This exhibition reminds me how impressed I was with Evora and Ladwig last year. I'm so glad they continued to do well this year. I also felt that the programs of the two "should-have-won" singles skaters, Abbott and Nagasu, were really beautifully choreographed and skated, probably the best of the bunch. And our ice dancers rock!
It particularly impresses me that her butt isn't sticking out when she does the spread eagles, as so many ladies' butts do. In fact, I'm not sure if any current lady has better spread eagles than Rachael?
Alissa can't tuck her butt in, for example.
I have a recollection of Boitano doing a professional program that was based almost entirely on spreadeagles. Anyone else remember it? He was known for them, as was Peggy Fleming. One specialty move sequence of hers was the spreadeagle-double axel-spreadeagle, which I think even today would get high marks.
I used to love the move Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze did, where she did a spreadeagle and he glided along with her. I seem to recall the opposite configuration in the ice dancers Klimova and Ponomarenko, in which he did a spreadeagle and she drifted along embracing him.
It particularly impresses me that her butt isn't sticking out when she does the spread eagles, as so many ladies' butts do. In fact, I'm not sure if any current lady has better spread eagles than Rachael?
Alissa can't tuck her butt in, for example.
Paul Wylie had beautiful spread eagles along with Brian Boitano (& yes, I remember Brian's program based on spread eagles.)
Oh, my goodness! How could I not have mentioned Paul! Thanks for putting the spotlight on him. His line and extensions are so wonderful, and he's one of my favorites ever. When I need an uplift, I watch his Olympic long program to the music from Henry V. He also has a wonderful Ina Bauer and tremendous footwork. I always thought highly of the Scotvolds as coaches when I watched his meticulous technique, and I'm so grateful he peaked during the era when pro skating was so popular, because we got to see him for so many rewarding years.
What I'm actually wondering is why they showed the Novice champions and not the Juniors (Courtney Hicks and Max Aaron).
NBC loves the 'cute' factor of novice it would seem. Can't really remember the last time a junior champion made the network TV broadcast. Seems there is always a cute little jumping bean to highlight. At least they did broadcast a 2 hour show with almost all of it actual skating.