Retirements Going Into 2015-16 Season

[Tutto]

Kiira is not injured but she lost her motivation to compete. She will definitely continue skating like shows. She will be at Finlandia Trophy.
At least she will make it easier for one of Finnish young skaters to get to Europeans and Worlds as only one can get this season.
In Finnish http://www.stll.fi/?x2126=6220445

Maybe she hasn't be injured again but I believe her not fully resolved injuries are the main reason for her retirement, here is article in English:

http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2015...retires-announces-retirement-from-competition

Her retirement makes me so sad, there is just no one like her maybe Gracie comes closest amongst current ladies in elegance & beauty but not close enough
Kiira you will be missed!!! A Stealing Beauty...Good luck to you in whatever you do in future

 

[apgold]

Does Kiira have any costume design skills? Her dresses were always unique and elegant looking. Her boyfriend is in the fashion industry - maybe they can start designing costumes?

 

[Barb]

Maybe she hasn't be injured again but I believe her not fully resolved injuries are the main reason for her retirement, here is article in English:

http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2015...retires-announces-retirement-from-competition

Her retirement makes me so sad, there is just no one like her maybe Gracie comes closest amongst current ladies in elegance & beauty but not close enough
Kiira you will be missed!!! A Stealing Beauty...Good luck to you in whatever you do in future

 

[TheGrandSophy]

Maybe she hasn't be injured again but I believe her not fully resolved injuries are the main reason for her retirement, here is article in English:

http://www.icenetwork.com/news/2015...retires-announces-retirement-from-competition

Her retirement makes me so sad, there is just no one like her maybe Gracie comes closest amongst current ladies in elegance & beauty but not close enough
Kiira you will be missed!!! A Stealing Beauty...Good luck to you in whatever you do in future

I am a little uncomfortable with that comment because holding up Gracie as the only one getting close perpetuates Western society's white blonde as the only possible pinnacle of elegance and beauty. Don't get me wrong Kiira is a very beautiful and elegant woman; however, there are all sorts of other 'types' of beauty. I am sure you didn't mean it like that, but there is a danger that we can all be rather too complicit in the exaltation of the Ice Princess, IMO.

 

[Tutto]

I am a little uncomfortable with that comment because holding up Gracie as the only one getting close perpetuates Western society's white blonde as the only possible pinnacle of elegance and beauty. Don't get me wrong Kiira is a very beautiful and elegant woman; however, there are all sorts of other 'types' of beauty. I am sure you didn't mean it like that, but there is a danger that we can all be rather too complicit in the exaltation of the Ice Princess, IMO.

I assure you that it is pure incidental that they are both blond. As a matter of fact I referred to qualities both Kiira & Gracie share namely their elegance, dress sense, attention to detail like a hairdo, colour of nail polish, no ugly tights over the skates thing (the personal pet hate of mine) none of which has anything to do with a hair colour. Their physical beauty only enhances the overall impression created by all the above.

 

[silverfoxes]

I am a little uncomfortable with that comment because holding up Gracie as the only one getting close perpetuates Western society's white blonde as the only possible pinnacle of elegance and beauty. Don't get me wrong Kiira is a very beautiful and elegant woman; however, there are all sorts of other 'types' of beauty. I am sure you didn't mean it like that, but there is a danger that we can all be rather too complicit in the exaltation of the Ice Princess, IMO.

They are both attractive, but I can think of a dozen other skaters (maybe 2 or 3 dozen), at least, who I would consider more beautiful. It's extremely subjective. And since when does elegance come down to nail polish and hairdos? How shallow...and none of this has anything to do with skating, does it?

 

[silverlake22]

I assure you that it is pure incidental that they are both blond. As a matter of fact I referred to qualities both Kiira & Gracie share namely their elegance, dress sense, attention to detail like a hairdo, colour of nail polish, no ugly tights over the skates thing (the personal pet hate of mine) none of which has anything to do with a hair colour. Their physical beauty only enhances the overall impression created by all the above.

They are both very pretty, but Gracie isn't even a natural blonde! I personally think she'd look better as a brunette honestly but it's not my decision.

 

[Tutto]

They are both attractive, but I can think of a dozen other skaters (maybe 2 or 3 dozen), at least, who I would consider more beautiful. It's extremely subjective. And since when does elegance come down to nail polish and hairdos? How shallow...and none of this has anything to do with skating, does it?

Oddly both ladies also have superb SS and yes an elegant lady pays attention to every small detail of her appearance a nail polish included. Devil is in detail you know. A woman in a beautiful dress but with chipped nails & messy hair will never be considered elegant. One of reasons I never could take to Adelina no matter how good a skater she is, that she seemed not care at all how she looked out there on the ice.

 

[TheGrandSophy]

Oh, gawd, if we are going to go the whole hog and talk about being 'a lady' that becomes even more problematic because it can be a very gendered and class-bound description. I believe that has caused real problems in FS as these narrow expectations have held back women who have stepped outside those confines (just as attitudes towards masculinity have affected some men in the sport).

 

[chuckm]

They are both very pretty, but Gracie isn't even a natural blonde! I personally think she'd look better as a brunette honestly but it's not my decision.

She may not be that dark a brunette so maybe blonde is more flattering for her.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Oh, gawd, if we are going to go the whole hog and talk about being 'a lady' that becomes even more problematic because it can be a very gendered and class-bound description. I believe that has caused real problems in FS as these narrow expectations have held back women who have stepped outside those confines (just as attitudes towards masculinity have affected some men in the sport).

I tend to agree, but I also think part of it is semantics.

I do think the details matter, but I don't think it is a good idea to call paying attention to detail "lady-like" or any feminine traits. Many of the compliments paid to Kira and Gracie are things that guys do as well, or arguably should. Men may not paint their nails, but I suspect many still get colorless manicures or at least make sure their nails are clean and even. I suspect skaters like Jason Brown and Adam Rippon spend more time on their hair than a lot of the ladies and it shows in how crisp and in place it is. Paying attention to all the details, or crossing the "T"s and dotting the "I"s as I often call it, does add to overall impression, but does not always mean beautiful and does not always mean feminine, and I don't even know if it needs to mean elegant. I think "professional" could be a better word often times for what we are talking about.

 

[TheGrandSophy]

I tend to agree, but I also think part of it is semantics.

I do think the details matter, but I don't think it is a good idea to call paying attention to detail "lady-like" or any feminine traits. Many of the compliments paid to Kira and Gracie are things that guys do as well, or arguably should. Men may not paint their nails, but I suspect many still get colorless manicures or at least make sure their nails are clean and even. I suspect skaters like Jason Brown and Adam Rippon spend more time on their hair than a lot of the ladies and it shows in how crisp and in place it is. Paying attention to all the details, or crossing the "T"s and dotting the "I"s as I often call it, does add to overall impression, but does not always mean beautiful and does not always mean feminine, and I don't even know if it needs to mean elegant. I think "professional" could be a better word often times for what we are talking about.

Now I can agree to that. Clean, neat and well-arranged is one thing, but when we start to criticise skaters on perceived gender norms and whether their nail polish matches, I get twitchy.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

They are both very pretty, but Gracie isn't even a natural blonde! I personally think she'd look better as a brunette honestly but it's not my decision.

I don't want to get involved in the argument, but just wanted to point something out.

Erm, you do realise that it is not that difficult to find out what Gracie would look like as a brunette:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BhbbhwDCMAAF5sF.jpg

The advantages of having an identical twin sister!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[cheerknithanson]

I don't want to get involved in the argument, but just wanted to point something out.

Erm, you do realise that it is not that difficult to find out what Gracie would look like as a brunette:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BhbbhwDCMAAF5sF.jpg

The advantages of having an identical twin sister!

CaroLiza_fan

Carly is Gracie's FRATERNAL twin. NOT identical.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Carly is Gracie's FRATERNAL twin. NOT identical.

Oops. : I always thought they were identical. (Well, they looked it to me, anyway!)

Thanks for the correction!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Jammers]

Oops. : I always thought they were identical. (Well, they looked it to me, anyway!)

Thanks for the correction!

CaroLiza_fan

No Gracie's identical sister is Alexa Scimeca.

 

[Skater Boy]

Carly is Gracie's FRATERNAL twin. NOT identical.

And clearly Carly dyed her hair = look at the roots

 

[Skater Boy]

I wish Korpi well with her new life and endeavours. We all hoped things would work out but injuries are often hard to overcome. Personally I found her far more engaging than her world medallist compatriot Lepisto. Both got overscored a bit imho for PCS but Korpi had a certain regalness on the ice. I am sure she will find work. Maybe she will pull a Sarah Meier and go out in Finnish glory at Finlandia.

 

[sarahspins]

And clearly Carly dyed her hair = look at the roots

They both do - I think they're both naturally brunette (though I think Gracie at least WAS a natural blonde as a very young child - kind of like Meryl Davis).

 

[Layback11]

They both do - I think they're both naturally brunette (though I think Gracie at least WAS a natural blonde as a very young child - kind of like Meryl Davis).

Something I've always been curious about...she looks blond in some of the pictures of her as a kid, but brunette in others. Not sure, really.