Figure Skating

[KittenPokerCheater]

Johnny and Tara were crying when they talked about it on air for Euros, right before the moment of silence.

[Avaleigh]

14 hours ago, CherryMalotte said:

Nancy Kerrigan made me cry this afternoon late when I watched her and Tenley, both so in pain.  These skating clubs really do have their own communities, but they all hurt together.

It was nice seeing Tenley again. It was also nice to see people like her and Nancy being so supportive of the skating community. 

There was one comment I read that made me a little teary. It was something to the effect of 'Dick Button left us so that he could skate with the kids and help them reach the heights.'

I'm a non-believer/agnostic, but I think this is a beautiful way to see the world, and it definitely made me feel better.

Edited January 31 by Avaleigh

[SeanC]

Wonderful moment at the European Championships for Niina Petrokina, winning her country's first-ever women's Euros medal (a gold, at that) on home soil.

Unrelatedly, for those who don't follow Canadian junior nationals (the nerve!), 12-year-old winner Lia Cho's free skate has now accrued over 101,000 views on CBC's YouTube, which is a gigantic number for a non-Olympic performance.

 

[Avaleigh]

6 minutes ago, SeanC said:

Wonderful moment at the European Championships for Niina Petrokina, winning her country's first-ever women's Euros medal (a gold, at that) on home soil.

I was so distracted by the other skating news that I forgot to shield myself from spoilers. I'm stuck at work and haven't been able to watch yet. Lesson learned!

Glad to hear that it went well for Petrokina!

[Salacious Kitty]

She had a great skate. Well deserved win. 

[ChicksDigScars]

7 hours ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

Johnny and Tara were crying when they talked about it on air for Euros, right before the moment of silence.

They were outright bawling after they aired Terry Gannon's tribute to Uncle Dick, just before the last group of skaters at Euro ladies. Then again, so was I. It was so good. I hope they repeat it during World's (and 4 CC), because the European Championships on E! probably don't have a huge following in the U.S. unless you're a serious fan. The tribute deserves network airing, maybe during the World's Men's final, which will be on the main channel.

 

 

Edited January 31 by ChicksDigScars

[ML89]

10 minutes ago, ChicksDigScars said:

They were outright bawling after they aired Terry Gannon's tribute to Uncle Dick, just before the last group of skaters at Euro ladies. Then again, so was I. It was so good. I hope they repeat it during World's (and 4 CC), because the European Championships on E! probably don't have a huge following in the U.S. unless you're a serious fan. The tribute deserves network airing, maybe during the World's Men's final, which will be on the main channel.

 

 

It was wonderful and I so agree, it definitely needs to be on an NBC airing.

[KittenPokerCheater]

Oh I hope they air the clip when they are talking about DIck Button.  Does anyone know if it can be found online, since I fear TPTB will cut it out?

[Salacious Kitty]

Here it is. 

 

[CeeBeeGee]

I've said this before here but one of my memories of Button's commentary is when he was commentating during 1991 US Nationals. Tonya Harding, being more of an athletic jumper than the Sasha Cohen-types he typically preferred, with their exquisite posture, etc. probably wasn't one of his favorites. But he was so excited when she landed the 3A--maybe even more than she was! I just loved his aristocratic tones "Good girl!...How terrific!" He knew how important that jump was for women's FS.

What a sad week for all of us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIGoWGjetog

[Chaser]

I came across a compilation of some of his commentary. It brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face. He made it known when he wasn’t happy with a performance.

I love that Tara included his opinion on her layback in her tribute. Lol

[honeywest]

Max Naumov and Andrew Torgashev have withdrawn from 4CC, replaced by Tomoki Hiwatashi and Jimmy Ma.

[annzeepark914]

21 hours ago, Chaser said:

I came across a compilation of some of his commentary. It brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face. He made it known when he wasn’t happy with a performance.

I love that Tara included his opinion on her layback in her tribute. Lol

Laybacks? Uncle Dick could really disparage a bad one. I seem to recall him referring to a skater's "broken" leg sticking out during a spin. I'm sure I haven't been the only skate fan watching out for "broken" legs. I don't see traveling spins any more. I wonder what he thought of the awful non-synchronized pairs spins so prevalent today. 

[annzeepark914]

Every few days, there has been an article about the skating families, in the NYT & the Washington Post. Not only are these heartbreaking stories about the families, but so many of the young skaters sounded so well rounded. And what a major loss of potentially top talent for US figure skating. 

[Mirabelle]

I saw a picture of the four medalists from some Eastern Sectional competition with the note that three out of the four boys in that picture were on that plane. 

[Is Everyone Gone]

Jeffrey Chen (Karen Chen's brother, partner of Annabelle Morozov) was just suspended by Safesport.

[annzeepark914]

4 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

Jeffrey Chen (Karen Chen's brother, partner of Annabelle Morozov) was just suspended by Safesport.

I was just getting ready to post how I was not looking forward to 4 C's or Worlds because of the expected constant referrals to the plane crash (there have been so many referrals to locals already, in the Washington Post 😢). And now? WTH? Maybe US figure skating needs to do some definite training in this area. We lost one *very* promising ice dancing team already (Flores/Desyatov). Now Morizov/Chen? 

 

 

 

 

 

[Maelstrom]

Geez, what is wrong with the ice dance world? I can't help but wonder if being a toxic abusive asshole is a requirement these days. 

Edited Wednesday at 03:43 AM by Maelstrom

[Is Everyone Gone]

You know I can't help but feel that the US figure skating community is very hypocritical. They went so hard against Russian figure skating culture (which is VERY fucked up). But it's clear now that US figure skating culture is just as messed up. There seems to be a lot of inappropriate behaviors, grooming, SA, that are not being addressed. 

Stop worrying about the Big Bad Russians and clean up your own backyard. Because these suspensions imply that there is so much fucked up stuff going on out there.

[Avaleigh]

23 hours ago, Maelstrom said:

Geez, what is wrong with the ice dance world? I can't help but wonder if being a toxic abusive asshole is a requirement these days. 

Pairs are a problem too. Cipres, Coughlin, Oppegard, etc.

I'm just guessing/speculating/theorizing here, but I wonder if the scarcity of male partners contributes to some of these issues? There are so few male partners in comparison to female partners that maybe this indirectly leads certain men to feeling like they're a little untouchable and can get away with whatever behavior once they're on a solid team.

If nothing else, it seems like women feel more pressure than men when it comes to both disciplines because if things do go south with a partnership, they know that it'll be easier for the guy to find a new partner than it will be for them. 

[SeanC]

The first day of Four Continents is over (mostly overnight, of course). Biggest surprise is Piper & Paul finishing ahead of Madison & Evan in the RD with no visible errors by the latter.

[MaryMitch]

I'm watching the men's short program and I'm loving the power and beat of the music many of the men are using!

[MaryMitch]

I don't know if this has been mentioned in this forum, but it was news to me. Johnny Weir commented during the women's short program that some Russian skaters would be eligible to compete in the 2026 Olympics. I found this article which explains it:

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/20/russian-skaters-allowed-to-compete-as-neutrals-in-2026-winter-olympics-a87417

[absnow54]

4 hours ago, MaryMitch said:

I don't know if this has been mentioned in this forum, but it was news to me. Johnny Weir commented during the women's short program that some Russian skaters would be eligible to compete in the 2026 Olympics. I found this article which explains it:

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/20/russian-skaters-allowed-to-compete-as-neutrals-in-2026-winter-olympics-a87417

I’m not sure how I feel about this, but at least they’re not letting them compete in the Team Event. The fact that they let them compete as a team for whatever they were calling Not!Team Russia any given year was ridiculous. 

[SeanC]

Gilles & Poirier come second in the free dance, but keep it close enough with Chock & Bates to remain first overall, in a very unexpected title defence. I wouldn't expect this to be repeated in Boston, but it certainly makes things interesting going in.

Given that next year is an Olympic season, this was probably Piper & Paul and Madison & Evan's final 4CC. Between them 5 event titles, and counting former partnerships 22 appearances and 15 medals. Paul and Evan both made their debut at the 2009 Olympic test event edition, finishing fourth and third, respectively.

[Jillibean]

I am so thrilled for Jimmy Ma. What a wonderful thing for him and the Skating Club of Boston after such an awful month. 

It is unimaginable to me that no one has told Piper to close her mouth. I truly do not understand it. It is so unflattering and, to me at least, comes across as wildly over-the-top disingenuous. But also, congrats to them! Now please close your mouth, Piper.