Oksana Returns

[JBOY]

Oksana has signed with IMG so we will be seeing her again . SOI next season yippeee.:D

[jcspkbfan]

I don't think Oksana signing with IMG automatically means she'll be with SOI next year (unless Oksana herself has made an announcement of some sort about that). I think Nicole Bobek's also signed with IMG, but she's never toured with SOI, either. But considering SOI's current drought as far as avaliable singles skaters to choose from, stranger things have happened! Oksana does sound a lot happier since the last time we've seen her regularily on the ice, so hopefully that will show up in her skating.

[JBOY]

She will be skating with SOI, this is first had infromation. She is really excited to start skating again .

[coco]

well I'm excited to see her, but I hope she takes it easy. That's a huge undertaking after not doing any skating for a while. Best of luck...and yes, that will get me to buy an SOI ticket if it pans out!!!

[wvgal57]

I so hope this is true! What an artist and someone I've missed so much. I hope she pulls it all together (and I understand she is happy now so this should help) and shows us what an artist on the ice is.

I'll have to get tickets for sure now, gosh I'm excited. She is well worth a ticket and I'm sure that she'll be in fine shape too.

What great news.

[dbny]

Now I'm really glad I sprang for up front tix for next year. I have always wanted to see her live.

[yogurtslinger]

I'm soooo happy. That said, I hope she does commit to getting into shape and doing a challenging program-- challenging as in challenging to herself as an artist.

Either way, what unexpected (and wonderful) news!

[mskater]

Whoa, this is great news:] I'm so excited for her and can't wait to see her live again! Definitely a good reason to get SOI tickets:]

[texas1966]

I watched a recent biography on Oksana. She looked great and sounded very happy. On the show they said she is skating 5 or 6 days and week and working with Valintine (not sure of spelling) the coach with her in the Kiss and Cry at the Olympics. I can't wait to see her skate again, I think the time off is what she needed and a great boyfriend can't hurt either--sounds like Oksana has found happiness in
life and that should show in her performances. Good Luck to her and much Happiness!!!!!!


Kay

[Meredith]

If this is true, I'm ordering my tickets . . . now!

[Artemis]

There's no news about it at the official SOI web site ...

[yogurtslinger]

What recent biography is this? I haven't seen her on TV in ages.

[Artemis]

It's Biography with a capital B -- the series on A&E TV. They did an episode on her either last week or the week before, and it was new this year.

[The Village Idiot]

Am I the only one not thrilled with this? To me, this is a sign that SOI is (unfortunately) on the decline. I know SOI was a bit weak on the ladies this year, but I'd rather see a Yuka Sato, Josee Chouinard (pray for Katia and Ilia, but doubt it) and quite a few others before Oksana. Hopefully she'll come out wowing us (unlike anything she has done since that fateful night in 1994) and prove me wrong, but we shall see...

[skatingfan3]

Village,

I see your point but Josee C. has retired from touring and Yuka is coaching with her husband Jason and doesn't she work as a figure skating commentator for a Japanese TV station? She still performs in exhibitions but touring?? I don't know.

I have mixed feelings about Oksana joining SOI. Not that I don't want her to but she hasn't tour for two years and touring can be very exhausting.

Deborah

[JBOY]

Oksana was on tour from the age of 15 . She is ready after two yrs to go back thats a good thing. Rather go back when she ready then skate when she was a emotional mess. Im looking forward to seeing her with a new mindset.

[Artemis]

JBOY: you say this is "first hand information." Do you have a link? There's still no announcement on the official SOI site, and googling "Oksana Baiul" with "Stars on Ice" only brings up really old links.

[JBOY]

No there is no link yet. But im sure some annoucement will be made. Eveything was finalized days ago .

[Yuri]

The latest BOI Update mentions everything BUT the SOI signing, but her signing with IMG should be enough so that everyone can "read between the lines". It'll be great to see her back on the ice again!

Yuri


http://bladesonice.com/mag/blaweb1.htm

Olympic And World Champion Returns To The Ice
Oksana Biaul Plans to Return to the Ice
NEW YORK, NY,– 1994 Olympic Gold medalist and 1993 World champion, Oksana Biaul has announced that, after nearly a two-year hiatus from on-ice training, she will return to the ice and begin working on programs to be performed this fall.

Biaul, has been spending her well-deserved time off the ice focusing on her clothing line, the Oksana Biaul Collection, a figure skating apparel line that Oksana is manufacturing and designing. She has also been busy settling into her new home in New Jersey with fiancé, Gene Sunik.

Biaul, 25 has signed with IMG agent David Baden, and is looking forward to performing for audiences again.

“My heart is on the ice.ÊIt’s where I can best express myself and share my passion with the audience,” said Biaul.

While spending time at last week’s World Championships in Washington D.C., the ladies’ competition certainly sparked Biaul’s memories of her gold medal winning performance in 1993. “I can’t believe it has been 10 years since I won my World title. It feels like yesterday,” she said.

Biaul is currently training at the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan and in Richmond, Va., with coach, Valentin Nikolayev.

[bbtano]

Village Idiot, I'm not that thrilled with the news either, esp if the quality (and drama) of her performances end up being the same as those of her post-Olympic stretch. I'd much rather see Yuka Sato, Lucinda Ruh, Katia Gordeeva or Sylvia Fontana with SOI.

Oksana has such amazing natural ability, though....I'd hate to see it go to waste. Maybe she is in good physical shape and can perform at a respectable level technically so she will "WOW" all of us! :-) That would be wonderful.

[Melanie Z]

Honestly, although I loved her Amateur skating, I was not a fan of her pro years. It was difficult to really enjoy watching her later because you just didn't know what you were going to get. It's tough to see someone with some obvious emotional problems performing at a substandard level. You just cringed for her.

I will be SHOCKED if she is indeed signed with SOI. I think she lost a ton of her credibility and really hasn't had a chance to earn it back. I think if she had gotten back into form and skated some smaller comps or tours (either here or abroad) SOI would be more willing to take her on. I know that SOI is in DIRE need of a female headliner but I just don't see them taking such a gamble on Oksana, simply because they need a reliable female headliner.

If Oksana is indeed back in top emotional and physical form, I think it would be great and I really hope to see it. Of course I have no idea whether they signed her or not, I am just stating that I will be really surprised.

[jcspkbfan]

The main difference between Oksana and the other skaters listed on this thread so far is that she's an Olympic champion and the others, unfortunately, aren't. Even though Josée, Yuka and Lucinda have had more successful pro careers, Oksana's name is still probably more recognizable to the general public and considering the dearth of ladies' skaters SOI has to choose from at this point, I could see why they'd be willing to take a chance with Oksana. IMO, Oksana's probably a more realistic possibly as SOI's new women's Olympic champion headliner than Sarah Hughes (frankly, I can't imagine how she'd be able to combine SOI with the "normal college life" she wants to have!)

If Oksana does join SOI, it probably won't happen until next season, which gives her plenty of time to get herself in shape by the time the tour goes on the road. I admit I'm another person who would rather see Josée, Yuka or Lucinda, but again, the general public would probably feel differently, so hopefully Oksana's newfound happiness will result in more consistent performances on the ice!

I also wonder how this will affect any sort of comeback Tara Lipinski might attempt next year (although right now, Tara's acting career sounds like her first priority).

[skatingfan3]

It seems like Tara gets more joy talking about her budding acting career than her skating comeback. In the last 3 or 4 diary entries, she didn't mentioned anything about her skating or her hip. She talks about auditions, her new tiny Beverly Hills apartment, movie premieres, auditions, eating her favorite bagels or muffins at her favorite pastry shop, dinners, shoppings, etc.

I think her skating comeback depends on her acting jobs. If she gets enough acting gigs, skating can wait.

Deborah

[irene2020]

I am very glad to hear about oksana's come back. Oksana is very talented. SOI makes the right move.

[toepick]

Am I the only one not excited about this? I know she had a rough time dealing with her new fame and ran into some trouble. But after such a long (and somewhat high profile) hiatus, will she really have the jumps/skating stamina to do such a long tour? Not to mention, will her drama in her post/pre skates overshadow the rest of the skating?

[JBOY]

The reason Oksana isnt joining the cast this yr is because she wants to do it right . That means get into top shape. She wants to return on the right foot. It was her choice to join the tour when she is at that point.
Oksana also is no stranger to the touring life she has done it before.
The diffrence this time is that she is in a new place in her life.
Why people feel the need hold her admitted mistakes of the past ,and not let her prove herself is beyond me.
The I thought i would share the information for those of her fans who have been asking "will she skate again?" So now you know she will.
May be those who feel the need to be so negitive, think back of mistake you made in your life and have someone constanly hold it over your head even tho you have done what you had to to to fix it.
Give the girl a break for goodness sake.
On a lighter note. Its good to see a lot of support :) Thanks

[yogurtslinger]

I agree JBoy... with Oksana, it seems sometimes people have a tendency to forever hold her accountable for her past and for the mistakes she's made. We all make mistakes, but most of us not so visibly under the public eye. Oksana is finding her way just like the rest of us-- I think the only difference is, she's not shy about allowing us to see her troubles and to see her pain. Why does that honesty make so many people uncomfortable, I don't really understand.

I see a flawed, talented person... but certainly no more flawed than your average person... just more honest about it-- both to herself and to her audience.

As for her skating-- she's only 25. She still has room to grow, and I wish her the best :)

[MBH]

Well said yogurtslinger! I wish Oksana the best. Even when her jumps aren't there, when she is on, she is wonderful to watch. Dick Button said of her in 1999 that she remains one of the finest skaters with her lyricism and talent. I agree, when she is on. LOL

[The Village Idiot]

As a note, we're not holding her past mistakes "over her head" - we're merely commentating on her recent skating performances past...say 1995...

Best of luck to her...

[barnita]

I am delighted to hear Oksana plans to perform again. She has so much passion when she skates and is so expressive of the music that the jumps don't matter to me. I'd love to see her back skating again.

[Melanie Z]

I don't think I had any negative things to say about Oksana's return to skating with SOI. I do think though that it's surprising that SOI signed her without her getting back into pro-skating first and really seeing what she is able to do at this point.

I think from a business standpoint, SOI has a duty to their audience to present a show comprised of very elite skaters, and skaters that perform at a level expected of a professional athlete. After all, the ticket prices are steep! Based on that, I do think it's surprising they signed her because she hasn't participated in so long in the professional skating realm.

As far as a personal opinion, I would much rather see strong all around skaters such as Katia, Dorothy Hamill etc. rather than jumping beans so I think if Oksana is in excellent shape both physically and emotionally she will be a valuable asset. My first choice would have been Yuka Sato. Now there's a complete all around skater!

[winter]

I'm happy to hear of Oksana's comeback. I've missed seeing her skate.

[yogurtslinger]

I wonder what kind of an Oksana we'll be seeing? She's a bit like Madonna that way.. always changing. That's one of the things I like about her. That's one of the things I like about Madonna. Hm.. ;)

I just hope she doesn't do something like "it's a wonderful life" (or whatever program that was), which obviously did not challenge her at all. I think it's great that she wants to "do it right" by training to get back into shape. Although I do think Oksana is the type of skater who would benefit from structure and a strict coach who urges her to try new things. Her posture and some of her movement from '97 onwards has been bothering me a bit. Her "remake" of The Swan in particular highlights her new style- a sort of crouched posture, etc., which is less "classic" from her old style.

Actually, all that can just be summed up as-- get thee back to a ballet class! Oksana has so much potential... I guess first and foremost I would like to see her get back into good shape, because without that, I don't think we'll see her pushing the artistic envelope again... which would be very sad. Either way, I'm happy to hear that she still has skating in her heart and blood.