Grand Prix and more

Five Canadian entries in the GP final!
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/FigureSkating/2004/11/24/729338-cp.html (includes good pic of Cynthia)
Russian figure skaters clean up on home turf
Russians Plushenko and Slutskaya win Cup of Russia singles titles
Also in the news:
Bellemare captures bronze medal in Bofrost Cup figure skating ...
Canadian figure skaters leave Tuesday for Junior Grand Prix final ...

somebody pinch me

This season just keeps getting better and better:
http://www.tsn.ca/figure_skating/
Richmond Hill's Emanuel Sandhu wins bronze medal at Trophee ...
Except for our pairs teams who haven't seemed to be able to jump on the medals bandwagon.
http://www.tsn.ca/figure_skating/feature.asp?fid=10044

Cup of China results news

This has to be one of Canada's most successful Grand Prix event in a long time...
Canada wins four medals in China
Buttle victorious at Cup of China
Buttle wins Cup of China, earns GP berth
Slutskaya Returns With Cup of China Win

Cup of China

This should be an interesting competition for Canadian fans. Our top ice dance team Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon are currently in second behind Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto. As well, pairs team Valerie Marcoux and Craig Buntin are in third place after the short program.
Cup of China - Thursday
Irina Slutskaya is making her comeback with a first place finish in the short, while Joannie Rochette and Mira Leung are in 5th and 9th respectively.
Slutskaya set for comeback in Beijing
Start Order/Results

NHK Trophy

News articles:
American Johnny Weir wins men's title at NHK Trophy figure skating ...
American Johnny Weir Wins NHK Trophy
Arakawa skates away with first NHK Trophy

Thursday Thoughts - The Effect of the New Judging

I read a blog which argued that the new judging system was going to kill the quad. That it was too risky and the skaters would go for points that they knew they could get. I disagree. I think Emanuel Sandhu's amazing comeback from 7th place to 1st at Skate Canada this year shows that a quad combo still packs a punch. What do you think? I have also read claims about the new system pushing skaters too hard and causing injuries. Others rave that it is making programs more interesting and allowing more movement in the results. What have you noticed so far this year?

NHK Trophy has started

The NHK trophy has gotten underway with the pair's short program.
Russian pair leads at NHK Trophy

No comeback for Shae-Lynne Bourne

Shae-Lynne Bourne and Peter Tchernyshev are no longer skating together and Shae-Lynne's return to competitive competition has been axed.
Bourne to focus on singles