Sale & Pelletier to join SOI next season...

[Lee]

Saw this posted on skatefans...should make Adrian very happy...;)

http://www.newswire.ca/releases/May2002/23/c8828.html

[Rachael]

This is great! 3 of 4 Olympic Champions from SLC in SOI. SOI is starting to look up now.

[Rachael]

I just read my post; it doesn't make sense. Sorry. A/P aren't going to be there. So 3 out of 4 isn't right. Nevermind. :(

[Dustin]

Well it sure will be interesting to see if their poor attendance from earlier this year goes up next year. I will definately go next year (the only reason I went this year was because I got free tickets).

[~RL~]

I'm so happy to hear this... I think they will be an awesome fit for SOI and just what the tour needs to gain some new life!

[JIMBO2002]

I wonder if they will keep training the side by side Triple Toes? Do most of the pro pairs have SBS Triples?

[Josef]

[quote:856616334f="Dustin"]Well it sure will be interesting to see if their poor attendance from earlier this year goes up next year. I will definately go next year (the only reason I went this year was because I got free tickets).[/quote:856616334f]

I agree with you here Dustin.. for this years I won tickets through a contest to go, otherwise I would have skipped out of this one. The show was ok but definitely not up to "SOI standards". With this new cast I am very hopeful about next season's prospects! :)

[TRAxel]

[b:72ae650c04][color=violet:72ae650c04][size=24:72ae650c04]YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!![/size:72ae650c04][/color:72ae650c04][/b:72ae650c04]

[AnnieD]

Hi everyone, just wanted to say hi because this is my first post here.

I'm really, really happy that Jamie and David have joined SOI. I'm a big fan of theirs and I can't wait to see what they come up with. With them, Yagudin and B&S all joining SOI I feel really jealous of all you guys in the States who can actually go and see it! The hour long tv version has at least been shown here at Christmas for the past few years, so I'm crossing my fingers that we'll get it again this year.

[Talisa]

About time they did...maybe I will finally go to my very first ice show...

[bkcanadianangels]

[color=blue:2bbbbed663][/color:2bbbbed663][size=24:2bbbbed663][/size:2bbbbed663]
This so rocks sp allthe way 8) :D

[Rogue]

You almost had it right. It's 3 of 5 SLC gold medalists in the SOI cast.

[Ice Queen]

This is great news!! They will definetely add some "pizazz" to the SOI show.

And with the addition of the Russians I think attendance will increase.

[Melanie Z]

I think S&P are great additions to SOI. Hopefully this will inject some life into SOI and get them back on track. I really think they need to add another strong ladies skater and focus more on skating and less on the theatrical numbers. I think Yuka would be a great addition, I know she's not a huge draw to the mainstream public but she is such a joy to watch.

I would much rather see Yuka than Katerina Witt... who was always a favorite of mine but it's definitly time for her to retire. What was it called on a thread at FSW? Jumping the shark. Yep, she's done it for sure.

Who should they add in the ladies area to fill out their cast? And does anyone know which ladies are returning next season for SOI?

[HotIce]

They are having 3 pair teams?
I don't think they have ever done that before.
Yes, they really need some new ladies.

[Catherine M]

Back in the mid-90s, SOI usually had 3 pair teams. I can remember G&G, Hough & Ledret and B&P being on tour together for one or two seasons so having 3 pair teams in the show won't be something new.

As far as I know, Tara is the only returning female skater so I would guess IMG is actively trying to sign an additional one or two female cast members.

Catherine

[Rogue]

In the Blades on Ice recap of shows planned by NBC next year, they listed Katerina as being in SOI. Don't know if this was a goof or not.

[leap of faith]

Back in 1995 CSOI had 4 pairs
with G&G,H&L,B&P and B&E.
The first three usually did the group stuff while B&E would come out a bit later.

I love pairs so I thought it was awesome. More enjoyable for me than 5 ladies in one show.

1993 had 3 pairs and I believe 1994 did too for CSOI.

[jcspkbfan]

Personally, I can't wait for SOI to return to the days when they had three pairs teams (plus one dance team) on the tour--many fans consider those years to be SOI's greatest shows ever and I loved seeing all the interesting choreography three/four pairs teams could perform together. I was always disappointed B&E didn't perform all the group numbers with the other pairs during those couple-heavy CSOI years, but considering they had relatively little time to learn the group numbers and match their timing with the other three pairs on the tour, I understand why.

As for Katarina, I heard she only signed a year-long contract with SOI last year, but considering how few women the tour has to pick from this year, I wouldn't be surprised if SOI is trying very hard to bring her back for at least one more year--they wouldn't be able to find anyone else with her resume or ability to convert reluctant husbands into skating fans! :wink:

As for any brand-new women SOI may recruit this year, my best bet would probably be Maria Butryskaya--she's one of the few eligible women I can think of who definitely isn't staying in next year and she's already toured with SOI and STN in Canada. I'd personally rather see Yuka or Lucinda back next year, but I can't wait to see how the tour will adapt to so many new cast members!