How much were the school figures part of the better quality of skating in the past? I remember Midori Ito really really had a hard time with them and announcers suggested that she'd be way better off moving forward (as someone focused more on jumps and athleticism).
I was saddened by the Sour Grapes remark in the K and C about this all being USFS's fault. This is not the first time he has blamed the USFS for not sending him to Bejing. I can see a young immature person saying this but he owes the USFS an apology. He is correct in that going to the Olys is not like going to Worlds or any other big comp. The massive size of the event itself can be intimidating but he did OK in the Team event. He just cracked under pressure as we all have at some point in our lives. Ilia, ditch the back flip and the rasberry and the Quad god shirt. Concentrate on realizing you are just another human on this earth...no more...no less... and have fun and skate well.
I don't want figures back, I want non jumping elements of programs to have more BV.
TBH with like 5 ice rinks operating in the summer for whole country and very limited ice available for FS any system with tests and certifications isn't possible. Martial arts have internatiolnal system of belts and each color of belt is supposed to know the same techniques, but it's much easier to train martial arts than FS because of infrastructure needed.I didn’t say you specifically, I meant in general. I’m also talking about one specific skater. His jumps are what he’s known for. The quad axel really put him on the map. Otherwise, he’d be a good or even a great skater, but part of a crowd of the same. These seven-quad and quad axel programs are what he’s known for. He needs to build other aspect of his skating, including artistry. Otherwise, he’ll be (justifiably) written off as a one-trick pony. Mao Asada, for example, could do a triple axel, but had more to her skating than one trick. My comment stands. Also he needs to get rid of the shag hairdo. That went out with the 70s.
Poor Daniel Grassl: he gave us a whole storyline with one pope dying and another going shirtless and yet he’s getting no credit for his acting chopsI was thinking about old programs... Kurt's Casablanca, even Stojko's Dragon, Candeloro d'Artagnan, Why aren't skaters doing programs with story telling anymore ? At least, it was entertaining
At the beginning of the free skate, Donovan did the Elvis program and I think it said " a man, died but. god was born" and I couldn't help thinking about the pope being dead.Poor Daniel Grassl: he gave us a whole storyline with one pope dying and another going shirtless and yet he’s getting no credit for his acting chops
So sorry for your loss! My cat is going on 14 and I'm scared every day when she is lethargic and doesn't want to play!
You may be right. Obviously I don't know Nathan personally. I did think he had a lot of potential as a performer that wasn't always fully realized because of all the focus on the quads, but he was by no means a weak skater or performer.
This. I think Ilia could be quite an artistic skater. He can be expressive, he isn't gangly anymore, his last spin when he did the raspberry twist entry was super well timed to the music. Not like Takahashi artistic, but more like Yagudin, if he wanted. But instead he likes to chase records and be remembered for his jumps, which is reasonable as well, he cannot do everything at the same time and he's young. That's why I'm not so upset about his programs compared to other quadsters, where you can see there's little potential to improve.
I don't think Ilia owes anyone an apology. It was a heat of a moment super emotional comment. He's allowed to have his own opinion and feelings on being left off the team in 2022. I think a lot of figure skating fans were split by the decision and it's not the only controversial decision that's been made over the years. I do wish to USFS would focus on the younger generation of skaters instead of holding up veterans. (I'm a Jason Brown fan) I think that's why Japan tends to have a stronger crop they support their young up and coming skaters more. If the USFS wants to grow the sport of figure skating in America they need to have a YouTube channel all programs need to be available on the YouTube channel hey charge a monthly fee they probably make more money than peacock. But no one's going to know it exists or care if it's behind a paywall not everybody can afford peacock.
Can you stop repeating this fallacy nonstop. It's especially annoying when you self-admittedly only care about skating because of jumps, and yet display no ability to judge them. The rotation of his jumps was fine, so of course he didn't get called on anything. There was nothing to call. Having bad landings is separate from rotation issues.
People keep talking about Shaidorov and Shun not having prior Olympic experience but THEY WEREN'T THE OVERWHELMING FAVORITES. There is a massive difference in the pressure that was on them, compared to Ilia.
Yes please...
I am a Jason Brown fan. I have never heard him blame anyone for his mistakes. He is not cocky or arrogant, and never was. Even though he is the most artistic male skater ever. Who has not said things that were hurtful when emotionally stressed? When I do, I appologize for them. Ilia is entitled to his opinion that not having the Oly experience denied by the USFS was the cause of his meltdown. That's a cop out. I say someone who is undefeated since 2023, and who won an OGM in the team event has only himself to blame. Or his team for not properly preparing him for an event 100 times bigger than a worlds. I have no blame for him for loosing...I think Scot Hamilton's description of what happened is probably pretty accurate. Could happen to any top skater....but dont blame anyone for your own mistakes....especially a decision, right or wrong, made 4 years ago.
Beautiful! Yes! those splits! Ah, right now it's great to remember something so special!
