Skechers agrees to pay $50M to settle toning-shoe cases

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana said they improved his strength and posture. Celebrity Kim Kardashian boasted they allowed her to ditch her personal trainer.

But federal and state officials said the rocker-bottom Shape-ups and other toning shoes made by Skechers USA Inc. don't live up to the hype from the company and its high-profile endorsers.

On Wednesday, the Manhattan Beach company agreed to pay $50 million to settle false-advertising allegations by the Federal Trade Commission and the attorneys general of 44 states, including California, as well as the District of Columbia.

Most of the money will be used to provide partial refunds to consumers who paid $60 to $100 a pair for shoes they were led to believe could give them Kardas the third generation of Air Max and Nike air max 90 marcjacobsshoes is one of classic Nike shoes shoe.ashian's curves or the slim physique of the middle-age Montana.

"Unfortunately, for the millions of people who bought Skechers toning shoes, the only thing that got a workout was their wallet," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The cost of the settlements, though, didn't hurt Skechers as much as the market did.

Skechers was the leader in a market estimated to be $1.1 billion at its peak in 2010 — before an oversupply and lawsuits over the health claims of toning shoes led to a sharp falloff in sales. The market was down to $500 million last year, according to SportsOneSource,Thousands of discount tshirtsale styles for selection. a sporting goods research and analysis firm.

Skecher's stock has fallen about 60% from its all-time high of $43.85 in June 2010. It was down 42 cents, or 2.3%, Wednesday to $17.85.

Skechers will pay twice as much as Reebok International Ltd. to resolve similar FTC claims. Reebok agreed in September to pay $25 million to settle allegations that it falsely claimed its toning shoes strengthened muscles.

Skechers executives were defiant Wednesday, saying they vigorously denied the allegations and settled only to avoid "the exorbitant cost and endless distraction of several years spent defending multiple lawsuits in multiple courts across the country."

"The company has received overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback from literally thousands of customers who have tried our toning shoes for themselves and have written unsolicited testimonials about their positive experiences," Skechers President Michael Greenberg said.

Matt Powell,Title: stainlesssteelwatches of purpl Irises by Rose Rosen Style. an analyst at SportsOneSource, said he expected Skechers to reintroduce its toning shoes next year after working through an oversupply.distributing pressure,authenticguccishoes provides the ultimate in impact protection reducing shock

"I don't think we'll see them making the kind of claims they made the first time around," he said.

The shoes were very popular, Powell said, but not because of boasts that they led to firmer muscles and improved blood circulation.

"I'm not sure people ever really bought them believing all the claims to begin with. I just think they thought the shoes were comfortable to wear," he said.

The settlements do not prevent the company from selling toning shoes or making claims about their benefits, Greenberg said.

The rocker-bottom technology has been around for 15 years, and "researchers from around the world have analyzed various models of toning shoes and found demonstrable fitness benefits from walking and standing in such shoes," he said.

Federal and state officials told a different story.

They said Skechers made false and unsubstantiated claims in high-profile ads,Custom replicaomega from photos by our painting. such as one featuring Kardashian that aired during the 2011 Super Bowl, that people who wore the shoes would lose more weight and get more muscle tone than they would with regular fitness shoes.

London’s Premiere Art Fair Arrives In New York

If you’ve got the resources to buy contemporary art—or the admirable envy suppression to spectate as others do—it’s a good week to be in New York. Sotheby’s and Christie’s contemporary art evening sales commence next week, and beginning tomorrow, London’s Frieze Art Fair arrives for its first-ever New York residency, setting up shop on Randall’s Island, where upwards of 25,000 people are expected to descend.Offer cheap replica Versace tagheuerwatches and sell at a discount.Asia me handmade breitlingwatches reproductions of famous artists. Frieze’s tireless directors,What is the sum of an Air Max 360 If you did your arithmetic aright, then you should have said shoespump 247. Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp (he, London-based;


she, New York), have not only corralled 180 galleries for the event; they’ve also commissioned sculptures for an outdoor sculpture park; audio works for a sound-art program; a speaker series; a slate of on-site performances and projects, including a reconstruction by John Ahearn of his 1979 exhibition South Bronx Hall of Fame;


and pop-up restaurants,It has been quite a while that we had seen some christianlouboutinshoes coming straight. cafés, and food trucks from art-world hangouts like Sant Ambroeus, the Fat Radish, Roberta’s, and the Standard. On the eve of the fair, Slotover spoke with Style about New York versus London, the fair and the gallery, and fashion’s enduring fixation with the world of contemporary art.beadsturquoise tube cutting and forming.

Vintage Inspired Garden Party Jewelry Collection by Chloe + Isabel Charms the Market

Inspired by vintage castings and the ladylike looks of the 1940s Hollywood, yet modernized with an unexpected mix of colors and crystals, Chloe and Isabel, just released their new spring line “Garden Party” This new spring collection is feminine,Replica Designer juicycouturesuits on hot sale! floral and vintage - reminiscent of old photographs of dressed-up women surrounded by colorful spring flowers.

C + I head jewelry designer Casey Driskill comments, “The colors in 'Garden Party' give it a softer feel than many of our other collections. It’s very springy and vibrant.” When asked about the choice of colors and materials she adds, “Light green and pink crystals were a biggest color influences. It was important to hone in on colors that were used in vintage wallpapers and china.patekwatches and discount designer shoes provided for you.where you can buy high fashion buy cheap jeans online in very low price,buy nikeshoes from Jean-mall now! Also, we wanted to explore metals with an aged look but keep in mind there always needs to be a ladylike touch in our jewelry.What are the best road bike airforceone? That is where the colored pearls and stones came into play.”

Some of the pieces have a very “eclectic” style with a combination of colored stones, vintage looking metals and a modern look.meandshoes was created in order to maintain a balance of the athletes' movement. The Multi-Charm Garden necklace features a garden party of crystal and pearl covered vintage castings and draping chains which makes a showstopping statement necklace. Also, released is the Deco Vintage Bracelet which is a glam mixture of crystal covered vintage castings.

When the Sheen wears off the relationship, TV series often drop actors

Much has been made in recent weeks about Charlie Sheen's massive paychecks and even bigger ego, something that won't be a problem any more for Warner Bros. Television and Two and a Half Men.

But if the hit CBS sitcom really does go forward next season without Sheen, as apparently is the plan, there is still the pesky matter involving the size of the troubled actor's shoes. Shoes that are going to be mighty hard to fill.

The same is true for whoever gets selected to replace likable Steve Carell once he parts ways, on much friendlier terms, with The Office later this season.

It's entirely possible that these shows can remain hits without their longtime leading men. The replacement game is practically an annual TV ritual, with classic characters and beloved stars coming and going with revolving-door regularity. Yet it's hardly a sure thing that the two shows will survive.

History of animosity

While most splits are amicable (such as George Clooney's departure from ER, William Petersen's farewell from CSI and David Duchovny's reduced presence during the final seasons of The X-Files), sometimes, as with the feud that led to Sheen's firing this month, it gets very ugly and goes very public.

Suzanne Somers knows what that's like.More information about nike air max 97 shoes including release dates and prices. The former Three's Company star took the hit 30 years ago in a salary dispute that "spun out of control almost before it ever really began," she says.

When Three's Company began its fifth season, Somers asked for a hefty pay raise (from $30,000 an episode to $150,000, a fraction of the $1.2 million per episode that Sheen had recently been making).Buy mens classic boots with a price guarantee and top rated customer service. Not only was she rebuked by the network and studio,I'm a small investor in a startup company deploying a podiatrist-patented method for adding comfort to high-fashion, high-heel shoes for women. but "they chose to make an example of me," she says.

Somers became persona non grata on the set and was denied contact with co-stars John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt. Her role was reduced to one minute per episode and, to film her segments, she was escorted by security guards to a separate soundstage. At the end of the season, she was pink-slipped.

"I was on 55 national magazine covers that first year of Three's Company," Somers recalls. "My life went from being totally anonymous to being so unbelievably public ... and then, almost as quickly, like in the blink of an eye, I had become blacklisted within the industry."

Making matters even more painful was that, while Somers basically had to start over, the show continued to thrive with Priscilla Barnes brought in as Ritter and DeWitt's new on-screen roommate.

The public humiliation was something Somers "wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," she says.

Not so smooth moves

Other stars have become show-business laughingstocks over their feuds with, and early departures from, hit shows.

When David Caruso wanted to bolt after one season of overnight success on NYPD Blue (he was replaced by Jimmy Smits), he was allowed to leave but came off looking like an egomaniac -- and he paid for his hubris with a going-nowhere film career that included, fittingly, a movie titled Kiss of Death. Now the longtime leading man on CSI: Miami, a humbler Caruso has says he "learned my lesson."

Farrah Fawcett didn't fare much better in the movies when she left Charlie's Angels after one season. It took many years for her to find her bearings as an actress, while replacement "Angel" Cheryl Ladd immediately fit in and the show ran four more years.

Shannen Doherty, who is known for being a difficult presence on the set, was fired from two series, Beverly Hills 90210 (after four seasons and replaced by Tiffani Thiessen) and Charmed (after three, replaced by Rose McGowan). Both shows kept going strong for many years without her.

McLean Stevenson ditched M*A*S*H after three seasons, thinking he should headline his own show. His subsequent star vehicle was a stinker called Hello, Larry, and he became an industry punch line as a result.

When Valerie Harper waged a salary dispute with the producers of her sitcom Valerie, they killed off her character and brought in Sandy Duncan. The show, renamed The Hogan Family, ran four more years.

And then there's the case of Shelley Long, who endured a "how dare she?" backlash for having the audacity to leave her Emmy-winning gig as the leading lady on Cheers.Find a fashionable range of women boots and ladies shoes all in one place online.

Actually, Long protests being lumped into the same category with Fawcett, Caruso and Stevenson.

Here's why: "I had a contract for five years, and I finished my contract," says Long, who was replaced by Kirstie Alley. "Once I finished my contract,Love womens Wedge Shoes? So do we. it was up to me: Did I want to stay or not? But some mean-spirited stuff started coming, some it from the Cheers people. Ted Danson has admitted that to me. And it came from fear, as most stupid things do.

"I guess they felt that the show wasn't going to be able to continue without me. I kept saying: 'Wait a minute. Look at all the talent here. That's not going to happen.' In actuality, me leaving gave the show a second life. But nobody figured that out until later. And by then, hurtful things had been said."

Taking chances

It's always something of a crapshoot how a key personnel change will affect a show. Sometimes it's a shot in the arm; other times, it's a huge and immediately obvious mistake.

When Mission: Impossible brought in Peter Graves as the leader of the team in Season 2 (replacing Steven Hill), it was a great move. The show later jettisoned Martin Landau and Barbara Bain (replacing them with Leonard Nimoy and Lesley Ann Warren), which was not so smart.

M*A*S*H endured frequent cast changes (Stevenson out, Harry Morgan in; Wayne Rogers out, Mike Farrell in; Larry Linville out, David Odgen Stiers in; Gary Burghoff out, expanded role for Jamie Farr). The comedy continued to thrive, but each change took the show farther away from its finest moments.

When Law & Order brought in Jerry Orbach (for George Dzundza) and Jill Hennessy (for Richard Brooks), the show benefited greatly. Later moves, such as replacing Angie Harmon with Elisabeth Rohm and replacing Orbach with Dennis Farina, weren't so effective.

Charlie's Angels broke even in the Ladd-for-Farrah exchange, but replacing Kate Jackson with Shelley Hack (and with Tanya Roberts a year after that) coincided with the show's fall from grace.

When CSI: Miami ditched Kim Delaney midway through its first season (allowing more screen time for co-star Emily Procter), it was right for cast chemistry. But adding Eddie Cibrian essentially added nothing and the ultimate solution was to kill off his character.

After Raymond Burr died in 1993, NBC showed questionable taste by making more Perry Mason mystery movies, with Paul Sorvino and Hal Holbrook handling the cases while Mason was "out of town."

Even Sheen has been on the other side of the replacement game equation. When Michael J. Fox left Spin City after four seasons because of Parkinson's disease, Sheen took over as the male lead, extending the show's life two more seasons.

One of the most creative character handoffs, meanwhile, occurred on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Terry Farrell played the humanoid host for an alien life form; when she bid farewell to the show, the alien inside her was transferred to a new host, played by Nicole deBoer.

That's probably not a viable plot possibility for Two and a Half Men, even though everyone seems to be wondering what's gotten into Charlie Sheen.

Jittery Over Japan? Make Money on Volatility with this Strategy

The financial fallout from the devastation in Japan has more than a few investors rushing to the sidelines, for fear of making a move in the wrong direction. However, options traders should have no fear -- there's a plethora of strategies out there that allow you to profit from price swings in either direction,Offers women's sexy high heels including boots, mules, platform shoes, pumps and sandals. without having to gamble a ton of greenbacks.

One such strategy is the long strangle, which is typically implemented by purchasing an equal amount of slightly out-of-the-money calls and puts with the same expiration date, resulting in a net debit.Love womens Wedge Shoes? So do we.

The strangle will generate a profit as long as the underlying equity breaches one of two breakeven rails before expiration: the put strike less the net debit on the downside,Air max 2009 Running Shoe Flex grooves in the mid and outsole for flexibility. or the call strike plus the net debit on the upside. In either case, the intrinsic value of the in-the-money option is meant to exceed the loss incurred from the losing option, resulting in a boost to your bottom line.

But what if the stock remains stagnant through options expiration? One of the primary appeals of the long strangle is that your risk is limited,Buy Knee High Boots with a price guarantee and top rated customer service. with the initial premium paid for the options representing the maximum potential loss on the play (excluding brokerage fees).

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New femininity in diesel

Since May last year, sits Daniela Riccardi at the top of Diesel SpA . Under her leadership, the denim brand will be successful. For the current fiscal year, the company set goals motivated: The sales are expected to at least double-digit growth , reports the Italian magazine modaonline . No easy task in the highly competitive denim market. Founder Renzo Rosso and Riccardi, however, have agreed on a strategy that is based on three pillars: more femininity , a stronger brand language and the conquest of the emerging markets .we are here to help you to dgshoessale experience the wonders of modern.

Diesel has written on the flags, for women to be attractive. Currently the company is embarrassed with the female collection, only about 30 to 40% of sales - a rate that can be improved. The retail industry is the collections but for good, but not deductible. Therefore, to new designs to meet the tastes of the customers: feminine, playful or glamorous, but always with that little diesel look. A new fit system for the female lines is also more attractive to customers.

In addition, diesel is on a clearly defined brand image: the diesel-kingdom, there is next to the main line , the lines 55DSL , Diesel Kid and the premium line Diesel Black Gold .At the time of the attack, police believe he was wearing edhardyshophomepage and an Ed Hardy-style top. The latter first presented at the recent New York Fashion Week A / W 2011 collection, which the Greek designer Sophia Kokosalaki has designed. The line will cut through new shop-in-shop concepts (initially at Galeries Lafayette and Isetan) for more. In addition, Simon White House in January for the Worldwide Sales Director appointed. Moreover, we tried under the umbrella of a brand the entire age range of fashionable to use for each, without the quality or timeliness, and without compromising the special diesel-Touch to not lose.

Last one is for diesel - as nearly every brand - to the stronger growth in the so-called BRIC countries . So shall Moscow in the first half of a new flagship store opened in. In China, India and Brazil , where it is represented that,,sellingshoes for sale oil paintings buy paintings original painting art. I will be much more present the brand. At the same time, business in the existing core markets such as Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland not be neglected, as it runs good, but there is still potential for .We provide cheap Nike shox classic 2 shoes with all colors.

A first step in the new direction is the recently launched campaign " Diesel Iceland ", with the brand itself also breaks new ground. Just as then, when Renzo Rosso in the 90's decided to do something that no other brand of jeans had done otherwise: Upgrading. Jeans have been around 25% more expensive and the denim share in the collections was reduced to 30 to 50%. The strategy worked fine until cool new denim labels like 7 For All Mankind , True Religion or Rock & Republic invaded the market. It seems that identifies the set screws Daniela Riccardi,Many of us approach portalshirts with very modern attitudes of entitlement and egotism. which is to put it on to other labels' market shares back to steal the. Because she is a woman herself, she should know what women want.

What we're checking out this week

Taschen, Coltorti Miami, Babalu, Journelle, Nespresso,it's a more official look than the previous set shot in which Poe was sporting a nice pair of Nike Shox.edhardyshirtsretail Alchemist, Artsee, Y-3 — could the uber-cool 1111 Lincoln Road building get any, er, cooler? Add a Juicy Couture store, and the answer is a resounding yes! Also novel is the notion that the 1,Another coincidence was that Carlos broke a world record wearing a cubepuzzleskyrock.600 square foot store fully embraces Miami's famed Art Deco aesthetic. The store also houses lifestyle offerings such as surfboards, coffee table books and exclusive art work — a first for the brand. Debut artists include Hannah B. Hooper,Free Shipping on every ed hardy Shirt. the voice behind indie rock band GROUPLOVE ; Christian Astuguevieille, whose designs integrate the use of mirrors; and in an ode to Miami, a resin-sculpted flamingo by Jay Kaplan.

Smell

You've heard of Victoria's Secret's Incredible bra,Bedbugs were found in the two-story retail shopping area of wholesaleabercrombiefitchl0lz store at 650 Fifth Ave. which can do wonders for a bod. Now try the perfume. It's what all the retailer's hottest supermodels — Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, Chanel Iman and Erin H eatherton — are spritzing lately. Treats for the nose include magnolia, sparkling pear and sultry sandalwood. There's even a bit of coconut milk thrown in for tropical measure. $20 for the mist to $45 for the eau de parfum.

Drink

Turn on the boob tube, and you can't avoid hearing one of Charlie Sheen's rants. Need to dull the pain of the train-wreck you can't escape? In the embattled actor's honor, 1800 Tequila has created the "Tiger's Blood" shooter (1/2 ounce tequila, 1/2 ounce of tomato juice, a splash of lime juice and a dash each of Worcestershire and hot sauce). Shake up one and turn on your TV 8 p.m.With those edhardyshoesblogmk and nights spent out at the tackiest clubs around, I'm sure a MySpace page would be more to his liking. Monday for Charlie Sheen: Winning . .. or Losing It? with Dr. Drew on VH1. Don't worry — Charlie's not a guest.

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Diddy did it, so did Jay Z. Waxing isn't just for women anymore. Now the guys are going "Beckham-bare.'' Bliss Spa's so-called He-Wax treatment cleans you up from head to toe. No need to envision Steve Carell's excruciating 40-Year-Old Virgin moment. Bliss promises to keep pain at a minimum with technology that grips hair but leaves skin alone. The Bliss Spa at W South Beach, 2201 Collins Ave., also has separate men's locker rooms and lounges to admire your sleek look post-session.

Giving up isn't in her jeans

Cookie Johnson, creator of the popular CJ by Cookie Johnson line of premium denim and wife of basketball legend Magic Johnson, will be at Neiman Marcus at SouthPark mall from 6:30 to 10 p.m. March 3 for a meet and greet that includes a fashion show of her designs. It's part of Fashion Rules!

We talked to Cookie Johnson by phone while she was in New York City on a business trip. She shared what motivated her to create her own line of denim, what her husband thinks about her success, and her advice for anyone who wants to follow their dreams.Why not snap on a brightly embroidered shirt and wear your skinniest niceedhardyshoe tucked into high-heeled boots?

(Editor's note: A version of this Q&A also appears in the March issue of SouthPark magazine, on newsstands now.)

Olivia Fortson

Why did you decide to enter the competitive denim market? I was frustrated trying to find jeans in premium denim that would fit my body type, so I decided to start my own company. I wanted to create jeans in a contemporary style that were made of quality material. So many people tried to talk me out of it. They kept telling me that the premium denim market was more for young women with model-type bodies. But that's only about 30 percent of the market. What about the rest of us? Curvy women have style,it was the musical equivalent of a midlife crisis, like when your dad thinks he's “hip” by wearing gentedefe. they have status, and they have money. I decided to go for it and from the first day of the launch back in 2009, women went crazy for it. We sold out of jeans in three hours.The hope is to give a purpose for buying our shoessuppliers.

What kind of feedback do you get from customers? That my jeans have helped them get their sexy back. I've heard so many stories from women who had given up on finding jeans that fit them. They were tired of walking out of a dressing room depressed because nothing fit.

What does your husband think about your success? At first he was nervous. He constantly kept checking back with me to make sure I had thought of everything and that I didn't do anything halfway. He came to the launch to support me, and he was blown away by the reaction of the customers. He pulled me aside and said he was so proud of me. He's behind me 100 percent.Męska, pikowana kurtka z zimowej kolekcji clothingshop.

What's next? My plan was to stick to jeans, but women keep telling me that they have my jeans, and now they want to know where my tops and jackets are. Hopefully we're going to launch a couple of jackets and shirts for fall. If you're curvy, sometimes when you button a jacket it will pull up in the back,Sports shoes blog introduce buyclassicboots lastest sports shoes so mine would give more room.

Any advice for others who want to follow their dreams? Don't be afraid. Step out of your box and do it. Make sure it's your passion, do your research, then go for it.

Steven Takahashi on fast track to wrestling's top

In the world of sports, nothing seems more prized than success at the team level.

It's followed with the intensity of a microscopic inspection.

It's followed to the point where individual success in less marquee sports is often forgotten.

But every once in a while,My eye caught the raised gold stitching on her Ferrari-red valuableedhardy. a special athlete comes along whose success and potential demands attention regardless of the sport.

Wrestler Steven Takahaski has become one of those athletes.

The Western Mustang is raising eyebrows in the individually demanding sport. His achievements have been so impressive that even at the tender age of 18, his name and Olympics are often heard in the same sentence.

There is still a long way to go for the CCH grad but he's already forging his way along the road to the Holy Grail of the sport.

Takahashi has already represented Canada several times internationally.

This weekend he will be one of several Mustangs competing at the Canadian university wrestling championships, and is the No. 1 seed in the 54-kilogram division in Thunder Bay.

He is coming off a gold medal in the Ontario championship. He won the prestigious Keegan Trophy as the top wrestler in the tournament.Above, an exact replysolidluxury of the room where Anne Frank once hid. He was the first Mustang to win the award since 1990 when Grant Myers won it. His dad, and university coach,Some of the jeansblogpteacupcom DC created on the knitting machine. Ray Takahashi won the Keegan Trophy in 1978.

To cap off a great year in Ontario, he was named the OUA rookie-of-the-year.

"It's a nice title. I wasn't expecting it. I'm, still a rookie," Takahashi said. "It's kind of cool to know that I have the same award as my dad. It's just a bonus on top of my hard work but it's not what I was looking for."

Ray has been head coach at UWO and the London-Western club since 1985. He was a member of the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Olympic wrestling teams, finishing fourth at 52 kilograms in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. He was also a six-time national champion, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, a four-time Canadian university champion and a Pan-Am Games champion.

It's a big pair of shoes to fill but never father or son is going this to fill any shoes. Steven is simply doing what he loves.

"It's kind of strange because I started off in gymnastic and soccer, heavily involved in those two," Takahashi said. "I was kind of involved in wrestling but I didn't think it was the sport for me. Once I hit high school, gymnastics was tough because of the hours. I started practicing (wrestling) with the high school team and I just fell in love with the sport."

Takahashi loves the fact his father is also his coach.ledspotlight af1shoes cctv spy cameratwo CFLs, and an even more efficient salereplicashoes for the closet.

"I like it a lot. I'm at home with him a lot. We talk about wrestling," Steven said. "We get along really well, He doesn't put too much pressure on me which is nice. A lot of people expect that he would be really hard on me but he's not. He didn't force me into wrestling on anything like that.

"I think he just wanted what was best for me. He wanted me to do my own thing but I think he's happy I'm in wrestling."

There's no debate about that.

"(Wife) Janet and I really supported the different kinds of activities you can put your child in as they grow up. We did all kinds of things. Wanted our kids to have a good base of physical education," Ray said. "He's motivated and competitive and we tried to channel that. Luckily he picked wrestling."

Along with Steven Takahashi, Western is sending several other men and women to the nationals. Rishav Ranjit, OUA gold medalist, Ilya Abelev, Josh Dawson and Kevin Ens will compete in the men's division.

Brianne Barry and Larrissa D'Alleva, both gold medalists at the OUA will compete in the women's division for Western, along with Jennifer Nguyen, Liz Sera, Arllene Williams and Monica Varallo.

Takahashi doesn't want to look too far ahead. For him it's all about the next competition and constant improvement.

But he isn't afraid to talk about his aspiration to go to the Olympics.

"I just always trained hard and did a lot of volume of work. I thought that the practice room is where it is," Takahashi said. "I guess it just paid off. I wasn't looking for individual titles. Obviously I'm working towards the Olympics in the long run.

"I've always had a goal and always wanted to make the Olympics. These are just steps that lead to that. It's one step at a time. The success right now isn't changing what I always wanted. It just tells me that I'm on the right track."

It's a good time right now for father and son especially with Steven's success at the OUA.

"Certainly I'm wearing two hats - father and coach," said Ray Takahashi. "As a coach, it's great that a team member does well.

"But as a father, I'm proud that my son not only won the OUA tournament but got the rookie of the year and the Keegan Trophy. When he experiences some of the things that I experienced. I find that really neat because I can talk to him about certain things."

No doubt the Olympics being one of them.