キーラ・コルピ研究所/Addicted to Kiira Korpi!(a fan blog)

We have moved to new site!/Muutamme uudelle sivustolle!/引っ越しました！

We are moving!

Dear visitors,
"Addicted to Kiira Korpi!" is now moving to a new site, "kiira-korpi.net"!
http://www.kiira-korpi.net/
We've copied all articles (except very recent comments etc.) to there and
provide you multilingual menus (English, Finnish and Japanese for now),
new content and functions such as forums, polls....
You can also post articles to our blog as one of our registered members.
So, visit our new site and enjoy it!
regards,
Takashi and Ville / kiira-korpi.net - The unofficial fansite

Hyvät vierailijat,
Lukemasi Kiira Korpi -faniblogi muuttaa nyt täysin uuteen
"kiira-korpi.net" -sivustoon!
http://www.kiira-korpi.net/
Olemme kopioineet kaikki aikaisemmat artikkelit (poislukien muutamat
aivan uusimmat kommentit ym.) uuteen sivustoon ja tarjoamme teille
monikielisen käyttöliittymän (tällä hetkellä englanti, suomi ja japani),
uutta sisältöä ja uusia toimintoja kuten keskustelufoorumin, gallupeja...
Rekisteröityneenä käyttäjänä voit myös itse lisätä artikkeleja blogiin.
Joten vieraile uudella sivutollamme ja toivottavasti pidät siitä!
Terveisin,
Takashi ja Ville / kiira-korpi.net - Epävirallinen fanisivusto

お越しいただいた皆さまへ
キーラ・コルピ研究所は、http://www.kiira-korpi.net/へ引っ越しします。
新サイトは、新コンテンツ＆新機能に加え、多言語仕様など、もろもろパワーアップ！
会員登録していただくと、ブログの元記事なども投稿できるようになってます。
お時間のあるときにでも覗いてみてくださいませ。
※読み込みがうまくいかない時があるようです。そんな場合は、
いったん中止（×ボタン）してから、更新・再読み込み（くるくる矢印）してみてください。
所長＆Ville

Free Skate Starting Order [Skate America (4)]

Ladies free skate starting order is here.
Wow, Kiira is the first skater of all!

Group 1
1Kiira KORPI FIN
2Mira LEUNG CAN
3Michelle CANTU MEX
4Katy TAYLOR USA
5Valentina MARCHEI ITA
Group 2
6Mao ASADA JPN
7Emily HUGHES USA
8Kimmie MEISSNER USA
9Miki ANDO JPN
10Sarah MEIER SUI
11Mai ASADA JPN

フリーはなんと１番滑走です。

8th place after SP [Skate America (3)]

Kiira is 8th place after Short Program.
Results is here.
FPl. Name Nat. Points
1 Mao ASADA JPN 68.84
2 Miki ANDO JPN 66.74
3 Kimmie MEISSNER USA 58.82
4 Sarah MEIER SUI 57.60
5 Emily HUGHES USA 57.42
6 Mai ASADA JPN 48.66
7 Mira LEUNG CAN 44.34
8 Kiira KORPI FIN 42.98
9 Valentina MARCHEI ITA 42.92
10 Michelle CANTU MEX 37.38
11 Katy TAYLOR USA 34.66

Go Kiira! Fly High!!

SPを終えて8位。
FSでどこまで挽回できるか…!?
頑張れ、キーラ！

Kiira is there and practicing! [Skate America (2）]

Kiira is practicing on Skate America at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford!


[Photo caption] KIIRA KORPI of Finland, who is competing in the ladies division of Skate America 2006, starts her routine during a practice session at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford on Wednesday. Oct 25, 2006
Photo by Yoon S. Byun from Skate America Photo Gallery, The Hartford Courant - sports



Photo by Michelle Wojdyla from 2006 Skate America News and Photos, U.S. Figure Skating
Photos, videos, news and blogs... They're doing really great works!

Skate America is coming!

It's Kiira's first overseas competition in this season.
Go, Kiira! Go, Again!

Skate America official site is here.

Competitors
Joanne CARTER AUS
Mira LEUNG CAN
Kiira Korpi FIN
Valentina MARCHEI ITA
Miki ANDO JPN
Mai ASADA JPN
Mao ASADA JPN
Michelle CANTU MEX
Sarah MEIER SUI
Emily HUGHES USA
Kimmie MEISSNER USA
Katy TAYLOR USA

All Skaters (updated)
All Skaters (pdf)

LADIES Schedule in EST(U.S. Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Ladies Practice 2:50 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.

Thursday, October 26, 2006
Ladies Practice 7:00 a.m. - 8:35 a.m.

Friday, October 27, 2006
Ladies Practice 12:45 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Ladies Short Program Competition 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 28, 2006
Ladies Practice 10:30 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.
Ladies Free Skating Competition 5:30 p.m.
Award Ceremonies Immediately following the conclusion of the Pair event

Sunday, October 29, 2006
Exhibition of Champions 2:00 p.m.

All schedule

Venue
Hartford Civic Center

TV Schedule
U.S. Figure Skating
Ladies Short 10/29 1pm-2pm ABC
Ladies Free 11/5 5pm-6pm ABC
TV Asahi (Japan)
BS Asahi
Ladies Short/Men Free 10/28 7pm-8:54pm TV Asahi, 9pm-10:55pm BS Asahi
Ladies Free 10/29 6:56pm-8:54pm TV Asahi, 10:00pm-0:00am BS Asahi

The most positive driving student of the year

Pirkanmaan Sanomat, a free weekly newspaper in the Tampere region has published a little story of Kiira in driving school. The instructor calls her as "the most positive student of the year".
See article (DigiPaper) (select "Sivu 16 - Sivu 17" from the second dropdown menu)

Kiira Korpi is currently undergoing a driving school and she should get her drivers license in a couple of week. Kiira assures that she's going to keep her positive attitude also on the road.

Pirkanmaan Sanomat is riding along on Kiira's driving lesson and the extra person on the backseat will surely cause some extra pressure. But there's nothing that would give it away. The driving instructor Markku "Topi" Koivistoinen is going to make Kiira to do a practise driving test.

- It was quite exciting at first. I started with an empty slate, I didn't have for example a motorcycle license like some people do. At the beginning driving in the traffic was really terrifying, Kiira remembers.

- Training on the slippery track was fun. They let us try handbrake turns and you learn how the car behaves when there's no grip.

And so we start. First we head to Hervanta and Kiira has to navigate there by herself. The route is familiar, Kiira has trained a lot in the Hervanta rink although Hakametsä is her homerink.

Next up is the nightmare of every new driver, namely the reversing exercises. The first one goes perfectly straight away, but the second one needs a another try. Kiira also manages her first pocket parking with style.

The trip continues through Hallila and Nekala and back to the centrum. There's some little mistakes, but Topi Koivistoinen says that had it been a real driving test Kiira would have passed.

Kiira smiles. She's going to keep her positive attitude also on the road. The correct attitude for traffic has been learned already from home.

- It's really challenging when you have something totally new on your hands.

Busy and competitive spring

The Sampo sports-highschool third grader has action filled weekdays. There's not much freetime. Kiira spends couple of hours on ice every day and on top of that comes all the additional and off ice training. Lately all the sponsor duties and publicity has been keeping her busy.

- Luckily the school can adapt and make compromises. I have decided to use four years to complete my highschool. [translators note: three years is the default]

The season is just about to begin. Last weekend Kiira skated in Hämeenlinna and next weekend there's an international Finlandia Trophy competition in Helsinki. After that the smiling figurehead of Finnish figure skating is going to GP-competition in United States and a month later to another GP-competition in Moscow.

The Finnish Championships are held in december. The main goals of the season are in the spring. The European Championships are held in Warsaw in january and the World Championships are in March in Tokyo.

But before that Kiira has to complete her driving school. Who will be the happiest when you get your drivers licence? Kiira laughs.

- Me, but I think my mother and father will also be happy when they no longer have to drive me everywhere.

[photo caption] The most positive Finn is going to keep her attitude also on the road. Markku Koivistoinen works as a driving instructor.

[photo caption] Although compulsary figures are no longer part of figure skating, they will always stay in the traffic. Kiira Korpi is just about to complete her driving school.
(English translation by Kiira-fan)

Kiira's costumes in Finlandia Trophy were sponsored by Stella Speio

Some info on Kiira's dresses on the Stella Speio website.
Kiira Korpi will skate 7.-8. 10 in Finlandia Trophy in dresses manufactured and sponsored by Stella Speio. Kiira's bright red flamenco style short program dress is impressive and also challenging creation.
The material used in the top part is wrinkled chiffon and DanceCrep is used in the skirt part. Circa 4500 rhinestones has been used for decoration, which all were glued on the dress one by one during a 12 hour working period. The crystal earrings are from the vast collection imported by Stella Speio.

In her free skate Kiira Korpi will wear a delicate green Peppermint-colored dress. Also this dress has been manufactured from a totally new kind on stretch-chiffon.

These dresses have been designed by Tuomas Merikoski from Paris togheter with Stella Speio. Stella Speio has implemented the neccessary changes to the desings of Tuomas in order to make the dresses more suitable to be used on ice.

Stella Speio will be present in Finlandia Trophy and you can meet Kiira in our stand. Go Kiira! Photos of Kiira's new dresses will be added soon.
(English translation by Kiira-fan)

Kiira Korpi won 2006 Finlandia Trophy!!!/キーラ・コルピ優勝！

Yes! Kiira won!! Congratulations!!!
©YLE|TV2



Results (pdf) are here.
Short Program Judges Scores
Short Program Segment Details
Free Skating Judges Scores
Free Skating Segment Details
Final Results

Video of Free Skating (100MB) from YLE|TV2
Finlandia Trophy overview in YLE sports news

Kiira Korpi is 3rd place after SP in Finlandia Trophy/SP終えて3位

Photo by Ritti: Kiira at morning practice session.

Kiira is the 3rd place after short program in 2006 Finlandia Trophy.
Results
Judges details (pdf)
Here is some photos and video (thanks, Kiira-fan)
Photos from morning practice session
Video clip from a sports news including comments from Susanna, Alisa and Kiira
And here's a starting order for free skating.
Ladies, Free Skating
1 Margarita Tertichnaia RUS
2 Roxana Luca ROM
3 Niina Laksola FIN
4 Elena Muhhina EST
5 Erica Archambault USA

6 Kiira Korpi FIN
7 Julia Sebestyen HUN
8 Alisa Drei FIN
9 Elena Glebova EST
10 Susanna Pöykiö FIN

SP終わって3位。
ジャッジ見る限りでは、5コンポーネンツはいい線いってるっぽいんだけど、
ジャンプでミスってるのかな？
まだフリーで取り返せるでしょう。頑張れ～！

Finlandia Trophy is coming!/フィンランディア・トロフィー迫る！

It's Kiira's first international competition in this season.
Go, Kiira! Go!
but take it easy!
Finlandia Trophy official site is here.

Competitors　出場選手
Ladies (Short Program Starting Order)
1 Niina Laksola FIN
2 Elena Glebova EST
3 Julia Sebestyen HUN
4 Roxana Luca ROM
5 Susanna Pöykiö FIN

6 Margarita Tertichnaia RUS
7 Erica Archambault USA
8 Kiira Korpi FIN
9 Elena Muhhina EST
10 Alisa Drei FIN
Men and Officials
Past winners

Schedule　日程
Friday, October 6, 2006
Practice 14.00 -17.20
Judges Meeting 18.30 -19.00
Opening Draw 19.00 -19.30

Saturday, October 7, 2006
Practice 09.00 -12.00
Short Program Competition, Men 14.30 -15.50
Exhibition 16.05 -16.35
Short Program Competition, Ladies 17.00 -18.20

Sunday, October 8, 2006
Practice 08.00 -11.20
Free Skating Competition, Men 13.00 -14.30
Free Skating Competition, Ladies 14.54 -16.20
Award Ceremony 16.30

Articles in Finnish　(summaries by Kiira-fan. thanks)
YLE sports
MTV3 sports

There were somekind of press conferense with the Finnish skaters yesterday, nothing much information except that all the Finnish ladies have new programs for this season and they all admit that the programs still need some tuning.

Susanna is still Finland's number one skater, Kiira and Alisa are challengers. Both Susanna and Alisa have moved back to their hometowns and Susanna is now coached by her older sister and Alisa's coach is her mother.
Kiira comments her programs like this: "The prgrams are not yet in top shape, but like them both very much. The short program is temperamentic and intense skating and the long program is more traditional and classic skating."

Although it's not televised live, there will be 45 minute program about the competition on sunday and it will probably contain at least Kiira's long program.

Venue　会場　　
Valtti Arena　　© 2006 Tikkurilan Urheilupuisto & Jouni Virta


今シーズン初の国際大会、いよいよ今週末です！
日曜日に地元でテレビ放送があるそうなので、楽しみに待ちましょう。

More(original Finnish articles)

Kiira Korpi's interview on a figure skating magazine in Japan/インタビュー掲載誌

Kiira's interview and photos at Japan Open 2006 has been appeared on a Japanese magazine, "World Figure Skating" No.24, Oct. 2006 issue. .
The article contains a nice interview by a famous writer/editor, Waki Shiraishi and beautiful photos of Kiira on and off ice.

COI会場などで先行販売されていて、
もうご覧になってる方も多いかもしれませんが、雑誌
「ワールド・フィギュアスケート」24号にキーラちゃんのインタビュー掲載！　
パチパチパチパチ…。
取材はジャパンオープン前日だったようです。インタビューアーは、
「五十嵐文男の華麗なるフィギュアスケート」、「君なら翔べる！」
などでもおなじみの白石和己さんです。
みなさま、是非ともお買い上げくださいませ！(笑)

Happy Birthday Kiira!/お誕生日おめでとう！

Today, 26th September 2006,
it's Kiira Korpi's 18th birthday!

Happy Happy Birthday, Kiira!!!

Hope you have a wonderful and fruitful year filled with love!

キーラちゃん、18歳の誕生日おめでとう！
素晴らしい1年になりますように…。

勝手に誕生パーティ！/Unofficial birthday party in Japan

勝手にキーラ・コルピの誕生パーティin東京を企画中！
フィンランドなカフェでキーラちゃん18歳の誕生日を祝おう！
日時：9/23（土・祝）　午後12時集合
場所：荻窪の北欧カフェmoicafe
予算：500円くらい～?（飲食代のみ）
当日はキーラちゃんに送る寄せ書きカードも作成予定！

詳しくはこちらへ。ログインできない方はメールをくださいませ。

Invitation:
Kiira Korpi unofficial 18th birthday party in Japan
Date: Saturday, 23rd September 2006
Time: afternoon
Place: at moicafe, a finnish cafe in Ogikubo, Tokyo (subject to change)
fee: 500yen or more?
Why don't you come and join us!?
Let's have a chat about Kiira over a cup of coffee.
For further infomation, please mail me or comment here.
Takashi

Who's Mr. Harry Harkimo!?/新マネージャー、ハリー・ハーキモ氏とは

Who's Harry "Hjallis" Harkimo, her manager...?
Photos of him reminds me of
the talkshow on MTV3 in March.
Yeah, it was him! Great!
# but how can i pronounce his name?

つかハリーって誰よ？
と思ってちょっと調べてみたら…。
どこかで見覚えのあるこの顔は…!?
なんと、この人だったのか！
ハーキモ？　ハルキモ？　ファーストネームもどう読むんだ？
Kiira talked with Harry "Hjallis" Harkimo and Anna Sorainen on a MTV3 talkshow in March. ©MTV3

Kiira Korpi on sports news/新聞によりますと…

Several sports news on Finnish TVs and newspapers reported the latest topics of Kiira Korpi.
ILTALEHTI online
Turun Sanomat
Hufvudstadsbladet(svenska)
Here is a short summary translated by Kiira-fan.
Photo: ©Valio

The leading dairy-product manufacturer Valio announced yesterday that they have made a two year sponsorship deal (plus one optional year) with Kiira Korpi which will cover all her training at home and abroad for the next years and also enable her to bring two person along with her out of three, both of her coaches and physiotherapist to international competitions (also here in English). Her goals for next season is to qualify for both EC (3 spots for Finland) and WC (2 spots for Finland) and the long term goal is still the 2010 Winter Olympics.

On the articles she also tells that during the summer she begun working on the triple-axel, and it's almost there but we won't see her trying it yet on the coming season. Along with normal school she is also doing her driving school so that she can get her driver's licence as soon as she turns eighteen.

PS.
The music for the short program is from the sound track of the movie "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" and she says she hasn't seen the movie (and the writer thinks it's probably a good thing).

※乳製品メーカーのValioがキーラと2年間のスポンサー契約を決定。国内外すべての練習をはじめ、両コーチや理学療法士を海外の大会にも同行できるように支援。（お、これは大きいぞ。すばらしい！）
18歳になったらすぐに運転免許を取れるように教習所にも通っている。（ホントに通ってんのね！）

PS.
んで、ショートプログラムの音楽は「レジェンド・オブ・メキシコ／デスペラード」ですか。ほー。これは後ほど詳しく。あと、トリプルアクセルも研究中！ ほとんどできてるんだけど、今シーズンの本番ではやらないだろうって感じですか。うーむ、なるほど。

Kiira Korpi is the most positive Finn/キーラ・コルピが「フィンランドで一番ポジティブな人」に！

© Positiivarit Ky
Kiira Korpi has been chosen as The Most Positive Finn of the year.

Behind the selection were Junior Chamber International Finland and Positiivarit ry (organization promoting positive thinking). Also a group of other business leaders were in the jury this year. The award was presented in Helsinki on thursday.

The grounds for the award were Kiira Korpi's determination in life, sense of direction and a rousingly positive attitude towards life, which makes her a close and wholesome role model for young people. Kiira Korpi is also a shining "business-card" for Finland on the international ices.

(Reported and translated by Kiira-fan. thanks!)

先日、「タンペレで一番ポジティブな人」に選ばれてましたが、今度は「フィンランド全国で一番ポジティブな人」に選ばれたそうです。

Kiira Korpi as a news reporter/キーラ･コルピがニュース番組でレポーターに

Not as a interviewee but a interviewer! Wow, check it out!
Kiira-fan reports:
Last night the news-broadcast on the commercial MTV3 channel celebrated their 25th year on the air. There were all kinds of special segments and one of them was this humorous mock-newscast made by finnish celebrities.
Kiira's part was about the upcoming hockey season and she interviewed the two Tampere based teams Tappara and Ilves and then went to the town market square and asked people which team they support.

So go to link (MTV3) and click "31.08.2006 Maikkarin uutiset julkkisten voimin" from the list on the left side. The Kiira's part begins at about 2/3 from the start.
Or, click here to download the wmv file.
You can also watch it on YouTube.

Here is an english transcript to the clip by Kiira-fan:
Newscasters:
- And then sports. The new season of the Finnish Hockey League will start exactly in two weeks.
- We sent out our skating reporter Kiira Korpi to find out what is the current balance of power in Tampere.
Skating reporter:
- Tampere is a hockey-town to the blood. Every year a fierce battle if fought to determine which one is the best hockey team in Tampre, Ilves or Tappara. Last year Tappara prevailed, what is the case this year? Let's ask Janne.
- So Janne, what is the recipe to beat Ilves in the upcoming season?
Janne Ojanen:
- Well, strong defensive game and we need to make one more goal than the Ilves on every game.
Skating reporter:
- And now let's find out what are the Ilves players thinking.
- So Pasi, what is the plan to bring down Tappara on the coming season?
Pasi Petriläinen:
- At least for the first game I hope that you too Kiira will turn to support the right team, and with a lot of support I think we can win.
Skating reporter:
- In Tampere everybody has to choose their side, it's either Ilves or Tappara. Rumours even suggest that on job interviews people are required to tell which color they confess.
- Now we are here at the Tammela market square where at this time of the fall people discuss about the coming hockey season and eat black sausage. Let's find out whose stakes are rated higher.
Skating reporter:
- Which one is the Tampere champion on the coming season?
Woman:
- Ilves.
Man #1:
- Nobody knows it yet, they have to play first.
Skating reporter:
- Well what's your guess?
Man #1:
- I don't guess, I have guessed wrong so many years in a row.
Skating reporter:
- Which one do you support?
Man #1:
- Tappara of course!
Man #2:
- I hope that Ilves wins.
Skating reporter:
- Why have you always been a Ilves supporter?
Man #2:
- I was sixteen when I made my choice, and back then one of the reasons
was that Ilves had nicer playing uniforms that the "carrot pants".

Kiira Korpi's diary from Astavita/キーラ・コルピの夏日記

Net diaries
(translated by Kiira-fan)

12.7.2006 - It's so lovely when it's summer! Summer has always been my favourite season because I like sun and warm weather. On my freetime - that I don't have many days - I live a life of a normal young woman. I hang out with my friends and lay on the beach. Now after the training camp at Kuortane Sports Academy I have a couple of days "free" and then I'm heading to a training camp in Tartto.

As much a summer person I am, the busiest training phase for figure skaters is the summer because there are no competitions then. The training phase in summer is used to build up the base condition and strength for the "explosive" jumps. During this summer I will go through six weeks of training in camps: two on the Kuortane Sports Academy, two at Tartto in Estonia and two in Spain. On the camps there is 4-5 hours on ice training every day. The additional training consists of weight lifting, dance and speed and endurance training. So there's a lot more training in the summer than during the winter, when I practice 2-3 hours every day.

The first competion for me in the fall is probably the international Finlandia Trophy -competition(Oct. 6-8, 2006) held in Tikkurila here in Finland.

Today I gave myself a permission to eat some vanilla ice cream and strawberries. Of course I miss being able to eat all the treats, but it's part of this business. Every now and then I also long for something less healthy like fast food. I know that eating delicacies is not an everyday thing and occasional treats are also good for your mind. Otherwise I eat typical food for athletes: versatile and healthy home food, lots of vegetables and fruits. I don't keep any specific nutriment diary. I prefer eating often rather than larger portions more seldom. The most important thing is to not gain any excess weight.

As an athlete I'm trying to get all the neccessary vitamins and minerals from the food I eat. I do use vitamin-C and iron as a supplement to my normal diet. I have been using Astavita for some months now. It keeps me going, does good for my muscle fitness and helps me to recover after hard training. I think Astavita works very well for athletes as a nutritional supplement and it also boost the vitamin-c's effect as an antioxidant. At the same time it keeps the skin healthy. The benefits of using Astavita are many, and you will find them out after you choose Astavita for your everyday support, like I have done!

Now I have time to spend the afternoon at the beach, but after that I have to start packing for the training camp.

Energetic summer wishing your Kiira!

Ps. In fall you will hear how the summer training went.


More (original finnish)

Kiira Korpi seen on Astavita/キーラ･コルピがイメージキャラクターに

Kiira-fan reports:
"Kiira is promoting Astavita, a kind of nutritional additive. There's also a diary section with one entry from summer, but chapter where she tells how good the product is sounds like it has been written by a copywriter in the advertising company. As usual, I'll make a translation of it later."

Thanks, Kiira-fan. So, what's astaxanthin?

※キーラちゃん、今度はアスタビータという栄養補助食品のイメージキャラクター？を務めている模様。
アスタビータ…日本だとこれでしょうか。つか、アスタキサンチンって、ナニ？

Just a month before her 18th birthday!/18歳の誕生日まであと1ヶ月

キーラちゃんの記念すべき18歳の誕生日9/26日まで、あと1ヶ月となりました。
フィンランドでは18歳からお酒が飲める？らしいので、いよいよ大人への第一歩ですなぁ。

プレゼントを贈る人ｗはそろそろご準備を。
送り先はこちら。

It's just a month before her memorable 18th birthday, 26th September!
Are you ready to celebrate it? What's your plan?
To send her a postal mail or a percel, address is here.

Phantom the novel/小説「ファントム」

「クッソー、おもしろかったのに！」

残念ながら、さっき読み終わってしまった…。通勤途中のかけがえのない楽しみを奪われたこの悲しみ。しかも、よりによって、出先で小腹が減って入ったラーメン屋さんでこの感動作が大団円を迎えてしまうなんて！　勢い余ってつけ麺の替え玉を頼んでしまったではないか…。ダイエット中だというのに。許しておくれ、クリスティーヌ。許しておくれ…。

さて、「オペラ座の怪人」関連作を調べていて気になった小説「ファントム」を読了。ガストン・ルルーの原作をベースに、スーザン・ケイという作家が新たな物語を加え、原作では語られていない、謎に包まれたファントムの生涯を見事に描いています。原作はこれから読むんですが、アマゾンのレビュー見ると、原作よりこっちのほうがおもしろいという意見も…。

というわけで、私は引き続き原作への旅に出ます。

While searching "The Phantom of the Opera" stuff (yes, it's Kiira's new program), I found an interesting novel "Phantom" by Susan Kay. It expands Gaston Leroux's original story and draws Phantom's life from the birth. I've just finished reading it and...loved it.
Even if you are not "phan" but Kiira's fan, Just check it out!

Kiira Korpi is the Most Positive Person of The Year in Tampere(2)

Here is further infomation from the press release translated by Kiira-fan.

Kiira Korpi came to the knowledge of the wider audiences during the Torino Olympics. "The criteria set for The Most Positive Person in Tamepere all combine in a positive way in Kiira Korpi." the jury points out. "She has showed persistence in her training and career. Special determination and ambition the young skater has showed in school, despite all the practice and travelling for competitions her grades have been excellent. Cheerful Kiira is a good role model and she inspires other young people to excercise. She also brings forward in positive way the fact that she's from Tampere." the jury continues.

Through this award we want to emphasize Kiira Korpi's promising career in figure skating and her positive attitude towards life. "Kiira Korpi is a real fighter. She isn't discouraged by small setbacks but takes her performance to the end with an honour!", described one person who proposed Kiira for the award. "Kiira's gorgeus performances on the ice have built a growing group of admirers which extends also beyond the Finnish borders." justified another person of his choise.

Kiira who was just leaving to a training camp abroad was happily surprised when she heard of the choice. She said thank you to the people in Tampere and wished a sunny summer for all.

フィンランドらしいフォントとは？

フォントについて調べているうちに、面白い記事を見つけた。
一歩上いく英文履歴書の書き方、使い方（4）の後半部。

■フォントには歴史と文化がくっついている
　しかし、読みやすさや美しさだけでフォントを選択するのは危険です。それは欧文フォントの多くが特定の文化や歴史を連想させるからです。つまりフォント選びにはそれぞれのフォントが持つ「connotation」（言外の意味）を考える必要があります。

　例えば、Garamondはフランス、Universはオランダ、Bodoniはイタリアで生まれた活字が基になっています。欧米のタイポグラファー（活字のプロ）はこれらのフォントを、その基となった活字が生まれた歴史や文化に合わせて、「フランス料理のメニューにBodoniは使わない」「オランダ風にしたいものにはUniversを使う」といった使い方をします。このため、一般の欧米人の間には、「このフォントは英国を表す」「これはフランス風のフォント」のような、漠然とした共通認識が存在します。
（後略）※原文のUniverseはUniversの誤りだと思われる。

ほぉ、なるほど。じゃあ、フィンランドらしい（北欧らしい？）のフォントとは？
この辺が参考になりそうだ。
Finland : MyFonts
Suomi Type Foundry
The Finnish font scene
書体の基礎知識欧字書体編
もう少し調べてみよう。

Kiira Korpi is the Most Positive Person of The Year in Tampere

Kiira-fan found an award for Kiira.

Kiira Korpi is the Most Positive Person of The Year in Tampere

Tammerkoski and Tampere Junior Chambers of Commerce held for a third time an open contest where they searched for the Most Positive Person in Tampere.
The Most Positive Person in Tampere can be held as a good example to other people and he/she has showed willpower, sisu and perseverance. The Most Positive Person in Tampere has remarkable achievements and he/she is also helping other people to succeed. The Most Positive Person in Tampere walks his/hers own path and goes from words to deeds.

The Most Positive Person of The Year in Tampere is figure skater Kiira Korpi.

※タンペレの青年会議所が「タンペレで今年最もポジティブな人」コンテストを行ない、フィギュアスケート選手のキーラ・コルピさんが選ばれました。(2006-08-02)
Photo:AFP BB News

Who skated to the Phantom of the Opera?/オペラ座で滑った選手たち

As someone mentioned on a forum that
"I remember Marina Kielmann skated to the Phantom of the Opera",
I tried to search single skaters who skated to the Phantom of the Opera:
(except Ice Dance, Pairs and "The Phantom of the Opera on Ice" by Roberto Danova)

The Phantom of the Opera (Andrew L. Webber)
94 Ladies FS Krisztina Czako HUN
94 Ladies FS Marina Kielmann GER

Phantom Of The Opera From The Musical
Natalia Lebedeva (Russia) 1990 World Championships Short
Kathleen Kelly Cutrone (USA) 1996 US Nationals Short

Music Of The Night from The Musical Phantom Of The Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Brian Boitano (USA) 1996, 1997 World Professional Championships Long

Organ music (Phantom of the Opera)
Maria Butyrskaya (Russia) 1994 Goodwill Games


Some useful sites to search skating music:
Skate Music List
Skating Music Page
SkateWeb: The Figure Skating Page

# 「オペラ座の怪人」で滑った選手たちを調べてみた。けっこう少ない？多い？
ここには載せていないけど、アイスダンスやペアを含めるともっと多い。
選曲やミックスもいろいろ知りたいので、ダンスやペアも調査中デス。

New message from Kiira Korpi/キーラ・コルピの近況

It tells that the camp in Tartu (Estonia) went really well and after vacation, she will leave for Spain to another training camp.

Article about Kiira Korpi from Estonia/キーラ・コルピに関するエストニアの新聞記事

I found an article from Tartu Postimees, an Estonian newspaper in Tartu.
Does anybody understand Estonian language?

More (original Estonian)

kiira Korpi on the Queens of playing cards/キーラ・コルピがクイーンのトランプ!?

Kiira-fan reports:
"To celebrate their 50th year in operation, the Tappara Hockey Club produced a set of playing cards that hold caricatures of legendary players, coaches and other persons in the team's history. And because there apparently were no women to be placed on the queens, they put Kiira on all of the four queens.
They sold those cards last fall and winter and then they were available on Tappara's webshop and on selected stores in Tampere, but the cards are no longer on the webshop's selection. So they are probably sold out."

I found a PDF file from Tappara Club.
The caricatures are written by a Finnish illustrator Tommi Vuorinen.

Kiira-fan先生からの報告
「クラブ創立50周年のお祝いに、タッパラ・ホッケークラブはチームの歴史に伝説を残した選手やコーチ、そのほかの人々の似顔絵を使ったトランプを作った。クイーンにふさわしい外見の女性がいなかったので、彼らは4枚全部のクイーンをキーラにしたんだ。
このトランプは昨年の秋冬にサイトやタンペレ市内のお店でも販売されていたけど、今ではウェブショップにも並んでいないから、たぶん売り切れだと思うな」

詳細は未確認ながら、JOKERにはパパ・コルピのRauno Korpi氏？と思われる似顔絵も…。
ちなみに、似顔絵はフィンランドのイラストレーター、トンミ・ヴオリネン氏によるもの。

A cool site about Kiira Korpi

Recently, we found a web site about Kiira Korpi by a Russian fan.

Interview on Expressi 2/2006/Expressi誌のインタビュー

Photo:Jukka Järvinen
Interview on Expressi (ExpressBus customer magazine) 2/2006
(English translation by Kiira-fan)

Figure skating is ridiculously fun

Few 17 year olds live as strictly planned life as Kiira Korpi does. Apart from skating, there has to be enough time for school and also different sponsor-related events take their part. Despite the strict schedule, the girl is growing enthusiasm for skating and the tone is positive even when the subject changes to school. She sees that she hasn't had to give up on very many important things because of the figure skating.

How did you become a figure skater?
- I started when I was four. Because of my fathers coaching job, we lived in Turku and my older sister Petra already skated. I begged so earnestly, so my mother decided to take me too to the practices. The next year, we lived in Austria. I did some skating over there too, but when we the following year moved to Tampere I kind of started over. And that's the road I'm still travelling, Kiira says.

Do all your friends skate too?
- When I started skating in Tampere, I went to the practices with my neighbour and best friend Elli. At the moment I have close friends among the skaters of our club, and of course when travelling around the world I have made friends with foreign skaters, especially with competitors from other Nordic countries.
- On the other hand I have a lot of good friends at school. The best thing is that with them you can forget the skating and discuss other things. We do also chat about other topics with my skating friends, but still the figure skating is always in the background.

Did you have other important hobbies when you were young?
- I did gymnastics for a while, but I quit it before I had advanced so far that competitions would have stepped into the picture. Skating took so much time and it was so much fun that I didn't even want to do anything else, Kiira says.
Photo:Jukka Järvinen
How much time skating currently takes from your life?
- More and more all the time. Now that I have moved to the senior level, apart from skating, time is consumed with different sponsor related negotiations and events, giving interviews and of course there's a lot more travelling than before. This spring there were three big competions almost in a row.

What targets have you set for your skating career?
- The next Olympics are already in my mind and preparing for those kind of begun right after the previous one ended.
- But other than that, I have no exact plan. We are just going one season and one competition at a time and then see how it goes. On the other hand, you get more and more ambition all the time and of course I hope that I would be able to gain success in important international competitions.

And after competition career, are you thinking of becoming a pro?
- In this sport, the competition-career is rather short even if the average age has increased a bit over the last years. Previously it was so that someone took a couple of championships at the age of fifteen and then quit. Today most skaters peak around the ages from 20 to 25. This year in the Olympics, there was one thirty years old skater from Italy, but a career that long in skating is exceptionally long.
- Many skaters move to the professional ices after their competition careers, and I haven't ruled it out for me either. I could possibly tour a year or two as a professional skater.

Have you already planned your life after skating?
- Then it's definately time to concentrate on studies. I can't say anyting more specific because the interests change with time and I'm interested in many things.
- I could picture myself doing something in the world of sports, but not necessarily with figure skating. If I travel around skating rinks for the next ten years, I believe thats enough for the skating scene. After that I should move on to something completely different, Kiira laughs.

Can you concentrate on school while skating?
- I'm currently doing my second year in highschool. It's true that too little time is left for school at the moment. Then again, at highschool, I can make my own curriculum, and especially this spring when there was those three big competitions, I made my timetable as light as possible so that I was able to manage it properly. I'm satisfied that I was able pass five courses along with the competitions.
- On competition trips, I am not really able to study, but on free weekends, I try to catch up as much as I can. On modern subjects I can usually pass by just reading the books by myself, but with math I have needed some tutoring. I'm studying advanced math and you can't learn it by just reading the books.
- Foreign languages have usually been easy to learn for me, and all the travelling for competitions has been a good way to develop my skills.
At least I feel that it's the best and easiest way learn languages. Last summer, I spent six week in the United States, and there, English was the only way to communicate.
- Also in my junior years, when I was the only finn in the international competitions, I got to talk foreign languages with my fellow competitors. Sometimes I felt sad that there were no other finns there, but now afterwards it was a good thing for language learning and social skills. I had to make contact and meet new people when I didn't want to spend
all the time with my coach, Kiira recalls.

Is there anything else in your life beside school and skating?
- There's very little time for anything else, but atleast there's some on weekends. Sunday is free of practice and on saturday the practice session is in forenoon. Then I have time to meet friends and just relax.
- When I have free time I also like to read, listen music, watch movies, surf on the net and chat via Messenger, Kiira lists.

Do you have any other hobbies than skating?
- Last fall I begun going to astanga-yoga, but I haven't had much time for it, one time a week at max.
Photo:Jukka Järvinen
Do you ever feel that because of skating you are left out on something important that your other friends are able to do?
- Of course there are sometimes things I would like to participate, but I can't because of the skating. When friends after school go out for a coffee, I usually have to hurry for my practices and I have to pass all events late in the evening because of my early morning practices.

What is the best thing this sport has given to you?
- It has given me so much. The topmost thing is the trip to the Olympic Games. It was unbelievably great to get there this early. The atmosphere in the Olympic village was unlike anything else. Particularly great was the feeling that you were a part of a big team, especially when skating usually is very lonesome and at younger age I often was the only finn in the competitions.
- Us skaters weren't there in Torino from the beginning, but it was a completely different feeling of watching the games on television when you knew that you were going to be there shortly. And taking part in the ending seremony was a thrilling experience. It was so great to walk in to the stadium before the huge audience and to enjoy the feeling, Kiira says with trembling voice.
- I have never regretted that I have put so much into skating. It has always felt ridiculously fun. I have sometimes wondered myself that despite the occasional setbacks I have never felt like just throwing the skates in to a closet and quitting, Kiira wonders.

[photo caption] If I travel around skating rinks for the next ten years I believe thats enough for the skating scene. After that I should move on to something completely different, Kiira Korpi is planning.

Expressi誌のインタビュー　2/2006

フィギュアスケートはこの上なく楽しい

キーラ･コルピほど、綿密に計画された人生を送っている17才はほとんどない。スケート以外にも、学校のための十分な時間がなければならないし、いくつものスポンサー関連のイベントにも参加しなくてはならない。厳しいスケジュールにもかかわらず、この少女はスケートに対する意気込みに燃えている。そして、話題が学校のことに変わっても、口調はポジティブだ。彼女は、フィギュアスケートのために自分がそれほど多くの重要なものをあきらめる必要はなかったと思っている。

More（日本語）