Ok, I'm so generally bored with today's skating that I'm reaching back in time and watching some of those compilations of performances over the years. I'm talking about Magic Moments on Ice, Skating Through Time, etc.
A real highlight for me is Kristi's and Rudy's 1989 Romeo and Juliet long program. I have their Nationals performance of it. Their technique didn't look too subpar for the time -- was it? I guess Mishketunok and Dmitriev (sp?) were on the ascendency, and clearly K&R would not have been a threat for gold on the international stage, but maybe somewhere on the podium?
Because Kristi and Rudy looked pretty darned good. They had a lot of neat choreographic touches, such as after the first throw (don't remember what kind of throw, sorry), Kristi raises her arm as she turns out of the landing and Rudy raises his to match. Simple, perhaps, but a very effective touch as they matched their movements superbly. The move in which Rudy swoops Kristi down, forward, and back up (picture his arm moving as though he were bowling a ball) -- just another neat touch. Their sbs spins and jumps were superb, not surprising given their prowess as singles skaters, but the interesting part was that they were opposite spinners and jumpers. They had the choreography nailed so that the opposite spins and jumps were so effective and just plain kewl looking on the ice.
Their pair spins were noticeably slow and their overhead twist in that performance looked a little rough, but overall, wow, what a watchable skate!
With my enjoyment of both their success as singles skaters I never really lamented their breakup as a pair team, although I was always sorry because it was clear from Rudy's comments that he didn't want to end the partnership, but now I'm starting to really regret what might have been with those two.
Would love to hear from others! Did you enjoy this pair team (look them up on the internet if they were before your time!)? How far do you think they could have gone technically? Were they too close together in size to do some of the more difficult lifts and other pair moves safely and easily?
Thanks and I know I'm really reaching into the past here, but the boards seem so quiet for having just had the GPF! Maybe others will enjoy a walk down memory lane!
A real highlight for me is Kristi's and Rudy's 1989 Romeo and Juliet long program. I have their Nationals performance of it. Their technique didn't look too subpar for the time -- was it? I guess Mishketunok and Dmitriev (sp?) were on the ascendency, and clearly K&R would not have been a threat for gold on the international stage, but maybe somewhere on the podium?
Because Kristi and Rudy looked pretty darned good. They had a lot of neat choreographic touches, such as after the first throw (don't remember what kind of throw, sorry), Kristi raises her arm as she turns out of the landing and Rudy raises his to match. Simple, perhaps, but a very effective touch as they matched their movements superbly. The move in which Rudy swoops Kristi down, forward, and back up (picture his arm moving as though he were bowling a ball) -- just another neat touch. Their sbs spins and jumps were superb, not surprising given their prowess as singles skaters, but the interesting part was that they were opposite spinners and jumpers. They had the choreography nailed so that the opposite spins and jumps were so effective and just plain kewl looking on the ice.
Their pair spins were noticeably slow and their overhead twist in that performance looked a little rough, but overall, wow, what a watchable skate!
With my enjoyment of both their success as singles skaters I never really lamented their breakup as a pair team, although I was always sorry because it was clear from Rudy's comments that he didn't want to end the partnership, but now I'm starting to really regret what might have been with those two.
Would love to hear from others! Did you enjoy this pair team (look them up on the internet if they were before your time!)? How far do you think they could have gone technically? Were they too close together in size to do some of the more difficult lifts and other pair moves safely and easily?
Thanks and I know I'm really reaching into the past here, but the boards seem so quiet for having just had the GPF! Maybe others will enjoy a walk down memory lane!
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