- Joined
- Mar 23, 2010
I have been wanting to create this thread for a while.
One of my main interests to look forward to any new season are watching skaters coming up with original, interesting well-realised programs. To take ownership of their skating, to grow, to tackle, to improve in all aspect of new artistic ambitions and technical new milestones in their 'craft'. Something that has heart, emotional intelligence, and a full realisation of music intentions, with originality and authenticity, the truth of who they are. While there are no official marks given under COP to reward for any of that (except loosely masked under PCS which really should stand for Political Component Scoring), in my humble opinion, there should be wider recognition by the fans of the sport. Artistry is the most precious and unquantifiable part of the sport, it is priceless, and it should be encouraged, nourished and celebrated as often as possible.
Figure skating is a multi-disciplinary delicate sport of skills, sporting performance and artistry (& gaming of points). To truly elevate oneself, it is as much as what skaters decide to do and 'struggle' to achieve, and not just about how well they can do the same thing well, year after year within the comfort zone. There should be as much reward about taking risks to 'win', as much as skating to 'not to lose'.
I admire greatly skaters who struggle, taking risks outside their comfort zone. Patrick, Hanyu, even Javier continues to do that with at least 1 of their programs each past season, and they lead the sport by example. This motivates youngsters pushing themselves in all aspects trying to catch up. BoYang improved leap and bounds in the expressions, it is infuriating judges are slow to catch up while everyone else can see it. Nathan is like a young hungry Hanyu, desperately trying to set his mark, sometimes failing admirably, recklessly, ambitious, but thanks to a supportive federation, he appears to be getting there. Adam for the past 3 seasons has been taking complete ownership of his skating and moving decisively towards the Lambiel direction. While his taste may not suit all, but for me, he is really exciting and interesting to watch, and hope he doesn't ever do trite with safe and generics ever again. As much as I complain about Jason's overmarking at times, I grew to admire his struggle to include the quad and the tough order that is his FS - which is definitely outside his comfort zone.
For the ladies, many of my favs have been under the radar struggling with PCS recognition (Wakaba finally won recognition this year), but actually, I really like what they are doing with their programs. Consider how inflated the current field, watching their score is heartbreaking at times. I can only hope in time they will eventually get recognised by the judges one day.
Amongst them include Zijun Li, Soyoun Park, and Karen Chen. I have just watched Karen's SP & FS having missed watching both events live this season. I did a triple/triple take. Looking at the score, then looking at these programs/performances and can only shake my head consider the current inflated field. Nevertheless, I greatly admire what Karen is trying to do, hope she get recognised for her sincere efforts. Coming off such slump after horrific injuries is always a tough task but to decide to self-choreograph and realise such exquisite yet risk taking ambitions (delicate short with little margins for error with that piece of music. Fast long doing a Latin.) as comebacks deserve my admiration and commendation. Well done Karen, hope you have a great US national and able to deliver all that you can. Regardless of everything else, you are a terrific talent, have a beautiful pair of programs and such a little budding artist. Hope you continue to grow over the next few years. Well done!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBPbmgEOWSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVWjHDIYqY
(updated Eurosport video, some really nice comments. 6 triples program include 2 Lutz with a lutz opening combo. You rock Karen, despite the stingey marks!)
Please feel free to share your fav under appreciated programs/skaters.
One of my main interests to look forward to any new season are watching skaters coming up with original, interesting well-realised programs. To take ownership of their skating, to grow, to tackle, to improve in all aspect of new artistic ambitions and technical new milestones in their 'craft'. Something that has heart, emotional intelligence, and a full realisation of music intentions, with originality and authenticity, the truth of who they are. While there are no official marks given under COP to reward for any of that (except loosely masked under PCS which really should stand for Political Component Scoring), in my humble opinion, there should be wider recognition by the fans of the sport. Artistry is the most precious and unquantifiable part of the sport, it is priceless, and it should be encouraged, nourished and celebrated as often as possible.
Figure skating is a multi-disciplinary delicate sport of skills, sporting performance and artistry (& gaming of points). To truly elevate oneself, it is as much as what skaters decide to do and 'struggle' to achieve, and not just about how well they can do the same thing well, year after year within the comfort zone. There should be as much reward about taking risks to 'win', as much as skating to 'not to lose'.
I admire greatly skaters who struggle, taking risks outside their comfort zone. Patrick, Hanyu, even Javier continues to do that with at least 1 of their programs each past season, and they lead the sport by example. This motivates youngsters pushing themselves in all aspects trying to catch up. BoYang improved leap and bounds in the expressions, it is infuriating judges are slow to catch up while everyone else can see it. Nathan is like a young hungry Hanyu, desperately trying to set his mark, sometimes failing admirably, recklessly, ambitious, but thanks to a supportive federation, he appears to be getting there. Adam for the past 3 seasons has been taking complete ownership of his skating and moving decisively towards the Lambiel direction. While his taste may not suit all, but for me, he is really exciting and interesting to watch, and hope he doesn't ever do trite with safe and generics ever again. As much as I complain about Jason's overmarking at times, I grew to admire his struggle to include the quad and the tough order that is his FS - which is definitely outside his comfort zone.
For the ladies, many of my favs have been under the radar struggling with PCS recognition (Wakaba finally won recognition this year), but actually, I really like what they are doing with their programs. Consider how inflated the current field, watching their score is heartbreaking at times. I can only hope in time they will eventually get recognised by the judges one day.
Amongst them include Zijun Li, Soyoun Park, and Karen Chen. I have just watched Karen's SP & FS having missed watching both events live this season. I did a triple/triple take. Looking at the score, then looking at these programs/performances and can only shake my head consider the current inflated field. Nevertheless, I greatly admire what Karen is trying to do, hope she get recognised for her sincere efforts. Coming off such slump after horrific injuries is always a tough task but to decide to self-choreograph and realise such exquisite yet risk taking ambitions (delicate short with little margins for error with that piece of music. Fast long doing a Latin.) as comebacks deserve my admiration and commendation. Well done Karen, hope you have a great US national and able to deliver all that you can. Regardless of everything else, you are a terrific talent, have a beautiful pair of programs and such a little budding artist. Hope you continue to grow over the next few years. Well done!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBPbmgEOWSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVWjHDIYqY
(updated Eurosport video, some really nice comments. 6 triples program include 2 Lutz with a lutz opening combo. You rock Karen, despite the stingey marks!)
Please feel free to share your fav under appreciated programs/skaters.
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