Photo of Alexei by Anke Photo of Michelle by Shaun Best
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Home Figure Skating Life Experiences Writing	Why did I get into figure skating anyway? Hmmm....that's pretty good question. It's probably all Michelle Kwan's fault, LOL, but I don't think that's a bad thing. Well, in my view, skating is like any other sport: you work your butt off, and hopefully, with some luck and talent, good things will come your way. Don't listen to those people who say that it isn't a sport. That's plain bull. I'd like to see those naysayers get out on an ice rink, throw themselves a foot or two (or close to three, if you're Alexei Yagudin ) in the air, turn three times, and land one-footed on a quarter-inch blade. In extreme inline skating, a single revolution is a 360 and people think that's amazing (LOL, and two-footed at that!). Well in figure skating, every one of the elite skaters can do a 1080. Sounds pretty impressive, huh? Maybe we skating fans should petition the ISU to call a triple jump that instead, then maybe people would take this sport seriously. LOL, the elite male skaters now can do a 1440 as well...(yes, the horizontal G-forces are a factor, LOL...rather painful for the men needless to say...) Actually, maybe skating is a sport of the extremely talented, truly. Not only do you have to do the moves, you have to make it look good. This is what makes or breaks a skater with me. Jumps are nice, but if you can't skate otherwise, you're out in my mind. I actually would prefer watching a skater do a good program without jumps than just going out there and doing 10 triple jumps. Just my opinion, of course. I'm a rather artsy sort of person anyhow...
"As soon as I agree on something he disagrees. That's normal!" - Jayne Torvill Refresh this page for a new quote! Quotes provided by the posters at the now sadly defunct FSW and Tracy Veronika's quote page. Plus my trusty memory, LOL...
	For the knowledge-hungry: Skateweb Everything you need to know, with the jumps, the scoring, events, etc. etc. etc. Figure Skating Universe, known as FSU  Have a question? Just ask! Someone there is bound to know. Plus, absolute chaos during competitions and laughs all around! And here are pages that are just fun! Rinkside! For all of your downloading needs! (of the skating program variety, of course) Thanks to this, I've seen programs from the 80's, namely T&D's Bolero, that I had never seen before. Skip that annoying VCR and upgrade to the double-click on your mouse! Heather Winfield's TV schedule! The source of up-to-date when and where's for catching any skating on TV!  Skating Animations! I really happen to like this one. You will understand why I adore Alexei Yagudin's deathdrop so much! (That particular one was about six feet high...the guy isn't even six feet tall, LOL!) And this was at a competition where he had serious problems with the altitude...
	My Favorite Skaters Jeff Buttle! Kudos to the new Canadian champ! May your beautiful artistry trump all the quadsters! (Wouldn't hurt if you somehow got one on your way to Worlds though..) Keep smiling! Michelle Kwan! Never count her out, indeed...Still a joy to watch, after all these years... Kurt Browning (FOOTWORK GOD!!) Sasha Cohen - fantastic presentation! But lay low on the quads for now, please? Emanuel Sandhu! Has the moves all right. Just wish he had more of a fighting spirit.. My Favorite Skating Moves A good, centered, fast spin. Watching Lucinda Ruh spin brings tears to my eyes. Jeff Buttle's spins give me chills. Mhm! Love a great spin! Fast footwork (ooh! Chills! Go Kurt!) A really good spiral (a.k.a. Michelle Kwan's change-edge spiral. First time I saw it live, I didn't breathe at all!) Good edges (maybe that should go at the top of my list, LOL..) Deathdrop (only applies to Alexei Yagudin's, LOL...) Jumps (I prefer the effortless kind, thank you..) My Pet Peeves in Skating Chacking of skating by networks in favor of ::gag:: golf!!  People thinking figure skating is just a sport for wimps Talkative commentators (though Dick Button is endearing sometimes!) The famous Terry Gannon quote: "If you're in the top three going into the free skate, you control your own destiny!" (Unfortunately, due to the change in the judging system, he will not be able to say this anymore. Awww...NOT...) No connecting moves between the jumps (it IS called figure 'skating'!) Weird judging (it is a subjective sport due to the presentation mark, but sometimes you have to wonder..)

 

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