Ice Diaries on TLC

[IDLERACER]

Idleracer, do you ever go to Easy Street Ice Arena in Simi (where Danielle trains)? I know you go to Healthsouth and stuff. Just wondering, since that's where I skate. I missed it if it was on tonight...Nats are my priority...haha.

The Simi Valley is really nice this time of year (but a bit hot in the summertime). I used to have friends out there that I would visit quite often, but they moved. With the price of gas being what it is, I don't plan on paying a visit any time soon, but someday I'll go hiking up in the Santa Susannas again. Do Frank Carroll and Ken Congemi drive all the way out there? I'm wondering if the two mountains occasionally pay a visit to Mohammed, instead of her mother driving her out here all the time. ​

 

[Lanie]

Haha, no, I've never seen either of them out here. But I dunno, I could go ask!

 

[Justafan]

I think Sandy's biggest problem is that she's too heavy. She's not fat by normal standards, but she's too heavy to be competitive in skating. Skating is hard enough on the back as it is- carrying extra weight only makes it worse.

I dunno..if that's the case then look at Emily Hughes...it's hard to tell without seeing her in person, but she looks to be carrying a few extra mainly in her legs and hips but it doesn't seem to affect her. I think Sandy's problem is mostly motivation.

 

[Jasper]

I just finished watching my tape of Ice Diaries from last night. An even better episode! I had no idea at the time of Skate America that both Bebe and Alissa were being followed by cameras. I never would have predicted Elena Sokolova to get her face on TLC!

I agree that Sandy's problems are motivation and confidence. Meanwhile Danielle is very dedicated and motivated but seems to lack that attacking mentality that you especially need for jumps. I was pleased to see her working so hard on flexibility last night with the yoga sessions, because that really is a weakness for her. And if you don't have a certain level of flexibility on spins and spirals, you can't challenge the elite.

But man, what a tough tough lifestyle. I do not envy these girls. Training so hard and putting so much money into a sport that leaves them such little time for school/having a social life and often breaks down their bodies.

 

[Piel]

It is kind of a bummer watching now that we know what happened at Nationals. I really like Danielle Kahle. Allisa and BeBe seem like great girls too.They showed highlights from Allisa's SC short and long. She is such a great spinner. I can even enjoy her Beillmann it seems so effortless.

 

[CDMM1991]

It is kind of a bummer watching now that we know what happened at Nationals. I really like Danielle Kahle. Allisa and BeBe seem like great girls too.They showed highlights from Allisa's SC short and long. She is such a great spinner. I can even enjoy her Beillmann it seems so effortless.

Mmmm I wonder how they will conclude the show without making it seem like one big disappointment, since NONE of the girls even made the podium. Will Sandy be shown anymore now that her season is over? I hope not. I'm sick of her whining about her baaackkkkkkkk.

The relationship between her and her coach is SO disfunctional.

 

[Spirit]

Dangit, they had regionals here in Dallas and I didn't know! I would have gone.

Cute show.

 

[IDLERACER]

The most interesting part of this show was the information about just how expensive this sport is when you really get serious about it. A new pair of custom made skates is $1300 and they have to be replaced every six months? Ouch!

I also found the scene where Danielle Kahle sticks her foot in that mouldy stuff to be interesting. I wonder if they do that in any ordinary shoe stores as well. 'Twould be nice to have a pair of sneakers with a perfect fit. ​

 

[JOHIO2]

Idle, they use those mold things at the podiatrist and at specialty shoe stores. they're kinda fun! ok, i definitely need to get a life!

 

[JOHIO2]

Bebe just went up in my eyes. Anyone who reads Agathat Christie for fun can be my friend any day!

 

[Longhornliz]

I also found the scene where Danielle Kahle sticks her foot in that mouldy stuff to be interesting. I wonder if they do that in any ordinary shoe stores as well. 'Twould be nice to have a pair of sneakers with a perfect fit. ​

In Texas there are several stores geared towards distance runners and triathletes that will make custom fit insoles to put in your shoes. RunTex and Roger Solers sports come to mind. I bet they could suggest one in your area.

 

[Grgranny]

I don't understand how everyone could hear what they say on that show. My daughter and I started trying to watch it but the music and background noise was so bad we finally just turned it off. Is there some way to watch it and not get all that bothersome noise?

 

[Jasper]

I'm sorry, I've never noticed any background music that is too loud and that gets in the way of the dialogue.

I saw last night's episode and it was incredible as always. Poor Sandy just can't land triples anymore... could she really jump well a year ago at Junior Nationals? It's crazy that they have to train so hard for one competition (i.e. Regionals) and then if they don't place in the Top 4, their season is effectively over. Same with Sectionals. You have to be so good under pressure, as well as well-trained, to be able to come up with the goods in the 2.5 minutes you have for the SP and the 4 minutes you have for the LP.

Also, I have such respect for all skating parents now. What incredible sacrifices they have to make. I often wonder how in the world many of these families can stay afloat! Like Danielle Kahle's mom was explaining, all the costs that are involved with skating just continue to add up. I never knew boots alone could cost over $1200. And I'm sure bagging Frank Carroll is ridiculously expensive. Sandy's dad had to work 2 jobs. Think of all that gas money Alissa's mom must spend driving back and forth to and from Michigan every day. Oi vey!!!!!!!!!

Next week is the Marshall's Cup for Alissa. She knew going in that voters would be all for Sasha and Michelle. At least she had fun.

 

[dlkksk8fan]

Poor Sandy just can't land triples anymore... could she really jump well a year ago at Junior Nationals?

I saw her win Jr Sectionals last year and she was jumping just fine. However she had her back problem then and if it is still hurting her like she is making it out to be she should take some time off and heal her back. I say go home and be with your family and forget about skating for awhile. Why skate if you are that miserable doing it?

 

[Justafan]

Speaking of Sandy's back, I'm surprised more skaters don't try acupuncture for injuries...I went one time and after two years with a nagging lower back problem and a hip flexor injury, I was a lot better than doing anything the orthopedist told me to.

 

[julietvalcouer]

Thin by off-ice standards? Yeah, if you're comparing her to someone significantly overweight/obese, maybe. You can tell by Sandy's face, she's carrying extra pounds, skater or not. But if her back is hurting as much as she makes out, she may not be able to be exercising enough to get the weight off (running and jumping rope actually cause me more knee and back pain than skating, though I don't jump). In which case she really ought to be seeing a DOCTOR, not a massage therapist, about the pain and possible fixes. I can't tell if she's really pulling jumps because of the pain, or if it's all mental. She doesn't seem to be getting medical help that we see.

Heh. Regarding the commercials for other shows, I think I am the lone crossover audience for "Ice Diaries" and "Beyond the Bull", and the only person who was familiar with the athletes on both shows before they aired. (In fact, I had never heard of Sandy before Ice Diaries. I know of all three of the bull riders being profiled.) My Mom saw the commercials for the shows when I was home for Christmas and was like, "So now TLC is programming just for you?" I only watch three televised sports--figure skating, equestrian/horse racing, and professional bull riding. The only non-horse Breyer model I own is Little Yellow Jacket, three-time PBR Bull of the Year.

 

[Kwan101]

I hate to say it, but if I had to listen to Sandy and her coach moaning about this and that for much longer, I was going to scream. She seems like a nice enough girl, but it was obvious from the start that she wasn't in the physical condition needed to succeed. And it seemed like the coach was constantly at pains to distance himself from her poor performances, always griping about how she wasn't doing what he was saying.

 

[hockeyfan228]

It's easy to say that Zucker should suck it up, practice more, and be more motivated, but at a certain point, pain becomes overwhelming and takes over concentration. It's clear her coach doesn't believe that she's crossed the line between the chronic pain that athletes (and dancers) live with all the time and the debilitating kind.

It's one thing for a coach to have a single way to approach his students -- for example, he speaks of cooperation and then complains that for Zucker, that doesn't mean she is on his team, but that he is on hers -- or not know how to train injured athletes. Then it's purely a matter of incapatibility. I thought it was very descriptive moment on film when after he asks her to stay for her LP score at Regionals, when she is ready to leave before hearing that she has no chance for a top 4 finish, she heads in one direction, and he in another. But the self-satisfied little smirk of schadenfreude that he gets when describing her failure needs to be slapped off of his face. If I had a child in skating, I wouldn't let my kid near him.

In the last episode, where she finishes in 10th at Regionals, she has made the mental connection between being physically unprepared to compete and lack of practice. Whether she accepts what this means for her future is yet to be seen. But she's a kid who had enormous success until this past year, winning the Junior National title, has a father who is a former professional athlete, and has a family who continues to sacrifice for her. Given her father's description of how he and her mother have done everything for her -- as he cleans her kitchen -- and paid for everything, what other identity does she have? I certainly would be in denial in that situation.

 

[Shmuzzy]

Did anybody watch on Friday? I was surprised to learn the Alissa had skate problems after Skate Canada and couldn't land her jumps. She thought it was something she was doing wrong physically, and it turned out to be her equipment! Her and her coach both pretty much said that it totally rattled her confidence in a big way. I think that could go a long way towards explaining the splat-fest that she went on in her last three events. Hopefully she can put it behind her and have a great season next year!

I was also surprised to see Jenny Kirk on the show for a little bit. It definitely sounds like she has ruled out doing shows as a career. She seems to be quite content coaching up-and-comers. I think she would make a good show skater, but I am glad that she knows what makes her happy and what doesn't. Especially after everything she went through with her mom.

 

[flying camel]

Did you guys hear Frank Carroll say that Danielle is one of the best skaters in America if not the best.