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!

California, here I am!

The trip yesterday was... taxing. I didn't sleep well - who really can on an Airplane? And Haille didn't want me to sleep at all so she kept jabbing me in my side when we were in the car being driving from the airport to Grass Valley. I ended up crashing in my cousin's bedroom for about four hours once everybody wound down. And after a good 9 hours of sleep last night I am feeling more human. Once I shower I should be ready to truly greet the day. I can't wait to start shooting photos around here. I haven't been to Grass Valley since 2006, and I'm here for almost a week so I'm going to make teh most of it. Thankfully Judy bought an external travel hard drive at Costco yesterday and so I will be able to keep all of my files safe as I have a feeling that I'm going to really put my camera to work on this trip.

Today is the final shopping day and wedding rehearsal before the big day tomorrow. My biggest complaint? I'm missing the Men's short programs at US nationals to eat pizza. Life's rough, eh?

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.

US Nationals: Who I'm Watching For...

I haven't done much talking on this season's skating. I've been hit with the Olympic slump, spending more time watching football and other things than I have with skating. But it's nationals week for the US, and that always gets me excited. Ever since attending my first nationals in 2005, this event has become my favorite. I'm hoping that this time next year I will be in San Jose with my friends catching all of the action.

So, which senior skaters have me excited for this week? Let's take a look.

Ryan Bradley, Men's. After a disappointing fourth place finish last year, Ryan was on the verge of quitting. Then he got all of us excited when he started tweeting this fall that he was back in action and nationals was on his mind. He's making a "comeback" and I'm really hoping that this is HIS year. Ryan Bradley National Champion, has been on teh lips of many since 2000 (or earlier!) and this would be the perfect season to prove us all right! He's skating to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy for his short, and he's reusing last year's Mozart LP.

Keegan Messing, Men's. He's our Alaskan boy! Second year senior, it's time to make his mark. He's had an up and down season so far, but nationals is where he normally puts it down. I've loved watching this kid grow up on the ice, and I'm proud that he represents Alaska in such a powerhouse type way. I wish Alaskans knew about one of our awesome up-and-comer athletes. Guess I'll just keep shouting his name from the rooftops! He's one of the top ten from last year, here's hoping he makes a larger leap this season!

Caitlyn Yankowskas & John Coughlin, Pairs. They've had a great opening season, and are ready to make that jump onto the top of the US podium. They're not completely polished, but they're getting there. I have really enjoyed their programs so far, and with over a month of training under their belt, I expect the programs to be refined. I don't think we have any US pairs that are going to wow the judges and make top five at worlds any time soon, but with Caitlyn & John - along with Caydee & Jeremy and Amanda & Mark - we are certainly on our way up.

Maia & Alex Shibutani, Ice Dance. Ice dance is the main reason I need to get back to US nationals, I just don't know enough about the up and comers. But I've been a fan of the Shibutanis since seeing them as Juniors in 2008. They were adorable then, and they are seamless now. Igor and Marina just keep producing the highest quality of Ice Dancers America has ever seen. The Shibs are where it's at!

Ashley Wagner, Ladies. Maybe I'm not *excited* but I'm still hoping for Ashley to pull one out of her hat and get on the top teir of the podium. Who doesn't want this girl to do well? She may not be Alissa Czisny on the ice as far as artistry goes, but she's a powerhouse with a restrained elegance about her. I'm all for her finally getting the gold... if she can nail it down. GO ASHLEY!

Mirai Nagasu, Ladies. I, sadly, do not believe Ashley has a real shot even if she does skate lights out of winning. Especially if Mirai has another nationals like last year (she should be National champion for that competition). Mirai is another skater I've enjoyed watching since 2008 (where she won her first national title). If the two go one and two in either order (deservingly) I will be a happy girl.

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.