Irina and Jeff win first cheesefest of Olympic season

[havanamesa1]

Shiz and Miki second and third placers, respectively, for ladies, and Daisuke and Oda second and third placers, respectively, for men. Japan International Challenge, October 1st. (Just in case this hasn't been mentioned somewhere else on this forum.)

More info on FSU and MKF.

 

[Kasey]

It was obviously the first competition of the season. No one was totally clean. Kudos to Jeff and Johnny for having level 3 and 4 spins, although I think Johnny watered things down a bit. Shizuka will be one to watch, she looks to be back in championship form. The lower ranked Japanese (Oda, Honda, Onda) all have a lot of level one and two moves.

 

[Mathman]

Moving this thread to the Events folder.

 

[Eldredgefan2001]

Congratulations to all the medalist! You read on certain boards all of this DRAMA over one little fluff competition. Wow! They've already got the fix being put in for Irina to win the Olympics, when the favorite hasn't won over the last couple of Olympics. It's been a teenager who doesn't have the reputation of the big name skaters. Can't wait to see how this season plays out. :indiff:

 

[R.D.]

Irina and Jeff win first cheesefest

I just can't help but wonder if the skaters think of it that way as well- oh, I got to prepare for this cheesefest! Results don't matter- it's only a few thousand bucks anyway.

I don't know about Kwan- but I know Cohen refers to these as "competitions".

And if Kwan, Cohen and other top skaters can show up at so-called "cheesefests", but not do the GP events- I wonder, which set of events are the REAL "cheesefests"?

I don't know. I'm just tired of the usage of that word. But this is only my opinion.

 

[JanJam]

And if Kwan, Cohen and other top skaters can show up at so-called "cheesefests", but not do the GP events- I wonder, which set of events are the REAL "cheesefests"?

Yup, something to think about :yes:

 

[Mathman]

I don't know. I'm just tired of the usage of that word. But this is only my opinion.

I agree, and for once this is something that we can actually do something about. The only people who use the word "cheesefest" are fans who post on message boards like Golden Skate. Let's start calling them "Invitationals." (Like in golf, the Masters is an Invitational, the British is an Open Championship.)

With the great moral leadership that Golden State provides for the community of figure skating boards, it will only be a matter of time before FSU, MK Forum, etc., realize the error of their ways and fall in line! Ever onward and upward! :agree:

MM.

PS. Eldredgefan, what's really going to be fun is after Michelle and Sasha skate at Campbell's this weekend. Then we can really go at it, comparing Irina and Shizuka's opening performances with those!

 

[luvsasha]

I just can't help but wonder if the skaters think of it that way as well- oh, I got to prepare for this cheesefest! Results don't matter- it's only a few thousand bucks anyway.

I don't know about Kwan- but I know Cohen refers to these as "competitions".

And if Kwan, Cohen and other top skaters can show up at so-called "cheesefests", but not do the GP events- I wonder, which set of events are the REAL "cheesefests"?

I don't know. I'm just tired of the usage of that word. But this is only my opinion.

um, Sasha usually does the GP. Michelle doesn't.

 

[Excidra2001]

Congratulations to all the medalist! You read on certain boards all of this DRAMA over one little fluff competition. Wow! They've already got the fix being put in for Irina to win the Olympics, when the favorite hasn't won over the last couple of Olympics. It's been a teenager who doesn't have the reputation of the big name skaters. Can't wait to see how this season plays out. :indiff:

Well they are preparing everyone for whats going to happen in Turino, much like some people were making a big damn deal about Y2k..OMG, how are we going to survive this one, its the end of civilization as we know it.

Its much like the boy who cried wolf. They keep making a fool out of themselfs and people will just hit the ignore button whenever they start talking.

Bring on the truck driver...oops, I meant Irina.

 

[singerskates]

I just can't help but wonder if the skaters think of it that way as well- oh, I got to prepare for this cheesefest! Results don't matter- it's only a few thousand bucks anyway.

I don't know about Kwan- but I know Cohen refers to these as "competitions".

And if Kwan, Cohen and other top skaters can show up at so-called "cheesefests", but not do the GP events- I wonder, which set of events are the REAL "cheesefests"?

I don't know. I'm just tired of the usage of that word. But this is only my opinion.

If they are smart (skaters), the skaters don't think that this competition doesn't mater. They think to themselves this is a chance to see how my program is progressing and how the judges are marking it so I can get it ready for the competitions that really do matter.

singerskates

 

[R.D.]

um, Sasha usually does the GP. Michelle doesn't.

Yes, recent trends would suggest that. But Cohen didn't do it last year, and she did the invitationals. She was perfectly fit enough to do those. Same with Kwan. So I don't know what the excuse here is.

Hopefully Cohen won't follow in Kwan's footsteps with skipping the GP events. It seems like this year (Cohen's) planning to do them, so maybe not. With Kwan though you never know- you certainly don't see what you get :scratch:

 

[R.D.]

If they are smart (skaters), the skaters don't think or this competition doesn't mater. They think to themselves this is a chance to see how my program in progress and how the judges are marking it so I can get ready for the competitions that really do matter.

singerskates

This seems like a very likely way of how things unfold for the skaters. Also, this is why I refer to (Campbell's) as the "pre-season event". NOT a "cheesefest". (IMO, the real cheesefests are the stuff you see on TV with all the show skating and gimmicks.) The other events I refer to as "invitationals" or "pro-ams". But the difference between these events and established competitions (Nationals, Worlds, Olys, GP events(?) ) is that pro-ams come and go. The names of the sponsors change, the names of the events change, etc. The established competitions will always stay the same and will always be there.

 

[Mathman]

I think athletes make a big mistake if they do not go all out and do their best in every competition. If you hold back on the grounds that one event is not as important as another, not only do you cheat the fans, but you also miss a chance to get in your opponents' heads by crushing them. Plus, strange as it seems, when you hold back, that's when you are the most likely to injure yourself.

Look at Brett Farve, for instance. He gives everything he's got in every game, however "meaningless." He doesn't dog it during the regular season in the hope of suddenly getting better when the Super Bowl comes along.

(OK, bad example. The Packers are 0 and 4, and Farve had two interceptions and a fumble last week. Oh well.)

MM

 

[gkelly]

But the difference between these events and established competitions (Nationals, Worlds, Olys, GP events(?) ) is that pro-ams come and go.

Other differences -- the events in question are now freeskate-only, singles only, with very small invited fields, although the format of the freeskates is pretty much the same as in full events.

In earlier incarnations the format has involved interpretive programs with or without standard short programs; eligible and ineligible skaters competing against each other; and various team formats. Some of those formats could be considered "cheesier" than the current version.

The names of the sponsors change, the names of the events change, etc. The established competitions will always stay the same and will always be there.

Well, the sponsors for the GP events often change as well. Skate America and Skate Canada are lucky in that they can always be referred to as such even if the official name is "Sudafed Skate America" or "Thrifty Car Rental Skate America," or "Smart Ones Skate America," etc. The German event, when it existed, and the French event have gone through several name changes along with sponsor changes.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I do not know the origin of the name Cheesefest. Anyone care to explain?

I do know figure skaters have dreams and the Olympics is the big dream with Worlds closely behind.

The ISU sponsors the Grand Prix Events. While they do not compare with the dreams of the Olys and Worlds, figure skaters want to compete in them in an international setting. They skate according to the ISU rules of competition and are the forerunners to the biggies. (There are also Junior GP events.)

There are other ISU events throughout the season, many have already been completed this season, and others still to go on. Although they are secondary competitions, All are serious competitions under the ISU rules. It is the best chance for a second tier skater to be recognized to move up in the ranks.

Non ISU events include the individual country Nationals. The ISU does not interfere with these events overtly. These competitions usually result in announcing the team of skaters for the Olys or Worlds based on their placements in the event.

I believe there is a Men's Jumping Competition held annually in France but I don't know that much about it. I don't think it is sanctioned by the ISU.

However, the Americans and now the Japanese hold 'invitational' meets. Unless they change in the future they are limited to Mens and Ladies Singles only and are usually sponsored by some commercial businesses. There is prize money. They do not follow the rules of the ISU in judging having no SP. My personal feelings about them is that they give the invitees a chance to rehearse their new programs before their individual Nationals, Olys and Worlds, and maybe win some prize money.

However, the skaters who are not invited do not have that chance, but the ISU does have the GPs and secondary competitions for them.

gkelly Please amend. I'm not perfect!:yes:

Joe

 

[R.D.]

I do not know the origin of the name Cheesefest. Anyone care to explain?

I asked this very same question a year and a half ago. I dug up the original thread from the archives:

http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5101&highlight=cheesefest

It does not really answer the question directly, actually, but kind of "dances" around the real issue. It still doesn't explain where the usage of the word REALLY came from, which I would also like to know.

ETA: If ever we get a clear, coherent answer to this burning question, I seriously think it should be added to the FAQ. :yes: It would really help.

 

[R.D.]

And it's really odd- on one hand you have many people using a word that they have no idea what it means. I see a lot of the very same people who are calling these events "cheesefests" asking the question, "What does this word REALLY mean?" :scratch: Maybe it's just the "hip" thing to say on these forums...

 

[singerskates]

I am speculating that "Cheesefest" means to the skating fans out there and some of the media, competitions that are made up for TV ratings which don't really matter.

As a skater, every competition whether or not it is a qualifying competition or Grand Prix event or not, is important because it gets you ready for the competition at the end of the season that really matters. Each time you compete, you find out what you need to fix or change to get more out of yourself. The COP results help the skaters see where they went wrong and where they did things right. Without the early competitions, skaters loose the opportunity to have the judges evaluate where their programs are, so they can improve. In the past with the 6.0 system, you either won, got somewhere in the middle or at the bottom of the heap, not really knowing what the judges thought of your program, so that you could improve yourself. It's a smart thing what the skaters who competed in Japan did, and the skaters who will compete in the Campbell's skating event will do. Now when they go to do their first Grandprix event, they have had time to tweak their programs to do even better than they did and build from there onward to their Nationals, the Olympics and Worlds.

signed just a lowly adult skater
singerskates

 

[Ladskater]

I agree, and for once this is something that we can actually do something about. The only people who use the word "cheesefest" are fans who post on message boards like Golden Skate. Let's start calling them "Invitationals." (Like in golf, the Masters is an Invitational, the British is an Open Championship.)

With the great moral leadership that Golden State provides for the community of figure skating boards, it will only be a matter of time before FSU, MK Forum, etc., realize the error of their ways and fall in line! Ever onward and upward! :agree:

MM.

PS. Eldredgefan, what's really going to be fun is after Michelle and Sasha skate at Campbell's this weekend. Then we can really go at it, comparing Irina and Shizuka's opening performances with those!

I never heard of any skating competition refered to as a "cheesefest" until joining Golden Skate. A skating competition is a competiton - no matter what the level. Even a club competition is recognized as such.

To me "cheesefest" means it was nothing more than a photoshoot opportunity. Being a figure skater - even if it was a hundred years ago - I object to this derogatory misnomer.

These competitions are important because they help a skater prepare for the upcoming season. It gives them a chance to test run their new programs without all the pressure.

The purists rule!!! Down with Cheesefest referals.

:scowl:

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

These competitions are important because they help a skater prepare for the upcoming season. It gives them a chance to test run their new programs without all the pressure.

The purists rule!!! Down with Cheesefest referals.:scowl:

These competitions sponsored by commercial firms are just for the elite American skaters and those elite skaters worldwide to invite. They do absolutely nothing for the many skaters who are not invited. If Irina and Fumier were to accept the invitation, do you think Joannie would have been invited?

I think singerskates has the best answer to my question on the origin of the term cheesfests.

I did see a local rink competition (MiddleAtlantics) recently. I enjoyed much of it, personally, but it would never sell soup or department store gift cards on TV. The viewers were just ordinary parents hoping that their boy or girl skates well. Those parents could use the money that campbells and marshalls are giving out to skaters who really don't need the money.

Still Campbells and Marshalls, are indeed competitions and they have contracted certain elite skaters to ensure a decent TV rating. They are not sanctioned by the Sports governing body, the ISU, although the ISU does not interfere overtly in letting the USFSA ok them. I hope the monies that the USFSA gets from these TV shows is spread out to the young hopefuls to defray expenses to their international assignments.

One has to watch them regardless of what they are called officially or colloquially. For me, I am not interested in the medals but to get an inkling on what the elite skaters will be doing during the season.

Joe