Latest Kwan News (?)

[kyla2]

Hmmmm....

I have really mixed feelings about this. They are both wonderful in their own right, but I am not sure TT's style suits Michelle. To me, Michelle is more of a finesse skater a la Lori Nichols. But I guess we shall see. I hope there is a magical melding of style and substance with these two, and that they produce a CoP program that is competitive with the best out there. One thing is true, TT loads her programs with transitions and choreography, and Michelle is one skater who can certainly handle that kind of program. Let's hope it still looks the same from the beginning of the season to the end, and no one trims it down to a bare bones program.

 

[Eeyora]

I hope it's true. I think MK needs a good strategy when it comes to choreography. Michelle already has the soul and musicality.

 

[antmanb]

I have mixed feelings about this pairing :scratch: :scratch: . Regardless of what you think of Kwan, she has a style uniquely her own and what concerns me most about this pairing is:

1. The creation of a program that screams “TT did it!” b/c it looks like every other program TT has choreography. TT’s good, but just because it looks good on someone else, doesn’t mean it’s very flattering on you.
2. Music. She plays it soooo safe. One thing I do like about Kwan is that she doesn’t always skate to the top 40 skating music songs. I’ll gag if I hear this kind of music from Kwan…it’s so beneath her. Kwan’s demonstrated that she can skate to unique music, so why not continue to.

The idea of Kwan skating some Swan Lake-Dark Eyes-boring-typical-classical-music-that-everyone-else-has music, would be such a disappointment. IMO, it would be a HUGE regression for Kwan’s. Personally, I would have to question why she is even skating this year. Kwan has always “done it her way”, and wants to “push the envelope” so to betray that spirit by choosing some generic-pretty-classical-music would have me questioning her motives for Turino. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but I would view it as the “easy” way out, rather than sticking to what she does best and doing it her way.

To be fair Tosca and Bolero were not unique pieces of music to skate to so i don't think (for the last couple of seasons anyway) that she has been skating to unique music really.

Secondly, I do think TT can bring out some of the in-betweens that have over time, evaporated from Kwan’s programs. I understand the idea of simplicity and making the few movements really mean something, but IMO, Kwan’s just been skating from element to element. I WOULD NOT however, want to see any of the same TT trademark moves that we see in all the other TT programs…esp. the whacky toe-pick footwork.

That is something that started while Morozov and TT were still working together and Kwan's had her few seasons of Morozov straight line toe picky picky footwork already which i thought was fantastic in the Feeling Begins, and also CoP rewards uses the toe picks/heels as a nother factor to bump up a level in the footwork so i don't think it would be a bad thing in terms of point scoring.

Ant

 

[antmanb]

I think this is exactly what Michelle should do, though I am sceptical it is true as well. Tatiana has been known to completely turn around skaters but not change their personal style significantly, and this is exactly what Michelle needs. Especially the part that many previous posters have stated, CoP. Not having a CoP friendly program killed Michelle last year. Do we know yet if she is going to be on the Grand Prix? I'm really hoping that she is! My the Grand Prix is going to be so exciting with all the biggest players on the field!

I don't really get this...what was COP unfriendly about her programs last year? By worlds she was spinning on the inside edge on backspins was trying three jump combos, she's alway had straightline footwork into her repeated triple lutz...what else could have made her program more CoP friendly, her placement at worlds was due to missing jumps/making mistakes in the spiral sequence in qualifying i thought.

Ant

 

[antmanb]

If Kwan wants to get some serious CoP feedback and the rules still allow her to skip the GP (a BIG IF, considering the ISU's circular letter threatening federations if they don't produce their big names for the GP) is to do the 4CCs.

With it being what 2 weeks before the Olympics or some completely stupid timing like that i can't imagine anyone who is competing in the Olympics attending that competition so close to the Olympics. Competing in 4CC would be more foolish than skipping the GP for Kwan IMO.

Ant

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Joe, I know Raphael has done a fabulours job with MK's technical, not only jump, spins and footworks, hech even stroking. He had her do new type stroking in practice. Sure he knows what the critirial to be called at which level for all the movements MK included in her program. He had explicitly measure/timing her spiral at the rinks, told her where to start where to put down her free leg so that ensure it was called the level they intended to. Counted in practice how many revolution how fast a spin should be to meet the certain level requirement. But from all I heard about him he is not good or no patient on crunching the numbers. The CoP is all about the numbers. Besides TT knows where to insert those MIFs. So far, MK still is the one who can perform most different number of MIFs among the top ladies. Though she may not doing them in her competetive program in past couple of years. But she still has them in her exhibition. Let's see what TT will do with MK's collective MIFs.

Mzheng - Raf is a coach not a choreographer. We know he has made MK's technical solid. I am sure he wanted more MIF's in the program but I believe she left them out. I listed them in another thread. She had been doing them for years and suddenly stopped even before Raf. With both him and TT in her camp (presumbably) it will be the best possible world for her. Remember, the buck stops at the sktater!!! not the coach or the choreographer.
Joe

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Just another thought! ​

If the rumor of Michelle having choreography by Tatiana is true, I would think that this action has already happened and MK is back in California working on the new choreography with Raf and Tatiana is working with Weir and others for the rest of the Summer.

Joe

 

[flowjo35]

Joe, actually I believe the poster stated that TT left this weekend so she would still be with Michelle.

I think this would be a good match. TT is very good with getting COP points and she seems to be friendly with Michelle, which would make working together easier. Some people are saying Michelle has taken out MITF from her programs, but do we know what was in the original programs to begin with? She has stated I believe that the judges wanted more speed and jumps, so thats what she gave them. Hopefully this season she will have things in her programs like she had in the past but was not rewarded as much as it would be now. All we can do is wait and see.

 

[mzheng]

With it being what 2 weeks before the Olympics or some completely stupid timing like that i can't imagine anyone who is competing in the Olympics attending that competition so close to the Olympics. Competing in 4CC would be more foolish than skipping the GP for Kwan IMO.

Ant

Agree. at 2002 non of US or any other country's top lady went to 4CC. It was Jenny Kirk who won the title.

Back on TT, I trust she is profesional. Nothing should delight her more than to create another mast piece on Olympic Ice. However like Joe said

[bold]
Remember, the buck stops at the sktater!!! not the coach or the choreographer.
[/bold]

If anyone can pull off TT's choreo to full potential. It's MK. Hope she really go for it this time.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Joe, actually I believe the poster stated that TT left this weekend so she would still be with Michelle.

Interesting flowjo but I am not sure what you meant. TT left Russia to go to Connecticut? TT left Connecticut to go to California? Which?

If she is going to California she just might be checking out the new rink.

Joe

 

[vixen62025]

As I understand the situation, TT left Connecticut on Sunday to begin working with Kwan this week. Rafael left Russia this weekend, and should also be back in California to start working with MK and TT.

Per Tony, MK was never in Connecticut, but per rumors I've heard, she was there in early may to meet with TT (I assume, regarding musical choices and signing contracts).

 

[mzheng]

Saturday.

 

[skatingfan5]

TT is NOT a California girl!

There was a commentator at Moscow Worlds that mentioned TT as saying Michelle skated the best of the bunch but not competitively. So there is interest in Michelle as well as the new rink in California which first came to my mind.

I don't understand where people are actually thinking that TT would be considering a move to the East-West Ice Palace. That makes no sense at all -- because it would mean moving her co-workers (Evgeny Platov and others) as well as her ice dance teams, the singles skaters she is coaching (including Shizuka when she is in the US), not to mention finding a new place to live and making arrangements for her house in CT. As I said, it makes no sense at all, so I don't understand the discussion about this possibility. Of course, I'll eat a large portion of crow if it actually happens.

Anyway, all I have heard is the one post by Tony Wheeler, in which he says that he has heard that TT left CT last weekend to go to California to work with Michelle on choreography (he didn't even know if it was for more than one program). There is also a very recent article about Shizuka in which she reports that she will be back to the US later this summer (having spent a month working with TT on her new competitive programs), for further training with Tarasova and to have her exhibition program choreographed. Can anyone actually see her training in California with TT at MK's rink? Anyway, I am hoping for the best from the collaboration of Tarasova and Kwan (and RA as well).

 

[Doggygirl]

I don't understand where people are actually thinking that TT would be considering a move to the East-West Ice Palace.

Speaking only for myself, it's just sheer-unadulterated-complete-speculation-for-fun in this off season.

DG

 

[curious]

We are going to see some changes,just not the kind some people expect . Mami tarasova's coreo is not going to transform michell into something she is not,people have to realize that. let's see what happens

 

[euterpe]

What TT's choreo will do is give Kwan the moves that will rack up the high CoP points. That is what Kwan needs to be competitive in Torino. Remember, with a program lacking in CoP value that she never got emotionally into, and a QR that was an unmitigated disaster, she fell just 0.37 short of the podium.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

What TT's choreo will do is give Kwan the moves that will rack up the high CoP points. That is what Kwan needs to be competitive in Torino. Remember, with a program lacking in CoP value that she never got emotionally into, and a QR that was an unmitigated disaster, she fell just 0.37 short of the podium.

ITA... :yes:

This should be a heck of a year...

KW

 

[Tony Wheeler]

Tarasova is not moving to California!

 

[attyfan]

With it being what 2 weeks before the Olympics or some completely stupid timing like that i can't imagine anyone who is competing in the Olympics attending that competition so close to the Olympics. Competing in 4CC would be more foolish than skipping the GP for Kwan IMO.

Ant

I agree that skipping the GP would be idiotic, but I think she needs pre-Olys CoP experience from international judges in something more serious than a cheesefest.I think the 4CCs is two weeks before opening ceremony; the ladies don't skate until the last week of Olys, so I figured that if she did the 4CCs, she would have about a month before she had to compete at Olys. Also, this year, the 4CCs are in Colorado, so travel should not be much of a problem for her. (BTW -- ITA with you that Kwan's placement at Worlds was due to mistakes)

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Tarasova is not moving to California!

Why not? While she's there,she could do the remake of 'All About Eve' playing Margo to Pricilla Hill's Eve! with Robin Wagner in the Monroe role. Of course, Tony, you would be Addison DeWitt.

Joe