Lesser known skaters of bygone era?

[krenseby]

Oh my goodness... the 90's! Who can forget Olga Markova, Tanja Szewczenko, Eric Millot, Woetzel & Steuer, Rakhamo & Kokko, Laetitia Hubert, Marie-Pierre Leray, Vanessa Gusmeroli, Sandra Garde, Hartshorn & Sweiding, Urbanski & Marval, Sebastien Britten, Rory Burghart, Lisa-Marie Allen, McDonald & Smith... those are just a FEW of the lesser known stars that are among my all time favourites. I'd trade any CoP competition or even one of today's better shows for a CBS cheesefest with 1000 unknown and fabulous skaters ANYDAY.

Could you share some of your favorite performances from those skaters just so we can get a chance to view them again?

[Olympia]

I'll be responsible for linking to Rahkamo and Kokko. They were among the most appealing ice dancers ever. Their style was innovative, narrative, emotionally connected to each other and the audience, always meticulous. Here is their La Strada. Look at their beautiful costumes--imaginative without being glitzy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySkXdaJ9JbI

I also love Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur. He was trained in the Soviet Union and came the the States and found Renee Roca. They had a brief amateur career and a sizable pro career. They always conveyed warmth and simplicity, with a pure style that I think grew out of Sur's classic Soviet training.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1YpsPjofGc

And I remember Olga Markova. Here she is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=899RcbsQKu0

I thought I'd already linked to Lisa Marie Allen, but that was on another thread. I've lost my mind while watching Olympic swimming. Here's what's considered one of Allen's best performances, the 1978 Worlds LP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0xA3hfEU30

[Skater Boy]

Definitely Josee Chouinard. I actually think she had the potential for a world or Olympic medal and even placed high enough in the short programs for a medal even with smistakes ie solid jumps but an error on a spin etc. She had the most amazing powerful jumps when on and amazing style and personality - just charming. Karen Preston was meh - nice smile and fairly consistent but not the style or flare of Josee. She was Lisa Sargent - blah but had potential to be in top six. The last lady of the era 90's (not counting Jennifer Robinson who was the most boring and slow skater I have seen to win a national title) was Susan Humphreys. Known for her triple flip she two was femnie and decent but not special. She though will stand out in my mind more than any of these other Canadian skaters. This is is a rather unfortunate story. But I met or saw Susan at church. I went to get a tissue and opened the door to the bathroom and low and behold there was the ice princess sitting on the "throne". I was so embarassed. I slammed the door shut and ran back to my spot on a pew. People use the lock on the door for goodness sake. lol One other skater who I thought had so much joy and potential but was ruined I hear by Skate Canada (this is way before my time) a girl who was 12 when she came on the senior seen - Tracey Wainman - such charm but she never fully developed the jumps.

[pohatta]

Laurent Tobel. There was some additional weirdness to his skating, when a fire alarm went off during his program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIaItI5-afM

From the 70s I must mention Gerti Schanderl. There's no footage of her in You Tube, but her 1974 Worlds FS was quite legendary. Dorothy Hamill talks about the home crowd's reaction to her marks here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwyKm-4-nwA

[iluvtodd]

Thank goodness Roca & Sur got to do a few seasons with SOI!

Re: Hartshorn & Sweiding - Their "1492" was unforgettable!

[jcoates]

Calla Urbanski and Rocky Marvall, exciting US champs and big risk takers for their time.

1991 Nats LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n26Mo-Yml5E
1992 Nats LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5scBsfNl9Z4
1993 Nats LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWWWPqMkLp0

From the 80s, Robert Wagenhoffer. US pairs and singles medalist with gloriously smooth basic skating skills, buttery edges, wonderful spins, soaring jumps, great positions, another John Nicks gift to skating.

Singles
1982 Nats LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw3thtysFm8
1982 Nats SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFPU0ScvP9k

Pairs
1979 Worlds LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu5k8EU5OcQ

[dorispulaski]

Robert Wagenhoffer, who was Men's Professional champion, is one of my all time favorites!

[Skater Boy]

I'll be responsible for linking to Rahkamo and Kokko. They were among the most appealing ice dancers ever. Their style was innovative, narrative, emotionally connected to each other and the audience, always meticulous. Here is their La Strada. Look at their beautiful costumes--imaginative without being glitzy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySkXdaJ9JbI

I also love Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur. He was trained in the Soviet Union and came the the States and found Renee Roca. They had a brief amateur career and a sizable pro career. They always conveyed warmth and simplicity, with a pure style that I think grew out of Sur's classic Soviet training.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1YpsPjofGc

And I remember Olga Markova. Here she is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=899RcbsQKu0

I thought I'd already linked to Lisa Marie Allen, but that was on another thread. I've lost my mind while watching Olympic swimming. Here's what's considered one of Allen's best performances, the 1978 Worlds LP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0xA3hfEU30

I don't think most people would consider r and k's outfits elegant by any stretch of the imagination. Looks like use whatever leftover fabric you have. They didn't even complement each other

[plushyfan]

Mikkeline Kierkgaard!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zrrb...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QhikFDvwTE


I don't know what happened with her.

[dorispulaski]

Didn't she try to skate pairs, eventually was injured, and retired?

[plushyfan]

Didn't she try to skate pairs, eventually was injured, and retired?

I have no idea, but I liked her style.

[anya_angie]

I still look very, very fondly on the performances Alexander Abt had given through the years he competed. He was definitely a dying breed. Smooth, creative, innovative in his own way, just a joy to watch.

His crowning moment was definitely the 2002 Europeans. Not sure if that's anywhere on youtube but you should definitely try to find it if you can.

And even though he's Olympic Champion, it seems like Ilia Kulik has been overlooked too, but he always was, and forever will be, a treasure out there. Now that is a skater who has it all. Charisma, true musicality, incredible jumps and spins, and always innovative footwork and choreography. No two programs of his are exactly alike, and that's a testimony to the kind of skater he is. I can't even name one single performance like I did with Abt, because so many of his performances are great and different. I say anything you can find of Ilia is worth watching. If you're bored, he'll definitely liven up the party!

[iluvtodd]

^ your whole post!

[Binthere]

Robert Wagenhoffer. That's all I'm going to say.

[deedee1]

I still look very, very fondly on the performances Alexander Abt had given through the years he competed. He was definitely a dying breed. Smooth, creative, innovative in his own way, just a joy to watch.

This is probably the most favorite performance by Sasha for me.

SP to Armenian music @2002 Worlds in Nagano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPSggbdieJE

Triple Axel here is much better than one at Salt Lake City. I LOVED his straightline footwork and beautiful perfect positions on camel spin!