If there’s one thing figure skating has taught me, it is that life is never certain. And also, ice is very slippery. The ladies’ event at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships was an especially exemplary example of those life lessons.

Since the 2006-2007 season, the ladies’ division has been dominated by Yu-Na Kim of South Korea and Mao Asada of Japan. This rivalry seemed to be as solid an institution as the legendary rivalry between Alexei Yagudin and Evgeny Plushenko, the two brilliant Russian skaters who had firmly monopolized the gold and silver positions of the men’s division previously. As for Kim and Asada, the two have been heavy favourites for every major ladies title for the past few seasons. However, cracks began to show. Asada had won the Grand Prix Final title over Kim in December 2008, but ‘only’ won the bronze at the Four Continents Championship in January 2009 (Kim won the gold). But in the weeks leading up to the world championships, Kim and Asada were still the favourites for the title, even with the vulnerability Asada had shown during Four Continents and an earlier competition, the 2008 Trophee Eric Bompard. After all, Asada has been a lock on the podium of every international competition she has ever competed in as a senior skater.

All seemed well during the short program last night. Kim skated a splendid short to Camille Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre and thoroughly trounced the competition with a massive 9-point lead over second-place finisher Joannie Rochette of Canada. Asada had finished in third place after her ethereal Clair de Lune short with a costly error by doubling her planned triple lutz, but had the most difficult technical content planned among the ladies with her two triple axels (Asada is the only lady to even attempt triple axels). Pessimists predicted that Asada would skate decently, but remain in the bronze medal position. Optimists insisted that she would overtake Rochette for the silver in the long program, given Asada’s formidable technical content. Die-hard Asada devotees hoped that Asada would make up the 10-point deficit between her and Kim and take the gold (technically possible, as Asada had done so in 2007 before). (more…)

On Wednesday, see the U of T Campus Police play head-to-head against U of T Engineering students in a charity hockey game! I don’t even like sports and I’m excited about this event!

Some juicy extras:

1. The Campus Police team is rumoured to be captained by an ex-Team Canada player.
2. If this event goes well, then there will be a follow up match up involving former NHL players

Photo courtesy of DVS_Photographer

When: Wednesday, March 11 @ 9pm
Where: Varsity Arena
Cost: FREE with a non-perishable food item donation

See the Facebook event for more details.

I shall begin my new blog entry sounding like an old grandma.

When I was a little girl, I used to watch figure skating with my mum quite a bit. Although I didn’t know too much about figure skating, but I still remember being completely enchanted by skaters such as Kristine Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, Elvis Stojko, Scott Hamilton, those Russian rival skaters, whatever their names were… Yet, once the pressures of school came in, figure skating on TV went straight out of my life and into the depths of childhood memory, never to appear in my conscious thought - until now that is. After literally a decade, two ice dancers have awed me to silence with their skills and this blog entry is just a little show of support for two very talented – and Canadian – skaters. (more…)

The Varsity is having  great event in the next following weeks, which deserves our attention and participation. The event is called Cheer Blue, Think Pink, and its main purpose is to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer. The event supports the Canadian Breast Cancer Association, and the Varsity Blues wants the event to be, once again, a success like last year.

So, here are the details and how you can help:

T-Shirts…Have your group purchase limited edition
Varsity Blues Think Pink t-shirts for only $10 each.
Pink-Out…Bring your fellow members and friends to
any of the Think Pink weekend games and wear pink.
Enter…You’ll have a chance to win prizes for bringing
the group to the game or enter special draws and
contests for individual prizes.
Recognition… They‘ll do a special shout out for your
group at the games and recognize your attendance on
www.varsityblues.ca
Banner Plaster…They‘ll provide banner paper for you
to brand and decorate and display it on the Varsity
Arena west bleachers for the final game of the weekend.

Games:
Fri. Nov. 28 6:00 p.m.
Women’s Basketball vs.Brock
Athletic Centre Sports Gym
Sat.Nov. 29 2:00 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball vs.Ryerson
Athletic Centre Sports Gym
Sat.Nov. 29 4:00 p.m.
Women’s Hockey vs.Waterloo
Varsity Arena

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ivan Canete
Varsity Blues Intercollegiate Athletics
ivan.canete@utoronto.ca
(416) 458-4480

Leave The Pack Behind is a Health Promotions group on campus that
provides information about tobacco use and cessation support to
students. This month they have embarked upon an Environmental Theme highlighting the effects of cigarette butt litter. LTPB recently participated in the TD Cleanup through oUTreach and have been
surprised by the volume of cigarette butt litter on campus. Cigarette
butts are not biodegradable; are harmful to small animals and lead to
many harmful chemicals being leached into the soil.
Their team is planning a Cigarette butt Clean-up on campus during the
week of Nov 3rd-7th.  Along with volunteers, they would be picking
up and bagging the cigarette butts along St. George Street. They are
also hoping to have residence environmental teams participate by
cleaning up their residences. At the end of the week, they would be
displaying the bags of cigarette butts and holding an awareness event
in the Sid Smith courtyard with the aim of reducing cigarette butt
litter on campus.

They are currently recruiting more volunteers, if you would be
interested in joining please contact them at
leavetheackbehind@gmail.com

When: Nov 3rd-7th- Along St. George Street
Contact Info: Leave the Pack Behind

Here are just some of the reasons why it is important to raise awareness about cigarette butt litter:

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 Photos by Jonathan Lung 

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Leave The Pack Behind(LTPB) would like to offer you a deal: join UofT’s first “Amazing” Race and get two hours of fun and cool prizes. On Thursday, April 3rd, LTPB would like to invite you to what promises to be an event like no other. LTPB has taken the iniciate to create the smoke free challege“READY, SET, RUN!” in order to make April 3rd a smoke free day annual tradition at U of T. The race is modelled after CBS’ Amazing Race, and you can participate either individually or as a group.

If you don’t feel like running(well, it’s the end of the semester), you can also participate by signing a pledge that states that on April 3rd you’ll remain smoke free. Even if you don’t smoke this is an excellent opportunity to support a U of T smoke free enviorment. You can pledge on LTPB facebook event.

When: Thursday, April 3rd, from 12 – 2pm
Where: The race begins at Koffler Center, opposite to the UofT Bookstore, but there will be different pit stops around U of T’s campus
Additional Info: Admission is Free. For more info please check out LTPB or facebook event

Leave The Pack Behind is a student-run organization(supported by U of T’s Health Promotion department), which provides information on tobacco related issues. In addition, they provide support for smokers who DO NOT want to quit, for smokers who would like to quit, and for friends who would like to help friends quit.