30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Thirty!

Day 30: Why Do You Love Figure Skating?

That's the big question, isn't it? Originally it was because I liked to be entertained. I grew up during the "golden era" of North American figure skating. There were professional competitions and shows just about every weekend on TV (especially after 1994) and with skaters like Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning and Viktor Petrenko... well... those events were never boring.

In high school I fell in love with competitive figure skating because I loved the on the edge of your seat moments of finding out, after a great night of skating, who would come away with gold. There was a rush.

But really what has always been the reason? The skaters themselves. Like any sports fan I become invested in teh personal stories of the athletes themselves. It started with my obsession with Scott Hamilton, and through him I connected his friends on the ice and learned more about them - normally on my way to learn what they really thought about my favorite skater. In high school I began work on fan sites and official sites and connected with some of the up and coming stars that are now, mostly, professional skaters (insanity!). I was emotionally invested in their competitions, their success, their failures...

It's the human aspect that keeps me tuning in, even when I'm bored to tears with the 5 million Carmens and 20billion swan lakes. It's that part of skating that makes it mroe than just baby ballerinas and jumping beans.

It's the skaters themselves that make skating great.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twenty-Nine

Day 29: Favorite Skater of All Time

She's back! I will update on the trip eventually.... I hope... but for now I've got two more days of skating meme before Iditarod, work, and photo editting take over my life! LOL

Anyway, back on topic. Favorite skater of all time is going to be Scott Hamilton. Pretty sure I've said that several times throughout the 30 day meme (which has spanned over two months now, but oh well.) Without Scott i'd not have fallen in love with the sport of figure skating. Sure, I put skaters above him - now - in terms of skill and what not, but Scott will always hold that special spot in my heart. He was my hero growing up, and someone I continue to follow and get excited for when he's in the news doing something good. I pray for him, and send him well wishes and support/encouragement, and go totally fan girl when I am in the stands and he's commentating.

I've gushed on him earlier in this little meme thing, so I won't rehash all of that, but for me Scott Hamilton is figure skating. His name is the first that comes to mind when someone begins talking about the sport.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Twenty-eight

Day 28: Favorite & Least Favorite Costume

Gonna do one for each disipline, because I can.

Favorite Ladies: Katia's Mahler Costume, 1996



Least Favorite: Oksana Baiul's Hit Me Baby One More Time


Favorite Mens: Kurt Browning Funky Music

Least Favorite: Evgeny Plushenko Sex Bomb

Favorite Pairs: Jaime Sale & David Pelletier's Jalousie

Least Favorite: Yuko Kawaguchi & Alexander Smirnov... um yeah

Favorite: Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto Yankee Polka

Least Favorite: Oksana Domina & Max Shabalin Aboriginal Folk Dance



30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twenty-Seven

Day 27: Favorite figure skating moment of all time

Well considering today was an amazing day for US men's figure skating I'm riding on such a high that I have to say today was the best moment. For two reasons.

First off, Ryan Bradley winning the National title. It wasn't his best performance, but he never gave up. The fact that he skated lights out for the short program and then came back after wonky quads in the long really showed that he wanted this like no other championship. Let me preface by saying I was not a Ryan Bradley fan when it was cool to be one. I remember hearing all the girls our age gush about how cute he was and how awesome his skating was back in 2000/01. I didn't get it. He was a nice looking face but that was it to me.

Then he found his niche as a performer and suddenly I was taking an interest. Seeing him at nationals in 2006 sealed the deal. I became one of his fangirls from that moment on (it didn't hurt when I met him with a friend that it was more like just a few young people hanging out and not fangirls meeting their dreamboat ha ha!). Fast forward to tonight when Bradley won after wanting to quit after last season and I was a ball of emotion. Nervous, heart broken when he fell, and elated when he still managed to win. No one deserves it more. It was a bittersweet Galindo moment, but one that still deserves its place in hearts and memories. The bashing has already started elsewhere, but for me - yes a fan girl- I can honestly say I couldn't be more proud. I want to thank Ryan from the bottom of my heart for not giving into the naysayers, and for giving us this moment. Is it too early to beg for a repeat next season?

My second favorite moment also comes from this night of skating. Keegan Messing not only made the final flight of skaters, but he had a fantastic nationals from start to finish. I got really choked up for some reason as I listened to Scott Hamilton commentate his long program. Keegan reminds me a lot of Scotty in skating style (maybe it's the shortness thing) and Scott's energy in the mic translated to what we were seeing on the ice. I've watched Keegan and known he was special since 2004. He was just a little guy, then, but he loved to entertain and he was quick... and light on his feet and in the air. He started making waves at nationals that year, and has been climbing steadily up the ranks ever since. I have high hopes from our Alaskan skater, and want so badly for him to have his own Ryan Bradley moment (or better yet, lets have him be the next Scott. 4 time world champ, olympic champ, and biggest male skating personality in the US).

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twenty-Six

Day 26: Saddest Day in Figure Skating

I could go with a number of answers. 1961 plane crash, death of Sergei Grinkov, death of Carlo Fassi, death of countless skaters before their time... but I'm not going to, because a lot of thsoe happened before I was old enough to really understand what was going on - or in the case of 1961 well before my time.

No, the saddest day for me was when Scott Hamilton "retired" from touring. I had an incling the year prior when he skated the group number in SOI entitled Old Friends which was a medly of Simon and Garfunkel hits. Scott's part was looking back on all the good times and all of the fun... I remember turning to my dad and freaking out saying "IS HE GOING TO RETIRE?" everyone said I was nuts.

The following year Scott announced that the new season was his final one touring with SOI. I was vindicated, but not happy. Scott Hamilton had been my hero, my idol, my favorite for so long and it was finally happening. He was finally leaving me. It was the end of an era and I was not happy to see it come.

I watched that show with a lot of emotion. When they got to the finale and he handed the reigns over to Kurt and Kristi and Tara, and they were all misty I lost it. I was home alone (well I was babysitting Duane who'd fallen asleep after Kurt's routine) and I didn't care. Tears rolled.

Scott's retirement also seemed to mark the end of the Golden Era of skating in North America. Many blame the new judging system or MK's disappearance from the international scene, but I think it was just time for that era to be finished. Scottie leaving just made the void bigger...

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twenty-five

Day 25: The Quad. Give your opinion.

The quad is just another revolution in jumps already well established. I think it is a huge feat for any skater to land one consistently, more and more skaters try and fail... and it's been over 20 years since Kurt Browning landed the first ratified one, and thirty years since they were reportedly being attempted by some of the top names of the day.

I don't think it's the ugly stick of skating, I would agree that skaters obsess over it a bit too much, but that's only because I think fans and the media start the mania. There's a huge debate over whether or not you're not a man without one (so what does that make all of those men out there who aren't figure skaters? do they never get to even attempt manhood because they can't jump and spin four times in the air and land on a skinny little metal blade?).

I don't think it takes any more out of the program to set up the quad as it does for a triple axel or other triple jump. I've seen some skaters telegraph from one end of the rink to the other to hit a triple toe. Where as some quads seem to burst out of nowhere in comparison. I would argue that, without commentators saying "here comes the quad attempt" most fans wouldn't even know they were telegraphing for a quad.

So here's to the quad, just another exciting element to an already exciting sport!

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Twenty-Four

Day 24: Skater that you love that nobody else does...

Well, I don't think that skater exists. Certainly someone else likes them! Though, until recently, I think Michael Weiss would definitely apply so I'll go with that. Michael got a bad rap on the boards during his competitive career for his machismo style of skating, his wife's choreography, his kids, just about anything he did was wrong. He was labelled homophobic by so many. It was frustrating. Proclaiming your fandom led to people telling you that you didn't know what skating was. It wasn't like he was the only skater I liked, but it was still considered a blemish on my card.

But it didn't matter, I loved watching Mike skate, and was able to see the flaws and get over them. After Mike left the competitve arena the labels jumped to Evan Lysacek. Oh, figure skating fans, we must have someone to hate on.

Now Mike has a bigger following as a professional figure skater. Some are so surprised of his talent and personality. Well, guys, it's always been there.

30 Days of Skating: Day Twenty-Three

Day 23: Skater Everyone Loves But you Don't.

I'm doubling up as I leave tomorrow for California and I don't know if I will be able to keep up and when I get back I will be getting into Iditarod mode.

Without having to think about it: Michelle Kwan. I don't deny that she is good at what she does, but I don't get the emotional connection everyone else seems to have. I don't see her as an amazing artist. I see her like a lot of competitive skaters. She found her niche routine and she did a few tweaks each year with new music and there it is a new program. Like most say that Evan Lysacek has done (I agree, he has). It's a smart competitive strategy, find what wins and keep doing it.

Problem is if you don't like Kwan in North American circles you are blacklisted as a non fan of the sport or considered skating stupid. Neither of which I feel I fall under. I find her dull, frightfully so, I don't find personality with her. She comes off ditzy and a bit full of "The Kwan." No doubt a lot of her third person interviews were supposed to be "cute" and no doubt she'd been fed from the time she was born that she was God's gift to the World and that she came close to God in terms of awesomeness. Then she starts winning everything, becomes an overrated athlete, and uuuuuuuggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Yuna Kim is quickly becoming another one of those, though at least in the US she seems more grounded... it's the fans that can become annoying after a time ha ha!

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twenty-Two

Day 22: Favorite and Least Favorite Commentator

Dun dun dun. The moment of truth. Who is Toni going to pick. Will she side with the haters and hate on her beloved Scott Hamilton. Will she choose the godlike Dick Button, fearing his insane ramblings will forever haunt her if she doesn't? Will she plead temporary insanity and choose Sandra Besic who is scary beyond all reason?

Answer to all of those: no.

I'm going to cheat and break this down and choose four commentators. Favorite/Least Favorite EXPERT commentator (skater turned talking head) and Favorite/Least Favorite COLOR Commentator (professionally trained talking head).

Favorites:

Kurt Browning, Expert Commentator. He got canned by NBC in his first US showing because he dared to call a 14 year old Michelle Kwan sexy. Actually he was commenting on the program given to the 14 year old, but all NBC officials heard was the word sexy on the topic of a 14 year old girl. Bye, bye Canadian commentator. Fast forward to 2005/06, and ABC was looking for some new blood. Who knows why. I'm just glad they did. Kurt was the first commentator willing to go toe to toe with Dick Button without muddying the job. Dick is a bully, plain and simple, in the booth. I would scream at the TV each week as he belittled Peggy Fleming (who is a mouse when it comes ot Dick. Stand up to teh jerk, girl!) whenever she dared to have her own opinion and not his. When Kurt shared his opinion as to why a skater's program didn't work and Dick interrupted him Kurt politely reminded him that he was talking, and then finished his thought. Eat that Mr. Button.

Terry Gannon, Color Commentator. This was difficult, until recently I would have named Verne Lundquist as my favorite. He was the voice next to Scottie's for many years when CBS had an interest in the sport. Now he's back commentating for golf. Like Lundquist, Gannon takes his job seriously... and in doing so he's seemed to fall in love with teh sport of figure skating. When ABC dropped skating from their lineup, I was devastated. Not because it meant less coverage, but because no more Terry Gannon. I don't watch golf or basketball (his other sports) so I thought that was it for the yumminess that is Terry Gannon. Until this season when I was plesantly surprised to find he was commentating for Universal Sports (though now I don't get US thanks to my move. Depressing!). Hooray for sexy color commentators!

Least Favorite:

Dick Button, Expert commentator. Pretty sure you saw this one coming with my rant on him earlier. I don't find much to like about Dick. Yes, his knowledge of the sport is second to none. Yes, he has been commentating since the beginning. But that doesn't give him the right to belittle his co-commentators, or bully his opinion on the fans. And, now, anymore, he doesn't make any sense. Sometimes I wonder if he isn't all there. I much prefer when he's not in teh booth.

Al Trautwig & Tom Hammond, Color Commentator. Neither one gives a flying fart about skating. They sound bored when they talk, they make some pretty sly slurs about the men. They're a waste of space.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twenty-One

Day 21: Team Johnny or Team Evan?

Team Evan, all the way. It's been that ways since 2005 when I finally "got" what others saw in Evan. Sadly most of those people lost interest in Mr. tall dark and wonderful when he decided to take the clinical approach to skating. I think we can thank Mr. Carroll for that, all of his skaters become one hit wonders. All they do is change their costume and music and call it good. Apparently MK can mask that better than Evan can because fewer people gripe about her than they do him.

As for the battle between Johnny and Evan, I'm so over it. Fan wars didn't hit the level of Kwaniacs vs the rest of the ladies fans, but between the fans buying into it and the boys doing the same it's become tired. Just when you think they've grown up, the media asks a question and they fire off again and it's just embarassing for the both of them. I get that Johnny's the better skater, and possibly more popular internationally - kudos to him. I'm tired of the wanna be diva persona, and the "I'm going to say I don't care what you think, but then b*tch about how everyone in authority hates me, so I'll thumb my nose at them to see their reaction, but it's all because they hate me." GET OVER YOURSELF! And Evan just needs to learn to ignore the brat.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twenty

Day 20: Favorite Olympic Moment

Paul Wylie, USA, 1992 Men's Free Skate. Here was a skater who had so much potential and he seemingly hadn't been able to live up to it. He was thinking too much and not giving his body a chance to do its job on the ice. In fact, many wanted him off of the Olympic Team saying he didn't belong, that he would - once again - screw it up.

But it wasn't Paul who screwed up at those games. Todd Eldredge (ranked as the #1 US skater at the time, though he hadn't skated at nationals) and Kurt Browning (3 time, and reigning World Champion touted to win the Games) both had disasters of a short program. They would both go on to continue that unlucky streak. It was Paul's opportunity to show his greatness, and he did.



I love Scott's commentary at the beginning. He's so choked up. Their friendship dated back so far before this moment, and to have Scott be a part of it like that -I'm sure meant a lot to Paul. Yeah. Scott pulls for his favorites. He, like the rest of us, is invested in their career. Can't fault him for being just as excited as the rest of us.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Nineteen

Day 19: Which figure skater would you marry?

Well if you'd asked me when I was five, I would have said Scott Hamilton. I was very vocal that he was the guy for me, back in the day. However, a good bit of math lessons later I realized that the age difference was a bit too large to overcome. So I gave up on that dream.

I think if I were to fall for a figure skater he'd be someone like, oh, I don't know Kurt Browning. Ha ha. Once again there's too big of an age gap for the real deal, but everything we can tell from the outside he's pretty much Prince Charming with personality (so maybe more like Prince Naveen from The Princess & The Frog). Though I'm sure he's hardly a saint. I also seem to go for tall, dark and handsome as I crushed hard on Evan Lysacek for a few years. So who knows.

As long as the guy treats me right, has a sense of humor, and is a Christfollower I should be good...

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Eighteen

Day 18: Favorite Music for Skating

People may think I'm weird, but my favorite music I've seen skaters skate to is the canned music that the ice dancers used for the Yankee Polka Compulsory Dances. Honestly, this is the main reason I was incredibly bummed when the ISU did away with the CDs. Not only do the CDs show the difference between a high level team and low level team, but because of no more Yankee Polka! Who doesn't really love a good polka dance. Yeah the music cheesy and the costumes are awkward, but it's so peppy and fun! Maybe it's my German roots that makes the music call out to me, I don't know, but I just love it! I love going to EPCOT and sitting in the Germany pavilion and listening (and jigging) to the music. I'm a dork, but I love it!

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Seventeen

Day 17: Least Favorite Skater


Tonya Harding was my favorite figure skater going into the 1993/94 season. I liked that she was a tomboy, I could identify with that. She was all strength, and not just pretty frills. I also liked Nancy Kerrigan. They were an unstoppable duo in my mind - and the mind of American Media.

And then a whack heard round the world happened. As a huge fan of Tonya I was devastated to find out that she had played a part in it. Granted, I was young and impressionable and I bought into the media circus just like most did, but even now I have a hard time looking at the story and not believing she got off scott free for something she had more to do with than what she and her lawyers said. Her alligator tears, script, added to her actions that followed just prove to me that the USFSA had every right to take her out of American skating.

I think it a travesty that she was allowed to skate in the Olympics. She didn't deserve that spot.

So I guess that counts as least favorite skater. There are others I can't stand for personality reasons - if I don't like your skating, well, then I don't like your skating... but if you open your mouth and annoy me... then we have issues. lol But the unsportsmanlike conduct throughout the 93/94 season on Harding's part makes her my all time least favorite. She deserved the ban. She deserved the shunning. And still does.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Sixteen

Day 16: Dream Podium for 2014

Again, I don't think we even know who the main players or any of the players are going to be, but if I could have my way Keegan Messing (USA), the Shibutanis (USA) and Mirai Nagasu (USA) would all be somewhere on their respective podiums. Not very creative, am I? ha ha!

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Fifteen

Day 15: Predict the Olympic Champions of 2014

I can't do that, I don't think at this point anyone can. I don't believe that the main players have emerged yet, they may not even be on the senior circuit yet. There are some skaters saying they want to stick it out another four years, there are others who are on the fence, some are only promising to take it a year at a time and some of the top names are only going to the halfway mark. It's fun to guess, it's fun to dream, but honestly? Who knows!

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Fourteen

Day 14: Top 5 Dance Teams

1 - Renee Roca & Gorsha Sur, USA. Everything about this team just oozes confidence. I love their classic dance style, and the fact that Gorsha is smokin' hot. Ha ha! I loved their romantic/slow dance type pieces most, they really felt those programs through to their fingertips!

2 - Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto, USA. They definitely made ice dance fun for Americans. I think what drew me into their skating most was they were my age, they looked so much more mature, and they skated to Elvis. Hello, awesomeness right there!

3 - Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov, USA. I'm seeing a pattern here, ha ha! I think a lot of this bias comes from the fact that I've met them in person and they are not only very responsive, but they cherish the relationships with their fans. They're hardcore dedicated to the sport, and they are pretty fantastic on the ice. Watching Denis' basic skills on Skating with the Stars this winter really made me realize just how special this team is.

4 - Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean, Great Britain. I think it's considered sacriledge not to have them on a top five list, and even worse that I put them so low. Oh well. I could gush about them and say everything that is always said about them. But, I don't know. I love their choreography more than their actual skating.

5 - Shae-Lynn Bourne & Victor Kraatz, Canada. The first ice dance team that took my interest competitively. Mainly because I loved watching Victor. River Dance was fun and kicky, and their Hotel California was so smooth...

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Thirteen

Day 13: Top 5 Pairs Teams

1 - Ekaterina Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov, USSR/Russia. The most perfect pair. It's being argued now that there are others that have surpassed this team in greatness - and technically that may be true - but no other team has that type of love story magic.

2 - Jamie Sale & David Pelletier, Canada. After G&G no team captured my imagination until Jamie and David. Theirs was a Western Love Story that has, tragically, dissipated for no good reason. Still, their skating early on was captivating, light and fun. Marred only by a judging scandal turned media hoopla at the Olympics, and subsequently an early retirement to the pro ranks, this team is still something special.

3 - Christine Hough & Doug Ladret, Canada. Tuffy and Doug, I enjoy them more as professionals than their competitive stuff, but still so much fun.

4 - Yuka Sato & Jason Dunjen, Japan/USA. A pair first off the ice, they became a pair on the ice when dabbling on the ice on their "time off" from touring and coaching. Probably one of the most inspiring pairs just for their story. She lights up something in Jason.

5 - Elena Bechke & Denis Petrov, Russia. They are your total Russian pair... she was spunky, he presented her perfectly. I loved their programs to Russian folk music.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twelve

Day 12: Top 5 Favorite Ladies Skaters

1 - Yuka Sato, Japan. Yes, I named my dog after her. I saw Yuka for the first time in 99 when she came up with Scott's tour to Anchorage. I'd never heard of her, which is surprising considering she is a beloved skater. She was just so CUTE. She was just starting to skate with her hubby at the time and I loved watching their program, but she sparkled like no one else that night. And she's so quiet when skating across the ice. And she's cute as a bug. My dog does NOT take after her namesake (as I'm typing this she's barking and tearing up one of her toys... because she can).

2 - Kristi Yamaguchi, USA. Yama has always said Dorothy Hamill was her idol and she wanted to be her... well, I wanted to be Kristi Yamaguchi. She is the perfect combination of athletics and artistry (especially the longer she was in the professional ranks). She's a great inspiration/role model. And she's hot. lol

3 - Josee Chouinard, Canada. I've loved her since seeing her in Ice Wars. Which means I've liked her longer than I've liked Kurt! Shocking! I had the priviledge of watching her skate in 99 when she came with Scott's tour up to Anchorage. She skated to Rose in the Wind and Prima Donna. Adorable. Absolutely adorable.

4 - Angela Nikodinov, USA. Not surprising that she made my top five considering she is the one who skated my favorite ladies program of all time! She is just so smooth... I wish her nerves held up better under pressure because she's an amazing skater.

5 - Katia Gordeeva, Russia. It goes without saying that Katia is the picture of bravery. After having her world fall in around her after the death of her husband when she was 24 (wow, I'm two years older than she was!) she came back as a single working mother skating in front of millions for the first time by herself. She is an incredible inspiration. And she's gorgeous!

Not shocking - to me - is the fact that I've left Michelle Kwan off the list. There is no denying her contribution to the sport; however, she does absolutely nothing for me. She's like Tiger Woods - technically brilliant, but quite possibly the most boring personality. They both know how good they are, and that bugs me. Not so much that they acknowledge it, but they expect you to as well. I'm sorry, you can win five gazillion titles, if I see nothing special about it I'm not only going to say it - but I am not going to worship at the House of Kwan (or Woods).

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Eleven

Day 11: Top 5 Favorite Male Skaters

Now here's something that should be relatively easy.... I hope.

1 - it's a tie for first between Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning. From a strictly skating standpoint, Kurt wins hands down. Kurt is the most brilliant, talented and amazing skater on the planet past and present. His triple axel is GORGEOUS and his artistry sublime. No skater comes close to touching him in all around awesomeness. Scottie gets a nod, though, because he's been my hero since age four. I cannot let him slip to number two, I'd feel like I'm betraying him!
3 - Paul Wylie. He's smooth, he's inspiring, and he's a Man of God. What more could you want? Yeah, he seems to be a one hit wonder, but he's the encourager, and I love hearing him speak. And no one does the spread eagle like he does.
4 - Brian Boitano. Well, Duh. Who doesn't love watching him skate?
5 - Brian Orser. I've seen him skate LIVE... he's amazing.