- Joined
- Feb 5, 2012
I agree with the Russians. Beauty in skating is no longer truly appreciated. It is all about the points now.
You have a point there, bsfan, I honestly lost interest in pairs (except for the USA) after 2002. I do like Shen & Zhao and think they should be commended for never giving up, persevering, and staying in the game while into their mid-30's. However, Shen's positions come nowhere close to someone like Elena Berezhynia & Ekaterina Gordeeva. And though S&Z's throws were HUGE, the technique was not good; Zhao's feet always left the ice when he threw Shen. This is also what cost Artur Dmietriev the gold in 1994; his technique on replay was the same as Zhao's, whereas the split screen showed the correct way to do it, that of Sergei Grinkov, feet firmly planted on the ice and the flow he still carried after throwing Katia into the air. These little things may not seem like much, but they do matter, especially when it comes time to deciding who should win ~ apples versus oranges ~ that was the famous saying at the 1994 Olympics in Pairs.
I'd rather see an element done right with perfect technique versus a harder one with imperfect technique. Hopefully the powers-that-be are reading this thread and institute some changes to bring back the beauty in skating. Jmho.
I'd hate to go against the grain....but I love how COP has made figure skating so much more sport-like. For me, and I think the reason I fell in love with it, is that it is first and foremost a sport (I know, sorry, bringing up the sport v art debate) and that a great skater brings a clean showing....but a brilliant skater can touch you in unimaginable ways within the great skate. Skaters' opinions which show a fustration with how "ugly" or "technical" skating now is don't hold much water in my mind....if you want to make it beautiful and a show, thats for YOU to do within the completion of the elements. Alissa Czisny, Sasha Cohen, Castile/Okolski ('07 nationals LP) Davis/White have all done this exceptionally well, to point out the Americans who I watch the most.