Best step sequences in figure skating

[gsk8]

Step sequences can be the heart of a program — the moment where a skater’s musicality, speed, edge control, and personality all burst to the surface. Some skaters turn their steps into pure art, others into fireworks, and some do both at once.

Early on , the ones that caught my eyes were Philippe Candeloro's "fencing/sword" footwork in his D'Artagnan program. Easy, maybe, but still so effective! But Alexei Yagudin's footwork sequences always got me!

Who tops your list (Ice Dance included!)?

 

[Jeanie19]

Kevin Aymoz. Many of his programs. Especially Bolero.

 

[noskates]

Andrew Torgashev and Yuma Kajiyama. But the best EVER was Kurt Browning. He had magical feet. It always amazed me to see what he could do and with such speed and precision.

 

[ladyjane]

I am also a big fan of Philippe Candaloro's fencing or 'duel' as d'Artagnan, as well as Yagudin's step sequence of his Olympic SP in 2002. From that time I also remember Alexander Abt who could interpret the music in his SP so well, that you were mesmerised and even forgot there had been one (and there had been!). I also liked Brian Joubert in his 'Time' SP. I always love Kevin Amoz and Jason Brown these days. I am never going to forget Kurt Browning whose footwork was legendary. I liked Nathan Chen as well in his step sequences.

 

[gsk8]

Kurt Browning = legend. Even the "funny" programs he did had difficult footwork. Loved his Joe Satriani "Alone" routine!

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

I'm seriously lacking the breadth of knowledge about the Step Sequences of old... This video is a very short summary I'm afraid:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[4everchan]

Patrick. So many to list. Especially when skaters needed to perform two.
Jeff Buttle as well. I am too busy to provide examples and honestly, I am not sure I'd be able to choose just one for each.

On top of my head
Patrick : take five, 4 seasons, journey
Jeff : Ararat

 

[Ziotic]

Wakaba usually has great ones! Also Yagudin’s 2002 comes to mind.

Agree with Patrick in journey!

 

[AlexBreeze]

Nowadays it seems difficult to both do level features and keep the sequence entertaining like Yagudin did.

I definitely agree with Aymoz.

Of recent programs, my fave did a great one to Nirvana.

 

[Iceangel1960]

One of my favourite footwork sequences was Javier Fernandez SP at Worlds 2017, Malagueña. I was in Helsinki & so glad I got to see him skate live

 

[Mathman]

I'm seriously lacking the breadth of knowledge about the Step Sequences of old... This video is a very short summary I'm afraid:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

It is interesting to me that these step sequences are remembered with affection long after other aspects our favorite skating programs have been long forgotten.

Candeloro: Twenty-five years later, do we remember a single thing about his skating except the sword fight?

Yagudin: Yes, he was one of the founding fathers of the Quad Revolution, but ask any fan what was special about him and that fan will immediately bring up that Winter step sequence,

By the way, the narrator in this vid praises the choreography of Tatiana Tarasova, but in fact the step sequence was constructed by Nikolai Morosov -- presumably after watching old footage of Sonja Henie.

Plushenko: He was an all-time-greatest GOAT of all time. But... do we remember anything particular about any of his programs (except Sex Bomb)?

I guess the moral of the story -- if you want lasting fame, put your effort into your dancing feet.

 

[Jeanie19]

Deniss Vasiljevs has great step and choreo sequences. My favorite is his steps to Battle of the Drums, Olympics 2022.

 

[Magill]

The best ever for me is Yuzuru Hanyu
His step sequences are in fact what brought me - and thousands and thousands of others - to watch this sport at all, and kept me within.
Parisienne Walkways, Chopin, Seimei, Otonal, Origin, Let's Go Crazy, Let me Entertain You, Rondo Capricioso... - so many of them and each one phenomenal. enormously creative and never boring despite Yuzu competing under the same IJS system, levels and all, like everyone else! Legendary!!
No wonder the Ice Coach video linked above showing the progress in SS in time ends with Yuzuru. It just does not get any better
And although Yuzu famously reached this greatest balance between athleticism and beauty, step sequences were always at the heart of his competitive programs, and they were to die for.
Here's a compilation:

 

[Mathman]

To me, the thing about Hanyu, and also Patrick Chan, was that his whole program was a step sequence. He didn't have to stop in the middle of a program and say, OK, now I will do my step sequence -- it just...happened.

As for Kurt Browning, some of his finest work was as a pro or at exhibitions.

 

[4everchan]

Another iconic

Bourne and kraatz River dance

 

[Magill]

Tp me, the thing about Hanuu, and also Patrick Chan, was that his whole program was a step sequence. He didn't have to stop in the middle of a program and say, OK, now I will do my step sequence -- it just...happened.

As for Kurt Browning, some of his finest work was as a pro or ay exhibitions.

That is what I also thought when I was first introduced to Yuzuru and started to watch skating again. Step sequence? Choreo sequence? But it is all steps and choreo, which ones are the ones, lol? .
But I guess that's why his programs are so legendary and so well remembered.

 

[TallyT]

Parisienne Walkways, Chopin, Seimei, Otonal, Origin, Let's Go Crazy, Let me Entertain You, Rondo Capricioso... - so many of them and each one phenomenal. enormously creative and never boring despite Yuzu competing under the same IJS system, levels and all, like everyone else! Legendary!!

Me too. I will never forget (okay, I regularly watch) the ones from Seimei and Otonal and the absolute explosion of excitement in the rinks. To link to the other thread atm, I think TPTB have forgotten how much the audiences they are seeking love and respond to these elements when well done.

Tp me, the thing about Hanuu, and also Patrick Chan, was that his whole program was a step sequence. He didn't have to stop in the middle of a program and say, OK, now I will do my step sequence -- it just...happened.

Yagudin's Winter comes to mind as well for me. I don't even like him for the most part, but I rewatch that more often than I can count, it's just so satisfying and doesn't need high expertise to appreciate.

 

[Arigato]

Candeloro: Twenty-five years later, do we remember a single thing about his skating except the sword fight?

Opening jump combo: 3A+3T. Great height. Loved it.

 

[Magill]

Me too. I will never forget (okay, I regularly watch) the ones from Seimei and Otonal and the absolute explosion of excitement in the rinks. To link to the other thread atm, I think TPTB have forgotten how much the audiences they are seeking love and respond to these elements when well done.

Maybe they forgot because they were not done so well for quite some time... basically never since....

 

[TallyT]

Maybe they forgot because they were not done so well for quite some time... basically never since....

To be fair, some skaters do them well - Jason is brilliant, there are reasons apart from the general doldrums in the US men why he is number two - but it's hard to compete with Yuzu, Patrick and Yagudin for sheer watchability.