Figure Skating

[annzeepark914]

It used to be said that (in the US) we need a top female skater, like Peggy Flemming, Michelle Kwan, to attract the big interest in fs. I don't know if this would work today, what with all the attractions we have that we didn't have in the glory days of skating. 

[Salacious Kitty]

We do have Ilia and his death defying quad axel. He does get some mainstream attention, but not in the offseason. It's like the USFSA doesn't even care. 

[annzeepark914]

Has anyone heard the reason for Flores/Desyatov withdrawing yesterday?

Edited October 18 by annzeepark914

[annzeepark914]

Loved Isabeau's and Bradie's SPs (didn't have to hit the mute button either). The choreography was superb. Good program choice for Bradie if she makes it to Worlds in Boston (much like Jason back in 2016?)

Pairs has changed a lot over the years (& IMO not for the better). The spins are rarely in sync (as far as I can tell...sometimes it's tough to judge). Tonight, Miura/Kihara were perfect 🎉 & Efimova/Mitrofanov were also very good. I guess they're focusing too much on side by side jumps. Wish the requirement was just one sbs jump in the SP, period. They have too many other difficult/dangerous moves to work on.  Just my NSHO.

[justmehere]

5 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

Has anyone heard the reason for Flores/Desyatov withdrawing yesterday?

He was suspended (replies to the tweet mention a bit more):

 

[TwoBitUsherette]

As though the situation with Ivan wasn't awful enough, it's now come to light that he and Bella were married two years ago, just a few months after they teamed up. It wasn't public knowledge until The Skating Lesson published the county records confirming it.

Bella and Ivan train at WASA in Colorado Springs alongside junior world champs Leah Neset and Artem Markelov who married this summer (she's 18) and Grace Yi (also 18) who married her partner Danila Savelev last December.

 

Spoiler

 

 

[CeeBeeGee]

2 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

Loved Isabeau's and Bradie's SPs (didn't have to hit the mute button either). The choreography was superb. Good program choice for Bradie if she makes it to Worlds in Boston (much like Jason back in 2016?)

I absolutely loved both programs, and normally Bradie doesn't excite me at all. Her step sequence was on FIRE! There's just something about Irish music that is so danceable. Loved Isabeau's program, just gorgeous in every way. LOVED the costume. 

[annzeepark914]

Good grief...now I had to hit the mute due to (mostly)Tara yakking nonstop during Yuna Aoki's LP. 

[Salacious Kitty]

Ted on Peacock has been a godsend. 

[annzeepark914]

I just sent 2 emails to NBC Sports (1 to Erin O'Grady...I just picked a name, and one in general), to complain about Tara's incessant talking throughout skaters' programs yesterday. I also said I wish they'd hire two new retired skaters & that Terry Gannon "is a saint to tolerate" Lipinskey and Weir. Yesterday Tara and Johnny made little snide comments directed at Terry (re: him not knowing stuff about skating). 

[Maelstrom]

Johnny and Tara seem to get worse every year (or maybe it’s just me getting older and crankier and less patient). Either way, I’m more than ready for some new blood. Poor Terry really is a saint.

[redpencil]

I don't think Terry thinks of himself as "tolerating" them. I think they all genuinely get along and enjoy each other's company. But then I also am seemingly the only person who doesn't mind them at all.  🤷‍♀️

 

[honeywest]

Johnny can be a good commentator when he works without Tara. I’ve heard him make some perceptive comments about dance when he and Ben Agosto were commentating.

What bothers me is seeing Eteri still sitting like Medusa in the kiss-and-cry.

[annzeepark914]

I got a response from someone at NBC. He said it will get sent to the appropriate dept. I'm sure I'm not the only one who complained. 🤞Hope it helps.

[Maelstrom]

7 hours ago, honeywest said:

What bothers me is seeing Eteri still sitting like Medusa in the kiss-and-cry.

Hey, that’s unfair to Medusa to lump her in with the likes of Eteri 😉

[iMonrey]

Isabeau's short program this season is the cutest damn thing I have ever seen.

How is Ilia allowed to do a backflip? I thought it was illegal.

On 10/20/2024 at 9:12 PM, redpencil said:

I don't think Terry thinks of himself as "tolerating" them. I think they all genuinely get along and enjoy each other's company. But then I also am seemingly the only person who doesn't mind them at all.  🤷‍♀️

I don't hate them, but they do talk too much. I don't mind when they point out mistakes and explain why they happen, that's their job. But I don't need reminding every damn number how the scoring system works or what the grade of execution means or what they chatted about with their coaches. They can talk about that once, before or after the competition, they don't need to yammer about stuff like that during the skating programs.

[Salacious Kitty]

Backflips are legal now. It's changed just this year, I believe. 

We should have Ted Barton again for Skate Canada. No yapping during the programs, just the occasional observation here and there. I will miss Ben Agosto's expertise with Dance, though 

[Maelstrom]

Maybe they figured that since Adam Siao Him Fa is clearly going to continue doing backflips, might as well legalize them, lol 🤷🏻‍♀️

Edited October 23 by Maelstrom

[redpencil]

I like Ilia's backflip way more than Adam's. They have different techniques, but Ilia's looks way more aesthetically pleasing and secure to me. Adam's feels messy and makes me nervous, haha.

[TwoBitUsherette]

8 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Backflips are legal now. It's changed just this year, I believe. 

We should have Ted Barton again for Skate Canada. No yapping during the programs, just the occasional observation here and there. I will miss Ben Agosto's expertise with Dance, though 

I couldn't agree more, re: Ben's commentary. Between Ben on NBC and Jean-Luc on the Peacock practice cam, we got a lot of amazing dance insight this weekend.

[iMonrey]

There is something manic about the way Kaori Sakamoto skates. It sort of reminds me of Yuma Kagiyama. Both very, very fast skaters with tons of personality but there's just a lack of finesse or maturity or something. They seem like kids on a sugar rush.

[Good Queen Jane]

OMG, Amber Glenn nailed it in the short program at the Grand Prix France. She got the highest short program score ever for a US woman in international competition. She hit her Triple Axel and had Level 4 on all her non jump elements.

[Good Queen Jane]

Amber had a shaky free program (hand down on the triple Axel and a fall) but had enough of a lead from the short to win her first gold medal in a Grand Prix.

 

[Maelstrom]

Just caught up on two whole hours of Skate Canada we were so generously given (thanks NBC 🙄) and why for the love of all that's holy did Tara have to yammer nonstop during Kaori's entire FS? 🤬 Can someone at NBC please muzzle her? Enough already! STFU Tara!

[Avaleigh]

I love Amber and I'm happy that she finally won a gold on the grand prix.

That being said, objectively, Wakaba Higuchi should have won the gold. Amber's short program was amazing, but I feel like her component marks were a bit inflated for this long program. It wasn't like she had one error. There were three errors that disrupted the overall flow of the program. Also, Wakaba's program was more exciting. Unfortunately, Amber has a knack for choosing the most boring music for her long programs, and this season is no exception. 

Also, I don't want this to be interpreted as a anti-Amber post as I've been one of her biggest cheerleaders the past few years. The beginning of the program, aside from the opening 3 axel, was excellent and her dress was gorgeous. I definitely hope she makes the GPF.

Nina's long program is gorgeous and so is the dress!

Sarah Everhardt is getting better and better. I think the choreo for Firebird could be better, but the technical side is solid. I look forward to watching her progress. 

 

Edited November 3 by Avaleigh

[iMonrey]

On 11/2/2024 at 9:44 PM, Avaleigh said:

Also, I don't want this to be interpreted as a anti-Amber post as I've been one of her biggest cheerleaders the past few years. The beginning of the program, aside from the opening 3 axel, was excellent and her dress was gorgeous. I definitely hope she makes the GPF.

I'm not anti-Amber either, but she always blows it in the long program. Always. I've been waiting and waiting for her to put together two clean programs and I'm still waiting. I'm coming to the conclusion that she is just one of those skaters who is a very good short program skater but never seems to be able to nail the long.

[Chaser]

Shades of Sasha 

[CeeBeeGee]

4 hours ago, Chaser said:

Shades of Sasha 

I was gonna say, my liver still hasn't recovered from the self-medicating I was doing during her career. One of the most gorgeous skaters ever, and she simply could. not. complete. a clean LP.

[Avaleigh]

On 11/4/2024 at 3:28 PM, iMonrey said:

I'm not anti-Amber either, but she always blows it in the long program. Always. I've been waiting and waiting for her to put together two clean programs and I'm still waiting. I'm coming to the conclusion that she is just one of those skaters who is a very good short program skater but never seems to be able to nail the long.

That's a fair assessment of the problem with Amber. I guess I'm still hopeful that she'll pull it together when it really matters, but...yeah, you're not wrong. There's always a problem with the long. (Sometimes the short too if we're being real.)

It's a bummer that her first big wins (nationals and GP France) weren't with clean programs. At nationals, she left the door open for Isabeau and basically got lucky that Isabeau had a disastrous skate. Everyone wants to have a strong long at Nationals and she still hasn't had that magic moment yet. 

Still, I feel like she's definitely improved. Feeling confident enough to nail the triple axel in the short program is a huge accomplishment. It's still early in the season. 

The mental aspect of the sport is one of the hardest to overcome. We've all seen so many skaters who are incredible in practice, but are too much in their heads once it's time to lay it down in competition.

Sasha is the prime example, but there are lots of others. Gracie, Alissa, Angela, Patrick Chan, Jeremy Abbott, etc.. At least Jeremy Abbott could bring it at Nationals. 

 

[iMonrey]

On 11/5/2024 at 6:10 PM, Avaleigh said:

Still, I feel like she's definitely improved. Feeling confident enough to nail the triple axel in the short program is a huge accomplishment. It's still early in the season. 

i guess I feel like if she were going to do it, she would have done it by now. She's been at this a long, long time and I've always been rooting for her. But the top tier Olympic contenders are far more consistent than her. It's why I have more hope for Isabeau Levito.

[Chaser]

Part of me thinks that sort of mental toughness can’t be taught. You are either born with it or you weren’t. It’s hard for me to think of a skater who went from mistake prone to truly consistent. 

[annzeepark914]

Is anyone watching NHK? I am, with the sound off (except for C/B's free dance, of course). Why does everyone's music sound so tinny in the rinks these past few years? That, plus Tara & Johnny yammering on & on.

[Maelstrom]

I'm recording the 2 hr highlights reel from NBC right now but haven't watched it yet - do they actually show C/B's free dance? The past few weeks it's only been the top singles skaters, with no dance or pairs in sight. (Have I mentioned lately that NBC sucks?) I agree the sound has definitely been off in all of the arenas so far, tinny and shrill. Add in the Idiot Twins chattering endlessly and it really does make one grab for the mute button.

Japan's really been dominating the singles scene so far this season, looks like it's going to be an exciting GP final.

[peachmangosteen]

3 hours ago, Maelstrom said:

I'm recording the 2 hr highlights reel from NBC right now but haven't watched it yet - do they actually show C/B's free dance?

Yes, they did.

Edited November 10 by peachmangosteen

[iMonrey]

21 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

That, plus Tara & Johnny yammering on & on.

Good grief, I know I'm beating a dead horse here but why to they insist on explaining the score box over and over again? Like we're all new to skating. God they're annoying.

I see improvement in Kagiyama this season. He really nailed the choreo in the long (except for the fall) and didn't seem nearly as manic. 

I also thought Alysa Liu and Kaori Sakamoto had the best long programs. Such a refreshing change from all the emo ballads and opera music. You can feel the energy in the audience. Liu's disco number had them clapping to the beat.

While unlikely, I think Sakamoto is beatable in the technical mark if not the component score. Unless she ups her game her hardest jumping pass is a triple flip triple toe. 

I'm happy to see the jumping with the hands over the head craze seems to have died down. Or, did they change the rules again?

[KittenPokerCheater]

4 hours ago, iMonrey said:

why to they insist on explaining the score box over and over again?

I think they are doing it because the Sport is desperate for new viewers and hoping new people are tuning in.

And unpopular opinion:  Not really a fan of Liu.

[peachmangosteen]

1 hour ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

I think they are doing it because the Sport is desperate for new viewers and hoping new people are tuning in.

That's definitely it. I just doubt there's really any new viewers tbh.

[Is Everyone Gone]

I'm not really a fan of Chock/Bates. They seem like lovely people and all that, but their programs are just sort of ... okay. I don't know why they've been pushed to the top of the podium. To me, they're not a cut above the field the way Papadakis/Cizeron or Virtue/Moir were.

[honeywest]

On 11/11/2024 at 11:15 AM, iMonrey said:

 

I'm happy to see the jumping with the hands over the head craze seems to have died down. Or, did they change the rules again?

Did you miss Kurakova and her cat ears? (I don’t think a coaching change from  Orser to Florent Amodio was a good idea.)

[Chaser]

I really like Chock and Bates but their music/program selection is key. They work best when they do something slightly off beat and quirky compared to the rest of the field. Classical doesn’t work for them. 

[honeywest]

I much preferred Chock and Zuerlein to Chock and Bates (especially C and Z’s Edith Piaf program), and I’m glad Zuerlein is working with the Whites. 

[Salacious Kitty]

5 hours ago, Chaser said:

I really like Chock and Bates but their music/program selection is key. They work best when they do something slightly off beat and quirky compared to the rest of the field. Classical doesn’t work for them. 

C/B's best programs are character based.ike the snake and the alien. Those are my favorite programs of theirs. 

Too many music cuts in their Rhythm Dance, and it's down from about 12. The reworked program is better than the mess they put out at Skate America, though. 

[annzeepark914]

11 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

C/B's best programs are character based.ike the snake and the alien. Those are my favorite programs of theirs. 

Too many music cuts in their Rhythm Dance, and it's down from about 12. The reworked program is better than the mess they put out at Skate America, though. 

Maybe that's why they stumbled. Who put that RD together with *way* too many music cuts? It was hard to hear their music in the FD and what I heard was an odd variation of Take Five. Back to the tinny music--I wonder if all the arenas now have a new type of sound system that's really only meant for sports events (i.e., not meant to play all types of music). Figure skating really is the redheaded stepchild in the world of sports.

[Is Everyone Gone]

I think the thing that distracts me about Chock and Bates is that Madison Chock just isn't that strong of a skater on her own. 

[redpencil]

On 11/13/2024 at 12:45 PM, annzeepark914 said:

Back to the tinny music--I wonder if all the arenas now have a new type of sound system that's really only meant for sports events (i.e., not meant to play all types of music). Figure skating really is the redheaded stepchild in the world of sports.

I don't think the arena sound systems have changed. I think the broadcasters are no longer piping the music directly into the broadcast audio and are instead just capturing the in-arena music via their arena mics. I suspect it's all part of the music rights brouhaha.

Edited November 16 by redpencil

[Good Queen Jane]

Yay, Amber, Gold at Cup of China!

This means one US entry in all four disciplines at GP Finals.

[honeywest]

I’m admiring Green and Parsons’ free dance (possibly because I can imagine Hawayek and Baker doing it). I think they would have done better in the rhythm dance if they had used Nancy Sinatra’s version of “These Boots Are Made for Walking.”

Four of the six dance teams in the GPF final (and all three of the alternates) train at Gadbois.