Is U.S. figure skating in a slump?

[bronxgirl]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17966936/

Yet another view of how promising the US juniors are, and that this years world's results shoudl not be a major concern in the long run. I hope so, for the sake of American figure skating. I'd hate to have our entries all down to 1 or 2 for the next olympics

 

[Mathman]

"Remember, our long-term goal is to win as many medals as we can at the 2009 world championships in Los Angeles, and then for the Vancouver Olympics. That is the whole game plan.''

Living in the past, clinging to the Olympics to revive a modicum of fan interest every four years.

The COI tour ends June 4th? The glass is emptying fast.

 

[iluvtodd]

The COI tour ends June 4th? The glass is emptying fast.

But isn't the COI tour usually pretty short in non-Olympic years? I think it starts on 4/13, which seems later than usual. Our local show is on 4/15.

 

[SeaniBu]

The COI tour ends June 4th? The glass is emptying fast.

The list does not include some of the cities as last season. Boise for one is not on and was canceled last year anyway.

So far it looks like the same great performers - no cool additions like Detroit is getting. *jealous* AND minus MK!!!!! This should be the skater Denver gets and everyone else is jealous.
Performers:
· Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto
· Evan Lysacek
· Irina Slutskaya
· Sasha Cohen
· Evgeni Plushenko
· Johnny Weir
· Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin
· Evan Lysacek
· Shizuka Arakawa
· Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat
· Surya Bonaly
· Victor Petrenko
· Rudy Galindo
· Dan Hollander
· Vladimir Besedin and Oleksiy Polishchuk
· Irina Grigorian

On the site Tanith and Ben are listed twice???

Anyway it seems like a much shorter tour for sure. Last year I went in August, this year it is May. They are running more adds have started already AND more frequent.

Also interesting How mister "A" has been in the news. They listed his businesses and thankfully there was no mention of COI. The angle of the news cast was coming across as negative toward him really - even though I think they were trying to be unbiased.

 

[Snowgirl]

And in your list Lysacek is mentioned twice
Is it for sure that the tour ends June 4th? And what about COI in Japan (12-25 June)?

 

[SeaniBu]

And in your list Lysacek is mentioned twice

It is, wonder why they listed it like that? Make it seem like more skaters? Hopefully it means those dups will be filled by Davis n White and MK. Yah right. The dream of Fumie skating with COI will never happen I am afraid.

 

[iloveaxel]

List

I'm pretty sure the roster is incomplete. To my knowledge, Pang & Tong are going to join the COI tour as well.

 

[dancindiva03]

Well, maybe its in a slump to all the people who think ladies skating is the be-all and end-all of figure skating, but to me it looks pretty darn good. THREE dance teams in the top ten, that's great!

 

[iloveaxel]

Well, maybe its in a slump to all the people who think ladies skating is the be-all and end-all of figure skating, but to me it looks pretty darn good. THREE dance teams in the top ten, that's great!

Who really cares about ice dancing in North America? It is not a real sport, in my humble opinion. The farce is that most top teams have achieved level 3/4 in every element, the only thing to seperate them apart is some random PCS scores tossed out by the judges.

Ice dancing will never become popular in North America. I'm happy to hand it to Russia if that means they won't play politics in other disciplines.

 

[dancindiva03]

Who really cares about ice dancing in North America? It is not a real sport, in my humble opinion. The farce is that most top teams have achieved level 3/4 in every element, the only thing to seperate them apart is some random PCS scores tossed out by the judges.

Ice dancing will never become popular in North America. I'm happy to hand it to Russia if that means they won't play politics in other disciplines.

Who cares about ice dancing in North America? A lot of people do. I do, for one. And a lot of my friends are far more interested in ice dance than they are in, say, the ladiezzzzzzzzz. And obviously, just by looking at all the good dance teams we have coming up, there is a lot of interest in dance among skaters themself.

 

[hockeyfan228]

It will be interesting to see if levels will be re-set like they've be recalibrated in gymnastics: when everyone can do a double back layout, it's not the highest level anymore.

Considering that Davis/White were the first dance team to attain all Level 4's in their program, and that was this year, it's taken five seasons of CoP for the levels to max out.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

It's not just the US being in a slump with a bronze in Dance. Europeans have just 1 gold in France and 1 bronze in Switzerland, and 1 gold in Bulgaria. All other European countries did not medal including the mighty Russians.

Asian countries are coming along strong with only Dance not ready for prime time.

For the Americans: McLaughlin and Brubaker may change the tide in Pairs. There is already a dynamic team of Davis and White for Dance. Although not eligible for Worlds, Zhang and Nagasu will make a statement. Meanwhile, there is Flatt and Wagner who will improve this upcoming season for Ladies. The Men seem to be the weakest discipline, for me. Someone out of Juniors must jump forward.

Joe

 

[SeaniBu]

Meanwhile, there is Flatt ...

Oh, that is giving me hope that she might do an aperance for COI,*wish* heck I'll drive her and we can go down and Pick up Jeremy and Ryan too. :agree:

 

[gsrossano]

It will be interesting to see if levels will be re-set like they've be recalibrated in gymnastics: when everyone can do a double back layout, it's not the highest level anymore.

God, I hope not. Then everybody will put all their attention into getting the newer more difficult levels, and only be worrying about the tricks even more. Lost in the rush to get new levels would be the skating and the programs. I can live with the top teams all getting level 3 and 4s and focus being on quality of execution and performance.

 

[Mafke]

It's not just the US being in a slump with a bronze in Dance. Europeans have just 1 gold in France and 1 bronze in Switzerland, and 1 gold in Bulgaria. All other European countries did not medal including the mighty Russians.

And a bronze in pairs (S/S). But yeah, the point is well taken, the Europeans are not that strong on the world stage at present while Asia is charging full-steam ahead.

 

[Angelluv]

I think figure skating just goes through a cycle like anything else--good times and not so good times. I think we have some great up and comers like Stephen Carriere, Eliot Halverson, Mirai and Caroline just to name some. US Figure Skating has a lot to look forward to. And COI is only a long tour in the Olympic season.

 

[flying camel]

I wonder if the USFSA will put Flatt in the Junior or senior GP events this coming season. I think we need some new blood.

 

[R.D.]

I think MK motivated a lot of these young skaters we're seeing today. I wonder, who are the skaters just starting out now looking up to? And will it drive them to be great and keep up the great power that the US has had all along?

 

[Mafke]

Also, thinking things through a little more, I'm not sure if the Asian revolution is really here.

The way to measure depth in a skating program is in terms of up and comers. Russia's decline was obvious years ago when the up and coming talented skaters stopped appearing (for lots of reasons including money problems and a federation with a mindset back in 1988).

Are there any up and coming Chinese teams? I know pairs works a little differently as a team is harder to produce than a single, but I can't think of any teams past the big three.
And Chinese singles skaters haven't exactly set the world on fire and don't seem on the verge of doing so.

Kim's success is a one-off and not the result of anything like a real skating program.

That leaves Japan which seems to have a fairly deep mens field and by far the deepest ladies program in the world (with some young talent in the background).

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Excellent take on the future of skaters in many countries. There is no country which is gaming for 4 discipline golds. Russia came close under the skaters who had been brought up under the Soviet system but no new crop of first rate skaters yet to appear.

Japan has reached a level in Singles that is paying off and may well be the 'star' country in those disciplines for some future years. Japan, however lacks any talent in Pairs and Dance for the future.

China seems to be limited to Pairs for the future and not much else.

Canada has always produced excellent Pairs and Dance teams. I think that will continue but Singles do not look strong for the future.

France has gotten some new and good talent in Men's Singles. I think with Caron and Just they may continue to have a first rate Dance team. I do not see any Ladies or Pairs in the future.

USA has some very talented juniors in all disciplines but will they hold up in seniors? Maybe Pairs and Dance.

The above is just my take on the future of country domination in four disciplines.. I don't see any country dominating. China could once it get it's other disciplines working. It needs to seek out talent and train it free.

Joe