International Figure Skating May/June 2018

Though a handful of the top competitors from the 2018 Olympic Winter Games chose not to contest the subsequent World Championships, their absence did not diminish the event in any way. The skaters that did compete in Milan put on quite the show, many earning personal bests and, in some cases, providing a glimpse into what the future of skating holds. I really enjoyed watching the younger skaters and teams that were given the opportunity to show their talent and skills on such a major international stage and look forward to seeing more from them just a few months from now. A couple of weeks before senior Worlds the junior edition took place in Sofia, Bulgaria. There were a number of surprises at that competition, with the standout being the…

Keegan Messing became the leading man in Canadian figure skating in April, but he had already received an early education about the responsibility that comes with being No. 1. The 26-year-old, a dual citizen who skates for Canada but calls Alaska home, found himself in a high-pressure spot back in March at the World Championships in Milan, Italy. His teammate at that event, Nam Nguyen, did not qualify for the free skate, meaning that Messing needed a top 10 placement to earn two spots for next year’s Worlds in Saitama, Japan. “I actually thought it was top 12 that got the (two) spots,” Messing told IFS. “But whenever I started thinking about it, it made me feel a little more nervous, so I tried not to do that. I really…

A year ago Bradie Tennell could not have imagined she would be leading the life she is today. Though she had dreamed of being successful in her skating career, it was not until last season that she finally had a breakthrough. After winning the 2015 U.S. junior title, Tennell found no success on the international stages, placing 11th and seventh, respectively, at her two World Junior Championships appearances in 2016 and 2017. At the end of the 2016 season Tennell suffered a stress fracture in her back that required her to wear a brace. The injury reoccurred the following year and once again she was off the ice in a brace. Though frustrating at times, Tennell dealt with those back problems, knowing that other athletes had come back from far…

The World Junior Championships can be likened to a crystal ball of figure skating — sometimes you see the future bright and clear, and sometimes it is not so obvious. Many skaters who shine at the junior level often never find success in the senior ranks. Then there are those who did not stand out in the junior ranks, but rise to the top at the senior level. Junior Worlds is always an exciting competition. It provides an opportunity to discover new talent; it offers a preview of the future of figure skating — and there are always surprises. Russia dominated the 2018 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, capturing all four titles (the first time since 1996) and took home nine of the 12 medals awarded. Italy, Japan and…

There have been many heated debates over the past two seasons with respect to the number of quads senior men have been including in their programs. Some feel this is a sign of the sport’s evolution and applaud those pushing it to a higher level. Others feel it detracts from the programs and sacrifices artistry, which makes them less enjoyable to watch. That quad trend has extended to the junior ranks — albeit at a much slower pace — but it picked up speed this past season, particularly with some of the junior ladies. It is interesting to note that when Japan’s Miki Ando executed a quad Salchow at the Junior Grand Prix Final in 2002, it did not lead to a wave of ladies attempting quads. There were several…

The World Synchronized Skating Championships celebrated its 19th anniversary in Stockholm, Sweden in early April. Though it was the third time that nation had hosted the event, it was the first time the Championships was held in its capital city. In almost two decades at the World level, Finland has been a dominant force, with three separate teams winning a combined 22 medals, eight of which were gold. With 25 teams representing 20 International Skating Union (ISU) members contesting the 2018 Championships there was a lot of action on and off the ice in Stockholm. The sport enjoys a strong following in the Nordic countries, particularly Sweden and Finland, but many fans from Spain, France and other European nations were in the stands to cheer on their favorite teams. Unlike…