Dancing Queen and King: Papadakis and Cizeron Win First European Title

This time last year Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron ended the European Championships in fifteenth place. What a difference twelve months makes and their rapid ascent to the upper echelons of ice dance continues with no signs of slowing down. Even in the half empty Globe Arena in Stockholm, there was an intangible magic to the mood they created on the ice during their performance to Mozart’s Adagio from Concerto No. 23. It was perfect and total intimacy and you felt that they would have danced exactly the same way if no-one or twenty thousand people had been watching.

AV4A3420C2

(more…)

Medals Are The Name Of The Game In Stockholm

After a very tense and exhausting pre-Olympic Europeans last year, there is a notably more calm and rounded atmosphere permeating the air in Stockholm this year. Indeed round is the optimal word as the event takes place in the Globe Arena, the largest spherical building in the world.

IMG_3417C2

(more…)

That Was The Week That Was In Figure Skating (19-25 January 2015)

Here’s a short recap of some of the things that happened during the past week in the world of figure skating.

IMG_1114C

(more…)

Romain Haguenauer: “Gabriella and Guillaume want to be different”

There has been no rise more meteoric this season than that of France’s Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. From 13th place at the World Championships in Japan in March of last year, they made everybody sit up and take notice when they claimed gold at Cup of China in November and defeated World champions Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte in the process. They proved that they are going to be a force to be reckoned over the coming years by subsequently winning the Trophee Eric Bompard and taking bronze in the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona. Romain Haguenauer, the man behind the team, believes that they timed this season to perfection.

“It’s a new Olympic cycle so we knew it was the time to be good. You always have to be good, but if they wanted to aim for a high place at the next Olympics they had to start this season because so many couples stopped competing.”

romain1p2

(more…)

Barcelona Grand Prix Final 2014 Review (Part 2)

In the second part of our review of the ISU Grand Prix Final 2014, we take a look at the ice dance and pairs events.

IMG_4860C3

 

(more…)

Barcelona Grand Prix Final 2014 Review (Part 1)

Skating broke new ground this past weekend with Spain hosting a major senior competition for the first time. In the first part of our review of the ISU Grand Prix Final of Figure Skating, we take a look back at the men and ladies’ events.

IMG_3537C2

(more…)

That Was The Week That Was In Figure Skating (1-7 December 2014)

Here’s a short recap of some of the things that happened during the past week in the world of figure skating.

IMG_7463C3

(more…)

Five Things You Must Do in Barcelona

“Barcelona, it was the first time that we met.”

So goes the song and for skaters, judges, officials and fans this month’s Grand Prix Final in the Catalan capital provides the perfect excuse to visit this fascinating and vibrant city. As is always the case with skating competitions though, there is often very little time to venture outside the confines of the arena and its vicinity. The Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB), the Grand Prix Final venue, is located on the eastern edge of Barcelona away from the hustle and bustle of the centre of downtown. With that in mind, we’ve compiled our top five recommendations of things to do in the city when you’re not watching the best skaters in the world.

eoi_barcelona1c2

(more…)

That Was The Week That Was In Figure Skating (24-30 November)

Here’s a short recap of some of the things that happened during the past week in the world of figure skating.

AL4T6099C_E

(more…)