Keeping/bringing back old programs | Golden Skate

Keeping/bringing back old programs

Sandpiper

Record Breaker
Joined
Apr 16, 2014
For whatever reason, skaters sometimes choose to keep a program longer than one season. Other times, they resurrect an old program from several seasons past. What are your thoughts on this? Does it annoy you, or is it something you understand and accept? How are returning programs received by the judges--and how should they be received?

For me, I tend to want skaters to switch a program if I feel like they did all they could with the current one. I want them to keep it if I find the program beautiful but it was never skated to its full potential. It helps if a skater keeps one program but switches the other (e.g. they keep their LP for another season, but do a different SP). For beautiful, iconic programs, I want skaters to keep skating them in shows, rather than bringing them back in competition.

However, though keeping old programs isn't my preference, I understand why skaters do this and try not to be too harsh on them. I don't think they should be punished marks-wise unless they go way overboard--see the bottom of this post.

The inspiration for the thread comes from Brian Joubert and the Matrix, which seems to re-emerge every couple of seasons. I don't hold this against Brian, but it seems like he's done all he could with the Matrix. COP improved upon some aspects of the program, but I felt like the step sequence became more and more generic with every iteration (yeah, the original step sequence was kinda Yagudin-wannabe, but at least it was heartfelt and fit the music). Would he have gotten on the podium in Nice 2012 if only he'd done a different LP?

Example of a program I wish the skater had kept: Yuna Kim's Homage to Korea LP. Simply breathtaking and beautiful. I'm simultaneously sad that such a program didn't win Worlds... but also glad it didn't, because she really didn't skate the program to anywhere near its potential. I wish she'd competed more with it and perfected it.

Example of a program I wish had been dumped: That LP Viktor Petrenko kept for four years. It's kinda sad that when I look up old videos of him, it's the same LP over and over again. He had enough style to do better than that. And maybe he could've won the 1991 Worlds if he hadn't bored the judges to death with the same mediocre LP. :disapp:
 

TMC

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 27, 2014
I don't mind it too much. Sometimes time is needed to really polish the program (Yuzuru SP) or even let the skater "age into it" (Jason & Prince). Sometimes a skater feels mid-season or even later that the new choreo is just not working and they go back to what feels comfortable (S/S Pink Panther, Ashley's S&D). Whatever works for them, works. If the judges don't mind (but at some point they must, they're only human), then everything's fine.

There are even some junior/early senior programs I wish I could see some skaters repeat with years in between, because the maturity of the skater would bring so much to that program. Jason's Tango SP from 2012 would be wonderful now, I believe.
 

Amei

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
I'm conflicted on this... Part of me doesn't like it because if you do the same thing over and over again - if you aren't doing it better the second time around, then I think they might (maybe should be) judged more harshly. And it does nothing for the skater's growth artistically for them to use the same music/choreography.


I agree with what TMC said. If they use different choreography it's cool to see how the skater grows -between watching a program they did as a junior.
 

LiamForeman

William/Uilyam
Medalist
Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Example of a program I wish had been dumped: That LP Viktor Petrenko kept for four years. It's kinda sad that when I look up old videos of him, it's the same LP over and over again. He had enough style to do better than that. And maybe he could've won the 1991 Worlds if he hadn't bored the judges to death with the same mediocre LP. :disapp:

It was only three years, though it seemed like more. He recycled his 87 and 88 programs a third time for 89. FWIW he should have stopped doing his program in 91 Worlds because it was his best performance of it, and he only lost because Browning did three 3/3 combinations.

I think that once a program has been realized and performed to its best, it's time to move on to a new one. Sometimes money is the issue, so a skater keeps the same program. I think that's why Debi Thomas for example repeated her programs, and she was doing most of her choreo! I'm fine with two years of a program, but no more.
 

Amei

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
It was only three years, though it seemed like more. He recycled his 87 and 88 programs a third time for 89.

Not beat by Brian Joubert! He used The Matrix 4 times -- though I have to admit it seemed way more than that.
 

TMC

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 27, 2014
I'm conflicted on this... Part of me doesn't like it because if you do the same thing over and over again - if you aren't doing it better the second time around, then I think they might (maybe should be) judged more harshly. And it does nothing for the skater's growth artistically for them to use the same music/choreography.


I agree with what TMC said. If they use different choreography it's cool to see how the skater grows -between watching a program they did as a junior.

I agree that if there's no development, keeping a program for another season is not worth it.

But I really think that Yuzuru did improve, and the difference between Prince I and Prince II is like night and day even though the changes in the choreo weren't that big. It just needed a man to perform it rather than a slightly awkward teen ;)

Then there's the season to consider. To go back to a program you're comfortable with, one you know you can sell, makes sense in an Olympic year. So good decisions by Ashley and S/S. I feel that if V/M had kept Carmen with its wow-factor, things might have gone differently...who knows?

When it comes to choreo, I would actually wish to see pretty much that exact 2012 SP with very few changes, such as 3a for 2a. The footwork was already level 4. Oh and drop the stag jump towards the end or whatever it was :D
 

Sandpiper

Record Breaker
Joined
Apr 16, 2014
^^^Okay. Three years. Still. He basically had three LPs throughout his entire amateur career. And he did those programs through consecutive years... at least Joubert took breaks between various iterations of The Matrix. I think money could've been an issue for Viktor, considering he was living in Ukraine, competing in the last days of the Soviet Union... Nonetheless, I wish he'd done more programs.

I agree '91 Worlds was the best performance. And Browning actually made a Zayak error, doing three 3Ts (I've mentioned this on the Stupid Questions thread). Seems like the judges generally seemed to prefer Browning when neither bombed (not just '91 Worlds--Browning beat Viktor in the LP in Lillehammer too, which I can't get behind). Viktor did have the last laugh at the Olympics though. I just wish he'd skated better (and changed the dratted program :laugh:).

Two years max is a good rule of thumb. And yes, move on once you've had the ideal performance.
 

Icey

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 28, 2012
Seeing them sometimes multiple times during a season is enough for me.
 

noskates

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Have to agree with Icey. As much as I love Jason's LP this year, and especially since I saw it "live" at Nats, I'm kind of tired of it. I don't think a skate should repeat a program. I don't know if they get downgraded because of that or what, but they just seem stale to me. I can only surmise that some of it has to do with finances. There was another thread that spoke to what choreo costs a skater and maybe some of them would rather use that $$$ on coaching. Who knows. But I'm all for new programs every year as a spectator!!! Besides which I think it stretches the skater's musicality and performance.
 

skatedreamer

Medalist
Joined
Feb 18, 2014
Country
United-States
Doesn't a "recycled" program give a skater an advantage (maybe an unfair one) over those who are using new material? I would think that not having to learn new choreo would free up time to focus on details like landing/spin positions and overall presentation. There's also the comfort level of working with something familiar. However, in a competition situation where the playing field is supposed to be level, it seems like everyone should be starting from more or less the same point (allowing for experience, skills, etc.). If some people are using programs that they already know fairly well, that would seem to give them a head start.

I'm all for re-using programs in exhibitions or shows. In competition, not so much.
 

silverfoxes

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 16, 2014
I prefer to see something brand new each season if possible, unless there are extenuating circumstances like financing. I don't think you can really get a clear picture of how well-rounded a skater is if they keep doing the same program all the time. It gives the impression that they can only handle a limited range of styles. Also, I would think they would want to challenge themselves and not be stuck in a rut. Ultimately it's the skater's choice, but I don't think it should be encouraged. If it were me, I would get burned out very quickly skating to the same old, same old.

In terms of exhibitions, it's understandable that the audience wants to see the "greatest hits," but there are ways to keep it fresh with some different choreo and/or "remixes" (Baby Sex Bomb comes to mind...:laugh:).
 

Amei

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Doesn't a "recycled" program give a skater an advantage (maybe an unfair one) over those who are using new material? I would think that not having to learn new choreo would free up time to focus on details like landing/spin positions and overall presentation.

Agree, and I think the danger in re-using a program I think if it's not as good as it was the previous year - they should be better, if they are not :slink:
 

blue_idealist

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 25, 2006
It doesn't bother me, unless I hated the program to begin with. The program is often better during the second season that they skate it. Some people say this is taking the easy way out, but since all skaters have that option, I think it is fair to do.. plus, most skaters/teams don't keep both an SP and an LP but change up at least one of them every season.
 

karne

in Emergency Backup Mode
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Country
Australia
I think two is the maximum. Situations like Chan or Petrenko are a bit absurd.

A program can often get better in its second season. Look at Jason's Prince SP. The first season he looked like a gangly awkward boy scampering about pretending to be a grownup. The second season he looked like a mature young man performing for us. The difference was massive. Joshua kept his Rach LP for a second season and it brought him a National medal and a Junior World Championship.
 

figureskateobasan

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 31, 2014
as long as they polished it and perform it better than last season then I don't see any problem with it.

I agree that two seasons is the max. Do they have any rule to keep out skater who keep using the same program over and over again? or something like it will affect the scoring if the judge (for example) got fed up with it already? :laugh:
 

surimi

Onward and forward, Sota!
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 12, 2013
Reused programs bother me, unless a) I don't remember the original performance (Kostner this last season), or b) I privately agree with the skater(s) that the new program doesn't work (Wagner's return to S&D). I'm of the same mind as skatedreamer in thinking old programs give the skater an unfair advantage over people who skate to something new each season. Unless money is the issue, as someone mentioned before.
 

karne

in Emergency Backup Mode
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Country
Australia
Reused programs bother me, unless a) I don't remember the original performance (Kostner this last season), or b) I privately agree with the skater(s) that the new program doesn't work (Wagner's return to S&D). I'm of the same mind as skatedreamer in thinking old programs give the skater an unfair advantage over people who skate to something new each season. Unless money is the issue, as someone mentioned before.

I don't think it's unfair at all. For example, this year I was hoping Artur would re-use his programs because I thought that maybe if he didn't have to worry about that, more focus could be put on fixing his issues. (Then he went and changed coaches and threw that theory out the window.) If a skater is not happy with their performances of one program, why shouldn't they be able to keep it for another year? Joshua never had the magic moment that Schindler's List deserved, so why not bring it again and make it shine?
 

Anastasi14

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 14, 2014
I don't mind if skater keeps his program for one more season. Especially if it's a really great program. It's better than music is new but you can see almost all transition and even parts from the previous program in the "new one". For example, i never mind that Patrick Chan kept his programs. Because i understand that it's very difficult to create and train a completely new program of such level (and as for me the level of his programs is very high, what i can't say about mostly of other skaters). And sometimes the program is a real masterpiece, and you really want to see it again. For example i will be glad if Denis Ten keeps one of his program from Olympic year, because, we haven seen this programs only few times. I think his SP deserves a chance to be performed cleanly.
 

surimi

Onward and forward, Sota!
Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 12, 2013
If a skater is not happy with their performances of one program, why shouldn't they be able to keep it for another year? Joshua never had the magic moment that Schindler's List deserved, so why not bring it again and make it shine?

Skaters can do whatever they want. If someone wants to perfect their program 5 seasons in a row, they can. But I'm equally free to like and not like whatever I want. And I happen not to usually like when programs are brought back. :] Also, how is it not unfair when one skater uses a program they already know, and another skater opts for a new thing? Please explain. Because to me, the other skater sounds like they have a disadvantage.
 

karne

in Emergency Backup Mode
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Country
Australia
Skaters can do whatever they want. If someone wants to perfect their program 5 seasons in a row, they can. But I'm equally free to like and not like whatever I want. And I happen not to usually like when programs are brought back. :] Also, how is it not unfair when one skater uses a program they already know, and another skater opts for a new thing? Please explain. Because to me, the other skater sounds like they have a disadvantage.

But that is the other skater's choice also. And continuing with an old program can be just as difficult as getting a new one. Imagine the pressure Jason would have faced from the judges and audiences if he'd reprised Riverdance.
 
Top