European Ladies Poll

[russell30]

Out of the european ladies in the past 15 years who would you say were your top five for technique and top five for artistry, mine are:

Technique:

1) Irina Slutskaya
2) Surya Bonaly
3) Carolina Kostner
4) Julia Sebestyen
5) Yulia Lavrenchuk

Artistic:

1) Susanna Poykio
2) Maria Butryskaya
3) Kiira Korpi
4) Sarah Meier
5) Laetitia Hubert

 

[sorcerer]

If the question was "who was the best", then my answer would be:

Technique:
1) Irina Slutskaya

Artistic:
1) Irina Slutskaya

Looks:
1) Kiira Korpi

Don't know others well.

 

[dlarry1]

Not sure if you'll allow it, but in terms of female European skating technique around these times, I don't think you can beat Jayne Torvill.

 

[Tinymavy15]

I will say that Julia Sebestyen is my vote for techniacal. Her jumps were huge when she was on and had really good spring and flow.

For artistry i will say Susanna Poykio, her Muncih program was just lovely lasy year. Sarah Meir is a really close second though.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Denise Bielman!!!

 

[GoldMedalist]

Best female Euro skaters, artistically, for me in the last 15 years would be Vanessa Gusmeroli, Oksana Baiul, Maria Butyrskaya, Sarah Meier, and Irina Slutskaya (during those couple infrequent times that she chose to).

Kostner improved a LOT last year and will soon make the list if she keeps it up.

 

[slutskayafan21]

Trying to be as objective as possible here is my order:

Technicaly:

1)Irina Slutskaya
2)Surya Bonaly
3)Maria Butyrskaya
4)Elena Sokolova
5)Carolina Kostner

Artisticaly:

1)Maria Butyrskaya
2)Irina Slutskaya
3)Oksana Baiul
4)Elena Liashenko
5)Vanessa Gusmeroli

I take into account longevity of a certain standard of skating, as well as consistency in delivering in competition.

 

[blue dog]

Not only will I include a ladies' category, but pairs and dance as well! (Just because I believe these women deserve credit)

Ladies singles-
Tech: 1. Ira Slutskaya
2. Tanja Szewczenko (the best lutz I've ever seen!)
3. Surya Bonaly
4. Yelena Sokolova
5. Sarah Meier

Artistry: 1. Katarina Witt (just makes the cut-off, since she skated Oly-eligible in 1994)
2. Ira Slutskaya (when she felt the music, you felt it, too)
3. Maria Butyrskaya
4. Vanessa Gusmeroli (I liked her clean, simple style)
5. Oksana Baiul

Pairs-
Tech: 1. Yelena Berezhnaya
2. Tatiana Totmianina
3. Yevgenia Shishkova (she was boring, but never missed a jump)
4. Katya
5. Mandy Woetzel - tie - Alyona Sawchenko
-special mention- Dorota Siudek, who had the best lifts ever!

Artistry: 1. Katya
2. Tasha Mishketuynok (another who skated in 1994)
3. Yelena Berezhnaya
4. Mandy Woetzel
5. Alyona Sawchenko

Dance-
Tech: 1. Jayne Torvill (bar none; another 1994 skater)
2. Albena Denkova (I prefer her to...)
3. Tanya Zhulina
4. Marina Anissina
5. Pasha Grischuk

Artistry: 1. Jayne Torvill (She expressed with her body and her edges--wow)
2. (close 2nd) Maia Usova
3. Marina Anissina
4. Rita Drobiazko
5. Pasha Grischuk

 

[pohatta]

Where technique is concerned, Marina Kielmann had some very challenging (although rarely clean) programs. 7 triples, 3t-3t's, rollerskating tricks...

Not a perfect example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kbMj_Tq90

 

[Mafke]

Pairs-
Tech: 1. Yelena Berezhnaya
2. Tatiana Totmianina
3. Yevgenia Shishkova (she was boring, but never missed a jump)

Ack! I thought Shishkova was anything but boring, great technique and posture and extensions.

I'd possibly include Berankova in the list as well, beautiful extensions when she was on.

 

[sillylionlove]

When it comes to spinning Lucinda Ruh is the best!! She is just amazing!

 

[Ptichka]

I disagree with those who put Bonaly into the top technical bracket. She has good jumps, yes, but her technique (as expressed in stroking, spinning, etc.) was dreadful.

 

[Ptichka]

Denise Bielman!!!

Denise retired in '81, far more than 15 years ago.

 

[sillylionlove]

I disagree with those who put Bonaly into the top technical bracket. She has good jumps, yes, but her technique (as expressed in stroking, spinning, etc.) was dreadful.

I have to agree. She was just awful to watch. Even to this day I still hate watching her!!

 

[Mafke]

When it comes to spinning Lucinda Ruh is the best!! She is just amazing!

I have two words for you:

NATHALIE KRIEG!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arl8BhpugkE

look at the centering of the layback!

 

[JonnyCoop]

After ruminating over this for a couple of days, I came up with:

TECHNICAL:
1. Irina Slutskaya -- Truthfully, I don't think any other Euro lady in the last 15 years has come close.
2. Laetitia Hubert -- WHEN SHE WAS ON. Which, granted, was certainly not very often.
3. Tanja Sweswzcenko.
4. Marina Kielmann -- And kudos to pohatta for remembering her as well.
5. Lucinda Ruh -- Yes, a lot of ladies can JUMP. But how many can SPIN like that?? Precious few. Nathalie Krieg might also make this list, only I never got to see her compete.

ARTISTIC:
1. Lenka Kulovana -- I only saw her once, at the 93 Worlds, but her sultry and sassy long program was a true delight.
2. Olga Markova -- Rather dour presentation, but she had a lot of interesting nuances in her programs and was always interesting to watch.
3. Maria Butrskaja -- Never, IMHO, got enough credit for the grace and elegance in her movement (when you take away those stiff-legged jump landings which did admittedly tend to overshadow a lot of the whole picture.)
4. Julia Sebestyen -- She always has some of the best choreography in Europe; what annoys me is that she doesn't PRESENT it well. If she actually cranked up the EXPRESSION a couple of notches, she would have them out of their seats.
5. Vanessa Gusmeroli -- I never understood what on earth was going on in a lot of her programs, but she was certainly interesting and I give a lot of credit for that even if I don't necessarily like the program.
Honorable Mention: Irina Slutskaya -- With the exception of her "Carmen" in 99-00, I've never been overly impressed with her long programs, BUT I give her mention due to the execution of TWO of my all-time favorite short programs: "Culture" in 00-01, and whatever she used in 01-02; the music escapes me assuming I ever knew what it was to begin with.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Other than Bielman I don't know of any European Lady who could do a clasical layback spin - Maybe Slutskaya in her later years.

as an example, take Angela Nikidinov. The knee in the free leg is turned out and higher than the skate foot. That's called an Attitude in ballet. Good Attitude Laybacks are best by American skaters except for Kwan whose hip would not permit it.

Joe

 

[gkelly]

Other than Bielman I don't know of any European Lady who could do a clasical layback spin - Maybe Slutskaya in her later years.

Yulia Lavrenchuk!

Nathalie Krieg too, but she tended to vary it as well, since she kept it going for so long.

Viktoria Volchkova had a decent attitude but not much back arch.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

and whatever she used in 01-02; the music escapes me assuming I ever knew what it was to begin with.

It was Serenade. By Schubert, I believe. :yes:

I'm not sure I'm familiar enough with the European ladies to make a list, but I definitely agree with Irina Slutskaya topping the technical list. For artistic I would say Maria Butyrskaya. Not only was she graceful, but could also interpret different types of music well. I believe she did most of her choreography and costume design as well.

ITA with blue dog's list for the pairs and dance skaters. That Jayne Torvill...