Pj Kwong's Blog

[skatingpj]

Thanks for posting Alilou - it's true for me - I do think there is some great new talent and I wasn't sure how much watchable skating there was going to be...am glued to the monitor Pj

[Fallcolor]

but PJ, where are your predictions this time in your entry

edited: oops nevermind. i don't think SA preview has been written yet

[alilou]

Thanks for posting Alilou - it's true for me - I do think there is some great new talent and I wasn't sure how much watchable skating there was going to be...am glued to the monitor Pj

ITA - eg it was so much fun to see Iliush&Maizuradze's coming out party at SC.

[skatingpj]

Alilou - I thought so too...I found them utterly charming!! Am looking forward to more from this Russian team - I love the honesty of the expression and they have that glorious line!

Fallcolour - the blog about Skate America is coming out I think later today or maybe later this week? My picks are: Takahashi, Savchenko/Szolkowy, Davis/White and Kostner!

[AragornElessar]

And this is the reason why I don't understand these people who change their minds about going to an event when "their" favourites/big names pull out. You just never know who's going to start making a name for themselves.

2004 Four Continents is a perfect case in point. I know someone who didn't go because there weren't many big names there outside of Team Canada. She ended up missing seeing the future 2010 Mens Olympic Champion win his first Major Intl Medal.

As I say...You never ever know...

[museksk8r]

She ended up missing seeing the future 2010 Mens Olympic Champion win his first Major Intl Medal.

And that's a bad thing?

[Habs]

And that's a bad thing?

[alilou]

Pj's latest blog

No matter the stage, skaters have it tough
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/pjkwo...equalizer.html

It doesn't matter the level, there is that moment when your name is called and the rink door closes behind you as you skate to your opening pose and you are, in fact, as Brenda says, alone and vulnerable.

[Japanfan]

Any chance you could interview Mao (though an interpreter if necessary) PJ?
She's one of my favourite ladies and I was heartbroken to witness her recent meltdowns. I keep telling myself that she is one gutsy competitor and that if any skater can succeed in reinventing themselves, Mao can. I was really impressed at how she stuck to her guns when she was training with Tarasova last season, even though seemingly everyone , including expert commentators criticized her. And with two programs that apparently didn't work for her, she earned an Olympic silver as the first woman to ever land two 3As in a program as well as second world title.

But I do worry about her poor performances undermining her confidence and giving her cause to doubt herself. It will be interesting to see what happens if she doesn't make the Japanese world team, but I'm hoping she does - Mao has risen to the occasion at Nationals in the past.