FREE DOWNLOAD: Women & the Winter Olympics Reference Guide

The Winter Games kick off in Vancouver Friday, February 12th and we’re stoked to see our fave female athletes compete in events like skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, luge, bobsled and more.

For all the deets on who’s competing when, along with notes on athletes to watch, Olympic trivia and more, download our FREE Women & the Winter Olympics Reference Guide.

Enjoy, and check back for lots of Olympic news and info over the next two weeks.

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Vancouver 101: Figure Skating
Vancouver 101: Bobsled, Luge, Skeleton
Vancouver 101: Speaking  Canadian

Figure Skater Rachael Flatt named January’s reading superstar

December 19, 2008 – Reading Is Fundamental, the nation’s oldest and largest children’s and families’ literacy organization, announced Tuesday that Rachael Flatt was their January 2009 Reading Superstar.

The reigning world junior champion, U.S. silver medalist and 2010 Olympic hopeful carries a 4.0 grade point average and is an avid reader, despite her rigorous skating schedule.Reading is Fundamental and Flatt have partnered to demonstrate the important role reading can play in achieving one’s goals.

“My favorite fictional character is Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia because she is very brave, creative, curious and willing to take chances and explore the unknown,” says Flatt. “Sometimes in skating, you have to step beyond what you are comfortable with, much like Lucy does in Narnia.”

Such inspirations will continue to propel Flatt as she trains for a spot on the 2010 Olympic Team.

Read more

On Edge: Ladies Figure Skating Update

November 29, 2008 – Haven’t written much lately about figure skating so let’s catch up:

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, now in its 14th season, consists of six international events in a cumulative point-scoring format. The 2008 series just concluded with its sixth event, the NHK Trophy, in  Japan. Approximately 60 skaters from 16 countries competed for points and prize money.

Mao Asada led a  Japanese sweep of women’s podium at NHK Trophy – World champion Asada won the NHK Trophy Saturday, qualifying for the International Skating Union’s Grand Prix finals and completing a Japanese sweep of the podium.  Asada almost made history when she attempted two triple axels at the start of her routine. She completed the first one but the second was downgraded to a double.

It was a disappointing night for American skaters. Ashley Wagner, who was second after the short program, finished fourth with 161.10 points.  Last season, Wagner won bronze at Trophée Eric Bompard and finished fifth at Skate Canada.

Sixteen-year-old Mirai Nagasu, the U.S. national champion competing in her first Grand Prix Series,  finished NHK eighth after falling on a double axel and a triple toeloop.

At last week’s Cup of Russia, the fifth event of the 2008 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, Italy’s Carolina Kostner earned gold in the ladies event.  American Rachael Flatt won silver, while teammate Alissa Czisny finished just off the podium in fourth.

Pretty Tough Trivia: Rachael Flatt began skating at age 4. Her father took her to shop for a birthday gift for her grandfather, and they came home with skating lessons instead of a gift. Her grandfather was a national fencing champion.

The Grand Prix Final (GPF) will be held Dec. 10-14, 2008, in Goyang City, South Korea. Check Grand Prix results here.

Ask Five-Time World Champion Michelle Kwan a Question
When one thinks about the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, it’s hard not to recall all the great moments Michelle Kwan provided fans across the country. The nine-time U.S. titlist has won 43 championships, including five World titles and two Olympic medals.

So if you have a burning question for the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, now is your chance. Want to know what’s on her iPod? What her favorite competition was? Fave book or movie? Ask away. Visit the U.S. Figure Skating site now to ask Michelle your question… 

American women dominate competition at junior world figure skating championships

March 1, 2008  SOFIA, Bulgaria  – The American women were as good as expected at the junior world figure skating championships.

Rachael Flatt conquered the ladies free skate to capture the division and the United States’ third gold medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships. The U.S. ladies dominated both the short and free skate competitions, with Rachel Flatt, Caroline Zhang and Mirai Nagasu finishing an overall first, second and third, respectively.

Nagasu and Flatt were first and second in the senior division at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships last month. But neither was 15 by last July 1, making them too young for the senior world championships. Flatt turned 15 on July 21 while Nagasu won’t even turn 15 until April. Zhang, who was fourth at nationals, doesn’t turn 15 until May.

So they came to junior worlds – and are going home with some shiny souvenirs!

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