Overall Thoughts on Skate America

[Nadine]

As regards cameras, I was honestly surprised to see that flash photography was allowed. I think this does an injustice to the skaters. It blinded me when I saw it, so I can just imagine what it must do to the skaters, competition can be won or lost by being blinded by a bright flash.

Thank goodness the guy I was sitting next to had a camera that did not have a flash. In fact one of the workers at the event came up to our first row seats, him specifically, and asked if he was using flash photography. She said there had been complaints by fellow attendees whom thought the flash was coming from our section, and we all said emphatically "N-O". It wasn't us. I just had my digitial camera, my niece her cell phone, and the guy next to me his fancy expensive camera without a flash. That's it.

[Apple Pi]

D/W are not snubbing the audience on purpose, I'm confused why so many people are taking it as a personal affront that D/W are not pitch-perfect this early. They lost an entire month to SOI, were invited to shows during the summer (and programs to make for those!), had to redo their SD at the end of August, and have probably their most difficult FD they've ever had. They're singlehandedly addressing almost all their weaknesses in this dance - how could you even think it would all perfect this early? Never mind the fatigue of last season! They gave it their all here, why else do you think they had mistakes? And I think there were some nerves at play. There would have been no mistakes if they were playing it safe. Stop and consider it from the skaters' perspective for a freaking second.

Their exhibition they made for one of those cheesy Disson shows - I'm pretty sure they didn't get to pick the music and I personally loved getting to see them in normal clothes. Why would you put them in fancy costumes for a Lonestar song?! D/W always put thought into their exhibitions...so the fact that this one seems like a retread of past elements should tell you they didn't have time to. Unless you wanted them to sacrifice their competitive programs so you could have an interesting exhibition, hmm? I don't know about you, but I'd feel privileged to get to see a bunch of their famous lifts. And I really enjoyed seeing a more casual exhibition piece - it was something I wasn't sure D/W were capable of.

D/W's tango might not have been entertaining for the crowd here, but it's damned difficult and that's what ice dance needs, difficult programs worthy of the sport, not making entertaining faces at the crowd, sorry. Otherwise, it really shouldn't be in the Olympics.

[Nadine]

Great pics! I think you folks pretty well summed up SA Portland. I would only add that Rachael was the only skater that deserved an explosive standing ovation. I have no idea how she went out there with pain from her foot to her knee and did that program, after experiencing tendonitis myself. I just hope she heals fast. Tendons can take a long time to heal up.

Damn right, CoyoteChris, and she's the ONLY one that got one (explosive is an understatement)!!!!!

[Cezar]

Btw, how did Rachael do in the gala event afterwards?, which was scheduled to start at 5PM. Did she skate to her hearbreakingly beautiful number "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"? by the Beatles, but sung by a guy from the t.v. series Glee.

And Caroline Zhang, what did she skate to? Thanks for your answers in advance.

OMG, I don't remember now...
Yes, Rachel danced to "I want to hold your hand". She was greeted by a very warm applause. The arena was full in 25%, or maybe even less, so every applause was getting quiet way before the skater left the rink. I felt sorry for the skaters to perform to mostly empty seats, but the good part was that you could sit anywhere you wanted.
I don't remember Caroline Zhang on gala. Did I miss her? I misplaced my gala program, I think it's somewhere in the car, and it's too late and too rainy to go look for it now. Anyway, I am confident of my memory, and she wasn't on the gala. The only four girls were Joshi Helgesson, Carolina Costner, Rachel and Kanako.
BTW, I sat next to Joshi's sister Victoria.
Here is the view from my place:

http://www.cezarmart.com/2010/skate_...114_152121.jpg
P.S. Nadine, I din't have a flash either. It doesn't work with big lenses anyway....

[jnoble82]

As regards cameras, I was honestly surprised to see that flash photography was allowed. I think this does an injustice to the skaters. It blinded me when I saw it, so I can just imagine what it must do to the skaters, competition can be won or lost by being blinded by a bright flash.

oh definitely will be turning the flash off if I do get a camera and if I do attend any form of skating event. I find that the flash does nothing anyway (the lights tend to mess with the flash and in my experience unless I am in the front row or standing, I get a nice clear shot of the back of someone's head haha) and I would rather have a bunch of blurry photos than have someone get injured because I selfishly want a photo. Maybe for a photo op later when they are expecting it more. I can't believe people don't think of that :-(

[chloepoco]

It is Nikon D700 + 70-200/2.8 VR. It's kind of risky to bring this equipment to events where it's unclear if they are allowed. This is why I din't bring it with me on Saturday, because I thought they would not let me in.
But then I saw people with their DSLRs and big lenses everywhere, so I brought mine on Sunday.
Here is the link to the entire gallery. Hopefully the server will let me post it. Feel free to comment in the boxes under the pictures. I am a passionate hobbyist and comments of others are my biggest reward!
http://www.pbase.com/pulkownik_swiat...e_america_2010

I just looked at your SA gallery, and wow! You are an extremely talented photographer--and this is just a hobby?? You have an incredible gift!!!!

[Nadine]

Wow, that's what I remember! It's exactly how they looked. My baby niece is the one whom noticed them first, and pointed it out to me, and I kept telling her to go get their autographs, talk to them, but she was too shy. Whereas Alexe Gilles was sitting in our section, but way up above us, once again my niece noticed her as we were leaving.

Omg, I never noticed Robin Wagner & Elene G., but I do recall my niece saying another skater appeared (think it was the girl from France though).

It was nice to see one Helgesson sister cheering on the other. (:^) Btw, both sisters are FAB, but I think the one in your picture is actually a tad better than her sister. Also, she's smaller, more petite, and she's the one I remember with classic technique & beautiful skating. And her sister wasn't bad either, she shocked me by looking me right in the eye whilst skating, came right to the edge, lol. She's the one that isn't afraid to look the audience in the eye. In fact she seems to love it, lol. :D

And Jenna is one lucky lady indeed, her husband Kevin is gorgeous, and he too shocked me by looking me right in the eye for what seemed like a long time with curiousity & friendliness.

[Cezar]

Whereas Alexe Gilles was sitting in our section, but way up above us, once again my niece noticed her as we were leaving.

Alexe was above you? Now I know where you were!
Yes, Mae Berenice came for a moment to my section too.
Oh, Denney and Barrett were sitting exactly above me. I even passed Caydee inside the gate and she smiled to me.

But I bet you missed this one!
As I am not so familiar with skaters: who is on it next to Adrian Schultheiss?
BTW. Adrian almost cried during his short program because the drama with his coach. I am not fully familiar with what exactly happened, but I heard he had some health problem in the hotel room.

http://www.cezarmart.com/2010/skate_...114_153426.jpg

[Nadine]

Wow, Adrian Schultheiss looks gorgeous! And next to him is that tall lanky skater whom skated to "The Mask" and really embodied Jim Carrey's character imho. His name is Viktor Pfeifer, and I think Shawn Sawyer is the other guy, but I don't recognize the girl? Hold on, is that Stephen Carriere from the USA? They look alike so it's hard for me to tell?

I too didn't understand all the drama about Adrian's coach. All's I know is that he was in the K&C with a hospital band on, people were whispering about it, that's how I understood he was in the hospital. Hope he's allright!

[FlattFan]

It is Nikon D700 + 70-200/2.8 VR. It's kind of risky to bring this equipment to events where it's unclear if they are allowed. This is why I din't bring it with me on Saturday, because I thought they would not let me in.
But then I saw people with their DSLRs and big lenses everywhere, so I brought mine on Sunday.
Here is the link to the entire gallery. Hopefully the server will let me post it. Feel free to comment in the boxes under the pictures. I am a passionate hobbyist and comments of others are my biggest reward!
http://www.pbase.com/pulkownik_swiat...e_america_2010

Err. Neekon fanboy. J/K. Love your pics. Thanks for sharing.

[iluvtodd]

Love all the pics! Thank you!

[Tonichelle]

P.S. Nadine, I din't have a flash either. It doesn't work with big lenses anyway....

it doesn't work because you are too far from the ice, period. People who use their flashes in events like these or fireworks need to stop using their camera until they can opperate it properly and understand how cameras/light works.

[sillylionlove]

Well my impression of Skate America was in fast forward...literally!! I have DVR'd Universal Sports coverage of the Grand Prix. And I have to admit, I am just not into it this year. I love skating and always will but like MrScrooge said....it's a snooze fest this year. There are moments of amazingness (is that even a word?) but mostly I am bored to tears. I say to myself...thank goodness this in on DVR so I can fast forward through most of it. I hate to say that but there aren't really any programs that are standing out for me this year.

[lavender]

I don’t know why but I’m starting to have a soft spot for Adrian. He looked so sad when his coach was missing. I’m glad someone threw him a gift. Plus he’s so outside of the box with his programs.

[rallycairn]

Why should it be surprising that Rachael was the favorite among the fans, though? She is the U.S. champ skating on home soil. And she won the free skate. It's hard to imagine any of the other skaters in that field being the fan favorite. There was no big international star here.
...
Carolina: she's graceful and fast. But is she exquisite? I've always been a little ambivalent about her.

Re: Rachael, while being American may predispose a skater to get a response at an American event, it's hardly a guarantee. One example, from the reports D/W got a much more lukewarm response and they are American skaters and Olympic awa U.S. medalists, and they won their event to boot. By this reasoning they should have commanded explosive standing o's, too, but reports on this forum suggest they got just polite applause. So Rachael contributed at least some to engendering the response she got.

Re: Carolina, me too. She can be graceful but she can be gawky and bobble about a lot, esp. on the jump landings. Just being tall and willowy does not automatically equal graceful. She certainly is beautiful with an endearing smile though.