Should Michelle hang up the inside/outside spiral?

[DBZ]

Do you guys think Michelle should use another spiral sequence next season in her short program, maybe a circular one instead of her usual inside/outside serpentine?

On the one hand, her inside/outside spiral has always been a wonderful highlight in her programs, creating a nice dramatic effect and garnering huge applause from the audience whenever she performs it. It has become her trademark move, so I'm not sure if using a different spiral would be wise. She obviously performs this beautifully, so why not perform your best moves to get the best scores, right?

But on the other hand, I have to admit it would be nice to see her try something different. Maybe the back outside/inside spiral from [i:a64c14dd7c]Fields of Gold[/i:a64c14dd7c] or a circular sequence. That would be very interesting to see.

Do you think it's in her best interest to try a new spiral sequence or stick with the one she does best and is known for?

[Dustin]

If the inside/outside works in the program - why change? The only reason I could see her changing it is if it did not work well with the program choreography.

[Xiaoxue]

I have never had the fortune to see her perform that spiral sequence live, which i expect must look so magnificent!

I wouldn't mind seeing her try a new spiral sequence to try and top this one. It would show her willingness to improve her skating and display originality. She is one of only a few women skaters who have the flexibility and technique that allows her to experiment.

It will also help to set her apart from Hughes and Cohen.

[loveskating]

Singers who become known for a song, ironically, because it is so stupendous and great, often find that after doing it many many times it becomes stale and predictable...and they are accused of resting on their laurals.

I'm sure I will be accused of being "anti-Kwan" :? but IMHO, this is a REAL issue for ANY performer...so my advice to Michelle would be to re-invent herself...because she has been dominating skating (not just competing, like Irina and others, but defining and then dominating skating since 1996 so she has become very predictable).

If Paul McCartney had only sung Beatles songs all these years, he would have little respect as a musician, nor would he have developed apace with the musical needs and developements culturally, so that when he reprised those songs, he could inform them with fresh meaning.

IMHO, Michelle needs to either go professional or to come up with a substantially new look to her skating.

[Hannahclear]

I agree that michelle needs to change things in her skating, ie, skating to different types of music, new jump combos etc, but I think she should keep the I/O spiral, because it is a great move for her. If she does reinvent herself, doing things different and then having that "trademark" move will be a nice highlight.

[centerstage01]

I very much enjoy her inside/outside edge spiral, but I don't think she should do it for both the short and long programs. I think she should choose one and do it in that program and then use the other for something different. IMO, if she does it too much, people will lose their admiration of it, and I really don't want to see that happen as it's so beautifully performed.

[ggyy]

I'd like to see her incorporate that back I/O spiral in her program. It's equally spectacular and more difficult. :D

[Lucy25]

She should definitely NOT get rid of that spiral! No way. It is too spectacular. I have no problem with skaters, singers, dancers, etc...doing signature moves. That would be like having Irina dump her Biellman spins.

[Marco]

But when Michelle did the backward change edge spiral, it wasn't as fast as the forward one, didn't cover as much ice, and the edges are not as deep. But I guess it was just too new to be perfected. I am sure Michelle can perfect it in the coming season. (it was already much much better at Worlds exhibition than at SA/SC)

But even so, I find the forward one to be much more effective than the backward one. Must be the fact that she is facing the direction of the audience on the direction of travel.

While the forward change spiral spiral itself is a keeper, the rest of the sequence should change to allow for some fresh moments:perhaps incorporate another semi spiral sequence from her exhibitions (like Charlotte into FI and the "Owen" spiral from FOG etc) into her short program.

[IgglesII]

If Michelle's gotta change her spiral sequence, then she should talk to her friend Irina about dumping the Biellmann Spin combo as well. That's getting a little tired.

[Cerulean]

I really see what people mean, IMO it is getting a little old. If Michelle would do a bit to freshen up up her skating, she would be doing herself a huge favor. I think that the spiral itself can stay, if that is what she wants, but she needs to variate her movements, different arm positions, facial expression etc. The problem is not the spiral, but that in every performance for years it has been a carbon copy of itself, I love Michelle, but a make over would really help her....

[Hannahclear]

When i went to COI in Detroit, the back i/o spiral was quite fast and really covered the ice. It looked like it had improved big time.

[loveskating]

[quote:9de44570fa="IgglesII"]If Michelle's gotta change her spiral sequence, then she should talk to her friend Irina about dumping the Biellmann Spin combo as well. That's getting a little tired.[/quote:9de44570fa]

Not to argue with you, but just to point something out: Irina nor any other lady skater carries the same burden that Michelle carries...becaue none have defined and dominated as she has, set the standard so to speak. This issue is a burden that is carried exclusively by precisely those who have defined and dominated.

No defining and incredible performer I can think of, say Pavarotti or Johnney Cash or Bruce Springsteen...could get away with even APPEARING to rest on their laurels...and I think that those who have Michelle's best interests at heart should point this out to her as it is not peculiar to her, its not personal!

Michelle's inside to outside edge spiral is a seminal piece of skating, very beautiful, very innovative and very difficult...I will never in my life forget the first time I saw it...the breath went right out of my body I was so moved. But Michelle's problem now overall is that she needs to truly reinvent herself, and top herself, even. That's tough, perhaps, but that is the way it is for everyone, IMHO...because in life, one thing simply leads to another and there is no way around that...you solve one problem, and find you have only opened the way to having to solve another!

Personally, I'm not sure Michelle can do that in an amateur competitive context, but I feel certain she cannot do so if she takes anything for granted, including the inside edge to outside edge spiral. If she does it, without taking it for granted, she will likely do it with a fresh vision, and it will "pop" in the choreography.

[Hannahclear]

I think she should do the back i/o spiral in her next competitive program, it's ready. Quite good too, from when I went to COI in late April. Personally, I'd like to see her keep the 3lutz/2loop, cuz it seems to be working, do a 2lutz/3loop combo, just to be different and get serious about one 3/3, even if it is 3toe/3toe. I know that gets criticized, but let's face it, other than Sarah, no one even landed a 3/3 this whole season, except Irina at GWG. I mean, they all try, but as that continues so will the falls. i think michelle should get a coach, pick some perky music, do as above and she is still very much in the game.

[Shae & Vic Forever]

If she does it better than anybody else in the world, why hang it up? :?

[Bibby]

Michelle should keep the spiral! I love it and it's a crowd favorite, but she also needs to add another couple new moves. Her programs have become similar to each other lately.

[Patrick Brunk]

...................................

[skelly]

I agree that she needs to dump it for one of her programs--to do it in both the SP and the FS is overkill, IMO, But I also think that changing her spiral is a minor problem--it wouldn't matter whether she kept the spiral or not if she would just add more complexity in her connecting moves to the rest of the program.

[lrng to skt]

I think it really needs to stay - but fer GAWDS sake make some other changes and incorporate additional "tweeks"...g

[nits]

Actually, I think Michelle's skating is just fine. Her spiral is superb, and others attempt it in their programs..so I see no reason for Michelle to change it. She still does it better than those that attempt it. What is wrong with focusing on your strengths?
I agree that if Michelle should start reinventing herself, then other skaters (ie: Irina) need to as well.

[lrng to skt]

Well - her skating is just fine if she doesn't want to progress any further and have others pass her by.

But to be competitive with up and comers she (and yes, Irina) will have to make some changes/advances.

The spiral is her best bit and I do think removing it would be a big mistake, but right now it makes her pretty much a one trick pony. Everything else others can challenge or do better.

The skaters that stick around always have to try to improve or get left behind...g

[Scott]

It is dramatic, it is beautiful, it is technically superb! Leave it in. :)

[olivia]

I agree that Michelle should keep the spiral. That's certainly not the area in which Michelle needs to focus in order to improve. It would be lovely to see the back spiral incorporated into a competitive program at some point. It's improved to the point where the edging is about as good as it can get (check out some photos if you don't agree).

Where Michelle needs to focus is other areas, i.e., new jump sequences or combos., more variety in her connecting moves, speed in spins, and harder footwork (b/c she is certainly capable of doing difficult footwork, as we know from programs of the past like Taj Mahal). Musical choice doesn't seem to be Michelle's problem per se. She's chosen some very different and varied music throughout her competitive career. Michelle just needs a fresh look, and assistance from a really innovative choreographer if she wishes to stay at the top. Because, and I completely agree here with loveskating, that Michelle carries a unique burden as a "mover and shaker." :lol:

O-

[Aaron W]

I wouldn't change it. I saw her perform the spiral at the GPF in Kitchener and it was glorious. I was on the side of the judges and I can't describe how gorgeous it was as she rounded the corner on the inside edge, coming right towards the judges with her free leg held high, and then switching over to the outside edge. The timing of that spiral sequence in her Rachmaninof short program is so brilliant. I just hope she can find more music to highlight the I/O spiral sequence as well as the Rachmaninof music has.

[lBrokenAnkle]

I do not think she should stop doing it but it would be interested to see if she could use it in a different emotional point of the music.

Laura

[Rachael]

Her spiral should be the least of her worries. She needs to worry about speed in spins and her jumps.

[Badams]

i love michelle's spiral. i think that all the skaters have moves that get tired. irina's beillman's have already been mentioned...but she's not the only one. it's just that irina and michelle have been in it so long, and most people are so fickle and feel the need to be surprised and entertained CONSTANTLY that they can't appreciate talent anymore. michelle and irina BOTH have other things about their skating that need improving. why should they worry about changing moves that have mastered?

[lrng to skt]

While people may be tired of Irina's Bielman - very few are tired of Bielman's Bielman 8) ...

What I'm saying is - as trademarks go - Irina's Bielman is not as impressive as Kwan's Spiral...g

[loveskating]

[quote:983894a6ae="Badams"]i love michelle's spiral. i think that all the skaters have moves that get tired. irina's beillman's have already been mentioned...but she's not the only one. it's just that irina and michelle have been in it so long, and most people are [b:983894a6ae]so fickle and feel the need to be surprised and entertained CONSTANTLY [/b:983894a6ae]that they can't appreciate talent anymore. michelle and irina BOTH have other things about their skating that need improving. why should they worry about changing moves that have mastered?[/quote:983894a6ae]

Well, as I said before, Irina has not dominated skating since 1996. I'd also add that Irina has VASTLY improved both her level of difficulty and her presentation over the past 3 years, which has been very enjoyable for me to see and yes, quite surprising. Last season, she had all her turns not only fast, but totally centered, which had been previously lacking a lot, IMHO! However, I do think if she doesn't ratchet things up next season, she too will face the same problems. Michelle's two spectacular elements are the split falling leaf and the inside edge to outside edge spiral...both of which she has done repeatedly since 1998.

Otherwise, you raise an interesting and rather complex issue: We all know that the public PAYS for all these skaters to skate...both at live venues, and certainly advertisers pay networks in order to reach -- precisely the public so we will buy their products! Therefore

I think people pay for sporting events precisely to be "entertained, constantly surprised" moved, inspired, i.e., to see something they have never seen before, to be reminded that humans can do incredible things if given the time and money, to see courage or excellence or a moment of unusual accomplishment....and it is this sort of thing that constitutes getting away from day do day life for a few hours, which strengthens the human spirit for the tasks of day to day life, and this is as necessary to mental well being as food is to the body.

Is someone who cannot abide seeing the same movie, even [u:983894a6ae]Casablanca[/u:983894a6ae], all the time, fickle? With a "classic" one views it from time to time (while one will never care to see a mediocre movie again), but not all the time! Are we fickle for mainly wanting to see new movies? I think not. And is it not normal for one movie or play or book or great game etc. to replace another as one's favorite...I think it is quite normal. And does not even a great writer, like say Toni Morrison, sometimes write a good book and at other times, write a masterpiece...the Nobel Committee sure thought so, for it was not until she wrote [u:983894a6ae]Beloved[/u:983894a6ae] that she won the Nobel Prize for literature.

[Badams]

michelle's spiral is only ONE aspect of her skating. and seeing it over and over again is like hearing your favorite song over and over again. and yes...demanding totally new things from these skaters is fickle. because, in reality, there are not so many moves to choose from in skating. i'm sure there are tons and tons of moves, but not enough to make a spectacular and difficult program year after year. watching programs from skaters is NOTHING like watching a movie over and over again. it's not the same story or the same background etc...it's like watching your favorite actor in different movies over and over. the overall acting is the same, it's the character, story, background etc...that are different. new acting approaches enter in, as well ans their old, tried and true acting approaches. that's how actors that are establoshed get their parts. it's the same in skating. every year the skaters do their signature moves along with some new and different moves. like a new movie with the same old actor. what a strange comparison...

[ernibear140]

I wouldn't if I was her....it is a tough thing to do well and she does it perfectly so why change?

[CzarinaAnnie]

I like an element of surprise when I watch someone skate.
I know that every time I see Michelle skate, I am going to see that
spiral at the end of her programs. It feels like I'm seeing the same
program every year. There are also other things in her programs
that I know will always be there.So whenever I watch a comp with
someone, I know I can show them exactly what she is going to do. :(
Sorry if I offended anyone, this is how I feel, and just wanted to
express it. :?

[shine]

Well said, tamiqueen!

[Badams]

thank you shine! :D