** Norbert Schramm ** | Golden Skate

** Norbert Schramm **

silverpond

On the Ice
Joined
Jun 18, 2011
http://www.norbert-schramm.com/entertainment-on-ice.html

Norbert Schramm was a figure skater from the former West Germany who twice won the World silver medal in the early 1980s, during the era of Scott Hamilton, David Santee, Brian Orser, and other top skaters. Norbert's style was unique, to put it mildly. His brand of spins were audience pleasers, with unusual positions.

Not sure if anyone out there saw Schramm skate in person - the closest thing I got to was the televised coverage of the Europeans and Worlds in which he competed.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I remember Schramm! Thanks for calling attention to him. He was truly one of a kind. The closest anyone else came to his avant-garde style was Soviet/Russian skater Igor Bobrin, who later became a choreographer. (He's married to Bestemianova, half of the innovative ice-dance team, and I think he has choreographed for her and her partner Bukhin.)

Some people would put Gary Beacom in this group, but I find Schramm and Bobrin more complex in their approach somehow. To me, they both have that European sensibility that comes directly from things like Abstract Expressionism, while Beacom seems more like a Beat poet.
 

jcoates

Medalist
Joined
Mar 3, 2006
Nice post. Schramm has been lost to history a bit, but he was a wonderfully inventive skater. Here's perhaps his best FS.

1983 Euros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu3hKkAj8i0

1982 Worlds FS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk57Bi1RwXs&feature=related

BTW, this thread reminded me of another fine West German skater from the same era, Rudi Cerne.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudi_Cerne

He actually hit the scene slightly before Schramm, but was quickly passed once Norbert came along. He cam from the era when the three easiest triples were all that was needed to be competitive. After 1980, having at least a lutz or a flip became a necessity. The triple axel was not far behind either. Still very late in his career, he made significant progress with his skating. Most notably he learned the triple flip and triple lutz during the last couple of seasons he competed and even tried the triple axel in some events. Aside from his improved jumping he was seen as a fine classical skater, with both Dick Button and Toller Cranston comparing him to John Curry. During the 1984 season, he finally lived up to his potential, placing 2nd at Euros and 4th at the Olympics and 5th at Worlds.

1984 Euros FS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzvYOOyfUUc

1984 Olympics SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfxmQuz-ZSg

1983 Euros FS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IdtF-CC8A4
 

silverpond

On the Ice
Joined
Jun 18, 2011
I remember Schramm! Thanks for calling attention to him. He was truly one of a kind. The closest anyone else came to his avant-garde style was Soviet/Russian skater Igor Bobrin, who later became a choreographer. (He's married to Bestemianova, half of the innovative ice-dance team, and I think he has choreographed for her and her partner Bukhin.)

Some people would put Gary Beacom in this group, but I find Schramm and Bobrin more complex in their approach somehow. To me, they both have that European sensibility that comes directly from things like Abstract Expressionism, while Beacom seems more like a Beat poet.

Igor Bobrin was a riot as an exhibition skater. Back at the 1981 Worlds, which were contested in Hartford, Ct (where Torvill/Dean won their first World ice dance title and Scott Hamilton won his first World title) Igor skated an exhibition number with an imaginary partner. He twirled her around the rink, "lifted" her in several star and other overhead lifts, and then finished by doing a head-banger lift in which he "threw" his partner out of the rink. The audience howled, as I certainly did, while watching this on TV. Peggy Fleming, commentating, was laughing so hard she could hardly speak. The guy was classic. So much for being boring, right? :biggrin:
 
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