COI in Boston...

[Greg D]

Just came back from the show:

Philippe Candeloro had the only standing ovation. He skated on God Bless the USA....very emotional moment as he is French!!!!

It was incredible to see the silence when Sasha skated...she has the ability to hypnotise the crowd with her beautyful moves.

Michelle had no standing ovation for once...The choice of music may be the reason...it was good but not as catchy as usual....

Sokolova and Plushy skated their long program. She landed a 3-3 and he landed a 3axel with so much ease.

Surya landed 5 triples with a 3-3...she is as energetic as ever (no lutz though).

AP looked good, but she does not work the crowd too well, and definately looked like the rookie of the Tour..how come she was skating in Boston in place of Jenny Kirk???

Slutskaia did not look in great shape, but she was having a lot of fun skating on a funny popular Russian song.

The final group routine was incredible. The costumes were so colorful, I loved Kwan's green outfit.

[mskater13]

I think Jenny Kirk is injured right now. She didn't do the Ice Chips show either, they sent Chengjiang Li to do it instead, I'm pretty sure because Jenny is injured, not sure though.

[DancerFan]

I would imagine since AP is now a CMM client, and is in direct competition with Jenny, that AP would get the tour dates *instead of* Jenny who is IMG, but I don't know that for a fact. (Does anyone know if she's doing the whole tour?) I would assume the same goes for B/A not getting tour dates because of L/T.

Many of the skaters on the tour are now CMM clients like AP, Fumie, Irina, Sasha, Timmy, Plushy, Totmianina/Marinin, L/T and P/S; similar to the fact that most IMG clients do SOI.

I thought the highlights of the show were Philippe, Sasha, B/K, and Michelle; and was pleased to see the entire lower bowl of the Fleet Center full, as well as most of the upper bowl! Random quick thoughts:

AP needs to get an on-ice personality, and both she and Sokalova looked a bit out of place among such seasoned performers.

Fumie has incredible speed, lightness, and ice coverage.

Was very impressed that both B/K and L/T did their whole freedances and demonstrated great footwork! The audience didn't appreciate how difficult these two dances are, but oh well. Shae is in INCREDIBLE shape, and she and Michelle get the "awesome abs" award!

Was equally unimpressed with P/S's number - zzzzzzzzzz.

I didn't feel manipulated or pandered to by Philippe as many previous reviews had stated. He skated with conviction, landing all his triples, and without taking his clothes off - what a pleasant surprise! The audience went nuts for the program!

Love how Surya continues to show off her easily landed 3/3! Her jumps still have incredible spring and she seems to be enjoying this program completely.

Sasha was absolutely mesmerizing! LOVE the Romeo/Juliet routine and she was breath-taking. Loudest crowd response among the women. Too bad she didn't deliver like this at either Nationals or Worlds.

K/D did a great program to "Unforgettable" - even with his expanded waistline, they are still amazing and know how to sell a performance!

T/M, OTOH, can't seem to sell, and their program seemed to go on.. and on.. and on.

Viktor looked great getting away from the gimmicky stuff he's done of late - enjoyed his program complete with 2 easy triple toes and 2 double axels.

Timmy was Timmy and Elvis was Elvis - I don't see any improvement in either of their styles or positions, and all Tim's jump landings continue to be shaky.

OTOH, Mike Weiss was great, liked the program and his jumps were all high and secure, but I think the audience is sick of listening to/reading his comments about himself, and so the crowd reaction wasn't as loud as the skating deserved IMO.

Irina did look out of shape and her outfit didn't help, but she seemed as happy and joyful as ever and is therefore so enjoyable to watch.

Michelle was awesome, and even if it's not FoG which I personally LOVE, she did look great doing this number.

Well worth attending this show, even if some performances were disappointing.

[traz66]

Phillippe's program was just a gimmick. I felt like I was surrounded by a crowd of people who had been fooled. They were standing for the music, not for the skating! It was complete manipulation of the American crowd at a time of war. There were plenty of other skaters with better skates that did not get the same reaction. IMO, Michelle, Sasha, Kazakova and Dmitriev, Bourne and Kraatz and even Michael Weiss had much better routines.

[snoopysnake]

This information was posted on the Ice Chips web site shortly before the event.

[snoopysnake]

Michelle did get a substantial number of standees after her number. And the screaming for her in the intro and her featured number were probably greater than that for all other skaters combined. 20 years from now people will talk about her like the veteran skating fans today talk about Janet Lynn.

There's a lot of controversy about Candeloro's God Bless the USA number. I've seen a lot of Candeloro numbers, and was close enough to really watch his expressions in this one. I do think he was sincere. If he was really selling out, he'd have done so flat-out with all the Chippendales stuff (which I confess enjoying, though Philippe is far from my first choice if I want to see a male skater do such things!)

Thank goodness Plushy's skating a real program. The Worlds exhibition (which I saw in person :D :D :D :D ) was adorable but not worthy of what Plushenko can do.....I remember him stopping in front of my seat at his first Boston COI when he was 15 and I thought, what a wonderful time it is going to be watching this boy's career, and he's right here in front of me now....he has fulfilled all my expectations and then some.

Nicole...well, always out there trying, but not hard enough. If she had ever had a work ethic, and not been a smoker...still always fun to see.

P&S - loved their costuming and program...they are sort of cursed always being early in the show and don't have the crowd energy they deserve. Jerod looked especially dashing in the closing ensemble.

Rudy - he steals my heart every time. The Prince medley should become another signature piece for him a la YMCA.

Elena - wish she'd done her SP instead of her LP, or better yet, a pop number. She had so much more verve at Worlds. Dullest number in the show.

Fumie - lovely, sweet. Not her best technially, but a delight to have the rare chance to see her in a show.

Tot & Max - This music has really grown on me, and that's the only reason I looked forward to this number. They have no charisma at all.

Dan - king of the convertible costume, and there's nothing wrong if he never does otherwise. A delightful entertainer, and I hope will still be in COI when he really IS 70! (Of course I'll be about 90 by then!)

Ann Patrice - Sugar Sugar was a cute number for her, being so young, but I think she'd be better served with a classical exhibition. Not every skater has to be little miss perky smile. You wait, she'll be in the last half of the second act of COI by the end of the decade.

Victor - should have been in 2nd half of show, swapped with the acrobats or Surya. First COI number in ages that was "flirtless" - I've about given up hope of being a recipient of his flirting! He does need to watch his waistline, maybe hire Michael Weiss for a personal trainer. But he is still the most gorgeous guy in the show, in my eyes! ;) ;) ;) and still is wonderful to watch.

Mike - cute number, great tornado! I don't blame him for showing off those abs, and I never really appreciated him for that! Thanks, Mike! You deserve a chance to let off some steam after a good try at a pressure-filled Worlds. However, those pants were just plain tasteless. Next year, Mike needs to do a very skillful program to serious music to avoid typecasting.

Naomi and Peter - similar lack of crowd energy, they deserved better. Somehow this program seemed more intense with competition lighting. Tanith and Ben would have stopped the show. I'd like to have had both.

Always fun to see Irina G. and the acrobats, who deserve for me to learn their names so I can type them!

Irina S.- hope her mother is doing better. Irina's got kind of a Sarah Hughes 2001 thing going with her hair. Her pants were unflattering but her number was very enjoyable. Elena should have done something like this. Nice to get to see Irina after she missed Worlds.

Elvis - got the job done as usual. Fast fast fast and oozes warmth. I would like to see him do a "power classical" program for a change of pace, something like Plushenko's here.

By the way, wouldn't Evgeny make a great Rod Stewart? And just for Boston shows only, Larry Bird!

Tim - he doesn't look lost any more; I used to think he always looked ready to cry out there. He knows where he is headed now, and I can't wait to see him when he arrives there! Arms Wide Open was a great program for him. He's found the power to perform. I recommend a religious-themed exhibition number for him one day, like an Elvis Presley gospel.

Speaking of USA guys, let's get Ryan Jahnke in this show too! Oh my, would that be wonderful!

Surya - Shadowland is a perfect choice for her. I felt she had the crowd much more than a lot of the other skaters.

Sasha - way better performance of A Time For Us than at Worlds' exhibition. She is so beautiful, check out her Citizen watch ad in May issue of Glamour! She has the magic Oksana Baiul once had. I hope Sasha shares hers with us for a long and healthy career.

Shae and Vic - nothing could ever top seeing them win Worlds in person! But they were fabulous here.

Oksana K. and Artur - UNFORGETTABLE!!!! This number made a nice, pleasant song into a work of joyful art. This number defines PROFESSIONAL!

Michelle - as I once read about Janet Lynn, Michelle skates from the blade up. Truly in a class by herself. SHE herself is art!

I want that finale on tape, DVD, Powerpoint, anything! Too much to just be able to see once! This outdid the COI Bolero finale (2000, I think it was.)

Prices go up and up but so does my love of COI. I'll be back next year!

[Dilng]

I think the only thing Michelle has in common with Janet Lynn is that she probably won't ever win an Olympic gold medal either. Kwan's skating is boring!!

[bluerose]

LOL Dilng.
I would have to agree with you about Michelle Kwan.:lol:

[Pupiczech]

I agree for the most part, but the program in COI was a tad bit better.

[Tapper]

I think the only thing Michelle has in common with Janet Lynn is that she probably won't ever win an Olympic gold medal either. Kwan's skating is boring!!
- Dilng

It's all a matter of opinion and taste. What some find boring others find fascinating.