Figure skatingNo matter the stage, skaters have it tough

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Ekaterina "Katia" Gordeeva and Valeri Bure, the winners of this season's Battle of the Blades. (Gérard Châtaigneau FSC-Sports)

Reflecting on the Grand Prix series and the enthusiastic emails I have been receiving from fans, it occurred to me that there is a renewed fascination with figure skating.

CBC's Brenda Irving says, "I am so impressed by the skaters' athletic ability and the fact that they are out there all alone with all eyes' on them and totally vulnerable."  

It doesn't matter the level, there is that moment when your name is called and the rink door closes behind you as you skate to your opening pose and you are, in fact, as Brenda says,  alone and vulnerable.

Is it the same for everyone? I spoke to Sandra Bezic, the head judge and one of the brains behind The Battle of The Blades who was on the CBC set to do commentary for the Grand Prix of France. She started by chuckling, "I was on the Blades set on Sunday and here I am preparing to talk about this important ISU event. It took a couple of days to wrap my brain around it."

The Grand Prix in France was significant because it was the second time we saw the defending world champion from Japan, Mao Asada, whose struggle to learn and apply a new jump technique is hampering her ability to achieve the top results for which she is known. It is the glare of the spotlight as much as anything that must be as daunting as anything else.  

This public glare was the same for the eight hockey players who were paired with eight figure skaters for The Battle of The Blades show.

Sandra says that  "the process is as much emotional as physical in their transformation. The program, choreography, performance and relating to a woman on the ice was all new to them.  Over time, you could see the light bulb slowly turning on as they went from being two skaters together to a 'pair'." She says she was impressed with how the hockey players adapted to the process. She also says that the hockey players were impressed with their "ice cousins' the figure skaters. "The players are blown away by how difficult the sport is and they are in awe of their partners."

The Battle skaters will be the focus of a behind-the-scenes look this Sunday on CBC called "The Battle of The Blades - After the Ice Melts".  Let's face it - who doesn't like to know what's going on behind the scenes? 

Back to Mao - like the hockey players who were training for the show - she is in the midst of a steep learning curve and having to endure the bumps and bruises along the way. What makes this different is there is nothing to go back to if she isn't successful - this is it.

She is one of the best figure skaters of a generation who is used to commanding the world stage. For the moment, Maois risking everything in her amateur career. If she is successful, her professional life is secured. If she fails and can't regain her standing, it's anybody's guess. 

Sandra says "any time anyone takes centre ice - every single time - they are so vulnerable and are worthy of our attention and respect."

Great words to live by. Next time I watch a skater whose performance is less than stellar, I am going to let those words roll around in my head - maybe we all should.

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