Kimmie | Golden Skate

Kimmie

I can't wait to see her new programs! I hope she has gotten her jumps fixed and kicks some butt this year!
 
Thank you for posting. Finally some Kimmie news. I thought the article was very well written with some really good quotes from Kimmie, Todd and of course Mr. Callaghan.
 
Thanks for the article links, esp the new Wash Post one. Very balanced article, noting areas of improvement BUT sadly the article was not reassuring about her jump problems. Seems like she's still struggling with them.

Several comments about her lack of confidence from Callaghan and Eldredge. Was that always the case, or has that been the result of the difficult seasons? Bcs I thought she had real determination in her Oly performances in '06 and then of course her gold-medal-winning Worlds.

I've always liked Kimmie and her skating, but I'm still very worried about her current and future competitiveness, esp with the likes of Flatt, Nagasu, Zhang, and Wagner in the U.S. field, not to mention all the strong international ladies.

Speaking of the US ladies, it's not going to be ladiezzzzzzzz for me this year! Although if asked to make a choice I'd say Flatt is my fave, I really enjoy watching all the ladies I mentioned very much -- which is odd for me, as I'm usually the type to pick one and root strongly for her and be less interested in the rest of the field!
 
Was anyone else really surprised when Kimmie stated that Pam (and the other coaches at her old training rink) never instructed her on the ice, but always from the boards. I was under the impression that most, if not all, coaches join their pupils on the ice to view the tracings from jump takeoffs and landings in order to spot any flawed technique, to spot posture and help improve technique and stretch in spins, and to do speed drills as mentioned in the Washington Post article. How is a skater supposed to improve if all the coach is doing is giving verbal instruction from the sidelines? I feel really bad for skaters at that rink who are visual learners. No wonder Kimmie was crucified so much last season for wrong entry from the judges considering Ms. Gregory was not going out of her way to help rectify the problem. No wonder Kimmie looked and felt isolated and estranged from her as seen in last season's kiss and cry moments given this insight into their training environment, or lack thereof. Perhaps Meissner could have toned down those "windmill arms" she's become known for if she actually had a coach demonstrate to her a softer use of her arms. Sad!

I wish Kimmie LOTS of luck! She appears to be one of the sweetest young ladies to grace a figure skating rink. I hope she rediscovers the attack and confidence that once helped her win a Junior World silver and a Senior World gold medal.
 
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many coaches work with thier skaters, esp.elite skaters from the boards. Frank and Ken are mostly board workers, athough Frank will get out there on occasion. Mr Nickshas not worn skates in 15 years +!
 
I sure would like to see a come back from Kimmie:clap:

She really has grace both in skating and her personality during interviews - she seems really nice and down to earth, an excellent role model for younger skaters.:thumbsup:

Does anyone know what contributed to her seasonal slump last year? I can't recall a growth issue and her head seems pretty calm under pressure?
 
many coaches work with thier skaters, esp.elite skaters from the boards. Frank and Ken are mostly board workers, athough Frank will get out there on occasion. Mr Nicks has not worn skates in 15 years +!

To jump on this, most coaches DO instruct from the boards, in part or in total. When something needs to be demonstrated, they typically will skate off from the boards and walk through what they want and go back to the other side of the boards. They often will walk/skate out to review an edge on a take off, a toe pick mark, or landing. This keeps the ice free for the skaters as there are often already too many near misses and people breaking off jump take offs because of set ups, and if a coach is out there too, not really moving, it can be very frustrating.
 
Does anyone know what contributed to her seasonal slump last year? I can't recall a growth issue and her head seems pretty calm under pressure?

I can't remember exactly where I read this but in an interview, Kimmie made it seem like she was conflicting big time with Pam and didn't like the way that she was being treated by Pam. I could be wrong about that but I just rember something about that.
 
Mr. Nicks is often shown walking across the ice in sneakers while his skaters are practicing. He isn't just at the boards. Is Mr. Nicks officially retired? I know that Faye Kitraev was overseeing Sasha's training this summer. Is Mr. Nicks still advising Meno and Sand and overseeing their coaching?
 
Mr. Nicks is often shown walking across the ice in sneakers while his skaters are practicing. He isn't just at the boards.

Thank you! I definitely recall seeing tv fluff pieces and online video clips during Cohen's competitive days with Mr. Nicks ON THE ICE coaching her. Same with Michelle Kwan and Frank, Yu-Na Kim and Brian, Johnny Weir and Tatiana/Galina/Viktor, Jeremy Abbott and Tom Z, Nicole Bobek and Richard/Carlo, Todd Eldredge and Richard, Tara Lipinski and Richard, Miki Ando and Nikolai, Joannie Rochette and Manon, Mukhortova & Trankov and Oleg, Emily Hughes and Bonni, Brian Boitano and Linda, Paul Wylie and Evy & Mary, Nancy Kerrigan and Evy & Mary, Kristi Yamaguchi and Christy, Savchenko & Szolkowy and Ingo, and Mao Asada and Rafael.
 
I really feel bad for Kimmie after reading that article. I guess we won't ever know for sure what happen at that rink but it sounds bad. Maybe I am reading into it too much but Mr. Callahan makes it seem like they destroyed her confidence at that rink. The one thing Kimmie had going for her was her ability to land the jumps.:scowl:
 
Tatiana Tarasova does not skate. She did when she was a young woman, but has not for many years. She coaches from the boards (which doesn't seem to negatively affect her relationship with her many championship students at all).
 
Stephane Lambiel's former coach Peter Grutter coached him on the ice as well (seen a video of that.)

I read that Viktor coaches Johhny on the ice, so I'm sure he does the same for Stephane.
 
I never said Tatiana was "skating" on the ice, but I have seen video of her walking on the ice with her pupils instructing them.
 
Thanks for the update. Interesting article that shares a few new tidbits. For those reading doom and gloom here, I would not put much stock in just one article that's written in such a dramatic fashion. Nor would I dare attempt to sense her mood/mindset just from reading this. It's a few hours out of a day this writer went to her rink, and she's been here for several months.

Skaters are known to have issues early in the season. The important part is, do they improve towards mid-season and especially come Worlds time? I have confidence in her. But that said, I won't be looking for any show-stoppers or stunning wins.
 
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