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Home , 2008 Cup of China, 2011 Rostelecom Cup, Agnes Zawadzki, Akiko Suzuki, Alexander Gazsi, Alexei Mishin

e Ice and e Edge

Volume I, Issue I

Summer 2013 Editor’s Note Dear readers, fans, and fellow " gure skaters,

Words can hardly describe the anticipation and excitement with which I present to you the very " rst edition of e Ice and e Edge magazine, a one- woman endeavor at providing a fresh and fascinating take on the world of com- petitive " gure skating. From conception to logistics to publication, this project has been months in the making, and I consider it the utmost privilege to be able to share it with you.

Ever since the love for the ice rooted itself into my mind some decade or so ago, I’ve sought a way to demonstrate this interest to the rest of the world. I’ve joined online skating communities, volunteered with competitions at my local rink, and created a blog on which to share this magazine with a wider audience. Ultimately, however, my purpose is simple. It’s not about triple Axels, embar- rassing costumes, or even the crowning glory of the Olympic skate-of-a-lifetime (I’m looking at you, 2010 ). It’s not about the joy of skating.

My mission statement is that the sensation of being a fan of " gure skating, both in the current cycle and as a starry-eyed spectator of earlier eras, has never failed to provide me with an incomparable sense of wonder. No matter what cri- ses might have enveloped me at the time, " gure skating has always been ready to assume the role of a comforter, a therapist, or simply a pillow on which to rest my head at the end of a tiring day. It is my hope that I will be able to share this feeling with you for many years to come. erefore, I would like to thank the " gure skating community at the Golden Skate forums for their undying appre- ciation of the sport; my friends and family for sitting with me through the tough times of near-defeat; and, most of all, everyone who is or ever was involved in the most beautiful, gratifying sport in the world.

Happy reading, Kitty Xie Featured Skater ()

Sixteen-year-old Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Glazov has already left a long trail of accomplish- ments in her rapid rise through the elite ranks.

As a disciple of , the renowned coach of 2006 Olympic champion , Tuktamysheva—the reign- ing Russian champion—currently re- sides and trains in St. Petersburg. In 2010, she won both of her Junior Grand Prix assign- ments, followed by silver medals at the Final and at the 2011 World J u n i o rWagner’s Championships. ! en, in her inaugu- ral senior season, she swept away older and better-experienced ladies with technician her precocious maturity and competitor, and poise to claim Tuktamysheva isn’t lightening the two Grand Prix t i t l e s load just yet. In July, she polished and, soon after, the Youth Olympic gold. her Olympic- season programs at Mishin’s training camp Last season, however, Tuktamysheva attrib- in Pinzolo, . She’s also uted a series of lackluster performances to taken on as a sponsor; she’s being a changing body. She regrouped to win the touted as the home-team face of the Olym- bronze medal at the European Champion- pics, a role which will take e# ect at Skate ships, but faltered at the World Champion- America, her " rst competition of the sea- ships in Canada, where she placed tenth. son. ! en will come the Combined with teammate Adelina Sot- the Grand Prix Final (she hopes), and 2014 nikova’s ninth-place " nish, this meant that Russian Nationals, where the " ght will be Russia would only receive two ladies’ spots tough; where she plans to defend her crown. for the in . ! en, with any luck, she’ll be holding one of the two tickets to Sochi. —KITTY XIE Still regarded as a formidable 2013 Summer Ice Shows

On and o# the ice, they’re the big- ! e Ice, a Japanese sensation since 2007, followed gest adversaries of their generation. from July 24-28. Asada led an all-star troupe that included , , Je# rey Yuna Kim and Mao Asa- Buttle, Javier Fernan- da, unequaled superstars dez, Kevin Reynolds, in their respective coun- , Maxim tries of and Kovtun, Kanako Mu- , have carried nearly rakami, Satoko Mi- a decade of competitive yahara, , rivalry to the glamorous , stage of exhibition skat- , Kait- ing. Traditionally, Kim’s lyn Weaver, Andrew show “All ! at Skate” Poje, , commences with the o# - , Na- season, followed by Asa- rumi Takahashi, and da’s “! e Ice.” World- . Initial- class skaters of both the ly slated to appear was current and previous era , who are invited to perform. withdrew in early July due to scheduling con- From June 21-23, All ! at Skate—now in its third $ icts. ! e show’s opening and closing ceremonies year—featured group programs choreographed were complemented by respective men’s and ladies’ to live Korean-language renditions of songs from group programs. To enthusiastic applause, Asada the Broadway musical Les Misérables , inspired by skated the debut of her Olympic-season short Kim’s World Championships-winning free skate. program to Chopin’s Nocturne in E-$ at Major. Guests included Ashley Wagner, Joannie Ro- chette, Haejin Kim, , Stephane Kim and Asada are not slated to meet on the Lambiel, Javier Fernandez, Jinseo Kim, Aliona Grand Prix circuit until the Final in Asada’s home Savchenko, , , country, assuming that both qualify. After that, , Vladimir Besedin, Oleksiy Pol- their next (and very possibly last) joint event will ishchuk, Fiona Zaldua, and Dmitry Sukhanov. be the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where they are an- ! e sold-out crowd showered appreciation on ticipated to reprise their 2010 show- main performer Kim, who skated a watered- down as an unforgettable curtain call to the sport. down version of her Les Misérables free skate and also introduced her new exhibition program to —KITTY XIE ’s cover of ’s Imagine . Wagner’s

Wagner’s Olympic Dream She gave herself an epithet that made her world- als, however, an onslaught of food poisoning com- famous. bined with the pressure to defend her title caused her to unravel in the middle of the long program. In 2011, after " nishing a heartbreaking sixth She fell in succession and in a decision that at the US Championships, Ashley Wag- stirred plenty of controversy, barely managed ner—then 19—showed her disappointment. to triumph over newcomer Gracie Gold. After skipping Four Continents, Wagner entered the “! e past couple of seasons, I’ve felt like the World Championships with one goal: to regain Almost Girl,” she said in an interview soon af- three spots for the US ladies at the 2014 Winter ter returning to her rink in Virginia Beach. Olympics. Despite losing her footing in the step “I was tired of almost being national cham- sequence of the long program, Wagner placed pion, almost making top two [at Nationals], al- " fth. Taken with Gold’s sixth-place " nish, it was most making the world team, almost making good enough to secure an Olympic berth for the the Olympic team. Almost, almost, almost.” bronze medalist at the 2014 US Championships.

It was thus that Wagner became the plucky Afterward, Wagner spoke to NBC in tones underdog, but in the wake of 2011 Nation- of exhausted pride. “I was on the team that als, many wrote her o# as “" nished”; “past her lost the spot [in 2008, when Kimmie Meiss- prime.” Wagner, however, was already taking ad- ner placed 7th, Bebe Liang 10th, and Wag- vantage of her liberated spring schedule to strat- ner 16th], and I’m on the team that got it egize for the upcoming season. After more than back. So I feel like that debt has been repaid.” " ve months of deliberation, during which her teammate and rival " nished " fth ! en with the o# -season came trouble. Soon af- at the World Championships, she made the star- ter the World Team Trophy, where Wagner was tling announcement that she was relocating to second—a fraction of a point ahead of Gold— Aliso Viejo, to train with . her choreographer of two years, Philip Mills, formally ended their cooperation. ! en John ! ree thousand miles from home, Wagner " nal- Nicks, the iconic " gure always awaiting Wag- ly $ ourished. Nicks, the octogenarian coach of ner in the Kiss & Cry, decided that he would and , used his " rm no longer travel to her competitions, but would but hands-o# methods to transform his new pu- continue to coach her at home in Aliso Viejo. pil into a world-class threat. Just six months lat- er, Wagner stood on top of the national podium But, as ever, Wagner was determined to sur- wearing a hard-won crown laden with expecta- mount her di% culties. In June, a new pairing tions. Undaunted by the media frenzy, she went was revealed: Wagner and , on to win the 2012 Four Continents Champion- a renowned technical specialist who may be the ships, and came within a hair of medaling at 2012 linchpin in getting Wagner a consistent triple- Worlds, where she was fourth. Czisny, who un- triple combination. Shae-Lynn Bourne and David knowingly skated on an injured hip, fell " ve times Wilson also joined Wagner’s team as choreogra- in the free skate and ended up in 22nd place. phers of the short and long programs, respectively. Wagner, demonstrating her $ air for contemporary No longer the “Almost Girl,” Wagner roared pieces, selected “Shine On, You Crazy Diamond” through her 2012-2013 season debut with by for her Olympic-season short and two-for-two Grand Prix victories. By Nation- Proko" ev’s “Romeo and Juliet” for the long. Now Wagner is making her ultimate desire known: a two-time US bronze medalist already on to win a medal, preferably gold, at the 2014 Olym- the cusp of grabbing the newly available third pics in Sochi. She isn’t squeamish about discussing spot; , last season’s breakthrough her odds, as she showed in an interview with the star who is taking a gap year from her studies podcast ! e Skating Lesson in late July. She knows at Harvard University to train; Mirai Nagasu, that the " rst step is a strong showing on the Grand who " nished fourth at the 2010 Olympics Prix circuit, on which she has been assigned to in Vancouver; and Alissa Czisny, returning , where she will face , and to competition after two major hip surgeries the Trophee Eric Bompard, where reigning World and determined to qualify for the Sochi team champion Yuna Kim will also be competing. US after falling short in both 2006 and 2010. Nationals, however, will be a far more strenuous test of nerves and preparedness; Wagner will un- “I’ve felt like the ‘Almost Girl’... doubtedly remember the crushing defeat she suf- fered exactly four years prior, when she missed Almost, almost, almost.” qualifying for the 2010 Olympic team by one spot. Fighting a battle on every front, Wagner is Had she gone to Vancouver, she later said, she already hard at work in preparation for the would likely have retired at the end of that season. Japan Open, her " rst competition of the sea- son, where she will meet Asada for the " rst ! ere is also the issue of Wagner’s technical ele- time since the World Team Trophy. Wagner ments. For the past few seasons, she has struggled is training for a two-pronged improvement to procure a solid triple-triple for her programs, re- in both presentation and technical cour- sulting in precious points squandered. Frank and age. She’s even poised to attack the weekly realistic about her training regimen, Wagner knows commutes between her home rink in Aliso well that the di% culty and wow-factor of master- Viejo, and Lake Arrowhead, where Arutyun- ing the hardest combination being attempted in yan is based. ! e drive, which she will per- ladies’ singles could easily mean the di# erence re- sonally make every ! ursday, is more than turning from Sochi with a medal or with a renewed eighty miles. Wagner, true to form, is out “Almost Girl” label. She also knows that she will to ascertain that every inch will be worth it. have the weighty task of outshining the biggest names in the world: of Italy, Mao She continues to hope, of course, that every- Asada of Japan, and most of all, South Korea’s Yuna thing she’s done so far is just the prequel to two Kim, who will arrive in Sochi as the defending show-stopping skates in Sochi and an immor- champion and a heavy favorite to reclaim her title. tal photograph on the biggest podium of all. —KITTY XIE “I feel like that debt has been re- paid.” Wagner on Social Media: http://twitter.com/AshWagner2010 At home, too, will Wagner meet head-on chal- lenges. Hot on her heels is Gracie Gold—who, http://instagram.com/ashwagner2010 in certain circles, has earned the moniker “Amer- ican [Yuna] Kim” for her stratospheric jumps. http://" gureskatersonline.com/ashleywagner Other competitors include , Grand Prix Assignments: 2013-2014 Defending Champions Denoted By Bold Italics

2013 Skate America 2013 International , USA Saint John, Canada October 18-20, 2010 October 25-27, 2010

Ladies Ladies Maé Bérénice MEITE (FRA), Elene GEDEVAN- (CAN), Amelie LACOSTE ISHVILI (GEO), (CAN), TBA (CAN), (FIN), Akiko (ITA), Mao ASADA (JPN), Elena RA- SUZUKI (JPN), Yuna KIM (KOR), Alena LE- DIONOVA (RUS), Elizaveta TUKTAMY- ONOVA (RUS), Julia LIPNITSKAIA (RUS), SHEVA (RUS), Christina GAO (USA), Gracie GOLD (USA) (SWE), Ashley WAGNER (USA) , (USA), (USA) Men (CAN), Andrei ROGO- Men ZINE (CAN), Elladj BALDE (CAN), Mi- (FRA), chal BREZINA (CZE), Takahito MURA (JPN), Takahiko KOZUKA (JPN), Tatsuki MA- (JPN), (JPN), Yuzuru CHIDA (JPN), (RUS), Alex- HANYU (JPN), (USA), Jer- ander MAJOROV (SWE), (USA), emy ABBOTT (USA), (USA) (USA), (USA) Ice Dance Alexandra PAUL/ (CAN), Kai- /Lloyd JONES (FRA), Anna tlyn WEAVER/ (CAN), Tessa CAPPELLINI/ (ITA), Cathy VIRTUE/ (CAN), Nelli ZHIGAN- REED/Chris REED (JPN), / SHINA/ (GER), Charlene Deividas STAGNIUNAS (LIT), Meryl DA- GUIGNARD/ (ITA), Ekaterina VIS/Charlie WHITE (USA), Maia SHIBU- RIAZONOVA/ (RUS), Alex- TANI/Alex SHIBUTANI (USA), TBA (USA) andra STEPANOVA/ (RUS), Madi- son HUBBELL/ (USA) Pairs Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS/Dylan MOSCO- Pairs VITCH (CAN), /Morgan / (CAN), CIPRES (FRA), /Ondrej / (CAN), HOTAREK (ITA), Tatiana VOLOSOZHAR/ / Maxim TRANKOV (RUS) , Ksenia STOL- (CAN), Wenjing SUI/Cong (CHN), Mari BOVA/ (RUS), Marissa CAS- VARTMANN/ (GER), TELLI/ (USA), Caydee Stefania BERTON/Ondrej HOTAREK (ITA), DENNEY/John COUGHLIN (USA), Felicia /Alexander SMIRNOV (RUS), ZHANG/ (USA) Lindsay DAVIS/ (USA) 2013 Cup of 2013 NHK Trophy , China , Japan November 1-3, 2013 November 8-10, 2013

Ladies Ladies Zijun LI (CHN), Kexin ZHANG (CHN), TBA Zijun LI (CHN), Elene GEDEVANISHVI- (CHN), Carolina KOSTNER (ITA), Kanako LI (GEO), Valentina MARCHEI (ITA), Mao MURAKAMI (JPN), Adelina SOTNIKOVA ASADA (JPN), (JPN), Sa- (RUS), Polina KOROBEYNIKOVA (RUS), toko MIYAHARA (JPN), (RUS), Joshi HELGE- (RUS), (RUS), Gra- SSON (SWE), Agnes ZAWADZKI (RUS) cie GOLD (USA), Mirai NAGASU (USA)

Men Men Kevin REYNOLDS (CAN), Han YAN (CHN), Cha" k BESSEGHIER (FRA), Takahito MURA Nan SONG (CHN), Yi WANG (CHN), Florent (JPN), Nobunari ODA (JPN), Daisuke TAKA- AMODIO (FRA), (GER), Taka- HASHI (JPN), hiko KOZUKA (JPN), (KAZ), Maxim (RUS), Sergei VORONOV (RUS), Javier FER- KOVTUN (RUS), (USA) NANDEZ (ESP), Max AARON (USA), Jer- emy ABBOTT (USA), Adam RIPPON (USA) Ice Dance Xintong HUANG/Xun ZHENG (CHN), Xiaoy- Ice Dance ang YU/Chen WANG (CHN), TBA (CHN), Na- / (CAN), Tanja thalie PECHALAT/ (FRA) , KOLBE/ (GER), Anna CAP- Pernelle CARRON/Lloyd JONES (FRA), Ekat- PELLINI/Luca LANOTTE (ITA), TBA (JPN), erina BOBROVA/ (RUS), / (RUS), / (USA), Al- Victora SINITSINA/ exandra ALDRIDGE/Daniel EATON (USA) (RUS), /Charlie WHITE (USA) , Maia SHIBUTANI/Alex SHIBUTANI (USA) Pairs Qing PANG/Jian TONG (CHN) , Cheng PENG/ Pairs Hao ZHANG (CHN), TBA (CHN), Daria POP- Paige LAWRENCE/Rudi SWIEGERS (CAN), OVA/ (FRA), Aliona SAVCHEN- Cheng PENG/Hao ZHENG (CHN), Wenjing KO/Robin SZOLKOWY (GER), Anastasia SUI/ (CHN), TBA (JPN), Yuko KA- MARTIUSHEVA/ (RUS), VAGUTI/Alexander SMIRNOV (RUS), Tatiana Alexa SCIMECA/ (USA), Feli- VOLOSOZHAR/Maxim TRANKOV (RUS), cia ZHANG/Nathan BARTHOLOMAY (USA) /Simon SHNAPIR (USA), / (USA) 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard 2013 Rostelecom Cup Paris, , Russia November 15-17, 2013 November 22-24, 2013

Ladies Ladies Kiira KORPI (FIN), Laenelle GILLERON- Kaetlyn OSMOND (CAN), Carolina KOST- GORRY (FRA), Maé Bérénice MEITE (FRA), NER (ITA), (JPN), Satoko MI- Yretha SILETE (FRA), Yuna KIM (KOR), Anna YAHARA (JPN), (JPN), POGORILAYA (RUS), Adelina SOTNIKOVA Julia LIPNITSKAIA (RUS), Elizaveta TUK- (RUS), Victoria HELGESSON (SWE), Ash- TAMYSHEVA (RUS), TBA (RUS), Mirai NA- ley WAGNER (USA) , Christina GAO (USA) GASU (USA), Agnes ZAWADZKI (USA)

Men Men Patrick CHAN (CAN), Nan SONG (CHN), Kevin REYNOLDS (CAN), Brian JOU- Han YAN (CHN), Michal BREZINA (CZE), BERT (FRA), Peter LIEBERS (GER), Tat- (FRA), Romain PONSART suki MACHIDA (JPN), (FRA), TBA (FRA), (JPN), (RUS), Evgeni PLUSHENKO (RUS), TBA Jason BROWN (USA), Ross MINER (USA) (RUS), Javier FERNANDEZ (ESP), Richard DORNBUSH (USA), Joshua FARRIS (USA) Ice Dance Nicole OLFORD/! omas WILLIAMS (CAN), Ice Dance /Scott MOIR (CAN), Nathalie Piper GILLES/Paul POIRIER (CAN), Kait- PECHALAT/Fabian BOURZAT (FRA) , Nelli lyn WEAVER/Andrew POJE (CAN), Ekaterina ZHIGANSHINA/Alexander GAZSI (GER), Pen- BOBROVA/Dmitri SOLOVIEV (RUS), Ekat- ny COOMES/ (GBR), erina RIAZONOVA/Ilia TKACHENKO (RUS), Elena ILINYKH/Nikita KATSALAPOV (RUS), Siobhan HEEKIN-CANEDY/ Ksenia MONKO/ (RUS) (UKR), Madison CHOCK/Evan BATES (USA)

Pairs Pairs Meagan DUHAMEL/Eric RADFORD (CAN), Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS/Dylan MOSCO- / (CAN), Qing VITCH (CAN), Aliona SAVCHENKO/Robin PANG/Jian TONG (CHN), Vanessa JAMES/ SZOLKOWY (GER), / Morgan CIPRES (FRA), TBA (FRA), Nicole Ryuichi KIHARA (JPN), / DELLA MONICA/ (ITA), (RUS), TBA (RUS), Al- Vera BAZAROVA/Yuri LARIONOV (RUS) , exa SCIMECA/Chris KNIERIM (USA), Brit- Caydee DENNEY/John COUGHLIN (USA) ney SIMPSON/Matthew BLACKMER (USA)