I've got an extra all event ticket for figure skating worlds in section 122 row S cause the person coming with me can't make it last minute. Starting with pairs short program tomorrow, if you are in Montreal or can get here for any/all of the events, feel free to message me if you are interested in the extra ticket. If you only want specific events, let me know which.
I am not looking to get original full price, but that doesn't mean totally free either, so we can discuss depending on how many events you are interested in.
Shoma UNO (JPN), during Men Short Program, at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2024, at Centre Bell, on March 21, 2024 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Raniero Corbelletti/AFLO)
gregkoltz Next week, the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships will be held in Montreal. Canada last hosted the event in London, Ontario, in 2013. I have very fond memories of photographing Virtue & Moir on home ice back then, and I can’t wait to capture more memorable moments at the Bell Centre in a few days! (📸@gregkolz / @teamcanada) #WorldsMTL24
gregkolz: Throwback to some more behind the scenes moments at the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal, Canada. (📸 @gregkolz) #WorldsMTL24
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#ISU #FigureSkating #WorldFigure #SkateCanada #BehindTheScenes #BlackAndWhite #BellCentre #Montreal #Canada
the season's over for ice dance - what were your favorite programs? my favorite FDs:
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LaLa Roses - they are such an exciting team in that it feels like they're just getting started but are this good. i know they've been together for a long while at this point, but you can feel the potential, that they have so much more in them. this was the highlight of Worlds for me
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CPom Perfume - i'm so happy for them - they took a risk choosing this program but showed they have range. from Summertime to this, they've shown quality, elegance, sophistication. they've been changing the narrative about themselves for the last 2 seasons. they were great at Worlds, but this performance at Nationals was when it felt like it was undeniable that they've arrived
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G/P Wuthering Heights - hearing Carol Lane talk about how much they work on skating on the circle at their school made me notice they're almost continuously circling and spinning and turning to create the sweeping sensation that's so characteristic and expressive in this program. the elements feel organic, this just works for me - it's beautifully odd
L/Q Umbrellas - they made it their own, which is no small feat. so talented and such a stellar first senior season
Lily and Nathan's Jeremy Dutcher FD (tumblr's not letting me add the video, but they're at 57:11 at the link)- they made something personal and meaningful that only they could skate - they had a great music cut from the start, and the choreo and their performances of it got sharper and at the same time more abandoned - their skate at Nationals was their peak - their 4th place finish was well deserved
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Hawayek/Baker I Found You - the FD that wasn't. i'm thankful they shared it with us. infused with pain and sadness but also joy and connection. that they do the Seasons curve lift that they first did as juniors but with a beautiful new position to exit feels like it reaches back over their whole career 😭
Hi everybody i wanted share an ice dance free program of the Czech ice dancers 🇨🇿 Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek and guess what's the theme of their free dance? Swan Lake act 3.. at last weekend ISU world championships 2023-2024 skate america . Source YouTube
Seven years may not be a long time, but with his absences it has felt very long. Stephen has not told us what his career plans are so we do not know when he plans to retire. If he wishes to move on after the 2026 Olympics we have three more years left, but if he is planning to leave after the 2030 Olympics we are at the halfway point, with seven years left to go. He might even want to go until 2034. Let’s see what he decides.
Year 7 started at a low point and turned into an emotional roller coaster. After a forced withdrawal from 2022 Nationals Stephen placed a respectable 5th at Junior Worlds, then began his season with what was one of his best ever short programs at Glacier Falls Summer Classic. After a rocky autumn with his GP debut he is still looking for that kind of short program skate though his free skates are showing us his technical prowess. He barely competed last season, and did not compete at all the season prior, so it is remarkable what he has been able to do.
We have to acknowledge Stephen’s mental strength in what he has been doing. Coming back from rough performances, skating as if they never happened, takes a lot of determination and courage. His parents have done a great job to raise such a tenacious young man. May they remain in good health to be able to watch his career progress. May he also remain in good health.
I was privileged to watch him compete twice this season. It was nice to be able to wave a Canadian flag for him, and to witness his skating at Nationals. It just made me realize how much I missed his skating since he left. There is no one else like him in Canada. I hope he was also able to feel the love from the Canadian audiences. It was not just my friends and I, but whole arenas full of people on their feet, cheering for his every jumping pass and encouraging him to keep going when things got tough.
I have to thank you all for your patience with me. I have become much busier but I am continuing to do what I can, just at a slower pace now. My belief in Stephen and desire to support him are still as strong as when I first became a fan. In the time he was away I thought he might have changed a lot. He did grow substantially, but after watching him live I can say the essence of him looks to be unchanged. He is still a hardworking and talented skater with grit.
I also owe Stephen an apology for my views on his short program. I focused on the music, but really should have been looking solely at the lyrics and what meaning they hold to him. They encapsulate a sadness and coming to terms with the realities of growing up.
We knew we were
Impervious no matter how we'd bleed
We never fought for breath
Priest and prophetess
We were nothing we would defy
Invincible skin
It's how we all begin
He was a child prodigy who ended up facing injuries and going through a lot of pain as he grew. We only learned a bit about it so we cannot fathom how he felt. We just mourned his absence while worrying for him. Now he is facing challenges in getting back to the level of success he had achieved. Considering all that, this music choice makes perfect sense. Admittedly I might still be misunderstanding this program. I read a post on the song by The Music Enthusiast and I think we are in agreement. Either way, I apologize. I hope Stephen feels that he has come out of his dark days.
Year eight will bring big things. He is going to be skating at his first senior ISU championship next week. Stephen may be achieving a long time goal of his in going to the World Championships. We will also have 2024 Nationals, which will be used for selection to the 2024 World Championships in Montreal. It will be an exciting and busy time.
Let’s wish Stephen the best of luck for Four Continents, and all that the future holds for him in year eight.
In all seriousness, I just checked back in a while ago, so here is my surface-level understanding of what I’ve gathered so far:
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1. They’re raising the minimum age from 15 to 17 for skaters to qualify for international competitions (in light of the Kamila Valieva doping scandal, it seems)
It seems this is largely regarded as a good thing, albeit a band-aid solution to the larger problem of countries (cough Rusfed) churning out Olympic skaters with little regard to their well-being.
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2. Women skaters no longer have to wear skirts in ice dance
Yay for equality, I guess?
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3. 5 scoring components
(“handling the skate” a.k.a. skating skills, connecting elements, performance, composition, and interpretation of music)
—> reduced to 3 scoring components
(composition, performance, and skating)
If I’m understanding correctly, it seems many people are concerned that by not explicitly scoring connecting elements (transitions) and interpretation of music, this will lead us further down the path of figure skating becoming more about jumps/less about artistry.
On the other side, some say that this won’t really matter much anyway, since the categories overlap a lot and are poorly-defined.
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4. Jump sequences can now include 3 jumps (it was 2), but the second or third jump must be an axel
Again, more jumps.
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5. Replace step sequence in junior singles free skate with choreo sequence
I think I’ve seen people upset about this one but I’m tired and can’t remember why lol
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6. Adding a qualifying round to the World Championships again starting in 2024-25 (the qualifying round was removed after 2012 Worlds)
Honestly don’t know much about this one
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7, 8. Something about testing out a split judging panel, something about elections uhhhh
…I’m getting sleepy lmao.
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There are many, many, more, but I hope this gave you a brief glimpse into the madness!