A Divine Sport blog

[levineismine]

Live reports

 

[aftershocks]

Thanks as always for your take, @clairecloutier. I've attended U.S. Nationals live all-event ticket a couple of times, and Worlds 2003 ladies final in Washington D.C. (unfortunately I didn't have a ticket for pairs so I didn't witness in the arena the electrifying performance of Shen/Zhao. Everyone was still buzzing about it during the ladies' final).

Will you plan an overseas trip for Worlds sometime now that you've experienced what it's like? It's always so exciting in person. Hope Worlds comes back to North America/ U.S. soon.

From your Worlds pairs review:

My dominant impression, overall, is how very talented and good all the top teams are.
So often, the commentary in news articles and forums focuses on differences between the top pairs—how certain pairs are supposedly far stronger technically or artistically than others. But you know? Seeing them live, the truth is: They’re all great. All of the top teams have great speed, good partnering, some strong technical elements, and a terrific overall package on the ice. Fact is, they wouldn’t be where they are otherwise. Seeing them live, what impressed me most was not any one pair, but how great they are as a group.

 

[skatesindreams]

Claire, I finally caught up with your blog, post Boston.
Many thanks, especially for your "appreciation" of Patrick's Chopin LP.

 

[clairecloutier]

Thanks @skatesindreams! I wish we could have seen Patrick's Chopin LP at its most glorious in Boston. Alas, it was not to be. But I'll treasure that 4CCs LP.

@aftershocks: Worlds was indeed amazing to see live! I'm glad you got to see Worlds 2003--that was a great event (even though you missed Shen/Zhao). I have dreams of Helsinki now ...We'll see!

 

[clairecloutier]

Worlds 2016: Highlights from Ice Dance, Mens, and Ladies: http://bit.ly/264yrrc.

 

[clairecloutier]

My review of Stars on Ice 2016: https://adivinesport.com/2016/04/26/stars-on-ice-2016-review/.

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's my review of Ice Chips 2016 in Boston: http://bit.ly/1NBcnyr.

 

[clairecloutier]

Here are some notes from Ice Crystals 2016, which is Colonial FSC's annual club show: http://bit.ly/1TApxbA.

 

[clairecloutier]

Now that the season is behind us, it's time for my second annual review of the Best, Most, and Worst of Pairs, 2015-16 Edition. Check out my picks for Pair of the Year, Pairs Coach of the Year, Most Improved, Best Costumes, and more. Also included are my top 10 long programs and short programs of the season (with videos)!

http://bit.ly/1OTe0bi

 

[Spun Silver]

LOVE your wrapup, Claire! You've inspired me to go back and watch some programs I missed completely (eg, both of A/R's) and rewatch some I didnt see fully enough. I also loved all the categories. I had not realized Morozov choreographed so many outstanding pair programs this year (I didnt know he did pairs at all). Surprised to see S/M's 3Tw was not the highest scoring one of the year. Really? It was great to see so many pairs, choreographers, coaches and costume designers getting recognized. Your column was like a Grammy Awards for pairs.

So glad I&M's and S&H's FSs at Worlds, K/S at COC, and Vanessa James's catsuit were suitably appreciated. Excellent takes on S/M and Chinese pairs.

First rate, my dear. First rate!

 

[clairecloutier]

Thanks so much, @Spun Silver! It was fun to put this one together--I'm glad you liked it.

Wouldn't it be cool if figure skating actually had its own awards show, like the Grammys or Oscars?

 

[Spun Silver]

Yes!

I also enjoyed the Most Improved category. Congrats to Della Monica/Guarise for their gold medal! It's been a long haul for them but they vowed a long time ago to stick at it no matter what, and their work is finally payng off. I'm really happy about that. I'd have liked James and Cipres to squeeze in under that category, but I guess when you dont know from one comp to the next if they will even stay together....

 

[dinakt]

I loved your wrap-up, as well! Helped me relive so many beautiful moments from last year, and I agree with you so much.
May I add the "element of the year" category, Bazarova/Deputat, Vera's exit from 3Lo Throw in the SP? It is at 1:30 on the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3MqYCSlaiA
One of the most stunning moments of the year for me.

 

[clairecloutier]

Thanks @dinakt! I couldn't agree with you more about Bazarova's triple loop exit. It's truly a thing of beauty--so original, and also quite difficult, I think. I hope they keep this element in their program next year. It could become a trademark move for them.

 

[barbarafan]

Yes!

I also enjoyed the Most Improved category. Congrats to Della Monica/Guarise for their gold medal! It's been a long haul for them but they vowed a long time ago to stick at it no matter what, and their work is finally payng off. I'm really happy about that. I'd have liked James and Cipres to squeeze in under that category, but I guess when you dont know from one comp to the next if they will even stay together....

or kill each other...I saw footage at one of the smaller competitions where they competed and they do not seem to even like each other. btw I did not like Vanessa's outfit with the cutouts...It was not flattering at all and the cut outs were distracting and not in a good way.
I really think something like that outfit needs a very unsexy form to look good on. someone small boned and very slender with long legs.

 

[cgh_11]

Thanks Claire for the pairs wrap-up! You are always so positive and insightful - I just love your blog

 

[Sylvia]

Here are some notes from Ice Crystals 2016, which is Colonial FSC's annual club show: http://bit.ly/1TApxbA.

Nice! https://twitter.com/Grant_Hochstein/status/730566718016217089

 

[clairecloutier]

Thanks Claire for the pairs wrap-up! You are always so positive and insightful - I just love your blog

Thank you!!

 

[Spun Silver]

or kill each other...I saw footage at one of the smaller competitions where they competed and they do not seem to even like each other. btw I did not like Vanessa's outfit with the cutouts...It was not flattering at all and the cut outs were distracting and not in a good way.
I really think something like that outfit needs a very unsexy form to look good on. someone small boned and very slender with long legs.

Honestly, I cannot fathom even the tiniest critique of Vanessa James's body. It is to die for! How is she not small-boned, slender, and long-legged? Oh well. I guess perceptions differ.

 

[clairecloutier]

Interview with Christopher Buchanan:
Reform candidate calls for changes in ISU management; elimination of anonymous judging; total revamp of IJS
https://adivinesport.com/2016/05/29/interview-with-christopher-buchanan/

 

[Spun Silver]

Well done, Claire. My goodness, this is important work. I only wish you had been able to do it earlier. Will there be any more candidate interviews coming out in the next few days? I hope this will get widely circulated by people like @Visaliakid, @reut, etc.

Buchanan seems like a delightful guy with some good ideas. Yay, no more anonymous judging. Yay, ban cheating judges for life. Yay, good live streams for all comps.

His thoughts on the IJS are interesting. I think he's right in suggesting that skating threw out its popular 6.0 brand too rashly. But it doesnt sound like he wants to bring it back, just to simplify IJS so the judges themselves can actually understand and apply it properly. This paragraph was kind of scary.

Judges and IJS: “Say you were to sit 50 judges in a room and ask them: ‘Explain to me how the system works.’ They wouldn’t know. They wouldn’t have a clear understanding about the scale of values, impact of GOE, factoring … They would not know how the result was arrived at. And when we look at the sheer volume of information we expect them to consume–giving GOE, giving components–it’s all wonderful in theory. But it’s all too much.”

His comments on skater safety dont really add up to me. He wants to prevent injury but he doesnt want "artificial" limits. I am not sure one is possible without the other. Perhaps his hope is to find safer training methods or to discourage excess through education? but I think in the end, only limits will stop the "new quad kings" and others from hurting themselves. It's interesting too that he mentions spins but not quads. Have Julia or Mirai actually hurt themselves with their spins?

Thanks for doing this, Claire.

 

[clairecloutier]

Well done, Claire. My goodness, this is important work. I only wish you had been able to do it earlier. Will there be any more candidate interviews coming out in the next few days? I hope this will get widely circulated by people like @Visaliakid, @reut, etc.

Thank you @Spun Silver! I'm glad you liked the interview. Yes, I wish I'd been able to do it earlier. But, truthfully, the opportunity to do this interview only came my way a couple days ago, thanks to our friend @N_Halifax. At the moment, I don't have any interviews planned with the other candidates--like I said, this one came my way fortuitously. But who knows. Maybe I could try contacting the other candidates? Although time is running out before the Congress starts.

His comments on skater safety dont really add up to me. He wants to prevent injury but he doesnt want "artificial" limits. I am not sure one is possible without the other. Perhaps his hope is to find safer training methods or to discourage excess through education? but I think in the end, only limits will stop the "new quad kings" and others from hurting themselves. It's interesting too that he mentions spins but not quads. Have Julia or Mirai actually hurt themselves with their spins?

My feeling, talking to Chris, was that this particular question (quads/safety) is something that he maybe hasn't sat down and fully analyzed yet. In his part of the sport (synchro), I think spins are more important than jumps. So it's maybe not surprising that he focused more on spins in his answer. He indicated that they have some information suggesting that certain spin positions (Biellmanns, I believe, although he didn't clearly specify) may be harmful long-term. Yes, I tend to agree with you that quads may ultimately have to be limited to ensure safety. I think there is a certain resistance among skating professionals to the whole idea of limits--I read a similar sentiment expressed by Aleksandr Lakernik in another interview. No one wants to be seen as keeping the sport from moving forward athletically. But I would argue that limitations are already placed on jumps--i.e., no more than 2 uses of a particular jump in a program, no quad twists/throws allowed in pairs SPs as yet, and more. Limits are already in place, so why not extend them wisely and sparingly, as needed, to preserve health/prevent injury?

 

[Cayuse]

Chris Buchanan's perspective on how to move forward with figure skating rules, fan interaction, skater safety, open scoring, updating and simplifying the system, etc. is so logical, I hope he gets the opportunity to put his ideas into action! Terrific interview, Claire.

 

[Simone411]

Thank you so much @clairecloutier I learned a lot about Chris Buchanan by reading your very informative and detailed interview with him. Simply put, I like Chris Buchanan.

 

[clairecloutier]

Thanks @Simone411! I'm glad it was helpful ... I really like Chris's positions on the "issues," so to speak. And I like that he has a strong figure skating background.

 

[clairecloutier]

Hey everyone! I am very excited to share my first interview with an actual current pairs team! It's with Marissa Castelli & Mervin Tran!

Interview with Castelli/Tran:
U.S. bronze medalists reveal new SP music; discuss plans for upcoming season
http://bit.ly/1TUzscO

It was such a thrill to talk with Marissa/Mervin for this interview! I tried to ask all-new questions--things that weren't covered much, or at all, in their TSL interview last summer. Oh, and they revealed their new SP music: "Fallin'", by Alicia Keys! (Which I'm personally very excited about.)

 

[semogal]

Great interviews Claire. You are keeping very busy during the off season! Keep up the good work.

 

[clairecloutier]

Last night, I went to the Jimmy Fund benefit show in Providence. Marissa/Mervin debuted their new SP. (I think I love it already!)

My report on the show with a couple videos included: http://bit.ly/2a3aBTJ

Castelli/Tran new SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XASDt5ZLzw

 

[clairecloutier]

I'm honored to say that my web site, A Divine Sport, is featured in the new issue of Artistika magazine, which was released today. Artistika is an online magazine that covers the arts and the artistic sports. This issue of Artistika includes my June interview with Castelli/Tran and a little interview with me (in which I opine on pairs skating ). The issue also features interviews with Deniss Vassiljevs and Philip Harris, as well as several beautiful drawings by figure skating artist Yoshie Shibaike and gorgeous photos. There's too much good stuff to miss here--do check it out! http://artistika-2.instantmagazine.com/artistika-magazine/no-2

 

[SkateGuard]

Great interview Claire! Appreciate all that you do!