world figure skating championships Tag

The 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles was a thrilling experience for me last week. It was my first trip to see this championship and it did not disappoint. This competition was the qualifying round for various athletes and countries looking to compete at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

The United States had a team of 15 skaters lead by Chicago native Evan Lysacek - who went on to win the Men's Event with one of the most extraordinary long programs I have ever seen him skate. Featuring two solid triple axels (one in combination), Evan didn't need a quad to pull off his first World Title against the best male skaters in the world. Other highlights for the US team were the silver medal rebound of ice dancing team Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto and the fantastic 9th place performance of Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett that brought the crowd to their feet. The final night was headlined by the ladies battle of the Asia with Yu-Na Kim of Korea and last years champion Mao

Sports Traveler is now offering our clients travel package tours and event tickets to the most exciting Figure Skating Events on the planet including the US Nationals and World Championships. I'm so happy to finally be able to bring these travel options to our clients.

I am a former competitive figure skater and coach and still am an avid fan. I skated for nearly 25 years training all over the USA first as a singles skater in figures (back in the day) and freestyle and later in ice dancing. I can tell you that watching ice skating on TV is fun, but nothing compares to being at the event and taking in the practice sessions leading up to the competitions.

When I was at the US Nationals in 2006, in St. Louis, it was also the competition that determined the US Olympic Team. Watching the Mens and Ladies Final Free Programs was some of the best skating I've ever seen of our US skaters. Sasha Cohen hung in through a dramatic free skate with Kimmie Meissner getting to the last double axel and