Will greatly miss Mark Hanretty!In commentary news, it will not be Mark Hanretty as the commentator this year. He confirmed it on Bluesky.
@markhanretty.bsky.social
Sadly Not because of a clash with Torvill and deans last dance tour. Wishing everyone involved every happiness and success in Boston!bsky.app
2025 Worlds: Info and pre-game chat
- Thread starter gsk8
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
Unless we get Ted, that probably means we get Chris for all 4 disciplines, yet again. He's less annoying than Tara/Johnny (talks less), but I was hoping we'd get someone else. ISU seems to only rotate between Chris, Ted, and Mark. They should hire a woman in the future.In commentary news, it will not be Mark Hanretty as the commentator this year. He confirmed it on Bluesky.
@markhanretty.bsky.social
Sadly Not because of a clash with Torvill and deans last dance tour. Wishing everyone involved every happiness and success in Boston!
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
Oh my goodness, if we do get Ted, that means Ted would get to commentate Andrew at Junior Worlds AND Senior Worlds. Ted was such a big Andrew fan on the Junior circuit, and Andrew is a MUCH better jumper now. It would be a full circle moment, assuming Andrew skates similar to how he skated at his GPs and Nationals.
But, I'm still assuming Chris...
But, I'm still assuming Chris...
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2018
Chris might do it along with Belinda? I like them both
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
They could get Tonia Kwiatkowski again, since she did it last year with Mark.
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2021
I hope Ted appears; I really don't want to hear, "What a cracker!" again unless someone's talking about a really delicious cracker!
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I agree that Chris is probably the most accessible for those who aren't skating fans. However, I'm not really sure that is a necessary consideration for the English language commentary provided by the ISU. The USA and Canada have their own commentators for their TV coverage. That leaves just the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It is not available on mainstream TV in the UK for casual viewers to 'discover' when flicking through channels - people have to deliberately seek out either the (limited!) online BBC coverage or the ISU youtube channel. Very few casual viewers are likely to stumble across either. I don't know about Australia and New Zealand, but I would be surprised if it was on their mainstream TV.
I thought that she and Mark were a great combination.
I like Chris's energy, enthusiasm and use of stock phrases. Belinda is super-knowledgeable, which I really appreciate, but her voice often stays at the same level, which is less exciting.
Me, too - he's my favourite of all the commentators.
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2004
I thought I was the only on here who thought Chris is annoying....he was funny at first...kind of comic relief...the the Chris Bingo cards....but now I find his hyperbole just annoying.... if only there would be a channel called "World feed" without commentary. I am also afraid that the terrible sound mixing with Chris at the controls might follow him, and might not be a location issue.
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2018
I’m wondering whether we might get Ben Agosto, since Worlds is in the US. He’s excellent in dance, and decent for the other disciplines, too.
And I hope Jean Luc Baker again does commentary for the practices, which are apparently being streamed on Peacock.
And I hope Jean Luc Baker again does commentary for the practices, which are apparently being streamed on Peacock.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
You can count me in. If i hear ‘it was a cracker’ one more time I’ll scream! Or ‘throw the gauntlet’ ; ‘ by hook or crook’ ‘ clean as a whistle’ etc. . . 2 things I wonder about 1) can he speak in plain English at all 2) Is he on some substance? The latter because it is scarcely believable that someone can stay in that state of over hype & feverish enthusiasm for over 4 hours straight.
Please please could it be anyone but Chris for Worlds
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2011
this is such a nice post, thank you!!! message me, would love to know what shifts you have and if we will be working togetherI know that macy already has tons of experience as a volunteer -- I doubt there is anything I can tell her that she does not already know.
Boston also will be my first time volunteering specifically at Worlds, and I think I understand what macy means. I too am assigned to Event Flow, and feel an extra sense of responsibility because it is Worlds. As macy described, Event Flow entails a mix of duties that will keep us on our toes, plus Worlds shifts are six+ hours, which is longer than at other events. The anticipation is different from when I know that I will be "just" ice monitoring for "just" a three- or four-hour shift at "just" Nats. Going into Worlds, a combination of a lot of excitement and some nerves for me as well.
In addition: At Four Continents in 2019 and 2023, ISU definitely had its own personnel overseeing volunteers (on top of USFS/LOC oversight). ISU wants certain things done a certain way (sometimes not the way that volunteers at Nats or even Skate America are accustomed to), and if anything, I expect ISU oversight to be even greater at Worlds.
I do not want to get into details, but by my standards (which are not as extravagant as yours), the volunteer perks for Worlds are on the generous side.
ETA:Wait ... I hope I did not come across the wrong way. I truly believe that the primary motivation for most volunteer participation is the gratification of supporting the skaters/the event/the sport. Any perks are nice, but they are gravy.
i think what i am most nervous about (although i'm sure unnecessary), is how organized it may or may not be. i had a bad experience when i volunteered at my first nationals in 2019, after i checked in (early) they told me there would be someone down by the ice i would then check in with. i did 2 or 3 laps around the rink, no one was in sight until the VERY last minute before the event started. it was not a good time. also wondering how well they will actually "train" us/show us what exactly to do for our shifts. i just hope they don't throw us to the wolves! haha. i'm sure they can't though since this is the ISU's game.
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2018
Hm... I´m the other way around, I found it annoying to begin with but I actually really enjoy the phrases now.
The sound mixing is very limited this year. Ted explained it at one of the early JGP events. They are taking the live stadium sound for the music, rather than mixing it, because of copyright. If they remix it at all, they need a lot of extra copyright permissions for each programme.
I got an email with a code for seats that just went on sale today (or yesterday). Couldn’t get good signal at work to complete a sale. However i accidentally deleted the tab on my phone and decided today would be the day to aggressively clean out my email trash (while waiting for someone).
If anyone else got this and knows what im talking about - would you be willing to PM the code? It is driving me mad to not be able to find it again.
If anyone else got this and knows what im talking about - would you be willing to PM the code? It is driving me mad to not be able to find it again.
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