Figure Skating Press Release Action

Figure skating? Why yes, we have a series of figure skating press releases for you. I may be one of the few guys who enjoys watching the sport. There are a lot of hot chicks skating so you have that factor. But two words totally justify watching figure skating. Tanith Belbin. Google Image her. Then you'll watch.

Ok, this is from NBC and Universal Sports and their plans for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating from Moscow this weekend.

GRAND PRIX OF FIGURE SKATING FROM MOSCOW THIS WEEKEND ON NBC SPORTS AND UNIVERSAL SPORTS

NBC Sports & Universal Sports Combine to Present 11 Hours of Coverage From Moscow

NEW YORK -- October 22, 2009 -- NBC Sports and Universal Sports present 11 hours coverage this weekend of the second stop of the 2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series this Sunday from Moscow, Russia. Skaters from Team USA will compete against athletes from 13 other countries, all vying for points and prize money and ultimately spots representing their country at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Coverage on NBC Sports begins Sunday at Noon ET and coverage on Universal Sports begins Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports' broadcast will feature coverage of the ladies and men's free skates and Universal Sports will carry coverage of the pairs and ice dancing finals and the men's and ladies short programs.

LADIES: Leading the U.S. ladies contingent is reigning U.S. champion Alissa Czisny. The two-time U.S. Collegiate champion (2004, 08) won bronze at Skate Canada last season and gold at the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy. Czisny will be joined by two-time World Junior bronze medalist Ashley Wagner. Last season, Wagner finished fourth at the 2009 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, NHK Trophy and Cup of China. 

MEN: This will be the fifth Grand Prix Series appearance in Russia for 2008 World bronze medalist Johnny Weir, who took home gold from this event in 2007. Weir won silver at Skate America and the NHK Trophy last season, and claimed the bronze at the Grand Prix Final in Goyang City, Republic of Korea. Joining him in Moscow is reigning U.S. silver medalist Brandon Mroz, who finished ninth at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles, Calif.

PAIRS: Reigning two-time U.S. pairs champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker are the lone pairs team representing the United States in Moscow. The team, who won silver last season at Skate America and bronze at Skate Canada, finished fifth at the 2009 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and 11th at the 2009 World Championships.

ICE DANCING: Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the 2009 U.S. champions, won gold at last month's Nebelhorn Trophy. Last season they took home gold from Skate Canada and bronze from the Cup of Russia and Grand Prix Final. After their gold-medal win at the 2009 Four Continents Championships, they finished fourth at the 2009 World Championships, just .04 points off the podium.

Andrew Joyce (play by play), Paul Wylie and Peter Carruthers (analysts) and David Pelletier (reporter) call the action.

UNIVERSAL SPORTS COVERAGE: Universal Sports, available in more than 56 million homes, will broadcast more than 50 hours of Grand Prix coverage, including live and near-live taped programming and rebroadcasts of the featured programming that appears on NBC Sports. Universal Sports coverage details of the Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Moscow are below (all times ET):
Friday, Oct. 23, 7-9 p.m. ET/Encore Presentation: 9-11 p.m. ET
Sat., Oct. 24,5-7 p.m. ET/Encore Presentation: 9-10 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 25 5-7 p.m. ET

NBC also outlines some of the figure skating specials it will air starting from this weekend through the holidays.

OLYMPIC MEDALISTS & SKATING STARS GLIDE THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS BEGINNING THIS SUNDAY ON NBC

U.S. Olympic Medalists Nancy Kerrigan, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Sasha Cohen and Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto Headline NBC Skating Specials

2008 Olympic Gold Medalists Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson Headline Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular

NEW YORK -- October 22, 2009 -- The most renowned stars in figure skating take to the ice for NBC Sports figure skating specials throughout the holidays beginning this Sunday with Halloween on Ice starring Mannheim Steamroller at 4 p.m. ET and featuring two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan and 1996 World Champion and six-time U.S. National Champion Todd Eldredge.

In addition to Kerrigan and Eldredge, among skaters scheduled to appear this holiday season on NBC will be 1998 Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Boitano, 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek, three-time National Champion Johnny Weir, 2008 U.S. National Champion Mirai Nagasu, 2006 World Champion Kimmie Meissner and 2006 Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.

Major musical acts including Smokey Robinson, the Goo Goo Dolls, The Backstreet Boys, Jordin Sparks, REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield will provide the entertainment for these specials. The programs are all produced by NBC Sports in conjunction with Disson Skating.

Following are the figure skating shows airing on NBC through January (all shows are taped at an earlier date):

Halloween On Ice
Broadcast:  Sunday, October 25, 4-6 p.m. ET
Site:  Qwest Center, Omaha, NE

Two-time Olympic medalist Kerrigan leads an all-star cast of skaters in the "Halloween on Ice" skating special. The skaters don their best Halloween costumes as they perform to Grammy nominated Mannheim Steamroller's Halloween sounds.

Accompanying Kerrigan are 1996 World Champion and six-time U.S. National Champion Todd Eldredge, three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko and eight-time British Champion Steven Cousins.

Kristi Yamaguchi and Friends 
Broadcast: Sunday, November 1, 4-6 p.m. ET
Site: U.S. Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ

Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi headlines "Kristi Yamaguchi and Friends" with music provided by pop sensations The Backstreet Boys.

Skating stars appearing on the ice alongside Yamaguchi are two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Ekaterina Gordeeva, four-time World Champion Kurt Browing, Olympic Bronze Medalist Jozef Sabovcik and three-time U.S. National Champion Michael Weiss.

Smokey Robinson Tribute on Ice
Broadcast:  Sunday, November 22, 4-6 p.m. ET
Site: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL

Soul legend Smokey Robinson provides the musical background for "Smokey Robinson Tribute on Ice" at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL.  His classics include "My Girl," "You've Really Got A Hold On Me," "The Tears of a Clown," "I Second That Emotion" and "The Tracks of My Tears." Headlining the event is 1988 Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano.

Joining Boitano is 1996 World Champion and six-time U.S. National Champion Todd Eldredge, 2006 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 2008 World Champion Jeffrey Buttle, eight-time British Champion Steven Cousins and six-time Canadian Champion Jennifer Robinson.

Holiday Celebration on Ice
Broadcast: Sunday, November 29, 4-6 p.m. ET
Site:  Alltel Arena, North Little Rock, AR

Eighties recording stars REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield will provide a magical night of music as 1988 Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano and cast mesmerize skating fans gathered at Alltel Arena, North Little Rock, AR for the "Holiday Celebration On Ice."

Joining Boitano on the ice are 2008 World Champion Jeffrey Buttle, two-time World Silver Medalist Ice Dancing Champions Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon and more.
 
Improv-Ice
Broadcast: Friday, December 25, 3-5 p.m. ET
Site: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

Olympic and World figure skating champions offer a holiday treat of spectacular skating featuring music by the Grammy Award Winning Goo Goo Dolls for "Improv-Ice". "Improv-Ice" will require each skater to perform two routines to one contemporary song and one Goo Goo Dolls song with out hearing the music first. The audience gets to vote on the best performance and the results will be announced at the end of the show. Hosting the event is Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano.

Skatings best current and past talent competing include reigning World Champion Evan Lysacek, Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen and four-time World Champion Kurt Browing.

Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular
Broadcast: Friday, January 1, 4-6 p.m. ET
Site: Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT

Brian Boitano celebrates his fourteenth year of performing and directing his own television special, the "Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular." Chicago will provide music for the event.

Among the skaters joining Boitano on the ice will be 2006 World Champion and U.S. 2007 National Champion Kimmie Meissner, 1994 World Champion Yuka Sato and eight-time British National Champion Steven Cousins.

Stars on Ice
Broadcast: Sunday, January 3, 4-6 p.m. ET
Information and Site TBD

Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular
Broadcast: Sunday, January 10, 4-6 p.m. ET
Site: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD

The world's top gymnastics and figure skating stars team up for a memorable show at the "Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular" at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. This event is packed with young gymnastics and skating talent.

The star-studded gymnastics talent includes 2008 Olympic gold medalists Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson and 2008 Olympic bronze medalists Jonathan Horton and Raj Bhavsar. The cast of figure skaters is as equally talented and includes three-time U.S. National Champion Michael Weiss, 1996 World Champion and six-time U.S. National Champion Todd Eldredge, three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko and 2007 U.S. National Silver Medalist Emily Hughes.

Skate for the Heart
Broadcast: Sunday, January 31, 4-6 p.m. ET
Site: Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks headlines an evening of contemporary music with Olympic and world-class skaters in a show that provides awareness for the prevention of heart disease. Also providing music is 16-year-old singing sensation Charice Pempengco and pop groups Honor Society and KSM.

This event is packed with skating powerhouses including 2006 Olympic Silver Medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, reigning World Champion Evan Lysacek, three-time National Champion Johnny Weir, 2009 National Bronze Medalist Caroline Zhang and 2008 National Champion Mirai Nagasu.

Of course, there's the Battle of the Blades up in Canada which has become a ratings hit for CBC and the couple that was axed from the competition this week.

BARBARA UNDERHILL AND RON DUGUAY ARE THE NEXT TO BE ICED ON CBC-TV’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES

Christine Hough-Sweeney and Tie Domi back for another week

Barbara Underhill and Ron Duguay, one of the hardest working pairs in the competition, were the third pair iced, as the results were revealed during tonight’s broadcast on BATTLE OF THE BLADES. Christine Hough-Sweeney and Tie Domi are the third pair to be saved, joining the four remaining pairs for a chance to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice.

The two pairs with the fewest votes in the third week of competition were Underhill and Duguay, who skated to Michael Bublé’s Sway, and Hough-Sweeney and Domi, who performed their routine to Gerardo’s Rico Suave. Both pairs performed again before the panel of judges, Sandra Bezic, Dick Button and guest judge George Stroumboulopoulos, host of CBC’s The Hour, for a final chance to remain on the show.

All three judges agreed Underhill and Duguay’s performance hit the mark musically and Bezic thanked them for their commitment throughout the competition, calling Underhill in particular a “role model”. For their efforts, Underhill’s Canadian charity, Bloorview Kids Rehab, will receive a $12,500 donation, and Duguay’s charity, World Vision Canada, will receive a $12,500 donation.

The five pairs returning to compete on Sunday, October 25 are: Shae-Lynn Bourne and Claude Lemieux, Marie-France Dubreuil and Stéphane Richer, Jodeyne Higgins and Ken Daneyko, Christine Hough-Sweeney and Tie Domi, Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson.

The soulful sounds of R&B will be the musical theme for the show next week, giving contestants a chance to groove and glide to its powerful lyrics and undeniable rhythms.

Reigning World Champion Yu-Na Kim will grace the ice with a guest performance for the skate-off show on Monday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m. Kim, training under Canada’s own skating legend Brian Orser, is considered to be one of the favourites for the gold medal at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Viewers can learn more about the competitors at www.cbc.ca/battle, the official online portal for the series and the source for everything about BATTLE OF THE BLADES. In addition to videos and behind-the-scene photos, the site offers viewers the opportunity to become fans of their favourite pair and track each participant’s activity as they strive to be the final pair remaining at the end of the series.

BATTLE OF THE BLADES is the brainchild of Kevin Albrecht with development by Sandra Bezic. BATTLE OF THE BLADES executive producers are John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby and Kevin Albrecht. It is produced by Insight Productions in association with CBC Television.

And CBC says former Toronto Maple Leaf Lanny McDonald will be a guest judge this week on the show.

BELOVED FORMER LEAF LANNY McDONALD TO GUEST JUDGE ON CBC-TV’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES

The “Stash” is Back!

Lanny McDonald, one of the most beloved Toronto Maple Leaf players, is returning to historic Maple Leaf Gardens as a guest judge on CBC Television’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES, Sunday, October 25 and Monday, October 26, at 8 p.m. McDonald is married to figure skater Ardell McDonald, making the hockey legend’s story one that mirrors what the BATTLE OF THE BLADES has accomplished.

McDonald started his illustrious NHL career in 1973 as the first draft choice of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Widely recognized for his iconic moustache, he also played with the Colorado Rockies, starting in 1979, and later joined the Calgary Flames where he helped bring them to glory by winning the team’s first Stanley Cup in 1989. This was also the year he retired from the sport.

Drawing from what he knows of hockey and figure skating, McDonald’s comments will bring added variety when combined with the remarks from regular judges Sandra Bezic and Dick Button. All three will preside together as the show’s remaining five pairs contend to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice.

There are your figure skating press releases for today.