The Cutting Edge comes to life.

Most of us in the skating community have seen the movie "The Cutting Edge". It's the story of a ex-hockey player becoming the partner for a lone figure skater. Miscommunication and love ensue.

However, the CBC has taken the main plot of this 1992 movie and run with it. Their new show "Battle of the Blades" sees past figure skating stars and ex-hockey players joining together to compete each week to a panel of judges to win.

Some familiar faces from the skating community are present such as Jamie Sale and Shae-Lynn Bourne. For any of you who, like me always wanted to see the hockey players in my local rink try to skate like I did, you will definitely want to fill in. The show is currently in the fourth week.

If you want to know more the show site has lots of information about the competitors as well as recaps.

Season starts with a bang for Canadian skaters

It's the start of the figure skating season and this year all bets are off. With the Vancouver 2010 Olympics just around the corner the pressure's on to compete. The Canadians have started the season off with two medals wins at the first Grand Prix event in Paris this past Saturday.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won gold in ice dance while Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison won the silver in the pairs competition. Not too shabby considering this is only just the start of the season.

Noteably absent was Patrick Chan who pulled out of the competiton due to a muscle tear. Definitely a smart move on Chan's part not to strain an injury this early in the season, especially in an Olympic year.

Personally I cannot wait to see more from the Canadian team, especially Dubé and Davison, it takes a lot to come back from an injury as severe as hers was. But it takes even more passion and dedication to become a full fledged competitor only two years after it. For those of you who don't recall what I'm talking about watch this.

It's looking to be a great season for the Canadian team, and with more Grand Prix events on the way there's no doubt this year the Canadians will be the ones to beat.

Who Am I?

Well, that is a good question but one the probably can't be answered. However, I can tell you a little bit about why I decided to make this blog.

For starters, I love figure skating and have ever since I was eight years old. So it's been a passion of mine for ten years or so. Not too shabby. I didn't find my love through my own experience on the ice (though that did come later), but rather I watched my older sister of seven years glide across the ice. As I watched her spin and dance across the ice I found myself infactuated with the sport. So I did what any little sister does, I asked my mom if I could skate too. And then voila, I was a part of the grace and beauty of figure skating. Okay, maybe it took me a few years to get the "grace and beauty" part, but nonetheless I was a part of the sport I loved.

I was never much of a competitor, petrified when all eyes were on me. But I did compete a few times, medalling once or twice. I did tests but stopped my last year of skating when I just because frustrated with one particular dance. Rather, I enjoyed skating without any pressure from my family or coach to compete to the best I could. But I did motivate myself in a different way. Instead of trying to manage footwork or an opening, I made my spins better, my jumps higher and tried new things almost every day. I was self-improving for my own pride rather than for a medal or a trophy.

I skated three days a week, mostly after school but a few times before school. I was dedicated to becoming better, beating my personal best. I never got far with my jumps, the axel was simply too much of a battle for me. My height (6 ft.) in my final year of skating made axels and doubles virtually impossible for me. So instead of focused on what I could do, I made my spins stronger and learned to hydroblade (but nowhere near the level of Bourne and Kratz).

March 2009 was the last time I found myself on the ice, and each day I miss it. The smell of my leather skates makes me long to be out there again. But finishing high school required my full dedication and I made a choice. It was painful but ultimately the right one. Now in university, my school is still my focus. But this winter when the rinks open up, you'll know where to find me.

So this blog is a way for me to keep that feeling alive, because nothing will ever make me feel the way that skating did. It's a part of my soul, who I am underneath it all. I love it with my whole heart and that will never stop, no matter how long I am away from the ice.

This is who I am, why I skate and the reason for this blog.

I hope you enjoy. :)