Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. You know they're there. They command you to watch them, because there's something so dynamic and compelling. I think there's a bit of an 'unknown' or 'unpredictable' factor too, and of course their fabulous chemistry as a dance couple. I'm not a dance fan, but H/D create a dance in the classic sense, in that the sum of the two partners is far, far greater than their individual parts. Oh, and their speed and deep, deep edges.
Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy Leduc. They create an electric thrill simply by their mutual passion and dedication to unison and synchronicity. Every moment, they're in that moment together, again, because of their mutual passion for their music. They embody the character and cadence of the music; they bring it to life. I was stunned by their speed in person as well. They're in it for more than the competition; they want to give something and they gain energy by give-and-take with the audience.
Evan Lysacek. He did a thrilling, lightning-speed triple jump right in front of me, and it was like a split-second journey into outer space. I'd never thought of a jump as embodying or becoming beauty before, but his did. Also through the screen, I always felt his desire and determination to accomplish what he set out to do, and his love for skating. He was a great competitor, and that creates its own circle of energy.
Ashley Wagner. I didn't even know who she was, but at 2013 Skate America she stepped out onto the ice, and it was like a field of energy came into being. Her Ice Presence was just remarkable. She invited everyone in the arena to be on the ice with her. Then and always, Ashley had the magical ability to create a moment.
Scott Hamilton. I was in the nose-bleed seats, and he was a tiny stick figure. But the minute he stepped onto the ice, I could feel that he wanted to make every person in the arena happy. All however many thousand there were. He wanted to lift people out of their troubles or even just their ordinary thoughts. Make us happy for three minutes, and carry that happiness and those special minutes forward within us. And I have.
"Reach out with your feelings, Luke." --Obiwan Kenobe. That's how I think of owning the ice. Reach out to the audience, have the desire to give something, take something, some moment, some experience. Create synergy in the universe ... and as energy doesn't dissipate, it transmutes into something we can take with us.
Even in the warmup, the eye was drawn to her.
to the ice, but her actual skating never moved me.
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