The 2010-2011 figure skating system has been an odd one. Olympic champion Kim Yu-na chose not to compete in the International Skating Union's (ISU) Grand Prix series, but has not retired from amateur competition. Kim's first competition in more than a year will be the world championships. In an opposite turn of events Switzerland's Sarah Meier, who won the European Championship at the end of January, has retired from amateur competition.
Making the situation even more unusual is the aftermath of the March earthquake and tsunami and the ensuing nuclear disaster at the Fukashima power plant, forcing the postponement of the 2011 World Championships, slated for March 21-27. The International Skating Union, on March 24 awarded the competition to the Russian Skating Federation, now slated for the Megasport Arena in Moscow, April 24-May 1. The ISU selected Moscow as the venue after reviewing applications from a number of member nations including Canada, Austria, Croatia, Finland and the United States.
In the wake of the disaster, the ISU initially indicated that the competition would still occur as Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo, the venue where the event was scheduled to take place, was undamaged by the earthquake. Worries over the Fukashima Dai-ichi nuclear reactor situation 170 miles north of Tokyo, however, made the ISU postpone the event as well the ISU World Team Trophy in April. The latter competition has not been rescheduled.
U.S. Contenders May Place High
Alissa Czisny, who has had a checkered skating career due to a lack of confidence, is the top American female skater, having turned in a consistent Grand Prix season as well as winning the U.S. championship. Rachel Flatt, the 2010 U.S. champion, will join Czisny at the World Championships. Neither, however, have the technical ability of Kim or Japanese skaters Mao Asada, who is the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, or Miki Ando, the current Japanese national champion. Czisny is currently ranked fourth for the current competitive season, while Flatt is ranked sixth by the ISU.
Asian Skaters Remain Strong
Kim of Korea is the top wild card in the ladies field. Although she is still ranked first by the ISU due to the strength of her performances over the past three years, she has not skated competively during the 2010-2011 season. Kim parted with Brian Orser, her coach of four years, last summer, and began training with Peter Oppegard in California in October 2010. Both current programs have been choreographed by David Wilson, with the short program set to music from Giselle. The free skate music is a collection of Korean folk songs.
Based on the strength of her current season, Miki Ando may be Japan's best hope for a medal at the World Championships. She is ranked third in the ISU standings, largely on the strength of her first place finish at Japanese nationals and her win at the Four Continents Championship in February where she earned a personal best score of 201.34. Ando placed fifth in the 2010 Winter Olympics and fourth at the 2010 World Championships.
Ando is coached by Nikolai Morozov. Both of her current programs are performed to works by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The short program is choreographed to Gabriel's Oboe, while the free skate is set to The Falls. Both are from The Mission soundtrack.
Due to a rough start at the NHK Trophy and Trophee Eric Bompard where she placeed eighth and seventh respectively, Mao Asada is ranked 12th in the current ISU standings. Don't count out last year's Olympic silver medalist, however, as recent silver medals at the Japanese National Championships and the Four Continent Championships indicated that Asada is returning to form.
Asada is one of the few female skaters to consistently land triple axels in competition. She is coached the Nobu Sato, father of former World Champion Yuka Sato. Asada's short program is set to Tango by Alfred Schnitkke while her long program music is Liebestraum by Franz Liszt.
Don't Dismiss Kostner and Korpi
Italy's Carolina Kostner has appeared consistently on the World Championship medal stand since 2006. During that time, she has garnered a bronze, three gold, and two silver medals. Success at the Olympic games, however, has remained elusive as she turned in a dismal 16th place performance in 2010. A knee injury hampered Kostner during the early part of the 2010-2011 season, yet she earned silver medals at the NHK Trophy, a bronze at Skate America and a silver at the Grand Prix series final. Kostner also won a silver at the 2011 European Championships, placing behind Sarah Meier who turned in a once-in-a-lifetime performance.
Kostner trains in Oberstdorf, Germany with her longtime coach Michael Huth. Her short program is choreographed to Galicia Flamenco while her free skate is set to L'Apres-Midi d'un Faun by Claude Debussy.
Kiira Korpi of Finland is figure skating's rising star. Third at the European Championships, she is currently ranked second in the world by the ISU thanks to a stellar competitive season. Korpi won the Nebelhorn Trophy and Trophee Eric Bompard, won silver at the Finlandia Trophy and placed fourth at the NHK Trophy.
Korpi is coached by Maaret Siromaa and Susanna Haarala. She skates to Somewhere Over the Rainbow for her short program and to Evita for her free skate.
Arlene Miles - Versatile. That's how I describe myself and my writing in one word. I have 30 years' experience in various forms of media with most ...
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