Figure and Fancy Skating
- Thread starter HumbleFan
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Is this the "event" Debi Thomas is practising for? I didn't understand what it is all about?
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- Feb 18, 2014
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That was news to me, too!
There's more about it in this thread about Debi Thomas, who's currently training for the 2023 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships. There are short videos of Debi's training, but be sure also to look for the posts from @BlissfulSynergy that have links to past WF&FS competition performances. Thanks, Blissful!
www.goldenskate.com
More on the World Figure Sport website:
worldfiguresport.org
There's more about it in this thread about Debi Thomas, who's currently training for the 2023 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships. There are short videos of Debi's training, but be sure also to look for the posts from @BlissfulSynergy that have links to past WF&FS competition performances. Thanks, Blissful!
Debi Thomas’ Skating Comeback
https://youtu.be/FOFrwtFhxjU Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHUI3QpYnl4 It's so exciting to see her on the ice! For those of you who are my age and followed her, you'd understand :)
More on the World Figure Sport website:
WORLD FIGURE SPORT
World Figure Sport, not-for-profit 501(c)(3), is the only world organization brand that epitomizes the “Art of Skating” with the World Figure and Fancy Skating Championships on black ice.
worldfiguresport.org
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2014
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2 videos from past WFS...
I enjoyed this one because of the skater's lovely Ina Bauer variation and her long extended spiral:
www.youtube.com
...and this, where Shepherd Clark traces a Maltese Cross on the ice. I remember him from US Nats...way back in the day.
www.youtube.com
I enjoyed this one because of the skater's lovely Ina Bauer variation and her long extended spiral:
Courtney Wetterich - 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships
Modern Figures & Fancy Skating live here! Watch Courtney Wetterich compete in the modern 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships. In this modern Wo...
www.youtube.com
...and this, where Shepherd Clark traces a Maltese Cross on the ice. I remember him from US Nats...way back in the day.
Maltese Cross - 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships
Modern Figures & Fancy Skating live here! Watch Shepherd Clark skate the greatest Maltese Cross ever seen at the 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Champions...
www.youtube.com
- Joined
- May 25, 2014
Thank you for sharing those links! I really enjoyed both of them - Courtney for her elegance, skating skills, and joy and Shepherd for his technical ability. I remember him from US Nats, too!2 videos from past WFS...
I enjoyed this one because of the skater's lovely Ina Bauer variation and her long extended spiral:
Courtney Wetterich - 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships
Modern Figures & Fancy Skating live here! Watch Courtney Wetterich compete in the modern 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships. In this modern Wo...
...and this, where Shepherd Clark traces a Maltese Cross on the ice. I remember him from US Nats...way back in the day.
Maltese Cross - 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships
Modern Figures & Fancy Skating live here! Watch Shepherd Clark skate the greatest Maltese Cross ever seen at the 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Champions...
You've piqued my curiosity, as has Debi Thomas getting involved. I'll have to check out some more videos!
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My pleasure…There’s lots more on YT, so have fun!
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Yep, lots of YouTube videos are available. I posted two in the Debi Thomas comeback thread. 
Take a look at the junior performance of a young figures skater from Tanzania, Taika Mzese, and the performance by the kilted, bearded Scottish figures skater (both linked in the Debi thread).
Also, Sarah Jo Damron-Brown (see below), who has won numerous competitions. In the below clip, the notes indicate that Damron-Brown competed all 16 compositions. I'm not sure what that means exactly. I'm kinda surprised that the WFFS organization is not promoted more, with timely interviews and articles!
youtu.be
Another performance by Damron-Brown:
youtu.be
There's a comment on the second video by someone who is new to seeing figures performance. They said, "It's basically skating without the jumps, concentrating on artistry." Actually, I think this description doesn't take into account that figures is really about the basics of skating, which has nothing at all to do with jumps in the first place. Tracing figures on the ice is how the sport developed, well before music and artistry came into the picture -- all of which preceded experimentation with jumps and hops!
The Courtney Wetterich video was already linked above. She's elegant and balletic, and she did one single revolution jump amidst spirals, twists and turns, with lovely bladework, similar to Sarah Jo Damron-Brown.
Shepherd Clark is the current reigning champion in figures, winning in 2018, 2022, and 2023. He has competed often! I'm not sure of all the different competition categories or how often Shepherd has won. Adding to the Maltese cross video already posted with Shepherd, below is his performance video from 2018, in which he features a single revolution jump -- but clearly, it's the bladework and elegant moves over the ice that take precedence.
youtu.be
For those unfamiliar with Shepherd, he is a former U.S. men's competitor from the 1990s era. Below is Shepherd's fp at 1994 U.S. Nats.
youtu.be
Shepherd was the 1989 U.S. men's junior champ, but he had a hard time breaking through to the senior podium. Still, I always enjoyed watching Shepherd, and I rooted for him. It's nice to see him competing in figures all these years later and winning so often!
Take a look at the junior performance of a young figures skater from Tanzania, Taika Mzese, and the performance by the kilted, bearded Scottish figures skater (both linked in the Debi thread).
Also, Sarah Jo Damron-Brown (see below), who has won numerous competitions. In the below clip, the notes indicate that Damron-Brown competed all 16 compositions. I'm not sure what that means exactly. I'm kinda surprised that the WFFS organization is not promoted more, with timely interviews and articles!
Sarah Jo Damron-Brown - 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships
Modern Figures & Fancy Skating live here! Watch Sarah Jo Damron-Brown compete in the modern 2019 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships. With champion ...
youtu.be
Another performance by Damron-Brown:
Sarah Jo Damron-Brown, 2022 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships on black ice
Enjoy Sarah Jo Damron-Brown's World Fancy Skating Composition at the 2022 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships on black ice. Sarah Jo is a 4x World Fi...
youtu.be
There's a comment on the second video by someone who is new to seeing figures performance. They said, "It's basically skating without the jumps, concentrating on artistry." Actually, I think this description doesn't take into account that figures is really about the basics of skating, which has nothing at all to do with jumps in the first place. Tracing figures on the ice is how the sport developed, well before music and artistry came into the picture -- all of which preceded experimentation with jumps and hops!
The Courtney Wetterich video was already linked above. She's elegant and balletic, and she did one single revolution jump amidst spirals, twists and turns, with lovely bladework, similar to Sarah Jo Damron-Brown.
Shepherd Clark is the current reigning champion in figures, winning in 2018, 2022, and 2023. He has competed often! I'm not sure of all the different competition categories or how often Shepherd has won. Adding to the Maltese cross video already posted with Shepherd, below is his performance video from 2018, in which he features a single revolution jump -- but clearly, it's the bladework and elegant moves over the ice that take precedence.
Shepherd Clark 2018 World Fancy Skating Champion
Modern Figures & Fancy Skating live here! Enjoy Shepherd Clark's Fancy Skating performance on day 3 of the 2018 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships. ...
youtu.be
For those unfamiliar with Shepherd, he is a former U.S. men's competitor from the 1990s era. Below is Shepherd's fp at 1994 U.S. Nats.
Shepherd Clark - 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Men's Free Skate
Detroit, Michigan, USA - 1994 United States Figure Skating Championships, Men's Free Skate - Shepherd Clark finished in 6th Place overall.
youtu.be
Shepherd was the 1989 U.S. men's junior champ, but he had a hard time breaking through to the senior podium. Still, I always enjoyed watching Shepherd, and I rooted for him. It's nice to see him competing in figures all these years later and winning so often!
