Figure Skating Chat!- Page 27

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 1:25am

Skary Babs brings a lot of memories to ice dancing. There was a big rivalry between her and Marina Anissina during the last Olympic quad. Babs was as fun and unclassy then too.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 1:37pm

As the women's program will be beginning shortly in Torino, out of deference for all of us who do not want to know the results, please don't post them here.

Thank you.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 1:42pm

That's right-start a different thread for results, please!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 3:29pm

My thought on the dance competition!

Well SI got it right! Russians, Tanith and Ben, the Ukrainians.

IMO, the Ukrainians should have finished lower than 3rd, with the Bulgarians or the french team(D & S) in 3rd. I guess it was that spin in the OD that hurt the Bulgarians!

Also, That costume that Elena Groshina wore in the FD was AWFUL! Those fringe beads on her "ta-ta's"! Also Tatiana Navka's costume in the OD was awful too......but in a different way. The blue features on the back made it look like she was protraying a bird!!!!!!

I honestly liked the Navka and Kostomorov's FD better than Tanith and Bens......but only due to the fact that the music was Carmen! Tanith and Ben did have some minor mistakes though. However, they did a dance spin that was GORGEOUS! It looked like Tanith was in a layback position, that was probably the best I have seen!

Interesting to note that Alexander Zhulin has now coached his wife to be Olympic Ice Dance Champion......something that he never was. However, I think that Maya Usova and Alexander Zhulin are much better than Navak and Kostomorov!

Barbara and Maritzio! What a stare that continued to hold over! You know, in the new scoring system they could have overcome their mistakes......possibly. However, not if they aren't going to speak to each other! It probably wouldn't have happened anyways, as I didn't like their FD too much!

Margarita and Polivas! What a beautiful FD. You know you would think that I would enjoy skaters skating to music from musicals since it would encompass two things I love, but I really don't because I find it a bit choppy(sometimes anyways)! Especially when they use the lyrics! But this was quite nice!

Once again, just like I said about pairs and mens, Salt Lake was better! Marina Anasina and Gwendal Peserat were much better and had a fantastic program!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 3:35pm

I think the top 9 ladies will be, in no particular order, as follows:

Irina Slutskaya
Sasha Cohen
Shizuka Awakaya
Emily Hughes
Kimmie Mesigner
Fumie Sugri
Miki Ando
Carolina Kostner
Elena Sokolva

I would be surprised in anyone else was able to get into the top 9 and all are contenders for a medal! Making this the best competition ever! Yesterday I counted 10 contenders, but now I can only recall 9!
Updated On: 2/21/06 at 03:35 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 3:41pm

Is Irina Slutsyaka skating for the Japanese team?

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 3:43pm

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh i am chanting for sasha -- i want her to WIN! please gal, do not land on your ass!!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 3:44pm

Garland Grrl, I'm with you!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 4:15pm

Good Point! Fixed it!

[cturtle]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 1:10am

sasah nailed it! good for her! now, if she can just skate a clean long program, she will have done her job.

i loved the girl from georgia!

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 7:48am

Sasha was AMAZING last night. I can't wait to see her long program.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 8:10am

Sasha has a VERY tiny lead. I'm hoping she doesn't f it up in the LP, and skates a memorable program. Her choreo is great for her LP, so here's to hoping.

I'm pulling for Kimmie to get a medal, too. I'm glad the US has all their ladies in the top 7. Yay!

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 9:02am

i LOVED that georgian girl. i have never seen her before but the moment she took up her pose to begin i went, "WHO IS THAT?!" and sat up in bed. she definitely has a special quality just standing there. i am also pulling for kimmie to medal--wouldn't that be great! i thought fumie was better than her teammate who outscored her. i just didn't get that at all.
i loved the strength and determination of the young americans. a few of those jumps were pulled around through sheer abdominal strength and nerve.
i love dick button. he tells you why something is good and why a move just doesn't work -- and he puts it in the context of the athlete's history (what she usually does, etc) i feel that i learn from him all the time. scotty just screams to me. i want to say SHUT UP PATTI LUPONE!!
sasha nailed it! i was so happy! the footwork was so crisp and beautiful. just keep it up!
my friend said that slutty reminded her of the young liza.

Updated On: 2/22/06 at 09:02 AM

[peach]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 9:41am

Sasha rocks my world. And the Georgian girl was absolutely adorable. I think in four years we will be seeing that same skill and determination with a bit more experience - and she (the Georgian girl) will be a force to be reckoned with!

Does anyone know the music Miki Ando skated to? It was gorgeous music, and sounded somewhat familiar. Miki was the Japanese skater in the black skating outfit (with black tights! Love it!).


Unfortunately she had some problems with the program, but dang, I really liked that music. Anyone know what it was?

ETA: Google is my friend. According to what I was able to find, the music is from the film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" (circa 1983).

Updated On: 2/22/06 at 09:41 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 9:52am

I liked Sasha's program a lot. I'm also thinking that had Kimmie skated later on in the evening she would have been ranked higher, considering she was the only one of the top ladies to execute a triple-triple combination. I thought Fumie's program was better their her teammate who scored higher.

The long program should prove very interesting.

[sanda]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 12:18pm

I love Sasha. But she always lift my hope high in SP then blew it in LP. I hope this time she finally could pull it through.

And I like Fumie Sugri since I saw her won Grand Pix Champion. I think she ranked a little lower than she should.

[robbiej]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 12:26pm

Can someone explain Slutskaya to me? Sure...she's got energy and a killer smile. She can do the jumps quite well. But where's the stretch? Where's the grace? Where's the artistry. I've always had this problem with her...so I'm flummoxed as to how she is the gold medal favorite. Someone please tell me what I'm missing.

If Cohen doesn't implode (and that's a mighty big IF), I can't imagine Slutskaya beating her. Her LP is stunning.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 12:40pm

sasha didn't implode at nationals. i think she can do it.

[cturtle]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 12:42pm

peach, i could be wrong, but i THINK miki's music is an original track written for the japanese team. i've heard it before also. either SHE has skated to it before, or one of the other japanese skaters, i believe.

[peach]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 1:19pm

Thanks cturtle!

robbiej - we were just discussing this at work this morning. Here's my take on Irina. She is strong and athletic. She executes her jumps flawlessly, but she is more "sport-like" where as Sasha Cohen is much more graceful and artistic. Irina has less artistry, more athleticism. She is good with technique. Sasha has much more artistic flair, IMO, and technically is also quite a powerhouse.

Sooo....since figure skating is a combination of sport and art, if Sasha can keep the technical aspects together for the LP, I think she will be able to pull it off.

I love watching Sasha skate - she's goergeous. Irina nice to watch as well, because she's got so much energy and her jumps are nice and clean. But Sasha is my pick. Updated On: 2/22/06 at 01:19 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 1:42pm

But you have to look at the fact that Yvegeny won the gold on sheer athleticism alone. There was absolutely no artistry or choreography in his long program.

I hope that Sasha wins because I never understood Irina either.

[sanda]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 1:53pm

The problem is that Sasha wasn't as constant as Sluskaya. It is such a shame to watch her fall again and again. She got such an amazing talent and flexiblitly, yet her jumps always make me nervous.

[robbiej]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 1:59pm

Plushenko's program was bullsh*t...those flailing arms!!! I had no idea what it was about or why I should care other than boy can he jump.

As for Cohen, I think she's more than capable technically...it's her mental preparation that's been the problem (as has been discussed). She seems to be in a great place mentally and I hope she stays there.

As for Slutskaya v. Cohen...it's like Sutton Foster v. Audra McDonald. Foster's fun...but McDonald is true artist.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:00pm

The only thing that bothers me is that Sasha is skating 2nd and Irina is skating last. Clearly, two clean performances will be in the hands of the judges (which is what worries me).

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 2:42pm

Peach, I actually think that Miki Ando skated to music from "The Last Emperor". I have the soundtrack and it sounded a lot like the main theme!

robbiej, you wanted someone to explain Irina! I will do it! For starters, she is the reining WC, so that OF COURSE makes her a/the favorite......no matter who it is. You asked about her grace, well figure skating is art, but not all art has to be graceful. In other words, Irina doesn't have to be graceful to be artisitc. She's powerful, athletic, and entertaing. She's got personality and her smile will melt you......atleast it does me!