Interview With Sonia Lafuente

Following in the footsteps of great Spanish ladies figure skaters before her like Yvonne Gomez and Marta Andrade, Sonia Lafuente has carved out a very impressive career for herself and put Spanish ladies figure skating back on the map in recent years. In addition to three Spanish national titles, she's represented her country on the world's biggest stages - the European Championships, the World Championships and even the Olympic Games. With a cool confidence on the ice, she's really proved that she's a skater not to count out over the years. Battling back from a difficult season last year that saw her drop to 32nd at the World Championships in Saitama, she's ready to rally back to the form that saw her finish in the top fifteen at the 2012 World Championships. We talked about her training, favourite memories, training in Canada and much more in this fabulous interview:

Q: Your career has been incredible so far. You've won three Spanish national titles, represented your country at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, seven European Championships, seven World Championships, four World Junior Championships, on both the Junior and Senior Grand Prix Circuits and have won gold medals at the Golden Spin Of Zagreb, Dragon Trophy in Slovenia and Merano Cup in Italy. Reflecting, what are your proudest moments or most special memories from your competitive career so far?

A: There are a lot of great moments and amazing memories: the first medal on the Junior Grand Prix series, my first Europeans, first Worlds... but if i had to choose one it would be the Olympic Games. It was amazing from the beginning. The olympic village, the ice rink, sharing those moments with so many athletes, walking behind the Spanish flag in the opening ceremonies... it was unbelievable!

Q: You train alongside fellow Spaniard Javier Fernández and also work with Brian Orser (a World Champion and two time Olympic Silver Medallist himself). How motivating is training alongside Javier and what do you enjoy most about training with Brian?

A: Training at the Toronto Cricket Club is incredible. There are so many skaters and such a high level of skating. Javier and Yuzuru train here and just skating with them and sharing the ice makes you work harder every day. Of course, you also learn things from them. My main coach inside the club is Ghislain Briand but I also work with Tracy Wilson and Brian Orser. Every bit oof advice I get from them is helping me improve on my skating, from jumps to spins to stroking. I really appreciate the work and time they spend with me.

Q: What's your favourite jump and spin? Your least favourite?

A: For jumps, I would say my favourite jump is the loop, although it also gives me trouble sometimes (laughing). My least favourite would be the salchow. We've never been very good friends! With spins, my favourite would be the layback but I can't practice it too many times because it is really hard on my back. My least favourite one would be the flying sit spin.

Q: Do you think you'd be a better pairs skater or ice dancer? Which do you enjoy watching more?

A: I think a pair skater. I'm used to jumping and also ice dance requires a lot of interpretation and I'm not as good at that. I don't think I prefer one before the other. They both have great things... the flow and elegance of the ice dance and then pairs skating... it's so spectacular.

Q: Looking towards the next season, what are your current goals and what can you share about your new programs?

A:: Last season was a difficult one for me so my main goal for the next season would be to go back to my highest competitive level. About my new programs, I can say that I'm very happy and I love both of them. I did the short program with David Wilson and the free program with Jeffrey Buttle. They're both very different but both have so many great ideas. It was a pleasure to work with them both.

Q: How do people in your country look at figure skating? Is it a popular sport or is something that's gaining in popularity?

A: Figure skating is a very small sport in Spain. It's hard to fight against soccer or tennis, but it is also true that during the last few years the attention that the media is giving to it has improved. Javier's recent results have really helped on that and also having a team that is growing and improving every year.

Q: If you'd never taken that first glide on the ice, do you think you would have been as successful in another area of life as you have been in skating?

A: I started skating very young. I was only four years old. I don't know if I would've come this far in a different sport but I would've practiced something else for sure because I was a very energetic kid!

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three things with you, what would they be and why?

A: If as "things" i could choose people i would bring my family, both my parents and my sister. Now that i'm living in Toronto and i'm far from them I've realized how much you can miss your people!

Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and why?

A: Carolina Kostner for her elegance and speed on the ice, Michelle Kwan for her appearance every time she stepped on the ice and Patrick Chan because of the control he has when skating. It feels to me like he's flying.

Q: What's one thing most people don't know about you?

A: (laughing) I can be nice! Some of my friends have told me about the first time they saw me and how they thought I was a very serious person or even a little bit disagreeable. That's because I'm shy at first! Then, luckily for me they realized I love to talk and laugh!

Q: What do you love most about figure skating?

A: I think figure skating is such a complex sport. There are so many aspects you have to control. You have to not only be an athlete but be able to jump, spin and get through the programs. You also have to be able to make it look elegant and easy.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

It's Fun To Stay At The YMCA: Charles C. Russell's Unbelievable Feat

Photograph courtesy Ripley's Archive

With all of the unbelievable stories I come across when looking for things to write about or in doing interviews with so many cool people in the skating world, I sometimes feel like the blog itself is one big version of Ripley's "Believe It Or Not". On May 18, 1939, a man from Chicago DID in fact capture the attention of the good folks of Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" by performing an unusual feat on skates that I think it's safe to say no one's attempted since.

Charles C. Russell is described in the book "The World Of Ripley's Believe It Or Not" as "an ice skating and barbell instructor at the South Chicago 'Y'". Let's slow that train down before it even leaves the station. Ice skating and barbell instructor? That's quite a combination, now isn't it? Apparently it IS fun to stay (and play) at the YMCA. Putting his skills both on skates and in weightlifting to good use, Russell achieved the bizarre feat of hoisting a bar over his head with a woman seated on either end (a total of 265 pounds) while wearing ice skates. To top it all off, both woman played ukuleles while raised in the air. Russell clearly outdid himself. In a previous similarly incredible effort, while on skates he raised his sister with one hand and twelve cups of hot coffee with the other. Talk about a double double! 

Although Charles C. Russell's incredible feat is not known by many in skating circles today, we were importantly reminded many years later of just how much fun it is to stay at the YMCA with Rudy Galindo's campy and simply fabulous Village people program. If you don't feel like weightlifting in your ice skates, you simply can't not give yourself a smile and enjoy Rudy's program one more time. I'm sure Russell would have loved it.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Vadim Shebeco

Not all figure skating fairy tales begin and end in the "amateur" world, among the watchful eye of a panel of ISU judges ticking off lutzes and layback spins. Former Soviet skater Vadim Shebeco ended his amateur career a pauper in the dissolving Soviet Union and by way of Central America, Mexico and a high speed car chase, began his own "American dream" that saw him evolve from pauper to prince in Ice Capades, earn two university degrees, teach english and begin a successful career as a figure skating coach that has seen him coach in both Delaware and California. Vadim took the time to talk about his "amateur" and professional careers, the Ice Capades and life today in this short but sweet interview.

Q: In 1991, you made the Soviet national team just at the time the USSR was falling apart and were competed during your "amateur" career against great Russian and Soviet skaters of the time like Viktor Petrenko, Alexei Urmanov, Alexandr Fadeev and Viacheslav Zagorodniuk. What are your proudest memories from this time in your skating career? 

A: Prior the 1991/1992 season, I was skating in pairs for about three years. In my final year as an amateur skater, I've decided to go back into singles, despite the fact that my idea of doing so wasn't taken really seriously by my coaches. I had to get all of my jumps back (since that wasn't the priority in pairs) and make them all consistent. I had to restart training in a different way. It was hard at the beginning, but I did that anyhow because I knew that I had more of a future in singles than in pairs. All of it was happening in a very, very short time and the Cup Of Russia was coming up that I was hoping to make it to. I got the jumps and all the rest of my elements back but didn't have a program nor the music yet. And so happened... I found out that made it to the Cup Of Russia pretty much right before the competition. That was definitely an interesting situation. The night before I left Moscow to fly to compete, I borrowed one of my friend's music for my short program and the other friend's music the long program. I'd heard the music before since I was skating with both of them in CSKA, but how I was gonna go about it during the actual competition seemed a little bit more challenging to me without having actual programs. Of course, a lot of my friends knew my current programless circumstances, so most of them went to see how I was going to improvise on the spot and what would happen. The competition went really well for me considering that I had to get back in 'jumping shape' in almost no time with no programs and somebody else's music at a pretty big competition. I placed in second place overall.

Q: You decided to leave the Soviet Union in hopes of starting a professional career. By way of Mexico, you fled to Canada in disguise with less than $1000 in savings, the clothes on your back and 8 year old skates and auditioned for Ice Capades, winning the starring role of Prince Charming alongside 1976 Olympic Gold Medallist Dorothy Hamill and 1988 Olympic Silver Medallist Liz Manley. How scary was the whole experience of embarking on a whole new life?

A: Right when I got back home to Moscow, I got a good offer to turn pro and with the whole country falling apart and both of my parents losing their jobs, I took it. A short while later, I left Russia and went to Central America and later Mexico, where I was touring for about a year. Meanwhile, I really wanted to and was hoping to see if someday I could get a job with the Ice Capades. It was like my dream. One day I found out that I've got that job. It was one of my happiest days of my life at that point. My producers in Mexico weren't very fond of that idea and I had to escape. I literally escaped from there with $750.00 in my pocket and just the skates in my hands and nothing else. It was a full blown escape with a car chase, me hiding in some small motel in Guadalajara and trying to dye my hair blond that turned red and so on. When I finally got to Canada where the rehearsals were held, the manager of the show (Bob Gallagher) picked me up. From what it appeared, he was expecting me to have some baggage, but I only had skates in a plastic bag. I didn't really speak any English, so the first couple of months were pretty interesting. But little by little, everything settled in its places.

Q: What were your most memorable experiences touring with Ice Capades?

A: Working there among all these amazing skaters and with such great choreographers like Tim Murphy and Nathan Birch was everything I was only hoping for, and to top it all up... to skate with Dorothy Hamill was a dream come true.

Q: After your touring career ended, you became an American citizen in 2003, turned to a coaching career and went back to school, earning your second university degree. What have you found to be the most rewarding aspects about your life as a coach and today?

A: To try to answer your other question, Ryan, yes... after finally settling down after many years of traveling, I'm coaching in northern California. I love what I do, and think that I'm incredibly lucky to do what I do and was able to do what I did. I'm really thankful to both of my parents who were always and still are very supportive and I think if it wasn't for my Mom and my Dad, I would never have such a great profession now in the first place. Looking back as to whether I regret turning pro or not, it's hard to tell. I'm trying not to think that way too much. I had a great professional career and I also had to do what I had to do when I turned pro and both of my parents lost their jobs during collapse of former USSR. That is that.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Angela Wang

After medalling on the novice level nationally at the 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Angela Wang has slowly climbed the ranks in U.S. ladies skating and made quite the impression along the way. During the 2012/2013 season, she won the Junior Grand Prix event in Croatia and finished third at the U.S. Junior Grand Prix event, qualifying her for the Junior Grand Prix Final that season where she placed a very strong fourth place. She has twice finished in the top ten on the senior level at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and her consistent jumps coupled with a wonderful sense of musicality have really made her the kind of skater you can't help but pay close attention to. Angela took the time to speak with me in July about her competitive career to date, new programs for the upcoming season, Chinese heritage, love of animals and much more in this wonderful interview:

Q: What I've noticed about your skating career so far hasn't just been your success to date. Medals in international competitions on the Junior Grand Prix are extremely impressive but in your case I don't think they tell the story. If you look at your performances at U.S. Nationals over the last few years, you really got to see such an elegant, mature performer out there. What are your proudest accomplishments to date - the performances that stand out as the most special in your mind?

A: I think the most memorable performance for me so far in my career would have to be my long program the first year I competed senior at the U.S. Championships. I felt very comfortable on the ice and was just excited to be making my senior debut, and I think that led me to put out a solid performance.

Q: You've actually competed on the juvenile, intermediate, novice and junior levels at Nationals before moving up to compete on the senior level at U.S. Nationals during the 2011/2012 season. That's QUITE an accomplishment. Was growing up in front of judges and audiences from such a young age something that was always easy or did it have its ups and downs?

A: It certainly had its ups and downs. I've always loved performing for other people, so it came more naturally to me, but it definitely was not always easy. I was lucky to have a great group of people help me through the process.

Q: Last season you ended up falling out of the top ten at Nationals, which I don't think is any indication of your talent. What is your plan for next season in terms of coming back fighting and how have things been going in training?

A: First of all, thank you. Last season was definitely rough for me, but I do believe it was a valuable one in terms of growing and maturing. I am extremely excited about this upcoming season; I've got a great team supporting me and I am so grateful for that. Training has been going very well. I can’t wait for the season to start!

Q: What can you share about the programs you'll be skating next season and the choreography process?

A: I am absolutely thrilled with both of my programs this year. Rachael Flatt choreographed my short program to "Paint It Black". It's a different style for me; it’s sharper and edgier than what I’m used to performing, but I’m so excited about it. Tom Dickson choreographed my long. I’m looking forward to performing both of my programs this season.

Q: You work with some of the very best in the business - Christy Krall, Damon Allen, Tom Dickson, Catarina Lindgren, Janet Champion. What have your coaches and choreographers taught you on the ice that has helped you as a person off of the ice?

A: My coaching team is absolutely phenomenal. They've taught me so much about myself and have helped mold me into the person I am today. I cannot thank them enough for that. I think the most important thing I've learned from these past few years working with them is that skating is just skating. No matter what happens, life goes on. Go into everything fully determined so that you can walk out with a smile on your face, knowing you did everything possible to have the outcome your desire.

Q: Your parents moved to the U.S. from China two years before you were born. How significant is Chinese culture in your life and is China a place you could ever see yourself living or spending any amount of time?

A: The Chinese culture certainly played a role in how I was raised. My parents and I recognize and acknowledge the big Chinese holidays and special occasions by making a Skype call to my relatives who still live there, but we don't habitually have a celebration ourselves. I would love to spend time in China someday. There is such a rich history and culture and I think it would be fascinating to learn more about the place my family is from.

Q: What movie do you think you've watched the most times? What about a song or piece of music you've had on repeat more than once?

A: I don’t watch a lot of movies, but I have seen Mean Girls more times than I can count. It’s such a funny and quotable movie! As for music, I have to admit that I have a slight obsession with Ed Sheeran. His voice is absolutely incredible - and on top of that, he’s got a great personality as well. I'm so in love with his new album! I can guarantee you it will be on repeat for the next few months.

Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and why?

A: Michelle Kwan, Yuna Kim and Meryl and Charlie. Need I explain why?

Q: What's one thing about you most people don't know? 

A: I love, love, love animals, especially dogs. I will literally stop mid-conversation to walk over and pet a stranger's dog.

Q: What do you love more than anything about figure skating?

A: I love the feeling of gliding across the ice. There’s so much freedom, yet you’re in total control.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Béla Papp

The great balancing act of school and skating is something Finland's Béla Papp knows all too well. The 2011 Finnish Champion lives and trains in Canada while pursuing a university degree at Simon Fraser University. You might say skating is in his blood! His four siblings all have skating backgrounds as well, his sister being two time Finnish Medallist Beata Papp. On the comeback trail from injury, Béla's passion to succeed is greater than ever and I was fortunate to have had chance to talk to him about everything from moving to a new country to his skating goals for this season to growing up in a skating family. You'll love this one!:

Q: You've had a really wonderful career so far. You've won the two Finnish junior titles as well as the senior national title and have represented Finland at the 2011 World Championships as well as at four consecutive World Junior Championships, not to mention a number of other international events from Australia to Romania. What are your proudest moments or most special memories from your competitive career so far?

A: One of my most proudest moments was when I won my first senior national title in Finland in 2011. It was a great feeling and training had really paid off. What made it more special was the fact that I did not have a good short program and was fourth after it, I believe. I just really wanted to show everyone what I was capable of doing in the free program and went out there and was able to perform a clean program. Another proud moment I had was when I was able to represent my home country in the World Championships. It was a great honor and an even greater experience to compete against the best skaters in the world.

Q: Although you were born in Kuopio, Finland, you actually live, train and study here in Canada - in British Columbia actually. Was there much of a culture shock moving from Finland to Canada in 2007 and what do you love most about here and miss most about Finland do you find? 

A: There wasn't too much of a culture shock when I moved from Finland to Canada. The biggest difference that I realized was the multicultural aspect that especially Vancouver has with all the different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. The thing that I love most about Canada is the fact that people are very friendly and easygoing so it was an easy transition. The things that I miss most about Finland are family and the friends that I grew up with. Also every time I go back to Finland I fall in love with the scenery as it is beautiful there.

Q: You have worked with Joanne McLeod, alongside a host of other great skaters including Olympic Silver Medallist Kevin Reynolds. How do you feel having the right training environment motivates you daily to improve and grow stronger as an athlete? 

A: I don't train with Joanne McLeod anymore. I made a switch to training with Bruno Delmaestro in the Coquitlam Skating Club a few years ago. Things didn't work out with Joanne and I. The training motivation that I have now is greater than ever. I try and go on the ice everyday with a great attitude and always trying to give 110% to achieve my daily and seasonal goals. I believe that these qualities have made me a stronger athlete and of course the love for the sport. I had the chance to train with Kevin Reyonlds and Jeremy Ten when I still skated with Joanne. Kevin and Jeremy are both great friends of mine and great skaters whom I look up to in both on the ice and off the ice.

Q: After not competing during the 2012/2013 season, you came back and finished third at your Nationals this past season. What can you share about your goals for this next season and the programs you will be skating? 

A: After recovering from my lower back surgery (L5 bilateral pars repair) I was motivated to get back into training and prove to everyone that I was still able to compete at a high level. My goals for this season are to skate as well as I personally can at each one of my competitions as well as to achieve the World Score. Another important goal that I have set for myself is to be able to compete for the title again at my Nationals. My short program for the upcoming season is bluesy with lyrics. It is a different style that I have previously skated to and I really like the challenge, because it makes me work hard on my presentation skills and hopefully it will reflect in my competition scores. My long program starts off with a classical side of music and then turns into tango and intense music towards the end, which I personally love because I can go full out in performing it in front of a crowd.

Q: Describe the ultimate day in your life. What would you eat, what music would you be listening to and where would you go? 

A: The ultimate day in my life would probably be hanging out with my closest friends and going to the beach or cliff jumping at some of the local locations and just enjoy life with great friends. I would most likely be having a barbecue at the location and making burgers and listening to hip hop or electronic music.

Béla and his sister Beata

Q: Your siblings Beata, Bettina and Benjam all figure skate as well. Is sibling rivalry something has gone on often between the four of you or are you generally just very supportive of each other? 

A: Beata and Benjam are currently skating with me, but my younger sister Bettina has retired from skating. We have an encouraging relationship when we are on the ice and support each other as much as we can during training and competition. Of course there is some sibling rivalry especially between my brother who is five years younger than I am and his personal goal is to beat me one day. I have promised to have at least one competition with him sometime in the future when he gets his triple jumps.

Q: How do you think figure skating needs to change or grow to become more popular with the wider audiences of today and draw in more fans? 

A: I believe figure skating is moving the right way although individual perspectives differ with the new judging system. I have noticed that especially in my home country the trend of figure skating has bloomed and they are doing a lot of cool new things to get younger kids to start figure skating. I think that people just need to give the sport a chance and go watch a high level event to truly know what the sport is all about to really appreciate it to the fullest and get the whole experience.

Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and why? 

A: Growing up my favourite skaters were Evgeni Plushenko and Brian Joubert. I really liked the European style that they had while skating and the athleticism that they brought to the sport. Currently my favourite skaters are Yuzuru Hanyu, Denis Ten and Maxim Kovtun. They're all young athletes with such great talent and it motivates me to get on the level that they are on at the moment
.
Q: What is one thing most people don't know about you? 

A: A thing most people don't know about me is that I'm really easygoing and love to meet new people. People are used to seeing me as a very busy individual always either studying on campus or at training. I guess that goes to pretty much all the student athletes.

Q: What do you love more than anything about figure skating? 

A: The thing that I love more than anything about figure skating is when you are able to have the skate of your life at a competition that really matters after hours and hours of working towards that goal and finally achieving it. That is one of the best feelings to have as a figure skater.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Triumph And Tragedy: Talking John Curry With Author Bill Jones

I don't think anyone could argue that 1976 Olympic Gold Medallist John Curry was not one of the most important, significant and influential skaters of the twentieth century and for that matter, of all time. Not only was his skating magnificent, his work as a professional skater and choreographer completely revolutionized what many even considered possible on ice. Simply put, there's something about John Curry's skating that words don't seem to do any real justice. In his brand spanking new book "Alone: The Triumph and Tragedy of John Curry", Bill Jones takes on the daunting challenge of doing justice to the life story of one of skating's most enduring and enigmatic stars.

Although the book won't be released in the U.S. until January 2015 on Amazon.com, it is currently available on the British incarnation of Amazon and here in Canada, you can pre-order your copy and have it in no time flat: it will be released in Canada on August 26, 2014. This quite frankly though is not a book you want to be waiting on. You're better off just paying the international shipping and going the UK Amazon route. You'll thank yourself for it. I spoke to Bill Jones, the author of the book about what inspired him to tell John's story. "I've been a documentary filmmaker all my working life. That is until I wrote my first book four years ago, "The Ghost Runner". That effort won me a major literary award, and I badly wanted to write a second book and found myself thinking back to the night I watched John Curry at the Olympics in 1976. Something about him had always stuck with me, and as I knew nothing about him, I decided to look closer. Thank God I did. Although it's taken me almost three years, I'm very proud of the result and think John's courage - in respect of both his skating style AND his sexuality - should be read about by people today. Don't forget he came out as gay, less than 24 hours after winning the Olympics. In 1976! Even today, many public figures don't have the guts to do this. Curry also told the world he had AIDS when people like Freddie Mercury and Nureyev were trying all in their power to keep it a secret. Incredible, incredible guy."

Coming back to the challenge of putting a skater so enigmatic's story to paper, we talked a bit more about why John's story was so compelling: "Of course, John was a brilliant skater - a genius, and innovator, a risk-taker, a visionary. But what makes him fascinating for a biographer are the extraordinarily complex facets of his personality. At the outset of this project, one of his close friends said: 'How do you write a book about a black hole'? Very soon, I understood the wisdom of that remark. Curry was oblique, secretive and ferociously private. He was also rootless - never owned a home or lived anywhere for long - and his constant seeking movement made him even harder to pin down. But when I did - thanks to over three hundred private letters - I was fascinated by his dark, demanding, driving, unforgiving psyche. This wasn't mere prurience. Curry's loneliness and unhappiness are bound up in so many of his greatest pieces of choreography. Very often he is telling us something on the ice. Such as his maligned reworking of the Icarus myth which he explained with the wry aside : 'Everyone wants to fly too close to the sun'. Undoubtedly Curry flew too close and like thousands of men of his generation, he was burned." In this statement to John's contraction of HIV and AIDS which tragically led to his death in April 1994 at the age of forty seven.

As Jones described Curry as "oblique, secretive and ferociously private", I wanted to ask him more about the challenges of taking on a biographical project like this. "The challenge lay in his secrecy," Jones reiterated. "Diaries he had kept had been destroyed as had many letters. Thankfully, I found boxes of his papers at his former family home (in Warwickshire, England) and these were full of vital keys to his life. His passports especially - blizzards of red ink and stamps - gave me the precise route map of his life. Talking to over one hundred of his contemporaries opened him up piece by piece. As did the help of his family, who enabled me to get a glimpse of a childhood which ended in 1965 with his father's suicide. It would be fair to say that John was not an easy nut to crack! Another major challenge was putting into words the liquid beauty of his skating. Hopefully, I've pulled this off, especially with my description of his gold medal winning skate in 1976." Jones' effort to talk to a who's who from the skating community who were connected to John including his dear friend and contemporary Lorna Brown, Dorothy Hamill, Toller Cranston, Jojo Starbuck and Robin Cousins allowed for a real insight into not only John's character but his wide reaching impact on the figure skating community.

In this information age where we are fortunate to have a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips, I wanted to ask Jones what fans of John's would be most surprised by when reading the book: "I think fans of John's skating will be shocked to learn of the mental torment he was in, for almost all of his life. Curry was a depressive, lonely man who never established a lasting relationship. He was also ferociously tough on coaches, fellow skaters and managers. His journey was strewn with casualties. The outcome, however, was a body of work which no one will ever equal. His 1984 shows at the Royal Albert Hall and the New York Met, for example, were quite literally jaw-dropping. They were also cripplingly expensive and left his company over one million dollars in debt; a financial catastrophe from which he never really recovered. I think fans will also be upset to read of his final years, resigned to his fate, but happy not to be weighed down by the pressures of his skating life."

Going back to what made Curry simply this larger than life, SPECIAL skater, Jones commented that "from what I've seen of skating recently - and I don't pretend to be a student of today's whiz kids - it all seems a little tacky and tricksy, and I wonder where the subtlety has gone. But then Curry had to fight to skate the way he wanted, and as a child had really wanted to be a ballet dancer so his motivation was entirely different. Skating for him was a second choice which he worked tirelessly, and brilliantly, to subvert. Anyway, I do hope people read this book and spread the word. Sadly it will make people cry, but it will also make them head for YouTube to see what all the fuss was about. And if they do, my job is done!"

It was my pleasure to connect with Bill Jones and really garner some insight into his motivation to tell this important story. I have to honestly say that this is a story that needs to be out there and that people really need to take the time to read. E.A. Bucchianeri wrote that "an artist should paint from the heart, and not always what people expect. Predictability often leads to the dullest work, in my opinion, and we have been bored stiff long enough I think." In a time when skating is at this dire crossroads where the artistic movement to reclaim ownership of the ART of skating seems pitted against a judging system that almost cruelly discourages any form of creativity, I think reading about and learning from the story of one of the sport's greatest artists and true masters is just so very important. The more and more I think about it, "the sport of figure skating" is becoming a broken record we need to stop trying to change. "The art of figure skating" is what needs our undivided attention and Curry's legacy and body of work can truly serve as a wonderful source of inspiration, vision and hope... for skating's overall future.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Matt Parr

The Olympic dream is one that motivates so many skaters throughout their careers, but the sheer reality of life is that very few skaters actually get to live that experience. Through the inclusion of the new team event at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, four-time British Champion Matt Parr got to live his Olympic dream - and skated brilliantly. Since announcing his retirement from competitive skating and taking up professional skating aboard the Royal Caribbean Legend Of The Seas cruise ship, in this wonderful interview Matt reflected on his competitive career, talked about the issues facing both competitive skating internationally and within Great Britain, his future, his heroes both on and off the ice and much more. You're going to just love reading this one!:

Q: After winning the 2003/2004 British junior title, your progress and transition to the senior ranks was slow but sensational. Now, in 2014 you can look back and say you're a four time British senior men's champion. What has been the key to your longevity and endurance in the sport and what kept you going?

A: I won the junior title at the age of thirteen and for me, that was maybe a little too early. I wasn't quite mature enough physically or mentally at the time and for those reasons, I feel I struggled to get myself where I needed to be for the next few seasons. I think it's quite generous to say I've been in the sport for a long time. I retired at the age of twenty three, so I can't say I've had longevity in the sport. In terms of what motivated me to go into the rink everyday, in my last season it was the Olympics. That's all I ever wanted to achieve from a young age, so having the as the carrot dangling in front of my face everyday is what got me through.

Q: You've represented Great Britain on the world's biggest stages at the Junior World Championships, European Championships, World Championships, Winter Olympics and a host of other international competitions. What are your proudest moments from international competition?

A: Representing your country at any competition is always an honor, but to do so at an Olympic Games is like nothing I can describe. So, without a doubt, that is the highlight of my career. Becoming the first British male to win the Mid Atlantics in New York in decades was also a pretty big highlight for me, too.

Q: You're really a multi-talented person, formerly playing football and being quite involved with gymnastics. Word on the street is that you can also juggle, ride a unicycle and balance a chair on your chin. Where did you learn all of these circus tricks and what's the next trick up your sleeve?

A: When I was younger I would spend long days in the ice rink, so to help pass time in between seasons I would learn new things to keep my busy. My parents knew I had an extremely short attention span too, so they'd buy me random things to keep me entertained (for example, the unicycle, juggling equipment, diablos and the like). The gymnastics wasn't anything I did for any great period of time. I used to throw myself around and teach myself back tucks and things, so my parents found a local gymnastics school for a while, so I could purge myself of the need to do these in a safer environment I guess. I entered one competition and won. I retired immediately afterwards. Maybe I just like to prove to myself and to other people that I can do things. Now that I'm a little older and wiser, I'm not so courageous in attempting new things. I've now realized the fragility of my own body so I can't throw myself into things so casually now! I'm going to stick to some less strenuous things from now on. I'm currently learning the back tuck on the ice, though. That's as far as exciting as is going to get from now on, I fear.

Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and why?

A: Alexei Yagudin probably comes at the top of the list. He was technically as consistent as anyone I've ever seen and had a charisma on the ice which drew you in. To finish off his career with the memorable routines in Salt Lake 2002, he's secured his position in my top three skaters although watching them back now, the programs seem so juvenile compared to today's athletes. The feeling it gave me as a kid watching them is enough. Daisuke Takahashi would be the next one. His artistry on the ice is just incredible. His performances evoke emotions within yourself unlike any other skater I've witnessed. Just a truly exquisite skater who puts everything into his performances, often at the expense of his technical mark. As an artist on the ice, there is no one better, in my opinion. If I could skate like any skater I've ever seen, it'd be Daisuke. I'm only going to mention these two as my favourite skaters, as they are the main ones who have inspired me. I must give special mentions to the likes of Patrick Chan, Yuzuru Hanyu, Brian Joubert, and my good friend Javier Fernandez. These are skaters I enjoy watching and are terrific athletes.

Q: What is the biggest problem facing the skating world today and how would you solve it?

A: I guess the biggest problems are financing and the modernization of the sport. The ISU seems to be attempting to modernize the sport with the new rule allowing vocals in every discipline now. I feel these decisions are being made to increase or maintain revenue from the TV channels. That coupled with the decreasing numbers of entries allowed per event and tougher selection procedures for ISU Championships could make it harder for young talent to break through. It's not rare now that Grand Prix's can't fill the entry allocation with governing bodies unwilling to fund a replacement competitor. Inconsistency in judging is an area which I also fear could drive the formally avid follower to lose faith in the sport, too which, in turn, could lead to the IOC discrediting figure skating as a sport and removing it from the Olympics. That would be the death of the sport for me.

Q: Was the decision to retire from competitive skating a difficult one?

A: I always knew I didn't want to be competing into my late twenties, so I always had planned to retire this year. Plus, I was solely motivated by the Olympics and I couldn't have pushed myself through another cycle for PyeongChang. I'm going to do shows for a short period before moving onto life away from the ice.

Q: The history of skating in the UK is really absolutely fascinating. John Curry, Robin Cousins,
Madge Syers, Jeannette Altwegg and Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have all brought home Olympic gold for your country. What are your thoughts on the present state and future of skating in England?

A: British skating needs to go in a new direction, in my opinion. There are a lot of people who care greatly about the sport but are unable to break the current trend and create a brighter future. I'm very hopeful this can be changed but I feel it needs a person to come in and deconstruct it, rebuild it and be supported by everyone involved with the governing body. The truth is Britain isn't blessed with an abundance of talented skaters, so when there is one found, they need to be nurtured correctly. I've seen many good British skaters fall short of their full potential through the lack of support from the governing body, solely cast off into the pile of the forgotten skaters.

Q: Who are your heroes?

A: I wouldn't really say I had heroes, but the people I admire most in life are my parents. Without them I couldn't have achieved anything in the sport. They supported my skating career from my first time on the ice until I retired after Sochi. I received no funding whatsoever, so none of this would have been possible. Sporting heroes would be Alan Shearer, Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Chris Hoy, Peter Beardsley and Katherine Grainger to name a few.

Q: What's one thing about you most people don't know?

A: I'm a pretty open book, so I can't think there's much about me that people don't know. If anyone wants to know they're welcome to ask me on Twitter.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake you mistake you made in your life and what did you learn from it?

A: I can't think of one major mistake that made me think differently, but the biggest thing I've learned over the time is to always do what makes you happy. I think most people have a good sense of morality, so as long as you're not hurting anyone else with your actions then do what helps you enjoy life. If you aren't enjoying your training, speak to your coach and try something different. They also want what's best for you so they'll listen. If you aren't happy with things in your life, then make a change. I know it's not always easy but we only get one shot at life so we should be nice to one another and enjoy every moment we can!

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Viktória Pavuk

After making her first of four consecutive trips to the World Junior Championships in 2001, Hungarian Champion Viktória Pavuk embarked on a competitive figure skating career that would see her spend a decade competing in senior competitions around the world. In 2004, she narrowly missed the podium at the European Championships in her home country and handily beat eventual Olympic Bronze Medallist Carolina Kostner and European Champion Sarah Meier in the process. After a four year absence from the World Championships, the athletic Viktória returned in 2011 and again qualified for the free skate. It was my pleasure to talk to her about life after retiring from competition in 2012, her competitive career, her favourite skaters and much more in this lovely interview:

Q: Your competitive career spanned more than decade and saw you win the Hungarian national title, compete at four European Championships and World Championships, represent your country in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy and win important international competitions such as the Ondrej Nepela Memorial, Coupe de Nice and Skate Israel. Reflecting on your entire time as a competitive skater, what memories stand out as your proudest or the most special? Contrary wise, which were the most challenging?

A: I have uncountable wonderful memories and find it very difficult to name just one that stands out the most but besides the ones you mentioned (especially the Olympic Games) I am very proud of my Junior Grand Prix gold medal. It was an amazing and special experience in Gdansk being the last to skate in the Gala and my coach Szabolcs Vidrai fondly calling me "my champion lady". It was very important to win here, because it was for the entry of the Grand Prix Final, where I finished at in the third place. I am also proud of my short program bronze medal from the European Championships. I could travel around the world by skating. It's true I could not get every time into the city center, for example to the Eiffel Tower because of the strict schedule. Sometimes we had just some days which are spent with competition but I could walk on the Big Wall. The most challenging competition was the Olympic Games. It was unforgettable memory skating in front of nine and a half thousand spectators during the European Championships in Budapest Arena and in 2004 I was able to take part in the Gala because of my result and not because I am Hungarian. French competitions are close to my heart and I feel French spectators like me as well. Every time I took part in Cup of Nice, I was published with more pictures in their brochure and they exposed them on the ice rink wall.

Q: During your skating career, your sister Patricia (a competitive ice dancer) was one of your coaches alongside Szabolcs Vidrai and Istvan Simon. What made your relationship with your coaches work?

A: I reached third place in the Junior Olympic Games with my first coach István Simon. I got good basic training from him and from my first ballet teacher Judit Puskás. I did major expansion during the period of time spent with Szabolcs. At that time, I got to work with Igor Tchiniaev who taught me new skating styles and I was opened to change. I got my best results during these three years in junior and senior category as well. I got to go to Eric Bompard, the Paris Grand Prix and finished seventh place and won two times at the Cup of Nice with Patricia.

Q: Your decision to end your career came in 2012. How did you reach this difficult decision and do you have any regrets about not continuing until 2014?

A: Dancing and skating was my love and I was very dedicated, so I wanted to continue competing. Unfortunately, conditions did not allow me to continue skating. I think almost every professional skater or other athlete's hearts stay half out on the ice or on a court. I grow up on the dancing floor and on the ice and I started skating and doing classical and jazz ballet at the same time when I was three so it is hard to break away.

Q: Since retiring from competitive skating, what is your involvement with skating in Hungary and what are your goals in life off of the ice?

A: I wanted to attend the Dance Academy but I couldn't have the time for it because of professional figure skating so I finished my studies and got a diploma of physical education and I made a media school as well. I have worked as a reporter at a Cultur Television for two years. I like this new profession. I mostly do interviews with actors and dancers and I can see their performances at the National Dancetheater and Operetta Theater. Sometimes I hold practices for small skaters. Children and I both seem to like each other. I miss skating so I am thinking about doing a revue and then after staying abroad to continue my life as a coach. However, I am starting get used to and love my work as a reporter. It's a difficult decision!

Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and why? 

A: Of course I recognize the results of Krisztina Czakó and Diana Póth. I got motivation from Maria Butyrskaya, Oksana Baiul and Shizuka Arakawa. I think they really loved skating and it showed during their performances. They are my favourite skaters from all time.

Q: Having competed under both systems,  what are thoughts on the current skate of figure skating and the new judging system? Do you feel it has bettered the sport or do you prefer the 6.0 system?

A: In my point of view, it was not a big change. I could conform to the new judging system. I can do difficult variations and change of edges and difficult positions in spins like the Biellmann, split and donut spin. The scoring of the sport will always be subjective. Anyway, there are some funny situations when skaters laugh at the judging requirements... In one season, they asked for changes in speed during the step sequence and Alban Préaubert started to walk on his top of the blades and then started to run. It made for a funny performance and I liked it.

Q: What were your thoughts on the ladies competitions at the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2014 World Championships?

A: Frankly, I was not able to watch a lot of the competitions for the last two years because my heart broke after finishing competing. What I have seen is that figure skating is more technical then ever and lost from its artistic nature. On the other hand, figure skating is sport and the exhibitions and revues are where we have to go to show our acting abilities.

Q: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

A: Well, maybe not all people know that I was an almost fanatic hard worker on the ice. I wanted to meet the expectations and prove myself to my beloved fans and of course little skaters, because they gave me energy and had fun. I still start almost every morning start with ballet lessons and nowadays go on the ice so I am ready for exhibition skating. I also like romantic novels. My favourite is "Gone With The Wind". I love this one and the music from the movie as well.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Horatio Tertuliano Torromé: Argentina's Only Olympic Figure Skater

Long, long before the Jamaican bobsled team earned international fame with their debut in Olympic competition in Calgary in 1988 and inspired the movie 'Cool Runnings', an Olympic athlete from a country you'd never really associate with winter sports did just the same... only at the Summer Olympic Games and as a figure skater.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1861 to an Argentine father and a Brazilian mother, Horatio Tertuliano Torromé emigrated to Great Britain during the Victorian era with his family, married in 1886 and soon thereafter took up figure skating. In 1902, he almost won a medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in London, England, but dropped from a third place finish in compulsory figures to finish fourth in free skating and just off the podium underneath Ulrich Salchow, Madge Syers-Cave and Germany's Martin Gordan. In 1905 and 1906, Torromé would compete at the British Figure Skating Championships and win the men's competition, which wasn't technically a men's competition as female skaters contested the men for the 'men's title' until they were finally given a competition of their own in 1927. 

A forty six year old Torromé qualified to compete as a representative of Great Britain at the 1908 Olympic Games and almost did, but instead opted to represent his father's home country of Argentina. He was the only athlete in ANY sport to represent Argentina at those Games and in the more than hundred years and countless Olympic Games since then, there still hasn't been another figure skater from Argentina. Although he would finish seventh of the seven men finishing the men's event at those Games (two didn't finish), Torromé would also judge the pairs figure skating competition at the 1908 Games. Following the Olympics, Torromé continued the work he'd started off the ice during his skating career. Since 1881 at the age of twenty, he was a partner in the Laurence Pountey-lane business Torromé Sons and Co, Commission Merchants, with his father Francisco and brother Francisco (Franco) Jose Torromé. His father retired from the business in late 1903 and left the business to be run by his sons. Horatio (also known as Henri) would pass away in Willensden, Greater London on September 16, 1920.

Art by Horatio Tertuliano Torromé, from Edgar Syers' book "The Poetry Of Skating"

Interestingly, Torromé wasn't the only skater to come out of a warm weather climate and achieve excellence back 'in those days'. Jamaican born Louis Magnus followed a similar path, emigrating from Kingston, Jamaica to France and taking up skating as well. Magnus would not only win the French men's and pairs titles but would parallel Torromé's career further by judging internationally as well. Magnus would go on to found the International Ice Hockey Federation and become its first President.

It wouldn't be until 2006 that Argentina would be represented again in ISU competition, when Natalia Alexandra Mitsuoka, who emigrated from Argentina to the United States, would represent her country of birth at the 2006 World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Now officially a member of the ISU, Argentina boasts a handful of ice rinks in areas like Buenos Aries, Haedo and the San Isidro district, where a new generation of skaters are learning lutzes and layback spins. With new events like the ISU Development Trophy providing opportunities to developing skating federations, it may not be another hundred years before we see another skater from Argentina at the Olympics.

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Turning The Tables: Answering Your Questions (Volume 2)

Back in July 2013, I decided to put myself out there and do the first edition of Turning The Tables - kind of like a "Reader Mail" blog to mix things up a little bit. I'm constantly getting feedback about the content on the blog via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter and I want to thank you all so much for reading, being supportive and even correcting me and providing constructive criticism. As I wrote last time I did this... without you reading what I'm writing, I'm just talking to myself so I really appreciate all of the kind words and feedback. So without further ado, some answers to your questions:

Q from @Colinsfansdotcom on Twitter: "What's the hardest move you ever did on the ice?"

A: I talked quite a bit about my time as a figure skater the last time around and it's something I get asked about a fair bit. As I explained, I competed mainly in Artistic (which I think is now known as Interpretive). This was mostly because I loved interpreting music and expressing myself creatively on the ice and taking risks, but hey... it didn't hurt that I wasn't much of a jumper either. All of my singles including my axel were 100% consistent and near the end of my time skating, I was doing double salchows and double loops pretty consistently as well. I LOVED hydroblading and field moves but jumps just weren't something I was really strong at. I was about 5'9" and 120 pounds soaking wet so there wasn't much muscle to me back then. I was kind of a string bean.

Q from @ClaireCloutier on Twitter: "So what made you decide to start a figure skating blog? And, is it hard to keep going?"

A: I've always had some sort of creative outlet from the time I was a teenager until now. I've acted, danced, skated, written, acted and performed as a drag queen for ten years. When I decided to give up drag, I thought about what my next challenge would be. I'd really kind of given up writing (which is my true passion) for several years and have passionately followed figure skating since around 1994 so it just seemed like a cool choice. I had no clue what I was doing when I started and I'm still not convinced I do. As for being hard to keep going, I've got discouraged a few times but lately, things have been great. I've learned to stay well ahead and always have a LOT of content already prepared well in advance so unless I'm writing about a current event or something like that, I never really have to be freaking out going "what am I going to write next?" Staying ahead of the game has been key to always having lots of fresh content.

Q from Alex E. via e-mail: "Where did you come up with the name of the blog?"

A: "Is That A Skate Guard In Your Pocket Or Are You Happy To See Me?" - which is definitely a mouthful - originated in my own twisted head. You have to laugh in life and I'm all about having a sense of humor about what you're doing! At the end of the day, it's a lighthearted blog and it's meant to be entertaining and educational to people. I kind of like the fact that although the writing style is lighthearted at times and the name is playful, the content is very much for real.

Q from @MartinBeetler on Twitter: "Who is the one interview you have tried to get the most and they keep declining?"

A: Interesting question! I usually contact most people for interviews initially via e-mail, social media or their federations so I really leave the owness on people themselves to get back to me and connect. Naturally, some people you just don't hear back from and with others, you start coordinating an interview and communication falls through... which is completely understandable when you think about how busy life is. That said, most people are great and sometimes the best interviews are the ones you wait for or have to work to get! I've only ever had one person flat out refuse and that had to do them not being a fan of the name of the blog, which I kind of get. Totally up to them obviously! There are so many people I haven't interviewed yet that I'd love to but one person that comes to mind off the top of my head that I'm just dying to interview is of course Toller Cranston.

Q from Lyne O. via Facebook: "What are your favourite blogs and podcasts?"

A: I am absolutely in love with Stuff You Missed In History Class. If you haven't given this podcast a listen, you need to get on that. The two co-hosts Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey have wonderful senses of humor but more importantly, they are very thoughtful about their topic choices and do their homework. From shipwrecks to civil rights to a man eating lion, I've learned about hundreds of topics that I never would have on my own and I think you're going to find that a lot of the blogs coming up in particular really center on skating history topics you may have missed in skating history class, so you can definitely say they have inspired this blog. Absolutely. As for skating blogs and podcasts, I have listened to almost every single episode of The Manleywoman SkateCast. Allison really is the queen of skating interviewers! She asks the write questions, ALWAYS does her homework and is really so versatile both in the people she interviews and the topics she discusses with them. She's definitely inspired me, that's for damn sure. As well, if you want to talk about sense of humor... Check out Allison Scott's Life On The Edge Of Skating blog. For those of you who don't know Allison, yes, she's Jeremy Abbott's Mom but more importantly, she's a great writer and she's just hilarious. Open Kwong Dore Podcast is another big favourite of mine - PJ Kwong is simply to die for! In case you may have noticed, most of these are podcasts. I write almost every day... it's nice FOR ME to listen for a change!

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.

Interview With Brian Orser

You've all heard the old opera colloquialism "it ain't over till the fat lady sings". Well, the way I see it is this... if you're going to have a Canada Month on your blog, it ain't over till you interview Brian Orser. That's just how it works. How do you even introduce Brian Orser? He's one of several wonderful skaters like Liz Manley, Robin Cousins, Toller Cranston and Anita Hartshorn and Frank Sweiding who inspired me to start skating myself. He's won the Canadian novice title, Canadian junior title and the Canadian senior title (the latter EIGHT CONSECUTIVE TIMES). He's won Skate Canada International three times in addition to two Olympic silver medals and the 1987 World title. He followed that up with one of the most successful and enduring professional careers going, competing professionally and touring with Stars On Ice for almost twenty years. After taking a step away from performing in 2007, he turned to the coaching world. He's coached two Olympic gold medallists (Yuna Kim and Yuzuru Hanyu), as well as Javier Fernández, Christina Gao, Adam Rippon, Eric Radford, Elene Gedevanishvili, Fedor Andreev and many, many others. Most recently, he's come out with Peak Performance Skating, his own iPhone skating app! If there's something this man can't do, I can't think of it. To top it all off, he's just a delightful person! Before we get to the interview, I've got to tell you my Brian Orser story if you haven't heard it yet. In 2007, Canadian Nationals were here in Halifax and there was some GREAT skating that year. In between the pairs and men's free skates I think, my friend Jason and I were walking along the top of the rink and I saw Brian standing there standing talking to someone and me (forever the extrovert) just barged over to introduce myself. I wasn't letting that one go. He couldn't have been any nicer about the whole thing and I totally got him to autograph my ticket. I'm sorry! You don't get to meet your idols every day. That's what I thought at least until I started blogging... At any rate, Brian and I connected when he was in Japan putting together a show for Yuzuru Hanyu with Jeffrey Buttle and I can't thank him enough for taking the time to do this interview. I think you'll love it!:

Q: Two Olympic silver medals, the world title in 1987, three Skate Canada titles, eight consecutive Canadian titles, nearly twenty years with Stars On Ice and one of the most impressive professional careers in the business. What do you look back on as the most special or defining moments in your career when you reflect on it all today?

A: Moments! There are so many moments to reflect on... when I won my first senior Canadian title in 1981 in Halifax was a turning point and launched me on to the world scene. It was then I realized I had a shot at the World and Olympic podiums. Junior Nationals in 1979 is another big moment, landing my first triple axel. Both Olympic experiences stand out as well. I felt totally in charge and prepared and skating with the Olympic logo on the ice was so empowering. Making the "Carmen On Ice" movie with Katarina Witt was such a great experience. It was my first real chance at acting and movie making. All three CBC variety specials: "Skating Free", "Night Moves" and " Blame it On The Blues". Winning my first ever trophy in Sarnia, Ontario... I believe it was the Men Under 13 category... and winning the World title in 1987 in Cincinnati. 

Q: You really revolutionized the technical side of skating by being the first skater to perform a triple axel at the Olympics and the first to include two triple axels in a program. Looking at the IJS judging system we have today as opposed to the 6.0 system when you were competing, do you think technical innovation is being rewarded enough and what aspects do you feel need to be improved about the way skating is being judged today?

A: We (as coaches) have to embrace the system we have at the moment. My job as a coach is to be sure my athletes have all the tools to tackle any system. I actually like this system as it rewards a "well rounded" skater. I was trained as a well rounded skater and when I competed, it seemed the jumps were "king" of choreography. Spins were secondary along with quality of edges, turns and transitions. The big improvement I feel that is needed is in the transparency in judging. I realize the idea is to "protect" the judges so they can do what they feel without any external pressure, however, I think it has backfired. 

Q: Brian Boitano, Katarina Witt, Gordeeva and Grinkov and Torvill and Dean (among others) all reinstated in time for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Was reinstating in 1994 something you considered?

A: (laughing) I think I entertained the idea for about thirty seconds! It was very brave for these "greats" to come back, but for me I wanted to continue on the direction and path I was already on. 

Q: "The Story Of My Life" is stands out as not only one of your signature pieces but one of the most moving skating programs out there period. What did this music and program mean to you and what did you love most about skating to it for so many years?

A: "The Story Of My Life" was a piece of music that my mother found and loved. She (like me) was a huge Neil Diamond fan. It seemed fitting to skate to this after the Calgary Games and for the 1988 season, as it was my last amateur run. Following my mother's death in 1996, I brought it back as a tribute to her and also to help me through the pain I was feeling. Skating was my way of feeling and expressing. I had the song, my friends and the audience every night. 

Q: Would you ever get back into touring or performing regularly again?

A: (laughing) No! Been there, done that and got many t-shirts!

Q: Maybe I'll just try asking you that again in a bit and see if you change your mind. You've recently launched your own skating app called Peak Performance Skating. How did the idea for an app come together in your mind and what does the app offer that is missing in the training regimes of so many skaters?

A: The idea of Peak Performance Skating really came by chance as I met Asad Mecci in my condo building. He is the consulting hypnotist whose voice is on our app. He was discussing the success of the work he had done with tennis players and asked about working on an app for figure skaters. I jumped at the opportunity to develop something for my skaters and eventually have it available for all skaters at all levels. This is the type of training I did as an athlete... not so much with a recorded session but a live exercise we went through at competitions for realization and visualization. Fast forward to today and the tool is now with you when YOU need it at any time or place. You just simply turn on your phone or tablet. It's something that can help any skater, especially before they compete. 

Q: You've coached or currently coach a who's who of figure skating today - Olympic Gold Medallists Yuzuru Hanyu and Yuna Kim, Olympic Silver Medallist Eric Radford, two time European Champion Javier Fernández, Adam Rippon, Christina Gao and so many others. For you, was the transition to coaching from performing a natural one and what would you say is your 'secret' as a coach?

A: I think the transition for me to coaching and teaching was a smooth one, but quite abrupt. The offer for me to direct the skating section at the Cricket Club was sudden and unexpected. I would only tackle the responsibility if Tracy Wilson would do it with me. She said yes and the rest is history. My first student was a fifteen year old junior skater from Korea. Her name was Yuna Kim. Of course she was talented, but unfortunately she lacked passion and joy for skating. I feel my best tools are my experiences from competing at a very high level... my physical readiness and mostly my mental readiness. This is where Peak Performance comes in for my athletes to use as a tool. It allows them to visualize themselves in their own thoughts and pictures for their potential and level of skating. This was an exercise that I did regularly as an athlete. I think my "secret" is a variety of things: mental readiness, preparation, communication, team work, motivation, and most of all, I believe in them. I know they will reach their full potential. 

Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all time and why?

A: My favourite skaters of all time are Robin Cousins, Stephane Lambiel, Janet Lynn and Kurt Browning.   

BUT... today my favourite skaters are Yuzuru Hanyu, Javier Fernandez and Nam Nguyen.

Q: What's one thing most people don't know about you?

A: As someone who has been in the media from a young age, I don't think there is any thing that people don't know.   

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to every skater in the world, what would it be?

A: The only advice is that athletes should feel free to express themselves. Love skating for the beauty it is. Take the time to simplify it. 

Skate Guard is a blog dedicated to preserving the rich, colourful and fascinating history of figure skating. Over ten years, the blog has featured over a thousand free articles covering all aspects of the sport's history, as well as four compelling in-depth features. To read the latest articles, follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. If you enjoy Skate Guard, please show your support for this archive by ordering a copy of the figure skating reference books "The Almanac of Canadian Figure Skating", "Technical Merit: A History of Figure Skating Jumps" and "A Bibliography of Figure Skating": https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/p/buy-book.html.