Introducing: The LETDOWN-O-METER

A lot of things determine how enjoyable and satisfying the Olympics are. Performances and results being the major factors here. However, it's not all about your own favourites winning, or performing and placing well, it's also about not being totally at odds with all the overall results no matter what happens. And then there are those worst case scenarios that just can't ever be undone...

Evgeni goes to Sochi: Vincerò!

It is confirmed: Evgeni will be skating in Sochi. Truth be told, I was a little nervous. I even worked myself up over it, the day before yesterday, and wrote a "Evgeni didn't make it" post. I'm keeping that on hold, btw., just in case...

2014 Europeans: Men's Long Programme

Ladies and Gentlemen, your European Champion. Allowed to go to Sochi!

An utterly satisfying podium, a few promising skates, a number of bomby ones, empty programmes, and a repeat European Champion. What more could you possibly hope for?

2014 Europeans: The Gentlemen's Short Programme

2nd Day of the European Championships. Jump right in with me for some random thoughts (maybe even SP related) on skaters who are in the Top Ten after the Short Programme. If I do not comment on a skater, it's not reflective of their performance but rather a sign of my laziness.

Are minimum scores really a good idea?

Ireland's Clara Peters was unsuccessful in her final bid to meet the minimum technical score for the European Championships. She is not the only skater who will have to sit out a major event because of this, but her case is especially unfortunate as she missed the SP standard by a mere 0.03 points. That hurts. Peters has been improving steadily though not rapidly, and I would have liked to see her get a chance to compete in Budapest.

Happy Halloween!

The guilty pleasures of autumn: pumpkins and figure skating.

Welcome, dear Friends, to this blog on this particular day. Whether you are sitting on masses of candy already, or are still putting on your zombie makeup or brushing your fangs, whatever it is, you have come to the right place. Enter at your own risk and to your own delight...