Caroline Zhang's breathtaking video

[R.D.]

Also, DD- your other thread, could you title it to something we all understand- like "For those who don't get the Caroline Zhang hype" or something similar?

 

[iloveaxel]

FYI...I deleted that post, so I kindly ask that you remove that quote from your post, thanks

If/once you do, I'll delete this one, too.

What quote? Sorry, I was not directing at you. Your opinion is obviously constructive/objective and I have no objection to that. Don't get me wrong, I am not that 'super-sensitive' to my new favourite. We can always have some spirited and fun debate.

 

[R.D.]

The quote where you have me saying "n/m". I posted something but quickly decided to remove it, and you might have "captured" it before I had a chance to completely remove it.

It's this post (post #35)

http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showpost.php?p=215049&postcount=35

(just now slapping myself after realizing I should have done this over PM- now all these posts have to be deleted)

 

[riverflows]

All I know is I would take this performance and rate it above everything from the ladies I saw at Marshalls-- even with the fall, it was an awe-inspiring skate.

 

[iloveaxel]

All I know is I would take this performance and rate it above everything from the ladies I saw at Marshalls-- even with the fall, it was an awe-inspiring skate.

What? Go ahead and be happy for an emotionless, gumby little robot!!

I don't get you! How dare you like Caroline's performance? How Dare you?

:chorus: You obviously will make somebody pee in his/her pants.

 

[chuckm]

All I know is I would take this performance and rate it above everything from the ladies I saw at Marshalls-- even with the fall, it was an awe-inspiring skate.

ITA on this. None of the ladies at Marshalls did anything that grabbed me the way Caroline's performance did. The only Marshalls performances that could rival Caroline's were Johnny Weir's.

 

[iloveaxel]

ITA on this. None of the ladies at Marshalls did anything that grabbed me the way Caroline's performance did. The only Marshalls performances that could rival Caroline's were Johnny Weir's.

When I first heard the hype about her late last year, I didn't pay much attention, because usually I would like to see a Junior skater with consistency. Then I heard she scored big in a club competition without making any jump mistake, I was starting to think we were onto something. Because it's so rare for a skater to make not even on single jump mistake in three rounds(Q, Short and Long). I then predicted she would demonstrate her amazing consistency again in JGP.

Obviously, I then watched her videos and was blown away. Her amazing consistency has not disappointed me so far even with that stupid fall in Ex.

She also has a world-class coach who obviously had the expereince in handling Lu Lu's puberty monster.

Everything is in place for this little girl. I am so excited. She will have disappointment and defeat, but I really have faith in her.

Plus, she does not need to bend into those crazy positions, she just happens to have those natural talents. Her flexibility will decline a bit in the future, but I doubt her back will hurt!!

However, it was her unique, exquisite spins which caused the sensation. They went beyond Cohen's incredible gymnastic flexibility. Even the superb Olympic silver medalist cannot match Zhang's ability to fold herself into the tightest picture-perfect positions.

“Her hips have always been extremely flexible,” said Zhang's coach, Ming Zhu Li. “They don't have to be forced into these poses. She loves playing around with new positions.”

“They don't push her,” U.S. team leader Laurie Johnson said. “She just has that ability naturally.”

 

[visaliakid]

Everyone's eyes sees movement differently, and then again people sometimes see something extraordinary, but for a variety of reasons find delight in devaluing other viewpoints. I generally find those who do this, do so not with a genuine difference of opinion, but rather do so for the pleasure it gives them to push people's buttons. You can tell by the words they choose to push the emotional buttons. If you ignore them, don't react, they get frustrated and eventually get tired of getting no reaction and just go away.

Okay let me add my opinion on Caroline. I see no Gumby 'Robot' in Zhang's moves. My eyes tell me this little girl is quite farther advanced in her musicality, her competitive consistancy, and determination than was Kwan at her age. Will she be the next U.S. skating star? Way too early to predict! But if..... as others have pointed out, she survives puberty, stays injury free, and developes much more personality (the one area that Kwan had in spades at 12), then Caroline Zhang will have a chance to really shine in this sport. If I were a betting man, (and I am not), I would say the odds are in her favor for a monsterously successful competitive skating career. :thumbsup:

 

[antmanb]

Not only do they have the same coach, Caroline is as stubborn as Lu Chen, according to some sources, sort of a rebellious type that her fragile appearance easily disguised...LOL.

It's just amazing that everybody seems to see a little sth of their favourite skater in this little girl.Sasha, MK & Luchc(wrong spelling? she actually took spin class with her according to a post). I certainly don't think she's remotely resembling Lu Chen, but some Chinese fans insist so. They think Caroline's long sliding entrance to the lutz jump is Lu Chen's trademark and it is definitely different than how most American skaters do a 'lutz'. I don't know these technical details. Maybe somebody should pick up a lu chen video clip on youtube and do a comparison!

The main difference though between Chen's and Zhang's Lutzes? Chen had a good lutz whereas Zhang has a pretty severe flutz.

Ant

 

[antmanb]

I still don't get it. What is it you all see as being such great presentation? Her face is about as expressive as a toadstool, and she repeats the same exact arm movements over and over and over ad nauseum. The whole clenched-fist arm flinging and flailing is expressive? Being able to stick your head up your butt is expressive? Don't get me wrong, her flexibility is impressive, but its not artistic or expressive or whatever. She really, quite literally, bores me to tears. And her jump technique is rather horrendous. Her flutz is even worse than Sasha Cohen's, and I always thought Sasha was the Queen of the Flutz.

Really?? Quite literally bores you to tears?? You mean you cried ....while watching her....from boredom....? OOOOOOOKay

Ant

 

[antmanb]

I think she has a serenity about her that I like. She seems to be at one with the music..............haven't seen that since Kwan. Like Joe said in the other thread I really appreciate that she doesn't do the Lipinski jump up and down and scream thing. She also avoids the Cohen hey did you see how bendy and cute I am?

I think that sums it up really well. Her programs (that i've only seem on youtube) are understated in a Kwan way, she exhibits extreme flexibility without making me cringe or ta-da'ing about it. Personally i don't mind the jumping and screaming of Lipinski, it never bothered me at the time but its nice to see a young girl not packaging herself as a little teeny bopper girl and striving for elegant perfection. Whether or not puberty affects her jumps - she's got the basic skills and presentation/artisitc package to be a great skater in the future. fingers crossed for her.

Ant

 

[Mafke]

its nice to see a young girl not packaging herself as a little teeny bopper girl and striving for elegant perfection. Whether or not puberty affects her jumps - she's got the basic skills and presentation/artisitc package to be a great skater in the future. fingers crossed for her.

Yeah, full credit for trying to skate older than she is. I'm so tired of wittle giwl skating (in the seniors). I'd say Zhang's got _huge_ potential, but it's still potential, not fully achieved yet.
My particular pet peeve is the high kick into the pick for her flutz, even higher than Sarah Hughes.

I love the blurred crossfoot spin at the end though.

 

[antmanb]

Yeah, full credit for trying to skate older than she is. I'm so tired of wittle giwl skating (in the seniors). I'd say Zhang's got _huge_ potential, but it's still potential, not fully achieved yet.
My particular pet peeve is the high kick into the pick for her flutz, even higher than Sarah Hughes.

I love the blurred crossfoot spin at the end though.

I agree about the high kicking picking leg ( i thought your description in another thread was perfect!). Her hip doesn't seem to be in quite the right place either to keep her on the BO edge for the Lutz - it seems like her free hip drops as she kicks up and it forces the edge over to the inside?? It is jarring.

And i agree that she has potential in spades but we'll see how she does and she grows up.

Ant

 

[chuckm]

I see no Gumby 'Robot' in Zhang's moves. My eyes tell me this little girl is quite farther advanced in her musicality, her competitive consistancy, and determination than was Kwan at her age. Will she be the next U.S. skating star? Way too early to predict! But if..... as others have pointed out, she survives puberty, stays injury free, and developes much more personality (the one area that Kwan had in spades at 12), then Caroline Zhang will have a chance to really shine in this sport. If I were a betting man, (and I am not), I would say the odds are in her favor for a monsterously successful competitive skating career. :thumbsup:

I don't agree that Zhang is more consistent and determined than Kwan at the same age. At 12, Kwan passed the Senior test, won Pacific Sectionals and finished 6th at US Nationals (at 12, Caroline underrotated jumps and finished 8th as a Junior at US Nationals). At 13, Kwan won silver at US Nationals and was the only US skater to pass the Senior Worlds qualification round; she finished 8th overall and saved two spots for the Ladies at 1995 Worlds.

I think Caroline is loaded with potential, but let's not overdo the hype.

 

[R.D.]

I think Caroline is loaded with potential, but let's not overdo the hype.

:agree:

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think Caroline is loaded with potential, but let's not overdo the hype.

I don't think you mean hype. That's a media thing from press agents. However, I do agree to "The Buzz" from knowledgeable fans which is whats she's getting lately.

Joe

 

[dizzydi7]

Caroline Zhang

People sure get hot under the collar over the potential of junior skaters.

Yes, I think Caroline shows enormous talent and is a gorgeous skater. I'm hopeful that she will be the next great American ladies champion. Is she better than Sasha, Kimmie or Michelle? I think it's very hard to predict. Also, it's simply a matter of opinion. I see it like this.....there are the fans who will never admit than anyone is or has potential to be better than Michelle Kwan. There are those who feel the same way about Sasha Cohen. So what! Let people like and admire who they please.

Surely, posters have the choice to ignore those who are overly critical or unfair. Let's face it, the only opinion that really matters to each of us is our own.

Enough about that!

I think Caroline is a lovely skater who seems to have maturity beyond her years. If she can stay injury free and not get bitten fatally by the "puberty bug" she indeed has a great future. So far, IMHO, she has the most talent of any skater I've seen since MIchelle and Sasha.

Dizzy

 

[chuckm]

I think Caroline is a lovely skater who seems to have maturity beyond her years. If she can stay injury free and not get bitten fatally by the "puberty bug" she indeed has a great future. So far, IMHO, she has the most talent of any skater I've seen since MIchelle and Sasha.

Dizzy

That's just about it, in a nutshell. Thanks.

 

[iloveaxel]

I think she has a serenity about her that I like. She seems to be at one with the music..............haven't ?

'Serenity' is the perfect word to describe her performance. I am so sick and tired of hearing people critisize certain skaters such as Arakawa of being not able to connect to the audience.

Obviously, there are different types of skaters, MK and Arakawa are very different. I liked MK's early performance, but got more and more turned off by her over-the-top 'connecting to' the audience performance in her late career. I absolutely enjoy Arakawa's Olys performance. It's rather a v 'serenity', not some faked 'connecting to the audience' piece. As a specatalor, I don't need to be connected to the skater every time. Sometimes, I just need to sit down and enjoy the pure beauty.

I don't understand why fans are desperate for 'connection'. Sometimes, you do want to connect to a skater with certain type of music, sometimes you do not need to. The truth is skaters are not able to really be 'connected to' you as an individual, all your experience is just a fantasy dream of being connected to that particular skater. I don't really need that dream everytime.

This is why Fummie's performance completely turns me off, she is a MK wantable without the charisma. I usually just skip her performance while she's on TV.

Caroline to me, is much closer to Arakawa, than to MK. She lives in her own Serenity, and brings her beauty to audience. We, as specatalors, do not need to embrace her. We just need to sit quiet and enjoy the serenity. Her performance gives me goosebumps.

This is why I very much prefer this piece of performance.. I am not desperate for some faked 'connection'.

 

[Tonichelle]

I don't understand why fans are desperate for 'connection'.

I can't speak for everyone, but my reason for leaning more towards that style of skating is due to who I grew up watching: Scott Hamilton, Kurt Browning, Kristi Yamaguchi etc...