Christy Krall has resigned as Patrick Chan's coach

[misskarne]

Is the author of this Joshua Farris's mother?

I don't think so, I think it's just a freaky coincidence. It does say in her profile that her three children skate at Broadmoor and have competed at Junior National level, but as far as I know Joshua only has one sibling and that sibling (an older brother) is a bowler. (? Lawn bowls, presumably? Or ten pin?)

It does look awkward though.

EDIT: Ah, Sylvia beat me to it!

[spikydurian]

"Can Patrick Chan's only skating coach be a modern dance teacher?" http://www.examiner.com/ice-skating-...-dance-teacher
(Note: The author is the same person who wrote the about.com profile article on Kathy Johnson that was linked earlier in this thread.)

Thanks Sylvia for posting this. I read this a few hours earlier.

Of particular interest to me is this statement "she brings the best out of Patrick". I cannot help but reflect my school days where some teachers just seem to have a special touch in motivating students. Maybe it's their personalities or just the right chemistry. (Similarly, we have witnessed how leaders could bring out the best or worse of their countrymen.)

My assumption is Patrick will get a new coach but the coach must be willing to play a lesser role or share the role with Kathy with Kathy being more the 'artistic driver' and the other coach, perhaps, the 'technical driver'. Not all coaches are comfortable with shared roles and that clearly explains Christy's resignation which is understandable. The 16X9 Global News documentary showed Patrick practicing his new Ex under Kathy's guidance. I am slowly getting the inkling that Jeff Buttle may also play a part in Patrick's 'revamped team'. Of course, I may be wrong. Meanwhile content to wait for more news from SC which probably may only be forthcoming after Worlds Trophy or much later?

[gkelly]

I would forewarn you that applying a -20pt factor for not skating clean probably wouldn't fly.

Just imagining all the negative total scores we'd see on the JGP!

[manleywoman]

Of particular interest to me is this statement "she brings the best out of Patrick". I cannot help but reflect my school days where some teachers just seem to have a special touch in motivating students. Maybe it's their personalities or just the right chemistry.

See: Nikodinov, Angela.

[overedge]

Yep, jettasian, blah blah blah yet again blah,

Pot, kettle, etc.

[Sylvia]

Kathy Johnson has accompanied Patrick to Tokyo for World Team Trophy - photo linked from: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...77#post3548677

[gkelly]

and those that say that the only people who could enjoy Chan's skating are those with "an edge fetish,"

And what's wrong with that?

See: Nikodinov, Angela.

Whose best was brought out by working with a dancer/choreographer rather than skating technician.

That will only work for someone whose basic technique is already well developed and consistent -- not early in a career.

Chan is about the same age Nikodinov was then.

[Bournekraatzfan]

"Can Patrick Chan's only skating coach be a modern dance teacher?" http://www.examiner.com/ice-skating-...-dance-teacher
(Note: The author is the same person who wrote the about.com profile article on Kathy Johnson that was linked earlier in this thread.)

Thank you for providing the link to the article, Sylvia.

And what's wrong with that?

oh, you are brave to admit to it...and truth be told, I am an edge fetishist too

Whose best was brought out by working with a dancer/choreographer rather than skating technician.

That will only work for someone whose basic technique is already well developed and consistent -- not early in a career.

Chan is about the same age Nikodinov was then.

good point. I remember the improvement in Angela's skating...she just seemed freer and more comfortable with herself as a performer. And, though I do think Chan interprets music well, I would like to see him continue to grow in these ways. As you have said, his basic technique is already so solid, so I think now he can really push himself to expand his lexicon of movement. I was really impressed with the improvements he made this season, and I look forward to seeing what he does next.

[Jenny]

Thread drift, but I don't want to miss the opportunity to sing the praises of a somewhat underrated/forgotten skater - Angela Nikodinov was one of the few ladies skaters I truly enjoyed every time she skated. So beautiful and graceful, so natural. No idea how her technik rated and I'm sure many can give more detailed analysis, but from a pure enjoyment perspective, I'd count her among the very best, IMO.

[pinky166]

Is the author of this Joshua Farris's mother?

No Joshua's mother's name is Erin Farris. I don't believe there is any relation.

[Iceman]

Thread drift, but I don't want to miss the opportunity to sing the praises of a somewhat underrated/forgotten skater - Angela Nikodinov was one of the few ladies skaters I truly enjoyed every time she skated. So beautiful and graceful, so natural. No idea how her technik rated and I'm sure many can give more detailed analysis, but from a pure enjoyment perspective, I'd count her among the very best, IMO.

Amazing , until today I had no idea Angela was born in my state, South Carolina.

[Katarzyna]

That's total BS. How did he get rewarded with mistakes? If you read the protocol, he got penalized on his mistakes like EVERYONE else. And also, I don't even know where you get this idea that he doesn't care about his mistakes.

What I meant with being rewarded for mistakes was certainly not that he’ll get extra points for a fall, but that judges will add a little extra in other areas. As others also asked to elaborate, I give you an example what I meant to express: it’s hard to explain how a performance with two big errors gets higher marks on Performance / execution and Interpretation than a performance of another athlete who skated clean (look at Patrick’s and Takahashi’s marks of Worlds Free).

However, I can see that Patrick is marked fair above other skaters when making no or an equal amount of mistakes. And I think it’s good that judges now seem to reward great basic skating skills. At the end it’s figure skating and not figure jumping.

And didn't he admit that he's behind the music at World?

Being behind the music certainly was the only mistake this day!

By the way this is a discussion forum, a place where we shall feel free to exchange different opinions. I made a statement that I feel annoyed by some of Patrick’s comments. – I didn’t criticize him as a person, but just expressed how I personally perceived his comments. It ended up with a almost personal insult (someone describing my character in a negative way = as frustrated).
I think it’s not COP which may lead some persons not to like Patrick (as it has been suggested to dedicate my frustation to COP), it’s rather some of his fans. If it’s no longer possible to discuss strengths and weaknesses of skaters in a neutral and respectful way – which of course can be perceived differently by different persons as to certain extent figure skating is a matter of taste - without getting personal, there is definitely something wrong.

I start thinking that Patrick will be the next Michelle Kwan – great skater, but you better don’t read threads with fanatic fans that don’t allow for the slightest critics nor can they even stand nice words devoted to other skaters.

[kwanfan1818]

I don't even understand the premise of Schneider-Farris' article; she, not just whoever writes the headlines, asks "Could Patrick Chan possibly win the 2014 Olympics if his only coach is a modern dance teacher?"

Earlier, she writes that "Skate Canada announced that Chan will continue to keep his training base in Colorado Springs, and will continue to work with Johnson, but will take frequent trips to Toronto while he rebuilds his coaching team."

How could Johnson be his "only coach" if he's re-building his coaching team?

What hasn't been mentioned is whether Eddie Shipstead (sp?), the man with the jump harness in the profile to which figuristka linked upthread, will continue to work with him.

Also Johnson is not just responsible for the woo-woo, faux "So You Think You Can Dance" choreography she works on in the studio: in the same profile, she talks about the technical aspect of drawing out superb positions in his skating, in this case, his camel spin.

(I just hope she doesn't do his choreography...)

[BackOnTheIce]

Isn't Chan dating Kathy Johnson's daughter? :-)

[A judge]

Isn't Chan dating Kathy Johnson's daughter? :-)

Does he have any time to date?

If he is dating the daughter it might be awkward if he has to dump Kathy or the daughter.

[kwanfan1818]

According to the profile from right before the WC (linked upthread), Chan is dating. (No names were named.)

[overedge]

According to the profile from right before the WC (linked upthread), Chan is dating. (No names were named.)

I knew it! Patrick is going to skate pairs as well as singles, so that Gracie Gold won't win all the gold medals in Sochi!

[kwanfan1818]

I think he's shorter than Tran, so maybe this is his chance to find a tiny girl from China Then he'd be the first to compete for two countries in the same Olympics

[ali_dorate]

Kathy Johnson has accompanied Patrick to Tokyo for World Team Trophy - photo linked from: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...77#post3548677

Thank you Sylvia.
Nice smile. He seems to be free and relaxed.
I think the most important thing for him right now is to rekindle the passion for skating. Being with Kathy definitely works for him.
I heartily welcome his courageous decision and can't wait to see new Patrick!

[spikydurian]

See: Nikodinov, Angela.

Thanks manleywoman. Never heard of Angela but I did google and watch the you-tube. Graceful skater.