best spirals ... in men?

[Artemis]

Sprials seem to be emphasized for women, but often ignored by men these days. So who are the guys who buck the trend and do a great spiral?

The best I've seen is Shawn Sawyer (Candian jr skater). Amazing. Emmanuel Sandhu comes a close second.

There are also some pairs where the men's spiral is better than their partners'. Lenny Faustino and Craig Buntin are two that I can think of.

I'm sure there are other, non-Canadian, examples, but I can't think of them right now. Anyone?

[Meredith]

Damon Allen, USA, immediately comes to mind.

He has not competed since 2000, I don't believe, but his spirals were / are wonderful.

[TheIceKing]

Rohene Ward

[Aaron W]

Rohene Ward has some very nice spirals: some of the best extension in not only the men's field, but also the ladies field as well.

Ryan Bradley is capable of attaining a good position in spirals, but I don't think his programs highlight this enough. What's nice about his spirals is that he lifts the leg from directly behind instead of lifting it slightly off to the side which helps in attaining a higher leg position. Even though he lifts directly from behind, he's still able to get the leg up well above his hip. Reasonably solid skating foot during the spirals as well.

[Oracle]

I tho't...Mark Mitchell, a US skater in the early 90's. He placed 5th at the '92 World Championship. He had a spectacular spiral.

[Blade1]

oooh I remember Mark Michell, what a cutie he was .. I do recall as well he had a lovely spiral.

I also agree Canadian Shawn Sawyer does have some amazing spirals and spins as well. But he too is also very very flexiable as well.
He amazed me at Nationals last year ..... he's definitly one to watch out for in the near future.

[Trillian]

Originally posted by Blade1
oooh I remember Mark Michell, what a cutie he was

Still is. One of the perks of attending lots of local competitions in New England. :)

Those who are attending nationals can keep an eye out for him, since several students of his (and Peter Johansson's--also a very good-looking guy) qualified. Scott Smith in senior men is now being coached by him, Erica Archambault in junior ladies, Jason Wong in junior men, and Jessica Houston in novice ladies.

As for the original topic, the one who came to my mind was Rohene Ward. I've never seen Shawn Sawyer skate, but the more I hear about him, the more curious I am.

[Skatingsarah]

Okay People No Competition SHAWN SAWYER all the way!
-Sarah

[rack]

I love men's spirals- I wish more men did them.

Paul Wylie had a good one.

[Kruss]

I was just about to mention Paul - he was definitely known for his spirals. I especially remember his back spirals that began his JFK program.

Looking back to an eligible-competitive Kurt Browning, he had gorgeous spirals. I wish he did more of them - he sometimes puts a spiral in, but it's not nearly as long or flowing as it once was.

[Alexeiskate]

Originally posted by Trillian
I've never seen Shawn Sawyer skate, but the more I hear about him, the more curious I am.

If you go onto Shawn Sawyer's officical web site, there's a picture of him doing a forward spiral. I think his free leg is as high as Sasha's.

[Toepoint]

I remember Paul Wiley's forward spiral into the triple flip as being simply beauiful.:lol: :lol: :lol:

[meli]

Toepoint--and a great indicator too. If you saw Paul have trouble with that maneuver then you could bet he was going to have problems with his program.

I don't think spirals are emphasized in men as much as camel spins are. It's much more important in men's skating to have a nice camel position than it is for women. JMO.

[Amy L]

Anton Sikharulidze has nice spirals. His back spiral is especially pretty.

I also agree that Rohene Ward has great spirals. He also has a pretty good layback.

[Tigger]

You haven't seen Kurt's Solitaire from last year's SOI then Kruss, because he does a gorgeous, long and lovely back spiral in it. As well as a nice forward one.

Elvis had a nice one when he did it. Sadly, that wasn't too often. He really did have a nice line w/it and I've always thought it a real shame he didn't use it more often during his programs.

Mark Mitchell also had an amazing spiral. I always enjoyed his skating and miss watching him.

[purplecat]

A couple more men with good spirals...Gwendal Peizerat and Rudy Galindo.

[Suzanne]

alexeiskate -- thanks for mentioning the photo on Shawn's site. WOW, that's a HUGE spiral!!!!!!!

[jcspkbfan]

Kurt told Shawn Sawyer back in 1997 that he had "the best spiral in Canada" when Shawn was featured in Toller Cranston's farewell show (looking much younger than he does now!) I can't really argue with Kurt on that one, but I agree Kurt can do some pretty impressive spirals of his own! Kurt's new version of Bring Him Home and the O Little Town Of Bethlehem number he performed at Holiday Festival On Ice last year also contained some very nice spirals, if I remember correctly.

[Kruss]

Originally posted by Tigger
You haven't seen Kurt's Solitaire from last year's SOI then Kruss, because he does a gorgeous, long and lovely back spiral in it. As well as a nice forward one.

You are correct - I didn't see any of SOI last year, so I missed it. Nice to know he brought it back! I used to think he had a lousy spiral (because of the short jerky one in Antares, one of my fave programs by the way), and then I saw a lot of his eligible competitions and was blown away by how wonderful they really are.

[Impromptu]

I agree that Rohene Ward has great spirals.... Emma Abraham just recently posted her Mids photos, you can see for yourself:

Spirals:
http://www.skatingfans.com/2003Mids/seniormen/rohene_3067.JPG

http://www.skatingfans.com/2003Mids/seniormen/rohene_3595.JPG

http://www.skatingfans.com/2003Mids/seniormen/rohene_3069.JPG

layback:
http://www.skatingfans.com/2003Mids/seniormen/rohene_3586.jpg

Here's Emma's main page for the Mids guys:
http://www.skatingfans.com/2003Mids/seniormen/index.html

[Koala]

WOW! Thanks for posting the links :)

[spiralsrfun]

ITA about those already mentioned.
Let's not forget about Rudy Galindo as well. ;)

[leap of faith]

I personally think Shawn Sawyer's spiral is the best in Canada - male or female.

Patrice Archetto's extension is higher than Anabelle's I believe. During their gala his leg was higher and she was holding hers with her hand.

[Orable]

I agree with at least the one's I've seen :)

Paul Wylie's spirals were gorgeous

Rudy G got sooo much extension

Anton S has great extension and the best posture ever

I haven't seen the others :( but judging from the pix, Rohene has a great one too!

I can't imagine Elvis having a spiral 8O what program was that in?

As for the hand held spirals...I liked Plush's and loved Urmanov's (hehe, let's see if I can mention Urmanov in every post I make..betcha I can! :D)

Cheers, Orable

[Lili]

My vote goes to Shawn!

http://www.scratchspin.com/2002/stneast02/sawyer1.html :) Scroll all the way down to the bottom!

[RoaringSkates]

Rudy Galindo does a great spiral. It really shows off his flexibility. He also does a Charlotte.

Emmanuel Sandhu is the only eligible men's singles skater that I can think of right now with a nice spiral. Hongbo Zhao (sp) also has a nice spiral, which is occasionally shown in his pairs programs with Xue Shen.

[melanieuk]

We have a Junior British man who does a lovely forward "biellman" spiral and a back charlotte one.

[bunghodog]

I think after seeing Ilia klimkin at nhk, he has a very nice spiral.

[Tapper]

Yes! Klimkin's spiral is beautiful. He is very interesting - definitely makes me want to see more.

[SShaste]

Originally posted by Orable
I agree with at least the one's I've seen :)

Paul Wylie's spirals were gorgeous

Rudy G got sooo much extension

Anton S has great extension and the best posture ever

I haven't seen the others :( but judging from the pix, Rohene has a great one too!

I can't imagine Elvis having a spiral 8O what program was that in?

As for the hand held spirals...I liked Plush's and loved Urmanov's (hehe, let's see if I can mention Urmanov in every post I make..betcha I can! :D)

Cheers, Orable

Orable,

If I'm not mistaken Elvis had a spiral in his 1995 Long Program (1492: Conquest of Paradise). If it's the one I'm thinking of it was beautiful. Some one please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. :)

Shawna

[Orable]

can anyone give me a link to a pic of that program (I'm just not remembering it for some reason, and I lurves Elvis!) or better yet, does anyone have this program on a video clip and would be so kind as to put it online? Thanks

Cheers, Orable

[SShaste]

If I find a pic I'll be sure to come back and post the link. I'm not sure if there are any out there at least of that part of the program. Plus I could be totally wrong on what a spiral is, lol. I don't know one jump from the other I'm just going on what others have said. Anyway I'll be sure to come back and post if I locate one.

[lBrokenAnkle]

http://www3.sympatico.ca/luckiest1/Images/Mittan/9608923.jpg

This is from the Elvis Stojko Through the Years website, it has fantastic pictures, I think all are by Barry Mittan? It's from the 1492 Program in 1995 when he won worlds with the torn ligament in his ankle. He also did this program at worlds in 1996.

I think Elvis also did a spiral in the Elton John song for Princess Diana that he skated to in his tour in 1997 or was it 1998? And in the Caruso program from that tour as well. I think.

Laura

[Blade1]

Originally posted by lBrokenAnkle
http://www3.sympatico.ca/luckiest1/Images/Mittan/9608923.jpg
I think Elvis also did a spiral in the Elton John song for Princess Diana that he skated to in his tour in 1997 or was it 1998? And in the Caruso program from that tour as well. I think.

Laura he skated the Elton John song on his tour back in 1997. Just wanted to clairfy that :)

[Artemis]

I wish they hadn't stopped airing the Elvis tours on TV. He did some of his most "artistic" stuff in those shows. But when it came to the gala at Canadians, he did either his Elvis (Presley!) medley or "You Really Got Me" again, and again, and again ... :roll: http://www.veggie.info/YaBBImages/smilies/smiley_sports_iceskate.gif

I recently re-watched my tape of his Caruso program and his "Sweet Little Bells" from his first couple of tours -- amazing stuff. If more Elvis-critics saw those programs they would have been so quick to tar him with the brush of being "unartistic." http://www.veggie.info/YaBBImages/smilies/smiley_xmas_reindeer2.gif

[SShaste]

Originally posted by lBrokenAnkle
http://www3.sympatico.ca/luckiest1/Images/Mittan/9608923.jpg

This is from the Elvis Stojko Through the Years website, it has fantastic pictures, I think all are by Barry Mittan? It's from the 1492 Program in 1995 when he won worlds with the torn ligament in his ankle. He also did this program at worlds in 1996.

I think Elvis also did a spiral in the Elton John song for Princess Diana that he skated to in his tour in 1997 or was it 1998? And in the Caruso program from that tour as well. I think.

Laura

Yep I was watching the Elton John song the other day and he did do a few spirals in there. I think he also did one in Love Is On The Way by Saigon Kick in the 1996 Tour (although I may have gotten that one mixed up I watched a lot of his exibitions the other day when I was making a compilation tape)

[Blade1]

Originally posted by Artemis
I recently re-watched my tape of his Caruso program and his "Sweet Little Bells" from his first couple of tours -- amazing stuff. If more Elvis-critics saw those programs they would have been so quick to tar him with the brush of being "unartistic." http://www.veggie.info/YaBBImages/smilies/smiley_xmas_reindeer2.gif [/B]

"Sweet Little Bells" is that the song that Elvis Stojko's Dad sang and he performed it with the black pants and white shirt? I think it was for "Dreams On Ice" a few years back. Just want to claify if that is indeed the same song I'm thinking about.

[Koala]

Seen Shawn skate for the first time at HFOI and that spiral is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

not to mention his back flips either ;)

[calypso56]

For anyone who has never seen Shawn Sawyer, you will have a chance if you watch Holiday Festival on Ice when it is shown in your area. In Shawn's second number he did his great spiral, as well as the splits. Let's hope this doesn't get chacked.

[SShaste]

Originally posted by Blade1
"Sweet Little Bells" is that the song that Elvis Stojko's Dad sang and he performed it with the black pants and white shirt? I think it was for "Dreams On Ice" a few years back. Just want to claify if that is indeed the same song I'm thinking about.

Yep that's the one that his dad sang and he did it at Dreams on Ice as well as at Rekindle the Flame.