Best Footwork

jcoates · Jan 19, 2015

Some of the best examples of great footwork from the long gone days of regular primetime skating specials and competitions:

Yuka Sato
Spartacus 1995 World Pros https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pOcSjJ-bfCQ#t=219 (fastest feet I've ever seen on a female skater)
The Merry Widow 1997 Japan Open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhs_bMZi-g4&feature=player_detailpage#t=198 (beautiful flow and posture)

Kurt Browning (able to tell a story with his feet alone) Look up pretty much any program, but especially his professional ones
Serenade to Sonia/L-O-V-E 1996 Canadian Pros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAngxNlAQAY
Singing in the Rain 1994 TV Special https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtd7xq7URM
That's Entertainment 1995 World Pros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDNgFGdrxYk
Singing in the Rain in competition 18 years later 2012 Medal Winners Open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBqqX3eVuRc
Brickhouse 1997 World Pros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RtL68KBBhY

Browning, Paul Wylie and Scott Hamilton
A great Stars on Ice number featuring a footwork showdown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCapfwISfAU

s_parks · Jan 19, 2015

Mao's Rachmaninoff No. 2, Claire de Lune, etc..
Yuna's Send in the Clown, Danse Macabre, Homage to Korea
Plushenko's Nijinsky, Tosca
Yagudin's Winter
Basically anything Patrick does...

bebevia · Jan 19, 2015

I have many programs I like... However, when I hear the word "footwork", I automatically think of Daisuke Takahashi. I wouldn't pinpoint a single program by him, but in general, he just has this smooth glaze, like elegantly spreading clotted cream over scone, and just a right sprinkle of good boy sexiness. I wanna marry him.

IcyEdges · Jan 19, 2015

jcoates said:
Some of the best examples of great footwork from the long gone days of regular primetime skating specials and competitions:

Yuka Sato
Spartacus 1995 World Pros https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pOcSjJ-bfCQ#t=219 (fastest feet I've ever seen on a female skater)
The Merry Widow 1997 Japan Open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhs_bMZi-g4&feature=player_detailpage#t=198 (beautiful flow and posture)

Kurt Browning (able to tell a story with his feet alone) Look up pretty much any program, but especially his professional ones
Serenade to Sonia/L-O-V-E 1996 Canadian Pros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAngxNlAQAY
Singing in the Rain 1994 TV Special https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtd7xq7URM
That's Entertainment 1995 World Pros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDNgFGdrxYk
Singing in the Rain in competition 18 years later 2012 Medal Winners Open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBqqX3eVuRc
Brickhouse 1997 World Pros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RtL68KBBhY

Browning, Paul Wylie and Scott Hamilton
A great Stars on Ice number featuring a footwork showdown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCapfwISfAU

Which was pointed out by me a page ago... :slink:

chezzu · Jan 19, 2015

Daisuke Takahashi! Especially when he's performing fierce programs, like Eye and his Piazzolla LP, and Blues for Klook. But seriously, almost all of Dai's step sequences are glorious.

I really like Mao's Rach 2 StSq, as well as Carolina's Bolero.

Interspectator · Jan 19, 2015

chezzu said:
Daisuke Takahashi! Especially when he's performing fierce programs, like Eye and his Piazzolla LP, and Blues for Klook. But seriously, almost all of Dai's step sequences are glorious.

I really like Mao's Rach 2 StSq, as well as Carolina's Bolero.

So true. Takahashis footwork... :love:

Maos footwork is also lightning fast and intricate. I especially like her I Got Rhythm SP.

unico · Jan 20, 2015

gallavich said:
Most underrated - Alexander Abt. Favorites - Tango, Victorious City, and Yablochko, to name a few.

Wonderful choice, Abt was one of a kind. Incredible bladework.

gotoschool · Jan 20, 2015

Mao's Sochi LP step sequence - the battling ballerina pirouetting and prancing through lightning quick leg kicks and acrobatic steps and the transcendent leap into the sky at its height while flashing a wild samurai smile, then dashing through her fan spiral and carving a sharp, rapid arc in her closing arabesque. She seemed to be pounding the piano keys with her abrupt, rhythmic motions.

Mao's Bells of Moscow step sequence - I love the peek-a-boo mask like motion with her hand over her eyes as she did a wild open-mouthed pose and a moonwalk-like slide followed by high leg kicks, an illusion spin, and stagger steps leading into the final sit extension and one handed Biellman, with one black gloved hand cupped against her chest.

Carolina Kosnter Bolero at Sochi- Magnificent elasticity and fluidity and marvelous musicality.

Weathergal · Jan 20, 2015

IcyEdges said:
If you think those are great examples of footwork (which they are) you really need to see this (my favorite). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oeya_bPe53Y

Thank you--I had forgotten about that program of his!

Another footwork favorite of mine is Stephane Lambiel. Certainly he's known for his spins, but I've always enjoyed his footwork and choreography in general. His "Poeta" program is amazing.

Upnights · Jan 20, 2015

Petr Barna was the 1st skater whose footwork wowed me, seeing it live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipdxWR-3yTM

Junstella · Jan 20, 2015

Stsq has a lot to do with skating skills...In terms of that, Chan&Yuna are my best.
Their upper body movements are nicely connected with footworks, and that actually makes their steps look more like dance than stsq.

plushyfan · Jan 20, 2015

I have so many...

Mao's Swan Lake the endof the program-finale

Carolina's Bolero at Sochi

Takahashi- Blues for clock

Kurt Browning's footworks

Yagudin's Winter

Plushenko's Tango and Flamenco SP, the Godfather LP early version

etc.

yhmafan · Jan 20, 2015

Junstella said:
Stsq has a lot to do with skating skills...In terms of that, Chan&Yuna are my best.
Their upper body movements are nicely connected with footworks, and that actually makes their steps look more like dance than stsq.

Curiously enough, Yuzuru has mentioned exactly the same thing, when he watched Mao’s skating.
I quoted my recent comment from Mao’s thread

yhmafan said:
Your great statement reminded me of that young Yuzuru’s very honest opinion about Mao.
He said that when he was 16 or 17.

“Mao-chan makes (every element) look too easy, so that looks so easy to do. But in fact those are really reeeally difficult!!
That is an excellent thing to see that the movement of her upper body looks like smoothly connected with her stpsq!”

It's cute that we are able to see that for a while sometimes Yuzuru was very fanboy-ing on Mao haha…

Globetrotter · Jan 20, 2015

My fav footwork will be a Daisuke Takahashi in his Blues for Kooks programme. It is the union of fluid skating skills and artist. The most under rated footwork will be Carolina Kostners Ave Maria SP. She has probably the best footwork and spadix skating skills but managed to make the ave Maria steps look totally easy but damn it is hard as her edge work is so deep and the turns so sharp and yet so smooth.

skatedreamer · Jan 20, 2015

Tomas Werner, 2014 Worlds SP -- this program was so much fun to watch! I loved the sequence beginning around 2:08. If only he hadn't fallen apart in his LP...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcSuqbRN4nY

jcoates -- re: Browning/Wylie/Hamilton, that one is priceless. Went searching for it and was about to post but then saw that you beat me to it. :biggrin:

kwanatic · Jan 20, 2015

Mao had the best overall step sequences of the ladies for me. The intricacy and complexity of the steps and the way she seamlessly combined them was nothing short of amazing. Others were great as well but I think Mao deserves top honors for that.

My favorites from every one:

Mao: Nocturne (both versions), Swan Lake, Ladies in Lavender, Rach 2, I've Got Rhythm
Yu-Na: Danse, Tango, Bond, Scheherazade
Carolina: Bolero, Ave Maria, Transylvanian Lullaby, Allegretto
Akiko: O, Kill Bill, West Side Story
Kanako: Violin Muse (first version), Jumpin Jack, Tango
Ashley: Shine On (that back bend was everything)
Elena: Flamenco/JLo (yes, I like it), Anna Karenina
Adelina: Carmen, Capriccio Espangol

From a little farther back...

Michelle: Rach, East of Eden, Tosca, Aranjuez, Feeling Begins
Sasha: Dark Eyes, R&J, Malaguena

BlackPack · Jan 20, 2015

Upnights said:
Petr Barna was the 1st skater whose footwork wowed me, seeing it live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipdxWR-3yTM

Indeed! A little-known masterpiece. I love the violin theme.

Meoima · Jan 20, 2015

Upnights said:
Petr Barna was the 1st skater whose footwork wowed me, seeing it live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipdxWR-3yTM

Beautiful

anyanka · Jan 20, 2015

Mao attacking the Rach 2 during the cadenza - fierce, determined, magnificent

Amei · Jan 20, 2015

Sasha Cohen has generally always had good step sequences.

Best Footwork

jcoates

s_parks

bebevia

IcyEdges

Match Penalty

chezzu

Interspectator

unico

gotoschool

Weathergal

Upnights

Junstella

plushyfan

yhmafan

Globetrotter

skatedreamer

kwanatic

Check out my YT channel, Bare Ice!

BlackPack

Meoima

Match Penalty

anyanka

Amei

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