News/Features:
The latest on Frederic

Dambier wins appeal, back on team

February 16 , 2006

Frederic Dambier, representing France in his second Olympics, finished a disappointing 19th, after earning a spot on the French team in a controversial selection.

He finished fourth in the French Nationals and originally failed to qualify for the French team, according to The French Federation (FFSG).

It was Dambier’s first time in six national championships he finished off the podium.

The (FFSG) selection criteria for the 2006 European Championships was based on combining the best Grand Prix series total event score with that of the 2005 Nationals. Dambier finished second in last year’s Nationals.

The top three skaters with the best scores would be selected. According to these criteria, Dambier was named to the team.

The FFSG, by virtue of a protest made to the French National Olympic Committee by Samuel Contesti, the first substitute, announced a test skate would be held December 20 among three skaters to decide two places for the 2006 Europeans.

The judging panel included one internationally accredited judge, a technical specialist and an assistant technical specialist. Only selected journalists were allowed to attend.

The test skate consisted of a short program in the morning and free skate in the afternoon. Dambier had an overall score of third best that left him off the team.

Contesti won the test skate with Alban Preaubert second and Dambier third.
Dambier stated he would appeal to the CNSOF and a local administrative tribunal in his hometown.

On December 23 Dambier’s appeal to the CNSOF was rejected. But five days later the Cergy-Pontoise local administrative tribunal agreed the test skate had been conducted in a “legally dubious” manner and annulled the decision of the FFSG.

Thus the court’s decision negated the test. Dambier was ruled back on the French team based on its original criteria.

Didier Dornat, the lawyer for Dambier, said there was a “serious doubt about the legality of the decision taken by FFSG on December 20.”

Dambier finishes fourth at Europeans

January 22, 2006

Frederic Dambier of France finished fourth at the European Championships in Lyon, France. It matched his highest finish at the Europeans, accomplished in 2004.

Dambier finished with a total of 200.16 points, just 1.39 points off his personal best set at Cup of Russia in 2003.

The next competition for Dambier is the Winter Olympics at Turin, Italy. He had to fight for a berth on that team, eventually securing his placement on the team by the French courts upholding the French figure skating criteria for making the Olympic team.

Dambier fourth after short program at Europeans

January 21, 2006

Frederic Dambier of France is fourth after the short program at the European Championships at Lyon, France.

The free skate is scheduled Saturday.

Dambier, who finished second at Europeans last year, scored 71.21 points and is only 3.52 points behind third place Stephane Lambier from Switzerland.
Dambier skated a good performance to “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff.

He landed a triple flip-triple toeloop combination, a triple Axel and a triple Lutz.

Dambier climbs to 5th at Cup of Russia

November 26, 2005

Frederic Dambier finished third in the free skate at Cup of Russia to vault two places to finish fifth.

He was seventh after his short program Friday performed to Adagio by Albinoni.

It was Dambier's final Grand Prix event of the season. He finished eighth one week earlier at the Trophee Eric Bompard in his native France.

Dambier's free skate to Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev earned him 133.90 points.

Frederic eighth at Trophee Eric Bompard

November 19, 2005

Frederic Dambier finished eighth at Trophee Eric Bompard in his native
France.

Dambier finished eighth in the short and free skate.

This is Dambier's first Grand Prix assignment this year. He will compete at Cup of Russia later this month.

Frederic Finishes Third at Masters

Frederic finished third at Masters 2005 held in Reims Oct. 1-3.

Frederic skated to Albinoni's Adagio with choreography by Alexander Zhulin. He fell on his opening quadruple salchow, singled his triple axel, but was successful with his triple flip attempt. He also received Level 3's on all his spins and both sets of footwork. A score of 55.08 left him in sixth place going into the free program.

David Wilson, a Canadian choreographer, choreographed Frederic's free program to Romeo & Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev. Frederic performed two Level 4 spins and received the highest marks in some of the program component categories. He scored 121.69 points for second place in the free program and third place overall.

ISU Grand Prix Assignments 2005-2006

The International Skating Union (ISU) has announced the competition assignments for eligible skaters for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2005.

Frederic has been assigned to two events: Trophée Eric Bompard, Nov. 17-20 in Paris, France and the Cup of Russia, Nov. 24-27 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Trophée Eric Bompard and Cup of Russia are held in consecutive weeks.

The top six Grand Prix point scorers will qualify to skate in the Grand Prix Final, which this year will be held in Tokyo, Japan.