Live v. On TV

[Spun Silver]

Just curious as to how skaters come across live versus on TV. I'd appreciate hearing from those who've had the chance to see them both ways since I haven't for the most part. Is there a TV effect? Do particular skaters do better in one medium than the other?

 

[Mathman]

IMO the power skaters come off much better live than on TV.

I never really got Irina Slutskaya, for instance, watching her on TV. She just seemed less graceful than her rivals.

But live, she just explodes across the ice, one stroke and she's all the way around the corner and headed back the other way.

I saw Emily Hughes live at Skate America two years ago. I was sitting right in the first row in the Lutz corner. Emily came straight at me like a charging linebacker. I had to duck under my seat.

Men who have a really fine triple Axel (Ilia Kulik, Todd Eldredge) are just amazing in person. It seems like they are leaping over your head.

I think TV aids the delicate balerina types. The knock on their performances in person is that they do not fill the ice. On TV, that doesn't matter.

 

[SeaniBu]

I must say I so prefer the arena. The energy and all of course. But choosing to look at the blades or see the line left after a jump take off or during a spiral.....

Seeing Ira live I don't think "graceful" would be the first word to mind. Strong, technical, exuberant power, yadda yadda, yes! And MK, well what can one say, either you see her live or you miss some of her. The one pro I saw of her was no jump, soft and light skating, but surpassed my emotion and fulfillment beyond all of her other programmes. And for instance, Tanith, so much more beautiful in person, most were but Even and Plushy made me want to go shave. The sounds of the ice, hearing the landings, on and on. IMO Live is so much better!

Plus the camera "person" can't cut of your view of the blades, that alone is wonderful.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

On TV you watch a skater close up as if it were on a procenium stage. Live you watch skating in an arena. Compulsory and Original Dance come across the best LIVE. They cover the ice in an arena setting very well.

As MM says live brings out the best skaters best skating, and your sharing all that with a few thousand of your best friends.

Joe

 

[Tonichelle]

There were a lot of skaters - Evan being the one that always blows me away - that I didn't like until I saw them skate LIVE...

and those that I already liked I fell in love with all over again... there's nothing like seeing anyone skate live (like Johnny's Otonal - I didn't get it until nationals... )

 

[Mathman]

I forgot to mention one of the best things about going a major competitive life -- you get to see the practices. The top skaters are well aware that practice is performance, too (often the judges attend), and we get a preview of what to expect.

At Skate America some years ago Ann Patrice MacDonnough stayed on the ice after everyone else was done and ran through her LP several times, with two different endings. Would she stab herself (Madame Buttlefly) or not? The audience, sparse though it was, was shouting , "yes!" "no!"

 

[Tonichelle]

yeah practices are great, you get to hobknob with skaters, officials, media, fans, skater families... it's awesome...

 

[Ladskater]

I always find this question rather "silly." Of course, figure skating is always better to see live - not that it's that bad via tv. However, one gets better viewing in person and does not have to suffer through commercial breaks. It's just like watching a play in the theatre vs. watching a play on tv. Which do you enjoy more? There is interaction with the audience and the actors. Figure skating is much the same.

On the same note though, if I can't see a competition or skating show live at least I can watch it on tv and not miss it entirely. Also one can also tape from the tv.

 

[iluvtodd]

Of course, figure skating is always better to see live - not that it's that bad via tv. However, one gets better viewing in person and does not have to suffer through commercial breaks. It's just like watching a play in the theatre vs. watching a play on tv. Which do you enjoy more? There is interaction with the audience and the actors. Figure skating is much the same.

On the same note though, if I can't see a competition or skating show live at least I can watch it on tv and not miss it entirely. Also one can also tape from the tv.

Live, for all of the reasons mentioned above! Also, at competitions you can move up to watch the practice sessions, see the skaters "up close & personal," and possibly talk to the skaters afterwards. :agree:

I do like taping events as well to hear the commentary about the competitive programs and for preserving the events that we have been lucky enough to attend. I do like to rewatch favorite performances, and not just on youtube.

 

[Mathman]

But I think the original question was about particular skaters. Some of them are much more impressive live than on TV, and others about the same.

Jenny Kirk was an example of a skater that looked great on TV but sometimes got lost in the shuffle in live competitions and shows.

 

[antmanb]

Just curious as to how skaters come across live versus on TV. I'd appreciate hearing from those who've had the chance to see them both ways since I haven't for the most part. Is there a TV effect? Do particular skaters do better in one medium than the other?

I have not had the opportunity to see that many skaters live and the only times i have seen them has been in exhibitions or gala's rather than competition. Skaters who i liked after i saw them live who i previously had not appreciated include Kulik (the speed an power in his stroking is unbelievable and the height of his jumps is amazing). Steven Cousins (his spin centering and the fact he still has three reliable triples impressed me no end).

Both Ber&Sik and Sale&Pel i loved on TV but when i saw them live i was just blown away by their presence.

Skaters that went the other way - Yamaguchi - i loved watching her on TV and really enjoyed her performances but the one tim ei saw her live i thought she was totally Blah - it was a number in 2002 to Rob Thomas and Santana's Smooth which many people say was a particularly weak program of hers - the choreography by Sandra Bezic was humourously called whoreography!

Sasha is another person who I saw live in 2002 and she came off much better on the TV because she didn't have the same power that the other skaters did and her jumps seemed really small compared to others (including Yamaguchi) Her facial expressions and the positions she hits are IMO more impressive on TV becuase live you can't see ehr facial expressions and at the time the positions she hit didn't seem that impressive becuase she really didn't fill the rink with them and didn't seem to have much speed either.

Ant

 

[Kwanford Wife]

For me, seeing a skater live seperates out the real contenders from those with interesting back stories... Kwan, Slute and both Hughes are sights to behold live - fast, high jumps and lots o' power... love it. Kwan always lacked a bit in the power, but makes up for it with that awesome "it" factor she possess and ooddles and oodles of simple star quality. Another cool thing: she, Slute and Johnny have really quiet blades... which is one of those stupid things that I love...

Sasha is great to see on tv, but as others have pointed out, she doesn't really have the ice coverage and doesn't command the attention of say Kwan & Slute.

One funny thing, though - Kimmie is the same on both mediums...

 

[kittyjake5]

Never was lucky enough to see live competition. I have been to quite a few skating shows and the two that stand out for me is Johnny W. That man is just fantastic live t.v. does not do him justice and I/B come across much better live than on t.v.

 

[Tonichelle]

I always find this question rather "silly."

I don't find it silly at all. Maybe because I used to be in teh same boat, or maybe because I believe there shouldn't be a category for silly questions. It scares people off from ever asking anything.

One good thing about watching it on tv - you often have the best seat in the house to see all the action...

but the atmosphere is better, and you don't have Dick Button and crew telling you what you should or shouldn't like about skating. (and you get to participate in the WAVE started by Kurt Browning lol)

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

One good thing about watching it on tv - you often have the best seat in the house to see all the action...

and one doesn't get any commentary as to whether the close-up skater did a camel spin or a quad, no info regarding the skater's studies, no comments if the skater broke a rule; nobody around you to say that dress is cut too short, no way can one interject that Kwan is the best during the Mens competition; no feeling guilty watching Smart Ones and getting fat. On the plus side, one does have a seat to watch a larger skater than if you saw that skater LIVE. and, of course, one can slug down a beer while complaining about the scores in the K&C which you would not be able to get without leaving your seat and bend your neck upwards to watch it on the in house Teley.

Seriously, if there were away to see the whole competition, I don't think seeing it live would be the best way. I watch a Mets game at least once a week on TV and get out to Shea only twice a season.

I do like the ambience and atmosphere in LIVE SPORTS, though. That's special.

Joe

 

[purplecat]

I disagree about Sasha and Kristi being less impressive in person, but that's just my opinion.

For Sasha, I first saw her live in 2002 (at the Nationals short program). I was sitting way up in the nosebleed seats, which in Staples Center is WAY up there. She was the only lady who I could feel the expression from way up in my seat. I was a casual fan of hers before, but this made me an uber fan. I feel her spirals are more impressive in person as well.

For Kristi, I've seen her twelve times in person and she's never disappointed. When I saw her do Bridge Over Troubled Water in person perfectly it brought tears to my eyes (which rarely happens for me). Yes, I'm the hugest Kristi fan in the world and may be biased, but through my eyes while watching her skate live she's always been great.

In general for live vs. TV....spins always look faster in person, pairs lifts can be less impressive in person if you're sitting high up, or more impressive if you've got a great seat. TV can't capture the ice coverage that well, but you always get a close-up shot (well, most of the time) while live, no matter where you sit the skater will be away from you much of the time. A jump close to you will be more impressive than one done on the far side of the rink. As has been pointed out, facial expressions are hard to see live, unless you've got a front row seat.

For the most part, I enjoy everyone I see live (even those who aren't my favorite.) And live competitions have an extra "oomph". One time when I was fortunate enough to get really great SOI seats, Todd Eldredge did his triple axel right in front of us and ice flew off his blade right past us...that was thrillilng! Now that's something you can't get through the TV.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Unless you get REALLY great seats, skating is better on TV, where you sually get the best views of everything and can really see facial expressions and sutule movments of the fingers and arms.

I was actually luck enough to see Sasha at the 2006 Olympics. She is a tiny girl but she hit everything so you could see it at the top of the building. When she hit that spiarl, i swear it reached the rafters. Some skaters know how to put on a show and they are amazing live.