Skating as an acrobatic/contorionist event | Page 5 | Golden Skate

Skating as an acrobatic/contorionist event

Sean The wave lengths are a matter of taste like brewing tea. I understand where you are coming from. It's ok. But I am not with you. But like you, I have always liked Suguri, but she's out of the game with these new young gals with legs on high

As for Quads, bring on the Quints. That's SPORT!!! Everyone is equal and only a competition will say who is the best. :agree:

Joe.

I absolutely adore Suguri, and her performances in the past have even brought tears to my eyes (such as at the 2003 end of year cheesefest check it out!). FS has passed her by way before bendiness IMO, it passed her by when she failed time and time again to land those 6 triples (and I'm not by any means downplaying the extreme difficulty of it). Just like tennis, I can admit that possibly my all-time fave Martina Hingis (Yea I know she has an attitude problem) had her days numbered when the "power players" of the late nineties all of a sudden developed a lot smarter game. How do you beat that?

And by the way, with the exception of maybe Zhang, Krieg, Cohen, and maybe even Lucinda Ruh, I really don't think that we can call most of today's skaters "contortionist." Any decent level contortionist or even gymnast would surely laugh at that. Also, Mishkutenok and Dmitriev used to beautifully incorporate Natalia's flexibility into their programs. If their programs weren't a work of art I don't know what is.
 
That's why I am a fan of Sonia Bianchetti. The Sport is changing and not to the good. JMO However, if we reach the point of total circus elements, be prepared to defend them. And don't use the word ballet, pleeeeeze.

Arakawa's spiral was a Y Spiral when she let her hand go. Very prominent in bravura roles in ballet. I liked it in Turandot, but I would never like it in Giselle.

Any view on Men and flexibility or is just concerned with Ladies' spirals or spiral like tricks?

Joe

I would hazard a guess that people who value flexibility in the ladies above all things are also quite turned off by the show of flexibilty in men...its just not manly enough!!!!

I don't really understand those types of views, but then i tend to be much more concerned about what the skating foot is doing in relation to the ice - those people you yank the leg up over their heads and do a wobbling horribly wiped changed of edge spiral would get no points from me - i'd give much higher points to a skater who just had their free leg above hip level but managed to keep a controlled smooth transitioning edge from outside to inside any day.

Ant
 
Ant - You're reading an American forum - a good one - btw but geared to Ladies. Men are an afterthought and only if they are good looking. You don't see that?

Joe
 
Sean The wave lengths are a matter of taste like brewing tea. I understand where you are coming from. It's ok. But I am not with you. But like you, I have always liked Suguri, but she's out of the game with these new young gals with legs on high

As for Quads, bring on the Quints. That's SPORT!!! Everyone is equal and only a competition will say who is the best. :agree:

Joe.
:agree: iTa, sad truth. I would love to protect that inwhich I enjoy most about FS - I realize it may not seem that way - but I am interested in the future as well. I guess I see it as(to quote another movie;) "We will always have Paris."

I am with you on desire Joe, but evolution of the sport I can see as well. So I just accept it and find that some of it is very nice looking once I get over the "but Suguri-san can't...." or "it is not as quintessential as...."

I absolutely adore Suguri, and her performances in the past have even brought tears to my eyes (such as at the 2003 end of year cheesefest check it out!). FS has passed her by way before bendiness IMO, it passed her by when she failed time and time again to land those 6 triples (and I'm not by any means downplaying the extreme difficulty of it). Just like tennis, I can admit that possibly my all-time fave Martina Hingis (Yea I know she has an attitude problem) had her days numbered when the "power players" of the late nineties all of a sudden developed a lot smarter game. How do you beat that?
As much as I hate to read that post I have to agree:cry: But those moments will last forever in my heart, and if she wants to, MANY MANY MANY Pro performances to come in the future. I also think she could obtain more flexibility, and maybe a 3x3 to keep her in there, but I am a sapp for that lady, so bias my opinion is too much.
;)How many COIs Will I go to before I get that tap on my shoulder and the most beautiful lady saying, " I am glad you kept hounding me to join the tour SeaniBu, this skate is for you.";):rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: too funny.

I will say Fumie has a great Y spiral extension even in comparison IMO. And even though some people don't like her back "so low" on her "spiral position," the posture of her back and hips is totally admirable and under marked IMO - likely due to "the more flexible" ladies. Of corse she is the most decorated Japanese lady and IMO, a Bronze medalest in the 2006 Olys.;););) Yes I know, just to me(and some others I think) she is. *shrugs*
 
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and For a bonus award if the flexible leg wraps around a head while the skater is changing edges - not for beauty but for showing strengh. :rock:
Wouldn't that classify under, "that compromises the "body line." ?"
 
Ant - You're reading an American forum - a good one - btw but geared to Ladies. Men are an afterthought and only if they are good looking. You don't see that?

Joe

:laugh: If i'm honest my interest in the men's has gone down since Yags left the comeptitive arena. Many skaters have interested me since Yags but i've not found anyone who really grabs my attention like Yags did.

Ant
 
:laugh: If i'm honest my interest in the men's has gone down since Yags left the comeptitive arena. Many skaters have interested me since Yags but i've not found anyone who really grabs my attention like Yags did.

Ant
I hear you but for me, the Men's Division is the most exciting Division. Very exciting to watch LIVE and extremely sporty with those jumps and the variety they show in their presentatons.

The Ladies competition is nice to watch. Much calmer especially showing off how high they can put their legs in, what seeems to me to be, that interminable Spiral Sequence. Booring. Maybe I just see too much ballet to appreciate them.

But, to each his own.

Joe
 
Just off the top of my head, I would say that Stephane Lambiel and Johnny Weir exhibit a lot of flexibility and originality on their spins, and that Rohene Ward and Shawn Sawyer are capable of doing some quite bendy moves-in-the-field.

An example of a skater with limited flexibility would be Brian Boitano, IMHO.
MM - You can take your time in listing names but the bottom line is ALL athletes have flexibility in every sport youj can name off the top of you head.

What you are praising here are Spirals only. That is what most posters are talking about and ignoring the fact that to do other elements takes not only flexibility but also agility. It doesn't take much to stick your leg up in the air if you have good edges or a solid flat. (The edge is what skating is about.)

For me, Lambiel has far more agility than most skaters. Sawyer's extreme flexibility, imo, gets in the way of the rest of his program.

Just some thoughts on this glorious spiral thread.

Joe
 
Well, the thread is about "acrobatic/controtionist" moves. To me, it is in spiral sequences and spins that this description seems increasingly appropriate.

So, is figure skating sport or art?

If it is not art, why are we talking about beautiful skating, interesting choreography, presentatioin skills or heartfelt musical interpretation at all? What does that have to do with sport?

Sport means getting 9.0 points for a quad, and even if you fall you still get 5.0 points. Sport means you get a level 4 for a contortionist spin and only a level 1 for a lovely one.

With Sonia Bianchetti, I believe that the new judging system has tipped the balance more toward the sports side and away from the performance art side. I guess I am undecided whether I think this is a good direction or a bad one. To me, the ideal situation would be for the amateurs to compete in the sport, learn the basics, win their medals, and then for the best of them to move on to the ranks of professional entertainers.

Like in ballet, for instance. Yes there are auditions, recitals and competitions for developing dancers. But the ones we pay our money to see are the professional companies.

(I don't think this will happen with skating, however.)
 
Well, the thread is about "acrobatic/controtionist" moves. To me, it is in spiral sequences and spins that this description seems increasingly appropriate.

So, is figure skating sport or art?

If it is not art, why are we talking about beautiful skating, interesting choreography, presentatioin skills or heartfelt musical interpretation at all? What does that have to do with sport?

Sport means getting 9.0 points for a quad, and even if you fall you still get 5.0 points. Sport means you get a level 4 for a contortionist spin and only a level 1 for a lovely one.

With Sonia Bianchetti, I believe that the new judging system has tipped the balance more toward the sports side and away from the performance art side. I guess I am undecided whether I think this is a good direction or a bad one. To me, the ideal situation would be for the amateurs to compete in the sport, learn the basics, win their medals, and then for the best of them to move on to the ranks of professional entertainers.

Like in ballet, for instance. Yes there are auditions, recitals and competitions for developing dancers. But the ones we pay our money to see are the professional companies.

(I don't think this will happen with skating, however.)
Wow MM. Sometimes all I have to do is wait for you to post to say exactly what it is I wish I could. Succinct and decorous.:bow::bow::bow:
 
MM - You can take your time in listing names but the bottom line is ALL athletes have flexibility in every sport youj can name off the top of you head.
...Poker, croquet, billiards (well I have seen some "flexy" shots), NASCAR....

That is what most posters are talking about and ignoring the fact that to do other elements takes not only flexibility but also agility.
I beg to differ on that opinion. I don't think anyone is forgetting anything, just focusing on the "most obvious." for discussion. And I do note those "forgoten things" in parts of this thread being brought up.

It doesn't take much to stick your leg up in the air if you have good edges or a solid flat. (The edge is what skating is about.)
Joe, this is meant with respect, but it sounds like you have not done this.???BECAUSE you have, I guess I don't see your point??? And if it takes more difficulty (balance wise, the only concern is ability to do this while skating using edges) the higher the leg is lifted.....

Yes we have clearly defined in this thread and others that for it to be FS it must involve skating / use of the blade in some way that exhibits skill with it, then the other elements come into play.

And just trying to show respect for the direction of the thread - although I think it has stayed on topic marvelously - I am not exactly "jumping up and down with glee about the changes to the idea of "Skating as an acrobatic/contorionist event" but I think that is a little bit of an exaggeration regardless. "I will always have memories, there will always be shows, etc... but I would rather see FS flourish then die off due to my selfish notion it should stay the way I want it. And I don't think the skaters are doing anything wrong to bring it on.

I don't agree that men are an after though either. I think the after thought goes to the ladies personally. That is who most here think about after, the guys are most thought about during skating - and they are usually the first thought. I don't know how popular it would be to talk about baseball on a forum???:p But it is not anything that interest me, but I watch the game, am excited, enjoyed it, saw great levels of "sports" show. But "do I want to talk about a bunch of guys for a lengthy period of time?" Does anyone really :laugh: Not as much as I would if they were a team of women. Sorry but I don't get guys being nearly as interesting as women. Some women do, and some talk about guys more. But women and there lives seems to be a better topic for most. Also the thought of how America was introduced to Skating ~ a woman.

To me ladies have to face more adversity, expose themselves more, more vulnerability needs to be overcome. There are a lot of things guys can just do and not face the same hurdles women do - psychologically included, and these lady FSers rise to the top of this adversity and make accomplishment after enduring more so than the men IMO. Pairs is an obvious example.

I do think there are interesting men out there, but take for example Evan. Raising some "hub bub" lately but not to much talk continues about him. The topic is interesting, compelling at times, but a guy, so interest is lost more quickly.??? Even with lady posters. Johnny has more topics that COULD be associated as feminine, but still he does not sustain the interest that ladies do. But he does sustain conversation longer as I can see.

btw, fyi or whatever, just thought about it. The main reason I "willfully" only (but have thought to add men) wish the ladies Happy Birthday is because women are GENERALLY more appreciative than men. Most guys I have come across don't care to much about birthdays, or even if you think of them on this day. Guys "typical" response, "thanks, cool." Ladies "typical" response is "that is nice of you to remember, take the time, thank you." and that is usually followed with a return nice comment about you / me.
 
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Well, the thread is about "acrobatic/controtionist" moves. To me, it is in spiral sequences and spins that this description seems increasingly appropriate.
Have to agree :agree: The Highest Spiral sequences and convoluted spins. That best describe the skating Ladies.

So, is figure skating sport or art?
What ever turns you on.

If it is not art, why are we talking about beautiful skating, interesting choreography, presentatioin skills or heartfelt musical interpretation at all? What does that have to do with sport?
for me, it is not art which would be more like Callas or other top Sopranos in Opera. It does compare somewhat to Diving which demands perfect form when being judged. Perfect form in Skating is limited to a few skaters who have natural ability, so there is not much sport there. Actually, why say presentation skills when the PCS says Technical Skills? Presentation of a skater's technical skills are what is being judged as sport. I do not agree with this term but I am not in a position to change the rules. Anyhow, I do not think it means Grand Art. It just isn't in the same catergory as Rachmaninoff, Degas, Wright, Pushkin, Flemming, Streep, etc. You could judge it as an attempt at art but CoP is not friendly to art, imo. Only thing a fan can talk about is a high spiral executed in a swell of Puccini music ART? or a skating trick. Pick your choice, and for some it could be both. Not me.

Sport means getting 9.0 points for a quad, and even if you fall you still get 5.0 points. Sport means you get a level 4 for a contortionist spin and only a level 1 for a lovely one.
I understand that and I think Bianchetti does also.


With Sonia Bianchetti, I believe that the new judging system has tipped the balance more toward the sports side and away from the performance art side. I guess I am undecided whether I think this is a good direction or a bad one. To me, the ideal situation would be for the amateurs to compete in the sport, learn the basics, win their medals, and then for the best of them to move on to the ranks of professional entertainers.
The CoP is very demanding in what it permits, what it rewards, and what it eliminates. But I'm not talking about Rules, I am more thinking of fans' tastes especially what they consider art.

Like in ballet, for instance. Yes there are auditions, recitals and competitions for developing dancers. But the ones we pay our money to see are the professional companies.

(I don't think this will happen with skating, however.)
John Curry gave it a go but the fans didn't support it fully. I think if there are any entrepeneurs with the financial means could try to produce a genuine artistic show in Las Vegas. If acrobatic Cirque du Soleil can do it so can Figure Skating.

Joe
 
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I think if there are any entrepeneurs with the financial means could try to produce a genuine artistic show in Las Vegas. If acrobatic Cirque du Soleil can do it so can Figure Skating.

Joe
Isn't that what Irina G is doing?

And IMO, that is ICE skating. A diff.
 
What ever turns you on.
:clap: :clap: I think that's the closest we will ever get to a definition of "art."

Maria Callas singing a succession of musical notes specified for her by Puccini. Anna Pavlova stringing together standard movements and positions of classical ballet. Merrill Streep reading the words of a screenwriter with appropriate facial expressions. Michelle Kwan jumping, spinning and gliding along to "Fields of Gold."

Pay your money and take your choice. :cool:
 
:clap: :clap: I think that's the closest we will ever get to a definition of "art."
MM, you rascal you. The question you asked was whether figure skating is an art or a sport. When I aswered the question and you used it only to show art.
Well......I don't think we got close at all.

Joe
 
I hear you but for me, the Men's Division is the most exciting Division. Very exciting to watch LIVE and extremely sporty with those jumps and the variety they show in their presentatons.

The Ladies competition is nice to watch. Much calmer especially showing off how high they can put their legs in, what seeems to me to be, that interminable Spiral Sequence. Booring. Maybe I just see too much ballet to appreciate them.

But, to each his own.

Joe

I can see the excitement in the mens and i do enjoy the mens comoetition but my love at the moment is back in the pairs where my skating fandom began. Even though COP dictates the boring cookie cutter pairs spiral's and the god awful pair spins i still really love the explosive excitement of the pairs best at the moment. Though Lambiel's LP from worlds really made me sit up and pay attention - i hope he keeps it for next season so we get to see it develop over the course of a competitive season.

Ant
 
I can see the excitement in the mens and i do enjoy the mens comoetition but my love at the moment is back in the pairs where my skating fandom began. Even though COP dictates the boring cookie cutter pairs spiral's and the god awful pair spins i still really love the explosive excitement of the pairs best at the moment. Though Lambiel's LP from worlds really made me sit up and pay attention - i hope he keeps it for next season so we get to see it develop over the course of a competitive season.Ant
Totally agree in liking Pairs. There are some interesting teams out there and I secretly wish S&Z would retire to see a real gang up competition.

I was happy with Men's but now that Evgeni is making a comeback, I believe his reputation will follow and influence judging. Lots of overmarking in areas he is not really that good at.

Ladies, at this point, and usually, is pretty much determined before the competion. And not nearly exciting as Men's at that, JMO. Only meltdowns make it interesting.

Dance seems to be getting interesting now that we are getting rid of the passion,and having good enjoyable dancing without the phony expressions.

Joe
 
Great pics of the Kween, and happily surprised at her talent. Maybe she'll redo Rach by a tape of her own playing.

Welcome back.

Joe
 
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