- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
Skatefiguring - interesting uTubes. But I have a question. Wouldn't Johnny's coaches and choreographers see this and make adjustments? Don't they get feedback from the judges or the ISU or whomever on how they were scored in major competitions and what they lost points on? Seems to me if someone is going to the trouble of hiring a choreographer just to work on footwork, etc. etc. that getting this kind of feedback would be crucial if not absolutely required! I know it was filmed 4 years ago but were Johnny's programs the only ones critiqued in this manner? And who sees these?
And I guess by way of explanation where I'm coming from - I don't care for Evan for example. I was very happy he won the OGM for the US and as payback for the years of practice, etc. But to me he was all flailing arms and robotic execution. He seemed cold and not interested in the audience - just going from trick to trick and methodically performing his program. Was never really a fan of Katarina Witt's either for different reasons but she clearly had "it!" Whatever "it" is and she was an amazing performer. Having said that, I've been sitting here thinking what is it that makes me like one skater over another. Clearly I don't have the knowledge of all the ins and outs of judging like some of you do. I look at a performance and find it either pleasing, WOW!, or ZZZZZzzzzzzzzz - with a few spots in between. Kurt Browning had "it" in every thing he did. He laid it down on the ice but he also had the personality and the panache and was original. His Raggidon program was masterful in exhibition. His Casablanca one of my favorites EVER. I don't enjoy a skater who looks clearly choreographed and doesn't bring any personality to the program - doesn't feel the music with their whole body. In my opinion, Daisuke hits every mark but I don't have a connection with him. I could watch Patrick Chan all freakin' day and never get tired of his interpretations. When Jeremy Abbott is on - he's magical. But this is the first year I've felt that way about him. His SP was genius (thank you Benjie Schwimmer) and his LP was mesmerizing because he helped choreograph it and obviously felt the music. So why am I rambling? Because I still think Johnny Weir is one of the most graceful male skaters on the planet - ever! I don't care if his footwork is marginally easy or his transitions are simple.....he entertains me. I wish he would wear a starkly black costume without a sequin or a feather and just skate to a familiar lyrical piece that doesn't reek of angst or some hidden meaning. Just let his skating talk for him. I know that will never happen but..........
And I guess by way of explanation where I'm coming from - I don't care for Evan for example. I was very happy he won the OGM for the US and as payback for the years of practice, etc. But to me he was all flailing arms and robotic execution. He seemed cold and not interested in the audience - just going from trick to trick and methodically performing his program. Was never really a fan of Katarina Witt's either for different reasons but she clearly had "it!" Whatever "it" is and she was an amazing performer. Having said that, I've been sitting here thinking what is it that makes me like one skater over another. Clearly I don't have the knowledge of all the ins and outs of judging like some of you do. I look at a performance and find it either pleasing, WOW!, or ZZZZZzzzzzzzzz - with a few spots in between. Kurt Browning had "it" in every thing he did. He laid it down on the ice but he also had the personality and the panache and was original. His Raggidon program was masterful in exhibition. His Casablanca one of my favorites EVER. I don't enjoy a skater who looks clearly choreographed and doesn't bring any personality to the program - doesn't feel the music with their whole body. In my opinion, Daisuke hits every mark but I don't have a connection with him. I could watch Patrick Chan all freakin' day and never get tired of his interpretations. When Jeremy Abbott is on - he's magical. But this is the first year I've felt that way about him. His SP was genius (thank you Benjie Schwimmer) and his LP was mesmerizing because he helped choreograph it and obviously felt the music. So why am I rambling? Because I still think Johnny Weir is one of the most graceful male skaters on the planet - ever! I don't care if his footwork is marginally easy or his transitions are simple.....he entertains me. I wish he would wear a starkly black costume without a sequin or a feather and just skate to a familiar lyrical piece that doesn't reek of angst or some hidden meaning. Just let his skating talk for him. I know that will never happen but..........