2008 BC SummerSkate | Page 2 | Golden Skate

2008 BC SummerSkate

passion

On the Ice
Joined
Sep 17, 2005
BTW, Laney Diggs finished 20th and last at 2008 US Nationals. So Canada's #2 lady was beaten in BC by US #20. In her SP, Mira fell on the 3F and underrotated the 2A (as usual).

But the other top Canadian skaters who competed at the Quebec championship didn't do too much better, and some of them were worse.

Cynthia Phaneuf fell on both 3Z and 3F in her SP. Joannie Rochette popped the 3F (so no combo) and doubled the lutz. Joannie didn't do the FS, but Cynthia did, and she was unable to land either 3Z or 3F. Myriane Samson didn't land one triple jump in her FS. Doesn't look as if these 3 ladies headed for Skate Canada are anywhere near ready, and Skate Canada is just a little over 2 months away.


You worry me.
 

passion

On the Ice
Joined
Sep 17, 2005
There has been much discussion about the lack of Joannie's wow factor. So, let me ask this: does Mira have the wow factor, and, does she have the potential to have the wow factor? With many of her long time weaknesses now being address, could the wow factor make all the difference in her placing internationally?
 

TtonyV7

On the Ice
Joined
Jan 11, 2007
I agree with the fact that this is a summer competition, and a lot will change. Joannie also did a WTF happen program last year in the summer, but had the best GP season she had since 2004/2005.

Since we moved to the "Wow" factor of Joannie. I agree, Joannie has some "wow" performances and some not so "wow" performances. So is not quite there yet with performing elite "wow" factor performances consistently, but what is important is that she does everything nicely with full completion.

She is a very mature skater, with good skating lines and position. In my opinion, only a few percentage of skaters in the world can get that much done! So she is easy to watch and I don't cringe when I see bad positions or overdone movements like every other skater out there! Plus she has good music quality, nice arms movements, and flows well across the ice. Seeing the top 24 at Worlds last year....only 10 or so have even that much down.

So overall, Joannie is a well-rounded skater and I have high expectations for her this season. I think she'll be hovering around the 3rd-5th placement again at worlds, but we shall see how things play out this season before making to many predictions.....
 

antmanb

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 5, 2004
Multiple World medals? One silver (2005) in what was probably the worst Worlds in quite a few years.

I enjoy Joannie's skating and am glad that we get to see a lady out there among the young girls. I don't know what's lacking in her skating - perhaps the wow-factor. Her jumps are alright, her spins are alright, her skating skills are alright... The Buttle-comparision works to some extend, because IMO there is nothing really wow about Buttle's programs - except for his outstanding musicality. And that makes perhaps the difference - after seeing Joannie I think, oh, that spin was okay, the Salchow was nice, footwork was alright... With Buttle it is often that through his musicality the program seems to belong together, all his good elements come together and create something whole and really enjoyable (though it rarely grips me as Lambiel's, Weir's, Joubert's or even Verner's programs do). And I remember Buttle's programs, I can't remember any of Joannie's though. All of this is of course just my opinion ;-)

I would agree with everything that you wrote with the exception of Buttle's spins which i think are phenomenal - the edge changes and changes of position rarely affect the speed of rotation or the centring of the spin. In that respect i think he is Lambiel's equal.

Ant
 

passion

On the Ice
Joined
Sep 17, 2005
I would agree with everything that you wrote with the exception of Buttle's spins which i think are phenomenal - the edge changes and changes of position rarely affect the speed of rotation or the centring of the spin. In that respect i think he is Lambiel's equal.

Ant


I think Mira's spins are excellent. I think she is a natural spinner even more so than a jumper.

IMO, there are only a handful of skaters in the world that actually have the wow factor. This elite group of skaters bring something magical to their performance. It's more than a flashy smile or waving their arms around. I think they really have to have the soul of an artist as Jeff Buttle or Yu Na Kim or Sale/Pelletier have. I think they tend to be highly sensitive people at least in response to music . They're just made that way. A person with a wow factor is not necessarily the best technical skater, but if a skater has the wow factor plus a clean performance that's a wow performance.

With that explanation, I think both Joannie and Mira can impress the audience with a clean performance, but do I think they have the wow factor? Not really.
 

Medusa

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
IMO, there are only a handful of skaters in the world that actually have the wow factor. This elite group of skaters bring something magical to their performance. It's more than a flashy smile or waving their arms around. I think they really have to have the soul of an artist as Jeff Buttle or Yu Na Kim or Sale/Pelletier have. I think they tend to be highly sensitive people at least in response to music . They're just made that way. A person with a wow factor is not necessarily the best technical skater, but if a skater has the wow factor plus a clean performance that's a wow performance.

I think that this definition of wow-factor is a bit narrow - I don't kow if Joubert has the soul of an artist, but in my opinion he has definitely the wow-factor. His strength and self-confidence, the suspense in his programs. Same goes for VDPerrren, who has really bad spins (and sometimes bad footwork). But the power and joy in his jumps and in his skating makes up for it. I always thought that VDPerren should get more PCS. Especially in his short program the low PCS he gets really reduces his chances to place well in the end.

Yu-Na's wow factor (and Weir's and Buttle's) have in my opinion much to do with their fantastic technique, their flowy jumps - I for one can't really enjoy Weir's or Buttle's programs if they are all over the place (and you've got to admit, both had their shaky moments - or may I say shaky seasons) .

And I am sorry, Mira's jumping technique and the lack of - don't know - enjoyment in her skating - distracts me from any invisible wow-factor that may exist.
 

passion

On the Ice
Joined
Sep 17, 2005
And I am sorry, Mira's jumping technique and the lack of - don't know - enjoyment in her skating - distracts me from any invisible wow-factor that may exist.

Even with her improved technique (skating and jumping), and improved carriage?
 
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