Figure Skating

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

WOW! Some real skating tonight, don't think I will be able to drift off to sleep after all this. When I watched the Canadians I thought of my mom & how she would of loved them & had tears in my eyes. I think they all did magnificent each with their own unique styles & program. I love Ice Dancing!

I'll preface to say I used to go out of the room when ice dancing was on during all the many, many competitions and shows that were on tv when I first started paying attention to skating (1994). Over the years, certain dance pairs have caught my eye and I've tried to listen to the commentators to understand it better.

They sure gave out some highs cores! When they put Meryl & Charlie's score up of 107.?? (and that was with a 1.00 deduction for something I haven't found out what yet), I thought for sure they'd have first place. But then not only did Moir/Virtue skate really well, they were given a 110.??!

As much as I hate to say it, Belbin/Agosto didn't deserve 3rd place even though I was hoping somehow they'd get it for a N. American sweep on the podium. I also hate saying this, but....they seemed to do a lot of flailing about reminding me of Plushenko. Maybe my mind was wandering too much or something, but I kept thinking as I watched them "where are the difficult twizzles? where are the difficult footwork sequences?"

One of the commentators said Tanith Belbin "Tweeted" "Last Dance" as her song of the day......he speculated it meant this was her last ice dance ever. I wonder if she really meant that or just for today??? She and Ben are slated as cast members of Stars On Ice I think....????

[Catty1]

Joannie Rochette could be skating for Mars, and I would still root for her.

http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/art...p-sheet-day-12

CHRIS ZELKOVICH’S WHAT TO WATCH: There’s been plenty of talk about athletes dealing with pressure at the Olympics, but they all pale in comparison to what Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette is facing. When she takes to the ice Tuesday night (7:30 p.m. ET) she will be doing so only 48 hours after the unexpected death of her mother. The fact Rochette is skating at all is testament to her strength. If she ends up on the podium it will be one of the most amazing accomplishments in Olympics history.

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

Joannie Rochette could be skating for Mars, and I would still root for her.

http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/art...p-sheet-day-12

There will be a tremendous amount of emotion throughout the building when Joannie skates.
I'm thinking one of two things will happen...The emotions will make her soar or she'll be so overcome that she flounders. I surely hope it is the former. I've always liked Joannie and rooted for her to place well.

[caseysmom]

The russians are just leaving a bad impression this year....last night they had ropes on her to help him lift her...wtf....

[Grace]

Getting very technical here - an article from the NY Times - The Moves They Don't Want You To See.

Interesting. Over on the left is a list of entrants in the Women's competition - click on a name and you'll find out who rotates the best.

Maybe more information than I care about - but it does explain scoring.

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

The russians are just leaving a bad impression this year....last night they had ropes on her to help him lift her...wtf....

You'd think for competition that would be against the rules! It should deem their lifts & carries less difficult!

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

Getting very technical here - an article from the NY Times - The Moves They Don't Want You To See.

Interesting. Over on the left is a list of entrants in the Women's competition - click on a name and you'll find out who rotates the best.

Maybe more information than I care about - but it does explain scoring.

That IS interesting! I knew about blades starting to rotate on the ice before a jump and on the landing, but didn't know about the toe pick thing for the toe-loop! So many skaters do a "flutz" instead of a true lutz, I'm glad there is replay for the judges to look at that because if it's supposed to go off the outside edge, that is how it should be done. If it isn't being done that way, then it shouldn't get scored as a true lutz.

I also knew that Marai is notorious for cheating her jumps.

Thanks for sharing that. I'm slightly more than a casual fan and I do attempt to understand at least what the skaters are doing or are supposed to be doing. These little inside info things help me understand why the skaters get the scores they get.

[Bonny]

LOL! The Russians with the ropes on them was very interesting. Maybe like Elvis Stoeko SP? said they are improving the sport? ROFL! Maybe in the future we will get to see all kinds of ropes on the skaters & they will be doing triple dipple quads & throwing each other doing somersaults in mid air. Lord only knows what is next.

[Catty1]

Lord only knows what is next.

Monty Python's Skating Circus?

[Momto4FemaleFelines]

Check these guys out, Vladimir Besedin and Oleksey Polishuk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN9ZatamcnE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EwRA...eature=related

It's pretty much comic relief for the now-defunct Champions On Ice show that used to tour. I've seen them several times.

And then there is Irina Gregorian. She's pretty amazing what she does with the hoops...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OImp5O6ggA

[cassiesmom]

I thought the Canadian ice dance team was beautiful. I didn't like Belbin and Agosto's costumes or their music. I didn't like that the Russian team was allowed to use their costume pieces to support their moves.

[caseysmom]

I thought the Canadian ice dance team was beautiful. I didn't like Belbin and Agosto's costumes or their music. I didn't like that the Russian team was allowed to use their costume pieces to support their moves.

Yes the canadians were breathtaking. Does anyone know if they are a couple? If not they sure can fake the romance.

[Catty1]

The Canadians had a movement and elegance and a togetherness that comes from competing with each other ever since Moir was 8 years old and Virtue was 6.

They did have a romance as teens, but it didn't last...it was much better for their skating that they not be that involved. However, I read one comment that said there is a special closeness even after the romance is over - and that creates the 'extra' that these two displayed.

[Catty1]

...wow...

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/figure-ska...al+performance

ETA: Her dad's face as he left after her performance. She is their only child.

[Bonny]

Joannie & her dad are really going to need each other now & after the Olympics. Joannie had such good support from the crowd last night. I was disappointed in our coverage last night. They kept bouncing around to the other events & didn't do justice to the ladies short program. I hope Joannie metals & can hold it together in the long program.