Why is flexibility so appreciated? | Page 9 | Golden Skate

Why is flexibility so appreciated?

Medusa

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
The very simple reason they didn't invite Abbott to Skate America: Just once they wanted to have Evan win Skate America. That's why they didn't invite one of the Japanese trio (Taka, Dai or Nobu), because they have all beaten Evan at Skate America at some point, I think Dai did it twice - even if they weren't favourites.

And a Jeremy Abbott on a good day should never be behind Lysacek. The judges, who are international, probably wouldn't have much of a problem with placing Jeremy above Evan if both were clean.

So they really tried to assemble the weakest field there is. The only possible danger is Verner, but at the beginning of the season the Czech usually plays hide and seek with his jumps, with a huge emphasis on the hide.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Define "feminine" moves? Would Mao's 3A be kind of masculine-like?

As i understand it, back then certain elements were "ladies' skating" and other elements were "men's skating." For one thing, men are not expected to wear costumes that put their panties on prominent display.

Anyway, for whatever reason, the Y-spin, like the arabesque spiral, was regarded as "ladylike." Russian split jumps were "manly."

Sort of like in gymnastics, the balance beam is ladies' gymnastics and the pommel horse is men's gymnastics.

Even now, under the CoP, men are requirted to do two "step sequences," while ladies do one "step sequence" and one "spiral sequence.".

As far as I know, jumps, however vigorous and athletic, are neurtral and are part of both men's skating and women's skating.

So what? What is it about SA that makes it such a Special GP event?

It was the tradition back then that the U.S. champion would automatically lead the U.S. team at Skate America. When Galindo was not invited, he took this as a sign (among others) that the USFSA was kind of hoping he would just go away.

He did -- he went pro soon after, choosing not to stick around to try for the 1998 Olympic team.

In Abbott's case, he said at first that he was "disappointment" that he was not selected for Skate America. But later he said that he was happy with his GP assignments.
 
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Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Here is the textbook Y-spin. If you do a Google image search on "Y-spin" this skater is the only one that comes up.

http://www.leigh-i-am.com/Nationals01/1801nats18.jpg

Seniorita said:
I want that dress.

And Sasha wants you to have it! :)

MKFSfan said:

Speaking of Rudy Galindo, in the later stages of his career he wasn't limber enough to do the Y-spin any more, so he switched to the front catch (not as much extention as Sasha, however.)

Rudy's Y-spin:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rnERrcZ9Y7I/R4vJRytln0I/AAAAAAAAAOo/TTDYoCxOpi0/s320/GALINDO.jpg
 
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Joined
Jun 21, 2003
The very simple reason they didn't invite Abbott to Skate America: Just once they wanted to have Evan win Skate America.

Yeah, that's the beef. Why would the USFSA want to have Evan Lysacek win Skate America just once, rather than to have Jeremy Abbott win Skate America just once (or even to have him participate just once)?

Why not invite them both, along with Oda :) , and let the chips fall where they may?
 

MKFSfan

Medalist
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
Mathman said:
Speaking of Rudy Galindo, in the later stages of his career he wasn't limber enough to do the Y-spin any more, so he switched to the front catch (not as much extention as Sasha, however.)

Rudy's Y-spin:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rnERrcZ9Y7...20/GALINDO.jpg

I don't think that is a front catch, I think that is still a side catch. Here is what I think is Rudy's front catch:
http://www.rudy-galindo.com/7951_26a.htm

My fave Michelle Y-spin was from You Raise Me Up: http://heatherw.com/mk/pics/events/nat05/ex/DSCF6107.JPG

And here is Michelle's "I" spiral:
http://www.usfigureskating.org/content/events/200506/marshallschallenge/kwan-extension.jpg
 
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Joined
Jun 21, 2003
I consider that as rather ugly.

Oh, goodness no!

Next I suppose you will say you don’t like this.

http://www.jayadeff.com/Campbells2004/IMG_2623.jpg

Or this

http://www.canon.lv/skating2005/gallery/19032005/9.jpg

Look, she can do it both ways. (Or anyway, pictures can be reversed. ;) )

http://www.merlin-net.com/THUMBS/TDIR0173/X00106_9.JPG

MKFSfan said:
My fave Michelle Y-spin was from You Raise Me Up: http://heatherw.com/mk/pics/events/nat05/ex/DSCF6107.JPG

If I remember correctly, some people regarded Michelle's exuberant program-ending Y-spin as being sort of little-girlish, and she tried to work on variations that somehow sent out a more mature vibe. But the audiences would have none of it!
 
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MKFSfan

Medalist
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
What do you mean, Mathman? I don't remember Michelle's "Y"spin being too girlish...I liked when Michelle would do Y-spins on both legs, although the spin on her right skating leg/left free leg was much better in terms of extension.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
What do you mean, Mathman? I don't remember Michelle's "Y"spin being too girlish...

I don't know, there was just something about it that was gleeful and full of delight. Like she was saying,

"Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how!"
 
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