Re: Create the Perfect Skater
Great thread and great list, Tharrtell. Icenut, your list too is really precise! When I saw the title of this thread, I didn't have time to read it or reply, but my thinking was along different lines. Here's how I would create my perfect skater:
Female Singles:
--Ekaterina Gordeeva's body and strength of position.
--Michelle's jump technique and consistency, and her new-found style of footwork.
--Irina's edges, speed, and height on her jumps.
--Oksana Baiul's arms, upper body movement, musical interpretation, and connection with the audience, from '94-96, but without the alcohol and "neediness." Even though she flubbed in the Mother's Day show this spring, her energy was a lot less "love me, love me, love me" and I like that a lot.
--Sasha's line, flexibility, amplitude, precision, and extension.
--Lucinda Ruh's spins and charisma.
--Shizuka Arakawa's off-ice personality; she seems pleasant but also a little off-beat, ie, I love that she did the new wave version of "Swan Lake" and wore the "out-there" costume.
--Surya Bonaly's, as a pro, ability to have great fun while skating.
I could add more, but these are the basics.
Male Singles:
--Alexander Abt's body.
--Plushenko's jumping ability and self-confidence.
--Yagudin's overall style and ability to "move through" positions while still making sure the position is clearly seen. Yags's "liquidity" of movement.
--Ilia Kulik's speed, versatility, and kinesthetic genius, ie, the guy can move beautifually in virtually any style.
--Kurt Browning's footwork and total body connectedness and ability to use muscular isolation. When Kurt is on, no one in the world can touch him as far as coordinating his movement and skating from head to fingertip to hips to legs to blade.
--Stephane Lambiel's "modern" way of using his torso.
--Paul Wylie's line and desire and ability to work with a variety of choreographers. Also his ability to convey dramatic intensity.
--Ilia Klimkin's unique moves and confidence in his uniquness.
--Scott Hamilton's sense of humor in his skating.
--Rudi Galindo's perserverence and tenacity.
Pairs:
--Gordeeva and Grinkov's synchonicity, line, extension, their amazing speed and quietness of their edges, the classic Greek beauty of their bodies, and that indefiniable something that come through their skating I think as a result of their love for each other.
--Mishkutenok and Dmitriev's use of Natalia's flexibility and Artur's passion. Their innovative lifts, much of the credit for which goes to Tamara Moskvina.
--Berezhnaya and Sikharluridze's combined moves, ie, Anton in a spiral and Elena in an arched spread eagle leaning against Anton. The match of their beautiful extension and amplitude. Their beautiful quiet edging and posture.
--Shen and Zhao: This year and last, the perserverence, courage, and tenacity in how they climbed to a whole new level and ended up giving a transcendent performance at this year's worlds. Their relationship to each other on the ice. Xue's fearlessness. Hongbo's intensity.
--Brasseur and Eisler's sense of humor.
Ice Dancing:
--Torvill and Dean's classic edging; in their day, their push toward innovation; today, Dean's continued advancement of FS choreography. Great edges. Taking ice dancing to a new level.
--Grishuk and Platov's great speed and unison; great edges at that speed. Pasha's great ability at foot work and twizzles; Evegny's clean lines, long tall presence, and stabilizing energy. Taking ice dancing to a new level.
--Annissina and Peizerat: Their beautiful classic lines and the story programs they brought to ice dancing.
--Bourne and Kraatz for the athleticism they brought to ice dancing, as well as beautiful dancing.
--Usova and Zhulin for their balletic look.
--Rhakkomo and Kokko for their unique choreography.
--The couple who won 4th at 2002 Worlds (ARGH! I can't remember their names!) for their passion.
Coaches:
--Tamara Moskvina to the totality of her knowledge and willingness and ability to give so much of herself to her skaters. Of all the coaches in any discipline, she brings her skaters the furthest in the shortest time.
--Tatiana Tarasova for bringing the "heart" to a skater's performance.
--Frank Carroll's ability to teach great technique, especially on jumps and edging.
--Richard Callaghan seems to be good for training good to great spinning, as do the Scotvolds.
Of course all these elements would have to work together, lol.
Rgirl
There's probably more to add...
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