Latest Kwan News (?)
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Most of Michelle's fans think they have a vested interest in her. After all, we cry when she cries and we laught when she laughs. So many people want to see her win OGM and they believe the GP's would help her do that. Isn't that why so many get angry when she doesn't do what they believe to be best for her.
IMO hiring TT was a great choice. MK realizes she knows and understands COP and now Michelle won't have to get on the ice with papers and directions on how to garner points. TT can do that for her and Michelle can concentrate on just skating. If this plan works or not we can all feel assured that Michelle is giving it her all this season. If she doesn't do the GP's, it will be for a good reason. No one knows how much of a toll this sport has put on MK's body but her. Irena was able to do it, but Irina is Irina and Michelle is Michelle. They are different and have different body types.
For the Olympics, I want to see MK have a beautiful program that is skated with passion and love. Let the non skating fans say she should win gold. Lets face it, they don't know about points. They only know about someone who can reach out and touch them. That is what I hope to see and whatever happens...happens.
Ladybug
IMO hiring TT was a great choice. MK realizes she knows and understands COP and now Michelle won't have to get on the ice with papers and directions on how to garner points. TT can do that for her and Michelle can concentrate on just skating. If this plan works or not we can all feel assured that Michelle is giving it her all this season. If she doesn't do the GP's, it will be for a good reason. No one knows how much of a toll this sport has put on MK's body but her. Irena was able to do it, but Irina is Irina and Michelle is Michelle. They are different and have different body types.
For the Olympics, I want to see MK have a beautiful program that is skated with passion and love. Let the non skating fans say she should win gold. Lets face it, they don't know about points. They only know about someone who can reach out and touch them. That is what I hope to see and whatever happens...happens.
Ladybug
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
All us chillun who love Kwan want that. That's not the issue. She will skate a beautiful program at the Olys. How competitive it is, is another issue.ladybug said:
When she skates in America, where the house is totally for Kwan as she takes to the ice, the fans, including me, resound with gusto. If the Cheesefests are all American skaters and judges, does it matter if the system is 6.0 or CoP? Will MK win these contests and then fall behind Sasha at the Olys?
I can not agree with anyone who believes the Cheesefests give real competititve feedback. I do see them as a love-in for Kwan. New music, new choreoraphy, new dress. Nothing wrong with that, but it is not international competition.
As for the Olys, I believe the arena will have a large majority of European fans and in particular, Italians. You figure.
Joe, I agree with you about the cheesfests vs. the GP. I most certainly want her to do the GP, and I think that would be a much better opportunity for her to make whatever corrections/improvements to her programs that are necessary.
However, if she chooses not to do the GP, I will not rag on her about it. If she doesn't do them, then to me that means she has a good reason. I don't know what she's capable of technically ... I just know she will give us the best she's got. And that's good enough for me.
However, if she chooses not to do the GP, I will not rag on her about it. If she doesn't do them, then to me that means she has a good reason. I don't know what she's capable of technically ... I just know she will give us the best she's got. And that's good enough for me.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
I totally agree nymkfan51 - It was just that I was tired of her fans' excuses for not doing the GPs - Slight injury; too much travelling; strategy. For me, not doing the GPs, left me feeling a less than competitive drive by MK, and I was disappointed. I have full confidence in TT, if that is actually happening but the last analysis is the Olys itself in what I believe to be a hostel environment.nymkfan51 said:
I will look forward to her final(I presume) competitive skate and wish her all the best for a beautifully skated routine, and a medal. And I will no longer harp on the GPs.
Joe
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2003
I guess that you are forgetting the several "cheesefests" where Sasha or Irina placed above Michelle -- and in which the other skaters included the top 5 from the previous World Championships. Why do you believe that the USFS's fall events will be "all American skaters and judges"? Going by the past several years, they are much more likely to feature international skaters and judges. The "All American" format has been in the minority for these made-for-TV events.Joesitz said:
I'm not trying to say that they are comparable to a GP event -- for one thing, the field is about half the size and for another, they only feature an LP. However, I still think that they can provide CoP feedback for all the skaters taking part -- not just Michelle. And this discussion may turn out to be moot if Michelle does participate in the GP events this season. Time will tell.
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2003
If MK is serious about doing well in the next Olympics, she absolutely has to skate in 2 GP's this season, and get feedback from international judges. It will also help her get used to skating in the new judging system. If she skips the GP's like she did last year, I would be very skeptical about her chances at the Olympics. Tarasova is a great choice for a choreographer but she is going to need lots of tweaking to the choreo before the Oly's.
If she is concerned about doing too many competitions, the ones she needs to skip this year are the cheesefests.
I would hate to see her come in 3rd or 4th (or lower).
Vash
If she is concerned about doing too many competitions, the ones she needs to skip this year are the cheesefests.
I would hate to see her come in 3rd or 4th (or lower).
Vash
Joesitz said:
Yes joe,she is going to be in the same hostel environment Irina,Carolina and the japanese ladies find themselves when they skate in north america. You can't always skate in your country for fear of loosing(can't use that as an excuse anymore) and she better do the gp's this time.
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2003
Skating hostels
And all this time I had thought that the ISU at least paid for hotel accommodations -- I guess that's just for the ISU bigwigs themselves. They can have hospitality suites in fine hotels, but all the skaters have to make do with hostels -- and probably have to share the bathroom facilities. Shocking! Sorry, I just couldn't resist when "hostel environment" was used not once, but twice.curious said:
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Hi Skatingfan 5. 
Although I am the world's biggest cheesefest booster (let's start a campaingn to call them "invitationals" instead of "cheesefests"), I have noticed that in Olympic years they tend to be all-American affairs. I always thought that this was a deliberate decision by USFS to avoid giving any possible break, financial or otherwise, to "the enemy" in an Olympic year.
Although the invitationals use international ISU judges (when international skaters are involved), they have not used CoP judging yet. The reason is that it is expensive and complicated to put in the computer equipment, arrange for tech specialists, etc., for just one three-hour show.
At the invitationals that I have attended, although Michelle is a favorite, the audience also gave enthusiastic support to Irina, Shizuka and Sasha (plus they always think Jenny Kirk is robbed, LOL).
Mathman
Although I am the world's biggest cheesefest booster (let's start a campaingn to call them "invitationals" instead of "cheesefests"), I have noticed that in Olympic years they tend to be all-American affairs. I always thought that this was a deliberate decision by USFS to avoid giving any possible break, financial or otherwise, to "the enemy" in an Olympic year.
Although the invitationals use international ISU judges (when international skaters are involved), they have not used CoP judging yet. The reason is that it is expensive and complicated to put in the computer equipment, arrange for tech specialists, etc., for just one three-hour show.
At the invitationals that I have attended, although Michelle is a favorite, the audience also gave enthusiastic support to Irina, Shizuka and Sasha (plus they always think Jenny Kirk is robbed, LOL).
Mathman
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
You got it, sktingfan5. I am the world's worst speller and most GS members know that. I'm thinking I should have wrote hostil instead. Am I correct or does that have an 'e' at the end of it? :scratch:skatingfan5 said:And all this time I had thought that the ISU at least paid for hotel accommodations -- I guess that's just for the ISU bigwigs themselves. They can have hospitality suites in fine hotels, but all the skaters have to make do with hostels -- and probably have to share the bathroom facilities. Shocking! Sorry, I just couldn't resist when "hostel environment" was used not once, but twice.
Joe
Joesitz said:
well since u guys r correcting spellin mistakes and all i'm going to do the same. U use wrote when u have actually done the writting. As in, "I wrote that paper you're reading." So the proper word that should have been used here is "written," since it's something u never did.
P.S. what does MM mean?? I keep on seeing it and have not the slightest idea what it could be.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
I used the word hostile as an antonym for friendly. It is kind of a heavy opposite. It was not meant for MK per se but the nature of the competition. Hypthetically, if Irina is skating at Russian Nationals, she is skating in a more friendly environment than when she is skating in a competition in another country.attyfan said:
I realize I just chose wrong words and not even being able to spell them. Apparently, the grammar is all askew too. I'll just eat worms now.
Joe
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Besides David Wilson, Tatiana Tarasova is a CoP expert. I really hope that TT will give her more transitions and inbetween. And yes, TT has her hit and miss just like many choreographers like Lori N., Sarah K., Sandra Bezic. (Don't even get me started on Jenny K.'s elevator music program!)
Sometimes it is also up to the skater to "sell" the program. I was never fond of Michelle's SOTBS even when she skated it perfectly at Worlds, it took me a couple of viewings to appreciate it and it was truly a masterpiece.
I thought the swashbuckling swordfight of Alexei's Iron Mask was cheesy but he really "sold" that program. And it is one of my favorite. I love Sasha's Rach and Swan Lake 1. But the footwork on the Rach was very dramatic. Her R&J was just lovely until she watered it down at 2005 Nats. So I'm hoping that TT and MK will have a good working relationship where both can feed off artistic inspiration from each other like how Lori N. and Michelle have that simpatico partnership.
Sometimes it is also up to the skater to "sell" the program. I was never fond of Michelle's SOTBS even when she skated it perfectly at Worlds, it took me a couple of viewings to appreciate it and it was truly a masterpiece.
I thought the swashbuckling swordfight of Alexei's Iron Mask was cheesy but he really "sold" that program. And it is one of my favorite. I love Sasha's Rach and Swan Lake 1. But the footwork on the Rach was very dramatic. Her R&J was just lovely until she watered it down at 2005 Nats. So I'm hoping that TT and MK will have a good working relationship where both can feed off artistic inspiration from each other like how Lori N. and Michelle have that simpatico partnership.
Grand Prix
I firmly believe that if Michelle does not do the Grand Prix Series she will not medal at the Olympics. The ISU and Speedy will see to it. I don't think I am paranoid either. They won't tolerate it, if she is the only top flight competitor not to compete in the series (unless, God forbid, she is clearly injured). She would have to skate the second coming of Lyra Angelica and Salome combined (with added combinations) to even come close to medaling.
I firmly believe that if Michelle does not do the Grand Prix Series she will not medal at the Olympics. The ISU and Speedy will see to it. I don't think I am paranoid either. They won't tolerate it, if she is the only top flight competitor not to compete in the series (unless, God forbid, she is clearly injured). She would have to skate the second coming of Lyra Angelica and Salome combined (with added combinations) to even come close to medaling.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
Problem is no one really knows the real reason for her not doing GPs. There are many assumptions. She will be skatikng the Campbells and the Marshalls (I presume) as wll as the Nationals. Then on to the Olys and Worlds(?).kyla2 said:
I think also it will do her harm not to skate the GPs, but I don't think there will be a backlash from the ISU or Speedy if she skips the GPs. There is plenty of interest in the Olys this year with or without MK. It should be an exciting event.
Joe
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- Joined
- Jul 31, 2003
kyla2 said:
I do agree with the first statement (about not winning the OGM without the GP's). However, I don't think it will be because of Speedy or anyone else. It is simply necessary for her to get the feedback from international judges, and to get used to the COP scoring. Will she not learn from what happened at the 2005 worlds? I would rather see her do the GP's and not even medal there, vs. win the cheesefests, if that helps her have great programs in the Olympics (good enough to win the gold).
Vash
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
I think that if Michelle does the Grand Prix (which I think she will) she had better bring her "A" game from the get-go. If she comes out in the GP with a lackadasical attitude and a half-baked program, and finishes third or off the podium, this will plant a dangerous seed in the judges' minds.Vash01 said:
We all know that skaters are judged in part on reputation. This is not a knock on the judges, it's just human nature. Michelle went from first to third to fourth at the last three world championships, and has not done any other serious international competitions in two years. If she does not make a statement this season, early and loud, she will not be able to count on those automatic high PCSs that her competitors will garner at Torino.
Mathman
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