Re: Ice Wars

"Barbara Hoffman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

> It appeared to me that the skating in Ice Wars was better than most of the
> skating in the eligible events televised so far this season.

For many years I watched "eligible" events religiously and
passed up most of the "pro" events.

This "competition" could change that trend.

Both tracks have bogus judging, but Ice Wars did have the most
interesting skating I've seen so far this season.

> Sale/Pell and Ber/Sikh were excellent (up to the last minute of B&S's
second
> program).

I thought S&P should have stuck with a more traditional SP, but their
back to back triple throws were super.  A flawless program.  B&S only
had a double twist and his landing on the 3T was pretty shaky - but
it's pretty easy to just enjoy the skating when we don't have to pretend
to take the judging seriously.  I thought S&P's Queen program was
amazing - seamless and powerful.  B&S seemed to go in a different
direction with their interpretive program - she was breathtakingly
beautiful in that candy-pink silk job she was wearing.  I really enjoyed
seeing her so powerful and independent - so many of their eligible
programs implied she was fragile and under his protection.

> Oksana Baiul seems to be well along the road to recovery.

She looked stunning also - her Swan Lake interpretive program
was over in about 20 seconds.  It's a bit jarring to hear her referred
to as a 26-year-old, but I'll get over it.

> Kurt Browning wasn't quite on in his first program, but he bounced back in
> the second.

Both his programs had about 5 crossovers between them (probably
an exaggeration).  I always enjoyed Kurt's artistry - it always appeared as
if it was learned rather than inherent - it has been amazing to watch him
become the dancer he is now.

> Viktor Petrenko had two good programs.

Yes, it was great to see him skate so well - the programs seemed
rather interchangeable - I would've loved to have seen him skate to
something classical again.

> Ilya Kulik was great.

His jumps are still a thing of beauty and he's also really progressed
as an artist - still introspective - the choreography for his interpretive
program was reminiscient of his Romeo & Juliet - not the music or
the tone of the piece, but the intricacy.

> I can't remember much about Nicole Bobek's skating; I was mesmerized by
her
> breast implants.  (Yes, I *know* I'm shallow.)

Well, they only showed the one performance - the SP must've been quite
a disaster.  Was there no other U.S. lady to invite?  Or was it supposed the
match-up would've been closer?

> I'm ambivalent about Brian Boitano's programs.  His skating was good, the
> choreography was interesting, and I understand and appreciate his efforts
to
> do new things, but I don't think this idea worked.  The props were way
> overdone.  The hat and cigar in "Hernando's Hideway" were fine, but using
> scenery and supporting actors is too much.  I was actually reminded of the
> ultimate horror:  Philippe Candeloro's cowboy program at 2001 Hallmark
Pros.
> Kurt Browning once described Boitano's skating as "nothing but the
> business."   Get back to business, Brian.

His programs were underwhelming - I think he was so intent on the
"story" that his skating suffered - his jumps were wondrous, but
besides the spreadeagles it was mostly crossovers.  But I agree with
whoever posted that it was unfair to put him against Illia - it would've
been hard for all of the men to top Illia's jumps, but someone else
may have been better prepared to match his artistry.

Edna.