True confessions of a skating kind

[Cassie]

Oh its confession time....


I can see 7+ Stars on Ice performances per year , and then go to one Champions On Ice performance, and be so bored that in order to stay sane on the way home have to put in the Stars on Ice mix CD to sing along with the programs.

I am much more up to date on the professional scene - I havent a clue who is landing what now in eligible ranks. I come out of my hole during Nationals and Worlds.

I think that Jamie Sale is beautiful.

Watching Sasha practice while she was at Simbsury was incredible. I enjoyed her skating even moreso once I was able to see the "behind the scenes" of it.



There are probably more - but I cant think of them right now.

 

[Jhar55]

1. Don't really like Scott Hamilton as much as I use too.
2. Don't like Jamie and David at all, they didn't deserve the gold at SLC.
3. HATE Ice Dancing, it's just pairs without the jumps and throw lifts.
4. Someone needs to muzzle Roz and NEVER let her comintae any shows. And Scott also.
5. Peggy needs to get some new dresses, it's freezing and shes wearing strapless dresses.
6. After seeing Sasha and Evgeni at COI last year I grown to enjoy their skating lot more.
7. My least favorite is Nancy Kerrigan.

 

[Rachael]

1. I love Timmy! I think he's really talented.
2. S/P should have been the only gold medalist.
3. S/Z are the greatest!
4. I don't like B/S, Plushy, Sasha C, and Mike W.

 

[Dee4707]

I never liked Sale & Pelletier after the SLC fiasco. Lost a lot of respect for them because of their crying and then when they were going to receive the gold, they were so friendly with Elena & Anton. I always thought Jamie ran into Anton.

If anyone I thought Elena & Anton took everything from the Canadians like champions, not the other way around.

Lost a lot of respect for Scott Hamilton too because of the 02 Olympics. As far as I can remember he pre-judged the men's gold and pairs. I got so tired of his high pitch squeals. Also when he was in Omaha SOI, he just stood on the ice until people gave him a standing ovation. I was so embarassed for him.

I would really be sorry if Dick & Peggy didn't do commentary. I grew up listening to them for the most part and would miss them terribly.

Don't understand what people see in Kristie Y.

Don't understand what people see in Katerina G.

When I think of the word, integrity, I think of Todd Eldredge.

I love Shen & Zhao.

Dee

 

[thvudragon]

Can you please explain what you mean by your statement? I confess to ignorance, but I have often asked on this board why SHE was punished rather than the person on whom she blew the whistle--only to receive no satisfactory reply. Perhaps you can provide one...? This has always bugged me. Thanks.

Actually, both were punished and received, IIRC, an equal punishment. The only reason it took longer for Senft to come back to judging was because Skate Canada held her back longer than the Ukrainian Fed for Balkov. The Ukrainian Fed does not have many senior level dance judges (now, only two IIRC).

Anyway, here's how the story goes. During the Ice Dance competition at the 98 Olys, Senft claims she received a call from Yuri Balkov about fixing the placements of the skaters. She claims she taped this conversation. Instead of immediately going to the referree though, she sat on the tape for SIX MONTHS before speaking out.

The only reason she even came forward with the tape in the first place was because the ISU was questioning her for bias judging. Miraculously, she has this tape which she claims is Yuri Balkov telling her that he and other judges have agreed on placements and to see if she would join in for the fun.

In truth, how can Senft be trusted? How do we know that the voice is truly Yuri Balkov? Senft has already shown she has no ethical principals in the FACT that she did come forward before the competition was over. She claims she knew of this plot during and did nothing to stop or expose it. She let it happen. Also, if you look at her ordinals and factor the placements, she was the ONLY judge to place the skaters in the order that she claims Yuri mentioned on the tape. No other judge placed the skaters in that order.

Thusly, what are you left with and what have you proven. Senft obviously has no ethics. She claims she knew of a plot to fix the competition and did nothing but join along, or so she claims. Her "tape" can't be proven as what is said on the tape did not occur. Basically, she blew the whistle on herself. She only proved that ONLY SHE preordained her placements. As a result, the ISU justifiabley suspended Senft and as a precaution, suspended Balkov even though proof on him was very slim with the only witness a woman who already showed she does not care for fair judging.

Pfff, and people say the ISU does not act. If anything, it was an overreaction against Balkov.

TV

 

[icewings]

1) I don't think Joubert is a Yags clone; to me he has a unique, yes v. masculine, streamlined style The only Yags influence I see is somewhat in the footwork--just like every male skater including Plushy

2) I agree with those who said in this thread that Sasha is almost devoid of musicality ever since about the 2000 season. The last program I loved of hers, besides the original version of Malaguena, was Dark Eyes

3) I *hate* Michelle's Tosca even though I loved her performance at Nats this year (I saw it live and enjoyed it more than seeing 03 Worlds live)

4) I hate COI, but I've still gone the past 2 years because I want to see the new programs

5) Shen and Zhao's 03 Worlds freeskate is my favorite performance of all time
I was there and the crowd reaction was like nothing I've ever heard or seen. You couldn't even hear the music at the end and I was practically deaf for hours and my hands were just aching for the next day. I was sure they were going to withdraw; saw them in practice after the injury and she could barely stand

6) at first I thought S/P were robbed at SLC but as time went on I came to my senses and see how it could've gone either way

7) Michelle is my fave, but I don't think she'll win in Turino. I will be devastated if she doesn't

8) I *love* Plushy but I think he has been slightly overhyped the past two seasons, mostly because of lack of a real challenger

9) I don't really like Sandhu; I can see why others love him, but his skating doesn't really do anything for me personally

10) I luurve Jeff Buttle!!! I want him to be top 8 at worlds next year

11) I don't like Kimmie Meissner, Katy Taylor, Danielle Kahle (especially her)

12) They're not my faves, but I think T/M could become one of the all time great Russian pair teams if they had better choreography and just emoted a bit more; their basics are sooo good, are they are just so smooth and beautiful

13) Joubert has the best triple flip EVER!! I wonder if he could do a quad flip...

14) I think if Kulik had kept skating he would have become the greatest male skater ever (he's right up there as is), but I'm certainly not bitter that he turned pro, unlike some fans of his I've met

 

[thvudragon]

13) Joubert has the best triple flip EVER!! I wonder if he could do a quad flip...

Too bad he's actually doing a lutz .
He has claimed he can land a quad lip though. (and yes, I know that says lip. He obviously can't do a flip )

TV

 

[icewings]

Too bad he's actually doing a lutz .
He has claimed he can land a quad lip though. (and yes, I know that says lip. He obviously can't do a flip )

TV

ehh, whatever, it's just so perrtty; I've basically stopped carring about lipping b/c so many skaters do it. At least it means they can do a lutz

 

[boggartlaura]

1) S/Z are the most overrated team out there

2) I couldn't care less about most of the pair teams competing eligibly

3) Elvis isn't fit to lick the boots of Kurt, Toller and Brian

4)I like both Sasha and Michelle, but enjoy when they lose becuase it pisses off their fans

5) Love S/P, but Jamie needs to learn to shut-up once in a while

6) Love Story is one of my two least favorite S/P programs - all their other LPs were much better

6) I don't even particularly like Petrova/Tikhonov, but I was rooting for them to win worlds, becuase they're the best pairs team out there

7) Love B/S, but hate their Elvis/Marilyn program with a passion and think Ben was a much better Elvis than Anton

8) I love Jeff Buttle and I love Kurt, but I don't see the similarities that others see between them. Kurt's spins were average at best, and Jeff's jumps need a lot of work.

9) Am an uber-B/A fan. Think they have the talent to win several world titles. Won't happen cuz Shpilband is evil and can't choreograph.

10) Despite my hate for Shpilband, he, along with Lz Coates, are the main for the revival of the US dance program.

11) Morozov (or Moron-zov or Horror-zov or Whore-ozov or Bore-ozov) sucks.

 

[peachstatesk8er]

I love Scott Hamilton. I think he's a great guy and I enjoy his enthusiasm.

I like Roz a lot. She was a skater I really looked up to early in my skating career and I still think she's pretty cool.

I think Dick is "spot on" with most of his comments.

While I appreciate B&S's basic skating skills, they bore me TO DEATH.

I couldn't stand Yags until the 2001-2002 season.

I feel sorry for the fans who don't appreciate dance and feel the need to be entertained by jumps and spins only. It's not their fault they have no clue what pure skating is.

I enjoy US Nationals much more than Worlds.

I haven't enjoyed any of Michelle's programs since she left Frank and Lori.

It annoys me to no end when people hype Junior skaters. Let's see how they fare in a few Senior comps before touting them as a threat for '06.

I long for the days when there was more turnover in the ranks.

I think most judges are honest.

 

[Mathman]

I think Tristan and Isolde is the most beautiful competitive pairs program ever. It is 'seamless', as they say. They took all the required pairs elements, all the vocabulary of skating, all those impersonal techniques and moves, and gave them a reason for being, a furtherance of the music and a conduit for what they wanted to communicate to the audience. This is the genius of Sale and Pelletier--to transform what could easily turn into a brilliant excercise in technical virtuosity into......what? A performance? That almost sounds too prosaic. I could say that their technique melts into the choreography, that they wear the choreography like it's their skin, or that it's sometimes hard to tell if the music engendered a move or if the move gave birth to the music. But that wouldn't come close to why they move me so. Lets just say that they communicate with the audience very, very well. It's like there is an infinitesimal distance between their hearts and the audience, almost as if their brilliantly engaging blades, and the ice underneath, weren't needed at all. But, of course, that's the illusion they create so effortlessly, so simple and direct is their connection.

Me, too! Thanks for posting that, Saint-Exupery, and welcome to the forum. I wish I could write with passion like that!

I agree that Tristan and Isolde was a wonderful long program (also, the costumes were great), but you know what? I liked the two short programs Come Rain or Come Shine and Jalousie even better. Also their exhibition program, La Vie en Rose.

I think Lori Nichol deserves a lot of the credit for these exquisite creations.

JMO.

Mathman

 

[skater85]

I think Lori Nichol deserves a lot of the credit for these exquisite creations

I meant to say something about Lori Nichol's brilliance is my list, but forgot.

I think she is, and has been for a long time, the best choreographer in the world.

 

[Littlewild1]

I'll bite.

I think Sale and Pelletier were overrated, and didn't deserve the gold in SLC. "Love Story" in particular was overrated. It was basically stroking and making pained faces between elements. Believe it or not, but I liked them before SLC. Their whining turned me off. Elena and Anton should have been the only ones atop the podium.

I don't mind when skaters wear over-the-boot tights and I LOVE beige skates. I know that definitely puts me in the minority!

I used to strongly dislike Michelle Kwan. What changed my mind? Her Fields of Gold exhibiton at the Olympics. I've loved her ever since. However, if she wants to keep up with the current crop of ladies, she needs to up her technical difficulty. Another "Tosca" just ain't gonna cut it.

I love Sasha and I don't see why some people see her as stuck up. When I met her - and granted, meeting someone for a few minutes does not give you a picture of their personality - she was really sweet and gracious. Gooo SashaSkater(TM)!

Although some people see Johnny Weir as a brat, I love him, his style, and his personality.

I really want Tanith and Ben to skate an exhibition to "Fever" as sung by Michael Buble. I think they are really talented, and Tanith's perkyness doesn't bother me.

I don't understand Plushenko. But I can appreciate him live.

I don't think Baboo is a Yags clone at all. I think they have different styles, and I love them both. Brian has some GORGEOUS jumps.

I feel sorry for the fans who don't appreciate dance and feel the need to be entertained by jumps and spins only. It's not their fault they have no clue what pure skating is.

I completely agree. Dance is my favorite discipline in skating. I think it is beautiful when done right.

Pairs is pretty boring right now, save for the top two (S/Z and T/M) and Orscher/Lucash. But I don't think that our pairs are as bad as everyone thinks - they just need to stick together and maybe then they'll see some results. Give 'em a few more years.

I want some dance team to skate to Edward Scissorhands. I think C&S could do an awesome job with it.

 

[Longhornliz]

My best friend in high school and I watched "The Cutting Edge" so many times that we were able to do a "land" performance of their LP.... we even attempted the crazy throw thingy (pamchencko maybe?)... she sustained a minor head injury.

Even though I love her to death, I wanted Irina to fall in her 2002 olympic LP because I couldnt handle watching Michelle not win gold again.

I actually read all the lame content on sasha's site, including her ice cream flavor of the month.

I keep holding out for the chance that NNN will make a big comeback.

Even though I have been watching figure skating for like 15 years on TV, I still cant immediately recognize all the jumps without the commentators telling me what they were.

 

[clairecloutier]

1. I love Michelle and have frequently defended her on these boards. Yet I must confess that I am frequently disappointed in Michelle. I get frustrated whenever she does not skate her best, especially at Worlds. I guess I just want her to be wonderful all the time!!

2. Although I'm a huge fan of Katia, I cannot get used to the idea of her being married to Ilia. I know it's probably terrible of me, but all I can think of when I see her is Sergei.

3. Although they're a great pair, I don't really like Sale & Pelletier. They were such sore losers at the Olympics. Ilia Averbukh was right on when he called them "crybabies." I still feel firmly that Elena & Anton deserved the gold, and that Jamie & David should have accepted their defeat gracefully, as sportsmen (the way Elena & Anton did the year before at Worlds).

4. I enjoy watching Worlds more than the Olympics. There's just too much hype and pressure at the Olympics. It takes a lot of the fun out of it.

5. I personally love Dick's commentary. He can be harsh at times, but the fact is, he's usually right.

 

[frozetoez]

3. Although they're a great pair, I don't really like Sale & Pelletier. They were such sore losers at the Olympics.

Really? I must have watched a different Olympics than you did because I don't recall any whining from them. I thought they dealt with the whole mess with a lot of tact.

 

[SusanBeth]

I think both teams in SLC showed class in an impossible situation. They were the ones being put through the ringer through no fault of their own. All 4 of them got cheated out of their dream. It was the cheating, not the defeating, that was the problem.

 

[humbaba]

i like wedgies

i like the "pretty" skating moves like spirals and laybacks better than the jumps

you know that little mime scene in the "love story" program where Jamie covers her face and pretends to cry? every time i see that i want to hurl

i think alexi urmanov deserved his olympic gold medal

i'm channeling ee cummings

 

[RealtorGal]

Just a reminder that this is a FUN TRUE CONFESSIONS thread that entitles everyone to reveal his or her deepest, darkest thoughts about any aspect of skating. It is a SAFE ZONE to come clean. I don't want to see it degenerate into a "I love S&P/I hate S&P/I disagree with you so you must be an idiot" thread. This is not a debate thread--THAT can be taken to another thread if you like.

 

[Cassie]

Just a reminder that this is a FUN TRUE CONFESSIONS thread that entitles everyone to reveal his or her deepest, darkest thoughts about any aspect of skating. It is a SAFE ZONE to come clean. I don't want to see it degenerate into a "I love S&P/I hate S&P/I disagree with you so you must be an idiot" thread. This is not a debate thread--THAT can be taken to another thread if you like.

*Stands on soapbox and applauds*


Cassie