How about Kimmie's Arms?

[dizzydi7]

I've always been bothered by Kimmie's arms. She seems to flap them around in an attempt at artistry much like Plushenko.

I'll repeat what I have said before. I believe that skaters are either artistic or not from the start. I think it's indicative of a style rather than anything that can be learned. I think Kimmie's artistry this season has improved. However, I don't believe that she will ever become an artist like some of the others that seem to just have the natural talent (Mao, YaNa, for example).

My description of Kimmie would be that of a good competitor or technician. In my opinion, she is not an all around beautiful figureskater. By the way, I feel the same way about Miki Ando. Her artistry has improved greatly but, IMHO, she is not a beautiful skater.

Dizzy

 

[Eeyora]

The problem with Kimmie is the arm movements are also mechanical. It just doesn't look like she feels the music.

 

[Spun Silver]

There you go. Miki flaps to the music!

(Hope you all realize I Miki.)

 

[SeaniBu]

Frank S ~
"Come fly with me, lets fly lets fly away
If you can use, some exotic booze
Theres a bar in far bombay
Come SKATE with me, we'll fly we'll fly away

Come fly with me, lets SKATE down to peru
In lama land, theres a one man band
And he'll toot his flute for you
Come fly with me, we'll SKATE down in the blue

Once I get you up there, where the air is rarefied
We'll just glide, starry eyed
Once I get you up there, I'll be holding you so near
You may here, angels cheer - because we're together

Weather wise its such a lovely day
You just say the words, and we'll beat the birds
Down to acapulco bay
Its perfect, for a SKATING honeymoon - they say
Come fly with me, we'll SKATE AND fly away."

 

[Tinymavy15]

I think one of those is a watch. She has to make sure she does not go over time.

I have noticed that many times. Kimmies wears way to much jewley and a watch? i know what is she goona do land a triple triple and say gee i wonder how much time i have left in the program? I never every would wear w watch skating, even to practice. i would constsintly be thinking that it would break if i fell on it. I also noticed Caroline Zhang wore one of those big palastic digital watches to her exebition skate at nationals. I think it really ruined the look and interputed her hand and arm line. I will try to find a pic.

 

[DaveT]

It's not just her arms ... it's that are movements are robot-like to me ... nothing flows to any degree. I see slight improvement from last year ... the problem for her is that last year she was landing her jumps, which is not the case now. I don't think she has had even one competition this season with two clean programs ... am I correct? And the 3A seems to have been abandoned. That's why she lost ... not because of her arms.

You are correct and only one triple axel landed in her career, which some questioned, at US Nationals, she won bronze.

 

[DaveT]

I have noticed that many times. Kimmies wears way to much jewley and a watch? i know what is she goona do land a triple triple and say gee i wonder how much time i have left in the program? I never every would wear w watch skating, even to practice. i would constsintly be thinking that it would break if i fell on it. I also noticed Caroline Zhang wore one of those big palastic digital watches to her exebition skate at nationals. I think it really ruined the look and interputed her hand and arm line. I will try to find a pic.

It's a bracelet. Looks like a watch.

The problem with Kimmie is the arm movements are also mechanical. It just doesn't look like she feels the music.

At my house, you have to drink if Peggy says "feels the music". Clearly, Kimmie doesn't feel it, so we stay sober in her performances.

 

[Spun Silver]

I was heartened by Kimmie saying she would switch to music that feels more like who she is. Maybe more personality and musicality will come through. (Although I haven't seen it in her exhibition numbers to April LaVigne and Sarah McLachlan.)

I also hope she gets some livelier choreography and COSTUMES. She looks too matronly.

Last, it would be nice if she used her head more. Sometimes it looks as though she has a stiff neck.

Last, it's time to put up or shut up about that dratted 3A.

 

[dancindiva03]

I noticed a big difference in the way Kimmie uses her arms now. It wasn't so obvious earlier in the season, when she was still getting used to her new programs, but at Worlds I thought she looked a lot better. She'll probably never have the arms of a prima ballerina, but not everyone has to be the pwetty itty bitty ballewina type anyway. Overall, she's made a lot of improvement and I hope she keeps progressing.

FWIW, I don't think any of her dresses are "matronly." I loved all of her dresses this year except the red LP one from Nationals. It wasn't awful, but I wasn't wild about it. I really loved her beautiful white one from the SP at Skate America, I think it was, very simple and elegant, fit with the music and still reflected her youth and innocense.

 

[SeaniBu]

I noticed a big difference in the way Kimmie uses her arms now. It wasn't so obvious earlier in the season, when she was still getting used to her new programs, but at Worlds I thought she looked a lot better. She'll probably never have the arms of a prima ballerina, but not everyone has to be the pwetty itty bitty ballewina type anyway. Overall, she's made a lot of improvement and I hope she keeps progressing.

FWIW, I don't think any of her dresses are "matronly." I loved all of her dresses this year except the red LP one from Nationals. It wasn't awful, but I wasn't wild about it. I really loved her beautiful white one from the SP at Skate America, I think it was, very simple and elegant, fit with the music and still reflected her youth and innocense.

^ITA:agree:

 

[Spun Silver]

New idea after watching Stephane's FP: Kimmie should move in with Stephane for a month and watch his flamenco arms. Just spellbinding.

While she's at it, she should borrow his choreographer.

 

[R.D.]

I was heartened by Kimmie saying she would switch to music that feels more like who she is. Maybe more personality and musicality will come through.

Not so on this end. I think it will be more same ol' same ol' zzzzzz. I really felt her current FS was a departure for her, a step in the right direction. Too bad she couldn't skate it cleanly though.

 

[flying camel]

Yea, the LP was okay, it was the SP that was boring and drab. All in all I think Lori has done all she can do for her. It is time to try someone else. What choreographer would be able to bring out some emotion in this girl? She needs to be transformed.

 

[DaveT]

New idea after watching Stephane's FP: Kimmie should move in with Stephane for a month and watch his flamenco arms. Just spellbinding.

While she's at it, she should borrow his choreographer.

If Kimmie's not interested in moving in with Stephane, I'd be happy to.

 

[Tonichelle]

maybe Sarah Kawahara could make something fiery or fun!

 

[Oldsk8ter]

I don't see much improvement in her arms. I think the problem is not only airplane arms, but excessively stiff arms. Her arms look like if you pushed them down, they'd rebound and hit you in the face! In general, her arms are really awkward.

One suggestion I could make is that she should not wear bracelets or rings on her arms or fingers. This attracts attention to the issue more.

An example of awkwardness highlighted by jewelery:http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper781/stills/653p72u8.jpg

I agree with you about the jewelry. It has always bothered me that she skates with bracelets and rings. Your eye is drawn to them and it accentuates the issue.

 

[diamondqueen]

Kimmie's arms are not always in attractive position. They really need to work on softer more appealing moves to help make her a well rounded skater. She has all the jumps now work on being a complete package like her idol Michelle Kwan. Then there will be no stopping Kimmie Meissner.

diamond

 

[dlarry1]

maybe Sarah Kawahara could make something fiery or fun!

I had the same thought. Might be great to see her try something a bit less lyrical and with a little more . . . attitude?

 

[Tinymavy15]

I had the same thought. Might be great to see her try something a bit less lyrical and with a little more . . . attitude?

I think that's what her Flamenco Galcaia was supossed to be. It didn't quite turn out that way. Maybe the firebird would be good for her. If you ever watched the firebird ballet, the character of the firebird uses her arms quickly and alomat jerkily. She also has a lot of down fluttery movements that remind me of kimmie. Mr. Button remarked a few times that she reminded him of a humming bird. so... whatever. just a thought. i juts hope that kimmie dosen't neglect her atristry attempts next season in return for clean programs.

 

[R.D.]

Yea, the LP was okay, it was the SP that was boring and drab. All in all I think Lori has done all she can do for her. It is time to try someone else. What choreographer would be able to bring out some emotion in this girl? She needs to be transformed.

Then again, not everyone is born with it. She's just now at a disadvantage given that girls are coming up who can match her technically AND have the presentation necessary to wow crowds and judges. She sure found that out last week!

I'm not sure she needs a "transformation". She just needs to show "Kimmie", not "Kimbot" - (as some like to refer to her).