Rochette enhances sultry style

Canada's Joannie Rochette skates her short program at the Skate Canada International figure skating event in Kitchener November 20, 2009.

KITCHENER, ONT.
There was always a whole lot of woman in the girl Joannie Rochette used to be.
That has been a defining feature of the five-time Canadian figure skating champion: A ripe sensuality that set her apart from the pretty little girls, eternally child-like Petra Pans, who traditionally dominate this sport at the elite level.
It's that mature elegance, with a huge dollop of sultriness, which the 23-year-old is seeking to showcase in the season run-up to the Vancouver Olympics and this weekend at Skate Canada.
"If you knew me five years ago, I'm not the same girl," Rochette said after knocking down a huge career-best 70.00 score in Friday's short program, putting her way out front of all challengers heading into Saturday night's free skate. Then she added, with a laugh: "Probably also because I couldn't speak English and I was intimidated speaking to all of you."
Experience plus success has taken the edge off shyness; a steady climb through the ranks, where many rivals matriculated spectacularly, has plumped the confidence. She is, further, a strong athlete – not just a skater or contortionist – as evident in the lithe, cut-muscle physique.
Rochette, reigning world silver medallist, went tango this year for the always make-or-break short with its demanding technical elements and the drama of "La Cumparsita" suits her intense, smouldering projection.
"I've never done tango before. I thought it would be a good idea for my style of skating because tango can be very strong but also sensual. I didn't want to do all the normal tango poses. I wanted to add some subtleties while using all the nuances and the sensuality a tango can have."
What emerged was a bold statement with Olympic polish, a young woman who performs with inner certitude these days and outer flair, just loving the music, the crowd, the limelight.
Growing self-assurance with gusts, perhaps, to hubris caused a temporary setback three weeks ago at the Cup of China, which was Rochette's other Grand Prix circuit assignment this season. This same short program, badly executed, left Rochette in seventh, though a rallying long program secured her a bronze medal.
In Beijing, Rochette opted to attempt a triple-triple combination in the short because the combo had been going so well in practice. She'd never done it in the short and, in fact, does a slightly less difficult triple-step-triple sequence in the free. But for the past two seasons, as those awesome Japanese girls in particular have uncorked 3-3s, Rochette has been constantly asked about her intentions to follow suit. She gave it a shot in Beijing. "I kind of changed it without my coach's consent." And paid for it in the air – doubling the Lutz, singling a later Axel, the whole rhythm cocked up. "I really wanted to challenge myself and I did not follow the plan. That's when I learned the importance of having a plan and sticking to it."
This week, in practice, Rochette has completely avoided the triple-triples, which may or may not be there come the Olympics.
"The short program is already a big challenge artistically," she said. "It's such a great vehicle that I don't need a triple-triple if I do all the elements perfectly. That's the key in a short program, to get those (grades), to get those spins."
Room for improvement remains because Rochette left some points on the table, levels not quite up to max potential – an edge-change un-clear on a spiral, a final position not held long enough on the combination spin and a bit more speed needed to uplift overall.
But these are bagatelles, the stuff of training and concentration. Figure skating is all about managing the micro and releasing oneself to the macro. Says Rochette: "It's a sport where you need to shut your brain and let your body skate."