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- Feb 12, 2014
How to Train Your Dragon is one of Ilia's favorite movies. NBC Universal released an Olympic promo video a while ago for the live action remake that has Ilia meeting Toothless.
2026 U.S. Nationals Senior Men Short Program
- Thread starter dorispulaski
- Start date
Build a bear is headquartered in St. Louis and ended up being an official plushie sponsor, which I've never heard of happening before, but I would not be shocked if they donated the dragons as a part of their sponsorship since they sell toothless as one of their dolls anyway. I think it was just a lucky conjunction of the right sponsor in the right place. Now the question is what do they do with all the plushies since I don't think Ilia needs a whole room full of plush dragons. Hopefully they make it to Ronald McDonald's Houses with the rest of the Jason Brown toys.
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- Jan 28, 2013
So this may have been NBC promoting a new movie? It's fine - it's a non-competitive thing, and I generally don't care about stuff like that. But as I wrote, it seems a bit contrived to hand out toys with the express purpose of having fans throw them at one skater at one moment in time.
Ilia must have been in on the gag because he just shared an Instagram reel showing the sweepers cleaning that up. Or maybe his team is simply capitalizing on an opportunity.
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- Jan 28, 2013
Ah... I have the answer to Dragon-gate. This was a USFS and NBC stunt. Ilia didn't know anything about it.
He played his role afterwards, though, saying he was surprised, but they made him feel "warm." Christine Brennan's article:
www.usatoday.com
He played his role afterwards, though, saying he was surprised, but they made him feel "warm." Christine Brennan's article:
Ilia Malinin 'surprised' by fans tossing Toothless dragon stuffies on ice
NBC and U.S. Figure Skating coordinated a cross-promotion, giving fans Toothless stuffies to toss on ice when Ilia Malinin finished his short program.
www.usatoday.com
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- Jul 26, 2003
It isn't the first time there was a stunt like this. Small stuffed strawberries were given out for the audience to throw at a Nationals.
Maybe Smuckers was to blame?
Maybe Smuckers was to blame?
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- Mar 14, 2007
It is not normal practice at US Nationals or Skate America.
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- Mar 14, 2007
But not to one specific skater IIRC.
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- Aug 11, 2025
I think someone said they collected them off the ice and gave them back to the audience.... not sure where I read that though
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- Apr 5, 2017
Very late but so proud of Tomoki! I hope he delivers in the free as well. Daniel Martynov and Max Naumov also did well, though I am a little worried about NBC really pushing Max to cry for them on camera, it feels ghoulish sending Andrea Joyce in to badger him about the deaths of his parents.
I also LOVED Goku Endo and Sam Mindra's programs (such creative music choices and so well-skated) and will definitely be keeping an eye out for them in the future.
I also LOVED Goku Endo and Sam Mindra's programs (such creative music choices and so well-skated) and will definitely be keeping an eye out for them in the future.
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- Aug 11, 2025
I was worried about media asking Max about his parents until they see tears but if he would feel uncomfortable talking about them he would have kept that photo of them more private. The moment he showed it into the cameras he must have known that journalists would ask questions about it and I am sure he felt ready for that. Maybe he wanted them to be remembered. Nobody should be ashamed of tears and especially not Max. But his coach should get a lesson in how to give a crying skater a real hug
I think compared to some international competitions this one was really really good. Not many mistakes and some close scores.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
Well, but USFS gave stuffies to fans to throw as a tie in with a movie. But gift cards are a great idea and take up almost no space !
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- Jan 28, 2013
I've already got it fixed in my mind. Gift cards in little envelopes with a bright ribbon tied/taped on. That way they'll be visible and won't get lost on the ice surface for the next skater to trip on. They'll be VISA gift cards or something like that which can be spent anywhere. Do those come in $5 amounts? Hope so, that way I can afford to do more.
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- Aug 11, 2025
Do you mind me using your idea at Olympics? I think that's so much better than throwing teddybears for 20+ year old young men
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- Mar 14, 2007
It sounds lovely. I’m sure you can find $5 ones.
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- Jan 28, 2013
Gosh no, I don't mind! If I were a skater, I'd enjoy a coffee a fan sent me. And I am beyond jealous you'll get to go to the Olympics. You have to tell us everything. And I mean Every. Single. Thing.
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
I'm still trying to recover from the craptastic way I was forced to watch U.S. figure skating events yesterday on Peacock. 
Maxim Naumov is such a sweet, gracious, talented young man. The patient way he put up with Andrea Whatshername's repetitive queries about the loss of his parents is incredible.
Regarding sp men's results: Max is still in fourth place, unfairly so, once again. Last year, he deserved third place overall. This year, Max deserved to at least be in third after the sp, with around 87+ instead of the lowball 85+. Tomoki's quad was underrotated. Was it called? I think Tomoki's 89+ is overly high, especially with a quad UR! Max only had a slight turnout on his quad, but no UR like Tomoki.
As much as I love Jason Brown, sadly his artistry should not have been able to overcome his tech mistakes. No way 88+ is the right sp score for Jason. It saddens me, but Jason needs to be judged fairly. He would never receive 88+ with those mistakes internationally. Do not let Jason embarrass himself at the Olympics after his stellar career. Send Jason as a U.S. fs team ambassador to the '26 Olympics instead of holding up his scores over these younger talented competitors.
Maxim Naumov is such a sweet, gracious, talented young man. The patient way he put up with Andrea Whatshername's repetitive queries about the loss of his parents is incredible.
Regarding sp men's results: Max is still in fourth place, unfairly so, once again. Last year, he deserved third place overall. This year, Max deserved to at least be in third after the sp, with around 87+ instead of the lowball 85+. Tomoki's quad was underrotated. Was it called? I think Tomoki's 89+ is overly high, especially with a quad UR! Max only had a slight turnout on his quad, but no UR like Tomoki.
As much as I love Jason Brown, sadly his artistry should not have been able to overcome his tech mistakes. No way 88+ is the right sp score for Jason. It saddens me, but Jason needs to be judged fairly. He would never receive 88+ with those mistakes internationally. Do not let Jason embarrass himself at the Olympics after his stellar career. Send Jason as a U.S. fs team ambassador to the '26 Olympics instead of holding up his scores over these younger talented competitors.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2019
We'll see about Jason. Maybe just a bad day. Yeah, that would have gotten as low as 82 internationally. He may want to take out a 3A in the free.
The federation gave stuffies? That's lame, then.
Throwing flowers and gifts has always been part of the tradition, and it's come from the fans. It's why I've never minded the "rains" and "avalanches" for various skaters over the last two-three decades. This is a manufactured corporate moment that kills the taste buds for me.
I hope the ultimate goal is to simply donate it all to charity.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
Yes, the Federation gave stuffies to throw. Hopefully they end up with Jason’s stuffies at Ronald McDonald House. No one needs that many stuffies, not even me.
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