Mao Asada- Rach 2: Sheer guts and chutzpah, a lesson to younger skaters on the merits of hard work and overcoming adversity as an athlete and a person. Technically superb, and artistically grand yet nuanced. It's just perfect. In its context, simply a performance for the ages.
Yu Na Kim- Bond: To me, this defined who Kim was as a skater. She wasn't just some dancing sylph on ice. She was a technical master and with a great personality to boot. In short, to me and the rest of the world- her SP at Vancouver showed her as an international star. She's had other programs with more artistry (in fact, this was a toss up between Danse Macabre) however, Bond to me was Kim at her most complete.
Meryl and Charlie- Scheherazade: It's just beautiful. Also goes to show that you can never rest on your laurels in skating, and boy did they know it. It's definitely more of an ode to Meryl, and it's very obvious that it is she who pulls the strings and I think the couple are better for it. It showed no flaws and despite criticism that the Americans lacked emotional connection compared to the Canadians- when you're skating THIS good, it really doesn't matter. It certainly didn't leave leave out in the cold.
Michelle Kwan- Salome: There are other emotional and more beautiful programs from the Kween, but this one left an impression on me the most for being her coming-of-age performance. It was wonderfully coquettish, a bit dark in tone, and aesthetically fabulous. I don't think I liked a Kwan program more.
Akiko Suzuki- O: It boggles me to this day why she didn't save this program for her last Olympic year. But then again, she has such a carpe diem attitude that it makes sense. The program was colourful, vibrant and so carefree, and it was the perfect choice for Akiko to show just how one she was with that program.
Carolina Kostner- Bolero: It was her year. She went for it. She gave us woman.
Yuzuru Hanyu- R&J 1: There's always a sense of melodrama with Yuzu, and sometimes it can translate as superfluous. However, I bought whatever he was selling with this program. He was the perfect choice for a Romeo- young, moody, flighty. Technically he was monstrous. This was his coming-of-age program, and he showed us he was going to be the one to beat.
Joshua Farris- Schindler's List: Joshua is such a conundrum. Something always goes wrong! However, when they do go right, it's perfection. His free skate at the 2014 Nationals was nothing short of spectacular. This program was mature, poignant, and armed with heartachingly beautiful choreography.
Julia Lipnitskaya- Schindler's List: Whereas Farris' program exuded maturity, Lipnitskaya's program embraced her youthful innocence and presented a visual so iconic. As a tribute to the film and praised by Spielberg himself, Julia played the part of the girl in the red coat well. At the same time, she showed the world that Russia was going to be the font of talent for a while and that she was the star. Yes, it was the freeskate in the team event that garnered her applause, but nevertheless, this program was the perfect showcase for Lipnitskaya's promise of talent and artistry. Arguably, even more so compared to the reigning Olympic champion.
Daisuke Takahashi- Blues for Klook: The weird thing for me is that I know Dai is a genius. He's an amazing skater. Yet somehow (probably because I'm very much more of a ladies skating fan) I've never been quite on the bandwagon as the rest of the world. However saying that- his Blues for Klook is the one program that really made me think, "Huh. I love that!" He's very artistic, and the music was delightfully different and a touch more experimental. It just showcased his want to give something different and it caught my attention. There's never been a more genius collaboration than with Takahashi and Camerlengo.
Yu Na Kim- Bond: To me, this defined who Kim was as a skater. She wasn't just some dancing sylph on ice. She was a technical master and with a great personality to boot. In short, to me and the rest of the world- her SP at Vancouver showed her as an international star. She's had other programs with more artistry (in fact, this was a toss up between Danse Macabre) however, Bond to me was Kim at her most complete.
Meryl and Charlie- Scheherazade: It's just beautiful. Also goes to show that you can never rest on your laurels in skating, and boy did they know it. It's definitely more of an ode to Meryl, and it's very obvious that it is she who pulls the strings and I think the couple are better for it. It showed no flaws and despite criticism that the Americans lacked emotional connection compared to the Canadians- when you're skating THIS good, it really doesn't matter. It certainly didn't leave leave out in the cold.
Michelle Kwan- Salome: There are other emotional and more beautiful programs from the Kween, but this one left an impression on me the most for being her coming-of-age performance. It was wonderfully coquettish, a bit dark in tone, and aesthetically fabulous. I don't think I liked a Kwan program more.
Akiko Suzuki- O: It boggles me to this day why she didn't save this program for her last Olympic year. But then again, she has such a carpe diem attitude that it makes sense. The program was colourful, vibrant and so carefree, and it was the perfect choice for Akiko to show just how one she was with that program.
Carolina Kostner- Bolero: It was her year. She went for it. She gave us woman.
Yuzuru Hanyu- R&J 1: There's always a sense of melodrama with Yuzu, and sometimes it can translate as superfluous. However, I bought whatever he was selling with this program. He was the perfect choice for a Romeo- young, moody, flighty. Technically he was monstrous. This was his coming-of-age program, and he showed us he was going to be the one to beat.
Joshua Farris- Schindler's List: Joshua is such a conundrum. Something always goes wrong! However, when they do go right, it's perfection. His free skate at the 2014 Nationals was nothing short of spectacular. This program was mature, poignant, and armed with heartachingly beautiful choreography.
Julia Lipnitskaya- Schindler's List: Whereas Farris' program exuded maturity, Lipnitskaya's program embraced her youthful innocence and presented a visual so iconic. As a tribute to the film and praised by Spielberg himself, Julia played the part of the girl in the red coat well. At the same time, she showed the world that Russia was going to be the font of talent for a while and that she was the star. Yes, it was the freeskate in the team event that garnered her applause, but nevertheless, this program was the perfect showcase for Lipnitskaya's promise of talent and artistry. Arguably, even more so compared to the reigning Olympic champion.
Daisuke Takahashi- Blues for Klook: The weird thing for me is that I know Dai is a genius. He's an amazing skater. Yet somehow (probably because I'm very much more of a ladies skating fan) I've never been quite on the bandwagon as the rest of the world. However saying that- his Blues for Klook is the one program that really made me think, "Huh. I love that!" He's very artistic, and the music was delightfully different and a touch more experimental. It just showcased his want to give something different and it caught my attention. There's never been a more genius collaboration than with Takahashi and Camerlengo.
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no Toller Cranston????
