Yes of course
@B.Cooper, thanks for your sharing your knowledge. I learned a lot just from reading your post. Wow, why isn't the topic of skating boots covered more extensively?
A figure skating story still waiting to be told.
In my earlier post, I was questioning Phil Hersh's understanding, not agreeing with his off-hand, uninformed comments. I think Hersh has a very limited, surface knowledge of figure skating generally. Just because he has covered figure skating for a long time does not mean he understands anything about how the sport developed or about the problems skaters experience with their boots. In fact, I have a limited understanding about skaters' relationship with their boots too, because it's not something that has ever been deeply explored or discussed in any beneficial detail.
The fact that Phil used a baseball analogy in reference to figure skaters' boots is a perfect example of just how misunderstood figure skating is and continues to be. Figure skating is completely unlike any other sport, and coverage of figure skating has historically been inadequate. I think the limited and ineffective coverage partly is a result of the traditionally elitist way the sport developed, and the archaic, dyed-in-the-wool way it has been run for decades. Maybe a slow and beneficial change is underway, largely influenced by fan coverage and involvement.
Maribel Vinson Owen was a wonderful promoter of the sport back-in-the-day, in addition to being a great skater and coach. I think that Vinson Owen possessed vision and savvy, as well as an astute understanding of the sport. Clearly, so very much was lost in that famous 1961 plane crash: irreplaceable human lives, history, entire U.S. team, and untold possibilities. Maybe the sport needs to start there again with that tragedy to further uncover what was lost, and thus to salvage more from those ashes. Clearly, the current global existence of the sport was greatly impacted by that tragedy, to a large degree in a positive way. But what a huge cost it was that pushed forward change through increased global interaction.
USFS actually made a great start in connecting the past with the present when they sponsored and promoted the
RISE documentary. But they need perhaps to do much more with extended efforts related to the many fascinating and revealing stories touched upon in that documentary. USFS totally missed the point of connecting the past with the present and the future by seemingly using the documentary in part to promote their favored skater during the time of the film's production. While Evan Lysacek went on to win an Olympic Gold medal in 2010 (and to play a featured role during the film's 50th anniversary release in 2011), the U.S. men's team has suffered from a lack of vision (and unfortunate favoritism) that dates back to that period. Some of the USFS favoritism has lessened in recent years. I think Evan has unfairly been dismissed by many since 2010 as someone who won without a quad. The reality is he did perform quads, but they were not needed to win at 2010 Olympics. Overall, it might have been helpful had the
RISE documentary been used to more fully embrace all the U.S.'s brilliant skaters of 2010-2011 period, and to develop a strategy and vision to carry the connection to the past forward with more lasting resonance. Apparently, USFS failed to even think about doing that. There are still so many possibilities available, and so many connections waiting to be made.
In regard to Karen Chen's boots, Phil Hersh might be better off doing extensive investigative research without any opinionated prejudgement. I appreciate
@Jayar's earlier attempt to explain what Karen experienced. However, it is still mystifying as to why this happened, as
@Tavi has expressed. If they were custom boots, were there faults in the material or in the construction? What brand of boots was she using? Many different brands? Is EDEA the best technologically advanced brand? How many manufacturers are involved in doing anything to test new materials, construction methods, etc? The positioning and attachment of blades is clearly a whole 'nother topic of importance.
Hersh's surface dismissal of the issue with his baseball analogy ill serves the sport, the skaters, and the fans. I'm sure that's not his intention. However, why not simply admit ignorance and decide to learn valuable details and to provide more knowledgeable commentary? Of course, Nick McCarvel apparently had nothing of value or enlightenment to add to the discussion either. I don't say this to put them down, but more to hopefully light a fire under them to think more creatively, to undertake better research, to realize all the stories, angles, and possibilities that exist to provide more quality coverage.
I wonder if Phil has ever laced up fs boots and tried them out on the ice. 
Ballerinas have a hard time breaking in their footgear too.
