Michael Weiss' "Tornado" Move | Golden Skate

Michael Weiss' "Tornado" Move

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SkateFan4Life

Guest
Here's a link to Michael Weiss's official website - a section focusing on his "Tornado" move - a back flip with a twist. Egads.
Weiss has been injured so many times - why in heck is he taking the risk of really doing some physical damage with this silly,
circus-like maneuver?

If Weiss really wants to impress me, he's going to have to skate a CLEAN long program. No splattering falls. No two-footed landings. No falls. Can he do it?


http://www.michaelweiss.org/twist.shtml
 

blurrysarah

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 21, 2003
Eeesh...That's terribly close to the ice. For his sake I hope he wears the helmet during the real thing.

There's one coach at my rink who can do a backflip, (the only person in Australia), and I swear, when he is upside down in mid-air he is in full layout position and at LEAST his height in distance from ice surface-to-head. It is absolutely flabbergasting.
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
he did it last year at the Hallmark Skating Championships... it was really high off the ice... and it's an incredible move! :)
 

southwest wind

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Interesting video. I guess he is being kept on a short leash. Do you think that the spotters could actually catch him if he lost it/fell?

sww:eek:
 

astimegoesby

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 8, 2003
Tonichelle said:
he did it last year at the Hallmark Skating Championships... it was really high off the ice... and it's an incredible move! :)

Actually, I thought Mike's "tornado" looked downright scary at the Hallmark Championships; he messed up the landing a bit and at one angle, it almost looked like the poor guy camethisclose to landing on his head! :eek:

Frankly, I don't know why he's putting so much effort into working on such a dangerous element if he can't even use it in eligible competition--especially if, as he said once, he puts his life at risk every time he does it. I'd think he'd rather use that time working on his 3-axel and alledged quad lutz, but that's just me...
 

Lynn51

Rinkside
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
As much as I like Michael, ITA with this statement:

If Weiss really wants to impress me, he's going to have to skate a CLEAN long program. No splattering falls. No two-footed landings. No falls. Can he do it?

I'd also like to see a totally clean short program. :)

Lynn
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Anything a skater can do to promote gasps a la Cirque du Soleil will influence some judges but not all. Apparently, acrobatic moves are in vogue. Why draw the line at the Bonaly move landing on one foot?

Joe
 

Lisa

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 11, 2003
I'm certainly stating the obvious: I've always considered the "tornado" as his trademark. Yags having got his footwork, Plush the Bielmann spin - so he needed one, too. ;) Since the backflip is not allowed, he invents new moves with his special skates - why not? This is how skating progresses and it's ways less dangerous ....

It's time the sleeping giant wakes up ... :rolleye: :D
 

Linny

Final Flight
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Wjy Tornado

MW has credentials with us... a couple national championships and a few bronze and silver medals to his credit. To the larger audience, the people who watch professional shows, MW is largely an unknown. IMO, the Tornado is his way of attempting to set himself up professionally. Oh, and I don't think you need special skates to perform it... just large b*lls (or overies in the case of Surya).
Linny
 

Panther2000

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
astimegoesby said:
Actually, I thought Mike's "tornado" looked downright scary at the Hallmark Championships; he messed up the landing a bit and at one angle, it almost looked like the poor guy camethisclose to landing on his head! :eek:

Frankly, I don't know why he's putting so much effort into working on such a dangerous element if he can't even use it in eligible competition--especially if, as he said once, he puts his life at risk every time he does it. I'd think he'd rather use that time working on his 3-axel and alledged quad lutz, but that's just me...

Here Here. At Hallmark, I thought that he was going to land almost on this face. Like Most people here, I would rather he get himself together so he could be a REAL threat to Yagudin( if he comes back), plush, timmy or even honda. But, he isn't . Instead of trying to come up with Blades or doing moves because it will draw more attention to himself & not because of his skating. His Three National Title aren't too impressive at all. The Mens fields is so weak, almost anyone could win that title. & The Nationals from this past season just went to prove it. Had Timmy skated a little cleaner. Timmy would be champ.

Mike could impress the skating fans with 2 artistically Technically hard programs & skate them 100% clean. No, Cheated Jumps, two footed jumps. & Leave the SEE MA, SEE WHAT I CAN DO, LOOK AT ME, . Type of skating at the somewhere else for now
 

Seonaid920

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
I think I saw Mike perform this move in a competition. It was cool but I'd rather they leave the acrobatics to gymnastics and stick to skating.
 

guinevere

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
This is a little off topic, but to me Michael has been skating like he's ready for his pro career for years. This is not to dis professionals in any way - several keep up their technical content - but Michael has clearly been more interested in the showmanship of figure skating for some time.

I was really surprised (and impressed) with how well he skated at the '02 Nats and the '02 Olys, and, although his successes last year were largely dependent on other skaters' mistakes, he showed more drive to improve on the eligible level than he had in years. Clearly he is not ready to give up. But he continues to spend more of his energy on elements that either are plain old not allowed in eligible skating (Tornado), or are just ancilliary to what makes good skating, than on the basics that will help him move up. The new blades are interesting, and he is doing innovating things with them; but it doesn't add to his competitive skating, and when the required elements don't come through, the added, unnecessary moves end up looking like fluff.

I can't help but root for Weiss - there's something about him that makes me like him as a skater despite his ego. I think he is one of the more musically talented male skaters when he's not too busy preening for the audience, and he has real skating ability in there. I just wish he would make up his mind what it is he wants out of his skating career and put himself fully into it.

guinevere
 

Ladskater

~ Figure Skating Is My Passion ~
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
To me it's not really a jump - more of a trick. It may look fine in the gym, but I doubt any other skaters will be trying it real soon.
 

EricAba

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 27, 2003
To me, with Michael Weiss, it seems to be all about the "flash", with the Tornado move, the funky skate blade, the Hummer, the "shirtless" exhibitions, and the hypnotist. The frustrating part is that there is "substance" behind the "flash", or at least the potential for it. I like watching him skate- he has nice line and carriage, and seems to have better presentation than a lot of the men's skaters that I've seen. What he needs is a secure triple axel and quad, and some better choreography- which is probably not news to anyone.
 

windspirit

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
guinevere said:
I can't help but root for Weiss - there's something about him that makes me like him as a skater despite his ego. I think he is one of the more musically talented male skaters when he's not too busy preening for the audience, and he has real skating ability in there. I just wish he would make up his mind what it is he wants out of his skating career and put himself fully into it.
I'm with you. Well, I may not be rooting for him (especially), but I like his skating and agree with what you wrote.

That said, I think that the tornado move is cool, but I'd rather he saved it for Hallmark (and similar competitions), and concentrated on skating a clean program.

I wonder who's going to land the quad lutz in competition this season (on two feet, I mean). If I'm not mistaken, Plush's going to try. If he does, my guess is, he'll succeed.
 

heyang

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Guinevere.

I think you hit the nail on the head by using 'preening' to describe MW. He seems more intent upon making a 'splash' rather than doing a good job.

As I've mentioned before, I liked MW before he started working on the quad - he seemed so much more interesting as a skater because of his musical choices and his go-for-it attitude. For a while, he seemed like all he cared about was being the 1st American to land a quad, but Tim beat him to it (as a junior). After that, it appears that all he cares about is landing a clean quad in competition and he's by no means consistent at it. Given the state of US Men's figure skating, I think that he should concentrate on the clean program and show the class of Todd in doing what he does best.

Now, it seems as though he's desperate. Maybe he is.... with his current track record, I'd be surprised if he was asked to join SOI. COI has reduced its schedule. If he's looking to go pro, there doesn't seem to be a lucrative contract for him. He's gotta realize that he's on the back end of his eligible career and he's got a family to support.
 

show 42

Arm Chair Skate Fan
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I've always liked Michael Weiss, his skating is interesting, musical, and innovative. In a sport where people are always trying to "reinvent" themselves, people should be applauding his efforts to bring something unique to the ice. I don't know him personally, and his personal life is just that "personal". I don't care if he appears to be "preenish" (is that a word GrGranny?) or arrogant, I just enjoy watching him skate............

By the way, I saw him skate in COI last year and he was amazing, freedom blades and tornado included........the crowd loved him........42
 
S

SkateFan4Life

Guest
I just think (to repeat myself) that I can't understand why Michael Weiss would consider including a high-risk "flashy" move such as the "Tornado" in his exhibitions, given the potential for injury.
He has been injured and reinjured so many times during the past few years - why risk another injury for such a silly, unnecessary move? IMHO, of course.
 

Cassie

Rinkside
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
It gymnastics terms its called a "full" so if I (being a gymnast) call it a full .. thats what I mean. The only difference between this is a back tuck (or back flip) is seeing the ice / ground,and looking over one shoulder, causing a twist. It is in his blood to do this move as his father was an Olympic gymnast. I am not defending it ... I do NOT think that it should be included in eligible competations. Exhibition wise .. Id love to see it! Everybody Ohhed and Ahhh for years over Hamilton and company's back tucks .. Why not add a twist? His freedom blades arnt even necessary for the move.
Go for it ... and remember "set, toes, twist!" (How I teach a full to my gymnasts)
 
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