Plushenko's Return

[Vash01]

Now I watched both with the help of youtube I think his programs(both but especially the Lp) are rough. I understand it is first time skated but they seem unfinished to me and I m not even bothering comparing right now to any of the top men. But I kept the positive, new spins, sequence of salcow that I love and wearing colors,I find his guts to keep skating and not blowing the beginning of his season supernatural and inspiring. While watching I was thinking how he doesnt show his stress. I enjoyed this comeback much more than the previous cause he looks happy while skating. I ve missed skaters looking happy and relaxed. The marks were unreal but at this point I dont really care. I hope his team will do what they did with Arthur and enhance choreo and transitions.
People think that skaters fans are seeing all rose but I believe many fans critisize harder than normal viewers cause they know all his programs competitive or not. When he had debuted the Vancouver programs he had some steps and hands__bad habits- that he was brininging from his long absence and shows and it annoyed the hell of me, minor stuff but me knowing all his programs by heart it looked like he would never get rid of them, and he managed to surprise me this weekend, he cut them off. Thats a huge step for me, to surprise a fan

Why can't you simply accept that he has been injured most of the season, went through surgeries and did not have much training time? How many skaters aged 29 do what he did at the Russian nationals, particullarly without much training time? Give credit where it's due. I have always been a Plushenko fan for what he does well, and he has the greatest presence on the ice. Nobody is perfect. His courage has made me a bigger fan.

 

[Bluebonnet]

I'm very happy and congratulations to Plushenko who has won the nineth National title! Even though I didn't fully enjoy his both SP and LP of this year, I still got the vibes from his 120% effort and commitment. I still felt the excitement when he competed.

 

[seniorita]

Why can't you simply accept that he has been injured most of the season, went through surgeries and did not have much training time? How many skaters aged 29 do what he did at the Russian nationals, particullarly without much training time? Give credit where it's due. I have always been a Plushenko fan for what he does well, and he has the greatest presence on the ice. Nobody is perfect. His courage has made me a bigger fan.

??? Moi?
Come on, I know Nadine is the queen of plushfandom but please dont take my small crown and make me apologise like I said something mean for Plushy! And I said what he did was supernatural. I know pretty well he was / is injured. I was just writing why i believe his programs are not ready yet and he didnt compete for 2 years so it wouldnt be any point to compare him with the top skaters right now. And the marks in nationals dont matter, he could take an indication about his levels though. At least me I didnt try to break down his skate and start with he misses transitions, he misses combos etc. I dont mind anymore what he will put on the ice and who will beat him, I just watch happy. And I said the programs surprised me, isnt it hard to surprise a long time fan?
If you see golden skate article he pretty much says the same, that he isnt in a level for euros and worlds yet.
I dont know how my post came out to look negative but I really really am excited.

 

[sorcerer]

If you see golden skate article he pretty much says the same, that he isnt in a level for euros and worlds yet.

Thanks, I read the article, and very impressed by Plushy's own words.

http://www.goldenskate.com/2011/12/plushenko-wins-ninth-national-title/

“I have lots and lots of things to work on,” admitted the champion. “There were plenty of issues and plenty of empty spots, but all these can be corrected. This will be my first goal after I return home and start to prepare for the European and World Championships. I will improve both the short and the long programs. I might even have new costumes and make some changes to the music.”
“Frankly, the shape I am in now is not the one for European or World Championships,” Plushenko confessed. “It would have been madness even to contemplate it."
"I still have another surgery planned on my left knee. The doctors should finish working their magic and cleaning my meniscus. I hope that afterwards I will finally be able to train at full strength.”

I think what the judges wanted to give him, and this unconsciously, is that most needed confidence which tells him competing won't ruin his prestige.

 

[Olympia]

??? Moi?
Come on, I know Nadine is the queen of plushfandom but please dont take my small crown and make me apologise like I said something mean for Plushy! And I said what he did was supernatural. I know pretty well he was / is injured. I was just writing why i believe his programs are not ready yet and he didnt compete for 2 years so it wouldnt be any point to compare him with the top skaters right now. And the marks in nationals dont matter, he could take an indication about his levels though. At least me I didnt try to break down his skate and start with he misses transitions, he misses combos etc. I dont mind anymore what he will put on the ice and who will beat him, I just watch happy. And I said the programs surprised me, isnt it hard to surprise a long time fan?
If you see golden skate article he pretty much says the same, that he isnt in a level for euros and worlds yet.
I dont know how my post came out to look negative but I really really am excited.

Seniorita, I take your evaluation in the spirit in which it's given. I know you're a huge Plushy fan (with a very bright crown!), and you wouldn't bring up the program's shortcomings for any other reason except to wish him better results. From what you say, it sounds as if some of the flaws of the program are not a result of his surgery and ongoing recovery but of the program's construction. I think that's an important point, and if Plushenko makes those changes, he can have a better program with the very same knee he had this weekend. I'd like to see that, too. It would be hugely satisfying to see Plushy remain at the top of Russian skating.

 

[Dragonlady]

Plushenko may be 29 years old but his knees have aged in dog years. Each comeback has been cut short by injuries and surgeries. Plushenko was supposed to be skating the GP's. When he dropped out of the GP, he was still going to do Nationals, Europeans and Worlds. Now it's just Nationals and we'll see. I'm not holding my breath he'll make it back for Socchi.

 

[seniorita]

^ I think he never had an assignement and was never supposed to skate to Cor this season, he announced it quite early he wouldnt.
About Euros: I dont know how he would compete in Euros, he doesnt have a minimum international score this season and no b events from now up to end of January. And why going to do a full competition schedule with two extreme difficult seasons to come till Sochi. Still by fs standars, it is not like all skaters at 29 could come back on his level..and he is not the only one who is injured or has knee problems, Daisuke came back after a surgery and he is brand new and better than before.

Seniorita, I take your evaluation in the spirit in which it's given. I know you're a huge Plushy fan (with a very bright crown!), and you wouldn't bring up the program's shortcomings for any other reason except to wish him better results. From what you say, it sounds as if some of the flaws of the program are not a result of his surgery and ongoing recovery but of the program's construction. I think that's an important point, and if Plushenko makes those changes, he can have a better program with the very same knee he had this weekend. I'd like to see that, too. It would be hugely satisfying to see Plushy remain at the top of Russian skating.

I believe it is a combination of both; surgery and adjusting process. Mishin quote from yesterday press conference was that " vancouver was excursion, sochi will be encircling operation" , I never manage to undersdtand Mishin and his metaphores though if he could skate the Zulin program he had before his surgery with all the jumps he would do it, it was a very promising program with character from beginning to end, I believe he cant right now. Anyway me I see he took his note from Vancouver and works in that direction, how easy is to change your style of skating at this age? And I dont expect him to be Chan, Kozuka or Daisuke. And after watching the videos carefully I believe people who say it is the same old stuff he did either miss the pcs bullets or didnt actually watch the whole program. (sth Buttercup mentioned in pet peeve thread that I agree). For me programs are much more ambitious-even without the holy transitions- than Vancouver ones whicH i never really liked.(ouf now I can say it )

 

[prettykeys]

Now I watched both with the help of youtube I think his programs(both but especially the Lp) are rough. I understand it is first time skated but they seem unfinished to me and I m not even bothering comparing right now to any of the top men. But I kept the positive, new spins, sequence of salcow that I love and wearing colors,I find his guts to keep skating and not blowing the beginning of his season supernatural and inspiring. While watching I was thinking how he doesnt show his stress. I enjoyed this comeback much more than the previous cause he looks happy while skating. I ve missed skaters looking happy and relaxed. The marks were unreal but at this point I dont really care. I hope his team will do what they did with Arthur and enhance choreo and transitions.
People think that skaters fans are seeing all rose but I believe many fans critisize harder than normal viewers cause they know all his programs competitive or not. When he had debuted the Vancouver programs he had some steps and hands__bad habits- that he was brininging from his long absence and shows and it annoyed the hell of me, minor stuff but me knowing all his programs by heart it looked like he would never get rid of them, and he managed to surprise me this weekend, he cut them off. Thats a huge step for me, to surprise a fan

Why can't you simply accept that he has been injured most of the season, went through surgeries and did not have much training time? How many skaters aged 29 do what he did at the Russian nationals, particullarly without much training time? Give credit where it's due. I have always been a Plushenko fan for what he does well, and he has the greatest presence on the ice. Nobody is perfect. His courage has made me a bigger fan.

I agree with both of you. Not his best skates this weekend, not in full power if he continues to train...but I am surprised at how much of his abilities he has retained, especially given his age, injuries/surgeries and how his knees and hips must be damaged at this point. His beautiful, effortless triple Axels were the most shocking--how can he still do them, like that? And of course, he hasn't lost an ounce of his charisma.

Still, Plushenko has his work cut out for him. I went back to watch Chan and Takahashi. Plushenko will have to find some way to catch up to them...

 

[seniorita]

Still, Plushenko has his work cut out for him. I went back to watch Chan and Takahashi. Plushenko will have to find some way to catch up to them...

MAybe he wont catch them, he cant catch every top skater since the era of Stoijko and Eldredge. I m thinking realistically

His beautiful, effortless triple Axels were the most shocking--how can he still do them, like that? And of course, he hasn't lost an ounce of his charisma.

I love japanese fans, they made jpgs of every little thing that mpressed them of his programs, but my fav was this , I think after that axel I didnt really watch the program live, I was searching for my jaw on the floor.♥

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

You know, when Plushenko said he was coming back for the Olympics (2010), I doubted him. I thought that the sport had moved on, that he wouldn't be anywhere near his best, that the crop of men at their best would be too good for him. Well, then he ripped of a 4-3 at CoR as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and Vash is right - few skaters project the COMMAND that he does. There is no doubt that he's doing what comes most naturally to him, doing what he's best at, and doing what few men were, and are, capable of. I don't care for his programs, but at this juncture, that's almost besides the point. What he is still capable of doing.... the man is unreal.

And for all the dismissals Mishin takes for his choreography, the man is clearly a legend in terms of jump technique. That 3A......

 

[Olympia]

Agreed, Pogue. I was so conscious of his command when I was watching the Olympics in 2010. Every four years I spend half the Olympics with my heart in my mouth, terrified that I'm going to be seeing agonizing meltdowns. It's so painful watching people's dreams die in the space of a few minutes.

But not that night. I wasn't nervous in the slightest that Evgeny would trip or bobble or put a hand down or buckle under the stress. He was glacially calm and tough as nails. Russia is lucky to have him still, and so are the rest of us. You don't even have to be a particular fan of his to be enriched by what he brings to the ice.

 

[Violet Bliss]

He was glacially calm and tough as nails.

Glaciers are not usually associated with calm but I guess they are.

 

[Mathman]

Well, I never heard of one throwing a tantrum.

But "glacial calm" is a phrase. Referring to the demeanor of someone who is "coldly imperturbable."

 

[Violet Bliss]

Well, I never heard of one throwing a tantrum.

But "glacial calm" is a phrase. Referring to the demeanor of someone who is "coldly imperturbable."

Thanks for the enlightenment. I had immediate speed related thought. I have so much to learn about English.

In return, I would note a not so well known phemenon concerning glaciers and global warming which is supposed to melt them and raise sea level. In Alaska, some homeowners have had their land by the sea extended 20 ft because the glacial melt releases weight on the land mass which actually rises.

 

[Tonichelle]

In return, I would note a not so well known phemenon concerning glaciers and global warming which is supposed to melt them and raise sea level. In Alaska, some homeowners have had their land by the sea extended 20 ft because the glacial melt releases weight on the land mass which actually rises.

I would LOVE to know where this happened? Our coastal areas are being swept away due to erosion... and I live in a glacier fed part of the state.

 

[emma]

Totally agree with IP above! Really, Plushy is amazing in what he can do well.

About the Olympics - I remained stunned that he was as competitive as he was; I don't recall any of his landings being great in that LP, and what is just so remarkable to me is that had he landed those jumps better....well, enough said. There were so many men threatening that podium and he brought his competitive spirit, despite perhaps nerves or something with imperfect landings, and just said: I'm sticking these landing darn it, and he did.

I can't think of many competitors (Witt for sure, but hard to think of many others) with the kind of determination and nerve control as well as unbridled charisma that Plushy has (like Dick Button, I'm not in love with his programs on many occasions, but I simply cannot take my eyes off him and truly love it when he is in a comp, it just changes everything), plus the skill to do and land those hard jumps (he truly is cat-like, I think Button may have said that too), and I have to say it: at his age AND after so many surgeries. Really remarkable.

 

[Nadine]

A bit scary how some “fans” might react to his programs.

Ita.

 

[Mathman]

While I'm in the dressing room five minutes before I come out, I'm breaking my gloves down, I'm pushing the leather to the back of my gloves, so my knuckle could pierce through. When I come out I have supreme confidence. I'm scared to death. I'm afraid. I'm afraid of everything. I'm afraid of losing. I'm afraid of being humiliated. But I'm confident. The closer I get to the ring the more confident I get. The closer, the more confident. The closer the more confident I get. All during training I ve been afraid of this man. I think this man might be capable of beating me. I've dreamed of him beating me. For that I've always stayed afraid of him. The closer I get to the ring the more confident I get. Once I'm in the ring I'm a god. No one could beat me. I walk around the ring but I never take my eyes off my opponent. Even if he's ready and pumping, and can't wait to get his hands on me. I keep my eyes on him. I keep my eyes on him. Then once I see a chink in his armor, boom, one of his eyes may move, and then I know I have him. Then once he comes to the center of the ring he looks at me with his piercing look as if he's not afraid. But he already made that mistake when he looked down for that one tenth of a second. I know I have him. He'll fight hard for the first two or three rounds, but I know I broke his spirit. During the fight I'm supremely confident. I'm making him miss and I'm countering. I'm hitting him to the body; I'm punching him real hard. And I'm punching him, and I'm punching him, and I know he's gonna take my punches. He goes down, he's out. I'm victorious. -- Mike Tyson, greatest fighter that ever lived.

And if that doesn't work, you can always bite the other guy's ear off.

 

[seniorita]

^
Dont give any ideas to Plushy.

 

[derplutz]

Isn't that amazing that all these veterans, Plushenko, Takahashi, Joubert, and Abbott, want to continue to Sochi?!

love it