Weiss Article - Laurel Leader

[adrianchew]

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=810&NewsID=409378&CategoryID=5846&show=localnews&om=7

[jss]

in 1997 became the first male to land a four-rotation jump.

Um I don't think so!

[Mel On Ice]

oh boy... there's plenty of ammo for anti-Weiss posters in that article.

[Artemis]

That "first to land 4-revolution jump" is, I'm guessing, in relation to the trampoline. I know there were previous Mikey sites that gave him false (skating) quad credits, but this doesn't seem to be one of them.

[Ellyn]

Originally posted by Artemis
That "first to land 4-revolution jump" is, I'm guessing, in relation to the trampoline. I know there were previous Mikey sites that gave him false (skating) quad credits, but this doesn't seem to be one of them.

I don't think so. The little facts listed at the end of the article say that he was the first U.S. male skater to do a four-revolution jump. By specifying skater, I think they're implying that it was on the ice.

At least they added the "U.S." qualification in that fact list, compared to just saying "first male" in the article. (I suspect that Weiss says something like "when I landed the first quad" and the reporters don't always add the qualifications that he understands to be implied.) But it would be better if they would be accurate enough to specify what they mean by "landed" (how cleanly -- does slightly flawed still count?) and in what context (in competition? at what level? officially ratified?). Then we would know whether Weiss himself and/or the reporters are taking credit for being first to do something that had already been done, or if they have a case.

There were reports from the summer of 1996, or maybe the next year, that Weiss (and Goebel?, just starting out in senior competition) had landed quads at a club competition or two. If he did land a clean quad in such a context, then he might legitimately be able to claim to be the first American to land a clean quad in competition. But the one at 1997 Nationals, if that's what he has in mind, was not quite clean enough. Boitano's attempt at 1987 and/or 88 Worlds was probably close enough to get credit for an earlier "almost-clean" quad by an American. I'm not sure how many times Robert Wagenhoffer attempted them in the early 80s or how clean any of those attempts were, but they might preempt Boitano's attempts as well.

And if we're not specifying "in competition" -- well, presumably all these guys who actually attempted them in competition (Chack and his quad salchow as well) had landed some cleanly in practice, along with skaters such as Bowman, maybe Eldredge and Davis, who were said to be practicing them in the early 90s but not trying in competition. And Ronnie Robertson was reportedly landing quad loops (still hasn't been done successfully by anyone in competition) as a pro 30 years ago, so if any of those were clean, in practice or in shows, maybe he deserves the credit for first U.S. male to "land a quad."

[Artemis]

Ok, I re-read the article, and I think you're right -- it does seem to be saying he was the first skater with a quad. And in the first reference, doesn't even say "US skater."

BTW, I'm by no means an "anti-Weiss" poster, but there do seem to be more false claims by/about him than any other skater.

[Mazurka Girl]

As someone who has read the skating articles from this local newspaper in the past, I can say they regularly have a lot of unresearched inaccuracies like this. Not only about this skater, but plenty of other skaters as well, because they cover quite a bit of skating at that rink.

[Alexeiskate]

Weiss drives 35 to 40 minutes each way from his home in Virginia to train at The Gardens, where he is on the ice 90 minutes a day. Weiss, one of the most recognizable male skaters in the world, said there is not too much distraction from onlookers.

I hope Weiss isn't mildly complaining about the "distraction of onlookers", because he advertised the day and time of his practice sessions and practically invite spectators to come and watch. His family and friends also come to his practices and loudly cheer for him. That has got to be more of a distraction than just some stranger pressing her face against the plexiglass watching.

[QB]

This quad claim grows tiresome but it is not made by the reporter who clearly identifies his source of misinformation as MichaelWeiss.org......as always.

[nigella]

Originally posted by Artemis
I know there were previous Mikey sites that gave him false (skating) quad credits, but this doesn't seem to be one of them.



There have been only two Mikey Sites - one by a fan (that has been dormant the last few years) and his "Official" site (run by his wife) that seems to be a hot bed of misinformation as regard to his quad credits.:(

[AxelAnnie22]

Why would a person put incorrect information (especially info that is so easily verifiable) on your official site? That is too silly.

[Scott]

Axelannie, the answer to your question is EGO. Unfortunate but true.