We’re less than a week away from Junior Worlds, and if you didn’t spend September enjoying the soothing tones of Ted Barton’s Junior Grand Prix commentary, you’re probably wondering who most of these skaters are. Even if you did catch some of the JGP, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten by now, or that… Continue reading 2019 World Junior Championships Preview: Ice Dance
Category: Field Guides
2019 US Nationals Preview: Championship Ice Dance
Welcome to the third installment of The Finer Sports’ 2019 US National Championships preview! In this one, I’ll take a deep dive into the 12 ice dance teams competing at the senior level this year. For more information on how these previews are structured, see Part 1 of my Ladies’ Preview. Ice dance is the… Continue reading 2019 US Nationals Preview: Championship Ice Dance
2019 US Nationals Preview: Championship Ladies Part 2
Welcome to the second part of my senior ladies’ preview for 2019 US Nationals! If you missed part one, you should read that first, not only to learn about the athletes from the first half of the alphabet, but to see more detail on how I structure my previews. There are 18 ladies competing at… Continue reading 2019 US Nationals Preview: Championship Ladies Part 2
2019 US Nationals Preview: Championship Ladies Part 1
The US Figure Skating Championships are nigh. Elsewhere on the figure skating internet the hype train is revving up and the speculation mills are turning, but here at The Finer Sports, I’m reserving my opinions on whether this season’s ladies’ National Champion will even be old enough for Junior Worlds and previewing every competitor in… Continue reading 2019 US Nationals Preview: Championship Ladies Part 1
Japanese Nationals Start Orders
The start order for the ladies is up in Japanese but not in English, and it looks like live scoring will proceed on the Japanese results site but not the English site. If, like me, you took a Totally Planned afternoon nap and want to see how much of Nationals you can get through before… Continue reading Japanese Nationals Start Orders
2018 Grand Prix-view: The Men of Skate America
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
2018 Olympics Figure Skating Preview: Pairs Part 2
We have a pairs short program starting any minute, so here’s your quick guide to the second half of the pairs alphabet.
2018 Olympics Figure Skating Preview: Pairs Part 1
There’s a good chance you’re new here, and don’t realize that I have a fraught relationship with pairs skating. On the one hand, it’s figure skating, so I love it more than the vast majority of things in the world. On the other hand, it’s pairs. When it comes to the three other disciplines, I can analyze… Continue reading 2018 Olympics Figure Skating Preview: Pairs Part 1
2018 Olympics Figure Skating Preview: Ladies Part 1
The 2018 Winter Olympic Games are upon us! I mean, they’re soon. Really soon. For figure skating fans, there’s no way to feel truly prepared. World Championships and Grand Prix Finals might be more accurate tests of which skaters are the best in the world from year to year, but the Olympics are special. They’re also subject… Continue reading 2018 Olympics Figure Skating Preview: Ladies Part 1
2017 World Championships Field Guide: Men Part 3
Welcome to the third and final section of my guide to the men’s event at 2017 Worlds. We’re down to 36 competitors, as Han Yan confirmed on Saturday that a shoulder injury will keep him from participating, and China has not assigned an alternate in his place. (If you’re wondering what he needs his shoulder for,… Continue reading 2017 World Championships Field Guide: Men Part 3