Recent content by SpiffySpiders

And they would be correct on both counts. A fifteen-year-old elite athlete does not decide to self-medicate for performance, it's a team and/or legal guardian decision that they either agree to or are unaware of. A fifteen-year-old American elite athlete - which Tara and Johnny were - would...

Figure skating fandom is toxic. There, I said it. So much of the talk centers on costumes and hair and body shapes and who is or isn't considered physically attractive enough for the sport. I'm not at all surprised someone felt comfortable saying what they did, considering how fans tend to talk...

Anything I've heard more than once. There's a big world of music, discover it skating community. It doesn't help that I loathe jazzy stuff, tangos, musicals, and medleys; that's most of the current figure skating sounds catalogue. It seems that coaches, choreographers, and athletes reuse music...

I'm watching to see how RUSADA present their conclusions. Will it be an honest appraisal of what happened with an appropriate, transparent ruling? If so, that's a huge step forward and I'd be right in line to congratulate them! However...yeah. Who gets tossed under the bus on this will speak...

That would be great if Canada didn't have a long history in figure skating as one of the sport's major countries. While not every year is expected to bring a multi-medal haul, Canada has taken home at least one figure skating medal in almost every Olympics over the last 70 years. It's been more...

If underaged athletes are permitted to challenge at senior competitions then they need to comply with senior rules in every way. No exceptions. If they aren't mature enough to make adult decisions for themselves (and the average 15-year-old is not) and mature enough to face adult consequences...

They aren't dirt cheap, and neither is hockey, but they are lower cost at the mid-range level where potential talent is recognized before plans for big moves to elite training centres start being considered. It's also a lot easier to grab sponsors in skiing and snowboarding to help with...

All just my opinions, of course :): Two elements are driving this decline; failure to push the elements forward and lack of interest. Canadian coaching is lagging behind in technical development, which is odd considering we used to be at the forefront with quads for men and big tricks for...

It seems harsh, but if you want (semi)clean sport, then yes. There are countless drugs that can be performance-enhancing, including many that wouldn't initially seem to be likely candidates. I've participated in skating discussions online, including here I believe, where I often was the sole...

And this is what my concern is. Ten years ago is a long time. Sports constantly evolve. Skills become more demanding. Also, it's not only Eteri trained girls attempting new jumps. There are several others with triple axels and more practicing these, and quads, with hopes of including such...

I am worried, and not just about the women. Two things are at play that raise my concerns. The first is skating's place in Canada's current popular sports hierarchy. Perhaps others in different provinces are experiencing a different situation, but no one I know here is looking at the sport in a...

If a pair isn't strong enough to beat a new project from two mid-thirties former retiree skaters than they don't deserve an Olympic trip. Representing Canada in figure skating at the Olympics should be earned, not given as a participation prize or as a reward for not losing a pairs spot. The...