This week Kris and I have travelled to Boston to attend the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships. Yay! We couldn’t be more excited!
Figure skating has come up a few times on My Fangirl Life in the past year. First, I have my own separate figure skating blog (check it out here!). Second, last year Kris offered 10 reasons why you should be watching the 2015 World Championships with her post of the Hottest Men of Figure Skating, which was then followed up with the Hottest Women of Figure Skating. In an attempt to put things in more fangirl terms, I wrote all about my favourite skater Yuzuru Hanyu back in October when we went to another figure skating event. Because, did you know that Being a Yuzuru Hanyu fangirl is the same as being a One Direction fangirl?
Today I’m going to continue these themes and try to convince you fangirls to watch figure skating this week. There’s plenty of it on tv and online – all you have to do is look! There are so many elements involved in the sport of figure skating that fangirls like myself know and love.
Let me explain why you should watch the World Figure Skating Championships this week:
1. There are Sexy Athletes ?
Though we’ve addressed this before, it needs to be repeated. There are a number of very attractive figure skaters! If you’re curious, the majority of those athletes mentioned in The Hottest Men of Figure Skating or The Hottest Women of Figure Skating will be competing again this year. No matter your taste there is someone who’ll catch your eye (as long as you like fit & hunky).
A few of my favourites include Andrew Poje from Canada and Guillaume Cizeron from France. But there are so many others!
And, of course, there are a number of pretty ladies who’ll be competing as well!
2. There are Bromances Galore ?
Men’s figure skating is my favourite event, for a couple reasons… but mostly because of Yuzuru Hanyu. I also love Javier Fernandez… and the two of them just happen to be training mates! Both Yuzu and Javi train in Canada part of the year and are super supportive best friends. These two skaters have a very good chance of claiming the top two spots on the World podium this week and I can guarantee they will be cheering each other on the entire time. The bromance between them kills me. They’re the Cricket Club brothers… It’s essentially just like Sam & Dean. You just can’t help but love them.
3. There’s Fan Fiction ?
I stumbled upon this one day and I was quite surprised. I had no idea that figure skating fan fiction was a thing! While I love the Yuzuru Hanyu & Javier Fernandez bromance, there is a group that has taken it a step further and written Yuzu & Javi fan fiction. Yuzuvier, if you will… And I have to admit, it’s highly entertaining. It doesn’t matter that Javi is in a long-term relationship with a former skater. Fan fiction is still magic. So fangirls, instead of reading Sherlock & Watson fan fiction, give a figure skating fan fic a try. Here are some to get you started!
4. There are Intense Rivalries and Divas ?
Figure skating is filled with rivalries and diva behaviour and the media loves to jump on this. A big, recurring situation revolves around Patrick Chan and his comments regarding Yuzu & Javi, which are always spun to make him out to be a villain. That being said, the ultimate drama queen in the Men’s event would be American Adam Rippon.
Then there are the divas of Ladies skating. Russians Elena Radionova and Julia Lipnitskaia have no time for their younger rival Evgenia Medvedeva who trains with Julia’s former coach. And Americans Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold pretend to smile when the cameras are around but I’m pretty sure the two of them are fierce competitors and not friends… like at all. Ice Dance is one icy look between teams after another. And, in Pairs, have you seen the way Ksenia Stolbova sometimes looks at her partner? While it’s not all staged like the WWE, it does create its own rather dramatic storylines!
5. There’s an Online Conversation ?
One of my favourite things about figure skating is the online community. I am a member of two figure skating discussion boards, and I also frequently follow events live on Twitter. Being able to interact with other fans is one of the things I love most. It’s also one of the things I loved doing most after I first saw The Force Awakens or after each new episode of PLL. Plus, just like all other fandoms, a quick Tumblr search will offer some entertaining posts and gifs after the event. If you want to join the conversation I suggest you follow #Worlds2016 on Twitter.
I hope you tune in this week! Should be a fun time. I for one can’t wait!
Till next time,
– Justine Alyssa
Image Sources: Andrew Poje, Guillaume Cizeron, Hug 1, Hug 2, Yuzuvier 1, Yuzuvier 2, Yuzuvier 3, Adam Rippon, Russian Ladies, Ksenia Stolbova, Banner
