The 2018-19 Grand Prix of Figure Skating starts this weekend, and I feel unprepared. Not because I lack knowledge – I’ve watched all the Challenger Series events so far this season, and kept an eye on other notable program premieres – but because I’m not attending Skate America in person this year, which makes the… Continue reading 2018 Grand Prix-view: The Men of Skate America
Karina Manta Keeps Ice Dance Queer
A deeply adorable thing happened on Instagram on Sunday night. It was also a deeply important thing. Karina Manta, a member of the USA National Team in ice dance, came out as bisexual in a bedroom spoken-word-and-guitar confessional that resounds with the kind of baby queer girl purity that would make all of Autostraddle instantly… Continue reading Karina Manta Keeps Ice Dance Queer
Ice Dance Roundup: Twelve Recent Programs to Watch
It’s hard to explain to the casuals that September is the busiest part of the figure skating season. September 13-15 was the annual “hell weekend” for dedicated fans, with two Challenger Series competitions and a Junior Grand Prix event. There was another Junior Grand Prix the weekend before, and two more Challenger Series the weekend… Continue reading Ice Dance Roundup: Twelve Recent Programs to Watch
Why You All Need to Use My Pronouns
It’s the High Holy Days, the time of year when Jewish people reflect on ourselves and our relationships with others, and do their best to rectify all our unfinished interpersonal business. That makes it the perfect time of year to put this into the universe. It’s also a triple-header weekend for figure skating fans, so… Continue reading Why You All Need to Use My Pronouns
12 Amazing Programs from the First Two Weeks of the Junior Grand Prix
Like pumpkin spice, figure skating really does start earlier every year. It’s barely September, but we’re already a month into a new season and a new Olympic cycle, and I had a pumpkin muffin for breakfast the other day. Among figure skating fans, the Junior Grand Prix series holds a special place in our hearts,… Continue reading 12 Amazing Programs from the First Two Weeks of the Junior Grand Prix
Farewell to an Artist: Remembering Denis Ten
I woke up this morning to a text from a friend that was just “Oh my God. Denis, no…” I assumed it was the usual summer drama of coaching changes and program choices. Instead, it was news of one of the truest and deepest tragedies in figure skating history. Returning to his car in Almaty,… Continue reading Farewell to an Artist: Remembering Denis Ten
The 15 Greatest Men’s Figure Skating Disasters of 2017-18
I don’t know if it was the pressure of the Olympic Games or a season-long worldwide outbreak of mushy ice, but the skating disasters were frequent and painful in 2017-18. As a result, I’m spreading them over three posts this summer, so we can all relive the falls and pops, the resigned shrugs and the… Continue reading The 15 Greatest Men’s Figure Skating Disasters of 2017-18
Missing Anthony Bourdain
I’d hoped to finish at least one more skating post before writing another off-topic piece, but Job Hell has extended into June. Also, one of my heroes died, and I think it would piss him off if I didn’t grieve in public. Anthony Bourdain died by suicide this morning. It was one of those sad non-surprises: a… Continue reading Missing Anthony Bourdain
Off Season, Off Topic: 78 Songs for 39 Years
Most of the people who read this blog only know skating-related things about me. Some of them don’t care to know more, while others have expressed interest in some of my other facets. This post is the first of what will probably be an occasional series of off-topic entries. Four years ago, when I was… Continue reading Off Season, Off Topic: 78 Songs for 39 Years
16 Great Ice Dance Performances of 2017-18
Because it was an Olympic year, everything seemed heightened in 2017-18. When I asked a friend to help me narrow down my lists of best performances, she instead convinced me to add more. And there was no way to shorten my list of the season’s biggest disasters. If all goes well, my look back at… Continue reading 16 Great Ice Dance Performances of 2017-18