Australian skating news

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Marco said:
And also Korea. It took just one Yuna Kim back in 06/07 to inspire thousands of little girls to take up the sport and the waves of talents are starting to arrive a few years ago (if they stay healthy).
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Korea's skating potential was present even earlier, with the likes of Sung Il-Jung making a name for himself at the 1988 World Junior Championships.
 
essence_of_soy said:
Aussie Willy, would you have predicted Katia & Harley's success when they paired up?
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To be honest no I wouldn't have. It has been a total surprise to the Australian skating community. But they have done incredibly well and it is fantastic what they have been able to achieve.

But we have to be realistic. All our top skaters have had to go overseas to train and to do that you need money. So it is very very hard for those who are our top skaters, let alone those coming through the ranks to be able to make it and get the resources and facilities to skate at the top level. Not to mention the cost of competing in events overseas to get the experience.

Having said that, pairs is one of those divisions where there are less teams so there are more opportunities there if you can get the right pairing.

Also we are not a winter sport country. I have not seen anything in the mainstream media about our skater's successes of late so they get no coverage and no promotion. I still get asked if we have an ice rink in Melbourne (although they have heard of one at Docklands). If no-one knows about it how are you meant to get any kind of momentum.
 
Aussie Willy said:
To be honest no I wouldn't have. It has been a total surprise to the Australian skating community. But they have done incredibly well and it is fantastic what they have been able to achieve.

But we have to be realistic. All our top skaters have had to go overseas to train and to do that you need money. So it is very very hard for those who are our top skaters, let alone those coming through the ranks to be able to make it and get the resources and facilities to skate at the top level. Not to mention the cost of competing in events overseas to get the experience.

Having said that, pairs is one of those divisions where there are less teams so there are more opportunities there if you can get the right pairing.

Also we are not a winter sport country. I have not seen anything in the mainstream media about our skater's successes of late so they get no coverage and no promotion. I still get asked if we have an ice rink in Melbourne (although they have heard of one at Docklands). If no-one knows about it how are you meant to get any kind of momentum.
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What was that sound? I think it was a bubble being burst.
 
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essence_of_soy said:
What was that sound? I think it was a bubble being burst.
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Not bursting anyone's bubble. It just the reality of how our sport is viewed in Australia. It gets very little government funding and very little sponsorship.

Did you see anything about Katya and Harley in the mainstream media about winning Junior Worlds or the GPF? Until the media gets behind our sport, they will continue to treat it as "human interest" topic rather than consider it a serious sport. It is how figure skating has always been viewed in this country. It will get a boost during the Olympics but that is all. The only winter sports I have seen covered during sports reports of late are the "cool" ones like snowboarding or mogul skiing.
 
Too bad it didn't gather more interest when the GWG came to Australia in 2001. Many World/Olympic medalists and/or SLC podium contenders were there, like Kwan, Slutskaya, Butyrskaya, Suguri and Cohen for the ladies, and Plushenko, Yagudin, Weiss, Honda and Stojko for the men. That's more stars than a basic GP - almost GPF level.

What also didn't help was 2000 Worlds suddenly backing out of Australia and going to France instead. No Worlds or 4CCs were never held in Australia since. (what's wrong?)
 
I hope Brendan pulls it together in PyeongChang. Kerry really needs to skate a clean short program with all of his planned content. Otherwise, like he did in Sochi, he may find himself missing qualification for the free skate again.
 
Have Channel 7 got the Winter Olympics? Last time they had it they did a sh*t job of showing it. About 3 hours coverage of everything at night. We hardly got to see any skating. At least Channel 10 really gave it a good go.
 
Aussie Willy said:
Have Channel 7 got the Winter Olympics? Last time they had it they did a sh*t job of showing it. About 3 hours coverage of everything at night. We hardly got to see any skating. At least Channel 10 really gave it a good go.
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Yeah, unfortunately. Wish 10 had bid again. 7's Rio coverage was appalling.

On my phone so can't post the link but Harley just posted a clip on his instagram of him and Katia doing an off-ice QUAD twist :eek:
 
Aussie Willy said:
Have Channel 7 got the Winter Olympics? Last time they had it they did a sh*t job of showing it. About 3 hours coverage of everything at night. We hardly got to see any skating. At least Channel 10 really gave it a good go.
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And if it's like the last summer Olympics they'll push a lot of minor sports onto their app which you had to pay to access, despite them touting their 'free' coverage of the event in all their advertising.
 
It is a shame SBS couldn't show the Winter Olympics. They certainly would do a much better and more respectful coverage than the commercial networks. With 7 Australia could win only a bronze medal and then all you will get are replays and interviews of that event.

Will HG & Roy be doing anything I wonder?
 
I hope Belinda commentates. She was fantastic and her commentary at the Nagano Games eased me into the sport from scratch.

She also commentated for the Olympic youtube feed at the Sochi Games and am wondering if she will do the same this time around.
 
I wonder if there is any way Channel 7 can get Ted Barton and Cathy Reed to commentate. Their work at the Grand Prix Series Final in Nagoya was outstanding.
 
Ted Barton has said many times that he is not interested in covering skating for television. He is only interested in promoting the sport online.
 
greenapple said:
Ted Barton has said many times that he is not interested in covering skating for television. He is only interested in promoting the sport online.
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Yes, I already knew that.

But one of Ted's many great qualities, is that he reserves his observations until after the skater has finished their performance.

Unfortunately, some commentators with their constant, self - important yapping, makes enjoying the skaters a bit of a challenge.
 
Marco said:
I hope Belinda commentates. She was fantastic and her commentary at the Nagano Games eased me into the sport from scratch.

She also commentated for the Olympic youtube feed at the Sochi Games and am wondering if she will do the same this time around.
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I still cringe from watching her commentate with Sandy Roberts in Nagano, who clearly felt he was above it all. Some of his comments were so offensive and disrepectful, in the end I asked my brother to record FOXTEL's coverage hosted by Robin Cousins and Barry Davies instead.
 
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essence_of_soy said:
I still cringe from watching her commentate with Sandy Roberts in Nagano, who clearly felt he was above it all.
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Agreed. He was awful; it was painful to listen to. I was so relieved that Ten went with the generic IOC commentary at the last Olympics rather than put in a know-nothing local commentator.
 
Channel 7 always make their sports commentary about their personalities, never about the sports themselves. Particularly with the Winter Olympics as a minor sport in this country, that is how they feel they need to attract the viewers and to make it worth what they have spent on it.
 
At least Sandy wasn't as bad as Mike Gibson back at 1988 Olympics. Now that was embarrassing.
 
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