Figure Skating

KITCHENER, Ont. -- Driving through the pouring rain, past a ma jor transport truck fire on the way to Skate Canada this morning, proved worth it when I watched the first practice this morning at the old Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

The sight of Akiko Suzuki was enough. A year ago, her name wasn't on anybody's lips. But this young Japanese woman has upset the cart everywhere, including her own country with her consistent performances.

She's sailed past Mao Asada, who hasn't won a Grand Prix (Suzuki has), and Yukari Nakano, and she's a better bet to land a rotated triple than Miki Ando, who has won two Grand Prix and has already qualified for the Grand Prix Final.

Suzuki is very real on the ice. She has a joyful aspect when she skates. She's floats around the ice with speed and a little grin. She's quietly exquisite, and like all Japanese figure skaters, very fast.

She looks happy. Asada does not. Ando struggles in her success.

Watch this girl this week.

And also, Joannie Rochette looked powerful, solid, confident, queenly in her practice this morning. Her Cup of China blip (finishing only seventh in the short program in an event she should have won), was a wakeup call. Judging from this morning, Rochette is very much awake and looks totally capable of messing up Kim Yu-Na's plans in February in Vancouver.