2025 Worlds: Info and pre-game chat | Page 14 | Golden Skate

2025 Worlds: Info and pre-game chat

Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?
I've got many many skaters who I genuinely like and root for them but who I can watch skate at the major comps like the upcoming Worlds with excitement which would not go beyond normal level of excitement if you know what I mean.
But there is another group of skaters that managed to get so deep into my heart that it brings up almost physical pain to watch them. At the Worlds it will be Adam Siao Him Fa in men singles , Niina Petrokina in women and 2 pairs team - Alisa/Misha and Minerva/Nikita (conflict of interest here is an extra complication), dance I don't follow thank God.
I almost feel like I won't be able to watch them live for the fear of heart attack!
What do you do? Do you wait for the results and then dare to watch? Or read the comp thread first? I'd be interested to know!
Click to expand...
Easy...
Years of experience rooting for skaters who will most likely not win ;)
In men, my favourite is not even there : Frangi :) super inconsistent ;)
Dance is the worst for me so you are lucky.. because it really is the TP and the judges running the show...

In the end, I find that unconditional love is the best tool. Just cheering for the skaters you like and being supportive as there are only 3 medals anyway ;) has been helpful....

I find that some of the users who are the most nervous here are the ones who absolutely want their skaters to win... winning is not the only thing in life ;)
 
Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?
I've got many many skaters who I genuinely like and root for them but who I can watch skate at the major comps like the upcoming Worlds with excitement which would not go beyond normal level of excitement if you know what I mean.
But there is another group of skaters that managed to get so deep into my heart that it brings up almost physical pain to watch them. At the Worlds it will be Adam Siao Him Fa in men singles , Niina Petrokina in women and 2 pairs team - Alisa/Misha and Minerva/Nikita (conflict of interest here is an extra complication), dance I don't follow thank God.
I almost feel like I won't be able to watch them live for the fear of heart attack!
What do you do? Do you wait for the results and then dare to watch? Or read the comp thread first? I'd be interested to know!
Click to expand...
I usually wait for results and then watch. It is easier for me to handle that way. But that means, don't go into certain Fan Fests or competition threads until you're ready to find out. It's not hard for me to do. Good luck!
 
labgoat said:
Does anyone follow Amber on Instagram? I saw elsewhere that she posted about struggles. I don’t do Instagram but would like to judge her post for myself and adjust my predictions if needed. I love Amber but worry that all the negativity in the US is causing extra pressure for her. I plan to pray for mental strength for her.

From Dallas News
www.dallasnews.com

A decade later, Plano’s Amber Glenn looks to repeat championship success at TD Garden

Amber Glenn of Plano, Texas, has won gold at every event this season and is vying for a spot on the U.S. figure skating team for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter...
www.dallasnews.com
Click to expand...
Well.. you need to toss a coin.... on one side, Amber has mastered her nerves like she has all season long... on the other side, you get previous seasons Amber. It's really going to be a 50-50 chance IMHO. She's made great improvements this year. That's undeniable. She has in her content, a higher base value than everyone else. However, skating at home can be a curse or a blessing... and that's why the coin toss may be helpful... will it be curse or blessing ? Will she be cool and collected or nervous ? If she's done her mental prep properly, she may be good...
I wasn't able to put her in first in my game... but I could be damn wrong... and I actually hope she will win :)
 
labgoat said:
Does anyone follow Amber on Instagram? I saw elsewhere that she posted about struggles. I don’t do Instagram but would like to judge her post for myself and adjust my predictions if needed. I love Amber but worry that all the negativity in the US is causing extra pressure for her. I plan to pray for mental strength for her.

From Dallas News
www.dallasnews.com

A decade later, Plano’s Amber Glenn looks to repeat championship success at TD Garden

Amber Glenn of Plano, Texas, has won gold at every event this season and is vying for a spot on the U.S. figure skating team for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter...
www.dallasnews.com
Click to expand...
Amber had a really rough past few months - she was affected heavily by the tragic loss of life in the plane crash earlier this year, like all of the US skaters, and also lost her grandmother and her dog this year as well (the article posted by @labgoat mentions that). In addition, she has been struggling with back injuries earlier in the season and more recently a hip injury that has impacted her training time, and has also found it difficult to get ice time in Colorado Springs due to a hockey tournament. The content on her Instagram is the type of things she normally highlights on her IG stories - a lot of things about supporting mental health for athletes, it's ok to struggle, as well as support for the LGBTQ+ community - so there's nothing on her Instagram that would make me concerned or is out of the norm. Most of what she has disclosed has been shared through the traditional media, like her pre-Worlds media call and during Legacy on Ice, and isn't stuff she has outright posted on social media.
 
skatingfan4ever said:
I usually wait for results and then watch. It is easier for me to handle that way. But that means, don't go into certain Fan Fests or competition threads until you're ready to find out. It's not hard for me to do. Good luck!
Click to expand...
that's a good one... it is easier to do if you don't go on the internet at all... otherwise, results are everywhere, news site, social media etc.
 
Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?
I've got many many skaters who I genuinely like and root for them but who I can watch skate at the major comps like the upcoming Worlds with excitement which would not go beyond normal level of excitement if you know what I mean.
But there is another group of skaters that managed to get so deep into my heart that it brings up almost physical pain to watch them. At the Worlds it will be Adam Siao Him Fa in men singles , Niina Petrokina in women and 2 pairs team - Alisa/Misha and Minerva/Nikita (conflict of interest here is an extra complication), dance I don't follow thank God.
I almost feel like I won't be able to watch them live for the fear of heart attack!
What do you do? Do you wait for the results and then dare to watch? Or read the comp thread first? I'd be interested to know!
Click to expand...
Not a silly question! My strategy (it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, both for when I'm performing (piano) or when watching (skating), is to frame nerves as "excitement". I find then that there is less impulse to try to squash the nerves down (which doesn't tend to work), and instead gives the nerves a more positive framing. Excitement is a good thing - it shows you are invested and passionate.:)
 
figureskatingandrainbows said:
Amber had a really rough past few months - she was affected heavily by the tragic loss of life in the plane crash earlier this year, like all of the US skaters, and also lost her grandmother and her dog this year as well (the article posted by @labgoat mentions that). In addition, she has been struggling with back injuries earlier in the season and more recently a hip injury that has impacted her training time, and has also found it difficult to get ice time in Colorado Springs due to a hockey tournament. The content on her Instagram is the type of things she normally highlights on her IG stories - a lot of things about supporting mental health for athletes, it's ok to struggle, as well as support for the LGBTQ+ community - so there's nothing on her Instagram that would make me concerned or is out of the norm. Most of what she has disclosed has been shared through the traditional media, like her pre-Worlds media call and during Legacy on Ice, and isn't stuff she has outright posted on social media.
Click to expand...
Thank you - I think I will leave my predictions as is. I think Kaori is hungry, Amber is home - both have maturity. I think the young gals could surprise but probably need to experience the expectations of winning at the top level.
 
Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?
I've got many many skaters who I genuinely like and root for them but who I can watch skate at the major comps like the upcoming Worlds with excitement which would not go beyond normal level of excitement if you know what I mean.
But there is another group of skaters that managed to get so deep into my heart that it brings up almost physical pain to watch them. At the Worlds it will be Adam Siao Him Fa in men singles , Niina Petrokina in women and 2 pairs team - Alisa/Misha and Minerva/Nikita (conflict of interest here is an extra complication), dance I don't follow thank God.
I almost feel like I won't be able to watch them live for the fear of heart attack!
What do you do? Do you wait for the results and then dare to watch? Or read the comp thread first? I'd be interested to know!
Click to expand...
I root hard for them, but remind myself that random things happen like illness, broken laces, catching ruts and that often these random things determine close contests. I hope for a medal, but am happy if my faves have a skate they can be pleased with. I remind myself that all the skaters work hard and hope to win, and hope that every dog gets their day. I just want them to get their chance - I am most upset when illness, injury, or freak things take someone out (Yuzu). If my faves do their best and someone else’s best is better than that - then I am happy that I got two or more great skates.
 
Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?

What do you do? Do you wait for the results and then dare to watch? Or read the comp thread first? I'd be interested to know!
Click to expand...

Say what? I'm an assertive person who competed in sports, so I am shouting my head off LIVE at the skaters I want to do well. You should have seen me yesterday rooting for my fav ski racer, Lindsey Vonn. She retired from racing in 2018 and came back this season at age 40 to compete. She won Silver yesterday. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is. I shattered a glass yelling. :biggrin:
 
Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?

What do you do? Do you wait for the results and then dare to watch? Or read the comp thread first? I'd be interested to know!
Click to expand...
If possible, I prefer to know the results of a competition before I watch it, but that's not because of nervousness on the skaters' behalf. And I very seldom have favourites. I watch each performance at an event and see if I would agree with the rankings assigned by the judges. But I've never liked secrets and surprises. Just like I read the end of a murder mystery first to find out whodunnit, and then go back to read from the beginning to see how well the author planted the clues, I prefer to know already who were the medallists in a competition and then watch to see why.
 
Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?
Click to expand...
I watch live if the time zones work out, and I do get nervous when my favorites skate. As others said above, I try to turn it into excitement instead of dread and also to concentrate on the skate instead of the results.

If a competition is held overnight in my time zone, I do look up the results in the morning and watch later. I almost prefer it this way (but not enough to deliberately wait before watching)!
 
Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?
I've got many many skaters who I genuinely like and root for them but who I can watch skate at the major comps like the upcoming Worlds with excitement which would not go beyond normal level of excitement if you know what I mean.
But there is another group of skaters that managed to get so deep into my heart that it brings up almost physical pain to watch them. At the Worlds it will be Adam Siao Him Fa in men singles , Niina Petrokina in women and 2 pairs team - Alisa/Misha and Minerva/Nikita (conflict of interest here is an extra complication), dance I don't follow thank God.
I almost feel like I won't be able to watch them live for the fear of heart attack!
What do you do? Do you wait for the results and then dare to watch? Or read the comp thread first? I'd be interested to know!
Click to expand...
I changed my office schedule so that I can't watch most competitions live during the week day. If I watch knowing who had a difficult skate and it's someone I'm invested in, that helps. I'll skip their skate if I don't want to watch someone have a difficult time on a large stage. I'll watch the scores and read the competition threads.

I also try to recognize what I can control. I can't control how they do. I can control my expectations for them since they have to deal with their own expectations for their skates and those of their federation. I can express my hope for them and hope that they know that people are cheering for them even if they aren't in the arena.
 
Thanks so much to everyone who replied and shared their ways of dealing with nerves! I am not sure I can comment on each reply but all are equally appreciated.
I will try my best:
@ NanaPat - your approach I admire - you get excited but you are sensible at the same time
@ Diana Delafield - you astonish me - to go to the ending of whodunnit and then actually read it? Nooo, this is far too sensible, logical & calculated (no offence) I think the main attraction of watching sport is that you truly never know what would happen, the total unpredictability of each event. You deprive yourself of all that! Note: for the sake of my weak heart I wish I could adopt your strategy though!
@ Arigato - :clap:
@ Labgoat - great approach
@ Ruthypegs - yours is something I wish to master - to make adrenalin work for me not against me - alas, no success so far, on the side note I envy you play piano professionally, I played a little when I was at school but since then never had a piano and played only very occasionally which is no good. A great pity.
@ 4everchan - I see that I might have not been clear on that I am not desperate for my favourites to win but to skate clean or clean-ish and do their best, the rest is out of their control (and mine)
My mother made an interesting point another day, she thinks me crazy she said to me; you can't be so invested, they are not real people [skaters]
Astonished I protested: but they are real people! -No, they are not real real people in your life, you are going too far.
She maybe right. I noticed I enjoy a competition the most if my favourites not in it. I can watch it then with all the excitement and pleasure without heart palpitations, sweaty palms etc
Funny thing is after reading your comments I've made a decision, I shall watch live, I shall not deny myself what is best in following the sport we love so much, and the hell with a heart attack!
 
Tutto said:
Just a silly question - what is your, guys, strategy to deal with nerves (yes, you are reading it right :) !) while watching your favourites?
I've got many many skaters who I genuinely like and root for them but who I can watch skate at the major comps like the upcoming Worlds with excitement which would not go beyond normal level of excitement if you know what I mean.
But there is another group of skaters that managed to get so deep into my heart that it brings up almost physical pain to watch them. At the Worlds it will be Adam Siao Him Fa in men singles , Niina Petrokina in women and 2 pairs team - Alisa/Misha and Minerva/Nikita (conflict of interest here is an extra complication), dance I don't follow thank God.
I almost feel like I won't be able to watch them live for the fear of heart attack!
What do you do? Do you wait for the results and then dare to watch? Or read the comp thread first? I'd be interested to know!
Click to expand...
I closed my eyes when MK skated on the Telly .....afraid she would fall.
 
labgoat said:
Thank you - I think I will leave my predictions as is. I think Kaori is hungry, Amber is home - both have maturity. I think the young gals could surprise but probably need to experience the expectations of winning at the top level.
Click to expand...
Kaori has been making mistakes in her last comps. And not skating crisp by the end of her FS. Its hard to stay at the top. Chae-yeon...she has to watch URs but she won nats, Four conts, Asian games.....nerves of steel...and that is critical..but anyone with a great 3A has a huge advantage if they can skate the rest of the programs clean...like many comps, the winner will be determined by who skates clean for two programs. There is no slam dunk clear winner at this point of the season. As Kaori found out at Asia games, one mistake and you loose by 7-8 points. A trip-trip becomes a triple + rep and a fall. :cry:
 
All I know is that I am very excited to see practices (even if at home) and happy the skaters had a nice block of time to prepare. Now if we can just get Ana her skates - all should be well.
I will see you all for early am practices!
 
labgoat said:
Does anyone follow Amber on Instagram? I saw elsewhere that she posted about struggles. I don’t do Instagram but would like to judge her post for myself and adjust my predictions if needed. I love Amber but worry that all the negativity in the US is causing extra pressure for her. I plan to pray for mental strength for her.

From Dallas News
www.dallasnews.com

A decade later, Plano’s Amber Glenn looks to repeat championship success at TD Garden

Amber Glenn of Plano, Texas, has won gold at every event this season and is vying for a spot on the U.S. figure skating team for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter...
www.dallasnews.com
Click to expand...
I'm very worried about her. I will join you in praying for her mental health too :pray:🤞
 
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