Shawn Sawyer

[Ladskater]

Shawn Sawyer did a fantastic job at the 2007 Canadians. I love his program and he skated it beautifully. His extensions and flexibility are just amazing. He does the best spiral in the world. Some of the ladies should take lessons from Shawn on how to do a text book spiral. I was disappointed that he did not make the podium. He was just edged out by Sandhu. Oh well there is always next season. Congratulations to Shawn for his fourth place finish.

 

[amateur]

I really enjoyed Shawn as well, great long program, 2nd only to Buttle in terms of enjoyability and interpretive quality I think... He's kind of Sandhu-like with his dance ability and voidiness, but he skates with a good competitive intensity yet joy also...
It is a shame he doesn't get to go back to worlds, especially as he unlike Sandhu does seem to have the right kind of competitive fire (even if slightly less technical ability) BUT, despite his talents he'll simply have to improve further to earn the spot... for all the talk questioning whether Sandhu really "wants" it, he did earn the spot fair and squre in what is not a super-easy field (Canadian Men's might be getting to be as intense a competition as Japanese Ladies, I think)
And after all, if Sawyer were to be "pushed" above an "undeserving" Sandhu, he would encounter many others of (more or less) Sandhu's ability at Worlds anyway... The bar is high and he'll simply have to train to surpass it, that's what sports are about...
...And by the way, for all of the fans' frustration, Sandhu doesn't owe it to us to be a better competitor than manages to be... it's a journey, even if much rockier for some than others, and not all endings are happy nor do they need to be... but the fact is he's still (at least) Canada's 3rd best.
Just a random Sandhu thought, i don't mean this rant as a reaction to the original poster...

But this thread is about Shawn - I like him!! Good Luck!
And it probably won't hurt Shawn the competitor to have to go back and improve enough to overcome the higher bar...

 

[amateur]

To further make this thread about Shawn, I just want to add that he had really cool jump entrances in his LP!!

 

[Ladskater]

Thanks for your reply. Sometimes talented skaters like Shawn Sawyer get overlooked. I do see vast improvements in Shawns jumps from last season. He does have that competitive fire that you spoke of. Shawn is one of those skaters who benefit from the new judging system. At one time he would have been marked way down for his two foot landing problem. His quality skating in between the jumps and his great edges make up for any jumping faults he may have. He is a true artistic skater. The great Toller Cranston recognized Shawns talent at an early age and picked Shawn for one of his shows. Shawn is more or less Toller's protoge. It's a real nod to Toller when Shawn skates like he did at Canadians. In fact, Shawn often reminds of Toller with his wonderful spiral and interesting spins and just the way he moves.

I am glad Shawn is one of our top five male skaters on the Canadian team. I am sure Shawn will be going again to Worlds and possibly the Olympics. I look forward to seeing him skate again.

 

[singerskates]

Shawn is the sub for 4CC and Worlds should one of the three chosen not be able to go. You never know, Eman just might pull out before worlds and go pro if he really sucks at 4CC. And he might go pro after Worlds. That would bring Shawn up to third best in Canada. Otherwise, Shawn needs to work on those jumps, so that they are not cheated. If he gets them clean, he's a shoe-in for 3rd or 2nd spot in Canada.

Plus, if Shawn wants to skate to techno music for his freeskate and not put the judges who are not into techno at all to sleep (his music was very repetitive), he should dump the music he has now and change it to a more known piece, like "Rock It" by Herbie Hancock. Now that would fit Shawn for sure and maybe that would inspire Shawn's jumps to be clean.

 

[iluvtodd]

I've always liked Shawn (together with Chris Mabee and Jeff ). Too bad we don't live close enough to the Canadian border to see him compete in Canadian Nationals. Thank goodness for youtube!

 

[Ladskater]

Shawn is the sub for 4CC and Worlds should one of the three chosen not be able to go. You never know, Eman just might pull out before worlds and go pro if he really sucks at 4CC. And he might go pro after Worlds. That would bring Shawn up to third best in Canada. Otherwise, Shawn needs to work on those jumps, so that they are not cheated. If he gets them clean, he's a shoe-in for 3rd or 2nd spot in Canada.

Plus, if Shawn wants to skate to techno music for his freeskate and not put the judges who are not into techno at all to sleep (his music was very repetitive), he should dump the music he has now and change it to a more known piece, like "Rock It" by Herbie Hancock. Now that would fit Shawn for sure and maybe that would inspire Shawn's jumps to be clean.

Shawn really loves to move fast across the ice - this is one of his many talents. His skating style suits this sort of music and I don't think his music will put the judges to sleep because Shawn is such an entertaining skater.

 

[gio]

Plus, if Shawn wants to skate to techno music for his freeskate and not put the judges who are not into techno at all to sleep (his music was very repetitive).

IMO, the music suits him. The judges have to understand that there isn't just Carmen, R and J or Malaguena to choose. And is really difficult to be bored with a skater such as Shawn. He is great in entertaining.

 

[mike79]

I wish that he would master the 3Axel and a quad. His musicality and choreography are great. He could be a real threat an the world stage if he was able to get the jumps a little more consistent. There has been some improvement this year for sure.

 

[Zuranthium]

I wish that he would master the 3Axel and a quad.

I highly doubt he'll ever get the Quad. He simply doesn't jump high enough.

I do hope he can get the 3Axle more reliable, though. He doesn't even have that jump yet...I've never seen him land a clean one in competition. Even his double axles are a little lacking sometimes.

As I've said before, he would be better off competing with the ladies. He has the flexibility and wouldn't get buried by other competitors who do multiple Triple Axles and/or Quads.

~Z

 

[scorekeeper]

"He's kind of Sandhu-like with his dance ability and voidiness..."

What's voidiness?

 

[Mathman]

"Voidy" is slang term invented over on the FSU board. Here is their attempt to define it.

http://www.fsuniverse.net/faq.html

As far as I can tell it refers to skaters who are overdramatic, using grand gestures and intense facial expression, or staring off into space as if they are part of a mind-blowing artistic vision that only they can see.

 

[amateur]

"He's kind of Sandhu-like with his dance ability and voidiness..."

What's voidiness?

OOPS... that's a slang term commonly in use on another Figure Skating board (coined by someone on that board, I think)... I've posted this in the wrong place...

It sort-of means unusual qualites, style that goes against the norm, bordering on the bizarre perhaps, but with a sense of fun/adventure also. If that makes any sense.

 

[amateur]

the best thing about "voidy" is that every single person who uses the term would have a slightly different definition... lol.

 

[Ladskater]

I think the best compliment one could pay Shawn is he is very Toller-likein his presentation. After all Toller pretty much discovered Shawn, recognized his tremendous talents and promoted him. What beter mentor could a skater have?