The Johnny Weir Skating Academy

[sk9tingfan]

JOHNNY WEIR on Instagram: "26.3.2023 I have given a lot of thought to how I could help aspiring elite athletes chase their dreams and I am so excited to announce that later this year, I will start my career as a coach & choreographer. I’m assembling

12K Likes, 485 Comments - JOHNNY WEIR (@johnnygweir) on Instagram: "26.3.2023 I have given a lot of thought to how I could help aspiring elite athletes chase their d..."

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I'm confused. Please discuss this.

 

[tony]

I don't think there's much to be confused about. Similar to Beblin, White, Zuerlein, Dubreuil, Lauzon, Moir, Lambiel, and many of his other contemporaries, he's starting a skating school and it sounds like he already has a coaching team lined up.

Jorik Hendrickx turned immediately to coaching after retiring and already has a two-time World medalist in his sister.

 

[Rukia]

I think it could be really good. Johnny has some interesting perspectives and I'm interested to see what kind of coaching team he has.

 

[Carolla5501]

Does this mean that like Tanith he would have to quit commentating... (?)

 

[Wyliefan]

He says he plans to continue commentating.

 

[BittyBug]

Go Johnny!

 

[overedge]

I think he would be a great choreographer.

 

[Karen-W]

Does this mean that like Tanith he would have to quit commentating... (?)

He says he plans to continue commentating.

Tanith only backed off the commentating once Green/Parsons moved to MIDA last summer. Now, it might be a situation where she was already locked into her contract when Bratti/Somerville made such a splash last season, so she and NBC agreed to not renew this past summer, but I'd say that Johnny is fine to continue commentating as long as he doesn't have any skaters competing at US Nats in seniors.

 

[On My Own]

I'd say that Johnny is fine to continue commentating as long as he doesn't have any skaters competing at US Nats in seniors.

Is it necessary? What would the issue be if he does have skaters competing?

 

[tony]

Is it necessary? What would the issue be if he does have skaters competing?

There's not going to be an issue, it's just an FSU thing people take offense with. And then the conversation always reverts back to commentators throughout history typically being involved with the skaters, anyways. Tracy Wilson continued to comment on Hanyu and Fernandez way into her working with them, Carol Lane still commentates, Meagan Duhamel commentates on skaters and teams she works with, etc. If there's even a little bit of favoritism, oh no! Dick Button never had his favorite skaters over 50 years or anything. And Tracy was always more biased when it came to Bourne/Kraatz in the late 90s than she ever was commentating on her own skaters or their top competitors.

The people complaining about it being a conflict of interest would never watch the NBC broadcast, anyways

 

[Holy Headband]

I know his commentary is supposed to be polarising (as a foreigner I've heard him commentate very rarely) and not particularly analytical, but I kinda trust him with this? It sounds like he's approaching it seriously and is going to lead a team of professionals, unlike, say, Aljona, who's been lurching from job to job because of her inability to work with others.

 

[On My Own]

I preferred Johnny's commentary to pretty much everyone else they've tried apart from Charlie White, and Tanith (to an extent). He far outshines Tara who's sitting right next to him. American commentary will never reach the details of Dick/Peggy again, and their personalities will always make me want to drink bleach, but I'd take Johnny all day any day over some of the other options.

Sometimes I am curious about what some are saying about a new program I like, that's when I look up other people... especially being one of the few who doesn't seem to like the ISU commentators this season, lol.

 

[overedge]

Sandra Bezic regularly commented on programs that she had choreographed. Which IMO is not a precedent that should be followed. For what it's worth, CBC and Carol Lane seem to have some sort of agreement where she doesn't say anything about Gilles/Poirier's programs, unless she's asked directly. At least CBC acknowledges that she's involved with their work.

In any case, Johnny seems to have gotten as far, publicly, as putting an announcement on Instagram and unveiling a logo. Let's see what other details are released and how this unfolds.

 

[tony]

Sandra Bezic regularly commented on programs that she had choreographed. Which IMO is not a precedent that should be followed. For what it's worth, CBC and Carol Lane seem to have some sort of agreement where she doesn't say anything about Gilles/Poirier's programs, unless she's asked directly. At least CBC acknowledges that she's involved with their work.

Not a facetious question, but what does it really matter anyway for fans on FSU who know more than the average person? To me, this is very 'Angst for no reason yet again for $200, Alex'. The commentators can basically say whatever they want as they are hired (except for Hanretty and Noonan) by their national broadcasting system, and they often have opinions about skaters either way-- see Hamilton shrieking about Sale and Pelletier in 2002. And even in this case, didn't Hanretty work with one of the dance teams at Worlds anyways?

Almost anyone with the vast knowledge to go and commentate as a semi-permanent job is most likely making their earning in skating in some other capacity. It's a small community where everyone gets to know each other quickly, whether they have someone as their coach or choreographer, or not. The commentator isn't the one assigning the scores.

 

[Karen-W]

Let me ask, them, if it's such a small world in the sport, then where is the line? Would it be okay for someone to commentate on a family member?

I'm sorry, but the sport is not so small that the likes of NBC, CBC or the ISU can't find someone with the right skill set and talent for commentating who doesn't coach or choreograph for skaters/teams competing in the event. It is a question of ethics and providing unbiased commentary to the viewing public.

Fans were right to question the biases (and financial self-interests) of folks like Bezic, Hamilton, Button and Wilson when they had those jobs on US networks, and it was appropriate to question whether or not Tanith White could maintain professional neutrality in her commentary once she moved into a coaching role with the establishment of MIDA.

If Johnny's venture is successful enough to produce top-level competitors on the US National scene, then I would demand nothing less than him stepping back from commentating duties. Many folks used to snark in his early commentating days about how biased and snarky he was against some of his former competitors. Why would we think he is able to have any degree of professional neutrality when it comes to skaters his own are competing against?

 

[tony]

Let me ask, them, if it's such a small world in the sport, then where is the line? Would it be okay for someone to commentate on a family member?

I'm sorry, but the sport is not so small that the likes of NBC, CBC or the ISU can't find someone with the right skill set and talent for commentating who doesn't coach or choreograph for skaters/teams competing in the event. It is a question of ethics and providing unbiased commentary to the viewing public.

Fans were right to question the biases (and financial self-interests) of folks like Bezic, Hamilton, Button and Wilson when they had those jobs on US networks, and it was appropriate to question whether or not Tanith White could maintain professional neutrality in her commentary once she moved into a coaching role with the establishment of MIDA.

But you don't even watch commentary telecasts, nor does many of FSU! And honestly, who watches network TV enough these days to care? The minute someone gets interested enough in skating, they are going to seek out alternate streams just as most people here do.

Everyone everywhere is going to have a preference towards what type of skating they like, or which skaters they've encountered through any kind of venture, maybe even just social media. Tracy Wilson, as I said before, did an absolutely fine job of commentating when she had the literal top 2 men in the world under her wing. She was more annoying when she was given talking-points either by her Federation or CBS itself. Johnny Weir literally said over the air on his first-ever event commentary (2010 Worlds) that they had told him to be very pro-American, but he wanted to talk about Ksenia Makarova instead.

If Johnny's venture is successful enough to produce top-level competitors on the US National scene, then I would demand nothing less than him stepping back from commentating duties. Many folks used to snark in his early commentating days about how biased and snarky he was against some of his former competitors. Why would we think he is able to have any degree of professional neutrality when it comes to skaters his own are competing against?

Don't you think if he got to IAM level, or even to a very small part of that kind of success, he's going to be more focused on the skaters rather than a commentary position come Nationals? I mean, to me, it's logical that if his business starts to boom that's where all of his attention will go rather than sitting from afar and hoping for the best throughout the biggest events.

Meagan Duhamel, who becomes the whipping post for an awful lot of posters here (do I need to remind of the posters who said she deserved to be called a bitch?), stays completely neutral through all of her commentary on-air from every single time I've heard her. It really is possible.

 

[Rukia]

I mean as long as he is being upfront about it, I don't think people should care. It's pretty easy to say, "I choreographed this" or "This is a student at my school, full disclosure" and then people are able to judge for themselves rather they trust what he says or not.

 

[skatfan]

Meagan Duhamel, who becomes the whipping post for an awful lot of posters here (do I need to remind of the posters who said she deserved to be called a bitch?), stays completely neutral through all of her commentary on-air from every single time I've heard her. It really is possible.

And Meagan is not an official on-ice coach for any team. Her husband is.

 

[tony]

And Meagan is not an official on-ice coach for any team. Her husband is.

Wrong. She's an official coach (officially listed by the ISU) for the World Champions in pairs.

Also, did you take any issue or can you give any examples of Tracy Wilson showing bias when Hanyu and Fernandez were battling it out as the top two skaters, and she was commentating many of those events?

 

[DreamSkates]

I think it could be really good. Johnny has some interesting perspectives and I'm interested to see what kind of coaching team he has.

I’m interested to see what comes from his coaching elite athletes.

 

[Belsornia]

The commentators can basically say whatever they want as they are hired (except for Hanretty and Noonan) by their national broadcasting system, and they often have opinions about skaters either way-- see Hamilton shrieking about Sale and Pelletier in 2002. And even in this case, didn't Hanretty work with one of the dance teams at Worlds anyways?

Yes, and I thought it was a bit off that Mark didn't at least say "I've worked with Aurelija and Luke and they're lovely people" before he started touting for a new partner for his student on the ISU feed.

I'd still rather have his commentary than pretty much any of the other options.

 

[hoptoad]

Anyone know where Johnny lives now and/or where he plans to open his skating academy?

 

[overedge]

I mean as long as he is being upfront about it, I don't think people should care. It's pretty easy to say, "I choreographed this" or "This is a student at my school, full disclosure" and then people are able to judge for themselves rather they trust what he says or not.

Exactly. Bezic never mentioned when she was commenting on one of her own programs IIRC.

 

[Andora]

Tony's right, and I must be between favourites in skating and commentary, because I have to admit: the only time the conflict of interest matters to me is when it doesn't work in favour of skaters I like. I had a bit problem with Carol Lane in 2014 because I saw it as politicking for her teams. But that's just smart business, and I applauded Virtue & Moir for taking her job in 2022, ostensibly with their IAM bias.

Besides:

I'm sorry, but the sport is not so small that the likes of NBC, CBC or the ISU can't find someone with the right skill set and talent for commentating who doesn't coach or choreograph for skaters/teams competing in the event.

Well, no... I don't think it is that easy to find someone good/engaging/with some name recognition, primarily for broadcasters. ISU feed, CBC's feed when they'd have PJ Kwong, etc., they certainly have more freedom to work with skaters/skating-adjacent folks who aren't known to the public, but for broadcast it's different.

In good news, though, broadcast remains a sunset industry, so I'm sure it won't matter eventually.

Meagan Duhamel, who becomes the whipping post for an awful lot of posters here (do I need to remind of the posters who said she deserved to be called a bitch?), stays completely neutral through all of her commentary on-air from every single time I've heard her. It really is possible.

I think Meagan lets her opinion out elsewhere (Twitter, TSL) and is definitely better able to keep it tight when commenting. I generally wish the Tracey Wilsons and Sandra Bezics would let fly with their real feelings more often.

 

[Sylvia]

Anyone know where Johnny lives now and/or where he plans to open his skating academy?

Johnny skates at the Skating Club of Wilmington in Delaware (he's currently preparing for the "Fantasy on Ice" shows in Japan this summer).

ETA that his planned final shows in the U.S. are taking place there this weekend:

2023 Spring Ice Show – Galaxy On Ice – Starring Johnny Weir

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wilmington Our hotel is next to Concord Mall, minutes from I-95 and the Skating Club of Wilmington. We offer free shuttle service to area shopping and restaurants within three miles. Our location off Concord Pike (Rte 202) offers easy access to Wilmington attractions...

skatewilm.com

He has yet to announce where his skating academy will be based.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Anyone know where Johnny lives now and/or where he plans to open his skating academy?

He lives in Northern New Jersey as far as I know.

 

[ribbon]

I think he’d be very good at choreography, and I liked his technique although I was never a technique expert.

I just hope he hires an actual nutritionist because his starvation diets are hopefully just his personal choice and not a method to recommend to aspiring athletes.

 

[Sylvia]

Anyone know where Johnny lives now

Johnny's Delaware home was featured on MTV's Cribs in September 2021.

 

[skatfan]

Wrong. She's an official coach (officially listed by the ISU) for the World Champions in pairs.

Ok, I was going by her own description of her relationship with skating that she recorded three days ago. I believe her that she doesn’t do any on-ice coaching.

Also, did you take any issue or can you give any examples of Tracy Wilson showing bias when Hanyu and Fernandez were battling it out as the top two skaters, and she was commentating many of those events?

I haven’t posted anything in this thread about the possible conflict of coaching and commentating other than share what Meagan described as her professional relationship as a coach -what I thought to be a fact but apparently is more complicated. I don’t have a problem with this combining as long as any relationship is disclosed.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

I remember Tanith saying that she stopped coaching when she realized it was affecting her commentary. She found herself evaluating skaters from a coach/choreographer perspective instead of focusing on what the audience needed or wanted to hear.

I think it's probably possible to do both, but there are a plenty of pitfalls. Can you really be objective, and is a casual fan going to be able to recognize when you aren't? Will you lose popularity with fans or the network when you have to be more careful about what you say? Are the skaters you coach going to be comfortable with you criticizing them to a tv audience? Will their performances suffer if you are in the booth instead of rinkside with them during a competition? Do you have the time and energy to do both jobs decently? It's a lot to balance.