Javier Fernandez
- Thread starter matmuh
- Start date
I feel so bad for having ignored this place for several months now, owing to a combination of a very busy life and a lingering depression over Javi's imminent retirement, but now I absolutely must write something, and the main reason for it is a single word: Prometo.
I echo Eppen's feelings about shows and simply not being that much interested in them in general. I of course wouldn't miss Javi's own show for anything, but I fully expected to be satisfied by seeing it in Madrid on December 29th. And then along came Prometo. Of course IF Javi goes to Europeans, he would very likely do Prometo at the gala there. But his participation is just in so much doubt (or at least I think so still, despite the numerous allusions to "planning" it), if he doesn't go in the end, would that mean I would possibly see Prometo live only once? So I didn't need much convincing from Eppen to go to Malaga as well, especially that the cast was quite different from the Madrid lineup.
And I have to say, it really was a wonderful experience altogether, especially seeing the unbelievable outpouring of love for Javi, who was greeted and treated like a rockstar by his home audience, which went absolutely wild with excitement over every spin, jump, lift, or any interesting, creative or just good looking move they saw from anyone, and of course Javi being the center of all this was marvelous. He has worked so much and for so long to arrive here, and this finally happening for him, in Spain of all places with its nonexistent skating tradition, is just amazing and a true honor and gift to witness. And then of course getting to speak briefly to David Wilson, to tell him that he is my hero for doing everything he has done for Javi, and to thank him for giving this marvel of a skater and performer to us, was icing on the cake.
But really I was there for Prometo, and my god, did I get it! It is the single most breathtaking, achingly beautiful and emotional 3 minutes of skating I have ever seen. Yeah I'm biased, but so what, who isn't? Sport doesn't get a lot more subjective than figure skating, so much of it is in the eye of the beholder, especially in a show environment. So I can only speak to how I personally saw it, how it made me feel, and the best word for it is heartbreaking.
I have seen Javi's skating being sharp as a knife. Malaguena comes to mind obviously, with its palpable intensity. I have seen him taking his first baby steps with lyrical pieces in Danny Boy and how far he was able to take it over time, transforming it into a poetic image of love and loss, which was absolutely needed for him to be able to tackle something like Modern Times with such amazing gentleness and flow. But Prometo is on a different level altogether. To be so gentle and so powerful at the same time, so light and so sharp, often within the same move, while being so perfectly in command of his blades, of his entire body, is something I’ve never seen before. And that’s just the skating.
What's truly remarkable about Prometo is how powerfully emotional it is. It seems like Javi doesn't perform this piece, he feels it, and I'm there feeling it with him. Seeing his face, his eyes, is just as profound an experience as watching the beauty of his skating. It is extraordinary that somebody is able to create not just an atmosphere where you can hear a pin drop, but fill it to the brim with emotion - heartbreak, kindness, love, regret, loneliness - without a single word, all of this oozing out of every single cell of his body, translating into movement. This is pure and extremely rare performance art.
I'm trying my best not to think about what an incredible loss it is for competitive figure skating that Javi is moving on and taking all of this art with him, but it's hard...
I echo Eppen's feelings about shows and simply not being that much interested in them in general. I of course wouldn't miss Javi's own show for anything, but I fully expected to be satisfied by seeing it in Madrid on December 29th. And then along came Prometo. Of course IF Javi goes to Europeans, he would very likely do Prometo at the gala there. But his participation is just in so much doubt (or at least I think so still, despite the numerous allusions to "planning" it), if he doesn't go in the end, would that mean I would possibly see Prometo live only once? So I didn't need much convincing from Eppen to go to Malaga as well, especially that the cast was quite different from the Madrid lineup.
And I have to say, it really was a wonderful experience altogether, especially seeing the unbelievable outpouring of love for Javi, who was greeted and treated like a rockstar by his home audience, which went absolutely wild with excitement over every spin, jump, lift, or any interesting, creative or just good looking move they saw from anyone, and of course Javi being the center of all this was marvelous. He has worked so much and for so long to arrive here, and this finally happening for him, in Spain of all places with its nonexistent skating tradition, is just amazing and a true honor and gift to witness. And then of course getting to speak briefly to David Wilson, to tell him that he is my hero for doing everything he has done for Javi, and to thank him for giving this marvel of a skater and performer to us, was icing on the cake.
But really I was there for Prometo, and my god, did I get it! It is the single most breathtaking, achingly beautiful and emotional 3 minutes of skating I have ever seen. Yeah I'm biased, but so what, who isn't? Sport doesn't get a lot more subjective than figure skating, so much of it is in the eye of the beholder, especially in a show environment. So I can only speak to how I personally saw it, how it made me feel, and the best word for it is heartbreaking.
I have seen Javi's skating being sharp as a knife. Malaguena comes to mind obviously, with its palpable intensity. I have seen him taking his first baby steps with lyrical pieces in Danny Boy and how far he was able to take it over time, transforming it into a poetic image of love and loss, which was absolutely needed for him to be able to tackle something like Modern Times with such amazing gentleness and flow. But Prometo is on a different level altogether. To be so gentle and so powerful at the same time, so light and so sharp, often within the same move, while being so perfectly in command of his blades, of his entire body, is something I’ve never seen before. And that’s just the skating.
What's truly remarkable about Prometo is how powerfully emotional it is. It seems like Javi doesn't perform this piece, he feels it, and I'm there feeling it with him. Seeing his face, his eyes, is just as profound an experience as watching the beauty of his skating. It is extraordinary that somebody is able to create not just an atmosphere where you can hear a pin drop, but fill it to the brim with emotion - heartbreak, kindness, love, regret, loneliness - without a single word, all of this oozing out of every single cell of his body, translating into movement. This is pure and extremely rare performance art.
I'm trying my best not to think about what an incredible loss it is for competitive figure skating that Javi is moving on and taking all of this art with him, but it's hard...
Thank you, tureis, so so much for this wonderful eloquent and heartfelt description. It was truly amazing to see Prometo live. I used to prefer Danny Boy as a gala but in the end Prometo has won my heart 
David (aaand Sandra) spent some time in Spain so maybe they've already discussed the new SP (and we only don't know it because noone asked Javi
) Plus there's a pause of one month before next ROI. (And then indeed the three weeks before EC)
I've been thinking about it for a while and in reply to recent posts... I'll say it. Javi really doesn't have to win it. There's no obligation. I know he said numerous times he wanted the seventh title. But I think he's already reached his biggest goal, an olympic medal...
And of course, we as fans want him to win, to be the best... but he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. If nothing unpredictible happens (well, the ice is slippery) then he should do reasonably well. He wouldn't come totally unprepared (he came kind of unprepared for JO and it went quite good). I just feel that we shouldn't worry too much.
I'm strangely calm. I believe Javi will do what he thinks is the best and I think he has a very good chance to be on the podium. Noone can predict if he'll be the first or not... but also passing the torch to someone else would be meaninful and heartbraking...
David (aaand Sandra) spent some time in Spain so maybe they've already discussed the new SP (and we only don't know it because noone asked Javi
) Plus there's a pause of one month before next ROI. (And then indeed the three weeks before EC)I've been thinking about it for a while and in reply to recent posts... I'll say it. Javi really doesn't have to win it. There's no obligation. I know he said numerous times he wanted the seventh title. But I think he's already reached his biggest goal, an olympic medal...
And of course, we as fans want him to win, to be the best... but he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. If nothing unpredictible happens (well, the ice is slippery) then he should do reasonably well. He wouldn't come totally unprepared (he came kind of unprepared for JO and it went quite good). I just feel that we shouldn't worry too much.
I'm strangely calm. I believe Javi will do what he thinks is the best and I think he has a very good chance to be on the podium. Noone can predict if he'll be the first or not... but also passing the torch to someone else would be meaninful and heartbraking...
Confirmed. They added December 28:
https://twitter.com/RevolutionOnIce/status/1067383247640948736
They say the 13,000 seats of December 29 got nearly sold out.
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2006
We took photos against the gigantic sign on the facade of the arena and with the Javi pics displayed inside the arena. By the time we got to the bus, it was enough to take photos of people taking photos of themselves and the bus...The thing is, Javi does not have a month of training between the two legs of the tour - he has to promote the shows, particularly Murcia and Las Palmas (and now also maybe Madrid although that might sell most of itself without trying too hard). So, he's been to Las Palmas this week, tv (Cerca di te yesterday and Buenos Dias Canarias today) and public appearances (in a school of some sort Claret Las Palmas today).
It is utterly cool that they are so confident of the second leg doing as well as the first that they could add the new date! It would not be a big deal maybe in Japan or in Russia, but this is Spain we are talking about...
Of course we do not know what happens behind the scenes, how much he gets ice time whilst staying in Madrid (but I have not caught any social media posts on him from any of the rinks where he has worked in the past). He has to do something to keep up the jumps etc. - he looked much better in Malaga than in the summer shows. But then again did he just try harder and focus better because it's his show and he has to carry it? The only slightly worrying thing was that he did only one 2A whereas in Japan it was always 3As (and in plural that is, with a quad or quad combo at least in the finale). There has been no talk of new programs, maybe the new SP idea has been forgotten. A new SP might have appeared in the shows, but he is doing his current show routines and the Chaplin which is clearly a show piece.
The Spanish nationals are looming just around the corner in mid December (the tickets went on sale the other day). But we don't know if he is going. If the federation does not require him to compete at the nationals to send him to Minsk, then he can skip that as well. In addition, with all the scrutiny to all things skating these days, a mediocre or poor performance even in Spanish nationals (which he can win in his sleep probably) might not be a good idea. But it would be good for him to get a competition under his belt before the Europeans... And then is it enough for him to do three weeks in Canada before the Europeans to start his season (so to say)? He has usually had a bit more effective traning time before Japan Open or even ACI last year.
And just before the nationals there will be a COE shindig where he will get one more award.
It is HARD not to know and live in this uncertainty...
E
It is HARD not to know and live in this uncertainty...
I have to confess reading all these summaries makes me nervous again, in fact so nervous that I'm thinking about buying fly tickets to Minsk to witness it with my own two eyes
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
Javi has officially announced his retirement after next year Euros;
https://www.20minutos.es/deportes/noticia/javier-fernandez-retirada-patinaje-3503408/0/
http://www.rtve.es/deportes/20181128/patinador-javier-fernandez-anuncia-su-retirada/1845040.shtml
https://www.20minutos.es/deportes/noticia/javier-fernandez-retirada-patinaje-3503408/0/
http://www.rtve.es/deportes/20181128/patinador-javier-fernandez-anuncia-su-retirada/1845040.shtml
Those headlines scared me because they only mention he is retiring, not that he is retiring AFTER Euros :shocked:
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2018
Yes! I almost had a heart attack, I though he wouldn't be competing at all at Euros
- - - Updated - - -
Yes! I almost had a heart attack, I though he wouldn't be competing at all at Euros
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2018
:sad21::sad21::sad21:Not a surprise, but he'll be missed. On the other hand, he's probably not sorry he's missing the difficulties the field are having with the new rule.....
I'm glad he'll be at Euros again, and hope they give him the send off he deserves. And given how popular he is in Japan, and his own ice shows, we should still be able to see him skate for some years to come, even at a distance...
Message from Javi!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BquTtPAlGnn/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1j1o37sx15gz3
Javi said he will stop competing, but not skating ... and this Christmas we have the Revolution on Ice show for those who want to watch live.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BquTtPAlGnn/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1j1o37sx15gz3
Javi said he will stop competing, but not skating ... and this Christmas we have the Revolution on Ice show for those who want to watch live.
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2006
Ach, makes me a bit weepy although, is this really a surprise of some sort... He did even this with pretty good style in an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Spanish Constitution (here answering questions about the significance of the constitution to sports).
I don't think there is a way now that he would not go to Minsk, of the nationals only the gala has been confirmed (says Hielo Espanol).
Going back on memory lane to that day in the fall of 2014 when I saw him first skate to Black Betty in Skate Canada and thought that "wow, an actual rock song AND choreo that fitted it AND he is doing it with credibility, what is this?!" The next outing of that SP in Rostelecom made me a fan, made me travel to Stockholm for the Europeans to see it live and I have not looked back since...
E
I don't think there is a way now that he would not go to Minsk, of the nationals only the gala has been confirmed (says Hielo Espanol).
Going back on memory lane to that day in the fall of 2014 when I saw him first skate to Black Betty in Skate Canada and thought that "wow, an actual rock song AND choreo that fitted it AND he is doing it with credibility, what is this?!" The next outing of that SP in Rostelecom made me a fan, made me travel to Stockholm for the Europeans to see it live and I have not looked back since...
E
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
Not a surprise...but I'm getting choked up nonetheless.
Thank you, Javi, for all the wonderful programs you've given us over the years. Congratulations for everything you've accomplished for yourself and figure skating in Spain.
Thank you, Javi, for all the wonderful programs you've given us over the years. Congratulations for everything you've accomplished for yourself and figure skating in Spain.
Another thing Javi said that stuck with me was that he wants to "retire before the sport retires him". He wants to go out on his own terms and not wait until he becomes irrelevant, and I respect that so much. It does take wisdom to step aside, and not everyone has been able to do that, in figure skating and many other sports. These comments, including the one translated by Ulrica, do sort of hint that these past few years have taken a toll on him more than he is perhaps letting on publicly. I just hope and wish and beg from now until the ending pose of his FS in Minsk that he can give his all one last time and go out with a bang!
Either way, I'll be there to see it live!
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2006
Hieloespanol has confirmed Javi will not participate in the Spanish nationals (14-16 December). He will only skate at the gala.
https://twitter.com/Hieloespanol (in Spanish)
https://twitter.com/Hieloespanol (in Spanish)
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