Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Vision

Johnny.
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.
Please do click twice for full-size view. Gorgeous.



When we allow ourselves to exist 
truly and fully, 
we sting the world with our vision 
and challenge it 
with our own ways of being.
— Thomas Moore



So Johnny’s on his way to Taipei to perform in the incredible Artistry on Ice tour, on a flight that began just after midnight Monday night and will end about 13 hours later early Wednesday morning in Taiwan, which sounds like it should be more like 28 hours later, since Wednesday is typically a whole day or so after Monday, except that it isn’t when you’re flying to Asia, although I’m guessing it may sort of feel like a 13-hour week, which makes travel math sound like skating math, which brings us to the news from more than 13 hours prior to his takeoff, which is that the ISU released the Grand Prix list (full announcement here) for the upcoming season and Johnny wasn’t on it.

Which caused a great disturbance in the Cabal best summed up in the complicated way of the Internet as:

:(

However, all is not lost!

:)

Though it’s fairly complicated since this is, of course, skating.

:/

So here’s the thing, based on sources available to me at this moment / no warranties implied or expressed / your mileage may vary:

(1) Johnny’s absence from the list is not an overt diss from the ISU nor US Figure Skating as far as I know, and as much as it would please me to blame them. Instead, I’m left with blaming them for the fact that it’s June but here in Chicago it’s March, because the temperature is 42 degrees as I write this and that’s a number I don’t like so therefore it must somehow be their fault because I don’t like a lot of their numbers. And it’s numbers that led to his non-appearance on the list, from what I understand via people far more learned than I in the obscure patois of Sanskrit, hieroglyphs, and advanced theoretical math (theoretical as in it bears little resemblance to the actual reality that it supposedly quantifies Denis Ten) that is figure skating these days, the pertinent number in question being this:

Because his last season was cut short and he did not complete a full GP event—meaning skate both a short and long program (since he had to withdraw from Rostelecom after the short, and Finlandia is not a GP event)—he did not accumulate the international competition points necessary to be placed on this year’s GP list.

(2) Despite that, he remains in USFSA’s ISP (International Selection Pool, not Internet Service Provider, though I’d love to imagine the content Johnny might offer in that capacity...), meaning that he is still among the “athletes being considered for an international competition.”

(3) So he could, as I understand it, fill a TBA slot on the GP list. Many seem to think that the open spot at Skate America MIGHT be a possibility.

(4) And there is still a path to Sochi for him even without the GP. This is apparently a two-pronged effort, involving (a) accumulating enough international competition points through non-GP senior B events such as Finlandia, Nebelhorn Trophy, Golden Spin of Zagreb (I am not making this up but I feel like I am), etc., to be eligible, and (b) working his way to US Nationals through sectional and regional competitions and placing well at Nats in order to be chosen for one of the two US Oly team men’s spots.

For more on the topic, please see this discussion on Johnny’s Facebook fan page and try to follow along without getting a migraine.

So! For all who still long to see Johnny compete for one more glorious season, ending with his appearance in Sochi, it is likely too early for black armbands and drunken choruses of “Dirty Love.” At the same time, there also are many other factors involved in this intense and complicated journey, and many decisions that lie ahead. Ultimately only Johnny can make the choices that are best for him, while his fans around the world offer their love and support all along the way.

In the meantime, he’s got a summer full of exhibition skating for all of us to enjoy, which thus far includes four performances with Artistry on Ice in China, three with Fantasy on Ice in Japan (yay for Victor accompanying him and celebrating their birthdays with Japanese fans in July!), and Sun Valley on July 13 and August 31. If you have a chance to attend any of these, DO IT. Seeing Johnny perform live is a breathtaking and unforgettable experience that is truly not to be missed.

And here to remind us of that are videos from his performances over the weekend in Oakland:

His “Black Swan.” So beautiful.
Video link.


Born This Way. Absolutely love it. 
Video link.
Can’t get enough of this...


...so thank goodness for @ayukovon! 
Artwork tweeted yesterday: 
“@JohnnyGWeir Have a safe trip! 
And break a leg in ASIA!”



Bonus video: More Vine vids from Johnny!! 
First he tweeted this one yesterday: 
“Oakland. And the beat goes on...”
Video link.


And then this one
“San Francisco to Taipei.
Video link.



Bonus pic!! Happy Pride Month! 
Johnny as the LA Pride Parade Grand Marshal, June 2011. 
Relive the glory (and the hair) here!



And one more. 
Always dazzling, always inspiring,
always reflecting light and love
wherever the journey takes him.
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.



First sign of summer: 
Sun Valley tickets are on sale! 
Johnny is scheduled to perform again this year 
in Sun Valley’s gorgeous outdoor summer ice shows. 
More info and tickets here!
Photo of Johnny in Sun Valley, summer 2012
courtesy of Mackenzie Keller.



Johnny’s in China the next two weeks!! 
For show and ticket info, please visit the official 
Artistry on Ice websiteFacebook page, or Weibo page. 
And get ready for the Weibocalypse...



Please continue to tweet @Nike 
in a non-irritating way and tell them 
you’d love for them to sponsor Johnny! 
If you’re not on Twitter, you may write to them 
at Nike World Headquarters, One Bowerman Drive, 
Beaverton, OR 97005. More info here! #JustDoIt

To see up-close how battered and worn his skates are 
from thousands of training hours—particularly the left skate, 
because Johnny is a rare clockwise jumper and spinner—
please click here. Photo © David Ingogly.



Johnny’s latest column for the 
Falls Church News-Press.
His columns are published every Thursday 
in the “National Commentary“ 
section—don’t miss a single one! 



Special offer for Johnny’s fans from TWELV Magazine
Get his fabulous limited-edition cover issue of TWELV—
no longer available on newsstands—for 50% off! 
If you’d like to grab one, please email Kevin 
at johnnyweircover@gmail.com, and he’ll explain 
how to order and pay for your copy. 
Do it now—there are only a few left!



updated calendars, in case you missed out on buying yours 
in January! The new 12-month version runs from 
July 2013 to June 2014, while the 18-month version takes you 
from July 2013 all the way to December 2014.



Johnny is an amazing choice for both 
a Nike sponsorship and nomination to the newly founded 
Here’s whyand what fans can do to help. 
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.



A number of Johnny’s auction items have been relisted
which means if you missed out the first time around, 
you’re in luck: It’s not too late to own a piece of Weir Gear! 
Go check it out and see what treasures you could take home!



Patti has posted a new message 
on Johnny’s Comeback Gift Fund website, 
with her thoughts on 2013 Nationals 
and what lies ahead for next season. 
Please go read it now!



Please alert absolutely everyone you’ve ever met 
to “like” and follow the new 
on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr
Because he should be on all the things. 
With or without ice. 
But definitely with Viacheslav.



HE REALLY, REALLY IS!! 
Landing quads and kicking ass!
Read his comeback statement 
and the update on his website!



Please click to vote for Johnny 
once a day as “Best Sportsman”
Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka 
to tell us he wants us to! 



Need to see Seasons 1 and 2 all over again? 
Watch episodes online anytime on Logo!
Please be sure to check in with GetGlue
anytime you’re watching the show... 
or thinking about watching the show.... 
or wishing you were watching the show....



At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!
Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!



Johnny tweeted:
“Buy my single,’Dirty Love’ via iTunes.
Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold
takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!”

IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
You know what to do.
Please buy the song from Johnny’s website,
or just click the “Buy” button on the player
at the top of the blog!



Hey, Welcome to My World also is available
as an eBook! More info on Johnny’s website!


copyright 2013 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved


2 comments:

aaaack said...

Thank you, Binky, for sorting this all out and giving us fans hope. Skating rules are as clear as mud to us nonskaters, and even to many skaters.

Hope Johnny (and later Victor) has a great trip.

WheresMyKoppy said...

Thanks for explaining the whole Gran Prix thing... I'll hold out hope Johnny will still be at Nationals and have a shot as Sochi, if that's what he really wants to do. As you said, he has to do what's best for him.

I'd love to be in Sun Valley, especially since I know other fans I haven't seen in a while or met yet will be there. But alas, until I hit the Powerball I'll be lucky to get my car fixed.

Thanks again for another great blog and for helping to clear up the confusion about the GP assignments, not to mention the flying forward or backward or sideways, lol.

Golden Spin of Zagreb - Really? LOL!