It has been a long day.  I have been spending more than the usual amount of time reading and ooking for information about Worlds and whether or not Tokyo will be able to host the event.

I have to say from what i have seen - the news isn't good. An insider at the highest level disclosed to me that to try and relocate the event would be very difficult given the amount of work that goes into putting on a Worlds. The logistics alone of hotel rooms and two empty rinks and re-organizing people's schedules seems like a longshot - not impossible - but challenging to say the least and I am only talking about the skaters and officials at this point and not even touching on how to manage fans and media and everything else.....

Then there are the problems 'on the ground' in Tokyo where many things are 'business as usual' but other things like the ability to buy water and staples and the issue of power conservation would make it again more difficult. This information comes from a couple of people who are in Japan. Let's face it - we're talking about 2 natural disasters and the tragedy is almost too big for me to comprehend from the safe haven of my family room.

The ISU is wading through tricky territory at the moment and I am impressed that they have been so  forthcoming about information. Today's media advisory located at the isu.org website  promises more information by Monday morning (European time) The ISU has acknowledged that one of the many factors has to do with the stability of the Fukushima area's nuclear plant.

it seems as if a number of federations are weighing in -I read the release from the German federation that  indicated that they are respecting the advisory set out by their government about not travelling to Tokyo. (Thank goodness for my high school German). I also received an advisory from the US federation that they are waiting for more news before making any decision. 

I don't know what the answer will be. More than anything, it appears to me as if there is no way to make this work without hurting someone. If Worlds goes ahead - it could be seen to be at the expense of the Japanese people in their hour of pain. If Worlds doesn't go ahead - I feel for the countless hours of work already invested by the Organizing Committee and the Japanese federation but more than anything, I also feel for the skaters whose whole year is built around this competition.

As a big picture kind of person - I have to say when it is all said and done -' it's only skating' and Japan has bigger things to deal with at the moment. As you might imagine, I am speaking only what I believe and will roll with whatever decision is made.

My thoughts go also to the decision makers - this can't be easy.

I have been getting messages all day long and now into the evening from skating fans wanting to know about the ISU World Figure Skating Championships taking place in Tokyo in the next 10 days. As might be expected of the 'extended skating family" the notes show genuine concern for the tragic losses as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. Also characteristic of the hard-working people who make up the travelling ISU family, they have gotten the word out as quickly as possible; with the following note being having been posted on the isu.org website this morning:

Earthquake, Tsunami in Japan
11 Mar 2011 10:32

I cannot believe in another couple of weeks, we are basically at the end of the road for another season!

Time to Talk Tokyo with skaters on their way to Worlds.

Canada's national silver medallists Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje returned from the iSU Four Continents Championship in Taipei City with more lessons learned. In their free dance performance there, Andrew's blade got tangled in Kaitlyn's dress on his way into their dance spin - "the amazing part was that we didn't fall ...but without the required revs to make a combo spin element, we got a zero."  With pride in her voice, Kaitlyn goes on to say that in the past they would have let it take the wind out of their sails, but this time, they just kept on and "didn't let it ruin our vibe." Just an unfortunate hiccup for this team whose steely resolve was so clearly evident as they looked into each other's eyes at the conclusion of the national championships where they finished in second. They were less than a point behind Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier. Interestingly, they don't think of the rivalry but concentrate on the work that they have done to this point and really just want to get to Worlds and show the world what they know how to do.  They have made some real strides this season and attribute their improvement to efforts of their coaching team: Pasquale Camerlengo, Anjelika Krylova and Shae-Lynn Bourne.  The hours upon hours spent on basic stroking and edge quality and skills has paid off facilitating their joy in skating their two programs which are "the most fun to perform for an audience that we have ever done." says Kaitlyn. In a charming twist of fate, Kaitlyn remembers seeing Anjelika and partner Oleg Ovsiannikov in a skating show that came through her hometown of Houston. Although she was already a skater, it was seeing Anjelika that really inspired her to pursue her goal of ice dance. When she is with Anjelika, she says she really tries to "soak all that up". 

New this season, is the more regular connection that the team has made with a sports

therapist who has helped them with strategies of relaxation and how to put in competition what they are able to do in training at home. They had always worked with one before intermittently through Skate Canada.  This was different though, as it was a commitment and a priority that they made before the season started. Kaitlyn says: "We don't talk to her every day but we like her as a person and we connect with her."  The goal has been to put things into perspective - to not focus so much on results and to realize that there is life after competition.  Sounds sensible to me.

As one of the teams who will be competing in the Preliminary round of the ice dance competition at worlds - Andrew's comment sums up their positive and philosophical attitude; "We see performing our free dance in front of the actual panel as having an advantage. It's like doing a dry run and we are looking forward to that."

They say this is almost like going to their first Worlds - they feel new and fresh and feel as if they have something new and fresh to offer.  Kaitlyn and Andrew say that their goal is to make top five in the world. We all know the first step in achieving a goal is naming it. "If we skate our best - why not?" is what  Andrew says. They are planning on celebrating their programs and enjoying the work they have done. They aren't making any changes to the programs aside from maybe some minor arm and head movements.

"We are looking towards the future with hope and not fear and are ready to work hard to get the results we are working for,"

In other words - Weaver and Poje - ready to take on the world.

Taking the Ice has great reviews - got your copy yet? www.takingtheice.com  

....I usually put my fingers in my ears and yell "LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA"  but this time ...my hands were full :)

Tracy and I had the chance to talk about Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's withdrawal from the ISU 4 Continents' Figure Skating Championships.  I wanted to know as an elite ice dancer how did she manage competing while injured  - she never had to - and when do you as the competing athlete make "the call" to not move forward in an event. 

She offered some terrific insights: "its very difficult because as an elite athlete, you have gotten as far as you have because you don't always listen to your body. As often as not, you push through pain to accomplish what you need to.  Sometimes though you feel pain and you have to stop.  Is this the kind of pain that needs your attention and requires rest.  It's tough.  You have to be thinking about if I have to back off or do I push through?"

Tessa reported to my colleague Scott Russell at CBC that the "tightness" she feels in her left quad muscle had already started at home.  Then why go to Taipei?  I am sure I am not the only one who know what it's like to have to hold back because of injury or illness and not be able to do something you really want to do. Faced with another delay or setback, and thinking you might burst if you don't get to do your thing, you cross your fingers and convince yourself to take the chance and you bust out and do it. Finger crossing has been known to make the difference although this time maybe not so much. We've all beeen there. The great news is Tessa feels that this is simply a "bump in the road" and she and partner Scott are determined to defend their world title next month in Tokyo, Japan.  Russell said when he pressed Scott to see if there was 'wiggle room' in their resolve to compete at Worlds, Scott Moir said simply and definitively "We're going."

What HAPPENED to Tessa and Scott was the message left for me on a message board within minutes of them starting their Free Dance performance at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.  I don't know - yet - althought there is speculation about injury.

They started off fine in their Free Dance with a slim margin of less than one point ahead of training mates and rivals Meryl Davis and Charlie White.  A little bit of trouble on the twizzles and then they were into their rotational lift where Tessa hooks her leg around Scott's neck.  Then it was over. Once he put her down from the lift - she skated away - back to waiting coaches Marina Zueva and Igor Shpillband. A small conversation ensued and then Scott skated to the referee and they withdrew from the event.  Some are saying that they saw the skaters exchange a few words on their way to take their opening position and whether or not this is significant - we don't know.  It's funny, but I really wasn't convinced that they were going to go to this event thinking that they would need more time for Tessa to recover.  I was finally convinced when Scott's older brother texted me last weekend to confirm what time the CBC broadcast was going to take place.  I knew then that they would be going but still wondered about the risk involved - that said - once they got there it would not have occured to me that they could succumb to injury. 

Just off the phone with my CBC colleague Scott Russell who says that it's official - Tessa is Injured.  He phoned me within moments of concluding a phone call with Skate Canada's high performance director, Michael Slipchuk, who stated that tessa felt a tightness in her left quad muscle. Slipchuk goes on to say that it "is all part of the process in getting to be back on top." Strange choice of words in my mind - injury should not be part of the process.  The team had been scheduled for a press conference to take place about now (10:30am ET) and would not be appearing - presumably so that Tessa can get the necessary attention.

As disappointed as the fans are - I can only imagine how disappointed the athletes must be. When all is said and done, race horses 'gotta run' and coming  up lame is never part of the race plan.,