A Divine Sport blog

[clairecloutier]

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!

It was the same for me, @kwanatic.

I've been doing more interviews and profiles recently, but I really wanted to write a bit about pairs at the start of the Olympic season. Hopefully I can do more as the season progresses! And I'm looking forward to listening your new-format podcasts!

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

Thank you for posting your blog, Claire! I may even start getting interested in pairs skating again. I've just found it cringey with all the deathly dangerous skills they are attempting now, to where I'm more worried they'll get hurt than appreciate their difficulty. Hopefully that will change this year.

 

[clairecloutier]

Thank you for posting your blog, Claire! I may even start getting interested in pairs skating again. I've just found it cringey with all the deathly dangerous skills they are attempting now, to where I'm more worried they'll get hurt than appreciate their difficulty. Hopefully that will change this year.

I agree with you in some ways--I too get a bit nervous watching some of the elements, especially lifts. And, ever since seeing Sara Conti fall 6 feet to the ice last spring at Challenge Cup when her partner failed to catch a twist, I've been nervous for that element too. (I love twists, but I'm still a little nervous.)

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

I agree with you in some ways--I too get a bit nervous watching some of the elements, especially lifts. And, ever since seeing Sara Conti fall 6 feet to the ice last spring at Challenge Cup when her partner failed to catch a twist, I've been nervous for that element too. (I love twists, but I'm still a little nervous.)

Ashley Cain's mishap a couple years ago did me in....

 

[aka_gerbil]

Claire, I loved how you so eloquently described the quiet beauty of Evgenia Tarasova’s skating. Her lines and the grace with which she skates is unmatched by any other current pairs lady.

 

[text_skate]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on pairs. I've missed your in-depth analysis, thoughts, and eloquent writing. Wonderful article!

I loved the recaps, I probably said that more than once. Hopefully, you'll find the time to write more. I'm fine with previews, reviews, recaps, ...

Your preview even made me change my predictions on SkAm . I went back to my original strategy of putting Tar/Mor in a prediction game at #1, as long as S/H aren't in the mix. (Well, nowadays their "head" is an equally serious contender as Sui/Han) (And yes Mis/Gal are great)
Tar/Mor are so good. Their lines, their glide and speed, the elegance. They stand out. In my experience: they look so much better live than on screen. I realised it, when I saw them some years ago at Nebelhorn. Back then I had the impression they will beat Sav/Mas at the OG.

When I read your blog post, I took the oportunity to read the linked post about the junior Russian pairs. There is just one and a half pair left standing: Boi/Koz and Mishina.

(Plus Zhuk now for CZE with Bidar, Efimova possibly with Blommaert)

 

[clairecloutier]

After a 7-year break, 2014 U.S. pairs champions Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir are reteaming to skate in a benefit show this weekend at The Skating Club of Boston. I talked with Marissa & Simon about what's been going on with them and why they decided to team up for this event:

Castelli and Shnapir Reunite for a Cause - A divine sport

When Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir parted ways in 2014, they didn’t expect to ever skate together again. As a pairs team, based at the Skating Club of Boston, they won two U.S. national titles (2013-14) and an Olympic bronze team medal in 2014. But despite their success, Castelli and...

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

I know that most people's minds are very much on the women's event at the Olympics. But ... pairs starts tomorrow. And, before the Valieva saga began, I had started working on a preview/prediction column for the pairs. For those interested, here it is:

Olympics 2022: Pairs Preview & Predictions - A divine sport

The past week’s events in figure skating have almost rendered predictions pointless. Because who could have predicted that the biggest Olympic women’s favorite in recent memory would have a positive drug test days before her individual event? Or that she would be allowed to compete, despite...

adivinesport.com

 

[hoptoad]

Another great article!

I won't be able to watch live and will almost certainly be spoiled, but I'm so looking forward to watching the pairs.

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's a new interview I did with Canadian ice dancers Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha:

Lajoie/Lagha: "We want to do a good performance for the fans" - A divine sport

This week, Canadian ice dancers Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha will write the final chapter of their season at the 2022 ISU World Championships. The duo are hoping to put out season’s-best performances of two programs that have served them well this year: Their “Funkytown” disco rhythm dance...

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

A short interview with Bruno Marcotte, coach of Miura/Kihara and Moore-Towers/Marinaro:

Bruno Marcotte: "Miura/Kihara are very special" - A divine sport

“I have mixed emotions,” coach Bruno Marcotte confessed Thursday night, after his students Riku Miura, 20, and Ryuichi Kihara, 29, won the silver medal at the ISU World Championships in Montpellier, France. Seeing Miura/Kihara reach the World podium–less than three years after they first teamed...

adivinesport.com

 

[Lizziebeth]

A short interview with Bruno Marcotte, coach of Miura/Kihara and Moore-Towers/Marinaro:

Bruno Marcotte: "Miura/Kihara are very special" - A divine sport

“I have mixed emotions,” coach Bruno Marcotte confessed Thursday night, after his students Riku Miura, 20, and Ryuichi Kihara, 29, won the silver medal at the ISU World Championships in Montpellier, France. Seeing Miura/Kihara reach the World podium–less than three years after they first teamed...

adivinesport.com

Claire, your articles/interviews are so well done. I look forward to more of them.

 

[clairecloutier]

Here is my latest from last week's Worlds. It's a piece on Keegan Messing (one of my faves). Lots of quotes from both Keegan and his coach, Ralph Burghart.

"Everything he does is extreme": Keegan Messing - A divine sport

Last week, Keegan Messing competed in his fourth ISU World Championships in Montpellier, France. Messing’s 14th-place finish in Montpellier was well off his career-best 6th place at 2021 Worlds in Stockholm last year. However, the Canadian skater was unfazed. “It’s always a pleasure to represent...

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's a short piece about Roman Sadovsky and his thoughts on his performances at Worlds and the Olympics:

Roman Sadovsky: "I'm proud that I finished the season well" - A divine sport

For 22-year-old Roman Sadovsky of Canada, the Olympic season was one of peaks and valleys. The peaks included qualifying a second men’s Olympic spot at Nebelhorn Trophy in September and placing fourth at Rostelecom Cup in November. Unfortunately, the low point came at the Olympic Games in...

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

A review of this year's U.S. Stars on Ice show (with some great photographs courtesy of SOI and show photographer Olga Trofimova):

Stars on Ice 2022 - A divine sport

All photographs by Olga Trofimova (courtesy of Stars on Ice) Stars on Ice returned to New England this past weekend for the first time in three years. And what a return it was! The headliner of this season’s tour is newly crowned Olympic champion Nathan Chen. But, he’s just one star in a cast...

adivinesport.com

I'll have a couple short interviews coming from this show later this week/early next week. They'll be at the Figure Skaters Online web site.

Also, I have one or two more articles yet to come (belatedly) from Worlds. Stay tuned!

 

[clairecloutier]

Hi all. I have a new interview up with Allison Reed & Saulius Ambrulevicius. Check it out!

Reed/Ambrulevicius: "We haven't reached our limit" - A divine sport

Ice dancers Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius, who represent Lithuania, have both been part of the international ice dance scene for many years now. Reed began competing internationally in 2009, while Ambrulevicius’s ice dance career began in 2014. But, it’s only since the couple teamed up...

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

Here is my final bit of coverage from Montpellier Worlds. It's a look back at the significance of these championships, both political and personal, and the performances that I found most memorable:

2022 Worlds Diary

Spring. Bright sunshine, passing showers, flowers, a touch of warmth in the air. The World Figure Skating Championships always takes place at the intersection of seasons, between winter and spring,…

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's my look back at Ilia Malinin's historic quad Axel last week.

Malinin and the Evolution of the Axel - A divine sport

This past week brought a new milestone in men’s figure skating. U.S. skater Ilia Malinin, 17, became the first man to ever land a quadruple Axel jump in competition, a feat he accomplished at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in Lake Placid, NY, on Sept 14, 2022. Malinin’s...

adivinesport.com

I'll have a few more things coming from U.S. Classic over the next week or so.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Anytime some Russian skating person tries to claim Malinin as one of their own, they should be made to stand in front of a mirror and repeat this quote five times in a row with a straight face:

“I just came here to try to put my best into the program, and that was one of the elements that I’m happy I landed.”

 

[clairecloutier]

Here is my look back at U.S. Classic in Lake Placid, with quotes & notes from a lot of the skaters who competed there:

U.S. Classic: A Look Back at Lake Placid

A couple weeks ago, I had a chance to go to Lake Placid, NY, to cover the 2022 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic. The competition turned out to be pretty exciting, with Ilia Malinin making …

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's a short interview with Alex Johnson from U.S. Classic. (Alex is now coaching Camden Pulkinen!)

Coach Spotlight: Alex Johnson - A divine sport

When Alex Johnson stepped away from competitive skating in spring 2019, his goal was to pursue a career in business, while staying involved with figure skating. Two years later, Johnson is thriving professionally, having recently started a new job as a financial analyst with Amazon. He’s also...

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

An update on Ilia Malinin, ahead of his GP debut at Skate America:

Ilia Malinin: Ready for Skate America - A divine sport

On a press call today, Ilia Malinin said that he is happy, but also nervous, to compete in front of a sold-out audience at Skate America later this week. “It will be pretty packed. It gets me really excited, but is also kind of nerve-wracking, to see that I’ll be performing in front of a …...

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's my last piece coming (belatedly) from U.S. Classic last month. It's a short chat with Jim Peterson:

Coach Spotlight: Jim Peterson

Jim Peterson is a familiar face to U.S. pairs skating fans. He’s been a leading coach in the discipline for many years now. At his former base in Ellenton, Florida, Peterson worked with a number of…

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

The latest on Gilles/Poirier as they get set to debut at Skate Canada next week:

Gilles/Poirier: Focusing on the Now

For Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, the 2021-22 Olympic season proved draining and difficult. The duo considered retirement, but are now back for another season of competitive skating. On a press ca…

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's some photos from Skate America, shot by Jordan Cowan of On Ice Perspectives:

Skate America 2022 Photos

Men’s Short ProgramWomen’s Short ProgramRhythm DancePairs Short ProgramMen’s Free SkateWomen’s Free SkateFree DancePractice Photos All photographs by Jordan Cowan of On Ice …

adivinesport.com

This is the first time I've had skating photos on my web site! Pretty exciting.

 

[clairecloutier]

Here is an update on Roman Sadovsky from Skate America:

Roman Sadovsky Prepares for New Season

After an eventful Olympic season–which saw him swing from a 29th-place finish in Beijing all the way up to 12th place at Worlds–Roman Sadovsky is back and ready to start a new four-year cycle of co…

adivinesport.com

 

[clairecloutier]

An interview with Lajoie/Lagha at Four Continents:

Lajoie/Lagha: "Worlds is the piece that is missing to have had the perfect season" - A divine sport

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha have had a breakout season in 2022-23. But when the rhythm dance starts next week at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, they will unfortunately be missing from the roster. It’s their misfortune that Canada has only two ice dance spots at Worlds this...

adivinesport.com

They talk about lots of stuff here, including their feelings on missing Worlds.

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's an interview I did with Ben Agosto at Four Continents:

Ben Agosto: From Champion to Commentator - A divine sport

Ben Agosto is a man who needs little introduction for figure skating fans. During his 12 years competing with partner Tanith Belbin [now Tanith White] (1998-2010), Agosto amassed a pile of medals and played a pivotal role in bringing the United States into the top echelon of the ice dance world...

adivinesport.com

The focus of this was on his work as a commentator, and the role of commentators in skating.

 

[clairecloutier]

So I was on a little break for a while ... But I'm back & I wanted to share some of my recent content here. I have a bunch of interviews out ahead of Skate America.

"We're Back": The Surprising Return of Chelsea Liu & Balazs Nagy - A divine sport

Chelsea Liu and Balazs Nagy will make their Grand Prix debut as a team this weekend at Skate America in Texas. Earlier this fall, they finished just off the podium at Autumn Classic International in Montreal, Quebec. Without question, it’s been a good start for their new partnership. Yet...

adivinesport.com

Coach Spotlight: Marie-France Dubreuil

Marie-France Dubreuil, co-head coach and co-founder of the Ice Academy of Montreal (I.AM), coaches many of the top ice dance teams in the world, including reigning World champions Madison Chock and…

adivinesport.com

Lim/Quan: Finding the Perfect Balance

Last season’s ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series was notable for the emergence of several standout new talents in ice dance. Among the new stars were Hannah Lim and Ye Quan of South Korea. They cap…

adivinesport.com

Green and Parsons Find Their Roadmap - U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone

Caroline Green and Michael Parsons are upfront about their goals at this week's 2023 Humana Skate America in Allen, Texas.

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

Also, I'll be covering Skate America this weekend ... if interested, follow on social media:

https://twitter.com/ClaireCloutier

A Divine Sport (@adivinesport) • Instagram photos and videos

80 Followers, 254 Following, 21 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from A Divine Sport (@adivinesport)

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A Divine Sport

A Divine Sport. 715 likes · 5 talking about this. A figure skating web site, with a focus on pairs skating, by Claire Cloutier. Providing analysis, event reviews, opinion pieces, interviews.

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A Divine Sport (@adivinesport.bsky.social)

A figure skating web site for pairs & more https://adivinesport.com/

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[clairecloutier]

Here's some stuff from the mixed zone at Skate America:

Coaches' Corner at Skate America: Patrice Lauzon, Jenni Meno, and Greg Zuerlein's comments on their skaters' performances

Coaches’ Corner at 2023 Skate America

At Skate America, we caught up with a few coaches to get their thoughts about their students’ performances at the first Grand Prix event of the season. Patrice Lauzon (I.AM) Ice dancers from the I.…

adivinesport.com

Lajoie/Lagha at Skate America: Their comments at the event

Lajoie/Lagha at 2023 Skate America

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha of Canada went home with a silver medal from last weekend’s Humana Skate America in Allen, Texas. The duo were happy with their results in Allen, Texas, espe…

adivinesport.com

I may also have some shorter interview snippets from Skate America coming out on Instagram ... if interested, you can follow at:

A Divine Sport (@adivinesport) • Instagram photos and videos

80 Followers, 254 Following, 21 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from A Divine Sport (@adivinesport)

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