Which skaters seem to really enjoy skating?

[ManyCairns]

Which current (or recent past) skaters do you think really seem to love skating, just for skating's sake? The ones who seem really happy out there, or really "in" to what they are doing, and you feel like they'd do it regardless of competitions or pressures?

I've got a few (and of course this is entirely subjective):

Dance: Belbin and Agosto. Especially Ben. That man always looks so relaxed and darn comfortable before he steps on the ice (and, of course, during. Not at all in an "I don't care one way or the other" sense, but in a "I really like to do this, let's get out there and have some fun" way. I think this team likes to play to an audience but also gets a happy kick out of the skating itself. And I also think they care about skating well and improving all the time.

Pairs: Dube and Davision. They really seem to like to get out there on the ice and flow. And Jessica's injury didn't put them off for a second.

Another pair I'd like to mention is a team that didn't appear to enjoy competition but really seemed to love exhibitions: Petrova/Tikhonov. They were like night and day to me in competition versus exhibition. Wish they could have shown more of the joy and exuberance I saw in their exhibitions in their competition skates!

Men: Weir. Now, I know he's not all bouncy and bubbly out there, but I think the artistry of skating and the desire to skate well in and of itself are very important to Johnny. Although he is very introspective-seeming out there on the ice, I find that captivating because he really creates a special "something" most every time he skates.

Ladies: Suguri. I think Fumie loves skating like few others ever have. And I say that not just because she is continuing to compete even with recent results that are not what she's gotten in the past -- but also because I sense that she really likes what she's doing, and also loves to push her skating by trying new things artistically. It's hard to pinpoint why I get this, but I do get a strong sense of a love of what she's doing from Fumie.

Others?? Please share!

 

[Mathman]

I always felt about Yuka Sato that she just loved being out there entertaining.

There was an SOI fluff piece on TV once where they asked skaters what they would want to be if they weren't skaters. (Yagudin wanted to be a race car driver or a pilot. :agree: )

Yuka said she always wanted to be a circus performer -- then added, "and I guess I am!"

Brian Orser is another who really seemed to enjoy his skating and wanted us to enjoy it, too!

 

[ManyCairns]

ITA about Yuka and Brian O. And didn't Yuka really blossom as a pro?

 

[Tonichelle]

Yuka has blossomed as a pro IMO I love her

Kurt Browning and Scott Hamilton are two I'd add to the list who just love to skate just for the sake of skating and performing... Kurt said in an interview recently that after he retires he's not going to promise to hang up his skates, it'll just mean he'll be skating on a pond for himself and not for an audience (I'm paraphrasing) and for whatever reason I found the picture he painted incredibly romantic in a skating kind of way lol

 

[Hsuhs]

Which skaters seem to really enjoy skating?

In other words, skaters who seem to be intrinsically motivated in their skating, don't talk about 'winning' and 'beating' all the time, don't say 'my coach thinks I should', and don't turn totally p.... when they get a medal of wrong color?

Khokhlova/ Novitsky, maybe?
The Protopopovs?
Caroline Zhang?
Kimmi Meissner?

Anyways, none of my favs are like that. Unfortunately.

 

[iluvtodd]

ITA about Yuka and Brian O. And didn't Yuka really blossom as a pro?

Kurt and Scott H., too!

I'll add "my" Todd, especially as a pro.

 

[Bennett]

Shizuka looks more joyful after turning to pro, too!

Mao seems to love to skate. Yuna also seems to enjoy her performances.

Nana Takeda at NHK also looked very joyful.

 

[Vincero]

Can I add Ryan Bradley? I loved his 07 Nationals performance. It wasn't the best technically of course, but I really enjoy watching it.

And I'd say Lucinda Ruh too. She always seemed to have a smile on ice.

And yeah, this is my first post. All that Johnny/Evan controversy just seems a bit too heated to jump into.:yes:

 

[Tonichelle]

Ryan's a good choice... he seems to really love just entertaining... he cracks me up.

 

[ManyCairns]

Welcome, Vincero! Glad you decided to post!

Some great ones have been mentioned ... definitely Hamilton and Browning! And of the recent ones, someone mentioned Kimmie -- I think she loves it, too, even though she's struggling a bit lately.

Since we're reaching back into the past, I'd add in Dorothy Hamill. And, a bit more recently, Brian B., too!

Kristi?

 

[NJSk8Fan]

Definitely Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning.

Steven Cousins
Ina & Zimmerman
Rudy Galindo
Viktor Petrenko
Shae-Lynn Bourn

 

[chuckm]

Rachael Flatt. She really gets into her music and so obviously loves what she is doing.

 

[Jaana]

Definetely these skaters love what they are doing and they are on the ice for the audience to enjoy:

Scott Hamilton
Kurt Browning
Brian Orser
Brian Boitano
Viktor Petrenko

Kristi Yamaguchi
Ekaterina Gordeeva

 

[Vodka Shot]

I think Kimmie really loves it. I think Emily protests too much, in other words her giant, "I'm loving this!" smile is too big to be genuine imo. I think most of the younger people still love it (Wagner, Zhang, Flatt etc.) but some of the older ones obsess too much about winning and getting older to really still love it I think. And with some of the Japanese I can actually see the weight of their country's pressure on their shoulders when they skate. I also think Lambiel has a real love for the sport. He seemed happy even after not doing his best at CoR, if you compare that to Evan's face at the CoC medal ceremony where he looked close to a tantrum it was pretty funny. I think that's real love; when you're still smiling on the 2nd or 3rd place spot on the podium. He may be my favorite, but I don't think Johnny really loves it all that much. If he did it wouldn't take a "scary coach" to get him motivated.

 

[Bennett]

I don't think Johnny really loves it all that much. If he did it wouldn't take a "scary coach" to get him motivated.

I think that Johnny basically loves to skate so deeply. That's I think why he decided to change his environment.
There are a lot of things they have to go through. Few skaters would love every process of what it takes to be a top competitor. They have to do gym training (many seem to dislike it) and often need to sacrifice the private, more 'normal' life that people take for granted. They can't do a lot of things that their peer friends can do at their ages. There are constant pressures to be more hardworking, more disciplined, and mentally stronger than anyone else. It's a really tough world. If a scary coach helps him keep disciplined, why not go for it?

 

[Winnipeg]

Definitely Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning.

Steven Cousins
Ina & Zimmerman
Rudy Galindo
Viktor Petrenko
Shae-Lynn Bourn

love those cats of yours.................

hmmmmmmmmmmm:scratch::scratch::think::think:

Agree EHughes seems too fake IMO

really enjoys...................Dube and Davison, she must after what she has been through, she doesn't seem to give a hoot about the risk....just the love


Irina Slutskaya always looked happy when she was skating HEALTHY.....she alwys had a big smile and rosy cheeks and enegy

Virtue and Moir as well........................

 

[Bennett]

Irina Slutskaya always looked happy when she was skating HEALTHY.....she alwys had a big smile and rosy cheeks and enegy

Agree that she looked always happy and smily.

 

[Ladskater]

Karen Magnussen, Toller Cranston, Donald Jackson, Brian Orser, Kurt Browning, Jeff Buttle....to name a few!!!

 

[feraina]

I always thought that Mao Asada skated with such pure joy... until this year. Now she looks much less her carefree self.

 

[Winnipeg]

I always thought that Mao Asada skated with such pure joy... until this year. Now she looks much less her carefree self.

sadly, I agree................