What you loved and what you didn't of the World Championship?

[Orion]

I LOVED:

GOLD to Jeffrey Buttle, Canada!!! Not one, not two, but three (count 'em!) unbelievable performances by Jeffrey (including the gala - wow!) - superb in every sense of the word! What makes it even more exciting is the fact that a lot of people (including myself - ouch!) didn't see it coming, didn't dare to think he would be able to outdo himself under these stressful circumstances, in short, we didn't dare to even hope it might be possible - he proved us all wrong - and boy, are we happy for that!! BRAVO, Jeffrey, we love you!!

Bronze to Johnny Weir, U.S.A.! Finally, Johnny, FINALLY! Mr Poetry-In-Motion, Skater Extraordinaire finally got his reward at World's - hopefully the first of many! His skating is just the most beautiful I know!

Seeing our two Swedish guys doing so well - things are looking good for the future, to be sure!

I found a new favorite in Jeremy Abbott, U.S.A.! He blew me away with his artistry and charisma - what a feel for music he's got! I hope to see lots more of him and I hope he gets one of the three spots to the next World's - I want to see Johnny, Jeremy and ?

The Kerr's! Their Scottish dance in particular - they are my favorite ice dance couple!

Delobel & Schoenfelder winning the gold - all good things come to those who wait!

Dube-Davison: Soft and lovely!

Russia gaining two spots for the next World's - maybe they'll be back on top soon?!

The capacity crowds and their enthusiasm for skating!

The fact that the World Championship was in my hometown!

I DISliked:

The ho-hum performances in the pairs' competition (except Dube/Davison).

The ho-hum performances in the ladies' competition (Costner, anyone?).

The constant lack of recognition for The Kerr's in ice-dancing.

The same old (and tired) music choices year after year after year..........you'd think there were only 25 music selections available in the world and that the skaters were forced to take turns using them...........

The fact that it ended all too soon............I was just getting warmed up! Can't we start all over from the beginning again, please?!

 

[Bennett]

The same old (and tired) music choices year after year after year..........you'd think there were only 25 music selections available in the world and that the skaters were forced to take turns using them...........

Compulsory programs...!

 

[Eevun]

The fact that it ended all too soon............I was just getting warmed up! Can't we start all over from the beginning again, please?!

Hey, we're two over here coming to your side! Maybe we should hijack Scandinavium and bring the real party there again!! (I bet The Indians never had a crowd and a party like this They should envy Kristoffer & Adrian! puck 'n stick, silly )

 

[Ellie]

Good: The BBC showing all the frees and the gala! Especially considering last year they only had a 1h30 highlights show.
Bad:My DVD recorder being broken!

Dance
- Good: V+M's free dance. Their recent performances had worried me a little but on the night it was enchanting.
- Bad: K+N's costumes. Those are the kind of costumes that make people dismiss ice dancing as trashy and ridiculous!

Men
- Good: Buttle and Weir medalling.
- Bad: After Weir's so-so skate, I ended up hoping others would self-destruct so that he could hold onto the bronze. It was not a nice feeling...

Pairs
- Good: Rediscovering pairs after not watching it all season.
- Bad: S+S not getting the 'triumphant' skate they must have wanted.

Ladies
- Good: Rochette making top 5.
- Bad: The distinct lack of personality! Right now I can't for the life of me remember any of the choreography/music/themes/moods in the programs. Why is this such a problem in the ladies' event?

Worst: All the ugly, poor quality spins across all the disciplines.
Best: Obsessively reading all your comments on goldenskate!

 

[Eevun]

Bad:My DVD recorder being broken!

Best: Obsessively reading all your comments on goldenskate!

No Tell me about it... Alekzu's pc felt fighting with us and didn't record any of the pairs skating and not the 3 best/last groups of ice dancing OD No Kerr's in kilt

Yes, I recognize that feeling That was one of the reasons we didn't went to but until 1-2am on the event nights O_O Just had to read what everyone had been writing about the skating during the day, especially Mens SP&FS.

 

[Bennett]

- Bad: After Weir's so-so skate, I ended up hoping others would self-destruct so that he could hold onto the bronze. It was not a nice feeling...

 

[ChrisH]

Very good
* three of the top 10 ladies, Kostner, Nakano, and Meier, had overall personal bests. Kostner's score was inflated but I think she skated a bit better than she did at the GPF, which was her previous PB.
* Mao's SP and most of her FS. Mao not getting robbed due to multiple downgraded jumps.

Good
Kim's FS.

Okay
* the scoring in the ladies event. Sure, it should have been Asada, Kim, and Kostner in the overall with Nakano third in the FS above Kostner. However, the technical panel didn't downgrade 6 of Nakano's jumps like they did to Caroline at Skate America. Nor was the scoring margin between Kim and Nakano 24.43 points like it was at the Cup of Russia. (Nakano skated two clean programs there too.)

Not so good
* Mao's phantom 3A, but at least it was a spectacular fall. Also, the lack of top notch coaching seemed to hurt her spiral and spin levels.
* Caroline Zhang was too young to participate and needed time to recover from injuries.

 

[Saundy]

I would not be so picky on such a small detail as bouquets. Feathers on the birch or willow branches is Easter tradition in Sweden, that is why bouquets looked like that.

Really? Isn't that interesting. I thought they kind of looked neat myself. What a nice way of adding some tradition from your own nation though. :thumbsup:

 

[calica]

Best:

- Gold for Isabelle/ Olivier.
-Silver for Brian, after to horrible season (virus, heart,gastro ect....)
-SP/LP of Joubert. SP of Weir and Buttle.
- Kilt of John Kerr.
-Beautiful love of Tomas and Brian http://youtube.com/watch?v=0yIyeGtKQEw
-Ladys Podium.

Worst:
- Brian loses the gold for himself skate.
- Tomas LP.
-Miki's injury and withdrawal
-The music deduction for Joubert.
- Declarations of Takahashi in the press conference in the monday.
-Exhibition so booooring (with exceptions)

 

[Bennett]

Worst:
- Declarations of Takahashi in the press conference in the monday.

What did he say?

 

[calica]

He said that he was going to win. He did not say that he was one of the favorites (as Joubert, who said that the favorites to the gold were Lambiel, takahashi and he himself, and he had reason).
Not, textually he said:

" I am going to be the new champion of the world "

 

[Medusa]

He said that he was going to win. He did not say that he was one of the favorites (as Joubert, who said that the favorites to the gold were Lambiel, takahashi and he himself, and he had reason).
Not, textually he said:

" I am going to be the new champion of the world "

Well... That's the spirit! He already has a silver - why should he try to be modest? Why enter the competition if you don't think you can win it? How are these guys supposed to motivate themselves if not with wanting to be World Champion? Takahashi broke that freaking World record with two amazing incredible skates at 4CC. If he said that - he was probably convinced that he was going to be World Champion. Why should he lie? I am all against false modesty and all for honesty. After the competition (the way I heard it) he was just as honest, didn't complain (like a certain Frenchman), accepted the result...

 

[calica]

Good, I am glad that you like the lack of modesty, but to me not. And as this thread it is about we love or not, i put my opcion.

 

[alekzu]

" I am going to be the new champion of the world "

Atcually, his words where: "I want to be the world champion" And I have sound proof of that. Considering his silver medal from last year, and the terrific season he's had this year, those thoughts weren't very strange at all. I really like his attitude. He has high goles for himself, knows how well he can do, but mantains an aura of modesty (like a certain Frenchman failed misserably with...). That's the kind of skater I want to like (and I do ).

 

[calica]

With all my respect towards you, I believe in my sources.
But do not confuse, which I do not like is this attitude, not Dai-chan's skating, in fact, I wanted that he will won.
But will that I have a favorite, he loses.

 

[alekzu]

With all my respect towards you, I believe in my sources.
But do not confuse, which I do not like is this attitude, not Dai-chan's skating, in fact, I wanted that he will won.
But will that I have a favorite, he loses.

We need a hug smiley. *hugs* It's the same with me. I would have wanted him on the podium at least...

But on the subject of the pressconference again. It's not that I don't believe your source. It's just that if it's the same pressconference that I've got as video on my computer (the swedish broadcasters showed us a bit of it) I just quoted him. I even double-checked just to make sure. Those were his exact words. In english even. But there might have been another one as well. What would I know?

 

[silver.blades]

I'm over the moon with Jeff's win and the 2 perfect programs. I also enjoyed all the men's SP. Kristopher Berntson (sp?) is one of my new favs along with Jeremy Abbott.
Congrats to Dube/Davidson on their great FS and the bronze medal & S/S for their 1st world title, a better performance would have been nice, but they still deserve it. Seeing all 3 Canadian pairs in the top 10 was nice.
Nice to see Kostner self destruct less in the FS than usual. I enjoyed both of Yuna's programs and am glad she go a medal. YAY for Joannie's 5th place finish.
The wntire dance event was great, it's normally my least favorite discipline. So happy D/S finally got a medal and the fact it's gold even better. Glad to see Tessa and Scott on the podium at only their second worlds and the Kerr's place in the top 10.
I'll leave it at the good parts to keep the happy feeling a little longer. Can't wait until next season. Whatever am I to do with myself

 

[Bennett]

He said that he was going to win. He did not say that he was one of the favorites (as Joubert, who said that the favorites to the gold were Lambiel, takahashi and he himself, and he had reason).
Not, textually he said:

" I am going to be the new champion of the world "

Atcually, his words where: "I want to be the world champion" And I have sound proof of that. Considering his silver medal from last year, and the terrific season he's had this year, those thoughts weren't very strange at all. I really like his attitude. He has high goles for himself, knows how well he can do, but mantains an aura of modesty (like a certain Frenchman failed misserably with...). That's the kind of skater I want to like (and I do ).

I don't have the access to the source. But "I would like to be the world champion" sounds more natural to me linguistically and also considering Daisuke's usual humble comments. Unlike some of young athletes, Daisuke is known among the media reporters for having decent manners. In the Japanese cultural context, modesty is one of the most important elements of decency. He has never made "arrogant" comments that called for media attention that could be pretty jealous (remember how severely Miki was bashed after the meltdown Olympic performance for being "arrogant" as she said that she "enjoyed herself" and "would like to get the Gold at the next Olympics"?).

So I wonder if it might have been just lost in translation if it was in Japanese or simply due to limited linguistic skills in Daisuke if it was in English (you could make stupid mistakes when you speak in another language especially when you are nervous).

Regardless of the wording, however, I think that both have the same message, "I want to win," and that's what every contender wished for.

 

[alekzu]

Kristopher Berntson (sp?) is one of my new favs along with Jeremy Abbott.

I am so glad to hear that! It really is wonderful and ITA. And not just beacause I'm Swedish.

 

[Eevun]

I second that, alekzu

I'll leave it at the good parts to keep the happy feeling a little longer. Can't wait until next season. Whatever am I to do with myself

ITA!!! I'm going nuts already! (Lucky me got best friend as deep into this as I am, otherwise I promise you I hadn't survive!) Which date starts season 08/09? Are there anything left this season? Just a tiny tiny competition will do right now... O_O