As the Australian and New Zealand international season is complete for 2008, aussieSKATES returns in February 2009 with the Four Continents Championships from Vancouver, Canada.

Have a safe and peaceful festive season, and happy spectating.

With a 14th place in the short program and 23rd in the free, Phoebe Di Tommaso from New South Wales finished competition in 19th place. The winner was Alexe Gilles from the U.S.A.

Nicholas Fernandez is in 12th place after the short program, with Richard Dornbush from the United States of America leading the men's event.

Competition finishes today with the men's free program.

Following the men's free skate, Matthew Precious moved up one place to finish 14th. The event was won by Armin Mahbanoozedah from the United States of America.

In the ladies' competition, Jamie Nobbs placed 27th in the free, finishing 23rd overall. Kristine Musademba from the U.S.A was first.

Also of interest, former Australian champion, Jonathan Guerreirro, won the dance event for Russia with Ekaterina Riazanova. Combined with their second placing at the Merano Cup, they have qualified for the Grand Prix final in Seoul, South Korea this December.

After the men's short program, Matthew Precious is in 15th, having earned a personal best with 44.08 points. The leader is Armin Mahbanoozedah from the United States of America.

In the ladies' event, Jaimee Nobbs stands 14th with 36.67 points. Russia's Ksenia Makarova is in first place after the short.

Competition concludes tomorrow.

Combined with her 23rd place in the short program, Kyle - Jade Betteridge finished 28th in the free skate and overall.

The event was won by Japan's Yukiko Fujisawa, with Angela Maxwell from the U.S.A. second, and Italy's Stefania Berton in third.

After the men's short programs, Australia's Cameron Jorey - Hughes is in 13th place. The leader is Richard Dornbush from the United States of America.

In the ladies event, Albrina Lee is in 15th place with Amanda Dobbs, also from the U.S.A., in first.

Competition concludes on Saturday with the free skating.

Click here for full results.

On day seven, the junior ladies and men wrapped up their events with the free skating.

Guest skater, Allie Rout from New Zealand was first. However, the 2007 National Novice Champion, Jamie Nobbs from Western Australia, was awarded the title.

In the men's event, Matthew Precious successfully defended his title, moving up from second place after the short program.

Senior dance was won by Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman, with Maria and Evgeni Borounov the runners-up.

Western Australia's Simon Waller leads the senior men's short program. In the ladies' competition, Allie Rout is first with Tina Wang of Queensland in second.

Both competitions conclude tomorrow.

Ice Sports Victoria invites the public to discover the joy of ice sports with their first promotional Family Fun Day.

Whether you are a team player or like an individual challenge ice sports have something to cater for everyone. Experience figure skating, curling, speed skating and ice hockey - all in one 2 hour action-packed session.

See ‘Melbourne Ice’, Victoria’s state ice hockey team up close, feel the incredible weight of a curling stone, learn some basic figure skating skills, and chase the future Olympic speed skating stars, all in a friendly and fun environment with experienced coaches on hand to help out.

The Family Fun Day is on Monday 30th June, a great way to get the July School Holidays started. 

Where & When
Olympic Ice Skating Centre, 1080 Centre Rd, Oakleigh South. 
It runs from 9.30am until 11.30am. 

Cost is only $5 per person or $10 for a family.  Great value for two hours of ice sports fun.  Make sure you bring your gloves and socks!

Ice Sports Victoria is a new organization developed under the guidance and support of the state government.  It covers the sports of ice hockey, figure skating, curling and speed skating bringing them under one organisation whose aim is to promote and develop the ice sports in the lead up to the opening of the National Ice Sports Centre at the Docklands in 2009.

Ice Sports…Melbourne’s greatest sporting secret!

Contact
Melissa Kah
SDO Ice Sports Victoria
cycling@rocketmail.com
PH: (03) 9787 099

In an afternoon of nervous performances, Canada's Jeffrey Buttle separated himself from the pack by skating a perfect free program to win his first world title. Second place went to the defending champion, Brian Joubert of France (who moved up from sixth), with Johnny Weir of the United States, hanging on for third place.

Today, the men skated their short programs, with competition divided into two rounds.

After round one, Australia's Sean Carlow earned 43.98 points to finish 35th, with Tristan Thode of New Zealand scoring 35.29 points to place 41st overall.

Canada's Jeffrey Buttle won the short, followed by Johnny Weir from the United States and Japan's Daisuke Takahashi in third. The top twenty four will advance to the free skate on Saturday.

Dance wrapped up with the free program.

In a thrilling finale, the French pairing of Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder maintained their lead to win the title. By winning the free dance, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir moved up one place from third to second. Holding off superior skates from the United States and Italy, Russia's Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski nevertheless placed third.

Dance continued today with the original dance, a Folk / Country theme.

Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France strengthened their lead, earning 67.25 points. Moving from third to second are the Russian pairing of Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski. The Canadians, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir dropped to third after Tessa lost synchronisation in the side by side step sequence.

The Australians, Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman moved up one place to 27th.

On Friday night, the top 24 skating skate their final free dance.

The ladies' event concluded with Mao Asada winning the event.

Recovering from a freak fall in preparation for a triple axel, the 17 year old Japanese skater bounced back by skating an strong program featuring six triple jumps (with four in combination). The overnight leader, Italy's Carolina Koster, dropped to second place after a shaky performance. Korea's Yu Na Kim, winner of the free skate, repeated as the bronze medallist, moving from fifth to third.

Competition continues on Friday with the men's short program.

Today 53 ladies skated their short programs, a new record.

Australia's Tina Wang improved on her performance at the recent Four Continents championship, earning 34.00 points to finish in 37th place. Morgan Figgins from New Zealand placed 52nd.

In the lead is the current and two time European Champion, Carolina Kostner from Italy. Second and third are Japan's Mao Asada and Yukari Nakano.

The top 24 will skate their free programs tomorrow evening.

Pairs concluded with the free skate. Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany moved into first place, with Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China, dropping to second. Canada's Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison moved from fourth to third to win bronze.

Competition continues tomorrow with the original dance and the ladies free programs.

Today, 31 couples skated the required compulsory dance, the Argentine Tango.

Making their senior debut at the world championship level, the 2008 National Champions, Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman, placed 28th with 20.24 points.

Leading the event are the 2007 European Champions, Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France. Second, from Canada and the 2008 Four Continents Champions, are Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. In third, are the Russian Champions and bronze medallists from the recent European Championships, Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski.

The favourites coming into this event, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto (USA) are in fifth place following a fall by Belbin.

The pairs short program was closely contested by four teams.

Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang from China skated to a new world record with 74.36 points. In second are the two-time European Champions and current World bronze medallists, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany. Third are the Japanese / Russian combination of Yuko Kawaguchi and Sergei Smirnov, followed by the Canadian pairing of Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison.

The event concludes tomorrow evening with the free program.

Today aussieSKATES launches our very own page at You Tube. See clips from the most recent Four Continents and World Junior Championships. Click here for the link.

Also, if you're aware of any performances on You Tube we can add by skaters from Australia and New Zealand, don't hesitate to contact us.

Taking their third gold in the competition, the United States swept the ladies podium. Rachel Flatt moved from third to first, followed by the defending champion, Caroline Zhang in second, with the overnight leader, Mirai Nagasu dropping to third.

Australia's Cheltzie Lee finished the event in 23rd, while New Zealand's Allie Rout moved up one place to 22nd.

In dance, gold was won by Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates from the United States. Canada's Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier took silver, and bronze went to Russia's Kristina Gorshkova and Vitalia Butikov.

Skating for Russia, Australia's Jonathan Guerreiro and his partner, Ekaterina Riazanova, finished 6th.

Today, 56 ladies skated their qualifying short program; a new record.

In her debut season, Australia's Cheltzie Lee skated close to a personal best, earning 42.77 points. She is in 19th place heading into Saturday's final. Allie Rout from New Zealand, also made the cut, placing 23rd with 40.70 points. Both skaters can be very proud of themselves for earning a place in the free skate amongst such tough international competition.

As anticipated, the top three skaters are from the United States.

The newly-crowned U.S. Senior Ladies' Champion, Mirai Nagasu, is in first on 65.07 points, followed by the defending Junior World Champion, Caroline Zhang, on 62.60 points. Rachel Flatt, the U.S. Senior Ladies silver medallist, is in third on 60.16 points.

Earlier in the week, Australia's Matthew Precious earned a personal best in the men's short program with 39.78 points. He finished the competition in 33rd place. New Zealand's Cameron Hems placed 42nd.

The event was won by Adam Rippon from the United States, with Russia's Artem Borodulin in second, and China's Jinlin Guan in third.

On the final day of competition, the ladies skated their free programs.

Australia's Tina Wang moved up two places from 21st to 19th, placing 18th in the free with a total of 94.28 points.

Japan won their second gold medal of the championships, with the 2007 World silver medalist, Mao Asada, beating Canada's Joannie Rochette and team mate, the 2007 World Champion, Miki Ando, to victory with a 13 point margin in the free skate.

Landing seven triples including two triple-triple combinations and a triple axel, Asada is the clear favourite heading into next month's World Championships in Sweden.

Dance concluded today with the free program.

Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman finished in 10th. Achieving a personal best score, the young team earned automatic qualification to next month's World Championships in Sweden.

Their team mates, Maria and Evgeni Borounov placed 11th in this portion of the competition, finishing 13th overall.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada were first, with Meryl Davis and Charlie White (USA) in second, and Kimberley Navarro and Brent Bommentre, also of the United States, in third.

The men's event finished on a high note with Japan's Daisuki Takahashi skating a spirited free program, earning him a season and personal best of 175.84 points. Jeff Buttle from Canada was second and Evan Lycacek of the United States won the bronze.

New Zealand's Tristan Thode finished 14th, with team mate, Joel Watson in 18th. Australia's Nicholas Fernandez and Robert McNamara were 17th and 20th respectively.

Competition ends with the ladies' free program on Saturday afternoon.

Today the dancers skated their original program, a folk dance.

Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman moved up one place to 10th, earning 37.44 points.

The husband and wife team of Maria and Evgeni Boronov skated to 12th place with 34.93 points, but stayed 13th overall.

Continuing their dominance, the Canadian team of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were first.

The pairs event finished today with the free program.

China went one-two with the 2006 World Champions, Qing Pang and Jian Tong winning over the 2006 Olympic silver medalists, Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang. This is Pang and Tong's tenth appearance in the event, having skated in every championship since the Four Continents competition began in 1999.

Australia fielded two ladies in the women's event. Tina Wang was 21st and Phoebe Di Tommaso, 28th after the short program. New Zealand's Morgan Figgins placed 27th.

Japan's Mao Asada is in first place with her team mate, the 2007 World Champion, Miki Ando, right behind her in second.

The top 24 will advance to the ladies free program, to be skated on Saturday afternoon.

Today the men skated their short programs.

Team Australia was represented by Nicholas Fernandez (who placed 15th with 41.14 points) and Robert McNamara (21st with 32.42 points). New Zealand's Tristan Thode was 14th with 42.16 points, while Joel Watson stands 19th with 35.02 points.

The short program was won by Japan's Daisuke Takahashi.

Competition ends for the men with the free program on Friday evening.

In dance, Australia has two teams battling for the lone spot on the world team. 2008 National Champions, Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman are 11th after the compulsory dance (the Yankee Polka) with 21.26 points. Their team mates, the 2007 champions, Maria and Evgeni Boronov are in 13th spot with 17.78 points.

Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are in first place, with competition continuing tomorrow afternoon with the original dance (which is a folk or country dance).

From Wendy Meik, Olympic Figure & Dance Club

2008 starts on a rather sad note with the possible closure of Victoria's only regional ice skating rink.

One of only two rinks in the entire state, the loss of the Bendigo rink to the Victorian skating community would be a disaster. However the good news is, there is a rescue bid underway and that is why we are helping to send out some information.

Click here for all the details about how you can help.