GPF previews and interviews

[ice coverage]

GPF previews and interviews:

To complement the corresponding JGPF thread started by Doris, I am adding this GPF thread -- with Kurt Browning's preview, for starters:

Grand Prix final is the 'Showdown at the Sochi Corral'

​

By Kurt Browning
Posted: Saturday, December 1, 2012 | 10:01 AM
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/figureskat...ing-for-the-showdown-at-the-sochi-corral.html​

 

[deedee1]

I enjoyed the Kurt's preview a lot. Thank you so much, golden!

I loved how Kurt described each skater/team, especially Kiira and Akiko. That's why I admire and root for veteran skaters. :yes:
to their believeing themselves and, of course, their hard work over the years to improve to be a 'better skater' each season!

 

[chloepoco]

Very interesting to read that Kurt thinks Kozuka is the best skater, even better then Patrick! Wow! What a great compliment coming from such a legendary skater himself!!

 

[Tonichelle]

Very interesting to read that Kurt thinks Kozuka is the best skater, even better then Patrick! Wow! What a great compliment coming from such a legendary skater himself!!

Kurt is fair and loves skating. Not surprising that he can ignore national bias.

 

[seniorita]

I love him for naming Kozuka the best skater and I hope judges would hear him but dissapointed he refered to Liza with a two lines paragraph!

 

[ice coverage]

New interview with Gao on IN (Tue Dec 4)

Rejuvenated Gao 'honored' to be with sport's elite
Harvard freshman to square off against Wagner, Asada in Sochi

By Lynn Rutherford, special to icenetwork.com
(12/04/2012)
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121204&content_id=40520994&vkey=ice_news​

 

[ice coverage]

DiManno: Sochi going from sleepy to gaudy as Olympics draw near

​

Published on Sunday December 02, 2012
By Rosie DiManno
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/a...ng-from-sleepy-to-gaudy-as-olympics-draw-near
​

Note: The article above mentions the GPF only in passing. It is mostly a scene-setter/status report re the infrastructure in Sochi as the Olympics approach.

And for history buffs, today's offering from DiManno:
Joseph Stalin still looms large in Sochi, Russia
Published on Tuesday December 04, 2012
By Rosie DiManno
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1297163--joseph-stalin-still-looms-large-in-sochi-russia
​

 

[let`s talk]

Here is a video of VolTran practice in Iceberg (click on the red button with "Видео"). In the interview Max said that the arena doesn't have any minuses like other Olympic arenas, for example in Vacouver there were no special changing rooms, in Turin the gym was not so well-equipped. Kudryavtsev mentioned that the ice is "skating" very well, which is definitely a good advantage for skaters.
www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=974874&cid=680

 

[clairecloutier]

Wow, what an interesting preview from Kurt. Fascinating to read his remarks about the contenders' basic skating skills. Since he is one of the ultimate "skater's skaters" in the sport, I certainly respect his opinion. Very surprising to see him, a Canadian, publicly name Kozuka as the man with the best skating skills and edgework!!

The only thing I can't agree with him on is his opinion of Davis/White. He sees the rest of the field getting closer to them--I feel just the opposite.

 

[clairecloutier]

My goodness, more complaints from Max. He really is becoming quite the drama queen.

Here is a video of VolTran practice in Iceberg (click on the red button with "Видео"). In the interview Max said that the arena doesn't have any minuses like other Olympic arenas, for example in Vacouver there were no special changing rooms, in Turin the gym was not so well-equipped. Kudryavtsev mentioned that the ice is "skating" very well, which is definitely a good advantage for skaters.
www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=974874&cid=680

 

[Bluebonnet]

Here is an interview with Patrick Chan on Dec. 1 before he left for Sochi for GPF:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/figureskating/video/#id=2311875611&tab=1

Patrick has defensed his decision on going with Kathy Johnson in this interview.

 

[deedee1]

A short news clip on Japanese skaters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnWP_eefxFg

 

[let`s talk]

PChan told how he spent a day walking around Sochi and enjoying ping-pong. As well as he didn't forget badmouthing about one of his main rivals that he will have to face at the same Olympic stadium- that tall blond Russian:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/figur...with-figure-skating-grand-prix-season-dimanno
"I think I feared him at the beginning," admits Chan, who arrived in Sochi in the wee hours Tuesday after an exhausting trek from Colorado via Frankfurt and Moscow. "In Japan, on the ice with him, that was almost like being in a time capsule. I was actually more impressed with him in practice than in the competition. I thought to myself, 'Wow, he’s doing a lot better than I had expected.' He can still do all his jumps, which is pretty good for someone who’s — what? — 36, 37 years old."

Is it just Patrick's usual badmouth talking about his opponents or Canadian media started its PR work? He and they seriously believe that bashing that tall blond Russian in Russia will give them some love advantage? But hell, there is ISU at the end!

 

[emdee]

No is just Patrick's way of saying what he believes. Its his honesty.

 

[let`s talk]

Not is just Patrick's way of saying what he believes. Its his honesty.

Oh, please. DiManno is not PChan but Canadian media, and her attidue to Plu in that article is quite clear. Patrick is just helping her and himself in doing dirty PR work for Sochi. And mind, Plu is not even at GPF, so technically there wasn't any reason to drag him there. I believe it's just he beginning.

 

[ice coverage]

ISU's Facebook photo album for Sochi GPF and JGPF

ISU's Facebook photo album for Sochi GPF and JGPF:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.518142304877382.122361.255007411190874&type=1
​

Sixteen photos so far, mostly of the skaters mingling at the opening reception.
Plus ... elaborately costumed Russian folk dancers evidently provided entertainment, and Farris and Chan got into the act.

 

[deedee1]

A couple of newspapers say the arena is too warm so that ice is melting here and there. Also, the surface of ice is not level..Is that true? :no: I am crossing my fingers these bad conditions do not affect skaters' performances.
Good luck to everyone, and may the best man/lady/team who skates the best on the night win! :yay:

 

[let`s talk]

^ That's odd. I was partly surprised to read these comments in J-media. Diva Trankov, who had arrived earlier in Sochi and had complained about everything possible (food, rooms, then he got another room), actually spoke quite high about the quality of the ice. Pair skating is not kids' stuff, that Russian Drama Queen with no national bias would have surely reported if smth. was wrong with the ice. My guess is at some moments maybe that ice stuff is not working properly well. Or whatever.

 

[Olympia]

Golly, I hope the ice is okay. It's terrible to see skaters falling through no fault of their own, just because the ice isn't right. And if this is what the Olympic ice will be...eeeeek! Let's Talk, I hope you're right and that Trankov is satisfied with the quality of the ice, because he seems to have pretty exacting standards, and if the ice is good for a pairs skater carrying his partner overhead while balancing on one foot, it's probably all right.

 

[ice coverage]

(1) Meagan Duhamel ‏@mhjd_85

Amazing practice here in Sochi! Beautiful rink and perfect ice! #GPF2012 #Sochi
2:31 AM - 5 Dec 12​

[emphasis added]​

(2) Korpi battles flu to continue fine season at Final
Three-time Finnish champion delighted by 2012-13 results so far

By Vladislav Luchianov, special to icenetwork.com
(12/06/2012)
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121205&content_id=40542978&vkey=ice_news
​

Excerpt:
Just a week ago, the skater was considering withdrawing from the event because of unexpected health problems. However, those obstacles could not stop her from fulfilling her great desire to perform in Sochi, on the same ice that will host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.​