Kim Hires Peter Oppegard

I knew it! Michelle Kwan had plans to take Yuna Kim under her wing.

Olympic champion Kim Yu-na finally ended months of speculations and named her new skating coach. Former US pair skater Peter Oppegard, who's married to Michelle's sister Karen Kwan, replaces Brian Orser, Kim's long time coach who helped her win the Olympic Gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

I have this weird feeling that Kim would soon replace David Wilson with Karen Kwan, who also choreographs skating routines. It's not really a far-fetched idea, since Kim is already training in the facility owned by the Kwan family. What do you think is the next possible thing to happen?

Here's the news item from The Associated Press:

Kim Yu-na hires Peter Oppegard

I love you Yuna, but I hope you're doing the right thing

David Wilson: The next guy to get the axe?

 ARTESIA, Calif. -- Olympic champion Kim Yu-na on Tuesday hired former pairs figure skater Peter Oppegard as her new coach, two months after splitting with Brian Orser.
Kim announced that she'll train with Oppegard at East West Ice Palace in suburban Los Angeles, which is owned and operated by the family of former skating star Michelle Kwan. Oppegard is married to Kwan's sister, Karen.
"I feel like it's new motivation for me to move forward," Kim said through a translator.
Asked to say something in English, Kim appeared startled but then smiled and said, "I'm so glad to be training here in Los Angeles with my new coach and new skaters."
About 30 cameras from print and television -- many representing South Korean media outlets -- were on hand to capture Kim spinning on the ice under Oppegard's watchful eye. Wearing a gray hoodie with her dark hair in a bun, Kim spun flawlessly as younger skaters stopped to watch.
"She is very motivated and very driven," Oppegard said. "She reminds me in some ways of Michelle, who has a love of skating."
The 20-year-old Kim had been skating on her own at the rink in Artesia since last month while rehearsing for two shows last weekend with Kwan at Staples Center in Los Angeles, where Kim won the world title in 2009.
Two weeks ago, she and Oppegard began discussing the possibility of him coaching her. After seeing him at the rink, Kim recalled she first met Oppegard 10 years ago when she came to the U.S. to train at Lake Arrowhead, in the mountains east of Los Angeles.
"It was really great to see him again," Kim said. "He had a very calm and collected manner. He has a unique style of leading the skaters. He's going to help me in many areas, artistically as well as technically."
She'll begin working on her new short program with choreographer David Wilson of Canada in the middle of the month.
Kim said she and Oppegard have yet to discuss her competition schedule for the upcoming season.
Kim suddenly split with Orser in August after four years together and left her training base in Toronto six months after he coached her to the Olympic title at the Vancouver Games.
Kim said living in Los Angeles was "much more convenient" and she already knew the area since she's been coming here to train for years.
"I need to be in an environment where the skating rink can support me," she said. "I think everyone in Korea understands why I have to be overseas."
Oppegard is working with Kim under a season-to-season contract.
"With all her successes, she's still interested in furthering her skating in all aspects," he said. "We'll be examining every aspect, from jumping to spinning to the overall fluidity of her style, which is world-renowned."
Oppegard and partner Jill Watson won the bronze medal in pairs skating at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. They were three-time U.S. national champions and were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2004.
Oppegard has overseen mostly pairs skaters during his coaching career. His most prominent individual skater was Angela Nikodinov, who made the U.S. team for worlds in 1997.
Among the pairs Oppegard has coached are John Baldwin and Rena Inoue, Stephanie Stiegler and John Zimmerman and Tiffany and John Stiegler.
Oppegard said he prefers coaching a solo skater.
"I find it easier," he said. "It will be a singular focus on Yu-na. I like the one-on-one challenge."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Miki Ando's Big Change

I don't know if you noticed it, but something has changed in Miki Ando. Have you seen her new Free Skate program at the 2010 Japan Open? If you haven't seen it yet, you are missing out on a lot. Jeez, and you call yourself a skate fan?! Kidding.

Although it's too early to tell, the former World Champion, who's had her fair share of troubles on and off the ice, seems to be showing signs that she really wants to be back on top. AND I WILL BE ROOTING FOR HER!

Whatever brought about this big change in her is definitely worth it.

Here's a video of her Free Skate performance at the 2010 Japan Open, the same event where fellow skater Mao Asada did a rather disappointing Free Skate program.

Mao Asada at the 2010 Japan Open

I. AM. IN. LOVE. WITH. MAO. ASADA'S. FREE. SKATE. There. I admit it.

I am sure this statement would cause eyebrows to shoot up, but allow me to explain my comment first.

Yes I know her Free Skate performance at the 2010 Japan Open was bad (okay, it was terrible), but I noticed that this Free Skate shows promise — lots of it. For the past seasons, many critics had been frowning upon Mao's choice of music (her previous Free Skate music was arguably the worst), so her Liebestraum Free Skate, which was choreographed by no less than Lori Nichol, is a welcome change. She's back to doing soft, graceful music, which complements her soft, graceful movements. Hey, no heavy Russian music, here!

I am super excited to see how this program develops. I am confident that Mao will do better next time. She's usually like that during the start of the competition season. She's always starts the season rough, but ends it with a bang. I know this program could rival that of reigning Olympic Champion Kim Yuna, even if I haven't seen her program yet.

This is going be another exciting year for skating. Skate fans all over the world, rejoice!

Here's Mao Asada's poor (but promising) performance at the 2010 Japan Open.

I'm Back

After weeks of hibernating (shooting, writing, editing and putting together a magazine), I'm back to blogging about one of my favorite sports: figure skating.

I'm still looking for videos on YouTube of the new programs of Mao Asada. I am very excited for Mao Asada because she's back to the music that fits her best: soft, graceful, and lyrical. She's even got a new coach to boot: Nobuo Satō, whom I read in an article is an expert in jump technique. Mao Asada must have done some reflecting after the Olympics, because she's said to be re-learning the basics, going back to square one. AND, famous Canadian Lori Nichol did the choreography of her Free Skate program! Way to go Mao! That's the mark of a true competitor.

Mao Asada begins her journey back to the top