So Now that the Olympics are Over...Let's Talk About Repeat Programs

[clairecloutier]

I feel like this thread has prompted a lot of reviews of which Olympic retread programs worked vs. which didn't.

Maybe a better question might be-- "Do you want to see more repeat programs this season, or new programs?"

Or something like that.

 

[Rossig]

I tend to give a lot of leeway for the mid to lower tier skaters who simply don't have the financial resources to get 2 new programs a season.

I agree, but notice we don't really discuss mid to lower tier skaters. None of the skaters mentioned in this thread has financial problems and it's not the money issues that made them to keep old programs.

At the beginning of the season, I would have loved to see a new short from Yuzuru, but I was thrilled he was using Seimei again because I truly think it will be seen as his signature program. Given his injury though, I am glad that he repeated both programs, it possibly would have been much more difficult for him to skate two new programs.

Seimei is signature program, but he had already skated it to its full potential. It was difficult to expect he could skate it any better and as it turned out he didn't at the Olympics. And notice that the decision about repeating both programs didn't come after the injury. Then I probably would be ok with those repeats. It was his plan for the olympic season.

 

[Mrs. P]

I will go with "It Depends" LOL.

As far as some of the U.S. men:

I would have liked to see what Adam Rippon would have done with Rihanna, but I can see why they went to last year's crowd pleasing SP. Both programs worked well as Olympic season programs, so I think it was OK he kept both of them, especially since he missed the second part of last season.

I did wish Max Aaron kept his Bullfighter SP. I actually like what I saw at Nationals 2017. Though his programs this season were pretty decent actually and he skated them well. But I think the Bullfighter SP would have been a better contrast for the POTO FS then Les Miserables.

In hindsight, while I admire Jason Brown for taking on two new programs, in his case, he would have benefited from keeping The Piano free skate this season. Technically he had only had one full season with it since he only did it for half a season in 2015-2016 due to injury. I think while the free skate he did this season was beautiful, it was clear after a while that he never got his arms around that program and mastering that program AND trying to put in just one quad in was probably a big ask.

I feel the same way slightly with Nathan Chen too. I really liked the Mao's Last Dancer program at U.S. Classic, but after awhile it's artistic impact dulled a bit as he tried to add more quads. Honestly, his free skate at the Olympics was memorable because of the six quad attempts, not so much the program itself. I think Nemesis did it's job to show Nathan's artistic range and development and he probably could have kept Polynesian Dances for one more season -- at least when he was doing all those layout changes he was doing it with a program he knew somewhat. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if he kept this year's FS for another season so he can work on the choreography/performance of that program.

On the other hand, Vincent Zhou definitely needed two new programs. I don't think he would have had much benefit keeping either of his programs. I think the SP was well-choreographed and within his wheel-house and Moulin Rouge was a nice dramatic contrast to the low-key Snow Patrol. He skated both programs well at the Olympics. But neither is an artistic masterpiece and I don't see a lot of growth opportunity with either program, so I hope we'll see another two new programs from him in 2018-2019.

 

[gkelly]

I think there are at least three different clusters of questions that could fit under this topic:

1) Do you, as a fan who watches a lot of figure skating every year, enjoy or dislike seeing repeat programs?

2) Do you think it would be good for the sport to officially or unofficially discourage (or encourage) repeat programs?

3) When, if ever, is it a good choice for skaters to reuse programs, and when is it particularly ill-advised?

If you're really only interested in answers to 1) and its corollaries, fan enjoyment, maybe clarify that in the question. And maybe take it as given that sometimes it's in skaters' best interests to reuse programs and in the best interest of the sport as a whole to permit it, but that doesn't mean we all have to like it -- so do we like it or not, or in which conditions only?

 

[aliceanne]

I voted no. I prefer new programs, especially for the Olympics.

If a skater doesn't have the money, or time to learn new programs (due to injury), I can see why they would reuse programs. Therefore, I don't think there should be a rule against it.

 

[kittysk8ts]

I don't pick on people's choices because they are not my favourite or because they are my favourite's rivals.

I do like to see new programs, Olympic season or not. The only time it is acceptable to me to repeat a program, is if their season was cut short for any reason and we didn't see the program come to fruition.

This is admittedly selfish and quite possibly unfair but it is still my preference.

Having said all of that, I do understand the motivation in the Olympic season to go with your strength, and if that means a repeat, then ok.

So, although I am somewhat flexible here, I do draw the line at a 3peat à la Ashley Wagner MR. Even if it was the best received program in all of skating, I do not want to see it for 3 seasons.

Anyway, I guess it's easy to sit my a** on my couch and criticize.

 

[skatingguy]

Anyway, I guess it's easy to sit my a** on my couch and criticize.

Considering some of the programs that we fans have had to sit through over the years, that ain't nothing.

 

[kittysk8ts]

Considering some of the programs that we fans have had to sit through over the years, that ain't nothing.

Giggle. I try not to be tooooo critical because after all, these athletes work hard to provide me with my entertainment and I would have a permanent knot in my face without skating. I did say a couple of mean things about Tarasava and Morosov's Candyman though. Oops. If there is a repeat of that program, I will fly to Russia myself and stop it from happening. Haha.

 

[Aceon6]

I'm firmly in the "it depends" camp. If a skater hasn't been able to skate the program to their vision due to injury or other training interruptions, fine. If the skater is dead broke like Julian Yee, fine. If the skater completely re-works it because they're capable of more difficult technical content, fine. Otherwise, once is enough, especially as we're likely to see it 4 or 5 times.

 

[arakwafan2006]

I sure would rather have seen a new program from Weaver & Poje. Je Suis Malade just felt stale and it didn't help them as far as I can tell.

It was a wrong move for them and almost makes it seem like they don't understand the problem. This was a case where i wish they had of stuck with what Lori gave them with possible edits by HER!! Not Morozov

 

[DreamSkates]

If I really like a program (Hanyu's long reused at this Olympics) I enjoy seeing it again for one year IF it is very well skated and improved upon. If not, then I feel the skater should have done something new. Unless there was an injury or something and it the skater needed a break from yet another new program.

 

[Japanfan]

Maybe I should get rid of the "It depends" option as I feel like it's a cop-out. What do you guys think? I'm really indecisive today.

It really does depend.

If Shen/Zhao had not brought back Turandot in 2003, they might never have delivered one of most iconic programs of all time.

OTOH, when Elvis Stojko brought back his 1994 Bruce Lee in 2002, I felt like he was trying to recapture a moment from the past - past glory. It highlighted that fact that he had not grown as a skater. Add to that, he didn't skate it as well as he had in 1994, when he won Olympic silver. I had/have a lot of respect for Elvis, and was just very sad for him when he delivered that program in 2002.

 

[shady82]

I was very turned off by Hanyu, Wagner, and Chen reusing both of their programs this year. Double demerits to Yuzu for reusing his Chopin SP for the THIRD season and Ashley for using Moulin Rouge as long (up until changing Lala Land at Nationals). It seems it doesn't affect their marks, but it sure affects my interest in their skating for the season, and that matters more to me than their placements. Not sure why but I totally lose interest in supporting a skater when they do this. Adam reusing his programs was slightly more acceptable to me since he really only had half a season last year.

Reusing one program for a second season is fine, especially if the program was very effective.

Also, it appears who thinks that Hope and Legacy is actually Yuzu's best program.