~Figure Skating History Lesson~
TIME FOR THE LEGENDARY TOLLER CRANSTON!
Toller Shalitoe Montague Cranston (lolwat), CM (born April 20, 1949) is a Canadian skater and ~artist.
Medal Record
6-Time Canadian National Champion ('71-'76)
World Bronze Medalist ('74)
Olympic Bronze Medalist ('76)
World Professional Champion ('88)
He was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1949 and grew up in Kirkland Lake. He currently lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where his main artistic outlet is now his painting. (See some of his strange and lulzy, yet renowned, works here:http://www.tollercranstonofficial.com/)
Although he never won a world level competition because he did poorly on compulsory figures, he won the free skate portion of the competition at four World Championships.
Toller was well known for his artistry and flair for the dramatic. He, along with John Curry and Robin Cousins, raised the presentation and artistic aspects of men's figure skating to a new level. He also invented and popularized many moves, including the "outside camel" and the "broken sit spin."
His deep connection to the music, grace, and spectacular lines and positions were unusual for the time. His modernist approach to skating utilized unusual angles and recent music. Even his costumes caused quite a stir, with their colorful exuberance, sequins, and rhinestones.
Toller's style was a hit with audiences, but left many conservative judges vexed- often reflected in his scores, which could range from 4.2 to 5.9.
At 27, he began a long professional career. He toured with Holiday on Ice, the Ice Capades, and Stars on Ice, headlined his own shows, played Radio City Music Hall billed equally with Robin Cousins and Peggy Fleming, portrayed a sizzling Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet on Ice" with Dorothy Hamill and Brian Pockar, and in 1995, had a dramatic solo in Katarina Witt's international TV special, "The Ice Princess."
He has also worked in choreography and television commentating.
He has written two autobiographies, Zero Tollerance and When Hell Freezes Over, Should I Bring My Skates? In the second, he details a ~sexual tryst~ between himself and men's skating champion Ondrej Nepala
Unlike most skaters, he spins in the clockwise direction.
Often unappreciated during his time, he is now considered one of the best men's skaters ever. And he's a big favorite of Dick Button, who gives him "icon" status (and who certainly gives more than a rusty hoot about him ;)
VIDEOS
From ESPN's "Best on Ice: Toller Cranston" including his '74 Worlds SP and FS
Also from that special, featuring his 1975 Skate Canada SP. Skip to 1:00 (Epic Ina Bauer at 1:38)
Previous Installments
John Curry
Ladies of the Past
Torvill and Dean
TYFYT. <3
Toller Shalitoe Montague Cranston (lolwat), CM (born April 20, 1949) is a Canadian skater and ~artist.
Medal Record
6-Time Canadian National Champion ('71-'76)
World Bronze Medalist ('74)
Olympic Bronze Medalist ('76)
World Professional Champion ('88)
He was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1949 and grew up in Kirkland Lake. He currently lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where his main artistic outlet is now his painting. (See some of his strange and lulzy, yet renowned, works here:http://www.tollercranstonofficial.com/)
Although he never won a world level competition because he did poorly on compulsory figures, he won the free skate portion of the competition at four World Championships.
Toller was well known for his artistry and flair for the dramatic. He, along with John Curry and Robin Cousins, raised the presentation and artistic aspects of men's figure skating to a new level. He also invented and popularized many moves, including the "outside camel" and the "broken sit spin."
His deep connection to the music, grace, and spectacular lines and positions were unusual for the time. His modernist approach to skating utilized unusual angles and recent music. Even his costumes caused quite a stir, with their colorful exuberance, sequins, and rhinestones.
Toller's style was a hit with audiences, but left many conservative judges vexed- often reflected in his scores, which could range from 4.2 to 5.9.
At 27, he began a long professional career. He toured with Holiday on Ice, the Ice Capades, and Stars on Ice, headlined his own shows, played Radio City Music Hall billed equally with Robin Cousins and Peggy Fleming, portrayed a sizzling Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet on Ice" with Dorothy Hamill and Brian Pockar, and in 1995, had a dramatic solo in Katarina Witt's international TV special, "The Ice Princess."
He has also worked in choreography and television commentating.
He has written two autobiographies, Zero Tollerance and When Hell Freezes Over, Should I Bring My Skates? In the second, he details a ~sexual tryst~ between himself and men's skating champion Ondrej Nepala
Unlike most skaters, he spins in the clockwise direction.
Often unappreciated during his time, he is now considered one of the best men's skaters ever. And he's a big favorite of Dick Button, who gives him "icon" status (and who certainly gives more than a rusty hoot about him ;)
VIDEOS
From ESPN's "Best on Ice: Toller Cranston" including his '74 Worlds SP and FS
Click to viewAlso from that special, featuring his 1975 Skate Canada SP. Skip to 1:00 (Epic Ina Bauer at 1:38)
Previous Installments
John Curry
Ladies of the Past
Torvill and Dean
TYFYT. <3