Figure Skating

[elie]

Originally Posted by Serrart

I am, or better I was, especially when Klimova - Ponomarenko where still on the ice. I haven't followed the European Championship but Russians' style is always my favourite, so I'm happy they won all the categories. Did they have a common trainer? Tarassova? Tchaikovskaya? Mishin?

Romy

Mishin is still Plushenko's trainer I think. Tarassova coaches some other skaters, not necessarily Russian. And on ice-dancing, Navka & Kostomarov have Alexander Zhulin (Navka's husband).

I don't mind the Russians, but I have read articles stating that their marks are sometimes inflated and they always get higher points than the next skater even if they don't do well, just because the Russian Team federation or whatever is very strong.
Personally I am a huge Stephane Lambiel fan. He's very artistic and seems like a nice kid. I don't care much for Plushenko, I think he's nothing next to what Yagudin was (anyone who has caught his Exhbition program on the 2002 Olympics will know what I mean). But still, he deserves the golds *sigh*.
As for ice-dancing, I really don't get the Navka/Kostomarov thing. Ok, they look good, but they 're very boring and predictable compared to let's say, Denvoka/Staviyski (I am HUGE fan) or the newer french team Delobel/Schoenfelder.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by elie

Mishin is still Plushenko's trainer I think. Tarassova coaches some other skaters, not necessarily Russian. And on ice-dancing, Navka & Kostomarov have Alexander Zhulin (Navka's husband).

I don't mind the Russians, but I have read articles stating that their marks are sometimes inflated and they always get higher points than the next skater even if they don't do well, just because the Russian Team federation or whatever is very strong.
Personally I am a huge Stephane Lambiel fan. He's very artistic and seems like a nice kid. I don't care much for Plushenko, I think he's nothing next to what Yagudin was (anyone who has caught his Exhbition program on the 2002 Olympics will know what I mean). But still, he deserves the golds *sigh*.
As for ice-dancing, I really don't get the Navka/Kostomarov thing. Ok, they look good, but they 're very boring and predictable compared to let's say, Denvoka/Staviyski (I am HUGE fan) or the newer french team Delobel/Schoenfelder.

Ok I know I'm going to F**K up the spelling on this one but what happened to Gordeeva after her husband and partner died on the ice? I know she had that perfume thing for awhile.

[CelticGypsy]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Ok I know I'm going to F**K up the spelling on this one but what happened to Gordeeva after her husband and partner died on the ice? I know she had that perfume thing for awhile.

Katia is now happily married to fellow Olympic Champion Ilia Kulik. Together, they are raising two daughters, Daria Grinkova and Elizaveta Kulik. She still visits her family’s dacha in Moscow, which she considers her hometown. Katia continues to thrill a legion of fans, both young and old alike, that have come to embrace the angelic artistry that she embodies as a solo performer.

http://2005.starsonice.com/cast/cast....asp?CastID=85

Sounds like she is a very happy wife, mother and is still has a great career. Daria is her daughter with Sergei Grinkov.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by elie

Mishin is still Plushenko's trainer I think. Tarassova coaches some other skaters, not necessarily Russian. And on ice-dancing, Navka & Kostomarov have Alexander Zhulin (Navka's husband).

I don't mind the Russians, but I have read articles stating that their marks are sometimes inflated and they always get higher points than the next skater even if they don't do well, just because the Russian Team federation or whatever is very strong..

I don't think it's true, but they usually set the basis of the predominant style especially in Europe, so their exhibitions often are the most compelling, and find a mesmerizing balance between the technical and the emotional side.
I haven't followed with a big interest the last seasons so I haven't really favourites at the moment. Honestly Plushenko is great, really cold sometimes but I don't see others who can top him. I agree on Navka-Kostomarov, they're boring but Zhulin has been able to give them that touch of unpalpable class that he had with Maya Usova. Their exhibition on Vivaldi's Summer was unforgettable (even if Klimova - Ponomarenko were still the best ).

Romy

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by CelticGypsy

Katia is now happily married to fellow Olympic Champion Ilia Kulik. Together, they are raising two daughters, Daria Grinkova and Elizaveta Kulik. She still visits her family’s dacha in Moscow, which she considers her hometown. Katia continues to thrill a legion of fans, both young and old alike, that have come to embrace the angelic artistry that she embodies as a solo performer.

http://2005.starsonice.com/cast/cast....asp?CastID=85

Sounds like she is a very happy wife, mother and is still has a great career. Daria is her daughter with Sergei Grinkov.

Good. I'm glad she's happy. She seemed like a very nice person.

[elie]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Good. I'm glad she's happy. She seemed like a very nice person.

Yeah, and it was such a sad story...

@Serrart: Maybe I am overreacting with Navka&Kostomarov, I don't think they're bad, but it's just not what I expect to see in an ice-dance competition. I just prefer the Bulgarians, who, by the way, I hope will take part in the Olympics - though it doesn't seem likely.

By the way, the other day I watched again for the first time in ages, Torvill&Dean' Bolero (1984 Olympics). It seemed too easy in comparison to today's programs (not so difficult lifts etc), but still, I was like WOW- what a beautiful thing to watch. The only thing that can make me so emotional is (now I don't know if anyone remembers that) a couple of years ago, the chinese pair Shen&Zao (sp) skating a flawless program to Turandot. Honestly, I still cry every single time I happen to watch it.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by elie

Yeah, and it was such a sad story...

@Serrart: Maybe I am overreacting with Navka&Kostomarov, I don't think they're bad, but it's just not what I expect to see in an ice-dance competition. I just prefer the Bulgarians, who, by the way, I hope will take part in the Olympics - though it doesn't seem likely.

By the way, the other day I watched again for the first time in ages, Torvill&Dean' Bolero (1984 Olympics). It seemed too easy in comparison to today's programs (not so difficult lifts etc), but still, I was like WOW- what a beautiful thing to watch. The only thing that can make me so emotional is (now I don't know if anyone remembers that) a couple of years ago, the chinese pair Shen&Zao (sp) skating a flawless program to Turandot. Honestly, I still cry every single time I happen to watch it.

If you have the chance,watch Duchesnays' long program at the World Chamionship in 1991 on Morricone's music (they were trained by Dean who was also Isabelle Duchesnay's husband) and Klimova Ponomarenko's program on Bach's music at Albertville 1992. They took my breath away.

Romy

[elie]

Originally Posted by Serrart

If you have the chance,watch Duchesnays' long program at the World Chamionship in 1991 on Morricone's music (they were trained by Dean who was also Isabelle Duchesnay's husband) and Klimova Ponomarenko's program on Bach's music at Albertville 1992. They took my breath away.

Romy

Thanx for the suggestions!
Maybe I 'll try on the internet? And by the way, is there a site where I can find old footage, like the ones you mentioned? My fiance found Torvill&Dean (after years and years of me talking about it!), but other than that, I don't know.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by elie

Thanx for the suggestions!
Maybe I 'll try on the internet? And by the way, is there a site where I can find old footage, like the ones you mentioned? My fiance found Torvill&Dean (after years and years of me talking about it!), but other than that, I don't know.

Just few days ago I discovered this place
http://fsvids.9.forumer.com/
where ice skating fans can upload and download the videos of their favourite artists, it's really amazing and the reposts are almost non stop. You can find a lot of great footage here. About Duchesnay and Klimova - Ponomarenko (Unfortunately I have them only on vhs) I've just posted the requests in their threads. Hopefully they will appear soon. As soon as someone uploads them again I'll let you know.


Edit: that site is incredible, they already posted both:
Here are Paul & Isabelle Duchesnay:
http://s54.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1...Q13FFEN63RW73Y

Okay, a little explanation maybe is needed to understand better what they did. Here there is the 1990 World Championship program, called Missing (it's dedicated to desaparecidos in South America), and skated on Morricone's soundtrack for Mission. What they did was a real revolution in ice dance. Technically they weren't perfect as the Russians and they broke several rules so couldn't win the golden medal. BUt even being a big Klimova-Ponomarenko fan as I am, it was clear they deserved it for the emotions, the vitality and the modernity they brought thanks to Christopher Dean choreography and stunning vision. A year later at the world championship they presented Missing II, and since some rules had been changed in the meanwhile this time they won, but it was becoming clear their limit, the inability to change from a scheme. My Russians obviously were crashed by arriving second and risked to split. But luckily they decided to say goodbye to Dubova and took Tarassova as trainer. She was able to fuse the Duchesnay's novelty elements (they're very present in the Bach program) with a renewed harmony and close to perfection technique (besides the incredible intensity, that they had never reached at that peak before, their skating at the Olympic Games was mesmerizing, totally new also for the velocity and the incredible number of steps and their velocity), so Marina and Sergei's revenge took place at Albertville on Bach's Toccata and Fugue. :
http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1...O2FUTA0ASBET6P

They've been able to win the golden medal in Duchesnay kingdom with this. You can feel the change of mood in the public from the start to the final. It still gives me the same deep emotion (at the time I started jumping around when they won )... incredible.

Gotta love Ice skating
Romy

[skcin]

Originally Posted by elie

By the way, the other day I watched again for the first time in ages, Torvill&Dean' Bolero (1984 Olympics). It seemed too easy in comparison to today's programs (not so difficult lifts etc), but still, I was like WOW- what a beautiful thing to watch.

I don't think I've ever seen the '84 performance in full. I do have the later Bolero, they did it again for the exhibition skate in 92? 96? I can't remember. All I know is that it made me cry.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by skcin

I don't think I've ever seen the '84 performance in full. I do have the later Bolero, they did it again for the exhibition skate in 92? 96? I can't remember. All I know is that it made me cry.

They came back at 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer and won bronze. They were still a great couple but the medal wasn't really deserved, IMO.

Romy

[elie]

@Serrart: thank you so much! I will check it out when I get home, cause I just read your message and I am at work

As to Bolero: I think I have only watched the original performance but I guess it should not be any different than the exhibitions. Maybe a bit more emotional because it was the Olympics and all.
It disturbs me somehow to watch other couples doing Bolero - I know it shouldn't, but still, noone will ever live up to Torvill/Dean's program. Denkova herself (from Denkova/Staviyski) once said that they don't feel ready to do this particular piece of music and they may try in the future when they'll be more mature. Now that I would love to see...

[DavidMn]

Michelle Kwan made it! ANd it sounds like she really did well in front of that skating committee.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by elie

@Serrart: thank you so much! I will check it out when I get home, cause I just read your message and I am at work

As to Bolero: I think I have only watched the original performance but I guess it should not be any different than the exhibitions. Maybe a bit more emotional because it was the Olympics and all.
It disturbs me somehow to watch other couples doing Bolero - I know it shouldn't, but still, noone will ever live up to Torvill/Dean's program. Denkova herself (from Denkova/Staviyski) once said that they don't feel ready to do this particular piece of music and they may try in the future when they'll be more mature. Now that I would love to see...

I totally understand, and in fact one couple has to feel really ready to cope with that parcticular music, given the Torvill/Dean perfomance. By the way, I've decided to look with moe attention to thiese Olympic Games, hope to find a couple to really look at.

Romy

[skcin]

Did anyone watch last night? I was horrified when the Chinese skater fell, I swear her knee went sideways.

I agree that the Russian couple deserved the gold, but in general I was not that impressed this year. I'm holding out for the ladies and ice dancing to wow me.

OH! Does anyone else HATE the Olympic TV coverage? I can't stand when they keep skipping around. 1 hour of skating, then pop over to snowboarding for 20 minutes, then curling - wth! I can't keep up, not to mention that they're not even showing all of the medal winners' performances. I missed the other Chinese pair's skate & they won the bronze - did I miss it, or did they just not show it? Oh well, I'll just keep checking the Canadian station.