A Divine Sport blog

[aftershocks]

^^ Witnessing history. So many transitions are happening these days.

I see you mentioned that the old building was sold and they are temporarily leasing there until the new facility is ready. So will the old building with all of its history remain as a recreational skating facility? Hopefully, it won't ever be torn down (fingers-crossed).

I can't imagine how the club and its members were existing at the 80-year-old rink with only one ice surface for so long, especially with the current demands the sport places on its athletes. But it makes sense that the club's officials realized they'd have to find new property to build on as far back as the late 1990s. I guess it took time for them to raise funds, conduct long-term planning, find architects and builders, and above all locate the right property. Over a period of 20 years of planning and preparing, it's no wonder the cost of space in Boston skyrocketed.

Norwood is close enough to Boston for the facility to still be called, The Skating Club of Boston. If they are just now breaking ground, it will be something if the facility is completed next summer. But I guess if they have a good construction crew and the weather cooperates, it will all work out.

 

[clairecloutier]

^^ Witnessing history. So many transitions are happening these days.

I see you mentioned that the old building was sold and they are temporarily leasing there until the new facility is ready. So will the old building with all of its history remain as a recreational skating facility? Hopefully, it won't ever be torn down (fingers-crossed).

@aftershocks, I am not sure what will happen to the old building after the move. That is a good question. If I hear anything, I will let you know. I agree it would be a shame if it is lost, with all that history!

I can't imagine how the club and its members were existing at the 80-year-old rink with only one ice surface for so long, especially with the current demands the sport places on its athletes. But it makes sense that the club's officials realized they'd have to find new property to build on as far back as the late 1990s. I guess it took time for them to raise funds, conduct long-term planning, find architects and builders, and above all locate the right property. Over a period of 20 years of planning and preparing, it's no wonder the cost of space in Boston skyrocketed.

My understanding is that during that 20 years, the Club had several "near misses" where they thought they had property lined up, and perhaps even signed intent agreements of some sort, but then things fell through. At one point, I believe they had plans to build in Allston, which is like a neighborhood of Boston, but that fell through. And there was a previous deal in Norwood that fell apart, before the current plan took shape. So it has been a journey.

 

[clairecloutier]

So I already posted this link in the main GSD thread, but here it is again in this thread.

Mark Mitchell & Peter Johansson: Finding Success on Their Terms

Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson: Finding Success on Their Terms - A divine sport

Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson are the definition of skating veterans. Both have been involved with figure skating at the elite level for over 30 years, first as competitors and more recently as coaches. Mitchell competed internationally for the United States in the early 1990s, attaining two...

adivinesport.com

I recently visited Mark & Peter at their rink in the Boston area to chat with them & learn more about their Mitchell Johansson Method program.

 

[skatesindreams]

Thanks for an insightful and fascinating interview.
Mark and Peter were open and willing to share; unusually so, IMO.

 

[clairecloutier]

Guess who has a birthday today, July 18? Olympic champions Tenley Albright and Dick Button, that's who!

In honor of the occasion, I thought I'd post some text from Tenley Albright's speech at the recent Skating Club of Boston groundbreaking event. It was a short speech, but she shared some great memories from her early skating days.

In Honor of Tenley Albright's Birthday - A divine sport

Today, July 18, marks the 84th birthday of Tenley Albright. Born in 1935, Tenley Albright was a trailblazer in U.S. figure skating, becoming the first American lady to win an Olympic title (1956), as well as the first to win a World championship (1953, 1955). Albright captured a total of six...

adivinesport.com

 

[AxelAnnie]

Claire - that was a lovely gift for all of us. Good grief..........she had polio?
I am not sure they make people like Tenley anymore. What a fabulous life. What a fabulous career!

 

[clairecloutier]

Here is an interview I did with U.S. junior pair team Kate Finster/Balazs Nagy. They start their international season this week in Lake Placid.

Finster/Nagy: Young Team on the Rise - A divine sport

When Kate Finster and Balazs Nagy began their pairs partnership in late fall of 2017, they were a bit of an unlikely duo. The new partners had a five-year age gap–and also came from different disciplines. Nagy, 20, had been a singles skater for the majority of his career, with only one brief...

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

Hi everyone ... So I know things have been pretty quiet on my web site this fall/winter. It's because I've been busy writing some articles for Figure Skaters Online and U.S. Fan Zone.

But I am back now with a new interview that I think you'll enjoy. It's with Roman Sadovsky, who won a surprise bronze medal at NHK this fall and who competes this week at Canadian Nationals. Check it out!

Roman Sadovsky: Figure Skater & YouTuber - A divine sport

The Grand Prix season always seems to bring its share of new stars and surprises. Roman Sadovsky was a bit of both in November, when he unexpectedly won bronze at NHK Trophy. Not many picked the 20-year-old Canadian skater to medal at NHK, which featured an impressive field of men’s...

adivinesport.com

 

[text_skate]

I've been busy writing some articles for Figure Skaters Online and U.S. Fan Zone.

But I am back now with a new interview that I think you'll enjoy.

Thanks @clairecloutier. Interesting interview.

I've to admit, I really miss (insert as much more "really" and "miss" as you like - it won't be enough) your pairs recaps for the resp events. Isn't there a magazine, who'd be willing to pay for it? I'd say with some crowdfunding, you'll even be able to raise money for your own blog...

 

[clairecloutier]

I've to admit, I really miss (insert as much more "really" and "miss" as you like - it won't be enough) your pairs recaps for the resp events. Isn't there a magazine, who'd be willing to pay for it? I'd say with some crowdfunding, you'll even be able to raise money for your own blog...

Thanks so much @text_skate! I do miss writing pairs recaps, but had to choose between that and some other work this fall. I've not had any magazine offers yet, but it's something to look into. I might try some crowdfunding next season--we'll see!

 

[aftershocks]

I love all the work you do for fans and skaters, Claire. Thanks a bunch! In advance of even reading your interview with Romsky, I know it will be a treat. You ask good questions.

Might you sometime do a feature on Avonley/Vadym, plus an updated feature on all the top U.S. senior pairs, along with a Pfund/Santillan Q&A? And also juniors Fleming/Isbell, Smirnova/Siianytsia, and TJ Nyman and his new partner?

I recognize that is asking a lot from you as there are only so many hours in the day available, especially for you being a Mom with growing young twins. Thanks again for all your efforts!

 

[aftershocks]

Do you know whether Sarah Rasher's Two for the Ice is still around and updated with new material?

ETA: And as I anticipated, that was a great interview with Roman. Thanks again!

 

[clairecloutier]

@aftershocks Thank you for the interview ideas! Those are some good suggestions. I will see what I can do.

WRT Sarah's site, I don't know if she's going to be doing any pre-Nationals articles. My understanding is she's been pretty busy with real-life work lately.

 

[Mad for Skating]

Hi everyone ... So I know things have been pretty quiet on my web site this fall/winter. It's because I've been busy writing some articles for Figure Skaters Online and U.S. Fan Zone.

But I am back now with a new interview that I think you'll enjoy. It's with Roman Sadovsky, who won a surprise bronze medal at NHK this fall and who competes this week at Canadian Nationals. Check it out!

Roman Sadovsky: Figure Skater & YouTuber - A divine sport

The Grand Prix season always seems to bring its share of new stars and surprises. Roman Sadovsky was a bit of both in November, when he unexpectedly won bronze at NHK Trophy. Not many picked the 20-year-old Canadian skater to medal at NHK, which featured an impressive field of men’s...

adivinesport.com

Awesome interview! Thanks for always doing such an excellent job.

 

[clairecloutier]

Hi everyone. I have a new interview (finally) on my web site. It's with Meagan Duhamel. As you know, Meagan has had a lot going on since the Olympics: She had her daughter Zoey in 2019, she's done both on-ice and off-ice coaching, and she won Battle of the Blades recently. We had a great chat about what's been happening in her life since Pyeongchang. Also, we talked about where pairs skating has gone since 2018, and which pairs will be in contention at 2021 Worlds. Hope you enjoy it!

Meagan Duhamel: Life After the Olympics - A divine sport

Three years ago this month, Meagan Duhamel stood on the podium at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, having just achieved a lifetime goal. Already a World champion with partner Eric Radford, Duhamel also won two Olympic medals in Pyeongchang (team gold and individual bronze)...

adivinesport.com

 

[Messalina]

Great interview, Claire. Thank you!

 

[clairecloutier]

I couldn't resist doing some last-minute pairs predictions for 2021 Worlds!

Worlds 2021: Pairs Predictions - A divine sport

‘Tis the night before Worlds … and I have pairs predictions! Fair warning: This is a very last-minute look at the pairs field for Worlds, at the end of a very odd season of figure skating (due to the covid-19 pandemic). And, as Kirsten Moore-Towers pointed out in a pre-Worlds teleconference...

adivinesport.com

I'm excited for this event tomorrow. Worlds is my favorite pairs event ... especially the pre-Olympic Worlds. Hoping everyone does well tomorrow!

 

[mjb52]

I feel like B/K lost the most after Kostornaya with the cancellation of Worlds last year. They were going in as the bright young things that everybody loved and this season has been more of a struggle. I am so torn between all the Russian pairs (and I like the other top teams from other countries too), but I especially hope they have a performance they feel good about.

 

[Karen-W]

I couldn't resist doing some last-minute pairs predictions for 2021 Worlds!

Worlds 2021: Pairs Predictions - A divine sport

‘Tis the night before Worlds … and I have pairs predictions! Fair warning: This is a very last-minute look at the pairs field for Worlds, at the end of a very odd season of figure skating (due to the covid-19 pandemic). And, as Kirsten Moore-Towers pointed out in a pre-Worlds teleconference...

adivinesport.com

I'm excited for this event tomorrow. Worlds is my favorite pairs event ... especially the pre-Olympic Worlds. Hoping everyone does well tomorrow!

Pairs is my favorite discipline too!

 

[Frau Muller]

My next-to-favorite...ever since Protopopovs in 1964...watched from a b&w TV in San Juan...CBS coverage one week delayed. Just like yesterday.

 

[clairecloutier]

So I recently did an interview with Olga Ganicheva, who, with her husband Aleksey Letov, runs a coaching group at the Skating Club of Boston. Ganicheva/Letov are the coaches of Lu/Mitrofanov, Chan/Howe, Jimmy Ma, and Alexei Krasnozhon, among others.

Olga/Aleksey are very busy, so I only got a relatively short time to chat with her. But we talked about her and Letov's background in Russia, their recent move to Boston, how their group works, and her thoughts on the pairs event at Worlds.

Getting to Know Olga Ganicheva - A divine sport

Over the last decade, Olga Ganicheva and Aleksey Letov have quietly moved toward the top rank of American figure skating coaches. The husband-and-wife team, who are originally from Russia, started coaching in the Dallas, Texas, area in 2002. There, they built up a skating school based at one of...

adivinesport.com

 

[Lamente Ariane]

So I recently did an interview with Olga Ganicheva, who, with her husband Aleksey Letov, runs a coaching group at the Skating Club of Boston. Ganicheva/Letov are the coaches of Lu/Mitrofanov, Chan/Howe, Jimmy Ma, and Alexei Krasnozhon, among others.

Olga/Aleksey are very busy, so I only got a relatively short time to chat with her. But we talked about her and Letov's background in Russia, their recent move to Boston, how their group works, and her thoughts on the pairs event at Worlds.

Getting to Know Olga Ganicheva - A divine sport

Over the last decade, Olga Ganicheva and Aleksey Letov have quietly moved toward the top rank of American figure skating coaches. The husband-and-wife team, who are originally from Russia, started coaching in the Dallas, Texas, area in 2002. There, they built up a skating school based at one of...

adivinesport.com

What an interesting interview! I was particularly surprised (and impressed) that their pairs and singles skaters share ice time.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I love that Ganicheva calls her session with everyone "company class."

She may not have had lots of time, but she must have spoken quickly, because you covered a lot of ground, and chose the right questions @clairecloutier!

 

[mjb52]

Great job @clairecloutier, I thought this part was interesting:

"Q: Did you compete internationally?

Ganicheva: We were both international masters of sports in the Soviet Union [a formal designation for athletes competing internationally]. And we both competed in international competitions and in Grand Prix [events]. But we never competed at Worlds or Olympics. We stopped skating [competing] in 1996. The country was broke. And our families couldn’t support us, because no one had money [at that time]. Ice rinks closed. So we decided to stop skating and start working. That was Aleksey’s decision and my decision."

It's crazy to think that was only 25 years ago. Look at skating in Russia now.

 

[clairecloutier]

Hi everyone ... I have a new interview up with Drew Meekins.

Drew Meekins: "Pairs skating is ready for a rebrand" - A divine sport

On first sight, you could almost mistake Drew Meekins for a current competitor in pairs skating (especially these days!). Fit and youthful at 36, Meekins retains an energetic passion for the sport of figure skating. It’s this drive that inspired him throughout his competitive career with pairs...

adivinesport.com

For those who may not remember ... 15 years ago, Drew won the Junior World pairs title with his partner Julia Vlassov (2006). Injuries and other factors kept Vlassov/Meekins from achieving similar success on the senior level. However, Drew went on to a flourishing coaching and choreography career in Colorado Springs, where he has worked with many top U.S. skaters and coaches (and also Yelim Kim and some other international skaters who have trained there). Now, Drew is starting his own pairs group at the Broadmoor--with support from the Arena and from U.S. Figure Skating. At present he has 5 pairs in his group, with hopes to build from there. We talked about his competitive career, transition to coaching, new pairs group, and some current issues in pairs skating.

 

[clairecloutier]

I've posted a Pairs Season Preview on my web site, for those interested.

Pairs Season Preview 2021
https://adivinesport.com/2021/10/22/pairs-season-preview-2021/

It's kind of a look at the state of pairs skating in general. I haven't gotten to write about pairs for such a long time ... so I had a lot of thoughts!

For those who might have missed them earlier, I also wanted to share links here to some recent articles I've done for other web sites, including a pretty in-depth interview with Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov. (As I say in my preview, don't count these two out for the Olympic team--I consider them to be very much in the mix!)

Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov

Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov: Rising stars in U.S. pairs skating - Figure Skaters Online

A lot has changed for U.S. pairs skaters Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov since they first teamed up in May 2016.

figureskatersonline.com

Molly Cesanek/Yehor Yehorov

Cesanek and Yehorov: Enjoying Every Minute of Their Journey - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

U.S. ice dancers Molly Cesanek and Yehor Yehorov will compete this week at their second consecutive Skate America®. However, this season's event is their first ISU

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[hoptoad]

Thank you!! I've missed your pairs write-ups over the last year.

I can't wait to see what happens this year.

 

[Lizziebeth]

Claire, I just read your pairs update and it was fantastic. I agree with just about everything you said lol.

Hope they all skate their best and we will see what happens!

 

[Spun Silver]

I've posted a Pairs Season Preview on my web site, for those interested.

Pairs Season Preview 2021
https://adivinesport.com/2021/10/22/pairs-season-preview-2021/

It's kind of a look at the state of pairs skating in general. I haven't gotten to write about pairs for such a long time ... so I had a lot of thoughts!

For those who might have missed them earlier, I also wanted to share links here to some recent articles I've done for other web sites, including a pretty in-depth interview with Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov. (As I say in my preview, don't count these two out for the Olympic team--I consider them to be very much in the mix!)

Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov

Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov: Rising stars in U.S. pairs skating - Figure Skaters Online

A lot has changed for U.S. pairs skaters Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov since they first teamed up in May 2016.

figureskatersonline.com

Molly Cesanek/Yehor Yehorov

Cesanek and Yehorov: Enjoying Every Minute of Their Journey - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

U.S. ice dancers Molly Cesanek and Yehor Yehorov will compete this week at their second consecutive Skate America®. However, this season's event is their first ISU

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Wonderful article, Claire! I've missed your pairs posts too. I caught up on some of your other work too. All of it is excellent!

 

[kwanatic]

So glad you're back Claire! It took some soul-searching for me to get back to covering skating again too. I don't know about you but I just couldn't stay away in an Olympic year. Looking forward to your posts!