Ten Reasons to Watch (& Love) Figure Skating

Everybody needs a good top ten list. Here's mine... ten reasons to watch (and love) figure skating:

1. Athleticism. You try doing a triple axel. No really... go ahead!

2. Drama. No, not the Tanya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan kind. I'm talking about the emotional depth and dramatic performance by some of the world's best actors on ice.

3. Pizazz. Some of the best showmen and women on ice can dazzle with style, skating to jazz, rock, rap, disco, you name it (minus those who missed the memo on how "Carmen" and "Scheherazade" should be banned for life!)

4. Beauty. You really must be blind not to find Yu-Na Kim's skating beautiful, not to mention nearly all of the other competitors at the Olympic level.

5. Beast. As if... no burly, hairy hockey players allowed. But do watch out for venomous skating parents and Russian coaches.

6. Strength. Watch Shen & Zhao. He makes it look like she's light as a feather heaving her up into a throw triple twist.

7. Inspiration. Tell me Sarah Hughes's winning program in 2002 didn't inspire you and oh by the way, I'm Santa Claus.

8. Bling. 'Nuff said.

9. Unpredictability. Because the skater who's best one day may not be best the next. There's a surprise at every competition.

10. Delight. It truly takes your breath away when it's done well.

Satisfied?  Skate Canada starts tomorrow!  Be there, eh?

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Sarah Granger will recap Skate Canada on the blog. To view the event, check TV listings. In the U.S., it will be shown on NBC and Universal Sports. For live tweets, see @segsk8