jaina

Why why why did we think it would be a good idea to watch the Cutting Edge sequel? Whyyyyy?

THE PAIN OH GOD THE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE PAIN. IT HURTS US PRECIOUS.

I'm always on the lookout for new skating music for our synchronized skating team. In synchro, it's really important to have music with a good strong beat so everyone can stay together, plus you want a fun theme, something interesting that both the skaters and the audience can get into, and on top of that you want to do something that hasn't been done a million times. (I swear I saw at least a dozen "Chicago" programs at 2004 Nationals.) Last year when we were picking music, I floated "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" as a possibility, because it's a great song, the perfect length to skate straight through (Adult programs are 3 minutes, 30 seconds), and has a fantastic beat that really gets you moving. We ended up not having a team this year, so it was a moot point, but I tucked the idea away for future use.

Synchro Nationals were this weekend, and what did the Adult champions (Team Elan) skate to? Yeah, you guessed it. From usfigureskating.com:

Elán performed to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” a piece Blasko picked because she “wanted to find something that would us forward in adult skating and not something traditional.”

Yes! Exactly! Damn them! Now we'll never get to do a program to it. :( Pout and double pout.

(Someday, I will post about something other than skating, I swear.)

My apologies for offering another link, but trust me, this one's worth it.

bailunrui has found a video of such awesomeness, mere words cannot describe it. It must be seen to be believed. She has this to say:

I offer a video. You'll enjoy it if any of the following are true:
1. You like cowboys.
2. You like figure skating.
3. You like Alexei Yagudin, Todd Sand, Kurt Browning, David Pelletier, John Zimmerman, or Gorsha Sur.

You can find it here. YEAH.

Well, Sasha, your tights were too dark tonight at the exhibition. But you actually looked like you were enjoying yourself, so I'm okay with it. If you keep up like this, I might actually start liking you. Especially cause you do look a lot like Rory, and who can hate Rory?

Dude. There's a fricking violinist on the ice with Plushenko. WTF? ...does his T-shirt have words written on it in rhinestones? (And gee, this music seems somewhat familiar...) Man, this exhibition performance of his was like a zillion times better than his actual long program.

Going back a bit earlier, I just love Evan Lysacek. Man alive, I adore that kid. He's just so much fun to watch.

Dear God in heaven, I am sick unto death of Biellmans. ENOUGH! It's a fricking exhibition, you don't need the points! Just do a pretty layback! Be different!

I really like Shizuka Arakawa's dress. Especially the color. Such a pretty blue.

I decided it was high time for a picspam of my very favorite ice dancers, Tanith and Ben. I basically just used stuff from the last three years because frankly, they've only gotten really hot in the last few years. They've always been amazing and adorable, but the hotness is recent. Maybe I'll do a bitty!Tanith and bitty!Ben picspam sometime later.

Anyway. A fair number of the pics are from nbcolympics.com; the rest are from googling around. Enjoy!

( Much hotness within, NOT dial-up friendly! )

Her tights matched her skin color quite nicely and weren't eight shades darker, unlike some of the other girls. Good on you, Sasha.

Also, on SZ, someone posted a picture and someone else replied, "Sasha looks like Rory Gilmore there!" And she kinda does. I found that amusing.

I love the enthusiasm with which Emily Hughes threw herself into her program. Looking forward to seeing more of her.

Using a completely neutral icon and a ( cut for Olympic spoilers )

Uh, okay, so we're now thirteen episodes into the current season (for your reference, the most recently aired ep was #15) and ninagnome, I understand what you meant now. Um, do I have to keep watching? Can I stop? Better yet, can I rewind to, oh, somewhere in the middle of fifth season and then just stay there in happy la-la-land? Wah.

(I do, however, think Rory's hair looks better, and does anyone else think Logan kinda looks like Alan Tudyk, or is it just me?)

In non-frivolous news, my scrapbooking session with blusurfer got interrupted by my temp agency calling me with a job, so at least I have work for this week. Yay, money.

And back to Land of the Frivolous, ( Olympic free dance spoilers within )

Holy crap, that little Tanith/Ben puff piece they showed was pure skating porn. Good Lord. *fans self*

I love how excited the skeleton announcers get. I can just picture them jumping up and down and shrieking at each other.

Many have said this before me, but SNOWBOARDCROSS IS AWESOME. They should have the events all over again. It'd be ratings gold.

I shouldn't have checked the men's long program results. Now I'm going to go insane until I can actually watch them tonight. ARGH!!!!

On a not-really-related note, it's been a long time since I've really loved *everyone* on the American men's team, and all for such different reasons. I didn't use to like Johnny Weir all that much, but he won me over by being a total and complete nutjob. How can you not love his absolute candor and zaniness?

ETA: Okay, it's really bad when just reading Sale and Pelletier's live written reports (MAJOR OLYMPIC SPOILERS!!!) of each of the programs is making me cry. I am the world's biggest sports sap.

ETA2: schneck128! Curling! "This stupidest game EVER!"

ETA3: Watching ice dancing practice, and did the American girls make a super-sekkrit plan to all wear neon orange-pink practice dresses, or is it some sort of horrible coincidence? My eyes, ladies, my eyes!