Spun Silver
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Thanks, Amantide. now I have seen The Comment! I hope Claire will invite some friends to sit in on that exciting conversation with Sonia in Boston. Dave Lease and Jenny Kirk, for instance. 
A Divine Sport blog
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clairecloutier
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Tim Wood, 1968 Olympic silver medalist and two-time World champion, posted this comment on my blog in response to the article about Sonia:
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From a recent speech at World Figures Championships in Lake Placid ( in outline form)
4. So I’d like to propose question?
a. “What possible difference could it make” that someone would learn how to do a three turn, a bracket, rocker, or a loop
5. What is unique about “figure” skating?
a. The answer Lies in The joy of the “edge” – how the blade flows over the ice and how the body positions create the response of the blade over the ice,
i. For me, it was the about the amount of space you can cover with tremendous speed, in a short period of time
ii. I remember long quiet 6 am mornings in deep concentration, almost meditative trance for hours, laying figures out on perfectly clean ice (36 every day)
iii. I remember that each figure was my daily artwork so my “patch look like someone had taken a very large protractor and drawn concentric circle only we did it with our bodies.
b. The beauty lies in its’ mastery,
c. the ease with which movement happens
d. Even now at 67, when I skate I put the headphones on and the music goes from my ears to my feet, I go along for the ride, I don’t even know what will come next, the music dictates
e. I get transported to another time and space until I exhaust all my energy
f. I come off the ice with my veins in my head bulging, I’m soppy wet, out of eneegy and think to myself, I can’t believe a 67 that I still get to do this, what a great blessing
6. Remember the beauty and gracefulness of previous champions who all had to do figures;
7. names like Peggy, Janet, Trixie, Dorothy, Michelle
a. Dick, Hayes, David, Brian, Scott, Kurt, Robin, and John Curry just to name a few; they all did figures
b. I don’t know what your experience is but for me When I watch these champions,
c. For “a moment ” I’m suspended in time & space
d. It seems I travel to another dimension watching how their body expresses the music while fluidly moving over the ice,
e. When they finish the world slowly comes back into view, it comes back into real time, and my emotions take over as
f. They Lift My spirit,
g. It filled my soul, and gladdened my heart
h. It is For This Reason that “we” watched the sport previously known as “figure skating”
i. these champions all had their “trademark style” ; they transcended from athletics to artistry
j. we all knew what a Peggy looked like, a Janet, a Dorothy, a Michelle
k. I ask, do we see that that today?
8. what we realized after the fact about our dedication to figures was that
a. Figures are to skating what ‘barre’ work is to ballet; can you imagine dance without?
b. They are what ‘scales’ are to music
c. all edge work is grounded in “figures”
i. They are the Fundamentals,
ii. The Building blocks of the foundation upon which all else builds
1. Many of you who worked with me heard me “preaching” the technical positions
a. each particular combination of body positions is a mechanism, a system, the better the system, the better the turn or loop
b. The combination of solving the balance and rotation issues through positional control creates, the operative word here is ” creates” the edge, the turn, the loop, the spin, the jump, the footwork
1. Early figure testing starts out simplistically,
a. for example the positional preparation for the three turn, the first turn in the development process
b. There are three main categories that almost everything in skating can be broken into… balance, rotation and timing; later on pattern and flow enter the equation
i. Under the category of rotation: the shoulder rotation in advance preparation of the three turn, while maintaining hip direction with respect to the skate, in other word, if you rotate the shoulders 4 degrees right, the hips have to counter 4 degrees left so you end up with zero degree impact on the blade
ii. Simultaneously, while maintaining balance position over the skate, holding arms and free-leg positions, all the while holding the free hip up and the head over the skate in order to execute the perfect timing which creates the three turn
iii. So some 20 positions have to be negotiated just in preparation of the turn, then you all the next requirements after the turn
a. As one advances through each figure and each test level, the information becomes more and more complex and it’s mastery more and more demanding
b. Negotiating balance, hip & shoulder rotational control and timing to gain consistent control of the edge, took me 10 years to master ( 5 days a week at 5 hours per day) and I had a little talent for
c. Add energy to all these moves translate into the spin or jump – the take-off edge and the landing
d. So each positional system is affected through every edge, spin, jump, footwork
i. Through every detail of the program,
ii. transforming each edge into effortless flow, speed and dynamics
iii. Edges, spins, jumps merge into artistry, color, and texture
iv. transporting the viewer into a time and space dimension
v. where we are lost in the magic of the movement
13. So the answer to the original question, “What possible difference could it make” is that
a. In and of themselves, it probably doesn’t matter; but in the context of their relationship to “free skating” they are imperative.
b. What’s fun is the image that is created on the ice is a “direct reflection” od the level of positional mastery.
i. The more positional control, the more beautiful the figure.
ii. Now add the positional mastery of ballet for jumping
iii. You now can “create” beauty and artistry
iv. Take them away, you have chaos and confusion.
14. So Every edge, every turn, every spin, every jump is adversely affected;
a. Put them all together in a program, and the viewing result is that
i. Effortless becomes struggle
ii. the quiet whispering edge screams over the ice
iii. artistry of days past is reduced to point structures
iv. Beauty and grace are been traded for mathematics
b. The very “soul” and “spirit” of our sport is thus eviscerated
a. We are left with a hollow shell of our former excellence
b. a mere shadow , A dim reflection of golden images lost
c. We forget the possibilities of how to create beauty
15. Yes, Figures are very challenging, of course, but there is great fun is mastering a specific skill and moving on to the next level
16. There is a great sense of accomplishment in these little triumphs of each strand of the tapestry we are trying to weave
17. As each thread of understanding is mastered, the Tapestry begins to unfold, each thread developed and intertwined ….creating your own individual work of art
18. So my belief is that
1. They could restore the quality of effortless artistry, beauty and grace
2. Reinvigorate the general public to love the sport again
3. Regenerate the national organization
4. Revitalize the economics of sport
5. Re-establish the development of champions
6. And most importantly, they are fun to do when you master the skills
Tim Wood
2 Time World Champion
Olympic Silver Medalist
5 Time US National Champion
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From a recent speech at World Figures Championships in Lake Placid ( in outline form)
4. So I’d like to propose question?
a. “What possible difference could it make” that someone would learn how to do a three turn, a bracket, rocker, or a loop
5. What is unique about “figure” skating?
a. The answer Lies in The joy of the “edge” – how the blade flows over the ice and how the body positions create the response of the blade over the ice,
i. For me, it was the about the amount of space you can cover with tremendous speed, in a short period of time
ii. I remember long quiet 6 am mornings in deep concentration, almost meditative trance for hours, laying figures out on perfectly clean ice (36 every day)
iii. I remember that each figure was my daily artwork so my “patch look like someone had taken a very large protractor and drawn concentric circle only we did it with our bodies.
b. The beauty lies in its’ mastery,
c. the ease with which movement happens
d. Even now at 67, when I skate I put the headphones on and the music goes from my ears to my feet, I go along for the ride, I don’t even know what will come next, the music dictates
e. I get transported to another time and space until I exhaust all my energy
f. I come off the ice with my veins in my head bulging, I’m soppy wet, out of eneegy and think to myself, I can’t believe a 67 that I still get to do this, what a great blessing
6. Remember the beauty and gracefulness of previous champions who all had to do figures;
7. names like Peggy, Janet, Trixie, Dorothy, Michelle
a. Dick, Hayes, David, Brian, Scott, Kurt, Robin, and John Curry just to name a few; they all did figures
b. I don’t know what your experience is but for me When I watch these champions,
c. For “a moment ” I’m suspended in time & space
d. It seems I travel to another dimension watching how their body expresses the music while fluidly moving over the ice,
e. When they finish the world slowly comes back into view, it comes back into real time, and my emotions take over as
f. They Lift My spirit,
g. It filled my soul, and gladdened my heart
h. It is For This Reason that “we” watched the sport previously known as “figure skating”
i. these champions all had their “trademark style” ; they transcended from athletics to artistry
j. we all knew what a Peggy looked like, a Janet, a Dorothy, a Michelle
k. I ask, do we see that that today?
8. what we realized after the fact about our dedication to figures was that
a. Figures are to skating what ‘barre’ work is to ballet; can you imagine dance without?
b. They are what ‘scales’ are to music
c. all edge work is grounded in “figures”
i. They are the Fundamentals,
ii. The Building blocks of the foundation upon which all else builds
1. Many of you who worked with me heard me “preaching” the technical positions
a. each particular combination of body positions is a mechanism, a system, the better the system, the better the turn or loop
b. The combination of solving the balance and rotation issues through positional control creates, the operative word here is ” creates” the edge, the turn, the loop, the spin, the jump, the footwork
1. Early figure testing starts out simplistically,
a. for example the positional preparation for the three turn, the first turn in the development process
b. There are three main categories that almost everything in skating can be broken into… balance, rotation and timing; later on pattern and flow enter the equation
i. Under the category of rotation: the shoulder rotation in advance preparation of the three turn, while maintaining hip direction with respect to the skate, in other word, if you rotate the shoulders 4 degrees right, the hips have to counter 4 degrees left so you end up with zero degree impact on the blade
ii. Simultaneously, while maintaining balance position over the skate, holding arms and free-leg positions, all the while holding the free hip up and the head over the skate in order to execute the perfect timing which creates the three turn
iii. So some 20 positions have to be negotiated just in preparation of the turn, then you all the next requirements after the turn
a. As one advances through each figure and each test level, the information becomes more and more complex and it’s mastery more and more demanding
b. Negotiating balance, hip & shoulder rotational control and timing to gain consistent control of the edge, took me 10 years to master ( 5 days a week at 5 hours per day) and I had a little talent for
c. Add energy to all these moves translate into the spin or jump – the take-off edge and the landing
d. So each positional system is affected through every edge, spin, jump, footwork
i. Through every detail of the program,
ii. transforming each edge into effortless flow, speed and dynamics
iii. Edges, spins, jumps merge into artistry, color, and texture
iv. transporting the viewer into a time and space dimension
v. where we are lost in the magic of the movement
13. So the answer to the original question, “What possible difference could it make” is that
a. In and of themselves, it probably doesn’t matter; but in the context of their relationship to “free skating” they are imperative.
b. What’s fun is the image that is created on the ice is a “direct reflection” od the level of positional mastery.
i. The more positional control, the more beautiful the figure.
ii. Now add the positional mastery of ballet for jumping
iii. You now can “create” beauty and artistry
iv. Take them away, you have chaos and confusion.
14. So Every edge, every turn, every spin, every jump is adversely affected;
a. Put them all together in a program, and the viewing result is that
i. Effortless becomes struggle
ii. the quiet whispering edge screams over the ice
iii. artistry of days past is reduced to point structures
iv. Beauty and grace are been traded for mathematics
b. The very “soul” and “spirit” of our sport is thus eviscerated
a. We are left with a hollow shell of our former excellence
b. a mere shadow , A dim reflection of golden images lost
c. We forget the possibilities of how to create beauty
15. Yes, Figures are very challenging, of course, but there is great fun is mastering a specific skill and moving on to the next level
16. There is a great sense of accomplishment in these little triumphs of each strand of the tapestry we are trying to weave
17. As each thread of understanding is mastered, the Tapestry begins to unfold, each thread developed and intertwined ….creating your own individual work of art
18. So my belief is that
1. They could restore the quality of effortless artistry, beauty and grace
2. Reinvigorate the general public to love the sport again
3. Regenerate the national organization
4. Revitalize the economics of sport
5. Re-establish the development of champions
6. And most importantly, they are fun to do when you master the skills
Tim Wood
2 Time World Champion
Olympic Silver Medalist
5 Time US National Champion
Spun Silver
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This is a very indirect reply to Mr Wood, but does anybody know whether Daisuke Takahashi learned and continued to train figures?
Josh78
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Claire, this was absolutely AMAZING! I had no idea SHE was the one who actually advocated for the elimination of figures from competition, and there are so many other shady details I didn't know! It makes me want to read the book! Is "Cracked Ice" still available?
care bear
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The book is still available http://www.amazon.com/Cracked-Ice-Figure-Skatings-Inner/dp/8886753721
Spun Silver
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Maybe Tim Wood's comments should be cross-posted after all....
clairecloutier
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Not to worry, I think Sylvia posted Tim's comments in the World Figure Championship thread.
You can also order directly from http://www.soniabianchetti.com/cracked_ice/cracked_ice_order.html for 15 euros.
clairecloutier
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My Skate America pairs review is up at: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/skate-america-2015-pairs-review/.
This one is a little longer because I got to see the event live!!
This one is a little longer because I got to see the event live!!
Thank you for the review! I love your blog; pairs is my favorite discipline and your writing is great.My Skate America pairs review is up at: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/skate-america-2015-pairs-review/.
This one is a little longer because I got to see the event live!!
In my view, I think the Chinese pairs were affected by the jet lag- team China left for Milwaukee quite late because of a press conference for CoC(which was held on the 20th or so?). Quite strange that the csa would send them so late, especially since the trip from Asia to the US is obviously not a short one.
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ginsengtea
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Thank you so much! It's fantastic that you got to see the event in person, and I really enjoyed reading your impressions. It's such a shame that a pair as talented as Wang/Wang are pretty much doomed to two competitions a season because the Chinese Federation doesn't seem to know senior B's exist. Maybe Four Continents every once in a while?My Skate America pairs review is up at: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/skate-america-2015-pairs-review/.
This one is a little longer because I got to see the event live!!
clairecloutier
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Thanks @s_parks and @ginsengtea, I'm so glad you like the blog!!
Yes, some of CSA's recent decisions have left me perplexed. You'd think they would want to build on the Chinese pairs' great success last season, but instead they seem to be scaling support back.
All I know is I want to see more of Wang/Wang and also see new programs for everyone!!
Yes, some of CSA's recent decisions have left me perplexed. You'd think they would want to build on the Chinese pairs' great success last season, but instead they seem to be scaling support back.
All I know is I want to see more of Wang/Wang and also see new programs for everyone!!
Yes, some of CSA's recent decisions have left me perplexed. You'd think they would want to build on the Chinese pairs' great success last season, but instead they seem to be scaling support back.
All I know is I want to see more of Wang/Wang and also see new programs for everyone!!
I feel sorry for W/W's lack of competitions. I guess since Chinese skaters are fully funded there's not enough money for senior b's. Hopefully, Y/J can use the familiarity of last season's programs to their advantage and have a consistent, strong season.
To be quite honest, I wish Zhang would retire after pyeongchang so W/W can go to worlds and olympics.
clairecloutier
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I'm torn! I love Wang/Wang, but also really love Peng/Zhang. What to do?? 
Spun Silver
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Thanks, Claire. Great job, as always. I hope you get to go to more events because I like the extra detail! I especially appreciated the long discussion of K/S. I missed all the free skates but during the SP the general sentiment seemed to be that they didn't accomplish anything by skipping Worlds last year. I didn't know they'd added such a valuable element in the free.
One small caveat - I really hate the pic of Wang/Wang. Besides being the epitome of a crotch shot, it is unintentionally funny as it looks like he's talking to the judges to the point of forgetting what he's doing.
One small caveat - I really hate the pic of Wang/Wang. Besides being the epitome of a crotch shot, it is unintentionally funny as it looks like he's talking to the judges to the point of forgetting what he's doing.
clairecloutier
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Thanks, Claire. Great job, as always. I hope you get to go to more events because I like the extra detail! I especially appreciated the long discussion of K/S. I missed all the free skates but during the SP the general sentiment seemed to be that they didn't accomplish anything by skipping Worlds last year. I didn't know they'd added such a valuable element in the free.
One small caveat - I really hate the pic of Wang/Wang. Besides being the epitome of a crotch shot, it is unintentionally funny as it looks like he's talking to the judges to the point of forgetting what he's doing.
oy, yes, I usually try to avoid crotch shots of the pairs girls! But I was in a hurry and couldn't find any other pictures of Wang/Wang. I'll try to get something better next time ...
clairecloutier
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My review of the Skate America ladies' event is up at: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/skate-america-2015-ladies-review/.
znhurston
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Thanks for the wonderful reviews of Skate America!
clairecloutier
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More Skate America coverage! My personal highlights from ice dance & mens: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/skate-america-2015-highlights-from-ice-dance-mens/.
clairecloutier
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Last Skate America post: Lots of Skater-spotting and Not Much Sleep: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/...-2015-lots-of-skater-spotting-not-much-sleep/
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clairecloutier
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My Skate Canada pairs review is ready: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/skate-canada-2015-pairs-review/
clairecloutier
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My Cup of China pairs review is up at: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/2015/11/09/cup-of-china-2015-pairs-review/.
Spun Silver
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Dear Hongbo and Coach Yao,
Please stop treating Yu and Jin like red-headed stepchildren and get them some new programs and costumes. They are looking depressed and we won't have it. Do we need to hold a costume drive?
Sincerely,
World skating fans
Please stop treating Yu and Jin like red-headed stepchildren and get them some new programs and costumes. They are looking depressed and we won't have it. Do we need to hold a costume drive?
Sincerely,
World skating fans
clairecloutier
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Some thoughts on Trophee Eric Bompard: https://adivinesport.wordpress.com/2015/11/17/trophee-eric-bompard-2015-a-grand-prix-is-canceled/.
I didn't do my usual pairs review--it just felt weird to review an event that was only 1/2 completed, and under such sad circumstances. :-(
I didn't do my usual pairs review--it just felt weird to review an event that was only 1/2 completed, and under such sad circumstances. :-(
Spun Silver
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Excellent reflections, as usual, Claire, even if they are of a different kind. It's funny that two minutes before opening your blog, I was thinking that it was probably for the best that Peng did not have to do the FS. I hope your post gets widely read, and I would like to see a proactive debate on the safety of the most dangerous moves in skating. From the press football is getting, I am wondering if it will survive. I would hate to see figure skating brought down (maybe I should say further down) by a disregard for the wellbeing of its young athletes.
clairecloutier
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Thanks @DDNatalia! I'm so glad you like them.
Thanks @Spun Silver. I also felt relieved that Peng didn't have to skate the LP! And yes, I'd like to see more discussion of safety issues in skating. I understand the excitement factor of quads and the desire for the sport to progress technically, yet at the same time feel concerned about the potential toll on the skaters.
AxelAnnie
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Thank you Claire. That was wonderful to read.
clairecloutier
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Thanks @AxelAnnie!
kittyjake5
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Thanks Claire! I just finished reading all of your GP reviews. Great read and
much appreciated!
much appreciated!
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