Retirements Going Into 2015-16 Season | Page 4 | Golden Skate

Retirements Going Into 2015-16 Season

I think Sam has potential to make a great coach. I suspect we will see her behind the boards with her own skaters very soon.

She does have an ability to capture attention, I suspect she will be able to translate that to keeping the attention of young skaters as a coach and inspiring them to want to keep skating.
 
Really, Sammi? The "new system"? You mean the "new system" that's been in place since you were 10 years old? Maybe even younger than that?

That just struck me as a really weird phrasing and made me think the accusation people loved to throw at Scott Hamilton of not understanding the IJS was symptomatic of a deeper issue. When you've got a young skater complaining about the "new system" when that system was in place probably since said skater was a Juvenile...that's an issue.
 
Yeah, I'm not sure I buy the whole 'it's the new systems fault' excuse since im pretty sure something ~ 10 years old ceases to be new.

That said I can't begin to imagine how frustrating it must be for skaters like Cesario who get so close to the top only to fall just short of national and international success. To know you are so close but know logically you can't make up the difference. It isn't the kindest sport in that regard.

I hope she finds sucess and happiness as a coach.
 
The exact quote regarding her scores was: "Unfortunately, at times, the new system didn't lend itself to my strong suits and that is something that wasn't always easy to deal with."

The subhead ("Skater cites recurring injures, restrictive judging system in decision") sounded more sour grapes then what was actually said, IMO. I don't think it's unreasonable to say that what judges prefer didn't mesh with one's strengths. Had she competed in 6.0, her clean skates and performance ability probably would have fared better.

Her performance ability couldn't overcome the struggles of injuries that kept her from getting level 4 spins or improving in areas that receive greater reward, i.e. speed, ice coverage.

I don´t know the entire article sounds very bad.

And as some have pointed out, is a system that have been in place for a long time now, since she was like 11 years old, maybe she should have get use to it by know.
 
I am not sure it is really "blaming the new system". I think what she says is quite accurate actually.
She says the new system didn't lend itself to her strengths and that is true. Under the 6.0 system she probably would have had a lot more success since it rewarded consistency and artistic impression, which she has.
The new system rewards technical accuracy and skating skills the most, which are not her strengths. I don't think saying the new system didn't reward her strengths but other things is false or out of place.
And I understand that sometimes coming to terms with that must have been hard.

Anyways, good luck to her!
 
I am not sure it is really "blaming the new system". I think what she says is quite accurate actually.
She says the new system didn't lend itself to her strengths and that is true. Under the 6.0 system she probably would have had a lot more success since it rewarded consistency and artistic impression, which she has.
The new system rewards technical accuracy and skating skills the most, which are not her strengths. I don't think saying the new system didn't reward her strengths but other things is false or out of place.
And I understand that sometimes coming to terms with that must have been hard.

Anyways, good luck to her!

Yeah, she didn't sound like sour grapes to me personally. It sounds like she was coming to terms of her own personal limitations that she believe would keep her from succeeding under the current competitive environment, including the scoring system. She didn't trash other competitors nor did she call for reform or change, simply noting her own limitations for success.

As the old saying says, insanity is trying the same thing hoping for a different result. She's choosing the opposite -- going in a different path.
 
Yeah, she didn't sound like sour grapes to me personally. It sounds like she was coming to terms of her own personal limitations that she believe would keep her from succeeding under the current competitive environment, including the scoring system. She didn't trash other competitors nor did she call for reform or change, simply noting her own limitations for success.

As the old saying says, insanity is trying the same thing hoping for a different result. She's choosing the opposite -- going in a different path.

i totally agree with you! ;) and she didn't sound sour to me either
 
But is it really the case that she would have done better in the old system? Whose to say that the skaters now who had more success than she did would not have done so in the 6.0 system as well. If a skating system has been in place since pretty much her whole competitive career, wouldn't you say it is more an issue of how the skater was trained rather than any limitations of the system to recognize her strengths?

She is a wonderful skater and I wish she could have maybe tried with a new environment and coach just to see if she could have taken it to another level before retiring. But maybe some issues are too late to fix. I also wish there are more skating opportunities where she could showcase herself. What's the chance of her being picked up for Stars on Ice? I think it would be a great place for her.
 

Aww I'm really sad to hear that she has decided to retire, I wanted to see what she could do after Carmen because even though she lacked in a lot of areas, I enjoyed her Carmen every time. I was wondering if she would go to a new coach to fix her URs and improve her speed and ice coverage

and this system may have been around for 10 years but the rules have been tweaked a lot over the years and for the first few years coaches and skaters weren't really accustomed to it yet, the system came into play when she was about 11, the system was probably still getting itself together while she was learning a lot of her foundation. I don't really remember that far back since I was like her age though so I may be wrong. Either way she was only focusing on herself and how she felt she fared under the system, I don't see it as sour grapes
 
But is it really the case that she would have done better in the old system? Whose to say that the skaters now who had more success than she did would not have done so in the 6.0 system as well. If a skating system has been in place since pretty much her whole competitive career, wouldn't you say it is more an issue of how the skater was trained rather than any limitations of the system to recognize her strengths?

She probably would have done significantly better in the old system, because URs and <<s weren't as harshly punished or even scruitinised. Flutzes, URs, <<s, lips, they were all overlooked routinely under 6.0. So skaters like Sammi and Mirai would have done very well.

Now, the ISU has (sensibly) decided that these problems need to be addressed and punished, and skilled, experienced technical specialists analyse slo-mo replays.
 
That was an articulate and eloquent post. Sounds like he thought this retirement through.
 
Last edited:
Doug Razzano is such a classy guy. I really enjoyed his programs and passion for skating. Very glad that he will stay involved with the sport.
 
I don't know if this has been mentioned here on GS or not - at any rate I haven't seen it if it has - but over at FSU there is a thread about Rockne Brubaker & Stefania Berton having got married - Congratulations! - and also it seems that they are retired, and are now skating directors:

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...d-stefania-berton-as-skating-directors.95761/

I'm not sure if the latter is "news" or no, but as I myself hadn't seen it before, I thought maybe at least some others may not have either. I was rather hoping - though perhaps it was unlikely - that they would compete as a pair. But I wish them the best - and lots of happiness - in their joint future.:)
 
Back
Top