aftershocks
Banned Member
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I didn't see a fan thread for this exciting up-and-coming Latvian figure skater. Many fans are probably already familiar with Deniss, but I saw him for the first time this season on the JGP (Riga, and Torun). Deniss placed second at both competitions (the one in Riga was his home country, so that must have been exciting for him).
Unfortunately, Deniss has been edged out of making the JGP Final apparently by percentage points. It's too bad that the ISU does not extend entries at JGP and GP finals to at least 8 top competitors to give more good skaters finals experience and a chance to further develop. Deniss is an elegant and entertaining skater with excellent technique. He needs to continue fine-tuning his skills, and increasing his technical difficulty and consistency. He is already turning heads and touching hearts.
In the recent exciting spins thread here, Deniss' exceptional spins have been highlighted. When I first saw Deniss' sp on the JGP this season I was prepared for average "meh," and I ended up exclaiming "mmm Wowza!" Then I searched for all the videos of Deniss I could find on Youtube. He's not only talented, he also appears to have a delightful personality. In addition, it's quite wonderful to see Alexei Urmanov guiding Deniss at rinkside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slK78pH4CTs Puttin' on the Ritz sp 2015 JGP Riga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oprab1SNbuw 2015 JGP Torun fp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siro9o9teHQ 2015 Jr Worlds sp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqyCd4vK2mg 2015 Jr Worlds fp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUsZAR_aox0 2015 Jr Worlds exhibition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ap4X0AH1Wc 2014 Jr Worlds sp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ZvuY-niWA 2014 Jr Worlds fp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2DjbTPQ47Y Interview with Deniss on tour in Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV4yjzYBLnA performing in a show as a very young skater
For me, Deniss Vasiljevs has become my favorite Eastern European skater since the competitive days of Ilia Kulik, Sasha Abt, Alexei Urmanov and Petr Barna. I also of course have enjoyed very much in recent years, the cool Czech, Tomas Verner, and I did pull for Artur Gachinski to break through. Plus the inimitable Swede, Adrian Schultheiss' brief arc through figure skating was very compelling. And of course Alexei Yagudin was a superb jumper and champion, but I was never very charmed by Yagudin's personality. Evgeny Plushenko appealed to me in his younger days, and I respect Plush's legendary career, but neither Yagudin nor Plushy actually make my list of top favorite Eastern European male figure skaters. On the international junior male up-and-comer list, I am also impressed by Daniel Samohin of Israel, and Roman Sadovsky of Canada.
I know it can be problematic placing too much attention on young developing talent in the world of figure skating. But I find Deniss so talented and appealing. I will definitely be rooting for him. Yay Deniss!
Unfortunately, Deniss has been edged out of making the JGP Final apparently by percentage points. It's too bad that the ISU does not extend entries at JGP and GP finals to at least 8 top competitors to give more good skaters finals experience and a chance to further develop. Deniss is an elegant and entertaining skater with excellent technique. He needs to continue fine-tuning his skills, and increasing his technical difficulty and consistency. He is already turning heads and touching hearts.
In the recent exciting spins thread here, Deniss' exceptional spins have been highlighted. When I first saw Deniss' sp on the JGP this season I was prepared for average "meh," and I ended up exclaiming "mmm Wowza!" Then I searched for all the videos of Deniss I could find on Youtube. He's not only talented, he also appears to have a delightful personality. In addition, it's quite wonderful to see Alexei Urmanov guiding Deniss at rinkside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slK78pH4CTs Puttin' on the Ritz sp 2015 JGP Riga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oprab1SNbuw 2015 JGP Torun fp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siro9o9teHQ 2015 Jr Worlds sp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqyCd4vK2mg 2015 Jr Worlds fp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUsZAR_aox0 2015 Jr Worlds exhibition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ap4X0AH1Wc 2014 Jr Worlds sp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ZvuY-niWA 2014 Jr Worlds fp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2DjbTPQ47Y Interview with Deniss on tour in Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV4yjzYBLnA performing in a show as a very young skater
For me, Deniss Vasiljevs has become my favorite Eastern European skater since the competitive days of Ilia Kulik, Sasha Abt, Alexei Urmanov and Petr Barna. I also of course have enjoyed very much in recent years, the cool Czech, Tomas Verner, and I did pull for Artur Gachinski to break through. Plus the inimitable Swede, Adrian Schultheiss' brief arc through figure skating was very compelling. And of course Alexei Yagudin was a superb jumper and champion, but I was never very charmed by Yagudin's personality. Evgeny Plushenko appealed to me in his younger days, and I respect Plush's legendary career, but neither Yagudin nor Plushy actually make my list of top favorite Eastern European male figure skaters. On the international junior male up-and-comer list, I am also impressed by Daniel Samohin of Israel, and Roman Sadovsky of Canada.
I know it can be problematic placing too much attention on young developing talent in the world of figure skating. But I find Deniss so talented and appealing. I will definitely be rooting for him. Yay Deniss!
