- Joined
- Dec 25, 2012
I see that the OP has been edited by Interspectator and not by the poster itself... What was changed? Did the title change or a part of the post was deleted?
Title was edited for clarity. Collisions was changed to Collision.
I see that the OP has been edited by Interspectator and not by the poster itself... What was changed? Did the title change or a part of the post was deleted?
I like Karen and I also think that comment of her sounds so weird. :noshake: It is just so weird to say you forgive someone when it's not their fault.
What I found most alarming about this interview was that AGAIN, a top U.S. skater arrived at an event with boots that were not fit for competition.
And, no, I'm not blaming a 17-year-old; I'm blaming her coach and whatever USFSA official is in charge of making sure that team members have proper
support with their equipment.
Really, if the skates are in such poor condition, what point is there in any of the other preparations?
US fans should take it easy. Some people just comment that her statement is weird. It does not mean we dislike her more or less because of that. There is nothing wrong with people having opinion on your wording in public statements. That's life.
Title was edited for clarity. Collisions was changed to Collision.
I would note that giving an extemporaneous oral answer to a question -- as Karen was doing -- is very different from issuing a written statement.
When someone issues a written statement, the best-case scenario is that they have the luxury of taking the time to edit and to re-write (and perhaps to seek assistance from others) to formulate the most precise (and non-"weird") wording possible.
Seventeen-year-old Karen certainly did not have that luxury. She was on a phone line reacting in real time to a group of professional reporters pressing her for detail after detail about the collision. She had kept her original reference to the collision "short and sweet" (my words). And I do mean "sweet" -- in the sense that her emphasis was on the positive news that she had fully recovered and is feeling great.
Thank you, Specs .
On a general level, I will add that the full audio of these skater Q & A teleconferences (not only Karen's) often comes across VERY differently from the framing by Reporter X or Reporter Y of a limited number of quotes within a print article.
I am curious about skating boots and the process of how they are fitted to a skater by professional boot makers.....
I just find the focus on this interview and article weird.
You will find a lot on this scattered about in the Lutz corner. Most skates are pre-made, but some brands will make custom adjustments, and others specialize in custom boots. Many of us on GS make great efforts to convince skaters and their families early on that it is worth it to travel to get to a good fitter and to try out different brands. Or, to get custom supports or skate orthodics from a qualified sports podiatrist as well as guidance about the correct balance line on which to mount the blades. I've been thinking we need a sticky thread there on getting skates that fit and correct mounting of blades.
But some skaters with unusual shaped feet seem to struggle through and after their growth spurts no matter how good the fitter who works with them is. And when a skater signs on with a particular skate sponsor at a young age, there is a risk that the sponsor's boots won't continue to be a good choice for them after they grow. Or even that no standard boot will work for them.
For example, Kevin Reynolds had notoriously narrow feet and severe problems, even going so far as to fly to Italy to get his skate sponsor to fit his boots. He still ending using a right and left from different pairs through the Olympic season. One wonders in hindsight how much the boot issues contributed to his labral tear injury or whether the tear made him more sensitive to boot issues. However, after most of a year off for surgery and rehab, he happily found his feet had changed and he now is able to find boots that fit.
Karen's story is starting to sound too much like Kevin's. There may be more than one underlying issue, both in her body and in the boots and blades. And certainly body memory can't lock in when a skater can't count on the balance of the blade to be where he/she expects it.
Karen is still very young and has never been under a spotlight this bright.
She's 17!!!! I was in college (actually had college credits since I was 16) at 17. That is not still very young.... Well maybe to my 101 y/o grandmother, but still. These boot issues are getting very old... I'm kinda thinking Mirai would take her place. I have no confidence in Karen in the next two weeks. I predict Mariah will place ahead of her.