Suggestions for Rachael

[bekalc]

Carmina Burana (carmeena boorana with all a pronounced as in car or sun, the i as in deer, and the u as in school)

trivia: Carmen Burina is funny in Italian (not really Italian but from the capital Rome). It means Carmen (which is a female name) the rude (or gross).

LOL, I was in a hurry to get to Mass, and well meant to say I know I'm spelling it wrong, !

 

[Spun Silver]

Well, maybe Wagner can only be skated by Ashley. (I keep thinking that young lady can do anything.) But I was thinking of a transcription of something like Wintersturme, not the prelude to T&I. I don't know if it's out there. Or something WagnerISH, as Alicja said.

I'm of two minds about Rachael. I see her doing something romantic (not fluttery but adult and strong), or I see her in a bodysuit doing something futuristic.

Either way, no more of the little girl in pink or blue.

 

[vlaurend]

Rachael is a little bland artistically and is also not a thin, wispy skater, so she should avoid washed-out colors and soft, lyrical music. I agree that strong colors like red (or black, or deep, bright blue) would be good for her, and showtunes or dramatic movie themes would keep the audience awake a little better. I thought Last of the Mohicans was a good suggestion.

 

[Buttercup]

^^^
I doubt anyone can skate to Wagner's music. If someone did, that skater would be the most interpretive skater in the ISU.

There was definitely somebody skating Ride of the Valkyries at Europeans, I think one of the Polish pairs, or maybe the second Ukranian team? All I remember is orange and black outfits. So I guess they weren't that interprative . I'm not a fan of Wagner's work, so I don't mind if no other skaters attempt it - certainly not Rachael.

 

[champs]

There was definitely somebody skating Ride of the Valkyries at Europeans, I think one of the Polish pairs

This pair probably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpGvSe6Zz-M

 

[Buttercup]

This pair probably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpGvSe6Zz-M

I think so, too. But not in those costumes.

 

[champs]

I don't know if people are talking about Rachael's SP, or LP, or both this season when they say it's boring, but is her SP considered that boring by everyone from every corner of the world? Maybe I'm not just in the minority but the sole person on this planet who loves her SP to death. In the same way I loved Mao's 2006 SP. Or should that kind of music be skated to only by someone who is thinner, who skates more lightly and who has more subdued expression? I think Rachael really does an excellent job in creating both romantic and ethereal feeling with her body movement and facial expression. I so far loved all her SP performances this season: Liberty (Thank you Doris!), SA, CoR, and US Nationals.

 

[Particle Man]

Rachael doesn't have the graceful body shape or movements of someone like Alissa Czisny or Sasha Cohen. I think she should look more to the programs skated by Emily Hughes during the 06/07 season when she almost won a National title. Emily was at her best when she attacked everything and brought raw energy onto the ice. Rachael could do that, but with clean jumps as well, and that MIGHT be enough for her to really be a top contender. I mean, imagine Emily's 06/07 season if she could have landed 7 triples?

 

[chuckm]

Emily Hughes is 5'6" or taller, with a big frame. Rachael is barely 5' tall, and though she may not look particularly slim, she is small-boned.

I just don't see any similarity whatsoever between them, and couldn't imagine Rachael charging around the ice like Emily, or Emily having any of Rachael's subtlety or lovely arm movements.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I wouldn't call Rachael boring when it comes to competitive tricks. She moves well. As to her presentation it is like all the other Ladies this season. None of them are eye-popping.

 

[Particle Man]

I just don't see any similarity whatsoever between them, and couldn't imagine Rachael charging around the ice like Emily, or Emily having any of Rachael's subtlety or lovely arm movements.

Umm, I like Rachael, but I don't know what you mean by lovely arm movements. I see improvement in her artistic side but I wouldn't yet call it lovely. The point is that Rachael's strong point is her jumping ability, and that she doesn't have the body shape to look like a ballerina. Emily also didn't have that body shape, and when Emily was at her best she was skating to her strengths. You yourself said Rachael should have picked music she could relate to. From what I know of Rachael, I'm pretty sure that music would be fast & upbeat rather than slow and introspective.

 

[vlaurend]

Rachael doesn't have the graceful body shape or movements of someone like Alissa Czisny or Sasha Cohen. I think she should look more to the programs skated by Emily Hughes during the 06/07 season when she almost won a National title. Emily was at her best when she attacked everything and brought raw energy onto the ice. Rachael could do that, but with clean jumps as well, and that MIGHT be enough for her to really be a top contender. I mean, imagine Emily's 06/07 season if she could have landed 7 triples?

Maybe take some cues from Bebe Liang? I think Bebe's choice of music is great for her slightly stockier body type.

 

[meem]

#1 - get rid of the bizarre tights! First of all, they were nowhere near the color of her skin. They looked like orange longjohns. And I wish female skaters would quit pulling them over their skates. IMO it does not "lengthen" their legs...rather it makes them look as though they have malformed feet!
#2 - I agree with the need for more upbeat music that I think might force her to emote a bit (and skate faster). RF is a wonderful skater. Someone in her camp needs to help her with her presentation skills.

 

[Mathman]

... And I wish female skaters would quit pulling them over their skates. IMO it does not "lengthen" their legs...rather it makes them look as though they have malformed feet!

:agree: :yes:

 

[HCOSurfer]

I don't know if people are talking about Rachael's SP, or LP, or both this season when they say it's boring, but is her SP considered that boring by everyone from every corner of the world? Maybe I'm not just in the minority but the sole person on this planet who loves her SP to death.

You're not the only one, I love her SP this year as well.

 

[dorispulaski]

I saw the SP live at Liberty and liked it best of any I saw there. That included Ashley's and Alissa's, so the competition was strong.

 

[dwiggin3]

I absolutely loved Rachael's short program at 07 Nats. I also thought the yellow dress was gorgeous as well as her LP dress from that season.

YES! I loved that color on her. Yellow is hard to pull off for many and she can do it.

Stay FAR AWAY from the overdone music...we all know what that is. And anything sexy...that red midriff costume and number scared me.

She needs to work on puller her shoulders back and not hunching over. While yes, she could have a medical reason why she can't but I would suspect that if this were the case, she would not have reached this level of skating. Some basic ballet classes would really help that posture.

Speed skating drills (I don't mean the Eric Hyden type) - or something to work on skating with power and control.

 

[Dodhiyel]

I cannot read the whole thread before posting, so please forgive me if I am repeating what has already been said, without realizing it.

I like Rachael's steadiness; she is a wonderfully dependable performer. I feel that her biggest problem is skating with her shoulders rounded, i.e., a slumping posture. I appreciate that it is very hard to change habits that are already integrated into one's jumping style, but to reach the top, it is sometimes necessary to do just that. Carriage and line are counting a lot again. The judges have learned to handle CoP in ways that hark back to the 6.0 system. This means that while technical prowess gains many points, the PCS scores can still make you or break you. Under 6.0, it wasthe importance of "presentation" that was stressed in the long program, and PCS has pretty much come to parallel the old presentation. The scoring for it is less precise than is the scoring for jumps and spins, so it gives the judges considerable leeway.

In summary, Rachael needs to work on her carriage, most of all. Carriage is key to creating loveliness on the ice.

ETA: Ah, I see the poster just before me brought it up, too lol

 

[Tonichelle]

actually her posture is one of the main topics on this thread some argue that she might be physically unable to correct her posture.

 

[Spun Silver]

I saw the SP live at Liberty and liked it best of any I saw there. That included Ashley's and Alissa's, so the competition was strong.

Ooooooooooh, I can't agree with that. I just rewatched Rachael's COR SP. For me it's a case of awful music and costuming killing almost flawless skating. (Little mistakes aside.)

Besides the color, the flutter-ruffle on the back of her dress adds volume to her torso, which is not helpful. She definitely needs to keep the costumes streamlined. A V shaped bodice (V at waist) in front would help to give her more of a waist, and a strapless look on top (held up with illusion fabric or invisible straps, of course) might help lengthen her neck.

The skating itself still needs to get from flawless to exciting. Maybe the right music and costume could provide the inspiration.

She needs to find her own look. I feel as though she's a Doris Day trying to be a Grace Kelly. Girl next door:
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N
not ice princess:
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N

ETA: P.S., I like Doris Day a lot better than Grace Kelly, so that's not a put-down! (See On Moonlight Bay.)