figure skaters i have loved.
I've been watching figure skating since I was wee. I can't tell you the difference between a salchow and a lutz and would probably be called ~not a fan~ because I really only watch it once every four years but I do enjoy the sport.
I remember sitting down and anxiously awaiting the gala performances back in the day when Philippe Candeloro would come out wearing his American flag shirt and rip it off and Surya Bonaly would backflip across the ice. They weren't my favourite skaters but it sure as heck was entertaining.
Warning: Canadians ahead!
Kurt Browning is the first skater that I remember really liking. I mean, c'mon, it's Kurt Motherfucking Browning. He was the first skater to land a quad in competition! He might not have ever been at the top of the Olympic podium but the guy has skillz. His footwork is amazing. Remember Singin' in the Rain? Oh yes you do!
Kurt is still skating and generally being awesome.
***
Okay, so, Elvis Stojko made some comments recently that were less than stellar but ~back in the day~ this guy was the shit. He would just come out and jump all over the ice. When you're wee and watching for the entertainment value, not much could beat this guy.
***
Poor Josee Chouinard. This girl spent more time with her bum on the ice than skating on it. She was the cutest thing though and I think I had a bit of a girlcrush on her. Hmm yeah, I think my entire liking of her has to do with how cute she is.
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The image quality is shit but that's Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler doing one of their INSANE tricks. I loved loved LOVED these two so hard. He would just pick her up and toss her across the ice. INSANE! The one routine that I remember the most from them though, wasn't full of tricks; it was their Tears in Heaven in memory of Isabelle's father (I think?).
They haven't skated together in a while. Lloyd made news a while back for activities not related to skating. Boo, ruining my childhood!
***
Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz were the only ice dancers that ever crossed my radar until Scott and Tessa. This being because of their Riverdance routine. I dunno, is it weird to love a pair simply for one routine?
***
Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. They gained infamy during the 2002 Olympics when they were awarded the silver medal instead of gold because of the judging ~scandal~. I fell in love with them almost instantly. They were the first time that I ever 'shipped figure skaters.
Jamie and David haven't competed in years but they still do a lot of skating and frequently show up at ice shows and on my television. They should always commentate on skating because they are full of lulz. David just has no appreciation for fine costuming.
If you ignore the rumours circulating about the status of their marriage and just accept them for their magnificent lifts (and David's magnificent ass), life is much better.
***
I kinda took a break from skating until the Olympics earlier this year. This meant that I missed the glory of Jeffrey Buttle's grin but I'm catching up.
Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison are complicated. I adore them and I want them to do well but honestly! It's not just the ice skate meet face incident or Jess' nosedive into the ice...it's all the times that Jess lands on her ass and just can't seem to get over it.
Jessica is adorable and while I kinda hate her for dating Scott Moir (instead of Bryce, who clearly still loves her, HELLO!), I can separate from that fact. They have great costumes and idolize Sale/Pelletier, so I'm a fan.
***
This is just an excuse to post more pictures of Scott and Tessa.
I remember sitting down and anxiously awaiting the gala performances back in the day when Philippe Candeloro would come out wearing his American flag shirt and rip it off and Surya Bonaly would backflip across the ice. They weren't my favourite skaters but it sure as heck was entertaining.
Warning: Canadians ahead!
Kurt Browning is the first skater that I remember really liking. I mean, c'mon, it's Kurt Motherfucking Browning. He was the first skater to land a quad in competition! He might not have ever been at the top of the Olympic podium but the guy has skillz. His footwork is amazing. Remember Singin' in the Rain? Oh yes you do!
Kurt is still skating and generally being awesome.
***
Okay, so, Elvis Stojko made some comments recently that were less than stellar but ~back in the day~ this guy was the shit. He would just come out and jump all over the ice. When you're wee and watching for the entertainment value, not much could beat this guy.
***
Poor Josee Chouinard. This girl spent more time with her bum on the ice than skating on it. She was the cutest thing though and I think I had a bit of a girlcrush on her. Hmm yeah, I think my entire liking of her has to do with how cute she is.
***
The image quality is shit but that's Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler doing one of their INSANE tricks. I loved loved LOVED these two so hard. He would just pick her up and toss her across the ice. INSANE! The one routine that I remember the most from them though, wasn't full of tricks; it was their Tears in Heaven in memory of Isabelle's father (I think?).
They haven't skated together in a while. Lloyd made news a while back for activities not related to skating. Boo, ruining my childhood!
***
Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz were the only ice dancers that ever crossed my radar until Scott and Tessa. This being because of their Riverdance routine. I dunno, is it weird to love a pair simply for one routine?
***
Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. They gained infamy during the 2002 Olympics when they were awarded the silver medal instead of gold because of the judging ~scandal~. I fell in love with them almost instantly. They were the first time that I ever 'shipped figure skaters.
Jamie and David haven't competed in years but they still do a lot of skating and frequently show up at ice shows and on my television. They should always commentate on skating because they are full of lulz. David just has no appreciation for fine costuming.
If you ignore the rumours circulating about the status of their marriage and just accept them for their magnificent lifts (and David's magnificent ass), life is much better.
***
I kinda took a break from skating until the Olympics earlier this year. This meant that I missed the glory of Jeffrey Buttle's grin but I'm catching up.
Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison are complicated. I adore them and I want them to do well but honestly! It's not just the ice skate meet face incident or Jess' nosedive into the ice...it's all the times that Jess lands on her ass and just can't seem to get over it.
Jessica is adorable and while I kinda hate her for dating Scott Moir (instead of Bryce, who clearly still loves her, HELLO!), I can separate from that fact. They have great costumes and idolize Sale/Pelletier, so I'm a fan.
***
This is just an excuse to post more pictures of Scott and Tessa.