- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
Calalang and Johnson Look to Recapture Momentum at Skate America
I'm curious what folks think about Katie McBeath in pairs - to me, she looks promising, although clearly a lot of work still needs to be done on her twist and death spiral.
I'm glad you asked! Katie is first on my list to discuss. For me, she's the breath of fresh air, the new delight, for this season. I'll let others talk about her skating technique. But for a skater new to pairs, I think she's doing just fine.I'm curious what folks think about Katie McBeath in pairs - to me, she looks promising, although clearly a lot of work still needs to be done on her twist and death spiral.
So I wonder what happened to the Cate Fleming/Jedidiah Isbell partnership? Cate Fleming is now on IcePartner Search:
Biography Removed - Ice Partner Search
I have removed my biography from Ice Partner Search.icepartnersearch.com
I thought Cate and Jedidiah were such a lovely young team with a bright future together. But I guess life happens.
I'm glad you asked! Katie is first on my list to discuss. For me, she's the breath of fresh air, the new delight, for this season. I'll let others talk about her skating technique. But for a skater new to pairs, I think she's doing just fine.
What I'm so happy about is Katie's presentation as a pairs girl. She has an "It" factor already. I miss Haven Denney for her beautiful expression of joy, both facial and via movement. And Katie is already expressing emotion, especially joy, even more than Haven did (understandably) in the past few years. There just is nothing like watching the skating of someone who is thrilled to be out there skating and performing. Katie shows her joy, not just in the lifts, but at many times during her skating, especially during the FS.
Technique and skills can be taught and worked diligently to learn. But what Katie has is charisma, something special that transfers to an audience. And in the beautiful sport of figure skating, the performance and technique are equal partners. I am so impressed. I watched her performances in 2017 and 2018, and I don't find that she expressed the pure joy in her singles skating as she does in pairs.
Speaking of partners, I'm very impressed with the way Nathan is partnering her. He's more subtle than he was with Deanna. I can't help feeling he's different with every partner, that he's consciously or intuitively altered his style to support and highlight Katie. He keeps the quality of the pair at a high level. I like his demeanor very much with Katie. It's as though he knows how dazzling she is, with that smile, which is enchanting and genuine, never "too much" or superficial. And he shapes his own performance to complement hers. I already love this pair and have watched their FS several times.
I'll write more of my thoughts later about the Pairs' performances in the 2nd ISP opportunity. For now,
I can't help having mixed feelings that on IPS, Cate's coaching contact already is Letov. That did not take long.
I wonder whether Cate has completely stopped working with her previous coaches,
In the interview of Keegan a day or so ago, he mentioned exactly that, the fact that it's hearing the crowd's encouragement and applause that helps when his legs are tired, etc.^^ Thanks @skylark for sharing the fan zone article and the photo from Ash's Instagram. Ash & Tim are looking good. I see in the background that cardboard cutout figures are in the first row seats. I wonder if they are going to fill more seats with those cutouts. I think that's a good idea to give the sense of a viewing audience. But then they would seem to also need some kind of crowd noise audio effects too.
In the interview of Keegan a day or so ago, he mentioned exactly that, the fact that it's hearing the crowd's encouragement and applause that helps when his legs are tired, etc.
I haven’t seen her.I'm curious what folks think about Katie McBeath in pairs - to me, she looks promising, although clearly a lot of work still needs to be done on her twist and death spiral.
I haven’t seen her.
So I know everyone is over the moon with Alexa and Brandon. Maybe if I see them perform in front of an audience of real people it will be different. But she just didn’t seem that happy with the win. No jumping, screaming bright shiny happy Alexa.