What's Old Is New Again: New Articles Re: Figure Skating History

N_Halifax said:
The three most recent Skate Guard blogs...

Figure Skating Hodge Podge, Volume 6: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/09/figure-skating-hodge-podge-volume-6.html
September's edition of #Unearthed on Rodnina and Zaitsev: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/09/unearthed-irina-rodnina-and-alexei.html
Don't Worry, It's Just A False Alarm: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/10/dont-worry-its-just-false-alarm.html
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Didn't know about the 'skating to standard' in figure skating, though I do know they do something similar with Irish music in the U.S. for those groups who want to qualify for the Fleadh Cheoil in Ireland, (three groups qualify, however, a group can be placed fourth even if there are no groups ranked ahead of them, i.e. you cannot go to the Fleadh if you are not up to 'standard'.
 
Maximillian said:
Didn't know about the 'skating to standard' in figure skating, though I do know they do something similar with Irish music in the U.S. for those groups who want to qualify for the Fleadh Cheoil in Ireland, (three groups qualify, however, a group can be placed fourth even if there are no groups ranked ahead of them, i.e. you cannot go to the Fleadh if you are not up to 'standard'.
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Very interesting! When you think of a ‘standard’ in terms of a minimum passing mark for test it makes sense - but in a competition I can’t say it does. In my skating days (1990’s), I was in competitions where I was the only competitor a couple of times and we never had to skate to a standard. You just got a gold by default, which was no fun!
 
N_Halifax said:
Very interesting! When you think of a ‘standard’ in terms of a minimum passing mark for test it makes sense - but in a competition I can’t say it does. In my skating days (1990’s), I was in competitions where I was the only competitor a couple of times and we never had to skate to a standard. You just got a gold by default, which was no fun!
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I think with regards to the music, it has to do with an awareness of the high quality that the indigenous Irish groups will be putting forth and not wanting to be embarrassed in comparison.
 
alj5 said:
That is just plain bizarre. So I wonder if this was this a murder-suicide or a dual suicide? Especially since her letter to her husband said she was leaving him.
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It's definitely an unusual and sad story. I'm inclined to think it was a double suicide but it may have been a murder-suicide as well.

On a cheerier note, I forgot to post last week's second blog, Tee Time: The Rosalie Knapp Story:

https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/11/tee-time-rosalie-knapp-story.html
 
The most recent Skate Guard blogs...

From Both Sides: A Tale Of Two Skating Soldiers: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/11/from-both-sides-tale-of-two-skating.html

The "Petrovka, 26" Prince: The Yuriy Zel'dovich Story: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/11/from-both-sides-tale-of-two-skating.html

The 1970 European Figure Skating Championships: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-1970-european-figure-skating.html

Four Fabulous Canadian Skaters From The Forties: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/11/four-fabulous-forgotten-canadian.html

Controversy & Combination Spins: The Audrey Miller Story: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/11/controversy-and-combination-spins.html

November #Unearthed: Dolly's Skates: http://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2018/11/unearthed-dollys-skates.html
 
Thanks for posting the correct link gkelly. Had it pointed out to me this morning and came to correct it after work and you'd beat me to the punch! :)
 
Fascinating. So sad. Nobody should become so depressed to take his own life. This makes me think of another, more recent, figure skater who met a similar fate close to Miami, Igor Paskevich.
 
skatesindreams said:
^^^
What a strange story!
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alj5 said:
That's one heck of a story.
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Frau Muller said:
Fascinating. So sad. Nobody should become so depressed to take his own life. This makes me think of another, more recent, figure skater who met a similar fate close to Miami, Igor Paskevich.
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Definitely a strange and fascinating story to research and yes, Frau Muller, I thought of Igor Pashkevich when I was putting this together... very sad.

Today's blog is somewhat lighter - it's a look back at a 1987 Canadian made for television film called Blades Of Courage:

https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2019/01/blades-of-courage.html
 
I remember seeing this movie on TV years after it was originally aired. I remember my mother warning me this wasn't all that skating was about and it was over dramatized. But having grown up in the sport, it wasn't that far fetched when you heard or witnessed some bizarre behaviour. And like you said - it was much more realistic than a lot of other skating films!

Thank you for this review and the behind the scenes information! It had a slight "Degrassi" feel to it as well!
 
N_Halifax said:
...
Today's blog is somewhat lighter - it's a look back at a 1987 Canadian made for television film called Blades Of Courage:

https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2019/01/blades-of-courage.html
Click to expand...

Well, it wasn’t entirely light but it ends on a happy note! Reading the article inspired me to dig this DVD (converted) from my collection & rewatch it today. I agree - such a good film, reflecting so many truths, despite the cited anachronisms.

What really struck me is that the scriptwriter took a bit of then-recent Canadian association history in the controversial decision to send a Nationals bronze medalist to Worlds instead of a lady who placed above her: Tracey Wainman in ‘80.

Also, it was interesting to see a portrayal of the (then) importance of “dressing like a lady” while doing figures. I had forgotten how important it was back then to reflect aristocratic aesthetics on the ice...one reason why, for example, a “Tonya type” was so despised by “skating society” back then!

p.s.- I also got a chuckle over the Korean Ladies skater being in the Canadian evil super-coach’s group of pupils. During the jogging scene, another student cattily mentioned the Korean being there only because of wealthy parents paying the coach. Little did anyone back in 1988 know that a real-life Korean champion lady would be training at an elite Canadian centre 20 years later (YuNa)...not that Brian Orser is anything like the jerk coach in the film!
 
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Canadask8er said:
I remember seeing this movie on TV years after it was originally aired. I remember my mother warning me this wasn't all that skating was about and it was over dramatized. But having grown up in the sport, it wasn't that far fetched when you heard or witnessed some bizarre behaviour. And like you said - it was much more realistic than a lot of other skating films!

Thank you for this review and the behind the scenes information! It had a slight "Degrassi" feel to it as well!
Click to expand...

Frau Muller said:
Well, it wasn’t entirely light but it ends on a happy note! Reading the article inspired me to dig this DVD (converted) from my collection & rewatch it today. I agree - such a good film, reflecting so many truths, despite the cited anachronisms.

What really struck me is that the scriptwriter took a bit of then-recent Canadian association history in the controversial decision to send a Nationals bronze medalist to Worlds instead of a lady who placed above her: Tracey Wainman in ‘80.

Also, it was interesting to see a portrayal of the (then) importance of “dressing like a lady” while doing figures. I had forgotten how important it was back then to reflect aristocratic aesthetics on the ice...one reason why, for example, a “Tonya type” was so despised by “skating society” back then!

p.s.- I also got a chuckle over the Korean Ladies skater being in the Canadian evil super-coach’s group of pupils. During the jogging scene, another student cattily mentioned the Korean being there only because of wealthy parents paying the coach. Little did anyone back in 1988 know that a real-life Korean champion lady would be training at an elite Canadian centre 20 years later (YuNa)...not that Brian Orser is anything like the jerk coach in the film!
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Glad that you enjoyed reading. You're right Canadask8er, there really is a bit of a Degrassi feel to it! Frau Muller, you make an excellent point re: Tracey Wainman in 1980 being a very controversial decision. Even more recently than that in 1984, they sent the junior men's champion over the senior men's bronze medallist - not quite as controversial but another example of the 'body of work' term that we've seen coined in recent years. You raise a fun point re: the Korean skater and Yuna Kim being coached by Orser years later - maybe a little prophesizing? haha

The latest Skate Guard blog looks back at The 1998 Canadian Figure Skating Championships:

https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-1998-canadian-figure-skating.html
 
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