- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
Here is a good 2 page KWan article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29947-2004Dec27.html
Lots of good quotes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29947-2004Dec27.html
Lots of good quotes.
The new system makes things at once complicated and very, very simple: All any skater must do is connect the dots technically while, as Kwan put it, "keeping the integrity of your own skating."
Kwan said she has focused unusual attention on spins and transitions, the weakest parts, she determined, of her old programs when measured against the new system. The work has been different, occasionally exhausting, routinely stressful and somewhat awkward, but it has also been straightforward and, in many ways, deliciously challenging.
"I've improved a lot," Kwan said. "I have a different perspective in skating under the new judging system. It's interesting; I'm working on things I wouldn't have been if they didn't change the rules. It's mathematical now. It's all taking your body and putting it into the numbers."
Kwan said she sought advice from several judges, including Lakernik, who visited her home rink in August. He said he offered Kwan a few suggestions without proposing wholesale changes. Lakernik said if there were any questions about whether Kwan was willing to change, she answered it for him at those sessions.
"She is definitely trying to do what the new system demands," Lakernik said by phone from Moscow. "New kinds of spins, steps and so on. . . . This demands work. As far as I had seen, she was doing that."
Lakernik said he expected Kwan to adapt gracefully to the new system. What remained uncertain, he said, was whether she could adeptly handle the new wave of competition.
In Blades on Ice Michelle said, in an interview at the Campells competition in October:Fossi said:I'm conflicted. Weren't there several posters stating as fact that Michelle wasn't going to adapt to CoP and that she went on record to say so?This article makes it sound as if Michelle is/has taken some steps to adapt. I wonder if she really will?
I had forgotten this bit from 'Blades'. When reading the Washington Post article I got the feeling the Lakernik was out to get her, but towards the end he is happy that she is working on the CoP details. And so am I. Question: Why would this high ISU official come to Arrowhead to see Kwan?Mathman said:(Aexander) Lakernik (the chairman of the ISU's Technical Committee) came to lake Arrowhead for a week to look at my spins and footwork and discuss what levels they would be.
She had her worst finish in nine years, claiming the bronze medal after having won five golds and three silvers in her previous eight championships.
Spirit said:What a streak! (And no, I don't mean that guy who ran onto the ice before she skated in Germany.)
Skate Sandee said:Joe - is your question
1) Why would ANY high ranking ISU official come to watch Kwan practice and offer feedback?
OR
2) Why would LATERNIK come to watch Kwan practice and offer feedback?
It's not uncommon for skaters to seek out judges feedback when constructing a program. Since RA is Ukranian, and the USFSA hasn't switched over to COP yet, he may have suggested going outside of USA to get feedback. Maybe he knows Laternik and felt comfortable asking him.
If your question was #2, are you thinking that maybe a Russian ISU official would be less inclined to offer real feedback to further the prospects of ladies from Russia? Not that such a question is out of line. But the Russian Federation have been open about their dismay in seeing the COP rammed through without further testing, so I don't think they have an agenda per se.
attyfan said:Interesting that Lakernik blamed the program for Kwan's third place finish; most people blame such things as a fall in the QR and/or the time deduction.
That's what I was driving at. She had a fall in the QR (some skaters have occasional falls) and the went over time in SP (big deal). None of that has to do with her normal skate. She did place 2nd in the LP with a bunch of 6.0s to the Triple combo jumps of the World Champion. That I agree with, a little more work on MK's part for the CoP and less sarcasm.attyfan said:Interesting that Lakernik blamed the program for Kwan's third place finish; most people blame such things as a fall in the QR and/or the time deduction.
Joesitz said:I had forgotten this bit from 'Blades'. When reading the Washington Post article I got the feeling the Lakernik was out to get her, but towards the end he is happy that she is working on the CoP details. And so am I. Question: Why would this high ISU official come to Arrowhead to see Kwan?
One other point, Lakernik hinted that by not doing the GPs it was not the way to go but did he also mean that she will be punished for it? Just curious.
Joe
By not skating the GP series, Michelle is not getting the benefit of "feedback from international judges" that her competition is automatically getting by competing in front of international judges. So, for less than the cost of a Vera Wang dress (I'm kidding/guessing about that), I can see logic behind hiring / paying travel for some international judges' consultation and feedback outside of the competition rinks.Kuchana said:Why would Lakernik come to see her? He could have just as well have ignored her request for any suggestions (even if she's Michelle Kwan). If he was hinting that she'd be punished for it, then why would he come to see her in the first place?
On another note, I think it was a bit crass to make such statements about her last Worlds. JMO.