Who reminds you

[tripleloop]

of a skater who skated a long time ago. It doesn't matter the discipline or the country. Everytime I see Jennifer Kirk, I think of Jill Trenary. She reminds me so much of her when she first came out at Senior nationals. Also, Jennifer Robinsion reminds me so of Karyn Kadavy. Remember how Karyn use to look so delicate out there on the ice. Johnny Weir reminds me of a young Brian Boitano. I know he is much more stylist then Brian when he was that age, but Whenever I see Johnny I think of Brian Boitano.:D :D

[Oracle]

Tripleloop, I agree about Jenny Kirk reminding us of Jill Trenary. I tho't of this watching her during the exhibition. It's not the style of skating so much as the audience connection & the "glamour" that Peggy mentioned that both bring/brought to the ice.
But no way does Johnny remind me of Brian Boitano. Before the '88 Olympic season Brian was the worst "arm flapper" I'd ever seen. He had dreadful presentation until Sandra Bezic stepped in & choreographed his Olympic programs. Rather, Johnny reminds me of John Curry. Great technique, stretch & line, awesome & inspiring. Most of all...memorable.

[Sing_Alto]

I agree with Oracle, Johnny Weir's skating doesn't resemble Brian Boitano's at all-- past or present. Brian's amateur choreography, prior to Sandra Bezic's intervention, was incredibly bad. Brian's current style (which is now fabulous) is no where near as, umm, artsy as Johnny Weir's style. Boitano is the consumate technician, whereas Johnny seems to lean toward the artistic side of the the sport. I think Rudy Galindo or Paul Wylie would be a much better comparison to Johnny.

[Roma]

It's funny this discussion came up, because although Johnny doesn't actually remind me of anyone else, I was thinking that he has the potential to combine the technical perfection of Brian Boitano with the grace, line, and emotion of Paul Wylie. (In reference to other great artists, Johnny seems to me to skate with a little more command over the ice / tension (in the good sense) than Rudy did, but not as much as Paul.) But he doesn't actually remind me of either.

One of the extraordinary things about Johnny is that in the midst of that gorgeous line and carriage, he did one of the most technically difficult long programs at Nats that has ever been done. His program had such difficult content, that it was actually stronger than many of America's skaters that were known for their athleticism. Todd Eldredge, for example, who was always seen as a great jumper rarely (perhaps never?) did a program at Nats that included 8 triples, including triple axel/triple toe, triple lutz/triple toe, and 2nd triple axel.

With all the focus in recent years on quads, one thing that gets lost is that when many of the men do land quads, they often mess up on easier jumps. So for someone to do an 8 triple jump program like Johnny's was really quite up there in difficulty, and to do it with such great posture, flow on the landings, feeling for the music, etc. was remarkable.

A week after he won Nats, and still I'm smiling about that program which IMO was one of the best programs ever done at Nats. That was a rare combination of athleticism and artistry that was breathtaking.

If he never improves, he will already be a great skater, but if he adds a quad and a little more speed, he could really combine the best of the Boitano and Wylie worlds, but again, I do find that he already has a unique style, and doesn't really remind me of anyone else.

[Amandah]

I was struck by the similarity between Weir and Rudy in terms of their movement, their way of simply lifting off the ice rather than forcing or powering off it, and many of their mannerisms. In an article from last week, Weir's coach confirmed some of these impressions with the interviewer, "His [Weir's] lightness on the ice reminds his coach, Priscilla Hill, 1982 U.S. silver medalist, Robin [sic] Wagenhoffer and 1996 men's Champion, Rudy Galindo."

Amanda

[Roma]

Amandah, I agree that Johnny Weir has some of the same lightness of movement as Rudy (I guess I would call it an effortless look), I guess I just see him also as having his own style (e.g. I think Johnny's arm movements are more subtle and more interpretive than Rudy's, and he appears to skate with more power.) So I see similar qualities in both skaters, it's just that Johnny already seems to have developed a unique style, so that I am not really reminded of anyone else when I see him.

Johnny has a fluid, graceful style, yet his underlying strength is also quite visible. So, for example, his triple axel/triple toe is jaw-dropping both for its power, and for its beauty. To achieve one or the other is great, he achieves both.

[yogurtslinger]

Tiffany Stiegler reminds me of Oksana Baiul. I have yet to watch any tapes of Jill Trenary.. but your descriptions of her glamorous style certainly make sense as to why Oksana idolized her for a bit.

[loveskating]

Tiffany reminds me most of Katia Gordeeva.

I agree with Roma, Johnney W. is one of a kind...and really great...truly the whole package. I haven't seen anyone since Kulik who I thought was so great, but yet Johnney is not like Kulik at all.

Jenny also doesn't remind me of anyone...in fact, what I most love about Jenny is how she is totally herself out there, and when she is on, all there...I don't find any of her elements spectacular but her prsence and that part of presentation which requires "skating from within" I find completely with her.

[viennese]

yes, jennifer kirk did remind me of jill trenary. but only for the first time, this year, when she skated her jazzy 'chicago' short. i remember that jill really stood out in the presentation and her footwork.

i'm old enough to remember priscilla hill and john curry (okay, i was pretty small when i saw them, but i do remember beautiful arms, long edges, spins that took their time.

and i agree, i do see a bit of their style in johnny weir. i hope he has a chance to mature over the next several years....while still keeping those amazing, tight triple jumps.

[Mokah]

Irina has a lot of power and speed on the ice. When she is skating her best she reminds me of Dorothy H. Dorothy was graceful but also so strong and athletic. She had a lot of spring in her jumps.
Johnny and John Curry are a wonderful comparison. I've been waiting a long time to see a competitor that has the balletic quality Curry had.
How about Sandhu and Toller Cranston? I have no idea on this one because I don't remember much about Toller in competition.

[Oracle]

I think Sandhu & Cranston are a good comparison. Both very original, great stretch & lines, slightly diva-ish, exciting to watch.