#the 1999 worlds ice dance free skate

[frogfelonies]

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[jianlol]

hiiiii (it me, angel) so genuinely wasn’t planning on taking up a 4th muse but this lil shit happened and i fell in love but what can i do ? creating his personality was so much fun like i had to bring him to life :’) anywho,, i have a discord for plots and chats (feel free to ask for my username<3) but i’m also available on dm’s here on any of my muse blogs (jaemin, chaerin & reiko) !

i’ve got his stats, kprofile, plots, & pinterest ♡

— welcome to infinite entertainment! it's YAO JIAN, who is the LEAD VOCALIST of PHOENIX. i’ve heard whispers that the 25 year old is pretty DETERMINED but lowkey JUDGMENTAL. also, doesn’t he remind you of XIAO DEJUN (XIAOJUN)?

EARLY LIFE / FAMILY

jian was born on march 27, 1999 in shenzhen, china

his family is his world, his mother and big brother, basically part of the only few people he’d hold back on his eclectic personality from

being a single mother, his mom raised them the best she could with the help of her best friend (his godmother). so growing up, he was determined to help out as much as he could when he was older

he isn’t quite sure where his dad is, he left when jian was born. doesn’t really have any memories of him anyway so he didn’t seek him out or try to delve into that

PASSION

he didn’t start off as a singer or dancer, didn’t quite find his soon-to-be “love” until his teens

his first passion/hobby was ice skating, what was supposed to be a fun family outing had sparked a fire nobody was expecting

he learned when he was 5 but after years of keeping at it, he started competing in competitions here and there at 10, ranking high but never reaching first place

singing was something he’d never thought twice about, only a silly thing he did in the shower or doing chores/homework

even if he was told repeatedly by his family members how good he was, chalking it up to them just saying that because they were supportive like that

PHOENIX

in true jian fashion, he didn’t even have intentions or plans of being an idol, it just happened

he actually went to an audition at infinite entertainment to support his friend, not wanting him to go through it alone

jian never expected a positive response much less passing through to the next round

he was reluctant to keep going though especially since singing was never part of his planning for the future but after seeing how excited his family was for him, he had to go and make them proud (this was also his chance to be able to take care of them)

and after considering with his ice skating career in mind as well, he eventually chose to accept the offer to go through with training

he found himself really enjoying singing and dancing and soon performing on stage, getting the same feeling as when he was on the ice

he debuted at 19 with phoenix after properly strengthening his skills and he’s thriving tbh

jian’s very dramatic on stage, pulling out all the theatrics and acting like he’s really trying to take out the government

PERSONALITY

ice skating has pretty much shaped his personality, ambitious and driven to reach the top and be the best

while also being very judgmental, picky and critical of everyone and everything and the whole world basically, but mostly himself, he’s carried that into everything he does

but jian’s also loyal, witty, impulsive, and a huge smart ass like he just has a Big mouth (sorry in advance, way too sarcastic for his own good)

will argue back just to piss u off always

loves his friends to death, super protective and has major little brother energy where he just wants to have fun with u

kind of a priss

he’s more eccentric in front of cameras/fans and just a little less in private :’) either way, he’s a handful

OTHER

very. . . odd lil guy (atp i think i’m only capable of creating gremlins help)

aries

nasty side eye

sneaks off to the nearest ice rink to skate when he’s angry or sad

takes those gg tiktok challenges WAY too serious

[martinnecas]

Quick Guide | Carolina Hurricanes: Meet The Team - Opening Night 2019-20

New season means a new quick guide to the roster 

2018-19 season

This took me a couple of days to put together so please appreciate it

Want to know how to pronounce a players name? 

Click this link!

*All gifs made by me* 

Forwards: 

☞ Sebastian Aho™️ #20

Yes there is another “Sebastian Aho” from Sweden but he’s usually in the AHL (Bridgeport/Islanders)

Born: July 26, 1997 (22 years old/Leo) from Rauma, Finland

6′0, Centre, 35th overall CAR 2015

Nicknames: Fishy, Seabass, Sepe, Sebu

He’s the face of this franchise and the only player on this team that the Canadian media knows about

Is being held against his will in Raleigh because he wants to play for Montreal if you don’t know the actual story MTL sent him an offer sheet that he signed because he wanted the money and knew Carolina could pay it, but you know how Habs twitter can be.

Possibly the messiest Hurricane 

Who’s my daddy?! 

Spirit animal is a lion, hear him roar

Avid coffee drinker

Baby face

Painted a picture of his cat one time

☞ Ryan Dzingel #18 

Born: March 9, 1992 (27 years old/Pisces) from Wheaton, Illinois

6′0, Centre, 204th overall OTT 2011

Nicknames: Zinger, Dizzy, Dzingel Bells, D-pingel

Played with the Ohio State Buckeyes for 3 seasons, recorded the first hat trick in Big Ten history against Xichigan

Traded to CBJ Feb ‘19, signed with CAR as a free agent summer ‘19 

Might need glasses, he squints like that ^ a lot 

Golfs... A L O T 

Wants to produce for the team so he can stay here in Raleigh and make it his home ♥︎

Jeep guy 

Looks uncomfortably similar to Tripp Tracy 

UNC fan 

☞ Warren Foegele #13

Born: April 1, 1996 (23 years old/Aries) from Markham, Ontario 

6′2, Left Wing, 67th overall CAR 2014

Nicknames: Foegs, Foegdaddy 

Best friends with Andrei Svechnikov and Dougie Hamilton

Duke fan 

Accidentally broke Osh*e’s collarbone but TJ and C*p fans will claim he tried to murder him

Spirit animal is a tiger, also hear him roar

Very easily scared 

Duke fan

☞ Erik Haula #56

Born: March 23, 1991(28 years old/Aries) from Pori, Finland

6′0, Left Wing, 181st overall 2009 MIN

Nicknames: Hauls, Haulsy  

Moved to Minnesota in 2008 to play hockey in boarding school

Played for the University Of Minnesota Gophers for 3 seasons

Signed with MIN in 2013, was picked up by the VGK in 2017 as a free agent in the Expansion Draft, then traded to CAR summer of 2019 (for Nic Roy & draft pick)

Suffered a pretty bad knee injury in the 2018-19 season 

CAKE 

Got married this past summer ♥︎

Currently living in Calvin de Haan’s old house 

☞ Jordan Martinook (A) #48

Born: July 25, 1992 (27 years old/Leo) from Brandon, Manitoba

6′0, Left Wing, 58th overall 2012 PHX

Nicknames: Marty, Marty Man, Marty Party 

Signed with PHX/ARI in 2012, traded to CAR in 2018 (for Krüger)

Raw chaotic dad energy 

Doesn’t like corndogs and has a very high pitched scream

His wife gave birth to their first son last season before he got his downstairs fixed in the offseason

LETS GO SVECH

Spirit animal is a dolphin because he has a great impression 

There is so much more I want to put on here but you should really just follow his Twitter 

☞ Brock McGinn #23

Born: February 2, 1994 (25 years old/Aquarius) from Fergus, Ontario

6′0, Left Wing, 47th overall 2012 CAR

Nicknames: Ginner, Brock McWinn, McPing, the new Mr. Game Seven (that one is kind of a joke though), Big Cock Brock 

Single handedly defeated evil not only once but twice on April 24th, 2019, earning him the nicknames “Brock McWinn” and the new “Mr. Game Seven”

Has two brothers who also play professionally; Jamie (NHL) and Tye (AHL) McGinn

Co Owner of the Roanoke Rail Road Dawgs with his brothers and father

His daddy is Bob

Has a high probability of burning his whole house down 

Used to be a fighter, but he didn’t fight anyone last season 

Thor

Was 3rd in the league with most MsS Post (10) in the 2017-18 season earning him the nickname Brock McPing 

☞ Martin Nečas #88

Born: January 15, 1999 (20 years old/Capricorn) from Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Rebublic

6′2, 12th overall 2017 CAR, “He plays, like, Centre”

Nicknames: Neči, Marty, Nacho, Marto 

Your 2019-20 ****** ****** winner 

He’s here to fix out PP units, quote me on that

Little hockey stick chain ^ 

Is known for falling while scoring 

Is it avocado or avocaydo?

Hidden talent: Belly dancing 

Almost killed the entire team with a golf club last season  

Don’t mess with him

Just won the Calder Cup with the Checkers :) 

☞ Nino Niederreiter #21

Born: September 8, 1992 (27 years old/Virgo) from Chur, Switzerland

6′0, Right Wing, 5th overall 2010 NYI

Nicknames: El Nino

Was the highest drafted Swizz born player until Hischer in 2017 

Signed to the Islanders in 2010, traded to Minnesota in 2013, then traded to Carolina in January 2019 (for Rask)

Was about to take a nap when he was traded

Just when canes fans almost lost hope, Nino showed up and saved our season

When he came to Carolina, someone gave him sweet tea and he really liked it

Was voted best dressed by a couple teammates

Loves the surge

Supports women’s hockey

☞ Jordan Staal (C) #11

Born: September 10, 1988 (31 years ago/Virgo) from Thunder Bay, Ontario

6′4, Centre, 2nd overall 2006 PIT

Nicknames: Stallsy, Jordad, Gronk

Arrested at his brother’s bachelor party

Won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009 

Jordan is the youngest out of the other brothers (Eric, Marc) in the league (NHL) 3rd brother is the youngest and is now a coach 

Signed with PIT in 2006, traded to CAR in 2012 (for 8th overall pick, Brandon Sutter and Brian Dumoulin)

Named Captain in the 2017-18 season, became Alternative Captain in 2018-19, is now Captain again in 2019-20 

Great at dad jokes 

☞ Andrei Svechnikov #37

Born: March 26, 2000 (19 years old/Aries) from Barnaul, Russia

6′2, Right Wing, 2nd overall 2018 CAR

Nicknames: Svech, Mother Russia 

Svech is ready

“Just win every game” 

Wears #37 because that’s what his brother, Evgeny Svechnikov (DET), wears

Russia = Cold, Raleigh = Hot

Apparently his biggest talent outside of hockey is… magic? 

Best friends with Warren Foegele and Dougie Hamilton

Likes to shovel the ice during practice 

Me?

Terrible at golf..

.. I mean like really bad  

☞ Teuvo Teräväinen #86

Born: September 11, 1994 (25 years old/Virgo) from Helsinki, Finland

5′11, Left Wing, 18th overall 2012 CHI 

Nicknames: Turbo, Teukka

Shortest Hurricane 

Began with CHI in 2014, traded to CAR in 2016 (along with Bickell for 2nd round pick)

Won the cup with CHI in 2015 (Along with van Riemsdyk)

Has the worst sense of smell ever

I mean come on.. pumpkin? toothpaste? 

I could keep going with this I don't know what’s wrong with his nose

Most likely the messiest Hurricane 

Would dump Sebastian on the side of the road after 100km 

Gets scared REALLY easily

His sisters plays hockey over in Finland (and is pretty good at it too) 

☞ Lucas Wallmark #71

Born: September 5, 1995 (24 years old/Virgo) from Umea, Sweden

6′0, Centre, 97th overall 2014 CAR

Nicknames: Wally

My daddy!?

His spirit animal is… a horse? 

^ He enjoys watching horse racing

*Straight face* “Snacks!? Candy!?” 

Deal with it

Showed up to a U12 and U18 team practice to work on skills with kids 

Owns a pug named Lovis

Defense 

☞ Joel Edmundson #6

Born: June 28, 1993 (26 years old/Cancer) Brandon, Manitoba

6′4, 46th overall 2011 STL

Nicknames: Crop Top King, Eddy

Won the cup in 2019 with STL and partied in a crop top 

True Canadian, ate poutine out of the cup

Traded in September 2019 to CAR (along with Bokk for Faulk and draft pick)

Going to strengthen our PK I promise 

Finally, an enforcer 

Forgot to take his skate guards off during his CAR preseason debut in front of 18,000 people 

Is a barbie girl, living in a barbie world 

☞ Haydn Fleury #4

Born: July 8, 1996 (23 years old/Cancer) from Carlyle, Saskatchewan 

6′3, 7th overall 2014 CAR

Nicknames: Fleurs 

Beat his little brother Cale (MTL) during his NHL debut 

Best friends with Trevor van Riemsdyk

Has the cutest dog named Kobe

Won the Calder Cup along with Nečas :)

If you want to giggle watch this 

Has the worst witch cackle you will ever hear 

Apparently the best golfer on the team

Big Duke fan

☞ Jake Gardiner #51

Born: July 4, 1990 (29 years old/Cancer) from Minnetonka, Minnesota 

6′2, 17th overall 2008 ANA

Nicknames: Gards 

Played for the University of Wisconsin for 3 seasons 

Traded to TOR in 2011, signed as a free agent to CAR in summer 2019

Has the cutest baby 

Denied several offers from other teams mtl to play with us instead 

Hands down had the best Halloween costume two years ago

☞ Dougie Hamilton #19

Born: June 17, 1993 (26 years old/Gemini) from Toronto, Ontario

6′6, 9th overall 2011 BOS

Nicknames: D-Ham, Doug the Thug, well his real name is Douglas so I guess Dougie is technically a nickname

Tallest Hurricane 

Both of his parents are Olympians, brother also plays professional hockey 

Started with BOS in 2012, traded to CGY in 2015, then traded to CAR in 2018 (Last remaining player from the huge Hamilton, Ferland & Fox for Lindholm and Hanifin trade)

Best friends with Andrei Svechnikov and Warren Foegele 

Porche guy 

Grew out a mullet because his hair salon couldn’t take him as a walk in

Jack Edwards complained that he was wearing a number retired from the Whalers so he taped a 6 over the 1 in 19 to make 69

Goes to children's hospitals dressed as woman characters 

Lowkey shootout king

Floss

Another Duke fan

Wears the same blazer to every road game

☞ Brett Pesce #22

Born: November 15, 1994 (24 years old/Scorpio) from Tarrytown, New York

6′3, 66th overall 2013 CAR

Nicknames: Pesh 

“I play defense bro”

Played for the University of New Hampshire for 3 seasons (2 of those seasons with van Riemsdyk)

Pretty ^

Wears 22 for his dad 

He’ll break your ankles

Fortnite squad

Brought his wonderful brother on the mentors trip

Allergic to cats

☞ Jaccob Slavin (A) #74

Born: May 1, 1994 (25 years old/Taurus) from Denver, Colorado

6′3, 120th overall 2012 CAR

Nicknames: Slav-o

The second ‘c’ stands for captain

Faith and family

Played for Colorado College for two seasons 

Adopted a beautiful baby girl with his beautiful wife

Has an instagram for his two dogs

His daddy is “Robert” 

Not afraid of snakes at all 

☞ Trevor van Riemsdyk #57

Born: July 24, 1991 (28 years old/Leo) from Middletown, New Jersey

6′2, Undrafted 

Nicknames: TVR, Riems

Agreed to terms with CHI in 2014 

Won the cup with CHI in 2015 (along with Teräväinen)

Was picked up by the VGK in the 2017 expansion draft 

The next day traded to CAR (for 2nd round pick)

James van Riemsdyk (PHI) is his older brother 

Played with the University of New Hampshire for 3 seasons (2 of those seasons with Pesce) 

He’s too tired to be scared 

March Madness

Best friends with Haydn Fleury 

Pride representative for the team 

Goalies 

☞ Petr Mrázek #34

Born: February 14, 1992 (27 years old/Aquarius) from Ostrava, Czech Republic

6′1, 141st overall 2010 DET

Nicknames: Mrazzle Dazzle, St. Petr

Moved to Ottawa at age 17 

Signed with DET in 2014

Was HUGE for them during the 2015 playoff run

Traded to PHI in Feb ‘18, signed as a free agent with CAR in July ‘18

Stylish 

He had custom hats made for every player on the team

Always has Peter Griffin in his helmet design 

Signature move: Poke Check  

☞ James Reimer #47

Born: March 15, 1988 (31 years old/Pisces) from Morweena, Manitoba

6′2, 99th overall 2006 TOR

Nicknames: Optimus Reim, The Statue, Reims

Debuted with TOR in 2010, traded to SJS Feb ‘16

Signed with FLA as a free agent summer ‘16, traded to CAR summer ‘19 (for Darling and a 2020 6th round pick)

Has two kids 

Really good swimmer

You may recognize this famous goalie meme, that’s right, that's him

Optimus Reim helmet art

He looks so much like Weston from Love Island USA 

Honorable Mention

☞ Julien Gauthier #44

I’m including him because everyone expected him to make the team as he did phenomenal in the preseason (playing all 6 games) but due to cap space (and our horrid pp units), he was sent back down.

Born: October 15, 1997 (turning 22/Libra) from Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec

6′4, Right Wing, 21st overall 2016 CAR

Nicknames: Goat, Gauths, Jules

Big boy

Bilingual (French/English)

Cute accent

His uncle played 554 games in the NHL (Denis Gauthier) 

Both his father and grandfather were professional bodybuilders

That explains his muscles

The best thighs in the league (not up for debate) 

Also won the Calder Cup this past season with Haydn Fleury and Martin Nečas

Head Coach

☞ Rod Brind’Amour #17

Roderick Jean Brind’Amour

Born: August 9, 1970 (age 49 years/Leo) from Ottawa, Canada

6′1, Centre, 9th overall 1988 STL

Nicknames: Rod the Bod, RBA 

Played with Michigan State for one season

Started with STL in the playoffs of ‘88, traded to PHI in ‘91, traded to CAR in 2000

Captain of the 2006 CAR Stanley Cup winning team

Played 20 seasons, 1,484(GP) 452(G) 732(A) 1,184(P)

Became head coach for the 2018-19 season

First year as HC broke the team’s 9 year playoff drought and brought them all the way to the ECF

Is known for his extreme workouts

Still in better shape than 98% of the league

Could very well still lace up and play better than 80% of the league 

Lives rent free in W*lson’s and Reirden’s heads

Gives the best post-game speeches

President & General Manager

☞ Don Waddell

I really just wanted an excuse to put this gif in here 

Coached the 1998 DET Stanley Cup winning team 

Named Pres. & GM of CAR in May ‘18

Owner

☞ Tom Dundon 

Lives rent free is Habs fans minds

Estimated net worth is $1.1 billion?

Majority owner of TopGolf (55%)

Chairman of the Alliance of American Football

Purchased 52% of CAR in January 2018 for $420million

Likes to hang around team/fan events 

Stays in the same hotel as me lol

[iguana012]

The men of figure skating: heading into the 2017-2018 season

Once upon a time, in a frosty February day in 2010, Evgeni Plushenko was standing unimpressed on the second step of the podium. He had come to win his second consecutive Olympic gold and become the first figure skater to do so since Dick Button. But as he was standing on the second step of the podium, an orange bro whose name was Evan came and sh00k his hand and climbed on the highest step. Little did the orange bro know that his stunt at that competition (not attempting any quads at all due to a stress fracture sustained in the previous season) would give birth to what we call today the quad generation. Evgeni would have probably sold his soul to Putin the devil just so he could finally play with the kids he’s been looking for all his life. So here we are in the eve of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, the top 6 men can execute at least two different types of quads and Yuzuru Hanyu will probably never retire unless he lands the 4A in competition, the only quad (4 and a half revolutions) that has never been landed before and will probably never continue to be landed on a regular basis due to the difficulty and increased injury risk. Unlike the ladies field, the men have the “big 6″ who are very likely to lock the first 6 positions at the Olympics and then there’s the rest. I will focus on these 6 skaters under the cut and make a list of other skaters to look out for because ice is slippery and you never know. 

1. Yuzuru HANYU, JPN (#1 in the WS)

2014 Olympic Gold Medalist

2014 & 2017 World Champion

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Grand Prix Final Champion

2011, 2013, 2017 Four Continents Silver Medalist 

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Japanese National Champion

Birthday: December 7, 1994

Nicknames: Yuzu, Yuzu-kun and whatever else the British Eurosport guys feel like calling him 

Trademarks: first man to land a quad loop in competition, triple axels in his sleep, hella transitions, hella skating skills, Canadian silver, Winnie the Pooh, usually goofy but gets hella scary in his competitor mode, boobskirt, random cabbage-like fabric on his costumes 

Current record holder in the SP (112.72), FS (223.20) and combined total (330.43)

He has broken 12 world records in his career

The first Asian figure skater competing in men's singles to win the Olympic Gold

The first skater to successfully land 3 quad jumps in the second half of a free skating program

According to various reports he has landed the 4A in practice 

Quads he will attempt this season: 4T, 4S, 4Lo, 4Lz 

Notable performances: Romeo & Juliet 1, Parisienne Walkways, Seimei, Ballade no. 1, Let’s Go Crazy, Hope and Legacy 

2.  Shoma UNO, JPN (#2 in the WS)

2017 World Silver Medalist

2017 4CC Bronze Medalist

2015 & 2016 Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist

2016 Japanese National Champion

Birthday: December 17, 1997

Nicknames: Shoma-kun (Shomadot, Shomajesty, Shominator, Don Shoma if you wanna listen to fans)

Trademarks: first man to land a quad flip in competition, bionic knee that allows him to save the most terrifying jumps, nice skating skills, musicality, #intense performance, Daisuke Takahashi fanboy, 3A-1Lo-3F combo 

Personal best scores: 104.87 (SP), 214.97 (FS), 319.48 (total)

Quads he will attempt this season: 4T, 4S, 4Lo, 4F 

Notable performances: Tzigane, The Blessed Spirits, Violin Sonata, Turandot, Legends, Fantasy for Violin & Orchestra, Balada Para Un Loco

3.  Javier FERNANDEZ, ESP (#3 in the WS)

2015 & 2016 World Champion

2013 & 2014 World Bronze Medalist

Gazillion (5 consecutive time) European Champion

2011, 2014 & 2015 Grand Prix Final Medalist

Basically the only National Champion in Spain lolz

Birthday: April 15, 1991

Nicknames: Javi, SuperJavi

Trademarks: Elvis on ice, eyelashes, finished 35th at his first Worlds now he #yolos his way to the gold, pioneer in Spanish skating

Personal bests: 109.05 (SP), 216.41 (FS), 314.93 (total)

Quads he will attempt this season: 4T, 4S  

Notable performances: Chaplin, Black Betty, The Barber of Seville, Guys and Dolls, Malaguena, Elvis Medley

4. Patrick CHAN, CAN (#4 in the WS)

2014 Olympic Silver Medalist #CanadianCurse

2011, 2012 & 2013 World Champion

2009, 2012 & 2016 Four Continents Champion

2010 & 2011 Grand Prix Final Champion

9-time Canadian National Champion

Birthday: December 31, 1990

Nicknames: PChan, PChiddy, Chiddles 

Trademarks: skating skills for the ages, Canadian 3A, coaching changes like holy shit, foot in mouth syndrome, landing 4S late in his career like wtf, hilarious falls 

Personal bests: 102.13 (SP), 203.99 (FS), 295.27 (total)

Quads he will attempt this season: 4T, 4S

Notable performances: Take Five, Phantom Of The Opera, Elegie, The Four Seasons, Chopin Medley, Beatles Medley, A Journey

5. Boyang JIN, CHN (#5 in the WS)

2016 & 2017 World Bronze Medalist

2016 Four Continents Silver Medalist

2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Chinese National Champion

Birthday: October 3, 1997

Nicknames: tian tian (Boyangman, Cowboyang by fans)

Trademarks: his 4Lz can bring a plane down, he’s Spiderman but better, live streams of him eating, drinking, singing to Justin Bieber and other nerdy things

Personal bests: 98.64 (SP), 204.94 (FS), 303.58 (total)

The first skater to ever land a 4Lz-3T combination in a competition

The first skater to have landed four quad jumps in a free skate

The first skater to have landed six quad jumps in competition

Quads he will attempt this season: 4T, 4S, 4Lz

Notable performances: Dragon Racing 2015, Dragon Racing 2016, Bouncy Balls, Cowboyang, Spiderman, La Strada

6. Nathan CHEN, USA (#7 in the WS)

2017 Four Continents Champion

2016 Grand Prix Final Silver Medalist

2017 US National Champion

Birthday: May 7, 1999

Nicknames: Slaythan, Baethan, Dominathan (started by fans but at this point I’m not sure whether he’s actually called like that or not)

Trademarks: hella quads, hella moonwalk on blades

Personal bests: 103.12 (SP), 204.34 (FS), 307.46 (total)

The first skater to land five different quad jumps (4T, 4S, 4Lo, 4F and 4Lz) in competition

The first skater to land a 4F-3T combination in competition

The first skater to land five quad jumps in a free skate

The first skater to land seven clean quad jumps in a competition

Quads he will attempt this season: 4T, 4S, 4Lo, 4F, 4Lz

Notable performances: Chattanooga Choo Choo / Summertime, Michael Jackson Medley, Piano Concerto no. 1, Symphony no. 3 avec Orgue, Le Corsaire, Polovtsian Dances

Other skaters to look out for:

Mikhail Kolyada, RUS

Adam Rippon, USA

Jason Brown, USA

Maxim Kovtun, RUS

Max Aaron, USA

Vincent Zhou, USA

Deniss Vasiljevs, LAT

Misha Ge, UZB

Han Yan, CHN

Kevin Reynolds, CAN

Takahito Mura, JPN

Denis Ten, KAZ

Jun Hwan Cha, KOR

Keiji Tanaka, JPN

Daisuke Murakami, JPN

[rufflesglittersequinsiceskates]

Michelle Kwan, World Figure Skating Championships 1999 (Free Skate)

Check out that hair! I love Michelle Kwan so dearly to this very day, and this picture kind of captures the essence of why. Michelle Kwan is not a paint by numbers skater. You can tell she skated to classical music because she understood it and felt it, not just because she thought it was what the judges liked. 

The dress is a beautiful soft lavender, with a shape that flatters Michelle and a sort of Grecian aesthetic, which makes sense because the program is Lamente d’Ariane, from an opera based on Greek tragedy. I love it! (Come to think of it, why are there not more Greek tragedy pair skating and/or ice dance programs? Someone get on that immediately, please)

The skirt doesn’t draw your attention until she’s in motion, and then it flutters around her with such perfect delicacy, offsetting the strength of Michelle’s skating and adding another dimension. 

Context is everything, and if I were just looking at this as a costume on its own I might grade it as about average, but I truly think the program would be different in any other costume, and this is exactly what it needed. So, with that in mind...

Grade: A+

[playavacationblog-blog]

Chasing the Northern Lights

Each wondrous in its own right, Alaska, Finland, and Sweden share one particularly extraordinary trait: All three fall within the auroral oval, the zone within which the northern lights (also known as the aurora borealis) become visible. The phenomenon is caused by electromagnetic storms in space and is steeped in lore. The Nunamiut of Alaska believe that if you whistle at the lights, they will dance to your tune, while others say that whistling will prompt the shimmering curtain to scoop you up and carry you into the sky. As for the Vikings, they believed the lights were how the gods made themselves known on earth.

This dazzling spectacle is best viewed from September through March. Even if you know roughly when and where to go, catching the lights can be tricky and depends partly on good luck and clear weather. To see them for yourself-and have some fun along the way-follow our lead to arctic latitudes in North America and Scandinavia, where igloos, reindeer-led sleigh rides, and dog mushing are a prelude to the big event: the lights themselves.

Alaska

Carl Johnson, who took this shot outside of Anchorage, leads photo tours of the northern lights. Photo: Carl Johnson

The Last Frontier is a magical place to look for the northern lights, and unlike most areas within the auroral oval, Americans don't need a passport to get here. Many travelers base themselves in Fairbanks over Anchorage because it falls farther north and thus deeper within the auroral oval, making it a more reliable place to see the lights, but the phenomenon can be seen around Anchorage, too. Just make sure to get out of the city lights-the darker and clearer the sky, the better.

Fairbanks

For Outdoor Lovers: Up north in Fairbanks, the Northern Alaska Tour Company (3820 University Ave. S.; 800-474-1986; three-day tours, from $789 a person with double occupancy) leads multinight excursions into the remote Brooks Mountain Range to search for the aurora. You'll also cross the Arctic Circle (and get a certificate to prove it!) and go dogsledding through pristine wilderness.

For Pleasure Seekers: At the 1,940-acre Chena Hot Springs Resort (17600 Chena Hot Springs Rd.; 907-451-8104; aurora snow-coach tours, $75 a person; children 6–11, $38; round-trip shuttle service with pickup anywhere in Fairbanks, $125 a person for two or more people), 60 miles northeast of downtown Fairbanks, you don't have to be a guest to take part in the on-site activities-snowshoeing, dogsledding, ice-skating, or searching for the lights aboard a snow coach. If you've got time, don't miss a relaxing dip in the natural hot springs, which stay open until midnight; you just may glimpse the sky doing its thing while you soak in the mineral-rich waters.

Anchorage

For Independent Types: You don't necessarily need to sign up for a tour to see the northern lights in Alaska's largest city. If you would rather go it on your own, set out after dark and travel 16 miles southeast of downtown to the Glen Alps Trailhead and Viewpoint (3101 Glen Alps Rd.; 907-345-5014), at Flattop Mountain. The parking lot here is a popular place to scope out the sky on cloudless nights. Before heading outdoors for the evening, fortify yourself with a meal of wild Alaskan salmon at Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill (420 L St.; 904-274-3502; dinner for two, $70*), a downtown Anchorage institution that affords panoramas of the calm waters of Cook Inlet.

For Shutterbugs: A clear image of the aurora is notoriously difficult to capture, but you can maximize your chances as a student of photographer Carl Johnson of Arctic Light-Gallery & Excursions (17800 Steamboat Dr.; 907-748-7040; aurora photo tours, $275 a person). The tours usually max out at three people, so you'll get lots of one-on-one training from Johnson, who has been in Alaska since 1999 and says that taking good photos of the aurora depends more on fine-tuning the camera's focus than its exposure settings. He'll walk you through other hacks while leading you to remote areas within an hour's drive of Anchorage so that you can escape the crowds and lights. “We practice compositions while waiting for the aurora, working on incorporating landscapes, trees, rivers, and ponds so people already have ideas for how they want to frame their shot by the time the lights appear,” Johnson says.

Finland

Viewing the northern lights over a lake in Oulu, Finland. Photo: Mikko Karjalainen/Alamy

In parts of Finnish Lapland, the northern lights are visible for about 200 nights a year, from late August to early April. The small town of Kemi, set near the Swedish border and right on the Gulf of Bothnia, is a favored destination for winter fun and aurora viewing. Finnair flies to Kemi from Helsinki, or you can take a bus, train, or rental car to get here. Alternately, a 90-minute drive farther north from Kemi brings you to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. Rovaniemi is mainly known for being Santa Claus's official hometown-but a chance to spot the northern lights is another compelling reason to visit. To the southeast, travelers can gaze up at the lights in Vuokatti, a ski village in the Lakeland region that's an hour's flight from Helsinki.

Kemi

For Instagram Obsessives: From the walls to the tables to the cups, SnowRestaurant (29 Kauppakatu; 011-358-16-258878; three-course dinner for two, $120; opens in January) is made almost entirely of ice and snow. You can wrap yourself in one of the restaurant's blue-and-white blankets while you feast on Arctic specialties, such as reindeer fillet or smoked salmon, beneath a glittering chandelier. If the aurora appears while you're eating, don't worry-someone will beckon you outside.

Rovaniemi

For Adrenaline Junkies: In Rovaniemi, Aurora Emotion (27 Lehtoahontie; 011-358-40-5402146; Northern Lights Safaris, $175 a person for a two-person eSled) recently launched the world's first electric snowmobile safaris on machines called eSleds. You'll be outfitted in the proper gear-think boots and balaclavas (a type of ski mask)-before embarking on a guided 8 p.m. ride through forests frosted with snow to see the northern lights, stopping along the way for belly-warming sausages, crêpes, and drinks.

For Families: With Lapland Safaris (1 Koskikatu; 011-358-16-3311200; tours, $186 a person; children 4–14, $140), arctic reindeer will pull you and your little ones on sleds to Santa Claus Village (011-358-16-3562096; admission, free), a themed village where you can meet Santa, mail a letter with an Arctic Circle postmark, and see the northern lights. Before you leave Rovaniemi, sit for a meal at Ravintola Nili (20 Valtakatu; 011-358-40-0369669; four-course tasting menu for two, $135) to try smoked vendace (a Finnish fish specialty) or pike soup; fishermen catch the pike by casting nets under the frozen surface of nearby lakes.

Vuokatti

For Dog Lovers: The countryside around Vuokatti is a natural paradise. On the Howling Northern Lights tour from Vuokatti Safaris (1 Suvikkaantie; 011-358-40-9115-323; Howling Northern Lights tours, $244 a person, including safari outfit), you'll pile into a two-person dogsled for an hour-long ride through meadows and forests, passing by lakes, rivers, and canals, and then spend time getting to know your team of friendly huskies before gathering around a picnic dinner.

Sweden

The northern lights shine over a lake in Sweden's Abisko National Park. Photo: Conny Sjostrom/Shutterstock

The picturesque town of Åre, an hour's drive east of the Norway border, is a good place to base the family for an aurora expedition. Åre sits at the foot of Sweden's largest ski resort, where a dedicated kids' ski area has “magic carpet” (conveyor belt) ski lifts and serves pint-size hot chocolates and cardamom buns.

For even better odds of seeing the northern lights, it's worth the trip farther north into Swedish Lapland. Daily flights depart from Stockholm to the country's northernmost town, Kiruna, some 90 miles within the bounds of the Arctic Circle.

Åre

For Soft Adventurers: Explore Åre (1 Regnbågen; 011-46-647-50885; Åre Northern Lights Adventure tours, $113 a person) leads nighttime snowshoeing excursions outside of town through thickets of towering fir trees to wide-open spaces where you can keep an eye on the sky for the northern lights. The company also arranges daytime activities, such as reindeer feeding, ice fishing for arctic char, and even ice-sculpting lessons. Back in Åre proper, Granen Restaurant (127 Tottvägen; 011-46-647-51560; dinner for two, $45) makes for a good introduction to Swedish fare. And one can't talk about this area without also mentioning star chef Magnus Nilsson's Michelin-starred restaurant, Fäviken (216 Fäviken, Järpen; 011-46-647-401-77; dinner for two, $677). A meal here is hard to secure-only 16 diners are seated each night-and a very serious splurge, but hard-core foodies may not mind all that for the chance to dine on innovative dishes made with flora and fauna from the surrounding hunting estate and lakes.

Swedish Lapland

For Cocktail Culturists: In the snowy village of Jukkasjärvi, Sweden's IceHotel is rebuilt every winter with enormous blocks of ice cut from the nearby Torne River. You can sip cocktails with muddled mountain berries in glasses carved from ice at the on-site Icebar (63 Marknadsvägen, Jukkasjärvi; 011-46-980-668-00; drinks for two, $44) then dance into the wee hours on a floor made of snow-stopping to dash outside if the northern lights appear, of course.

For Foodies: In Lapland's Abisko National Park, the Aurora Sky Station (STF Abisko Mountain Station, Abisko; 011-46-980-402-00; admission, $82; admission for two with four-course dinner, $436; both prices include warm overalls) is set on Mount Nuolja in an area nearly devoid of light and sound pollution. A chairlift brings travelers through the inky sky to the station. Consider reserving the add-on four-course dinner so that you can settle in for the night as you wait for the lights to appear.

STAY

RCI® affiliated resorts in some of the featured destinations include:

Holiday Club Saariselka 3553

Kids will love the on-site Angry Birds Activity Park, with its play areas and foam pit. 7 Saariseläntie, Saariselkä, Finland

Holiday Club Salla 3939

Cozy up by one of two fireplaces in-unit or with hot chocolate in the spacious dining room. 2 Revontulentie, Sallatunturi, Finland

Holiday Club Kelorinne 3498

Ideal for ski enthusiasts, with lodges right on the slopes. 2 Revontulentie, Sallatunturi, Finland

Holiday Club Pyha 3554

A picturesque setting for skiing or hiking just north of the Arctic Circle. Hotelli Pyhätunturi Oy, 21 Kultakeronkatu, Pyhätunturi, Finland

Holiday Club Yllas 1 2418

After a day of snowmobiling, unwind at the sauna or in the rock-walled hot tub. Tunturintie 16 A 1, Äkäslompolo, Finland

Holiday Club Yllas 2 2425

Shares amenities with Holiday Club Yllas 1. Tunturintie 16 A 1, Äkäslompolo, Finland

Fjallbyn 1946

Enjoy rustic living in floor-to-ceiling pine lodges that afford sweeping views of Tännäs. 8 Torpvägen, Tännäs, Sweden

Holiday Club Are 7791

Some units have a private sauna so you can pamper your muscles after a day on the slopes. Åre Strand, Åre, Sweden

RCI® Tip

Looking for ways to see all that Alaska has to offer? Several cruise lines offer itineraries throughout Alaska. RCI® subscribing members can save up to $1,200USD per cabin toward the purchase of select sailings with Cruise Exchange.** Visit cruiserci.com for more terms and conditions.

For member reviews and additional resort listings, visit RCI.com or call 800-338-7777 (Weeks) or 877-968-7476 (Points). Club Members, please call your specific Club or RCI telephone number.

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Non-RCI affiliated resorts in the featured destinations include:

Chena Hot Springs Resort

Known for its hot springs and year-round outdoor activities, this resort 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks has rooms outfitted with coffee makers and Alaskan photography. Children 17 and under stay for free. 17600 Chena Hot Springs Rd., Fairbanks, Alaska; 907-451-8104; chenahotsprings.com; doubles from $210 a night

Seaside Glass Villas

One-bedroom cabins with glass ceilings and expansive windows let you watch for the northern lights while staying toasty in bed at this property on the frozen Bay of Bothnia in Finnish Lapland. 15 Lumilinnankatu, Kemi, Finland; 011-358-16-258878; visitkemi.fi; doubles from $630 a night, including breakfast

IceHotel

Carved from ice, the rooms and suites at this Swedish Lapland hotel come with thermal sleeping bags and reindeer hides. Daily breakfast and sauna access are included. 63 Marknadsvägen, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden; 011-46-980-668-00; icehotel.com; doubles from $237 a night

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