#Stojko

[myjunkisyuzuruhanyu]

Elvis Stojko with Shoma ☺️

(From Elvis Stojko's Instagram)

[bitchme2thefucksblog]

This image is cursed

[jack-doohan]

do you ever get whiplash seeing someone from your other special interest sport in your special interest sport

[persimmonlions]

52 yo elvis stojko doing a beautiful crisp triple in the gala shaming all the twentyteen competitors

[erinaonice]

elvis stojko is just lovely!

[thepermanentrainpress]

REVIEW: STARS ON ICE AT ROGERS ARENA - MAY 18, 2023

Of the four cast numbers, my favourite was the sentimental “To Build a Home” that preceded intermission. It really solidified Browning’s role as a guide and respected leader in the sport as he individually embraced each skater/pair at song’s end. The pairs and ice dancers had a brief spotlight, and the number felt warm and nuanced. 

It was Madeline Schizas’ first full tour, and I enjoyed her skates to “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “Everybody Wants to be a Cat.” I really think Stars On Ice has been beneficial for Schizas to work on her expression in a low stress environment. It was nice to see her embrace her playful side (cat ears and all!). She also has some very impressive spins! Patrick Chan was a crowd favourite, having called Vancouver home for the past six years. In his tour return for the first time in four years, he didn’t show much rust to “Wicked Game” and “I Hear a Symphony.” He’s such a staple in Canadian figure skating, and the ‘Pchiddy’ appreciation was evident in the room. 

Keegan Messing performed a redux of this season’s short program to “Grace Kelly” and a skate to Tophouse’s “The Mountain Song.” His quick footwork and spins were in full force, as was his unwavering warm spirit. I will miss Messing on the national team, and hope he continues to do ice shows while spending time with his beautiful family, who figure skating fans have grown to know from afar. 

World Bronze medalists Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier were sensational in their “Evita” and “Annie’s Song/Thank God I’m a Country Boy” routines. I’d watched them many times on television from this season, but nothing compares to the live event. They were fighters this season, notably Gilles after a surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in the winter. Their poise and ability to transform into character is something I always admire, which extends into their “Evita” bows towards the audience. 

Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier are coming off their best season yet. Their throw jumps and height on the triple twist are outstanding! They performed their exhibition routine to “Shallow” and short program “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).” Their steady and sure demeanor was on display, and I was happy to see them skate in-person. One of my favourite skates of the night was Alissa Czisny’s “Chasing Cars.” It was proof that you don’t need jumps to make a program special. She used the song (version by Tommee Profitt and Fleurie) to emote through movement, graceful skating and spins that spanned the ice. The cover song had a really cinematic build that Czisny used to her advantage. 

Jason Brown is having the most fun on tour, uncontested. His Backstreet Boys routine was a joy. In an all-white ensemble, Brown even demonstrated ‘the worm’ on the ice, among some impressive jump splits. Even his bows had energy, with waving and jumping abound. In his Act II skate to “The Impossible Dream,” I was reminded of his gorgeous triple jumps, some of, if not the best, on tour. As a side note, I had a brief interaction with Brown as the skaters arrived at the rink, and he could not have been friendlier! 

Satoko Miyahara was a returning cast member from last year. Her elegance and interpretation of the music was stunning to watch. “Jenny of Oldstones” and “Ne me quitte pas” were her programs of choice, and I can confidently say her elegance is missed on the circuit. There’s a confidence and calmness in how she glides on ice, and I hope she’ll continue to be a mainstay in the cast. 

A breakout season for Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx, we were graced with her presence in her debut Canadian tour. As girls behind me whistled and hollered “get it, girl!” Hendrickx skated to Britney Spears’ “Circus” and Loni’s “Loneliness.” She had attitude and was fierce, and it’s easy to see why she will continue to be a top contender next season. Her arms overhead jumps are flawless! Madison Chock & Evan Bates are technically immaculate, if we didn’t know already from their consistently high scores in competition. Their performance is also top notch, and they’re very innovative skaters in their lines and elements. Their skate to “Nightcall” was a highlight (the chemistry!), and I was excited to see #ChockBates in action for the first time! 

Elvis Stojko’s bringing old school rock back. Skating to Shinedown and Van Halen, Stojko looked casual and collected with hands in his pockets, denim and black fingerless gloves. His mature and slightly edgy presence is always popular, drawing favourable cheers from the crowd. Even though he ended his competitive career over twenty years ago, he still has a power in his skating that is magnetic to watch. He joined Browning for an interactive skate as friendly rivals to “Raise a Little Hell,” where they sported matching shirts in admiration of each other. They joked about who was supposed to give the music to production (“on cassette”), did a quick bout of the chicken dance, and still had a raw synchronicity. Truly a memorable duo with heartfelt words of their memories together on tour.  

Kurt Browning received too many (well deserved) standing ovations to count! His animated personality shone and I loved the extra long looks he’d direct at the crowd in his skates. It felt personal. Skating to “Please Forgive Me” and “Who Are You,” his smooth skating ability is unparalleled. Yes, there are still jumps, and a backflip too! His aura is just so pleasant and it felt like a night celebrating Browning, with multiple montages or clips of his past performances played throughout the night. 

I loved the costumes! Between the gold-detailed military inspired fits for The Killers’ “All These Things That I’ve Done,” to the rainbow pop of colour in the closing routine to “Brand New.” And, who could forget the sleek James Bond outfits - black suits and metallic dresses that screamed ‘diamonds are forever.’ They complimented the music well, and many of the skaters brought their pre-loved, familiar outfits from their signature skates this season.  

You can tell the cast enjoyed each other’s company, sharing camaraderie and grace towards the encouraging audience. Browning is leaving behind an unmatched legacy, but Stars On Ice remains in good hands. 

Written by: Chloe Hoy Photographed by: Timothy Nguyen

[romanticsuspense]

To paint Stojko as the underdog, Staples had to adopt a position where the artistic aspects of skating held no value. He had to reject an understanding of ‘artistic impression’ as something requiring effort and the development of skills, as something that adds a level of difficulty to a performance. Staples, like Perkins, saw the so-called classical look of other skaters – stretched limbs and pointed toes – as little more than flourish, as the inevitable product of ‘lean and reedy’ bodies. Like other journalists, Staples seems to have assumed that the men who skate with such flourish (and to be honest, in Stojko’s era there were not that many of them) do it ‘naturally.’ It’s just the way they are. The irony here is that these two writers, both of whom wanted skating to be tougher and more sport-like, end up discounting the skaters who performed the most difficult programs: ‘Kulik … certainly seems able to get his performance widely accepted with far less sales pitch than Stojko,’ wrote Perkins. Indeed, he did and for good reason. Kulik performed the same jumps as Stojko did, but he did them in the midst of more complicated choreography, with more stretch, and he never seemed to forget that he was possessed of arms, as Stojko sometimes did. Aesthetic tastes aside, skating with a good stretch and a commitment to some kind of obvious body line (whether inspired by ballet or not – Kulik’s was not) is harder than skating without them. Kulik had the more difficult program and he won. Of course, once Kulik and company were painted as naturally ‘classic,’ then the corollary was that Stojko was ‘naturally’ not classic. Stojko’s thinner choreography and neglected arms were, therefore, not about limited technique, they were about his nature as a man.

— Artistic Impressions: Figure Skating, Masculinity, and the Limits of Sport by Mary Louise Adams

[otakunoculture]

In Its Wake Takes Place in the Belly of the Beast, A Movie Review

Some #horror films are better when its world is properly defined. As for In Its Wake, now out on #dvd and #vod, verdict is.... #moviereview

Uncork’d Entertainment Now available to on VOD & DVD Lee Foster‘s horror film, In Its Wake, is surprisingly accurate as far as the folklore is concerned. One reason this film caught my attention is that I can’t get enough of cinematic interpretations of the Wild Hunt! And whether it’s realised as an indie film or even a grander vision in the scale of Guillermo del Toro, I’ll watch them all!…

[cultfaction]

In It's Wake trailer released

Uncork’d Entertainment has acquired Lee Foster’s supernatural horror IN IT’S WAKE with plans to release on digital and DVD this August. There’s nowhere to go… In the past, it’s been called The Wild Hunt, a time when holy men who have strayed from the path find themselves pursued by dark forces. With two groups of unsuspecting young travelers caught in between, a former minister encounters such a…

[operafantomet]

I was thinking about making a slavegirl costume, most likely in the broadway style. I love what I believe is the German bodices, the detail in those are perhaps my favorite but I feel a little too advanced for me. So I was wondering if you had any advice for someone for a project like this one, as I was making a rough drawing idea for putting this together I was wondering about the belt especially

I would probably claim the US versions are harder than the German ones... Assuming we're talking Christine bodices. Mainly due to the specific design over the bust, the zipper in front, and the functional lacing down the back. But I agree that the belt / rope skirt is probably easier to recreate in the US versions.

Whereas the German ones (as other European versions) feature a fully removeable belt with attached rope skirt - here Robyn North in West End and Anastasia Stojko in Hamburg:

Which means that the whole belt with rope skirt is removed:

The US ones have the belt and rope skirt stay put, but the front with the beading is removeable by velcro and hooks, as seen in Courtney Combs as the Christine double in Las Vegas:

Which means that the rope skirt made of slashed velvet is sewn directly to the bodice, as is the looped golden belt:

As for making the costume (as my computer right now refuse to charge when in use, and is running out of battery...) - do check the tags "costume making" and "hannibal slavegirl" underneath. There's lots of previous similar asks as well as a lot of detailed costume photo closeups to be found there :)

[miracles-and-butterflies]

Alma: Buenos días, Camilo. It’s Halloween… I’m surprised you didn’t put on a costume.

Camilo: I was going to, Abuela, but then I decided, screw that shit. I mean, I’m the only one who ever dresses up, nobody gets my costume, and they make fun of me. So, I’m done. These people don’t deserve my dress-up gifts.

[Door opens to reveal the rest of the grandkids in full costume]

Luisa, dressed as Medusa: Camilo, seriously? No costume?

Isabela, dressed as a gory scarecrow: What the fuck, primo? Where’s your Halloween spirit?

Camilo: But.. but you guys always make fun of me.

Dolores, dressed as a witch: I have never once insulted you in my life, especially vis-à-vis your appearance!

Mirabel, dressed as a historically accurate Marie Antoinette: Yes, we always love your costumes.

Isabela: Remember last year, when you came as that person and/or thing?

Camilo: Yeah! I do remember!

Camilo: Abuela, permission to sprint back to my room and get a costume?

Alma: Does it matter if I say no?

Camilo, already sprinting away: NO!

[Cut to five minutes later, Camilo returns, dressed up as Elvis Presley. The others are no longer in costume]

Camilo: What the— what—

Mirabel: Why are you dressed up?

Dolores: You look like an idiot.

Camilo: But— but—

Luisa: Yeah, what are you supposed to be, a sassy car mechanic?

Isabela: No, come on - he’s clearly the rejected Pop-Tart mascot, Harry Pop-Tart.

Camilo: I am not! You know who I am!

Alma: Okay, that’s enough. You’re making Camilo feel bad on purpose. He’s Elvis.

Camilo: Yes!

Alma: Elvis Stojko, the Canadian figure skater.

Camilo: No!

[virtchandmoir]

May 10, 2024

“It’s definitely a bit of a rollercoaster. It’s a tour definitely mixed with some reflection of previous tours and how I remember it,” the 33-year-old Chan says on a day off from Toronto, before the SOI cast headed off to Regina for a show on Thursday night. “I saw Scott (Moir) in London, he came to the show … just hugging him and talking with him, I got really emotional for some reason. It brought back a flood of memories of what it was like touring with Scott and what that meant to me. And the memories we made and the things I learned, the stupid things we did … just everything came rushing back. “We went through the juniors together and all the way to the top. I have moments like that where I just reflect and reminisce a lot on how things used to be. But at the same time, I miss my family, I miss my wife (former pairs skater Elizabeth Putnam), I miss (his son) Oliver a lot … I think I’m stepping away at the right time, considering where I am in my life and how hard being away from my son for four weeks has been already. I knew it was never going to be easy; these types of decisions are always tough.” [...] “You know, this cast has changed a lot. It’s been a changing of the guard. I’m the only one left from back when Scott and Tessa were doing tours, and Eric (Redford) and Meagan (Duhamel) … I’m really the only one left. I do feel that. It is a pretty stark reminder every show,” he said. “It’s not such the case now, because everyone is still competing and everyone is younger. I connect the best with Deanna (Stellato-Dudek, the ageless 40-year-old who just won a World pairs title with Maxime Deschamps), actually, because I can just relate to her — we’re in similar places in our lives, and share a similar perspective.” [...] “It taught me the hard work, the dedication, putting your mind to something and finishing it and all that. Most importantly, it taught me how to be a professional, how to carry myself and hold myself to a certain standard. Being around other champions from multiple generations —you’re talking Elvis (Stojko), Kurt, also Scott and Tessa —they were all such successful individuals, but also different,” he said. “But at the end of the day, when it comes to being professional and showing up and doing your job correctly, we held ourselves to that standard. And then being a good person. Knowing when to have fun, when to be serious. And also, how to get through the struggles, how to figure things out when things aren’t clicking at 100 per cent. [...] “I didn’t get to go to university, I didn’t have that key development time (in my life). Scott was my guy, and all these other cast members. Andrew Poje and Eric Radford … all these skaters were more than just my teammates, they were my life and my social circle. It does feel like it’s all coming to an end and it’s weird that Stars is kind of marking that last chapter.” [...] “For me, Halifax always stands out. I always have really fond memories of Halifax, because it would be the end of the season, the weather was changing, and I’d sit by the harbour in Halifax and reflect on the season. And then I’d get really excited about seeing my friends and developing a show together,” he said. “Spending hours together on the ice, but also goofing around and finding that good balance of work and fun. Halifax was just such a great city to start in. And there were the bus rides and traditions that I try to keep going and pass onto the next generation, but I’m finding it harder to (do that). I’m not Scott. I realized that pretty quick.”

—rwbrodiewrites

[laurastacey]

Canadians who should appear on Murdoch Mysteries:

Summer McIntosh

Mitch Marner

Jully Black

Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod

Rick Hansen

Lisa laflamme

Dr. Bonnie Henry

Ethan Katzberg

Wayne Gretzky

Paul Henderson

Ron MacLean

The blue puppets from "don't put it in your mouth"

Steven Sabados

David Suzuki

Jann Arden

Bianca Andreescu

Elvis Stojko and/or Kurt Browning

Tessa Virtue

Sarah Nurse

Mary Simon

[sunskate]

Mike Slipchuk interview

his worlds highlights - Deanna and Max of course. Piper and Paul, LaLa

about Deanna/Max: "we provided them with a lot of support with our sport science team and working with their people on the ground in Montreal" - Skate Canada's sport science team? is this who teams go to Calgary to see at the Olympic center to measure fitness and conditioning?

about Canadian dance - after the 3 teams who were at Worlds, he names L/LeG and Fabbri/Ayer "right behind [L/LeG]" as their clear #4 and #5. Bashynska/Beaumont are ahead of F/A in World standings but i guess aren't considered close to them. B/B made some critical mistakes at competitions this season. both they and Lily/Nathan have a chance to show up strong this upcoming season

he doesn't know if Piper and Paul have made a decision about continuing next season and that Skate Canada hasn't even met with them yet to discuss it - that they'll probably know more by early June

he was asked about the lack of international opportunities for their skaters (esp in singles), and he said:

“We definitely want to get our skaters out competing more domestically; we have a lot of events in Canada. Elvis (Stojko) and I were talking at Worlds, and he said he was always asked ‘how do you become a good competitor,’ and he said ‘by competing.’ He’s one that can say that from experience,” said Slipchuk. “We’re definitely going to work on utilizing the opportunities to compete at home, just to get that mileage and get that confidence for the athletes, so that when they get out on that bigger stage, they just feel that they can put down those programs to the level they’re capable of. It’s always learning and it’s always looking at opportunities we have at home, and we’re going to keep doing it.”

so instead of international opportunities, he's saying they'll compete more at home 👀 just say you don't have funds to send them overseas. hopefully they're trying to raise some. a lot of the dance teams below the very top ones are already doing the monthly sectionals and some of the provincial competitions. how many more could they attend?

[persimmonlions]

omg just remembered the gala is going to have stojko, pchan, and keegan performing and meanwhile:

1 men’s spot for canada at worlds next year

[stargazer-sims]

for the oc ask meme - 3, 21 and 30 for nikolai and beth-anne!

Thanks for the ask @holocene-sims ! Here you go!

Nikolai Pavlenko

3. What kinds of music do they like?

Nikolai likes a lot of different kinds of music and will happily listen to almost anything. His favourite genre is classic rock.

21. What is their favourite childhood food?

Nikolai's favourite childhood food is still his favourite food; peanut butter toast. He gets to eat it whenever he feels like it these days. As a child, he ate toast with peanut butter practically every day for breakfast, but during his competing days, Beth-Anne tried to get him to limit how much bread he ate. (He was still allowed as much peanut butter as he wanted, though).

30. What is their biggest mistake? one that they look out to never do again.

Nikolai is cautious when it comes to romantic relationships now. He thinks his biggest mistake was getting married.

______

Beth-Anne Jones

3. What kinds of music do they like?

Beth-Anne enjoys what she likes to call "vintage" music. She's a huge Elvis fan, but generally likes rock and R&B, particularly from the 50s through the 70s.

*** bonus fact - Beth-Anne's cat Elvis is not, in fact, named after The King. He's actually named after Elvis Stojko

21. What is their favourite childhood food?

Her favourite childhood food was tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. It was her comfort food, and still is.

30. What is their biggest mistake? one that they look out to never do again.

Beth-Anne would say her biggest mistake was trying to handle problems in her life that were really too big to handle alone and, as a consequence, trying to dull her pain and anger with alcohol. Since then, she's learned how to rely on other people, and she's definitely vigilant about her weaknesses when it comes to drinking.