ISU Where Will Worlds BE (formerly) JAPAN QUAKE FOR WORLDS

[skfan]

i don't understand the assumption that inevitably the 1st presentation of a program for the season must... suck [i am paraphrasing, blue dog said, 'first event quality.'] i mean, MK's taj at 96-97 skate america was better than her taj at worlds. i remember many programs of hers that i loved the first time i saw them. what about the first time people saw yeonah kim's gershwin or bond girl? did anyone say, i sure hope she gets that in shape by olys? she had it together, the first time you saw it. i loved mao's liebestraum the first time i saw it. people who saw virtue and moir's mahler at a *summer* competition felt the same way, i believe.

i know it is a difficult, difficult situation, and for skaters who wanted worlds to be their last, great send-off (well, before the tragedy), it wouldn't be worthwhile to prepare 2 new programs for a worlds event in october. and in a season of so much upheaval, i'm not asking skaters to do it. i just felt the need to say, it doesn't HAVE to be less than stellar, just because it is the first time.


ETA: this is in reference to blue dog's post, 2 posts up.

 

[Mathman]

Mathman, what you seem to be saying is that unless your life is unpheval, you can't complain about the unfair aspects of it. Which is rather disturbing.

I guess what I am feeling is this. I have only a finite amount of outrage in me. I hate to waste it on Speedy.

...I mean, MK's taj at 96-97 skate america was better than her taj at worlds. i remember many programs of hers that i loved the first time i saw them. what about the first time people saw yeonah kim's gershwin or bond girl?...

Sale and Pelletier's Love Story.

 

[skfan]

I guess what I am feeling is this. I have only a finite amount of outrage in me. I hate to waste it on Speedy.

you can borrow some of mine.

or are you saying, mathman, that the sport will continue, and perhaps those of us who lament to the extremes that we (well, i) do underestimate the resilience of the athletes and everyone involved? but just because they can survive the stress doesn't mean we don't wish things could be easier for our beloved idols ^_^

 

[Mathman]

...or are you saying, mathman, that the sport will continue, and perhaps those of us who lament to the extremes that we (well, i) do underestimate the resilience of the athletes and everyone involved?

That's what I wish I had said.

...but just because they can survive the stress doesn't mean we don't wish things could be easier for our beloved idols ^_^

Maybe I'm just perverse, but I think it will be cool to see our beloved idols rise to the challenge in the face of adversity. Prepare two different Short Dances in the same season? Yes! I can do that!

 

[Violet Bliss]

I've posted an online petition. It calls on the ISU to reschedule Worlds at another location this spring. If you support this idea, please visit the link and sign the petition. Thanks!

http://www.change.org/petitions/res...pionships-for-spring-2011#?opt_new=f&opt_fb=t

I signed the petition. Thanks for setting it up. Have you posted it on other skating boards?

I suggest you start a new thread with a clear title for the petition for visibility for everybody visiting the board and so it would appear on www.skatersnews.com as a thread title to get attention from its visitors who are skating fans who may not be GS members or regular visitors.

Is Speedy our dictator who makes such major decision without consultations and considerations for all interested and affected parties? I really don't know how skaters may deal with this situation. Instead of peaking for Worlds at the end of the season before a well deserved rest, are they supposed to keep training to peak at the beginning without prior competions for half a year? And to go down from there for the season? After all, peaking is peaking, all other points in time being lower than the peak.

 

[mikiandorocks]

The russians are really serious about their intentions to organize the Worlds in a short time.
http://sport.rian.ru/sport/20110317/355019744.html
Google translation of part of the article:
"The main palace for the competition will be Megasport - said Deputy Minister of Sports of Russia. - It has a main hall for 14,000 spectators, a training rink, all the necessary infrastructure. It hosts an annual Grand Prix figure skating, athletes know it. In the area of ​​reach is CSKA Sport Palace, where it can be organized in the training process. "

Interlocutor "P-Sport noted that" this area of ​​land has several hotel complexes. "In particular, the athletes can stay at the Hotel" Aerostar ", - said Nagornykh. - Near a Renaissance Hotel, a brand new hotel, located next to the stadium of young pioneers. Near the hotel" Sovetskaya "hotel at the airport. Enjoy the championship is not will depend on the traffic jams. "

 

[clairecloutier]

Thanks SkateFiguring. I 'll start a new thread for the petition.

I posted the link on FSUniverse. That's the only skating forum I'm familiar with. Are there others? If so, please let me know, and I will post it there too. Thanks.

 

[Olympia]

Here's another possibility. Could the IFS waive some rules so that each country can send more than two or three skaters? I know that's difficult, but everything about this situation is difficult. Some things about the larger crisis are St. Jude-level impossible. So any reasonable suggestion about accommodating the skaters should at least be considered. Can it possibly be harder than evacuating Sendai?

I personally go back and forth about what's feasible (partly because I'm so ignorant of the rules and of the demands of setting up a huge event of this nature), but fundamentally I hope that we can hold the Worlds at some time, sooner rather than later, though probably not in Japan. It would be a sign that people can, as Katia Gordeeva said in 1995, pull themselves up off their knees after they've been knocked to the ground. The championships means a lot to Japan precisely because it is ordinary--a sign of precious enjoyable everyday life, where mostly the same people who get up in the morning are alive that night, and standing on the same ground they stood on when they got their breakfast from the fridge that morning. Even if the skaters of Japan have to compete in the Alps or the Urals or whatever, it would still mean something in the scheme of things.

 

[Violet Bliss]

eyria, go to www.skatersnews.com and you can find 40 skating boards including fans' forums. Blogging sites like www.flutzingaround.com have links to other skating blogs if you want to contact them.

eta. Once your thread title gets on skatersnews, it's likely people from other boards may pick it up to post on their boards for you. But do make sure it appears on forums.isu.org!

Maybe you can add a request in the petition thread for others to take it to other boards they belong to.

 

[reynycpr]

Czisny's thoughts...
U.S. figure skating champ Czisny: moving worlds best choice for skaters

 

[Serious Business]

Czisny's thoughts...
U.S. figure skating champ Czisny: moving worlds best choice for skaters

I agree with everything Alissa said and she said it beautifully. Her writing is as thoughtful and graceful as her skating.

 

[Violet Bliss]

I agree with everything Alissa said and she said it beautifully. Her writing is as thoughtful and graceful as her skating.

Agreed. She's indeed thoughtful and articulate. A champion.

 

[blue dog]

RE- Preparing two programs

This has been done before, but on a smaller scale. During the late 90's/early 2000's, skaters who made (or were expected to make) the Champions Series Final (now GPF) practiced two long programs. Their current program for that year, and a new one (or, an old one that they liked).

If I remember correctly, the skaters didn't like that very much.

RE- skfan

I agree; those three programs you cite (plus G/G's 1993 Debut at Skate Canada) were amazing. However, most skaters tend to peak. They have their not-so-good performances in the beginning, and progressively get better. Another danger that people forget when it comes to a sport with a performance aspect like skating is the loss of "life" a program can have. Let's say that, yes, skater A is consistent and can land all the jumps all the time. Maintaining the freshness and life in a program is difficult, just as difficult as trying to keep up your quads. There comes a time when the program becomes so stale to you that...you end up phoning it in during a performance.

 

[FlattFan]

I ask that you respect my opinions, as I respect yours.

I read, and it sounded exactly like an honors graduate of Bowling Green State University wrote it, reciting a few ideas while offering absolutely no new perspective. Very articulate. So brilliant. So thoughtful.

 

[Olympia]

I think it sounds wonderful, and she did make at least one new point: notably, asking if we canceled our jobs out of respect for the people of Japan. Framing the idea that way helps explain why many skaters might not want to see Worlds canceled entirely.

Keep in mind that we've been discussing this issue for a week and have some very well-informed posters here. By contrast, Alissa is writing for a general audience in a city newspaper, and those readers might not be aware of all that's going on. Besides, she's writing an equivalent of an op-ed piece, not to give information but to state her opinion, which she has done with tact and precision.

 

[Spun Silver]

I thought Alissa was eloquent and persuasive. I'm delighted that Hersh published her. Well done!

 

[blue dog]

I thought Alissa was eloquent and persuasive. I'm delighted that Hersh published her. Well done!

I say fire Hersh and Christine and give her their jobs. Also, fire Speedy while we're at it and put in a figure skater.

 

[Mathman]

I read, and it sounded exactly like an honors graduate of Bowling Green State University wrote it, reciting a few ideas...

And what did you expect her to say in her official statement, "Bite me, Speedy?"

 

[Olympia]

And what did you expect her to say in her official statement, "Bite me, Speedy?"

One of the few times this week I've laughed at anything to do with skating or Japan. Thanks, Math.

 

[janetfan]

I thought Alissa was eloquent and persuasive. I'm delighted that Hersh published her. Well done!

Alissa, and for that matter all of the skatesr shave shown compassion and a maturity beyond their years.
No wonder so many of us admire our skaters so much.

Sometimes we hear about a "win-win" situation. This seems more like a "lose-lose" situation and it feels like the ISU will be damned if they do and damned if they don't.