Fashion Files - mid season swing

So the grand Prix series has brought us some brilliant skating, some great new programs and some surprising results. But as well as all that the Grand prix series also brings us another gift. A gift that keeps on giving. The gift of figure skating fashion. Let's go through the looking glass ice fans.

Delightfully Dramatic Derby Day

So once again that time of year is upon us, no not Christmas, it is of course the North London Derby. Always massively important, always unpredictable, always dramatic and this year it was no different.

Saturday night's alright for fighting

So I'm a pretty big fan of the Klitschko brothers. They're clever, they're charming, they're very very good at what they do. I follow them on twitter, I read stuff about them, I keep up with their results. But I've never actually had chance to watch one of their fights in full. Now (thank you VERY much ESPN) I finally had that chance. It was an interesting match-up Wladimir Klitschko was taking on Mariusz Wach from Poland who at 6'7 and a half is actually taller than Wlad, he also boasted an unbeaten record of 27 wins, 15 by knockout. He's a big, imposing guy if a little rough around the edges. Wladimir is, of course, his usual composed self, focussed and polished as befits a world champion. While the fight was perhaps unspectacular, lacking a big showy dramatic moment but that's not to say it wasn't still entertaining. It was, very much so. I really enjoyed watching Wlad get into his rhythm and watching his strategy evolve. It was really great to watch all of his movements, his footwork, thee little drops of his shoulder. There's definitely a sort of beauty to it all and I can definitely see how people get hooked on watching these fights. However, that's not to say i don't acknowledge the reality of it all, those slow-motion shots of all the punches connecting are absolutely brutal. And there were plenty of replays. Wlad dominated pretty much every round, landing almost every swing and sticking to a tiight gameplan and not allowing himself to get caught. Wach did however land one big right hand on Wlad in the 5th but was unable to capitalize afterwards. He wasn't lacking in power but unfortunately wasn't very quick which hindered him more and more as the fight went on. He was pretty much out on his feet by the end of the 12th but he did acquit himself well. And so the Klitschko party goes on.

Short and sweet in Shanghai

So the Grand Prix series continues apace in Shanghai. This week saw the season debuts of Brian Joubert, Daisuke Takahashi, Fabian Bourzat and Nathalie Pechalat and Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov. An exciting field, I'm sure you'll all agree and the competition was not short on drama.

Early Season Fashion Files

So the figure skating goodness just never ends. I wasn't planning on doing fashion files this early, but the first two Grand Prix events of the year provided me with so many moments of fashion joy and confusion that I just couldn't help myself. Are you all ready? Then let's go.