If you could ask a question to a skater....?

[rinkrat]

What would be a question you would ask to a skater?

rinkrat
:)

[rinkrat]

skating related...non personal......

[Skatingsarah]

I hadnts really giving this much thought but with all the stuff that has gone and and the CoP... I guess the first one that comes to mind is...
" Is it worth it"
I know I would answer yes but I'm curious to see how many skaters would have to ponder that question

[rinkrat]

Originally posted by Skatingsarah
I hadnts really giving this much thought but with all the stuff that has gone and and the CoP... I guess the first one that comes to mind is...
" Is it worth it"
I know I would answer yes but I'm curious to see how many skaters would have to ponder that question

Skating Sarah, specifly is what worth it?

[Calgary88]

I'd ask Midori Ito and Debi Thomas, "Why don't you skate anymore? We miss seeing you!"

[mrnoname]

I would ask Elvis why he left Doug Leigh.

[MQSeries]

I'm sure Debbie has her hands full as a doctor and mother. I believe Midori still skates for the Prince ice show in Japan.

[rinkrat]

some of us had the pleasure of seeing midori ito at the mariposa gala....I think last year, what a pleasure....I don't think you will ever get an answer from Elvis on his leaving Doug that you haven't already heard and are satisfied with.

[Emanfan]

I'd ask Evgeny why he is so insistent on skating on that damned knee!:frus: :frus:

[momcoachsk8er]

I would ask Sasha why she has shown little public gratitude to her past coaches and only mentioned great improvement since moving to TT. Seems that those old coaches took her from injured to 4th in the Olympics in one season............they also taught her to skate!

[Calgary88]

I'd also ask Michelle Kwan why she left Frank Carroll.

[Chico]

Do you still LOVE skating after all these years? Why?

Chico

[sillyskates]

What's the most bizarre encounter you've ever had with a fan? (so that we could all be sure never to repeat it!!):lol:

[TRAxel]

What is the one thing (if any) that you hate the most about skating?

[Roma]

Originally posted by momcoachsk8er
I would ask Sasha why she has shown little public gratitude to her past coaches and only mentioned great improvement since moving to TT. Seems that those old coaches took her from injured to 4th in the Olympics in one season............they also taught her to skate!

I don't think any skater owes any coach public gratitude. Skaters pay very dearly for their lessons, and coaches are very handsomely compensated for anything they teach. (BTW even IF a coach were to volunteer his or her time, I still don't think public gratitude is in order. In that case only private gratitude would be necessary.)

[momcoachsk8er]

I asked a question ! However, maybe "gratitude" was the wrong word,personally I would have liked to see her be more "gracious" to her skating roots. TT did not create her, she just enhanced a very talented skater!

[Tigger]

I'd like to ask both Brian Orser and Kurt Browning what the heck is it w/Canadian Male skaters at the Olympics and that silly triple flip!?! :D

[Chico]

Roma,

Owe, no, appreciated, yes. Everybody likes to be given thanks for their accomplishments. A coach works hard to help their student be the most they can be. Everyone needs to be appreciated. I'm an adult skater, and I know that my coaches have guided to be who I am as a skater. I did the work, but they sure did guide. Friends have often told me I "skate" like my old coach, don't, but I do take after him of sorts. Makes sense, he was my role model. He taught me what I do.

Chico

[Roma]

Chico, I still hold my ground. Coaches are paid (and paid well) for the lessons they give. If a coach does his/her job very well, that is nice. But they are being paid, and thus are obligated to do to the job well, as are all professionals who are paid for their services.

[dooobedooo]

I think there are different levels of commitment and service which all constitute a professional service.

For their money, some coaches (and other professionals) simply deliver the teaching goods professionally. Others put huge levels of emotional commitment and time into the job, way beyond any commercial requirement. This does deserve appreciation.

An employer once told me that he had read somewhere "What all employees are looking for is recognition". This is what we skaters are looking for. It is also what coaches look for and deserve. I have seen coaches trampled on in a disgusting fashion by agressive parents who think that their child is a genius and would have succeeded whoever was coaching them (which is patently not true) and that they paid for their child's success (when in fact the coach had given way over what was called for professionally).

Regarding Sasha Cohen and her previous coaches, notably John Nicks, there are plenty of references all over the media to him as her (recognised and appreciated) coach, but as she has now moved away from him to TT, this is now old news. Also, just as in any longterm relationship which works (father/daughter?) it is easy to take it for granted. I think perhaps that now she is slightly older, and people are regularly asking her whether she has benefited from the move, she is able answer in the affirmative.
Here are a couple of old links:
http://www.sashacohen.com/newcoach.shtml
http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/spec/olympics/02olympics/figure_skating/story/242010p-2300183c.html
http://www.olympic-usa.org/athlete_profiles/s_cohen.html

[Roma]

There are 2 separate issues here. First, there are some 'extras' that really are not extras, because they are included in the price of the lessons. For example an elite coach who is charging $80-$100 an hour may do more than other coaches. But these 'extras' are really factored into the price. In this case no thanks are in order: the skater is really getting only what he/she is paying for. The second issue is whether a coach truly does something extra, something really out of the ordinary. Then, of course, I would think thanks are in order, but in private, not in public. The most imnportant thing about a 'thank you' is that it is sincere. If public gratitude becomes a requirement, it loses its meaning. If someone does want to publicly recognize a former coach, that is certainly a nice thing to do. But it is never required. In my line of work, if someone ever publicly thanked me because it was the politically correct thing to do, it would be a totally meaningless gesture. the things that mean the most to me are the occasional card, small gift, or even a sincere 'thanks' - none of which I consider necessary, and all of which I keep private.

[jcspkbfan]

Returning to the original topic of this thread, here's my own question for Kurt and Brian Orser:

"When are you guys finally going to write sequels to your autobiographies?"

I know Kurt, at least, has said he has no immediate plans to write a new book in the near future, but considering how much has happened to both him and Brian since their last books were published, I'd definitely be first in line at the bookstore if either ever decide to write sequels. :)

Another question I'd like to ask any skater is "So how do you really feel about Ottavio Cinquanta/the ISU? No, really..."

[supersk8er]

I'd ask Gwendal Peizerat if he'd marry me...:oops:

[rinkrat]

I was trying desperatly to have something new for Jeff Buttle's site before skate canada. It has taken forever and a day (I did the interview with him last thursday) to transcribe the interview. Between getting ready for skate can, and the interview and life in general I only have a few bits and pieces of the interview up online. But its'a start. Thanks so much for the help with questions everyone.....and if your interested in seeing what I did manage to get done its on his official site.
http://www.jeffbuttle.ca.tc
its scattered between a couple of different pages, most of the new stuff is in blue. On the index page it tells you where the new info is.
thanks again
Rinkrat - who's packing for skate can.....