Grayson Long: ‘Every Movement Has Purpose’

[gsk8]

Grayson Long: 'Every Movement Has Purpose'

Grayson Long At just 17 years old, Canadian figure skater Grayson Long has already experienced a journey that blends artistry and technical ambition.

www.goldenskate.com

At just 17 years old, Canadian figure skater Grayson Long has already experienced a journey that blends artistry and technical ambition. Based in Toronto and training under the guidance of Brian Orser and Karen Preston at the Toronto Cricket Club (TCSCC), Long reflected on a pivotal year of growth, travel, and fine-tuning.

Later this fall, he will make his senior international debut at the Ice Challenge in Graz, Austria, while continuing to compete nationally at the senior level.

It's a shame about his second JGP, but he still had better scores than at NextGen and Cranberry Cup, so that's good!

What are your thoughts on his programs? Where do you see growth on this young skater since last season?

 

[Mathman]

I found this part especially interesting:

“Back in the day, when we still had figures, you were obliged, or you were required to be able to complete the same turn the exact same way on the exact same point over and over,” he said. “And to me, being able to repeat the same thing exactly the same way can translate to your jumps. For example, the same angle of my blade and the same movement of my arms on a triple Axel…l.

“[Kurt Browning] kind of suggested some things for me to incorporate during my warmup on the ice,” said Long. “Just a few little exercises to kind of emulate figures. That really helped me get my feet under me before the session. I also found that when I’m feeling my edges, I can do this really well."

 

[Diana Delafield]

I found this part especially interesting:

“Back in the day, when we still had figures, you were obliged, or you were required to be able to complete the same turn the exact same way on the exact same point over and over,” he said. “And to me, being able to repeat the same thing exactly the same way can translate to your jumps. For example, the same angle of my blade and the same movement of my arms on a triple Axel…l.

“[Kurt Browning] kind of suggested some things for me to incorporate during my warmup on the ice,” said Long. “Just a few little exercises to kind of emulate figures. That really helped me get my feet under me before the session. I also found that when I’m feeling my edges, I can do this really well."

Those of us who grew up in the figures era are amused when younger skaters discover this and are amazed at how it improves their skating

 

[PaulE]

Those of us who grew up in the figures era are amused when younger skaters discover this and are amazed at how it improves their skating

I had never thought of this before, but were there any figures competition for dance and pairs. Or did you just do it as part of your practice?

 

[el henry]

So interesting that Grayson did not know the Parapluies de Cherbourg before and the song just spoke to him. Food for thought whenever we think "old" songs are being forced on young skaters.

Also I could not resist some fluff I learned from the article. Eight year old Grayson interviewing Patrick Chan, in French (knowing little about Patrick personally, I had no idea he was so into cars. )

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I had never thought of this before, but were there any figures competition for dance and pairs. Or did you just do it as part of your practice?

In ice dance that was the point of the Compulsory Dances; which were patterns performed in hold, but that was a bit different from singles figures.
As far as pairs, I don't remember them having Compulsory or Figures but I'll leave that for @Diana Delafield to answer since it's her discipline.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I had never thought of this before, but were there any figures competition for dance and pairs. Or did you just do it as part of your practice?

When I started skating at around 5, I was being taught singles skating, and compulsory figures were part of my training. I didn't get into pairs for another 10 years, by which time both my partner and I had reached our Gold figures. We didn't have to do patch anymore, but if our rides got us to the rink early, before we had our own driver's licences, and there were empty patches in the session that was before our private time, it was a pity to waste the ice so we'd hop on and do some figures to kill time.

Just recently we overheard a coach, waiting to bring a group of pupils on while we were cooling down at the end of our private time, telling her kids to watch how smooth and even our stroking was. (Our egos went up a few notches .) As we were coming off the ice, one of the mothers asked us if it was because we practised stroking exercises a lot, and we both said in unison, "No, it's from doing figures." I still do them if I find myself alone on the ice, a few of my favourites like double threes, or single-foot 8s (or whatever they were called officially) to see if I can still keep the speed going all the way to the end.

There was never a compulsory event for pairs in competitions. They didn't even have a short program until the 1960s, just the one program and done.

 

[4everchan]

So interesting that Grayson did not know the Parapluies de Cherbourg before and the song just spoke to him. Food for thought whenever we think "old" songs are being forced on young skaters.

Also I could not resist some fluff I learned from the article. Eight year old Grayson interviewing Patrick Chan, in French (knowing little about Patrick personally, I had no idea he was so into cars. )

that was cute. I knew Patrick's French was good... didn't know Grayson spoke it at all. I will give him a couple more points in PCS

 

[Magill]

"When it comes to idols, Long doesn’t hesitate. “Yuzuru Hanyu is definitely at the top,” he said. "
Great to see Grayson's admiration for Yuzu as great as ever! And this attention to every move and making it meaningful is what they definitely have in common. But well, after all he's skating at TCC with all its history, working with Brian and Tracy, and with David Wilson who also took care of Yuzuru when he was at a similar age, and to what effects! Hopefully they will prove just as great a team for Grayson
Anyway, that was interesting!
Wishing all the best to him for this and many more seasons to come!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

When I started skating at around 5, I was being taught singles skating, and compulsory figures were part of my training. I didn't get into pairs for another 10 years, by which time both my partner and I had reached our Gold figures. We didn't have to do patch anymore, but if our rides got us to the rink early, before we had our own driver's licences, and there were empty patches in the session that was before our private time, it was a pity to waste the ice so we'd hop on and do some figures to kill time.

Just recently we overheard a coach, waiting to bring a group of pupils on while we were cooling down at the end of our private time, telling her kids to watch how smooth and even our stroking was. (Our egos went up a few notches .) As we were coming off the ice, one of the mothers asked us if it was because we practised stroking exercises a lot, and we both said in unison, "No, it's from doing figures." I still do them if I find myself alone on the ice, a few of my favourites like double threes, or single-foot 8s (or whatever they were called officially) to see if I can still keep the speed going all the way to the end.

There was never a compulsory event for pairs in competitions. They didn't even have a short program until the 1960s, just the one program and done.

Wasn't it the early 1970s when the short program was instituted?

Thanks for your memorable anecdotes and hands-on knowledge of pairs and pairs competitive history.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Wasn't it the early 1970s when the short proogram was instituted?

Thanks for your memorable anecdotes and hands-on knowledge of pairs and pairs competitive history.

I thought it was the 1970s myself, but I checked before I posted that and according to Wikipedia it was added to Europeans and Worlds in 1964 and the Olympics in 1968. Before I got into pairs anyway.

 

[Mathman]

I thought it was the 1970s myself, but I checked before I posted that and according to Wikipedia it was added to Europeans and Worlds in 1964 and the Olympics in 1968.

Oh that's very interesting. So the ISU already had some experience with the concept of a short "technical" program before it was introduced in singles following the 1972 Olympics.

[OT on this Grayson Long thread, but I took the trouble of looking up the Wikipedia article that you referred to, and was interested to note that the primary source for this information was Ellen Kestnbaum's 2003 book Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning. This book is still in print and a great read. It is an expanded version pf the author's PhD dissertation in Theater, written from a sort of neo-feminist slant, perhaps somewhat dated now in terns of society's exploitation of women, etc.]

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I thought it was the 1970s myself, but I checked before I posted that and according to Wikipedia it was added to Europeans and Worlds in 1964 and the Olympics in 1968. Before I got into pairs anyway.

Wow, interesting. Maybe they instituted a sp for pairs back then because they did not compete in compulsories like singles skaters.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Wow, interesting. Maybe they instituted a sp for pairs back then because they did not compete in compulsories like singles skaters.

Probably thought the pairs were getting off too lightly, having to do only one program when for years the singles skaters and dancers did three parts, figures/compulsory dances, short program or whatever its name was from year to year, and a freeskate. I don't know, as I said, it was before my time. We had to do a short and long program right from the start in Pre-Novice, the entry level in our era.

, sorry

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Grayson seems like such a friendly, engaging, well-rounded young man and athlete. I was rooting for him to make the JGPF. He handled the disappointment so well. As a young athlete, there's always a lot to learn from every experience that aids in future success. Grayson seems to understand that truth.

It was great learning more about Grayson, his personality and passions, his academic history, and his recent training adventures in Japan. It's wonderful that Grayson is learning to incorporate aspects of figures practice into his training regimen. More skaters need to be introduced to the benefits of figures, the foundation of 'figure' skating!

How cool that young Grayson got to interview the amazing Patrick Chan! I would have liked to hear a little about Grayson's acting background. Ted Barton always points out during Grayson's competitions that he has been involved in acting. Perhaps Grayson did more acting when he was younger?

 

[Mathman]

Perhaps Grayson did more acting when he was younger?

He appeared in 4 episodes of the 2020 Netflix series "Spinning Out." Johnnie Weir also had a recurring role.

The story is about a skater struggling to switch from singles to pairs while coping with bipolar disorder..