I'm looking at the temperature application on my desktop here and it's reading four degrees. Yeah, I guess it's safe to say winter's well on its way — and that's great news for Artistry fans across this great land of ours. And beyond!
Excluding hockey, if you had to rank the top Canadian winter sports, which would be at the top of the list? Basketball's growing in popularity, but it's not there yet. Curling has its advocates and they're very passionate about their game. Football? Well, the CFL does start in spring and the Grey Cup's in November so it doesn't count.
No, I think you could make a very strong argument that figure skating is one of the most popular winter spectator sports — and fans across Canada (and more!) will get to see Artistry in action all season long.
Kingston, ON is hosting the Skate Canada International event this weekend. It's one of the ISU's Grand Prix events — marquee tour competitions that are hosted around the world — and that means that in addition to receiving most of the world's top men's, women's, pairs, and ice dance skaters, Kingston will also be receiving the attention of the figure skating world throughout the globe.
If you're a fan of figure skating, this is the event to watch. If you watch, you're going to see the Artistry brand in action. Canadians get to see Amway and Artistry commercials on the CBC network broadcasts and in-house through venue advertising and scoreboard promos.
And some of that will spill over to potential customers outside the Canadian borders. IBOs from around the world will see the Artistry logo on the rink boards and we honestly believe that this increased exposure can help you get a foot — or a skate, as the case may be — in the door with new prospects.
Let's not forget about the Web. CBCSports.ca will be covering this event as well, but the most exciting addition to the Internet is the all-new Artistry Canada Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/ArtistryCanada). We've got a team of Amway Canada staffers on site in Kingston (where we'll be doing makeovers and demoing the virtual makeover tool on the concourse), and they'll be updating the Facebook page throughout the event.
Oh, and if you visit the FB page, you can also win a free year's worth of Artistry skin care and cosmetics. That's certainly something to 'like'.
Is Canadian figure skating at its peak in popularity yet? Probably not. We've yet to achieve the heady heights that we saw during the Orser/Stoyko/Browning/Manning years — but we're not far off. Last year, everything was glittered with gold. Fan interest in the sport is rising with a new crop of engaging, talented, and internationally competitive skaters in all disciplines. Winning breeds interest and, as the official skin care and cosmetics sponsor of Skate Canada, we're proud to be there every Salchow, Axel, and Toe Loop along the way.
Are you a fan of figure skating? What do you think of this sponsorship? And, if you're a customer or someone who has just stumbled upon this blog, how does Amway Canada and Artistry's affiliation with Skate Canada impact your perception of the company?
Check your local listings for broadcast times, become a fan of the Artistry Canada Facebook page, and make sure you see what happens when we put Artistry on ice at this weekend's Skate Canada International event in Kingston, ON.
There are two ways to interpret the term 'gut check.' One definition refers to that moment before competition when you steel yourself for the event — blocking out the crowd, competition, and personal distractions, to focus on the goal. The other definition refers to that feeling in your stomach you get at moments of decision — fight or flight? Right or wrong? Usually the answer lies in the pit of my stomach.
The first definition definitely applies to figure skater Joannie Rochette, as we saw with her inspirational performance in Vancouver. Hopefully, the second definition will apply to her as well.
Rosie DiManno, the outstanding Toronto Star columnist, lays out the story well (you can read it here — I'll wait). I won't get into the unfortunately gory details, but to summarize: Rochette has withdrawn from next week's World Figure Skating Championships — an International Skating Union-sanctioned event — due to a lack of preparation and exhaustion.Considering what she's been through since the passing of her mother, it's more than understandable.
Well, at least to everyone except the ISU it seems. You see, there's an event coming up this week in the U.S. called Thin Ice — a non-ISU-sanctioned event. From the sounds of it, it's a lot like a condensed version of the Battle of the Blades show that ARTISTRY was involved with in Canada. Rochette was asked to appear on that show, performing the "Vole" gala routine that serves as a tribute to her mother. She said yes. Now threats are flying, Rochette's amateur status could be in jeopardy, and Skate Canada seemingly has its hands tied.
I get rules. I have a teenage son — trust me, I get the need for rules. But I also understand compassion. More importantly, my gut tells me that the ISU's sanction doesn't sit right.
Conflict of Interest? Of course. I work for Amway Canada. Artistry is one of our marquee brands. Artistry is the official skin care and cosmetic sponsor of Skate Canada. Artistry is sponsoring the CBC broadcasts of the ISU's grand prix series of competitions. This CBC broadcast of the upcoming World Championships is sponsored by Artistry. All my business ties should bind me to the ISU's decision to enforce its performance rules (again, read DiManno's article for the details — they have a valid argument).
But my gut — and my heart — say that we all need to do the right thing and let her pay tribute to her mother.
Business-wise, I'd love to have Rochette compete at the World Championships. She's extremely hot after the Olympics. She's become Canada's sweetheart and interest in the event would be at an all-time high with her in the field. The hard-core figure skating fan will be there no matter what, yes, but it's the casual fan — the one seduced by the pageantry of the Olympics — who may be inspired to tune in to see Rochette.
So if Rochette is at the Worlds, more people will watch. Chances are they'll be watching on the CBC, and they'll see the occasional Artistry commercial, or hear "this CBC broadcast is brought to you by Artistry…" That's good for us, it's good for IBOs, and it's good for brand recognition.
But it's not good for Joannie. And, really, that's all that should really matter.
Now if the argument for your heart doesn't matter, then how about this one for the head? Rochette's appearance on Thin Ice may increase viewers to that show, yes. But what about those people who were tuning in to watch anyways? Maybe they'll be exposed to Rochette, learn about her story, and be moved. Maybe they'll then be more interested in her career. Long-term? Maybe they become figure skating fans instead of just event watchers.
There's a difference. Look at the Olympics. How many of you watched skeleton or biathlon? Why? Because it was an event. How many of you are watching those events on TV now? Or heading out to the mountain to catch the local race? Exactly. There's a difference between a fan of the sport and a fan of the event. Becoming a fan of the sport is a long-term relationship. And that's a good thing, long term.
Back to Rochette — there's a reason why this is called a unique situation. It doesn't fit into the normal pattern of behaviour. She's not ditching a competition to chase a paycheque. She's withdrawing because she doesn't feel she's at the level, either physically or mentally, to compete. An exhibition is just that. If she stumbles or falls, who cares? She's not competing; she's honouring her mother.
Here's hoping saner heads — and hearts — prevail. Any questions? Just listen to what your gut is telling you.
*** UPDATE at 14:52 — Just got word that cooler heads prevailed (because they're involved in figure skating… on ice… cooler heads? Never mind — bad pun) and Rochette WILL be allowed to participate in Thin Ice. Glad to see the ISU do the right thing.
I was flipping through my copy of Vancouver-preview edition of Sports Illustrated (you know, the one that should have arrived last week, but for some reason 'subscription' means, 'will arrive far later than if you just bought it off the newsstand'), and writer Brian Cazeneuve completed the daunting task of forecasting who would win all 258 medals available starting on Saturday.
And while most of the Canadian media is focusing on the men's (and to a lesser extent, women's) hockey tournament — actually focusing is too mild, obsessing would be more like it — there were some familiar names in the projected figure skating medalists.
Familiar, because ARTISTRY is a proud sponsor of Skate Canada and its athletes. Patrick Chan is penciled in for the silver in the men's singles event; Joannie Rochette (who is also this month's featured athlete on the Artistry Athlete Profile on Skate Canada's Web site) is projected for bronze in the women's singles; and Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (who hail right from Amway Canada's own backyard) are expected to take home the silver.
We've been fortunate to have enjoyed a relationship with these athletes and all the outstanding folks, both on-ice and off, that are part of Skate Canada's unparalleled organization. And we look forward to the future — not just with Skate Canada, but for the future of the sport.
One of the things we love about our affiliation with both Skate Canada and the Canadian Soccer Association (which includes a little event called the NUTRILITE Canadian Championship) is that our sponsorship also supports athletes at the grass roots. Yes, there's a financial/marketing component to the relationship; I'm not going to be naive and pretend that doesn't exist. But one of the key aspects to these affiliations is to help people at all levels — not just the marquee names that reach the podium.
One of the great things about this upcoming event is that just as it marks a time when many athletes' dreams are finally realized, it can also serve as the moment where dreams are born. The young boy or girl watching on TV may find a new hero or be inspired by an event that they never really looked at before. The artistry (pun fully intended) of a Rochette or Chan may, in turn, lead to kids lacing up for the first time and taking their first wobbly strides on the ice.
The line from Barbara Ann Scott to Rochette will continue on (and allow me a moment to pause at the Josée Chouinard spot on that line… OK, thanks) to skaters that will grace the national stage in 20 years. The Cranston/Browning/Orser/Stoyko torch is carried by Chan. That too will be passed on.
But what's even better than winning medals and international recognition are the names that you'll never hear about. The kids who may never compete, but gain an appreciation and love for sport; the kids who put down the PlayStation 3 controller and lace up a pair of blades; the people who find sport and participate out of love and joy with no hope of international recognition.
To me, that's the greatest award any athlete can win. Gold, silver, bronze may be nice, but inspiration is the award cherished above all.
Your response to our Skate Canada sponsorship has been phenomenal and I know IBOs from across this country will join in cheering on our Canadian athletes win or lose. But while you're keeping an eye on our potential medalists, make sure you cast a glance towards your kids — you may see a glimmer of the future in their eyes.
Your thoughts? Feel free to share in the comments.
There are some uniquely Canadian combinations that, at first glance, seem odd, but end up being greater than the sum of their parts: cheese curds, gravy, and french fries; maple syrup and beans (I've come to the realisation that maple syrup and eggs is a strictly Menardian thing); the eclectic mix that is spruce beer…
Now, may I add another: hockey and figure skating.
Seriously, does it get any more Canadian than that? It's more Canadian than Anne Murray and Leonard Cohen's would be. It's more Canadian than publicly funded bad TV serial dramas about life in Prince Edward Island! So what do you get when you blend the worlds of toe picks and hockey pucks?
You get the Battle of the Blades– a reality competition that pairs retired NHLers with Canadian figure skating elite. And, of course, we had to be part of that, so ARTISTRY is proud to be the official skin care and cosmetics sponsor of the event.
It's a seven-week competition, broadcast on the CBC. Every Sunday night you'll see the couples compete head-to-head in pairs skating competition. And every Monday night, someone goes home.
Who am I rooting for? Well, despite being an avid Habs' fan, I'm going to have to pledge my allegiance to a power that's far greater than even the exalted bleu, blanc, et rouge of mes Habitants! Yes, for the duration of this show I firmly stand in the corner of one of the greatest natural phenomenons the world has ever known — Ron Duguay's hair.
Seriously. Look at it! Duguay was, is, and always will be hockey hair. Sure, now he may be more of a latter-day Jon Bon Jovi, but the aura of hockey greatness remains.
So, other than Duguay who is paired with former world champion and five-time Canadian champion Barbara Underhill, who else is competing? Here's the rundown:
Claude Lemieux, who claimed Lord Stanley's grail with three different squads over a career that included a brief comeback last season, and 2003 world champion and eight-time Canadian champion Shae-Lynn Bourne;
Glenn Anderson, a multiple (6!) Cup-winning Hall of Famer who is fourth all-time in NHL playoff points scored, and former world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Isabelle Brasseur;
Former 50-goal man and two-time Cup winner Stéphane Richer and two-time world silver medalist Marie-France Dubreuil;
Three-time Stanley Cup champion Ken Daneyko and two-time Canadian bronze medalist Jodeyne Higgins;
Former NHL tough guy Tie Domi and former Canadian champion Christine Hough-Sweeney;
Another of the all-time rough-and-tumble greats, Bob Probert, and Kristina Lenko; and
Craig Simpson, former 50-goal scorer and two-time Cup champion, and world and Olympic champion Jamie Salé.
Should we get the obligatory jokes out of the way? I'd like to think that I'm a better man than stooping so low as to say it would be nice for Domi to it all so that a Leaf can finally lay claim to winning something. Or I'd like to think I'm above stating that Lemieux chose the wrong show and should be joining Alexandre Despatie in a show called "Canada's Greatest Diver."
You're right, I am above saying those things!
Basically each week the pairs compete in a pairs routine. Canada votes and each week one team goes home. Now, admit it, you're dieing to see Lemieux in Spandex and sequins, right? Or whether Domi and Probert will perform their routines in the penalty box? It's like Dancing with the Stars on ice, and it should be good for a few laughs and a few surprises.
Surprises? I'm a big So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars fan (I admit it!) and one of the things I love about those shows is that someone always comes up and shocks you with their talent. Listen, switching from hockey skates to toe picks isn't easy, but I think we'll see some good routines.
So who's my favourite? Again, Duguay's hair. But realistically, I think Simpson and Salé will take it. Craig always could skate well (something that Domi and Probert can't really lay claim to…) and memories of the scandal that eventually led to Jamie and partner David Pelletier winning gold in 2002 are still fairly fresh. Isabelle Brasseur was phenomenally popular and could bring forth a lot of votes. And Duguay's partner, Barbara Underhill, stands to be the sentimental favourite for the event. Veteran figure skating fans may galvanize behind her (and, of course, Duguay's hair will weave its magic), while some of the younger skaters may split the vote.
Who won't? Well, I'm sure the CBC would love to see Domi take home the title, but I think the ol' ABT (AnyoneButToronto) bias will come to the fore. Ex-Oilers don't foster the same hate in fans of other teams like ex-Leafs, so sorry Tie.
The pugilists will trade in chucking knuckles for lifts and lutzes; the goal scorers will lay down their sticks and pick up a BeDazzler; and fans across Canada will tune in to see it all happen. And the ARTISTRY brand is front and centre throughout it all — both at the event and during the broadcasts.
We'll try to live-Tweet the event Sunday night. Make sure you follow @AmwayCanada for the latest scoop. As well, make sure you check back here (and the What's New section of amwayglobal.com) for updates and other news!
So who do you think will win? Who do you want to win? Are you going to be watching? Share your thoughts on the Battle of the Blades in the comments below — I'd love to hear from you!
This week marks the start of the World Figure Skating Championships and I'm delighted to turn the North of the 49th blog over to noted figure-skating guru Pj Kwong (hence the non-Canadian song-title-ness of the title.)
Artistry is the official skin care and cosmetic sponsor of Skate Canada, so we know many of you will be watching the CBC with great interest — both to catch all the exciting on-ice action and cheer on Team Canada, as well as for the frequent Artistry essentials commercials you'll be seeing throughout the broadcast.
Kwong is a long-time figure skating coach, commentator, columnist, and analyst. She'll also be blogging the event in L.A. on the Artistry on Ice blog, available on the Skate Canada home page! Click on the "Read Pj's Blog" link to view the latest update.
And without further ado…. Pj!
As a veteran from the “other side of the boards”, namely coaching, commentary and writing, I am often asked to define what it is about figure skating that has sustained my interest and held my passion for over four decades.
The answer is simple. For me, it’s all about the uncomplicated beauty of what happens when a skater puts on their skates and hits the ice. I have seen it a thousand times before. That skater can really be any age: like the joy in a three year old’s face when they find their balance to the beauty of a ten-year old’s smile in accomplishing the goal of a test, to a couple ice dancing like they have their whole adult lives, to our Canadian champions as they hit their stride.
If you are like me, you will be glued to the [International Skating Union's] World Figure Skating Championships that will unfold in Los Angeles, California from March 24th to March 29th. At stake are titles to be sure and the chance to put the world on notice that in less than a year, when the Olympic Games come to Vancouver, there is the promise of the biggest prize of them all.
There are five disciplines in figure skating, four of which will be at these World Championships and this is the way I see them:
Ice Dance is defined by the way in which a man and a woman can move perfectly “as one” in harmony, depicting rhythm and mood through beautiful choreography that is anything but uncomplicated.
For the men and women competing in Singles events, their mission is to “hit the ground running” in their short program of eight required elements in 2:50 seconds or less and establish the biggest possible lead over next closest competitors. The drama increases as the top 24 compete in the free skate and the one with most number of points at the end takes it all.
In Pairs, it’s the ultimate Dare to Trust game with the man hoisting his partner in death defying lifts and throws and she believing he’ll protect her. The short programs are intense and unforgiving and the free programs require commitment, stamina and Herculean strength.
The names may not all be familiar but their goal of excellence is one to which we can all relate. Canada’s five-time women’s champion, Joannie Rochette is beautiful on the ice and off and represents the very best in what I call a "skating vocabulary." You will expand your knowledge of this beautiful sport if you focus on the way she moves from one element to the next.
When it comes to figure skating all you really have to do is sit back and enjoy the performance. There isn’t anyone who won’t be affected by the movement, the grace and the skill that we see displayed on the ice. As with lots of other forms of expression, you don’t need to understand it to enjoy it. The finer points of judging and technique don’t have to influence your opinion as to what is beautiful. It really is that uncomplicated.
I hope you’ll join me every day of Worlds for my blog, Artistry on Ice, located on www.skatecanada.ca. If you have comments or feedback I can be reached at pjkwong@skatecanada.ca or as UbiquitousPj on Twitter.
And, as always, you can leave your comments on this blog! Share your thoughts on the Artistry/Skate Canada partnership, let us know if you'll be watching this week, or react to Pj's post! Comments are open.
