Skaters Whose Gala You Enjoy More Than Their SP/LP

[skatingfan4ever]

I enjoy watching certain skaters at all times, whether in competition or in a gala or even in training. And of course, a gala program has no rules/requirements and no judges, so there is more freedom in a gala program than in a competition program. Skaters can relax more in galas. Competition programs and gala programs can both move me deeply, depending on the skater, program, or situation.

With those things granted, I do find there are skaters whose galas I enjoy substantially more than their competition programs. Two for me in this category are Ilia Malinin and Mikhail Shaidorov.

I enjoy any of Ilia's galas much more than what he does in competition. I love him most when he can take his time and not pack in all those jumps. He's used Running as both a SP and a Gala, and I like it more as a gala. His tributes at Legacy on Ice and 2025 Worlds, as well as Fear in Milan, are quite compelling.

As far as Mikhail, all I need to say is panda. He really lets go and has fun in that program and that panda suit. I admire his jumps most in competition, so it shocked me when he came out in a panda suit and made us all laugh so much. I watched Mikhail's 2025 4CC LP and then his 2025 4CC gala and it felt like it was two different skaters!

I know some people don't watch galas, but for those who do, do you find yourself consistently enjoying the galas of certain skaters more than their competition programs? Or is that just me?

Have fun with this.

 

[el henry]

Nika Egadze.

He shows a sense of humor in his Deadpool gala that makes me wish he could show more freedom in his programs.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

Nika Egadze.

He shows a sense of humor in his Deadpool gala that makes me wish he could show more freedom in his programs.

Yes. I agree.

 

[ladyjane]

Nika Egadze.

He shows a sense of humor in his Deadpool gala that makes me wish he could show more freedom in his programs.

I have to agree. His compatriot (Morisi) used to be the same. So bland in their programmes, so expressive in their shows!

 

[dorispulaski]

I think that is because there is too much Daniil Gleikhengauz choreo in their programs, and not enough of their own personal style. Their personality is on display in their exhibition numbers!

 

[Jontor]

None. IMO, Galas shouldn't exist. They undermine the sports element of figure skating, and they are a big part of why other sports fans don't take figure skating seriously.

 

[ladyjane]

Poor me. I like FS despite it being a sport, and really don't want to focus too strongly on the sports elements all the time. I don't give s**t about other sports fans, just about FS fans (and then not all either).

 

[TallyT]

None. IMO, Galas shouldn't exist. They undermine the sports element of figure skating, and they are a big part of why other sports fans don't take figure skating seriously.

And we are supposed to care what 'other sports fans' think... why? (Especially since they would only find something else to carp about, have you heard how some Americans deride the two biggest sports in the world?) Galas and shows are there for the fans who want art as well as jumpityjump, I am all for it and given reaction and flat failure of the ISU's previous attempt to replace them, I don't think I'm alone.

I can't think of anyone who fits the question, but I have always found it interesting that when discussing Michelle Kwan, people first urge newbies to her 'Fields of Gold' rather than any competition video...

 

[Anna K.]

None. IMO, Galas shouldn't exist. They undermine the sports element of figure skating, and they are a big part of why other sports fans don't take figure skating seriously.

Well, to balance the opinion here...

IMO Galas should not exist. They undermine the arts element of figure skating and they are a big part of why other arts fans don't take figure skating seriously.

 

[noskates]

To be perfectly honest....I don't care for galas. They're generally thrown together, the costumes are silly (sorry, did not like the Panda) and I think it takes away from training time from competitive programs. Why not just have the skaters do their short program and dumb it down a bit - for example, triples instead of quads for singles. I will say, since it's already been mentioned, I did love every one of Michelle Kwan's exhibition pieces. I felt like she and her team put real time into it. Fields of Gold still brings a tear to my eye and East of Eden is one of my all-time favoritei programs. But I think a lot of my feelings had to do with the beautiful music and how Michelle interpreted it. Nothing silly or gimicky - just beautiful skating.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

Even as the thread starter, I will admit that I do not enjoy a lot of galas myself. Most of them I can do without and forget them right after they're over. But there are exceptions. The exceptions stand out even more because most galas are ho-hum. However, some skaters put a lot of effort into their galas and it shows. I like the concept of, "Let's celebrate by skating for fun with no rules just for the audience." It's a different way to look at skating - what do people do when there are no rules, only blades and ice?

I appreciate everyone's thoughts and opinions, which are all valid. The topic of the thread, though. was not whether you like the gala overall but whether anyone's galas stand out to you more than their competition material. Liking at least certain gala programs is baked into the question as I wrote it. And, certainly, tastes vary widely as to what we each like and dislike. Carry on.

 

[discodisco]

I enjoy gala performances for their own virtues, although of course I don't really take them that seriously either.

Some performances look like they were tossed together in 5 minutes and consist of little more than urging the audience to clap along, and doing a few silly moves and a triple toe loop here and there.

BUT - some are truly excellent. For example, Michelle's East of Eden short program started as an exhibition program that was absolutely stunning.

And as much as I have never been a huge fan of Chock and Bates, I was stunned by their exhibition skate at the Olympics - the one with the white cloth thing. Again, I've seen props use in a gimmicky way, and other programs have used fabric, absolutely but I thought their program was absolutely stunning. The choreography was wonderful, the use of the cloth enhanced rather than took away from the program, and I thought it was possibly one of the most beautiful skating performances I have ever seen.

Programs don't really touch me very often, but that one drew me in and even choked me up a bit. In 35 years of skating, the only performance I can think of that has ever moved me as much was Chen Lu's 1996 World Championship free skate.

Both were just astoundingly beautiful, and I think I could watch them over and over and notice something new every time. Beautiful, pure skating, and if I had seen them skate that program earlier in the career, who knows, maybe I would have been being brought under the same spell they cast on a whole bunch of fans, yet I never experienced from their competitive programs.

 

[rabidline]

I remember watching the skates from 2017-2018 season and being more compelled by Satoko Miyahara's Aranjuez EX rather than her competitive programs that season. Something about the music and choreography allowing her to be less precise and more lyrical.

 

[TallyT]

However, some skaters put a lot of effort into their galas and it shows. I like the concept of, "Let's celebrate by skating for fun with no rules just for the audience." It's a different way to look at skating - what do people do when there are no rules, only blades and ice?

And to be fair (and unblushingly partial) Yuzuru's gala programs - in particular the last three, Requiem of Heaven and Earth, Notte Stellata and Haru yo, koi - were deeply meaningful, emotionally charged and connected in a way with his audience, especially but not only the Japanese and other fans affected by disaster, that few have been able to reach. It is no coincidence that as a professional, these have places in his shows' repertoires. I very much believe fans - and his public - would say they liked, even loved them as much (but not more, of course) as his competitive and new show-created works.

 

[lariko]

I enjoy galas as a way for athletes to celebrate, but tbh, I fast forward through most of the performances as it feels boring to me. Even when the gala performances are scored like in the Russian Challenge mega-gala end of the season competition, it's just... meh? Obviously, something like Naumov's tribute to his parents stands alone in its emotional significance, the rest rarely holds my attention without the stakes. The Russian Challenge format, as the scored mega-gala end season is probably what I would vote for in terms of galas future.

 

[TwinnerA]

To be perfectly honest....I don't care for galas. They're generally thrown together, the costumes are silly (sorry, did not like the Panda) and I think it takes away from training time from competitive programs. Why not just have the skaters do their short program and dumb it down a bit - for example, triples instead of quads for singles. I will say, since it's already been mentioned, I did love every one of Michelle Kwan's exhibition pieces. I felt like she and her team put real time into it. Fields of Gold still brings a tear to my eye and East of Eden is one of my all-time favoritei programs. But I think a lot of my feelings had to do with the beautiful music and how Michelle interpreted it. Nothing silly or gimicky - just beautiful skating.

Other exhibitions of Michelle’s I really loved were Dante’s Prayer, Hands and Message in a Bottle.