velcro...Like...he actually has a button on it for that purpose
velcro...Like...he actually has a button on it for that purpose
Am I going to have to cover my eyes
I still say I'm a fan of Kevin even though he's retired. A creative inspiration of a sorts. Yeah that's true.
Looking at the way the Canadian judges have been scoring him at his last few international competitions... He's been getting tough love from them in PCS. His lowest marks in the short here came from the Canadian judge. He'll have a tough time being sent to Senior Worlds if he can't improve in other areas before Nationals.
I hope he has support around him, it was hard watching him this weekend.
definitely not. He skated at SKAM. She meant Kevin Reynolds.Kevin Amoz retired?
The Canadian FED is often harsh on their own skaters. The message sent here is clear : built up consistency, fix your spins and skate in a way so you can reach out to the audience. There are a lot of areas he needs to work on but it's within his capacities. He had good basics when he was younger but they haven't developed further. I often compare Gogo with Conrad because I discovered both of them one year when Gogo won Junior Nationals over Conrad (on PCS advantage mostly in the LP). I preferred Conrad and adopted him. However, Conrad's skating was all over the place. His technique not so good. And his scores were very low from any Canadian judge (still are). What did Conrad do? Remove quads, learn basic stroking, fix his spins. It's a work in progress but he is improving. Back then, nobody would have ever considered that Conrad may reach the world team before Gogolev. Right now, with Keegan done, Roman recovering very slowly from injury, Jo Phan retired, Nic Nadeau switching to pairs, Nam gone... etc... it is a wide open field. Gogolev has the biggest opportunity to win Nationals (he was the runner up at 14 !!!!) But if I were to bet on this at this moment, I wouldn't make him pass Chiu and Orzel. I find it very strange considering the excellent coaches and choreos he works with. If I were his "manager/mentor" I would send him to Lambiel for spins, Chan for skating skills and basic stroking (saw GOGO at ACI = so slow), and perhaps even Ravi to deal with how a tall man needs to jumpMy sense is that the Canadian fed is beginning to lose patience with him.
I think that his early success is working against him. He's only 18, and a newcomer with similar results would be viewed more favorably. It seems unfair.
Reynolds. Kevin Reynolds. Retired Canadian skater. First to land 2 quads in a SP (2010 Skate Canada).Kevin Amoz retired?
I don't recall Kevin Reynolds skating in skate America. ThanksKevin Amoz retired?
I can understand people going gaga over Aymoz, as he is very watchable, despite hanging on every jump, but Vassilievs is basically like a boring pain of pointlessness on ice. No jumps, no transitions, no energy, no youthful ardor, no nothing to note on positively. Like, maybe spins? But he used to do them better too.
I've generally enjoyed Deniss' skating. This year, I do not.
I'm willing to give the LP another chance when he's in better form, but I don't think I'd like that SP even if it were skated perfectly.
I don't think it's him that's the problem, I think it's the programs. If that makes sense.
I will say this: The messaging that "this music means so much to him" and "you can see he's skating for himself" is absurd. A legend/diva might be able to get away with that, but as much as I've been a fan, a legend he is not.
If internal motivations are driving things, he can perform his programs on an isolated pond and satisfy those longings.
In 2022 at Europeans he beat Mozalev and has a Bronze medal, last season he got a silver medal on the GP, so having a few bad skates does not define a career that is now in its 14th season. 3 years as a novice, won all but one competition, 3 years as a junior , medals from all three years, this is his 9th senior year, and the previous 8 he has at least one medal every year.I saw Vassilievs skate every time I went to GP and it just gets progressively worse. Before he tried to pick something interesting in terms of music, but Hallelujah is not exactly a find and the free is a wash in terms of everything... I am wondering if the choice of Hallelujah means it's his farewell season or something like that.
He may not be a legend, but this is his 14th season, so that probably does give him the status of Uncle.I've generally enjoyed Deniss' skating. This year, I do not.
I'm willing to give the LP another chance when he's in better form, but I don't think I'd like that SP even if it were skated perfectly.
I don't think it's him that's the problem, I think it's the programs. If that makes sense.
I will say this: The messaging that "this music means so much to him" and "you can see he's skating for himself" is absurd. A legend/diva might be able to get away with that, but as much as I've been a fan, a legend he is not.
If internal motivations are driving things, he can perform his programs on an isolated pond and satisfy those longings.
Yeah, i know he beat Mozalev in Europeans. I kinda hoped he would add a quad after that, but he didn't. Kinda opposite from Mozalev, who I wish would take one quad out. Overall though, I am more and more becoming convinced that there is simply no substitute for jumping ability. They can help jumpers to get a bit better with delivery, but non jumpers just slide down to start falling on triples and their PCSs all get lost fast too. Anyway, didn’t like either program, but free was probably worse.In 2022 at Europeans he beat Mozalev and has a Bronze medal, last season he got a bronze medal on the GP, so having a few bad skates does not define a career that is now in its 14th season. 3 years as a novice, won all but one competition, 3 years as a junior , medals from all three years, this is his 9th senior year, and the previous 8 he has at least one medal every year.
Hallelujah was choreographed by Shae-Lynne. Its a little rough still from transitioning from exhibition to competition.
Deniss like some other skaters had problems with the rink size.
He has stated he plans to compete through to 2026 Olympics.
And why am I a fan of his. 2016 Worlds Boston, he was just adorable. I feel like I've watched him grow into a handsome, intelligent, sweet man. I love his skating because he is so committed to the programs he skates, his beautiful spins, step sequences, 3Lutz, and his smile at the end.
The Canadian FED is often harsh on their own skaters. The message sent here is clear : built up consistency, fix your spins and skate in a way so you can reach out to the audience. There are a lot of areas he needs to work on but it's within his capacities. He had good basics when he was younger but they haven't developed further. I often compare Gogo with Conrad because I discovered both of them one year when Gogo won Junior Nationals over Conrad (on PCS advantage mostly in the LP). I preferred Conrad and adopted him. However, Conrad's skating was all over the place. His technique not so good. And his scores were very low from any Canadian judge (still are). What did Conrad do? Remove quads, learn basic stroking, fix his spins. It's a work in progress but he is improving. Back then, nobody would have ever considered that Conrad may reach the world team before Gogolev. Right now, with Keegan done, Roman recovering very slowly from injury, Jo Phan retired, Nic Nadeau switching to pairs, Nam gone... etc... it is a wide open field. Gogolev has the biggest opportunity to win Nationals (he was the runner up at 14 !!!!) But if I were to bet on this at this moment, I wouldn't make him pass Chiu and Orzel. I find it very strange considering the excellent coaches and choreos he works with. If I were his "manager/mentor" I would send him to Lambiel for spins, Chan for skating skills and basic stroking (saw GOGO at ACI = so slow), and perhaps even Ravi to deal with how a tall man needs to jump
I get the same sense with Skate Canada about him too.My sense is that the Canadian fed is beginning to lose patience with him.
I think that his early success is working against him. He's only 18, and a newcomer with similar results would be viewed more favorably. It seems unfair.