What is the effect of re-using a program?

[skylark]

So, to take a different angle on the question "What is the effect of re-using a program?"

I noticed right away at the beginning of this competitive season that Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara were re-using not one, but both of their programs from last year. They very clearly were more comfortable with them (rightly so) than any of their competitors, who were first time out for one or both of their programs. Not just more comfortable -- they had the timing of the elements in the program, they knew where to highlight the emotions, everything -- they'd been doing it all exactly that way for a year or more. As far as I could tell, very little if any of the choreography had been changed.

Don't get me wrong. I've loved M/K since their team debuted at 2019 NHK; I'm a big fan of their spirit and skating. And they still had to perform their programs well. But this gave them a giant step ahead of their peer competitors, and it had me wondering about the fairness of it. Whether their advantage will continue at the Olympics and Worlds remains to be seen. But since everyone acknowledges that doing well in the fall puts a team on the radar for being elevated by the judges ... well, we'll see.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Yeah hanyu, chen, brown they all do it because lack of money...

Again, there is MORE than one reason to keep a program multi-seasons. And yes $ is one of those reasons. If you don't have to pay 18K+ each season for two programs and use it for other things like coaching, travel, equipment and so on you do it. It's the intelligent thing to do in this sport where you are not promised money for shows, appearances, competitions and it can all go away in seconds due to injury and other things.

 

[halulupu]

Again, there is MORE than one reason to keep a program multi-seasons. And yes $ is one of those reasons. If you don't have to pay 18K+ each season for two programs and use it for other things like coaching, travel, equipment and so on you do it. It's the intelligent thing to do in this sport where you are not promised money for shows, appearances, competitions and it can all go away in seconds due to injury and other things.

I get it with the lower ranked. Its a more than expensive sport and covid and no shows etc. But the lower ranked also don't expect to get their 9 and 10s in pcs, but 6 to 8 range. But let's take browns sp. Its brilliant yes. But he performed it already better than this season. It got worse. Still wonderful, but not better. Its no 10 program anymore.

 

[mrrice]

Maria Butyrskaya used her Otonal LP for seasons 1998 and 1999. She won Europeans both years and was the World Bronze Medalist in 1998 and the World Champion in 1999. I'd say it worked out very well for her. Personally, I think Michelle Kwan should have kept her "Song Of The Black Swan" LP for 2002. She skated it so perfectly at 2001 Worlds but, that was the first time all season that she had done so. Irina won the GPF that year and was heavily favored going into Worlds.

 

[skylark]

Maria Butyrskaya used her Otonal LP for seasons 1998 and 1999. She won Europeans both years and was the World Bronze Medalist in 1998 and the World Champion in 1999. I'd say it worked out very well for her. Personally, I think Michelle Kwan should have kept her "Song Of The Black Swan" LP for 2002. She skated it so perfectly at 2001 Worlds but, that was the first time all season that she had done so. Irina won the GPF that year and was heavily favored going into Worlds.

Your post seems to support what I said above^^ about Miura/Kihara.

On the other hand, I vividly recall comments from European officials who favored Elena and Anton in 2002. After the fact and after the scandal had come out, some people explained that Jamie and David's 'Love Story' program was an old one. The implication that it wasn't as deserving.

 

[iluvtodd]

Reading through this thread reminds me of Viktor Petrenko, whom I've always liked (with the exception of his lame "Who Let the Dogs Out?" exhibition program in the Champions on Ice tour). Didn't he use his free skate that won him the OGM in 1992 for three full seasons? Did the judges @ the time voice their concern about him using it for so long? I do feel he skated it better @ 1992 Worlds than @ the Olympics that year. I was happy for him to win that gold medal (as I was overjoyed for Paul Wylie to win the silver medal).