Paul looks so good!!

[PaulWyliefan]

Just finished watching Paul Wylie's "Hero" number in the Kristi Yamaguchi show. (Then I jumped up and applauded, and my dog looked at me like I was demented. :-) ) What amazing skating!! You'd think he'd never been gone at all.

And what an incredible contrast with the opening number. I am so sick of ice skating numbers that are indistinguishable from Britney Spears concerts. Oh, and these were Britney's and Christina's own dancers on the stage above the ice, the choreographer breathlessly assures us! Yuck. I wouldn't be at all surprised if this kind of thing was the reason that pro skating is in such a slump these days. After all, if the audience they're playing to can get the same thing at a concert, why wouldn't they just watch the concert?

On the other hand, Paul's routine reminded me of everything that used to be great about pro skating. Bravo.

[MQSeries]

I was only able to catch Paul at the end when he did a scratch spin that would have caused Dick Button to jump off his seat. Wow. The guy still has it. I hope he teaches his scratch spin technique to his students.

[A.H.Black]

I've been waiting for a long time to see someone do a scratch spin that just STOPS!!!!! No one seems to do them anymore, although I'm sure someone will someday.

I have tapes available if anyone needs one.

[PaulWyliefan]

Originally posted by A.H.Black

I have tapes available if anyone needs one.

I'd like to take you up on that -- I just found out that the stupid VCR in my family room taped the wrong channel!! (And if you happened to tape the Lalique ladies' short program on ESPN this afternoon, looks like I'm going to need that too!) I think you can find my e-mail address in my profile, so that you can e-mail me details -- just post here if you have any problems getting it. Thanks very much.

[skaternum]

Paul was just wonderful. I'm so glad we got to see him skate today!

[iceskater2]

PaulWylieFan
I knew you would be here. And I knew you would love it. I also had a similar reaction after he skated. Did you catch the look in his eyes when he finished. It was like, WOW, they liked it and I am so happy to be here. I just started to sob, my husband thinks I am crazy. 5 years has been a long time. I am so happy to see him back. I sure hope we get to see a lot more of him.

[Nicki]

I agree with everything said here. Paul and his Hero number were the highlight of Kristi's show for me. He didn't feel the need for any props or gimmicks he just let his beutiful skating do all the talking. I wish there were more professional skaters like him around.

[PaulWyliefan]

Originally posted by iceskater2
PaulWylieFan
I knew you would be here. And I knew you would love it.

Gee, how'd you guess? :-) It's nice to be able to chat with so many fellow Paul fans!

[Kruss]

I thought it was great fun to see Paul again.

I do have a suggestion, though. I think Paul should get with a new choreographer to get some more moves. It was nice seeing what he did, but now that he’s back I’d like to see something different.

Remember his Bach program that Lar Lubovich choreographed for him? It was a program that didn’t need jumps, yet was stunning. Paul needs a choreographer who will do that for him – enhance his line and movement on the ice while minimizing the need for jumps (since he’s doing doubles anyway – beautifully, but still…).

[twinsmom]

Yay, a Paul gush thread:D :D ! It was fabulous to see him again, enjoying it, and looking so great (and getting standing ovations!). I was absolutely going nuts about the scratch spin at the end (had to call A.H. Black to discuss cuz I was dying over it all by myself). Everyone needs to take lessons from him just for that (but for a lot of other things as well). I loved the fact that he was the last skater on the ice at the end. I'm so glad he's back. Kruss, I agree that he needs some new moves, but even if he doesn't get any, I'd still pay major money to see him skate live again. In my opinion, he's the best ever!

[MQSeries]

Does Paul have his 2axel and some of the easier triples back? Isn't it great to be in your late 30s or 40s and be able to skate like a Paul Wylie. Sigh. I can only dream.

[twinsmom]

Originally posted by MQSeries
Does Paul have his 2axel and some of the easier triples back? Isn't it great to be in your late 30s or 40s and be able to skate like a Paul Wylie. Sigh. I can only dream.

He did do a 2axel at the Kristi special. I'm not sure what triples he has back. I thought I read somewhere that he had his 3lutz back (which was always his best triple), but don't know about anything else.

[A.H.Black]

Just watched Holiday Dreams on Ice. I thought Paul looked even better here than on Kristi's show. His "Hero" number was more emotional. Maybe it was just the direction but I thought he seemed much more into it. The audience seemed to like it just a little bit too.

[Sylvia]

You might be amused to know that the first part of Paul's "Hero" number that aired on A&E last night was done as a retake at the end of the show! :) He splatted on his double axel in the performance and ended up reskating the beginning through the back outside edge spiral. The entire finale also had to be reshot because Paul took a tumble as he was doing his little duet with Oksana B. (she couldn't stop laughing during the rest of the finale!). Paul hardest jump attempted in the show was double axel, and his double lutz was a thing of beauty -- don't recall what the camera angles were like during the broadcast, but I had a great view of his lutz corner, and his left back outside edge entry and takeoff was pure and deep and gorgeous! What a treat to have him back!

[SkateSam]

Paul looks great--a little heavier but that's excusable with 5 years off (has it really been that long?). Personally, I don't really think it matters what his jumps are (no triples) because his line is so clean and the elegance is exquisite.

[PaulWyliefan]

I haven't seen the whole thing yet -- I was taping this and watching "Prime Time Live" at the same time -- but the number with Daria and the other two girls was absolutely adorable, and "O Come All Ye Faithful" was breathtaking.

And extra kudos to Paul for talking about the true meaning of Christmas -- the birth of Jesus Christ -- and not saying that it's about family or friends or mistletoe or snow or chestnuts roasting or warm fuzzies or whatever the heck most of the media says it's about. :-)

[loveskating]

Originally posted by MQSeries
I was only able to catch Paul at the end when he did a scratch spin that would have caused Dick Button to jump off his seat. Wow. The guy still has it. I hope he teaches his scratch spin technique to his students.

Wasn't that just amazing! I jumped right out of my seat...it was so centered, and so fast...and to think, he hasn't been skating for the public for some time.

WOW!