LOL, if this is "no biggie", what's the reaction when it is.
Absolutely support the post above from
dinakt.
...
I'm not afraid to share my reactions, and no one else needs to agree. My 'no biggie' is in reference to the excitable defense of Deniss' sp choice simply because I had critical things to say which a few posters take exception to. I shared my reaction, and obviously I'm not the only fan who is not enamored of Deniss' new sp. Why take it as some kind of attack on Deniss and Stephane? As fans of Deniss and Stephane some of you are apparently outraged. I'm the Deniss Vasiljevs fan who started this thread, and I'm still a fan of Deniss, and of Stephane as well. But that doesn't mean I won't continue to share my reactions, positive and negative.
What's with all the novel-length "creative writing exercise" posts? Are they really necessary just to say (over and over again) you don't like someone's SP? I'm sorry, but not everyone has time or the interest to read these self-indulgent wall of text posts on a forum.
Deniss just came out of juniors and just got over a serious injury, so I think people really need to adjust their expectations. There was already a big visible improvement between CoR and CoC. Most importantly, it's ridiculous to say he was wrong for going to Stephane because that was something HE wanted. Obviously something was missing for him training with Urmanov. You have to allow them enough time to produce results (and I think they are doing as well as can be expected, considering). You can never please everyone with a particular music selection, but I'm certain that they wouldn't have gone with this SP if Deniss didn't like it.
@zebraswan, I make no excuses for my posts. You don't have to read them. I share how I feel and I try to express why I feel the way I do, which for me doesn't happen in soundbites. Obviously, it is not necessary for anyone to agree with me. There are other posters who apparently are also disappointed by Deniss' sp. You have just repeated a lot of what I already made reference to regarding Deniss being a young skater coming back from injury, adjusting to a growth spurt, and being in a new training environment. I don't base any of my comments on high expectations. I know that it takes time for most skaters to develop, and especially male skaters, particularly in the era of quads. I voiced my disappointment about the music and style of Deniss' new sp, which does not mean I'm holding him to unreasonable expectations in regard to his career. I'm happy for Deniss that he had more energy and enthusiasm at NHK, and he performed very well there.
I was not putting Stephane down, although apparently that is how some of my comments are being interpreted. I don't know anything in detail about Deniss' coaching relationship with either Urmanov or Lambiel. I only know what Deniss has previously shared in interviews. You can disagree with my first impressions take regarding the sp, and my questioning of why Deniss made the coaching switch. As I said, there could be any number of reasons. One of the reasons clearly is that the opportunity arose after Deniss met with Stephane for new choreography, and Stephane is one of Deniss' skating idols. Yes, this is just their first season together. And there is still every reason to feel positive going forward that this new coaching relationship may eventually breed dividends.
I still think Deniss, especially with his increased height and from what I have seen from him previously, is a skater who is more reminiscent of the edgy elegance of Alexei Urmanov. That's neither here nor there if Deniss felt he needed to make a coaching switch. It's important to feel happy and to communicate well with your coach, and to feel a special bond with your coach, and perhaps Deniss feels that more-so with Stephane. Young skaters are impressionable and still growing, so being in a good training environment is crucial.
And I still feel that the new sp is a miss for Deniss. Again, what's the big deal against me expressing my critical view? With a lot of time invested in the program, obviously they will continue on with it. As I said earlier, over the course of the season, let's see how it goes. This still doesn't negate my first impressions which Eurosport commentators (at least initially) and some other fans share. I guess my being vocal about it as a fan some here see as a no-no.
I'm also a fan of Adam Rippon, and I didn't like his new
Bloodstream fp earlier in the season (the music did not work well), and I expressed the wish that he would develop his 'O' exhibition into a fp instead. Apparently, Adam received similar critiques from those he trusts, and he has mentioned that instead of holding onto 'O' for the Olympic season, he decided to use 'O' now and create a new fp, which fortunately works so much better for him. Max Aaron is in the process of working on a new sp. Jason Brown changed his initial sp over the summer. Ice dancers Weav/Po and Chock/Bates completely changed their sp and fp respectively last season. It is not unusual for skaters to come up with programs that miss the mark. Sometimes they soldier on with them out of necessity. Other times they make changes.
Deniss is certainly in a completely different situation as a young skater who is developing and trying to get his feet wet and gain experience. It's not necessary for him to scrap this
Voodoo sp, but I do not think it's anathema for me to express a wish that he would. Particularly with his coming back from injury and with his growth spurt, why not keep his very successful last year's sp another season which would allow him the chance to focus his energies more on exploring and developing his very promising new fp? Deniss and Stephane can do whatever they please, and I wish them both well. While a couple of looks at and listens to
Voodoo Child is enough for me, I still look forward to following Deniss' progress as a skater in the very difficult men's field.
Even the season before that, Deniss had a sp that is way more his style. This rock 'Voodoo' mess has no beginning, no middle, and no end. Deniss smiling like his usual self at NHK might have helped sell it better to judges, and completing his elements was a bonus, but this sp I wish would magically disappear in a hurry. As the Eurosport commentators said at RC, the music does NOTHING for Deniss. He is a great performer, but he can't handle this music. I mean very few skaters could interpret this cacophonous guitar music well. And seriously, why would anyone even want to try? It doesn't work for ice skating. If you want rock, there are so many better options to choose from.
But it's like Deniss is essentially starting out all over in a new body. He's very rough around the edges right now, more-so than he was before his growth spurt. He's got a long way to go. I wish him well.
And I'm talking full on audience-engaging musical interpretation. It's one thing to skate cleanly and get in all the choreographic moves, which is a fine achievement and the main thing Deniss is apparently going for at the moment. Quite another for him to be able to interpret this cacophonous guitar music with nuanced character and expressiveness. It would be hard for any skater. Maybe Michael Weiss or Ryan Bradley, but I think they'd at least pick better rock selections. To each their own.
