The Shock & Awe Factor: Round up of the Best Programs of All Times

Kwanford Wife · Apr 3, 2008

The last 30 seconds thread has me thinking about those rare programs that not only caught your attention but have had lasting impact on your fandom... For me, its always Kwan's :bow:

2000 Worlds Red Violin :bow:

but that's easy because I think she's the greatest of all time...

But what about the best program by someone I'm not a fan of... meaning despite who was skating, the praise cannot be denied... Even if given grudgingly or even better, a skater who simply put it out there and left you shaking your head in awe

Please feel free to add YouTube clips to share....

I shall start:

Best Program by Favorite Skater:

Kwan's Red Violin at '00 Worlds -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvp8noEJmlA

Best Program by Someone Else:
Cohen's Swan Lake at 04 Marshalls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouNL5ux17c4

Best Program Simply Because:
Joanna Glick(???) skating in tribute to her brother in law who died on Sept. 11th. Her music was "I Will Remember You" I used to have the clip, but cannot find it now. Anyone??

Those are mine, what about yours??

Mafke · Apr 3, 2008

quick easy choices:

Ito 1988 oly lp, 1989 wc lp

Kwan 2000, 2001 lp

Arakawa 2004 wc lp

Yagudin 'winter' (I think euros was the best performance)

Shen/Zao 2003 worlds.

blue dog · Apr 3, 2008

skatergirl45 · Apr 3, 2008

Supposed to be doing a science report so I do not have time to find links but

Michelle Kwan

2002 Olympics fields of Gold

Shen and Zhao

2003 WC

Those are my all time favorite programs but I did love Emily Hughes LP from 06-07. Nats were definitly her best skate.

Lastly, Evan Lysacek's Carmen from 07 Nats.

These programs I can watch over and over again with out getting bored.

Kinga · Apr 4, 2008

A great thread, it gives us an opportunity to watch superb performances, which for some reasons we could have missed. We can recall some programmes and collect new youtube links! :clap:

I will go through my favourites soon and post some links.
But I have also a request - could you guys post some great performances that are not that 'famous'? Let's say, programmes that were superb, beautiful, cute, special, etc.., but for some reasons did not medal? I remember myself few nice peformances from late 80-ties, 90-ties that did not result in a medal (at least not gold), but I was truly 'wowed'. I just don't remember the skaters (I guess I was too young

). So come up if not too famous names and performances as well!

dorispulaski · Apr 4, 2008

Here's a memorable performances you may not have seen:

Punsalan and Swallow's Race Cars FD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWGT0rwc5aE

P&S's program caused a new rule in ice dance that prohibited two footed skating for effect.

Engi & Toth's Kermit & Miss Piggy Ex (Worlds 1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJDXR0b1sBg

Elaine Zayak, 2nd place 1981 Worlds LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdHorxKW-mw

Toller Cranston's Graduation Ball SP (Olympics 1976)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCsQEzXT6xA

Toller's Pagliacci exhibition (Vesti La Giubba)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElqJ0rLyBbM&feature=related

Torvill & Dean 1984 OSP Paso Doble Worlds OK, you've seen it, but it's still the best ice dance program evah.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp0sjy1R3Lk

Gary Beacom 1984 Canadian Nationals LP (worlds was better)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzCTd2QFo1k

Brian Boitano 1988 Water Fountain, skated on a glacier in Alaska
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nVccf6Mzs4

Alexander Fadeev's 1985 Worlds LP an amazing skater often forgotten in North America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdI7dVbpMaQ

Annenko & Sretensky 1987 Worlds FD Romeo and Juliet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNo0HGiPLG8

Kwanford Wife · Apr 4, 2008

blue dog said:
JOanna Glick- 2001 Exhibition

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SEdqJLOSbrw

Blue - you are so very awesome... thanks so much!!! :bow:

Tonichelle · Apr 4, 2008

Kurt Browning's Casablanca either 93 Worlds or even the 94 Olympics.

Kurt's Antares

Tanith and Ben's Free Dance at Nationals this year - I swear it was not 4+ minutes long. It was awesome.

For someone I'm not fanatical about
Johnny Weir's Otonal...

gio · Apr 4, 2008

Hmm, I have to think, because there are tons of programs.

I start with SPs I did enjoy the most

-Michelle Kwan Romanza and The Feeling Begins
-Sasha Cohen best program ever IMO Dark Eyes at the 2006 Olympics. But Malaguena is a close 2nd!
-Midori Ito 1988 SP was awesome!!!
-Kristi Yamaguchi 1992 Danube Waltz
-Tonya Harding had two beautiful SPs in 1991 and 1992
-Irina Slutskaya Serenade and Totentanz
-Maria Butyrskaya had interesting SPs from 98 to 00
-Yu Na Kim at 2007 Worlds
-Alexei Yagudin Winter
-Brian Boitano 1988 program

Kathleen · Apr 4, 2008

Brian Boitano at the 88 Olympics

Paul Wylie's long program at the 92 Olympics

jenaj · Apr 4, 2008

Kwan: Too many to mention. But for starters: Tosca, 2004 Nationals, Song of the Black Swan/Dumky Piano Trio, 2001 Worlds FS, Aranjuez, 2003 Worlds FS, Fate of Carmen, pick 'em, Romanza, 1996 Worlds.

attyfan · Apr 4, 2008

In addition to the huge list of Kwan programs (including '98 Nats, SP and FS) I would add the two "happily-ever-after" endings to stories of skaters overcoming great odds:

Rudy Galindo, 1996 Nats FS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJW4Lv_6j44

Irina Slutskaya, 2005 Worlds FS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe5fN5RVxsE

hongligl · Apr 4, 2008

Christopher Bowman 1987 World!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZFEZ-pdA9g&NR=1

Tinymavy15 · Apr 4, 2008

Here are mine.

Sasha's:

a tiny, young sasha wow the audince with an improvised routine.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fi5tQxgWsJU

a more mature sasha performs up to the rafters and places 1st!http://youtube.com/watch?v=x1JqKoiVZb4

a perfect program
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ouNL5ux17c4

Shen and Zhao

2003 worlds... what triumph!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Kql3sf_crA

Tara Lipinski

she won the olympic gold handily
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NAFGeh1Or3E

Katarina Witt

what else? carmen!

dorispulaski · Apr 4, 2008

A couple more of lesser known skaters:

Ilia Klimkin, known for in consistency, skates an amusing program to Petrushka at the Finlandia competition in 2001.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmVod-LMkxg

YeBin Mok's wonderful SP to the Swan, US Nationals, 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlv6n5EQq3U

Alexander Abt's SP, commemorating the sailors lost on the submarine Kursk NHK 2003 (his COR of the same program was better)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5FFN6dh3Lo

And his 2006 exhibition in Red Square to Gasolina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2grfUxUQRA

hongligl · Apr 4, 2008

Shen/Zhao 2004 LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40X2SIc41HY&NR=1
Absolutely breathtaking dispite of a small glitch near the end.

Shen/Zhao 2004 World EX
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mwYyJDZBM4Q&feature=related

Shen/Zhao 2007 World SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8lxCFQCJLI&feature=related

Shen/Zhao 2006/07 LP (COC)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXYYwXXIroM&feature=related

Shen/Zhao 2003 World

Shen/Zhao 2005 SP Claire de Lune

jyshin · Apr 4, 2008

Thanks, Tinymavy15!
I have been waiting for Shen/Zhao's "Turandot" to come up.
The highlight of this program was the throw triple loop towards the end.
The timing and the flow out of the landing was perfectly aligned with the point where the harmonic tension and the melodic contour started to build up.
Also, this was the exact moment where the beloved "Nessun Dorma" kicked in... and the rest could not have been more dramatic just like the end of the aria where it says "vincerò, vincerò! (I will win! I will win!)"

jcoates · Apr 4, 2008

John Curry 1976 Olympics SP & LP (perfection)

Tai and Randy 1978 Worlds LP

Torvill and Dean 1982 Worlds FD, 1984 Olympics FD, 1984 Worlds OSP

Midori Ito 1988 Olympics SP & FS (such joy!)

Gordeeva and Grinkov 1998 Olympics LP, 1994 Euros SP

Kristi Yamaguchi 1992 Nationals LP

Klimova and Ponomarenko 1987 Worlds OSP, 1992 Olympics OD & FD

Meno and Sand 1995 Nationals LP

Rakhamo and Kokko 1995 Worlds OD

Rudy Galindo 1996 Nationals LP

Chen Lu 1996 Worlds LP

Michelle Kwan 1998 Nationals SP & LP (inspired)

Tara Lipinski 1998 Olympics LP

Anissina and Peizerat 2002 Olympics OD

Shen and Zhao 2003 Worlds LP, 2003/2004 GPF LP

Jeff Buttle 2008 Worlds LP

dorispulaski · Apr 4, 2008

Thanks for posting Chris Bowman's 1987 worlds LP! A great performance for sure.

Another great performance at the same event was from Caryn Kadavy. She won a bronze medal. Here's here LP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IryPxjUIKd8

And the lesser know performance in pairs was from Watson & Oppegard in the LP. Here's their great program to Firebird:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5LE6hm7Ug

Tinymavy15 · Apr 4, 2008

jyshin said:
Thanks, Tinymavy15!
I have been waiting for Shen/Zhao's "Turandot" to come up.
The highlight of this program was the throw triple loop towards the end.
The timing and the flow out of the landing was perfectly aligned with the point where the harmonic tension and the melodic contour started to build up.
Also, this was the exact moment where the beloved "Nessun Dorma" kicked in... and the rest could not have been more dramatic just like the end of the aria where it says "vincerò, vincerò! (I will win! I will win!)"

yeah!

That was just so perfect.

The Shock & Awe Factor: Round up of the Best Programs of All Times

Kwanford Wife

Mafke

blue dog

Trixie Schuba's biggest fan!

skatergirl45

Kinga

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl

Kwanford Wife

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll

gio

Kathleen

jenaj

attyfan

Custom Title

hongligl

Tinymavy15

Sinnerman for the win

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl

hongligl

jyshin

jcoates

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl

Tinymavy15

Sinnerman for the win

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