- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
For me, these two skaters occupy a similarly transitory space in terms of French figure skating. Sandwiched between two stars (in the case of Jeannette, he was between Candeloro and Joubert; for Ponsero, Joubert and Amodio – I recognize the dates don’t work exactly, but go with it). Both can claim one GP medal and three world appearances; neither made it to the Olympics. It’s wierd – neither seem uniquely unheralded, but nor are they among the stars of the sport. So definitely ripe for exploration.
Before Buttercup mentioned Stanick Jeannette (one ‘n’ in his first name, two in his last, as Wikipedia keeps correcting me), I only knew of him by association – I knew he was a French figure skater and that he worked with Amodio at one point in his career. But I’d never seen a program of his. With Ponsero, I’d seen a few, but not a lot (despite my enjoyment of him at his best), so he seemed intriguing for further exploration. The downside is that the less big competitions you attend, the less likely there will be a lot of videos. Oh well – onward, explorers!
M. Jeannette
GP Final 2000/01, FS 2 (competing for fifth place with Timothy Goebel. The title is “Solo” but I cannot tell who composed it. The quality of the video is so bad (the colours are blasted out, which means it’s hard to differentiate between ice and costume/skater at times) that I can’t be remotely fair in terms of my thoughts, but it’s interesting to me to see just how interior a skater he was. Generally, the French are known for their flair and their voids, but this has an appealing simplicity that I like. He wasn’t on, unfortunately (he was a replacement for Todd Eldredge, according to the announcer). Anyway, curious for more.
Euros 2001, FS. He came in third with this performance. First thought: Ah, voids, that’s where you were. I’d love to get a cultural read on why some nations prefer the outré and unusual vs the classic in figure skating, but that would take us into a far deeper debate than I can handle at the moment. Let’s talk about that wierd transition into the spin! Whoa. Definitely creative (and interesting how strong the spin was afterwards. I doubt current skaters could do that, with all the difficulty built into COP-spinning now). The jumps were a little off that night. It’s an intriguing program, though, isn’t it? That odd footwork/transition sequence where he seems to be lecturing one of his legs is rather funny, actually. Not sure if that was the intended goal, though.
Worlds 2001, SP: Wierd. I don’t have that much of a response to this program. Liked the circular footwork, but I really have an aversion to men’s programs that do both the 3A and a 2A.
Euros 2003, FS: Holy triple axel Batman! I wish he’d hold those unusual spin positions a little longer. Okay, I like the snake bit without knowing it’s a snake bit – very elegant hand movements throughout. Let’s have some footwork in that footwork! The elements are gorgeously placed, though. The loop and the salchow in particular were just applause worthy. That was a really good program – love that the climactic spin that doesn’t actually end the program (as it does in most) but that a quiet gesture does (it provides a lovely grace note to that denouement).
M. Ponsero
2006/2007 SP, Worlds 2007
What a beautifully mature piece of music for a young skater. He started his senior career with his second greatest short, and ended it with his greatest.
2006-2008 LP, Worlds 2007
Okay, so I was watching this in reverse chronological order, so it’s interesting to watch how he clearly grew. Loved the placement of the salchow. The music is really overpowering in parts. A LOT of potential, though. He’s quite a musical skater. Also, stop talking PJ.
2007/08 SP, CoR
He’s one of the few skaters who’ll do a serpentine footwork sequence. So it sucks that he fell on it. But I prefer this program here to the SC version – he reverses the opening jump passes. He worked on his footwork in coming seasons, you can tell, but it’s well placed here. Love the crescendo. What a fall, though.
2008/09 SP, Worlds
Um, rather scary actually. Like horror movie/thriller scary. The mood he sets with the music and his opening moves is filled with tension. You notice how the audience really doesn’t applaud much throughout and I almost think that’s an appropriate reaction. He completely abrogates any easy emotional tones throughout, which makes it a very uneasy experience. That final spin is exceptionally placed, but even the way he negates the thrill with that final pose.... it’s an intriguing experience. I don’t revisit this program often (indeed, it pales next to the next two) but it feels very unique.
2008-2010 LP, at 2009 Euros
His finest moment? Maybe. His speed is really ridiculous. Clearly tiring by the end, but this chorography is awesome. Love the joy in the second footwork sequence, love the fight he demonstrates throughout (the sequence, the loop). Even his off moments have a bit of charm to them (the skid after the 2A). Man alive, that was great. Love the enthusiasm from the commentators.
2009/2010 SP, at Euros
The Olympic season had a huge numbers of great SP programs from the men. Lambiel, Kuzuka, Abbott, Amodio, Takakashi.... all amazing. None moreso than this raucous stomp of a flamenco from Ponsero. That straight line footwork is to die for. Mon Dieu, the speed he has heading into that quad-double is astonishing. I really wish he was more consistent – he’s one of the most talented skaters who’ll end his career podiumless, but .... sigh, what a program.
Before Buttercup mentioned Stanick Jeannette (one ‘n’ in his first name, two in his last, as Wikipedia keeps correcting me), I only knew of him by association – I knew he was a French figure skater and that he worked with Amodio at one point in his career. But I’d never seen a program of his. With Ponsero, I’d seen a few, but not a lot (despite my enjoyment of him at his best), so he seemed intriguing for further exploration. The downside is that the less big competitions you attend, the less likely there will be a lot of videos. Oh well – onward, explorers!
M. Jeannette
GP Final 2000/01, FS 2 (competing for fifth place with Timothy Goebel. The title is “Solo” but I cannot tell who composed it. The quality of the video is so bad (the colours are blasted out, which means it’s hard to differentiate between ice and costume/skater at times) that I can’t be remotely fair in terms of my thoughts, but it’s interesting to me to see just how interior a skater he was. Generally, the French are known for their flair and their voids, but this has an appealing simplicity that I like. He wasn’t on, unfortunately (he was a replacement for Todd Eldredge, according to the announcer). Anyway, curious for more.
Euros 2001, FS. He came in third with this performance. First thought: Ah, voids, that’s where you were. I’d love to get a cultural read on why some nations prefer the outré and unusual vs the classic in figure skating, but that would take us into a far deeper debate than I can handle at the moment. Let’s talk about that wierd transition into the spin! Whoa. Definitely creative (and interesting how strong the spin was afterwards. I doubt current skaters could do that, with all the difficulty built into COP-spinning now). The jumps were a little off that night. It’s an intriguing program, though, isn’t it? That odd footwork/transition sequence where he seems to be lecturing one of his legs is rather funny, actually. Not sure if that was the intended goal, though.
Worlds 2001, SP: Wierd. I don’t have that much of a response to this program. Liked the circular footwork, but I really have an aversion to men’s programs that do both the 3A and a 2A.
Euros 2003, FS: Holy triple axel Batman! I wish he’d hold those unusual spin positions a little longer. Okay, I like the snake bit without knowing it’s a snake bit – very elegant hand movements throughout. Let’s have some footwork in that footwork! The elements are gorgeously placed, though. The loop and the salchow in particular were just applause worthy. That was a really good program – love that the climactic spin that doesn’t actually end the program (as it does in most) but that a quiet gesture does (it provides a lovely grace note to that denouement).
M. Ponsero
2006/2007 SP, Worlds 2007
What a beautifully mature piece of music for a young skater. He started his senior career with his second greatest short, and ended it with his greatest.
2006-2008 LP, Worlds 2007
Okay, so I was watching this in reverse chronological order, so it’s interesting to watch how he clearly grew. Loved the placement of the salchow. The music is really overpowering in parts. A LOT of potential, though. He’s quite a musical skater. Also, stop talking PJ.
2007/08 SP, CoR
He’s one of the few skaters who’ll do a serpentine footwork sequence. So it sucks that he fell on it. But I prefer this program here to the SC version – he reverses the opening jump passes. He worked on his footwork in coming seasons, you can tell, but it’s well placed here. Love the crescendo. What a fall, though.
2008/09 SP, Worlds
Um, rather scary actually. Like horror movie/thriller scary. The mood he sets with the music and his opening moves is filled with tension. You notice how the audience really doesn’t applaud much throughout and I almost think that’s an appropriate reaction. He completely abrogates any easy emotional tones throughout, which makes it a very uneasy experience. That final spin is exceptionally placed, but even the way he negates the thrill with that final pose.... it’s an intriguing experience. I don’t revisit this program often (indeed, it pales next to the next two) but it feels very unique.
2008-2010 LP, at 2009 Euros
His finest moment? Maybe. His speed is really ridiculous. Clearly tiring by the end, but this chorography is awesome. Love the joy in the second footwork sequence, love the fight he demonstrates throughout (the sequence, the loop). Even his off moments have a bit of charm to them (the skid after the 2A). Man alive, that was great. Love the enthusiasm from the commentators.
2009/2010 SP, at Euros
The Olympic season had a huge numbers of great SP programs from the men. Lambiel, Kuzuka, Abbott, Amodio, Takakashi.... all amazing. None moreso than this raucous stomp of a flamenco from Ponsero. That straight line footwork is to die for. Mon Dieu, the speed he has heading into that quad-double is astonishing. I really wish he was more consistent – he’s one of the most talented skaters who’ll end his career podiumless, but .... sigh, what a program.
