhap News

    2014 Stars On Ice Canada (Halifax, NS) Review - by Ryan Stevens, Skateguard1.blogspot.com

    The funniest images from the world figure skating championships - Source, Metro.co.uk

    Potsdam (N.Y.) village board decides to continue funding recreation program through May 2015 (plus $30,000 for an Ice-Making compressor in Pine Street Arena) - by Craig Freilich, North Country Now

    Takahashi to take hiatus, mull future - Source, The Japan News

    There is Something Special About This Ice - by Damira Davletyarova, Ottawa Life Magazine

    Colonial Figure Skating Ice Crystals Show “Dreams of Gold” to Feature 2014 National Competitors - by Masha Zabaruk, PRLog.org

  • Skating Articles on Friday, April 25, 2014

    Kriengkrairut, Giulietti-Schmitt announce retirement: Veteran ice dancers to continue skating in shows, get advanced degrees - by Sarah S. Brannen, IceNetwork News

    'Stars on Ice' tour brings red-hot Olympians Davis and White to the Joe - by Melody Baetens, The Detroit News

    Gracie Gold on tour with Stars on Ice - by Alissa Groeninger, The State Journal-Register

    Vaytskhovskaya's interview with Buyanova `Sotnikova always knew what she wanted' - Source, A Translation Post by 'TAHbKA' @ FSU

    Olympian Meryl Davis on ‘DWTS’ and Her Diet (Cheesecake Included) - by Angela Haupt, U.S. News and World Report

    Cheryl Burke: DWTS Finals Will Be Amy Purdy vs. Meryl Davis - Source, Wetpaint.com

    Ex-Olympic figure skater Oksana Baiul's $45M libel, defamation lawsuit against NBC tossed out by judge - Source, New York Daily News

    Kim Yu-na Postpones Medal Launch After Ferry Disaster - Source, The Chosunilbo

    Despite success, Japan figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu says there is room for improvement - Source, Whistlerquestion.com

    Texas Figure Skating on Rise Despite Sweltering Climate - by Andrea Kurth, The Gilmer Mirror

    Figure skaters twirl to strong results in Parksville - by Marcel Vander Wier, Whitehorse Daily Star

  • Blazing Blades endorses Ron Pfenning for President of U.S. Figure Skating

    With the 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Governing Council (GC) just one week away this blogger has reached a decision on who I believe is the best of the two candidates seeking the USFS Presidency.

    My endorsement follows my consistent belief that this next election must result in a strong, positive and dynamic change of the guard for U.S. Figure Skating. It is a time to challenge what has been the norm for the past twenty years. No more secrecy in how the board of directors determines who it will offer up as "The Official" candidate.

    No more hiding from the public how the process works for elections and voting on issues by delegates at the annual business meeting. It's time for openness, so bring the process to everyone involved in or an adjunct to the decision-making by broadcasting all three days of the annual GC on Ice Network.

    No more undue influence from USFS officials with the Skater-Coach-Parent relationship. Stop Controlling! Offer advice if sought, otherwise stay out of their business.

    Begin to devote more time and efforts at planning, coordinating and executing joint work with other NGB's to bring light, openness and a return to ethical leadership within the International Skating Union.

    To date, the only candidate who has consistently spoken out on all the above is Mr. Ron Pfenning. It is for his consistent calls for action in these areas that this figure skating blogger and fan whole-heartedly backs Ron Pfenning as the next President of U.S. Figure Skating.

     

    Read Ron Pfenning's latest campaign update on Facebook.

  • Skating Articles on Thursday, April 24, 2014

    Shpilband's influence felt across skating world: Novi-based coach greatly responsible for elevating discipline of ice dance - by Klaus-Reinhold Kany, IceNetwork News

    Figure skating champion Hanyu braced for new rivals - Source, Au.Sports.Yahoo.com

    Die Anfängerin: Christine Stüber-Errath's Remarkable Comeback - by Ryan Stevens, Skateguard1.blogspt.ca

    Several firsts for 76th Rochester figure skating show - by Derek Sullivan, Post Bulletin

    NBC: Olympics show wide second-screen use - by David Bauder, San Luis Obispo.com

    The casts of THE ICE are just announced! (use google translator) - Source, CTV.co.jp

    U.S. Figure Skating’s Senior Past President Endorses Ron Pfenning to Succeed Pat St. Peter - Source, International Competitive Figure Skating - Issues and Events

    Future Olympic hosts must adhere to Charter, says Norway in Agenda 2020 submission - by Zjan Shirinian, InsideTheGames.biz

    Tens of thousands call for IOC to ban countries with "anti-gay" laws hosting Games - by Zjan Shirinian, InsideTheGames.biz

    Italian ice dance pairs Alessandrini/Vaturi and Bernardi/Mior split up (use google translator) - Source, Skating-Ritmica.forumfree.it

    Viva Los Vegas for Kap Figure Skaters - by Kyle Lincez, kapuskasingtimes.com

    Georgetown resident wins Adult Figure Skating national title - by Joshua Boyd, Georgetown.wickedlocal.com/

  • U.S. Figure Skating's Senior Past President Endorses Ron Pfenning to Succeed Pat St. Peter

    Benjamin T. Wright – U.S. Figure Skating President, 1973-1976. (Photo: Skating Club of Boston)

    Benjamin T. Wright – U.S. Figure Skating President, 1973-1976. (Photo: Skating Club of Boston)

    Mr. Benjamin Wright, who served as President of U.S. Figure Skating from 1973 to 1976, has endorsed Mr. Ron Pfenning to be the next leader of the American National Governing Body for figure skating.

    In a strongly worded announcement Mr. Wright slammed those within the U.S. skating community for what he termed "an avalanche of detrimental articles and messages concerning Mr. Pfenning's candidacy for the USFS Presidency. It reaches the level of character assassination and is far removed from the true facts which he (Mr. Pfenning) reflected in his own statements."

    Mr. Wright went on to add, "Suffice it to say that the objective of the delegates to the 2014 USFSA Governing Council meeting in early May is to elect the person best qualified to lead the USFSA for the next several years, which certainly will be turbulent ones for the survival of the sport of figure skating as we know it. Strong leadership is needed, especially in the ISU. I believe that Ron is the best qualified person to lead the USFSA during these perilous times and I therefore endorse his candidacy."

    Mr. Pfenning is seeking to become the 33rd elected leader of U.S. Figure Skating in it's 93-year history and is running against the Board of Directors recommended choice Mr. Samuel Auxier, current USFS First Vice President and Head of the Midwestern Region. The election will be held during the 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Governing Council slated to take place from the 1st thru 3rd of May in Seattle, Washington.

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