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Figure Skating

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: The Cheap Seats: Sports and Entertainment (ARCHIVES): Figure Skating users admin

Author Message
Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, the time is here for the US Figure Skating Championships. Of course, other countries are having/have had theirs too. And then Four Continents, Worlds, etc.

Main reason I'm starting this now though is.....terribly tragic news from US Figure Skating....Angela Nikodinov's mother was killed in a car accident as Angela and her family were on the way from the airport to the competition site yesterday. Just makes my heart sick.

USFSA Site

Condolences can be sent to Angela's Official Site.

ESPN Story.

Article in Oregonian.

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 5:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for the links Who.. I couldn't believe the news when I read it today. How sad. That will put a huge damper on the entire competition for sure.

Next week is the Canadian Nationals In London, Ontario...and I am attending. Will be there Wed-Sun. yipee (just the planning with the kids home etc. will be the tough one :-) )

Egbok
Member

07-13-2000

Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 11:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for the links Who!

I did read about this tragic accident in our local newspaper this morning. Lots of interest here since the family lived in San Pedro.


Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 8:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, I flipped past the men's championship just in time to see the eventual young winner dressed up like an after-dinner mint, winking and blowing kisses to the camera. I kept on going. I tuned back in for the women's championship only to see this poor little Angela and her dreadful story. Kept on going again after I saw the 15-year-old land a triple axle. I was very surprised this morning to see that Michelle Kwan won her 9th national championship - I didn't even realize she was still competing at the amateur level, much less had remained so competitive. Is she going to try for the Olympic gold again?

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 8:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I saw Michelle skate - she is still grace on ice.

It would not be a surprise if she does go for the Olympic gold again.

Konamouse
Member

07-16-2001

Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 12:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My cousin, Ben (and his partner Tanith) won the dance competition (and they got 6.0's)!!
Wish I could have watched it (but I was at work without a TV).

'squeek'

PS. something like a 3rd cousin very removed - I just know from our cousins-club newsletter that we are somehow related, but there are like, 5 or 6 living branches of this family tree that goes back 8 generations from me.

Egbok
Member

07-13-2000

Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 5:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Michelle skated to Bolero and her routine was chorographed by Christopher Dean, who was part of skate Dance Team "Torvill & Dean". They skated to Bolero for the Olympics and won gold for that awesome performance.

Michelle's program last night lacked speed, but it was full of grace and wonderful jumps, spins and an elegant flow. I'm looking forward to seeing her do this routine at Worlds with a little more oomphffff!

I'll also hope that she might be able to perform this routine in the future and try for the elusive Olympic gold.

I also saw the interview by Angela Nikodinov. What a sweetheart to be there for her friends.

Here's a link to an article about Michelle's win. However, at the very bottom there's a little write up about Angela's statement from the interview shown on TV last night.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/articles/1354616.html



Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 6:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm just so impressed with Angela. What an incredible young lady, to swallow her own pain and make a showing at the arena in support of her friends. She is truly a shining and living tribute to the woman most of us fans never had the honor to know. Because of what I see in Angela, I know the world is a better place to have had such a wonderful woman like her mother so briefly living here.

Michelle concerns me sometimes. There seems to be so much more she should be doing to prepare herself for this year, and in leading up to next year's Olympics. As a somewhat uneducated "only a fan," I'd say she should be participating in the Grand Prix, and seeing how her programs and skills hold up to the new Code Of Points scoring system. Yet, for the last few seasons, she seems to only do enough to get by. It just seems like if she truly wants to make one more shot for Olympic Gold, she'd be pulling out all the stops.

I do feel though, that Michelle skates for the pure love of her sport, and the pure love of skating. And she enjoys the challenge of competing. But maybe she's matured past the "win or nothing" mentality.

Sasha is a hard one to grasp. One of the commentators said something about how the skater needs to show "how much they want it." There's no doubt that Sahsa "wants it." But, I think she wants it for the wrong reason, and that may be the underlying reason she still can't put it all together.

Now, this is pure speculation. It is only the vibe I get from watching Sasha these past few years. I don't know her at all, and can't profess to know what really goes on in her head.

But I think the "it" that Sasha wants is the power/recognition/prestige of being a champion. I don't see the "pure enjoyment of skating to skate" in her programs. I see a "I have to do this move perfectly cause the only important thing about this all is to win." At all her interviews, she seems to take the most pleasure in posing and smiling into the camera in "just the right way" after the the interview is completed.

Its interesting that she seemed to end up conflicting with her two most recent coaches. Tatyana Tarasova seemed to have no problem making underhanded remarks about Sasha's attitude preceding their split. In this weekend's interviews, Robin Wagner's comments were very calculated and careful. I think Robin was trying very hard not to make public negative comments about Sasha.

In Sasha's interview, she was trying to defend the idea that is wasn't about a "lack of motivation," but....and even Sasha seemed to have a hard time explaining what she was after.

One of the commentators this weekend did comment something to the effect that if its not working no matter what coach you have, then maybe you should try looking in the mirror for the source of your troubles.

Seems like everyone is "getting it" except Sasha.

Like I said though, this is only my worth. I could be all wrong about Sasha and what motivates her.



Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 10:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
If I'm not mistaken, I think Michelle Kwan has gone back to college and that is why she isn't competing as much the past couple of years -- she's balancing her love of skating w/ getting an eduction. Her program was beautiful -- and I can't wait to see it after she's had even more time to work on perfecting it. I'd love to see her in the Olympics -- I still think she was "robbed" by Tara so long ago -- nothing against Tara, but I think if the order of their skaing had been reversed that night, so would the order of their medals. JMHO of course! :-)

As for Sasha -- I can see why you think those things Who -- I hadn't noticed it before, but what you say about getting it "perfect" for the wrong reasons seems to fit the inconsistency that she has in her skating so often.

LOL at Goddess - -young man dressed as a mint! LOL He skated fabulously, though! :-)

And Kona -- ANY connection to that couple is impressive! They did such an awesome job -- and her smile positively lights up the screen! Could you believe the straight 6.0s for presentation??? Incredible!! And one of the few times I've been "entranced" by ice dancing -- it's usually the one part of the competitions I "watch" while grading papers, but I was glued to the set through their entire program.