Campbell's and Your TV Impressions

[hockeyfan228]

I watched Campbell's again last night, and saw Meissner's complete performance for the first time. I've read about that Meissner is a "Tara Clone," but I don't think she resembles Lipinski. While she looks really short off camera, she has long limbs, and in this I think she resembles Kostner more. She does a lot of turns while moving around the ice, which is also Kostner-like and also a bit Hughes-like, although I think she has better form than Hughes, but not the preternatural flow that Kostner has on the ice. Compared to other juniors I've seen at Euros and Worlds, her skating is more direct and not as "cute" as Pavuk and Marchei, and her overall skills are better across-the-board than Dytrt's and Didier's.

On second look, I think Ando may have gotten dizzy at the beginning of the spin she fell out of. She seemed disoriented. The icon I want to use to describe her expression as she did the upright spinning immediately afterwards isn't available on this board, but it's a green smilie with popping eyes and an "x" for the mouth.

Edited to add: I think Sebestyen's program would be more effective if she performed the choreography to the extended "slow" section ("Flower Song") with shading and contrast, instead of pounding it out. The choreography is there, but in my opinion, the interpretation is too headstrong and similar to the rest of the program. She's wearing a two-sided costume; I'd like to see the same yin/yang in her interpretation. It is a deliberately contrasting moment in the opera's score where Don Jose shows his vulnerability, which Carmen exploits immediately afterwards, and which makes her lose her respect for him later.

 

[elingrace4eva]

As a Sasha fan, my biggest pet peeve about her skating was the stroking she always did between her spirals. Though the program was far from perfect, and she did lose some speed, I was thrilled to see that she didn't do crossovers between her spirals. It makes it look more fluid, and she looks like a stronger skater.

I hope she can pull it together. She claims she wants to peak late, so I'm keeping my hopes up.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I watched Campbell's again last night, and saw Meissner's complete performance for the first time. I've read about that Meissner is a "Tara Clone," but I don't think she resembles Lipinski. While she looks really short off camera, she has long limbs, and in this I think she resembles Kostner more. QUOTE]

If one goes back in time as I do, I would call her a Peggy clone. Nothing wrong with young skaters emulating a roll model. Eventually, as they mature, they begin to show their own style.

As a Sasha fan, my biggest pet peeve about her skating was the stroking she always did between her spirals. Though the program was far from perfect, and she did lose some speed, I was thrilled to see that she didn't do crossovers between her spirals. It makes it look more fluid, and she looks like a stronger skater.

I hope she can pull it together. She claims she wants to peak late, so I'm keeping my hopes up.

I thought Sasha's program and her skate were excellent for a first audience. All those who skated are getting their first audience and judging reaction. I would never nitpick at this stage unless it was for pure corrective criticism. Sasha was fine.

Joe

 

[Linny]

My Impressions

Finally found time to watch...


Kimmie: she must have pulled her costume up 10 times between her introduction and taking her starting pose. Hope the seamstress can get this fixed.

Sasha: thank goodness she's replaced that final spin. Shame other skaters are now doing the BC that she's dropping.

Dick Button: seemed more on his game this year. Perhaps therapy has helped.

Tim: finally I see some improvement.

Honda: wish they'd shown this. Anyone know what happened?

Linny

 

[Kasey]

Hmmmm....

Timmy: Music is good, costume not frou-frou, and choreography....getting there. The jumps seem to be back. I still think he is emotionally kind of flat in his presentation, but I think is posture looked a bit better.

Eman: Dangit, I wish he would pull it all together, and HOLD it together! Most innovative of all of them, by far. Didn't care for the costume tho (just don't like ruffles on guys!)

Brian: Great music. Um, interesting costume (take the dang pink kleenex off and just wear the leather!) I think it still needs work. The jumps are good. Spins maybe a little better then last year. A bit stiff in presentation. The footwork and choreography CAN be good...he needs to work it a bit more. Just because you are doing Yagudin-esque footwork, and even have him as part time coach, does not give you the spirit and energy of Yags.

Johnny: Okay, so I have evolved into a Weir fan. This program had it's flaws, of course. But the last minute or so, with the straight line footwork and final combo spin, gave me goosebumps. He is very introverted on the ice. He definitely needs more expression. But what beautiful smoothness, line, and positions. He has the ability to be breathtaking, and the quiet, gentle music I think suits him.

Julia: Great height and technique on jumps. Nice spins. But I don't care much for the costume, music or choreography. Carmen is music I'm just really sick of, so am probably negatively biased!

Kimmie: She's going to be great to watch in the upcoming years! I really like her spirit, her energy, and that she is not trying too hard to be "grown up" yet, but doing a program that suits her age. She has good speed, good jump technique, and the sit spins are great!

Sasha: I am negatively biased, as I just really don't like her. But I think her costume was beautiful, she looked wonderful in it. The music is very nice, and I think is a good match for her. The flutz wasn't as obvious. Not overly fond of the choreography, but the spirals and spins are as nice as ever.

Michelle: I think the program needs a little more work, better speed. But she performed it beautifully. I don't like Bolero, never have cared for that music. But she uses it well, and I think her expression in this program is a bit more mature than even last year. The jumps are still there, solid as ever. It looks like she is trying different things with choreo and footwork, which is great. Costume is beautiful.

Shizuka: Costume a little busy, I thought, but it looks nice on her. It suits her taller, longer body. The triple triple looked a little tight, but her jump technique is good. Her expression is even better than last year, I think, and the Ina Bauer is a huge highlight of the program. Nice spin at the end, but it's a bit slower than Sasha's I thought. The music choices....mmmm, kinda bleh for me.

Miki: I like the costume, and the music is ok. She definitely looks older than 16, and has improved her presentation from last year I think. The jumps of course are solid. She has rather good spins. But what a miserable spiral! The program was going along rather nicely, and then that just was ugly! The choreo and footwork seemed rather basic to me. But I definitely think she is another one to watch, I finally got a little of the excitement about her. I'm not excited yet, but can understand those who are.

I think I surprised myself...I was expecting to be excited by Michelle, Shizuka and Brian. I was more excited by Johnny and Kimmie. It should be a great season!



Kasey

 

[hockeyfan228]

If the position of the Y spin were an identical copy of the A La Seconde ballet position, the skater would not be allowed to hold her skate, and the skating leg would have to be second positioin.

As far as the working leg position and preparation goes, it's an identical copy of the move that Balanchine choreographed for the first movement soloist in Stars and Stripes, as is her final spiral position. Of course, the "standing" leg can't go up and down on point as the skater moves "downstage."

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I've only seen Stars and Stripes once, and I wrote it off as a parody of the Rockets. I have since read where it is quite a demanding ballet, and I have it on my subscription for the winter season. Will check out the Y leg in the choreography.

Joe

 

[Rgirl]

Would that be called a PCBC?

Piel and Dorispulaski:
Thanks for keepiing the spirit of the BEAVER CLEAVER alive even if Sasha isn't doing it anymore. Love the "PCBC"--Piel nails it again!

Although I never liked the aesthetics of the BC, it was a difficult spin. Prefer the new spin much better. Now all we need is another name contest since Sasha's doesn't look like a Y to me. Come on now, things have been entirely too nice around here. Let's get down and dirty like the good ol' days.
Rgirl

 

[Mathman]

Rgirl, you are being paged on the Michelle's Back Pain thread in the Edge (post #21).

MM

 

[Tonichelle]

I was so bored watching the competition... it was just the same old same old for me... not a good thing considering it should get me hyped up for Nationals!

Tim and Kimmie were the highlights for me


I think what further turned me off was Dick and Peggy's very biased commentary, I am just so sick of them... ugh... if it's bad for Eman and Sasha to have mess ups in their programs early on in the season then the same should be said of MK... but nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo she's the best so we can't be rude to her it should be all or nothing!

 

[Kuchana]

I think what further turned me off was Dick and Peggy's very biased commentary, I am just so sick of them... ugh... if it's bad for Eman and Sasha to have mess ups in their programs early on in the season then the same should be said of MK... but nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo she's the best so we can't be rude to her it should be all or nothing!

Actually Dick did make note of Michelle's slip, which wasn't even as glaringly obvious as Sasha's when she messed up on on some of her jumps! So I thought their comments were fair enough.

I almost forgot to catch this so I ended up missing everyone's performances other than Michelle, Shiz, and Ando.

Michelle- I really don't like the music. After seeing her skate to it, I still don't like it but I've developed some tolerance to it. The beginning was nice but the middle was blah. But as everyone has said, it's a work in progress. However, I did notice improvement in her jumps. She seemed to be in perfect command on the ice. I fully expect her to show this off to perfection come Nationals and Worlds with hopefully some intricate choregraphy. Oh and one other thing, I don't like the costume. Lovely color but the neckline doesn't go right with her chest I don't think. Oh, and I cannot wait to see her short.

Shiz-Lovely skater. Difficult program but the music! Bored me to tears until the middle. I like the color pink but ugly costume nonetheless. The only highlight for me from her program was her Ina Bauer. I noted she seemed more confident than '04 Worlds. Being World Champ does that to ya. I figure she'll definitely present a challenge to Michelle. I'm curious to see how she'll handle the pressure of defending her title at Worlds.

Ando-Not impressed. Nice costume but I don't see what the boo-hah is about her. Sure she can jump but her artistry is in serious need of work if she hopes to aim for the worlds or for the OGM for that matter. She seems sweet though in her persona.