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- Jul 26, 2003
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Skaters Underappreciated in their eligible years that you respect more now
As you age as a skate fan, sometimes it happens that you don't appreciate the achievements of a skater as an eligible skater, but years later, you do. Sometimes it's that the skater just is a lot better as a pro than as a competitor. But sometimes, it takes time to appreciate what that skater really did that was special.
And so I give you a first nomination for an underappreciated skater, Timothy Goebel. Here's what I feel was his finest competition, 2003 Worlds
His SP to Romeo & Juliet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep3eX1kiu50
His LP to an American in Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxVVMWn-CA
There's many things to appreciate about these programs that I see with new eyes from COP. For one thing, Timothy did those amazing jumps without skating for 1 minute and a half to build up speed. And he could do a quad in the second half of the program. And some of his planned jumps had a hydroblade going in or a spread eagle coming out. The security of his landing edge on most of his jumps was just excellent! Yes, his back position in the sit spin was bad...but at the time, that's about all anyone could talk about with Timothy. And he had nice quick feet in the F/w, although it's not COP footwork.
He was overshadowed by the excellence of Plushenko and Yagudin at the time. But we haven't seen a skater since 2003 who could do what Timothy could do, from a technical standpoint. I wonder how he would have scored if COP had been in place early in his career? Especially this year's version that ups the ante for quads and triple axels?
In any case, a belated shoutout for Timothy Goebel, who just graduated from college this year!
As you age as a skate fan, sometimes it happens that you don't appreciate the achievements of a skater as an eligible skater, but years later, you do. Sometimes it's that the skater just is a lot better as a pro than as a competitor. But sometimes, it takes time to appreciate what that skater really did that was special.
And so I give you a first nomination for an underappreciated skater, Timothy Goebel. Here's what I feel was his finest competition, 2003 Worlds
His SP to Romeo & Juliet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep3eX1kiu50
His LP to an American in Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxVVMWn-CA
There's many things to appreciate about these programs that I see with new eyes from COP. For one thing, Timothy did those amazing jumps without skating for 1 minute and a half to build up speed. And he could do a quad in the second half of the program. And some of his planned jumps had a hydroblade going in or a spread eagle coming out. The security of his landing edge on most of his jumps was just excellent! Yes, his back position in the sit spin was bad...but at the time, that's about all anyone could talk about with Timothy. And he had nice quick feet in the F/w, although it's not COP footwork.
He was overshadowed by the excellence of Plushenko and Yagudin at the time. But we haven't seen a skater since 2003 who could do what Timothy could do, from a technical standpoint. I wonder how he would have scored if COP had been in place early in his career? Especially this year's version that ups the ante for quads and triple axels?
In any case, a belated shoutout for Timothy Goebel, who just graduated from college this year!
I admired his eligible career, especially from the mid 1990's on (when I realized his skating wasn't just about jumps, loved the spins, but I felt he was developing his artistry as well - if he has been underappreciated at all, it has been due to what I think has been over-emphasis on the quad) , but of course I enjoy him as a pro too. Good thing to be a pro - he doesn't have to worry about landing that quad, and can focus on all the other elements of figure skating. I'll say the same for Jeff Buttle (I know he's not competing in Olympic eligible events, but has he officially gone pro ("ineligible")? 
