Figure Skating

[Avaleigh]

On 12/17/2024 at 1:07 PM, ChicksDigScars said:

They were my favorite Russian skaters. Still are. 

It's nice to read a comment like this because I sometimes feel like the old style ice dancers don't get enough love. Klimova and Ponomarenko were brilliant, and I don't think their programs have aged poorly at all. I frequently read comments about how anything pre 2006 or even pre 2010 is "boring" or hasn't aged well or something along those lines, and I don't agree at all. Even more recent top tier teams like Davis and White get these sorts of comments e.g. their Bollywood program. 

When I think of teams of the old style that I like, Klimova and Ponomarenko, Krylova and Ovsyannikov, Torvill and Dean, the Duchesnays, and Anissina and Peizerat are at the top of my list. 

Ice dancing is the most subjective of all the disciplines, and sometimes I can find myself not responding to a team that I can acknowledge is skilled, but for whatever reason they just don't do it for me. I feel that way about Grishuk and Platov. Most people raved about them for years, but they didn't connect for me. 

[BlackberryJam]

On 12/18/2024 at 5:54 PM, Avaleigh said:

It's nice to read a comment like this because I sometimes feel like the old style ice dancers don't get enough love. Klimova and Ponomarenko were brilliant, and I don't think their programs have aged poorly at all. I frequently read comments about how anything pre 2006 or even pre 2010 is "boring" or hasn't aged well or something along those lines, and I don't agree at all. Even more recent top tier teams like Davis and White get these sorts of comments e.g. their Bollywood program. 

When I think of teams of the old style that I like, Klimova and Ponomarenko, Krylova and Ovsyannikov, Torvill and Dean, the Duchesnays, and Anissina and Peizerat are at the top of my list. 

Ice dancing is the most subjective of all the disciplines, and sometimes I can find myself not responding to a team that I can acknowledge is skilled, but for whatever reason they just don't do it for me. I feel that way about Grishuk and Platov. Most people raved about them for years, but they didn't connect for me. 

So….I never connected with Virtue and Moir. I never saw the supposed chemistry. It always felt like high school play quality acting. But I acknowledge their skill. I thought the Moulin Rouge routine was technically great, but emotionally hilariously bad.

I never “got” Pasha Grishuk, and that routine where she skidded her toe pick and there was no penalty? Ugh. And there was all that drama with Usova/Zhulin and Grishuk/Platov. Is there a documentary or fictionalized account of all that? There should be. 

I loved the Duchesnays. 

[annzeepark914]

18 hours ago, BlackberryJam said:

So….I never connected with Virtue and Moir. I never saw the supposed chemistry. It always felt like high school play quality acting. But I acknowledge their skill. I thought the Moulin Rouge routine was technically great, but emotionally hilariously bad.

Me too. I preferred Weaver/Poje. 

[honeywest]

Isabeau has withdrawn from Nationals because of a foot injury.

[Salacious Kitty]

Hopefully she can heal and petition for Worlds in March. 

[Is Everyone Gone]

Jason Brown withdrew from Nationals.

[KittenPokerCheater]

I wonder if he can petition for worlds, or if he plans to come on strong for the olympics.

[Salacious Kitty]

1 hour ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

I wonder if he can petition for worlds, or if he plans to come on strong for the olympics.

Jason's IG post said that he was dealing with equipment issues. I guess it all boils down to how soon he can resolve them. He would have to petition pretty soon, I think. 

[Avaleigh]

23 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Jason's IG post said that he was dealing with equipment issues. I guess it all boils down to how soon he can resolve them. He would have to petition pretty soon, I think. 

I read that he's had the same boots for over three years?! 

[Avaleigh]

On 1/14/2025 at 4:10 PM, honeywest said:

Isabeau has withdrawn from Nationals because of a foot injury.

I read that Ava Ziegler withdrew too. She's missed nationals two years in a row now. I was really looking forward to seeing her programs this season. I was hoping she'd be in the mix for the Olympic team next year, but since she's missing nationals again that means no worlds and without that it just seems like her chances are really slim.

[Salacious Kitty]

Ava's been injured all season. She WD from her GP assignments. 😭

[annzeepark914]

2 hours ago, Avaleigh said:

I read that he's had the same boots for over three years?! 

I thought he was very popular in Japan and skated in their ice shoes (+ coaching in maybe Boston???) Why would he keep wearing the same skates for 3 years?

[Avaleigh]

58 minutes ago, annzeepark914 said:

I thought he was very popular in Japan and skated in their ice shoes (+ coaching in maybe Boston???) Why would he keep wearing the same skates for 3 years?

According to Jason he kept using "band aid" solutions for whatever his equipment problems were and he struggled to break in a new pair of boots, so he's continued to go back to the same pair. He wants to finallu have the new pair broken in by next season.

I wasn't sure if he wanted to make another Olympic team or not, but to me it sounds like he wants to go for it one last time in the hope he'll be chosen for the team event since that would be his only realistic chance for a medal. 

I hope it works out for him. 

Has anybody been watching nationals on Peacock? I have the juniors on now. I haven't seen any standouts yet with the pairs. I'm moving onto the men's short.

[absnow54]

Wow, this is a tough season for so many singles skaters to be injured. Ilia will likely clinch the three Olympics slots on his own, but there’s going to be a ton of pressure on Amber Glenn to perform, since Isabeau has been their most reliable skater the last few seasons. Nationals will be interesting. I thought Alysa Liu was underscored in her GP slots, so she may prove herself to be a contender this weekend. 

[Salacious Kitty]

Alysa is known for under rotations and is being scored accordingly. They'll probably ignore it at Nats unless they're full on downgrades and send her to Worlds. 

[Avaleigh]

4 hours ago, absnow54 said:

Wow, this is a tough season for so many singles skaters to be injured. Ilia will likely clinch the three Olympics slots on his own, but there’s going to be a ton of pressure on Amber Glenn to perform, since Isabeau has been their most reliable skater the last few seasons. Nationals will be interesting. I thought Alysa Liu was underscored in her GP slots, so she may prove herself to be a contender this weekend. 

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that even if a country has a skater or a team who wins at worlds that another skater or team still needs to finish in the top 12 (11?) in order to secure 3 spots? I'm not sure who the best guy is to get that done with Jason presumably out. I haven't gotten the impression that Maxim or Camden are at the point where they're reliable.

ETA:

I think Alysa and Sarah Everhardt are good enough where the pressure on Amber will hopefully not be too overwhelming. I was hoping that Ava would be in it. She was very impressive last season. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Avaleigh

[CeeBeeGee]

Guess what????

I'M GOIN' TO WORLDS!!!!!!!!!

I bought tickets last week (women's SP, men's SP and FS and the Gala. I wanted to get the women's FS but for some reason I couldn't get a single ticket--I may try again).

And I just booked the hotel, right smack in the middle of Boston, just a few blocks from Boston Commons. When I'm not watching skating, I'll be wandering around Boston exploring history.

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

[absnow54]

16 hours ago, Avaleigh said:

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that even if a country has a skater or a team who wins at worlds that another skater or team still needs to finish in the top 12 (11?) in order to secure 3 spots? I'm not sure who the best guy is to get that done with Jason presumably out. I haven't gotten the impression that Maxim or Camden are at the point where they're reliable.

You’re right. For some reason I thought finishing in the Top 2 guaranteed 3 slots, but the top 2 finishers have to be 13 or less for the third slot. Last year Jason and Amber finished within the Top 10.

 

[peachmangosteen]

Excited for you, @CeeBeeGee! Have a great trip!