Jump hype or soap opera: what can make the general public of the U.S. fall in love with figure skating again?

[Minz]

I’ll be honest, the last thing we need in skating is betting. Fans can be toxic enough as it is and betting just takes the hate to a whole new level. I follow tennis, and players regularly get death threats sent on social media by people who lost money.

As a side note, I do remember one user a few years ago (maybe it was @Alex Fedorov) discussing figure skating betting odds in Russia. Of course, skating is a lot more popular there than in the US…

 

[Alex Fedorov]

I’ll be honest, the last thing we need in skating is betting. Fans can be toxic enough as it is and betting just takes the hate to a whole new level. I follow tennis, and players regularly get death threats sent on social media by people who lost money.

As a side note, I do remember one user a few years ago (maybe it was @Alex Fedorov) discussing figure skating betting odds in Russia. Of course, skating is a lot more popular there than in the US…

No, I have never written anything about betting. This side of the sport does not interest me at all. I only remember that Plushenko claimed after the Olympics that he had made a big bet on Anna Shcherbakova and won (but I seriously doubt the veracity of this statement).

As for the main topic - theoretically, Amber Glenn's upcoming victory at the worlds could attract the attention of American fans to this sport. But she has no one "behind her". There are also several promising juniors, but no one knows what state they will be in in a few years.

However, Malinin's outstanding achievements have not yet caused a significant increase in the popularity of figure skating.

 

[Mathman]

In part the endorsements tend to favour what consumers say tend to favour women - beauty, cosmetics.

Actually, I am not dismayed by the fact that figure skating is generally viewed in America as a "girl's sport" (as is soccer).There are plenty of sports that are regarded as "sports for boys."But I think that more recently it is products for old people that have taken over figure skating sponsorship.

One of these days I am going to conduct an experiment where I accost people at random on the streets and ask a one-question survey: Who was the most recent U.S. figure skater to win an Olympic gold medal. My guess is that it would turn out something like, "no idea," 75%,, Michelle Kwan, 20%, with a scattering of votes for Kristi Yamaguchi/Dorothy Hamill/Peggy Fleming -- or Tonya Harding -- but 0 for Sarah Hughes, Evan Lysachek, Davis and White, or Nathan Chen.

 

[4everchan]

Actually, I am not dismayed by the fact that figure skating is generally viewed in America as a "girl's sport" (as is soccer).There are plenty of sports that are regarded as "sports for boys."But I think that more recently it is products for old people that have taken over figure skating sponsorship.

One of these days I am going to conduct an experiment where I accost people at random on the streets and ask a one-question survey: Who was the most recent U.S. figure skater to win an Olympic gold medal. My guess is that it would turn out something like, "no idea, 75%,, Michelle Kwan, 20%, with a scattering of votes for Kristi Yamaguchi/Dorothy Hamill/Peggy Fleming, but 0 for Sarah Hughes, Evan Lysachek, Davis and White, or Nathan Chen.

I think you are correct there....

 

[Warwick360]

An Ice Princess. And by that I mean a female figurehead who can gain attention in the mainstream media for things other than skating, while also being a champion on ice. Aside from Michelle Kwan, Maria Sharapova comes to mind. The latter was larger than life both on and off court, which just elevated the attention to the sport. Same with Serena. And similar to skating, in tennis, it feels like the buzz is gone somewhat with most of the major players retiring. I know there was a push to get Gracie mainstream as part of Swift's girl squad, but the skating success was not happening on an international level. Here's hoping Amber succeeds in the coming Worlds.

As for the men, there's probably not going to be the same effect no matter how many male champions come and go since, in the mainstream, skating doesn't have the perception of being high in the masculinity totem pole (not my opinion). Hence, it probably still won't have the catalyst effect of drawing the crowd to the same effect as a female success, no matter the number of quads or quints. Unless that is if an American man manages to do a Hanyu effect in drawing swooning crowd/stans. Or there happens to be another battle of the Bryans, OR if South Park raises the question of 'what *insert full name* would do?'

 

[Jammers]

For whatever reason women's figure skating has garnered more popularity than men. No matter it seems who is the American threat in ladies overall the tv ratings suggest or favour women's skating. In part the endorsements tend to favour what consumers say tend to favour women - beauty, cosmetics. If a company is hiring a personality for its products like shaving cream, beer, cars they ar emore apt to go with someone from another sport but food, beauty, cosmetics and such tend to use more ladies. We don't like to say certain sports or things are for certain genders but consumer studies will show you the markets. i also think for whatever reason culture, distance but in skating right now you need personalites that stick out or are of interest to the pbulic. Kaori, Mone, Nina, Cheyon Kim, Alyssa, Amber, Bradie, Isabeau just don't have that je ne sais quoi. Skating in general has lost its glory and interest ie shows, made for tv specials. Jumps are not enough. In general tho ugh we also have lost the Russians and that is a huge pot of talent missing especially in pairs and ladies. I am not so sure Kaori would have 3 world titles if the Russians were competing. And the p airs teams are very mediocre even the Japanese who quite honestly were not up to the top Chinese and Russians. Right now youu have the amazing jumpster Malinin but in pairs, dance and ladies you are severely diminished without the Russians and I guess you could say in dance a lot of very good teams but not of the genius level of P/C; V/M; et al.

I don't think skating misses the Russians in Ice Dance it's been almost two decades since they were last dominate and i wonder how competitive they would even be right now. I see S/B are still skating but i doubt they would be challenging the podium and who else do they have right now? Russia has really fallen off in dance in the last 15 years or so.

 

[Arigato]

When we get a skater who looks like this, personality on the ice like this, skates like this, and has a woman shout out to the ice: "You're hot!"



Creative choreo.

 

[Mathman]

^ Brian Boitano actually skated to "What would Brian Boitano Do? once as a pro. They asked him, "But Brian, don't you know that South Park is making fun pf you?

Boitano replied, "I'm just happy that they think I am important enough to make fun of."

As for Yagudin, he was by far the most charismatic and popular men's skater of his era. I would say that he was the first international skating star of the Internet era. Interestingly, he was especially fawned over by Russian/Soviet ex-patriots living in other countries around the world. I think that it is significant that he won 4 world championships, three Europeans, and an Olympic gold medal, but never a Russian National Championship. His popularity eclipsed Michelle Kwan everywhere except in the United States.

As for the "Racing" program, I once saw an interview where they asked some skaters, "what would you be doing if you couldn't be a figure skater.?" Yagudin's answer was, "Race Car Driver."

(Yuka Sato said that she always wanted to be a circus performer -- "and I guess I am!")

 

[Flying Feijoa]

I’ll be honest, the last thing we need in skating is betting. Fans can be toxic enough as it is and betting just takes the hate to a whole new level. I follow tennis, and players regularly get death threats sent on social media by people who lost money.

As a side note, I do remember one user a few years ago (maybe it was @Alex Fedorov) discussing figure skating betting odds in Russia. Of course, skating is a lot more popular there than in the US…

For the record I believe that was Mathematician (not to be confused with Mathman). I don't think he has done that lately though, maybe he's developed enough respect for the skaters to be less interested in that kind of thing

On a separate note, how important is it for figure skating as a whole if the sport doesn't have mainstream popularity in the US? American skaters might get less public recognition/funding and American fans have to deal with substandard streaming, but does that matter much for the rest of the world?

Skating is pretty popular in Japan and Russia. I think it's only slightly more mainstream in Canada than the US on average (it seems to vary by state in the US), but Canada contributes disproportionally to the sport's global development in terms of choreography and coaching.

Spectator popularity and grassroots participation work synergistically in helping to sustain figure skating, so I wonder if improving access to rinks is something that the US needs to consider.

 

[TallyT]

One of these days I am going to conduct an experiment where I accost people at random on the streets and ask a one-question survey: Who was the most recent U.S. figure skater to win an Olympic gold medal. My guess is that it would turn out something like, "no idea," 75%,, Michelle Kwan, 20%, with a scattering of votes for Kristi Yamaguchi/Dorothy Hamill/Peggy Fleming, but 0 for Sarah Hughes, Evan Lysachek, Davis and White, or Nathan Chen.

And Tara I-can't-recall-her-surname might be remembered by some if only 'cause she mentions it on TV. A lot.

I also wouldn't mind betting said people think Michelle (a) wasn't all that long ago and (b) won multiple OGMs anyway. And it's an indicator of how unpredictable it can be, because Meryl Davis was (still is) one of the most beautiful women in her skating generation, in a perfect Ice Princess way, and was on Dancing with the Stars?

An Ice Princess.

Or maybe not, these days, more a fierce little Ice Warrior (see Trusova) because I may be bored stiff by girlboss power but it is in. Problem (apart from her lack of senior gold) is that Trusova is pretty damn inimitable.

Unless that is if an American man manages to do a Hanyu effect in drawing swooning crowd/stans.

And all the rest (he, like Trusova, is inimitable). Swooning stans aren't enough, both of these also had their countries' love (if not their feds') for different reasons. As did Yuna. From what I see online, Malinin seems to be wanting even greater celebrity status, we'll see.

 

[Arigato]

From what I see online, Malinin seems to be wanting even greater celebrity status, we'll see.

Oh, please.

 

[Kris135]

I honestly think that Ilia could be that bridge for Americans to fall in love with skating again. I still remember when NBC put up Ilia's free program from world last year and his performance caused people to cry and say I don't watch skating but this kid is incredable. I think Americans need someone that they connect with and like it or not Ilia seems hit that button that makes Americans care about the sport like it or not. The USFS and NBC seem almost scared of Ilia for some reason I can not understand. Yes a 20 year old man that looks like the boy next door, hugs his father in kiss and cry, and when he jumps he seems soar among the angels for a moment before coming down is scary. I think the main difference is that when Ilia on the ice he does not do a program he gives a performance and that comes from his soul. I think if NBC would stop trying to push the skaters into cute little boxes and stop forcing the narrative of how the skaters are and just allow the skaters speak for themselves it would help the relativity to the American public because NBC stage crafting is annoying as hell.

Another thing that would is just have more skating shows and events that are not related to the Grand Prix would help because it seems that all there is. What about Christmas specials with some of the best skaters on the planet and some events like Japan Open where active show skaters and competitive ISU skaters compete with modified rules so there is more level playing field between the two categories and allow them to skate to see who the best one is.. The problem is the bottom fell out the pro circuit of skaters and now if a skater wants to make a living at actually skating they have in the great majority of cases have to compete on the Elite Grand Prix level until their bodies or their will gives out. 30 years ago you would have not seen men in their 30's very often skating on the Olympic circuit. There were exceptions like if a skater wanted to hold on longer than normal because of Home Olympics or something like that but it was not common because they could turn Pro and make a good amount of money skating at shows and in tours around the country. Stars on Ice used to hit 30-40 cities in a year during the the winter months mainly from late November thur February, now we are down to six cities and basically looks like a afterthought to Canadian Stars on Ice tour.

There is market for skating out there look at the recent show that honored those who died on that terrible crash. In only a month they set up a show got a large number of America's best skaters and put it on to a packed arena. That should say a lot, people will go to see skating if the product is good and prices for the tickets are reasonable people will show up. All the USFS needs is a little bit of vision and courage to have America fall in love with skating again.

 

[Mathman]

Ilia is already the Quad God. If he really wants to be cool he should change it to THA Quad God.

 

[TallyT]

I honestly think that Ilia could be that bridge for Americans to fall in love with skating again. I still remember when NBC put up Ilia's free program from world last year and his performance caused people to cry and say....

The exact same things they were crying and saying about Nathan Chen at the same stage in his career, that he was destined to be the bridge and make figure skating popular and cool again.

I mean good luck to him if he gets a measure of fame and success and money - and the same to Amber, Isabeau or Alysa, whichever ends up reigning, or indeed all three - but none of them are likely to be The Answer.

 

[4everchan]

I will believe it when I see it... even Ashley and Gracie (silver overall and winner of short program, 4th place) in Boston didn't revive the sport back then... i doubt anyone can considering their popularity.

 

[Magill]

Oh, I think TPTB should be very careful not to lose fans already there in other countries when trying to cater to this elusive US fandom coming back.... in the end of the day they might be left in the cold and in an even worse position than they are in now..

 

[Anna K.]

Ilia is already the Quad God. If he really wants to be cool he should change it to THA Quad God.

...and make a video ft Snoop Dog

(Oh, the sponsors will say: don't do that, our elderly product buyers will not understand... as if Snoop Dog wasn't their buyer, too )

 

[liv]

For it to be big in the US again, it will most likely be because of some captivating ice princess. It's always been about the women in the States, and I haven't seen someone with that special something, at the very top, for awhile. Good ones, yes, lots of those, but that * I can't put my finger on it* quality, no. If there was a young American girl who was doing quads, charismatic etc., with a good back story, probably with a face you cant forget, who wins...you'd probably have a superstar.
The jumping aspect has been tried with the men and, really, I have watched less skating this last year than ever before, despite ilia's jumping prowess... or maybe because of it. I miss the interesting skating. The focus on jumping, by the sport, has left me cold. It's been talked about for decades yet I was still addicted to this sport because of the mix of abilities, personalities etc., and those with the blend of both seemed to rise to the top. I find it different now, can't explain it except for the changes in judging. I love quads, I'm not saying I don't, but the inability/unwillingness of judges to score other areas accurately, has finally driven me away.

 

[Mathman]

And Tara I-can't-recall-her-surname might be remembered by some if only 'cause she mentions it on TV. A lot.

You know, I think I just proved my own point. I completely and totally forgot about Tara.

 

[el henry]

The non skating fans in the US know Tara. My youngest niece, who cares not one whit about skating despite Auntie El's best efforts, was watching something (dog show? Kentucky Derby?) and said oh look it's Tara and Johnny. I said, oh, they are skaters, let's watch skating some day, and got the bored stare of death.

They know Tara and Johnny. They know Adam Rippon. They probably think they all won gold medals.

How do we get them to know the actual skaters? By playing the skating more and having Tara and Johnny and Adam comment more? I don't know.