Obscure World Figure Skating Championship Videos

[Poodlepal]

I think that's the main reason.

Reliance on triple jumps probably also self-selected for smaller body types than figures-era skating.



"like" Caryn Kadavy or Holly Cook in what sense? I don't think of their skating as being very similar to each other. Because I think of Kadavy as being much more polished, with more coherent choreography.


Speed and attack specifically?

No, I don't think that is considered juniorish.

Athletically talented skaters may rise to the top at young ages, straight out of juniors, on the strength of power/attack and triple jumps, and then if they stick around become more polished as they mature. So in that sense, reliance on athletic ability more than refined skills might be associated with younger skaters.

But a lot of younger junior skaters who are not ready to compete with seniors in their early teens (and may or may not ever get there) don't have as much power because they don't have the muscle mass and/or highest-level stroking skill yet.

The best seniors have both power and refinement. They may be just as fast or faster as when they were juniors, but not look like they're attacking as much or working as hard because they achieve their speed more from technique.

Here are two freeskates by the same skater at 17 and 23 years old, which both happened to earn fourth place at post-Olympic Worlds. She was always known for her speed, but at the older age seems to harness it better. Does that come across as less attack?

Well, both Caryn and Holly seemed peppy. Maybe the superior stroking skills of skaters today make them appear to skate slow when they are actually skating fast, but I don't know why they would want to do that. Most of the music they have been picking out is horrible, although YMMV, of course.
I would rather see a program like Caryn's or Holly's than the graceful, slow, tortured-looking interpretation of a single violin playing an obscure, tuneless classical piece or an annoying guitar that gives me a headache. I'm looking at you, Ashley Wagner.

I'll put up a video tomorrow, right now I have to go to bed!

 

[BounceAround]

...Maybe the superior stroking skills of skaters today make them appear to skate slow when they are actually skating fast...

I don't really find this to be true as a generalization. Do you have some specific examples in mind ?

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Oh, wow! I remember that. Very solid skater, but that music makes me think of one of those bars where everything you touch is sticky :laugh:

 

[sgsmozart]

Those spins....I can't....words not enough. Wow!! Thank you for sharing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0fvU4wnp34

Lucinda Ruh..one of the greatest females spinners.

 

[gkelly]

For spin enthusiasts, Nathalie Krieg

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

^I love the crowd booing the low scores. That entire skate was amazing! I really wish spins got more respect. Not the first video on this thread that the crowd boos the judges.

 

[dorispulaski]

Anna Rechnio of Poland was a great skater
Here's her 1998 SP at Worlds, where she placed second.
http://m.youtube.com/index?&desktop_uri=/#/watch?v=eym3nxL6650
Her FS was not as good, but still enjoyable.
http://m.youtube.com/index?&desktop_uri=/#/watch?v=Bqge7foHtPs

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

As I lay around with a busted knee cap(2-4 weeks) I'm really enjoying these videos. Thanks for posting! I absolutely love how even she was clapping in the end and to her credit..she deserved it! Too bad she couldn't hold it together and get a medal in the FS.

 

[Olympia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0fvU4wnp34

I originally watched this one on a different network, but I remember it because of the commentators gushing over her spins (as they likely do on this one too).

This one is one of my favorites. Not only is Lucinda Ruh a splendid spinner, but her dance training makes her other movements an unusually fluid skater, and her music (the Gliere harp concerto) is especially lyrical. It's moments like this that remind us that skating's greatest treasures might not always be found in the programs with the highest marks.

Sam, sorry to hear about your knee. Hope it heals with no complications.

 

[Poodlepal]

Here's a couple I have a random memory of. It's from the Olympics, though, not Worlds. I remember thinking that they were really good, but they were insulted by Dick and I remember in the warmup one of the announcers insulted their costumes. Talk about happy, peppy music (even though they themselves are obviously skating sort of slow and cautious)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UGzIE3YWDQ

 

[Poodlepal]

I don't really find this to be true as a generalization. Do you have some specific examples in mind ?

Here's a famous, non-obscure example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsCZCM8AKCU a triple-axeling powerhouse skating to slow, heavy music.

 

[desertskates]

Here's a favorite of mine dating back 20+ years. The lovely Lenka Kulovana of the Czech Republic skating in Worlds at home in Prague. She was only able to have ice time 15 hrs a week, wow!
The available ice thing has drastically improved in the last 10 years or so, I hope we see some young ladies emerge from there soon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcMeIUy3D7o

Hope you heal quickly, Sam. I just healed up a busted foot, and it's frustrating. Lucky for me, I had the Olympics to keep me busy!

 

[dorispulaski]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=eCUKYUD3RiM

Gregory and Merriman' s 2008 Australian OD.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Here's a favorite of mine dating back 20+ years. The lovely Lenka Kulovana of the Czech Republic skating in Worlds at home in Prague. She was only able to have ice time 15 hrs a week, wow!
The available ice thing has drastically improved in that last 10 years or so, I hope we see some young ladies emerge from there soon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcMeIUy3D7o

Hope you heal quickly, Sam. I just healed up a busted foot, and it's frustrating. Lucky for me, I had the Olympics to keep me busy!

"You know I'd be a terrible judge Sandra and I'd give her anything she wants"

These old videos are really making my day. It shows the true spirit and meaning behind this sport. Thanks for the well wishes. Fingeres crossed for the MRI.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=eCUKYUD3RiM

Gregory and Merriman' s 2008 Australian OD.

Maybe the most obscure post yet! Very interesting and I absolutely love it. Thank you!

 

[dorispulaski]

I loved it at the time and have been fond of the Team ever since-so glad they made it to the FD at Sochi!

Their dance was very interesting, because everything about it was very authentic

Danielle O'Brien and Greg Merriman, from Sydney, first performed an Aboriginal-inspired dance at a Korean competition in 2008. Before deciding on their costume or the details of the routine, the pair spent a year in consultation with the indigenous community to ensure their performance, music and outfits were appropriate and respected Aboriginal culture. The resulting costumes, which incorporated elements of Aboriginal art, was vastly different to the Russians' interpretation

I spent a while on YouTube looking at aboriginal dances, trying to find the inspirations for theirs-I am fairly sure that it is a hunting dance-Dani is a small kangaroo.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Peggy Flemming 1968 WC FS(1st place)

Only obscure due to the time period. This skate is amazing!

http://youtu.be/g_9gY6t-fqo

"Peggy's skating is a combination of everything that is figure skating."

 

[donezo]

Not sure how obscure this is, but Jill Trenary skating to Miami Sound Machine at 1987 Worlds is just so deliciously '80s that it hurts. It's so wrong that it's almost right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUsf_Lzt4sE

And here is another '80s favorite of mine....the Duchesnays in Calgary, scandalizing the skating world with their "Savage Rites" free dance!

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

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I've tried my best to stay objective and leave my favorite out of this but I just can't resist.

11yr old Yulia Lipnitskaya in the 2010 Russian Nationals(junior). She finished 5th place. 5pts ahead of Adelina Sotnikova who was 13. She has some issues with her jumps but is WAAAY more developed than any 11yr old I've skated with. Keep in mind that she had landed her first triple less than one calendar year before this competition

http://youtu.be/gy3r8VSqo-U

 

[dorispulaski]

http://youtu.be/JRvvjJZyX8M

From the 1988 Olympics (I couldn't find the Worlds vid) the SP of the cowboy from Stuttgart, Heiko Fischer.

I don't know why the memory of this skate has stuck with me all these years, but it had. Heiko was a figures specialist who generally plummeted in the standings when the free skating started. He died in 1989.

Another obscure performance Klara Engi and Attila Toth 1992 Olympics FD.
Life is a struggle for everyone


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o29gDI4YVig

They did a great ex to The Muppet Movie. They wore full head masks of Kermit and Miss Piggy. Unfortunately youtube takes it down as fast as you put it up.