Favorite Chopin programs (2) on ice

[GoldenMichelle]

I'm partial to this program.

[Vash01]

I'm partial to this program.

That was lovely. She was so good as a junior! Why wasn't she successful as a senior skater?

[Vash01]

More YT links:

Belbin-Agosto worlds 2008 FD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1Cj...47701050E9E087

Shizuka Arakawa 2006 Oly SP (Fantaisie Impromptu):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpRnke3sfL4

Takahiko Kozuka 2006 Trophee Eric Bompard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6vFuEBmkaE

[Vash01]

Jeni Meno-Todd Sand skated SP to Fantaisie Impromptu at 1997 US nationals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg4mbW_cIo4

Debi Thomas- world pro 1988:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ_BdTAVO3Q

[aemeraldrainc]

That was lovely. She was so good as a junior! Why wasn't she successful as a senior skater?

I've been wondering whatever happened to her. I remember watching her around 2002 and then I was out of the loop for years after that so I'm not sure what did happen.

[burntBREAD]

I've been wondering whatever happened to her. I remember watching her around 2002 and then I was out of the loop for years after that so I'm not sure what did happen.

I think it had something to do with burnout and an exceedingly overbearing mother. Look at her mom's reaction to her Junior Worlds winning LP, she looks...displeased...

[Vash01]

I've been wondering whatever happened to her. I remember watching her around 2002 and then I was out of the loop for years after that so I'm not sure what did happen.

I remember her competing against Sasha Cohen (both skated to Swan Lake and Sasha was gorgeous at the time- with Tarasova's choreography), and not doing so well. I saw her in some more competitions and she was good, but I think the US ladies field may have been very competitive at that time for her to crack into the top 3. Her skating suffered too, may be because of the pressure.

Later I heard rumors that she was burned out because of parental push, and finally she quit. I don't know the details.

[skatesindreams]

I think it had something to do with burnout and an exceedingly overbearing mother. Look at her mom's reaction to her Junior Worlds winning LP, she looks...displeased...

This thread may provide some answers:
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73305

[Vash01]

This thread may provide some answers:
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73305

Thanks. I remember reading that thread long ago.

I am digressing here, but we have seen so many skaters show great promise as junior skaters, but disappear as senior skaters. That's why I am not so sure about the Russian babies. I don't know how many of them will make it in the senior ranks, and it's not just puberty I am talking about.

Back to the thread- it seems there are just a handful of pieces by Chopin that skaters have skated to. I think someone has skated to Nocturne in C minor (used in the movie The Pianist), but can't remember who it was.

I feel that Chopin's music is so unique that only a handful of skaters can do justice to it, and it seems to suit Mao Asada really well. Actually she seems to perform her best when she skates to Chopin.

[Twilight1]

U&Z also had Chopin's waltz in A minor in the middle section of their Mars program in the 1989 worlds FD.

Ironically that FD never grew on me. I always think more of their exhibition pieces like Prelude in E Minor, Autumn Leaves and the Tango from '93 World Exhibitions.

I did like their Paganini in '91. Their 4 Season's in '92 was sublime.