Alissa Czisny on the Hinged Figure Skating Boot

[IcyBallerina]

While these boots may have done wonders for Alissa's jumping, they might not be right for everyone. I would like to try them (I think Jackson was in Colorado Springs a while back letting people skate for an hour in them for free), but my coach has told me that occasionally I get *too* deep in my knees, especially when working on new jumps. Every skater has experienced "sitting down" on an otherwise flawless jump. I like having that extra resistance in my ankles.

However, I'd be happy to give them a shot!

 

[R.D.]

Still too soon IMO to crown Czisny as the future. Although I haven't seen her performance yet (I'll get to that tonight) even if she was great, it's only one competition. Waaaaay too soon IMO to be crowning a new champion. JMO...I'd wait until she does a few more comps first. I'm still not counting out that meltdown.

 

[Bijoux]

ITA Red Dog

One performance does not a champion make. I think it is because the season is so dull, the best out with injuries, plus, she had no real competition at SA. If Miki Ando or Shiz. have a good season, one or more could be on podium at olys or worlds. I think Alissa is painfully thin and gangly looking. To say she looks more mature than Sasha, well, I don't see it.:disagree:

 

[Mathman]

The interesting thing about Czisny is that she did not start out as a child prodigy, going through a jumping bean stage before taking a 90 degree turn toward the artistic side of the sport. Instead she has consistently improved in every phase of skating at a measured pace.

I don't think she is gangly. Her slimness gives her the illusion of height. The strongest thing about her skating is her basics -- stroking, edging, and balance. I think she's great. Now we'll see whether she can give Kimmie a run for her money for the number three spot on the U.S. Olympic team!

Mathman

PS. Here are some pictures ((c) Jay Adeff) from Alissa's official site

http://www.figureskatersonline.com/alissaczisny/photos/2004sa/IMG_4142.jpg

http://www.figureskatersonline.com/alissaczisny/photos/2004sa/IMG_4143.jpg

http://www.figureskatersonline.com/alissaczisny/photos/2004sa/IMG_4160.jpg

http://www.figureskatersonline.com/alissaczisny/photos/2004sa/IMG_4181.jpg

http://www.figureskatersonline.com/alissaczisny/photos/2004sa/IMG_4184.jpg

http://www.figureskatersonline.com/alissaczisny/photos/05jrworlds-oi/practice.jpg

http://www.figureskatersonline.com/alissaczisny/photos/05jrworlds-oi/teamusa3b.jpg

 

[Piel]

I think Alissa is painfully thin and gangly looking. To say she looks more mature than Sasha, well, I don't see it.:disagree:

Bijoux, I think taller girls look thinner than girls the same body size who are shorter (does that make sense?). No bash against Sasha but she looks so young, prepubescent almost. Of course this will be a blessing when she's 50, LOL. I just think she looks less mature than Allisa. I am gushing over her, I know. If Kwan retires Allisa will be my fav out of the ladies. I guess one person's gangly is another's long limbed elegance. Gangly to me is someone with long limbs that are all over the place....not the case at all with Allisa, IMO.

 

[orchid]

Alissa won't blow Sasha away, but Michelle should worry Good question on the boots helping with jumps.

Yes she will. Can you recognize edging ??? Judges can. Alissa's extension is a universe away from SC.

Alissa skates with style not gotta, gotta do it points, points.

 

[orchid]

Bijoux, I think taller girls look thinner than girls the same body size who are shorter (does that make sense?). No bash against Sasha but she looks so young, prepubescent almost. Of course this will be a blessing when she's 50, LOL. I just think she looks less mature than Allisa. I am gushing over her, I know. If Kwan retires Allisa will be my fav out of the ladies. I guess one person's gangly is another's long limbed elegance. Gangly to me is someone with long limbs that are all over the place....not the case at all with Allisa, IMO.

Alissa has been MY 2nd favorite for a long, long time. I am so happy she skated so wel on TV for all to see,

 

[Rgirl]

Nice photos, Mathman. I think the costume she's wearing in them is much more flattering for her than the one she wore at Campbell's and the LP at SA.

I'll say right away that we'll have to agree to disagree on this, but at least for me, when I say Alissa looks gangly, it's not her body, it's the way she moves. Perhaps saying that often her movements look disjointed might more accurately describe what I see.

I've said in other posts that I am incredibly impressed with her edges, spins (breathtaking layback), and the amplitude, extension, and amazingly deep edges she gets on her spiral sequence. The weaknesses I see in Alissa is the poor use of her arms and upper body in connection with the rest of her body. Her arms often "dangle" while she's holding a spiral position or her arms and upper body don't become part of the total shape of the movement. Also, on her spiral sequence, while the free leg has beautiful extension and superb amplitude, it looks as if she just sticks the leg up there rather than making the whole body part of the timing and stretch.

The good news is, she's only 18 and as you said, she's got terrific basics, so I think the problems with her arms, upper body, and "lack of connectedness" throughout her body will be fairly easy for her to correct as opposed to the great difficulty it would be at her age to correct poor basics. So if she has to have weaknesses, she has the right ones in that they are relatively easy to fix.

In a way she reminds me of Timothy Goebel when he was all quads and no style. Obviously he's had major problems since, but just prior to the '02 Olympics, Goebel's style seemed to make a quantum leap improvement between Nationals and the Olympics. Alissa is at just the right age, IMO, to make those improvements in presentation.

She also has both an athletic energy and warm personality on the ice, which I think invites the audience and the judges into her skating. IMO, that is a one of the most valuable qualities a skater can have and you either have it or you don't. Alissa Czisny's got it!

Rgirl

 

[Mathman]

Rgirl, true, she needs to work on her finger positions...

http://www.figureskatersonline.com/alissaczisny/photos/2004sa/IMG_4164.jpg

http://www.scratchspin.com/2002/coi02/fs-0202112A.jpg

 

[orchid]

i Also, on her spiral sequence, while the free leg has beautiful extension and superb amplitude, it looks as if she just sticks the leg up there rather than making the whole body part of the timing and stretch. [QUOTE ]

and what if Alissa used dramatic points in the music to distract the audience from 'just sticking her leg in the air and sliding about on no edge''

just like guess who??? except the edge

 

[Piel]

Rgirl thanks, I am going to rewatch with your post in mind.

Mathman, did Allisa not have Kwnanness (that very special way MK holds her fingers) in her programs at SA? Will also check that out.

 

[julietvalcouer]

Wow. I have to admit...they're tempting. Maybe when my current pair breaks down I'll see about trying these. For me, not getting deep enough flex into the ankles while still being supported has been something of a battle. And they're not nearly as expensive as I'd thought they would be. I was talking with my coach about them today, and we were both saying, increased range of motion for the ankle wouldn't just be good for jumpers, but for dancers.

I'd like to try them at least once, to see what it feels like. I'm trying to imagine it but can't quite.

 

[Rgirl]

Rgirl, true, she needs to work on her finger positions...

Piel,
Thanks for considering my comments, even if you end up completely disagreeing with them when you rewatch Alissa at SA. An open mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Rgirl

 

[hockeyfan228]

I've said in other posts that I am incredibly impressed with her edges, spins (breathtaking layback), and the amplitude, extension, and amazingly deep edges she gets on her spiral sequence. The weaknesses I see in Alissa is the poor use of her arms and upper body in connection with the rest of her body. Her arms often "dangle" while she's holding a spiral position or her arms and upper body don't become part of the total shape of the movement. Also, on her spiral sequence, while the free leg has beautiful extension and superb amplitude, it looks as if she just sticks the leg up there rather than making the whole body part of the timing and stretch.

I couldn't figure out what was missing when watching her. I thought it was just that I was still nervous about her jumps, but it was the lack of expression radiating from her center to her hands and feet. Thank you, Rgirl, for nailing it on the head.

 

[shine]

Nice photos, Mathman. I think the costume she's wearing in them is much more flattering for her than the one she wore at Campbell's and the LP at SA.

I'll say right away that we'll have to agree to disagree on this, but at least for me, when I say Alissa looks gangly, it's not her body, it's the way she moves. Perhaps saying that often her movements look disjointed might more accurately describe what I see.

I've said in other posts that I am incredibly impressed with her edges, spins (breathtaking layback), and the amplitude, extension, and amazingly deep edges she gets on her spiral sequence. The weaknesses I see in Alissa is the poor use of her arms and upper body in connection with the rest of her body. Her arms often "dangle" while she's holding a spiral position or her arms and upper body don't become part of the total shape of the movement. Also, on her spiral sequence, while the free leg has beautiful extension and superb amplitude, it looks as if she just sticks the leg up there rather than making the whole body part of the timing and stretch.

The good news is, she's only 18 and as you said, she's got terrific basics, so I think the problems with her arms, upper body, and "lack of connectedness" throughout her body will be fairly easy for her to correct as opposed to the great difficulty it would be at her age to correct poor basics. So if she has to have weaknesses, she has the right ones in that they are relatively easy to fix.

In a way she reminds me of Timothy Goebel when he was all quads and no style. Obviously he's had major problems since, but just prior to the '02 Olympics, Goebel's style seemed to make a quantum leap improvement between Nationals and the Olympics. Alissa is at just the right age, IMO, to make those improvements in presentation.

She also has both an athletic energy and warm personality on the ice, which I think invites the audience and the judges into her skating. IMO, that is a one of the most valuable qualities a skater can have and you either have it or you don't. Alissa Czisny's got it!

Rgirl

Totally agree with this post, I've always thought her upper body (arms and shoulders) looks really stiff like she's locked though I thought she actually looked a lot better in that aspect at SA than she did at Campbells. Her movement kind of reminds me of Cynthia Phaneuf.

 

[Sylvia]

USA Today article on the same topic (Alissa & the hinged skates):
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2005-10-28-upgraded-skates_x.htm

 

[emma]

I think I can see what Rgirl means too...does anyone have that same impression with Carolina Kostner?

I think Alissa is very charismatic though, and those dresses in the photos MM posted are gorgeous...I wish she would dump this year's and use one of those!

 

[R.D.]

I think I can see what Rgirl means too...does anyone have that same impression with Carolina Kostner?

I've heard people describe Carolina's skating as "coltish". I think that comes to basically the same thing.

Alissa's alright, you know. She wasn't bad. But in order to really succeed in skating, you need consistency. If you don't have that, you'll either a) not succeed or b) have sporadic success in events, and people may think you're underachieved if you don't shine at the right event. I don't think Czisny has that concept pat down yet. Let's see how she does at Skate Canada. If she does a respectable job there, then we can see if she is gaining consistency (thanks in part to that hinged boot...?)

 

[Mathman]

Thanks for the link, Sylvia. It looks like this technology is here to stay, one way or other.

MM

 

[CDMM1991]

Alissa is first after the short program at Skate Canada! If she can keep this up, Grand Prix Final -- get ready for Alissa!