Thoughts on Cleveland COI

[PAskate]

I just got home less than an hour ago from the Cleveland COI. I plan to add more details later, but wanted to pass along some initial thoughts.

Like many of the previous stops on this year's tour, the crowd was small. I would say that the sides of the lower bowl were just 80% full, but the middle tier of seats and ends were only 20% . 8O I'm not sure if people weren't interested in attending or if the Easter and Passover holidays were major factors. On a positive note, they had pre-order forms out for next year in Cleveland; with an actual date no less of Thursday, April 15th!

While I enjoyed the show, I'm still left with the feeling that something was missing. I can't quite say what I missed, but there was no punch to tonight's performance.

I was struck by the speed and power certain skaters deliver with every performance. Say what you will about Victor and Artur being past their gold medal days, they can still achieve max. speed with just a few strokes. Something that the current group of skaters lack in general. You know, maybe there was something to the old days of figures and the refinement of basic skating skills. The one true exception to that being Fumie. She makes everything that she does look effortless and soft while there is such a power behind it. Thank you Tom Collins for signing her to the full tour! :D

Now off to catch some sleep with more notes to come later.

[valuvsmk]

It's certainly possible, given her age, that Fumie had to complete some figures tests in her earlier years.

I will be looking forward to your impressions of all the skaters when you post later.

[Alexeiskate]

Originally posted by valuvsmk
It's certainly possible, given her age, that Fumie had to complete some figures tests in her earlier years.


Plus Fumie's coach is Yuka Sato's father and former coach, and Yuka's is known for her edges and flow across the ice.

[PAskate]

No notes during the show, so this won’t cover full details. If anyone wants more info, please ask.

Opening number was the usual spotlight feature introducing all the skaters. One interesting highlight was seeing Totmianina and Marinin. She had a big smile on her face and was really selling during their spotlight. Maybe the issue with their programs and their lack of facial expression is that they haven’t had music that they really enjoyed skating to.

Fans that didn’t attend worlds were given a treat since multiple skaters used programs (or variations of them) from worlds. This included Elena Sokolova, Lang and Tchernyshev, Totmianina and Marinin, Bourne and Kraatz, Plushenko, and Fumie Suguri.

Nicole Bobek- Opened the program portion of the show skating to the ABBA medley that she used on the winter tour.

Punsalan & Swallow – Fun, flirty number that showcased the performance side of professional ice dancing. This was nice alternative to the other ice dance programs that would follow. While they will never be my favorite team of ice dancers, I enjoy this. They really show how 2 performers should interact on the ice together.

Elena Sokolova – Skated her free skate program from worlds.

Totmianina and Marinin – Also skated their free skate from worlds. He has a new top to the costume. The half black half pin striped jacket has been replaced by a pin striped vest. In my opinion, a good chance and more in keeping with The Cotton Club theme.

Ann-Patrice – Skated to Sugar, Sugar. Cute number that at times was really enjoyable. You can tell that she’s still learning the art of selling an exhibition-type program to the audience. I would really like to see this again at the end of the tour – I think that both it and she have potential.

Phillipe – Yes, the same number from the winter tour – Proud to be an American. Sorry, this is just not my “cup of tea” and I’ll leave it at that.

Michael Weiss- Angel In A Centerfold. OK, another case of not my “cup of tea”. Lack of speed was apparent in both his opening spotlight and this number. On a positive note, his speed looked good in the closing number. Gimmicks with props - jumping over a chair and pushing aside a school desk and skates – usual Freedom blades tricks, and clothes – the usual partial strip. Seemed like an attempt to mimic Phillipe with the props and stripping and Elvis with the music.

Fumie – Her exhibition number from worlds. Soft and light with such speed. I really loved watching it although I think that the general audience might not have appreciated the beauty of the basics done right.

Rudy – Prince medley that naturally allowed him to wear a purple costume to Purple Rain among other selections. Vintage Rudy number – he loves it so we do too.

Lang and Tchernyshev – Their free dance from worlds, but with the white costumes. I actually liked this number better in the spotlights than in competition.

Dan Hollander – The old man number; also the one that he performed on the winter tour. Cute audience appreciation number.
Intermission - included a drive-by on the ice of a Corvette with Tim and Sasha throwing stuffed cars (same ones that were given away at Worlds) in the audience. Unfortunately, this meant a second ice resurface. The price Tom Collins pays for having Chevy as a tour sponsor!

Irina Grigorian – the usual hula hoop number

Surya – Shadowlands number from the winter tour. I actually have to say that I think that her basic skating is improving. I noticed much better edges and flow into and out of her jumps along with better stroking.

Victor – Best program that I’ve seen from him in several years. Skated with meaning and emotion. And he still gets the speed!

Irina Slutskaya – I actually liked both the costume and the number although it seems to have left reviewers from previous stops cold. You can tell that her edge is off with the uphevels of this season, but it was great to see her. She definitely seemed to be enjoying being in front of an audience.

Tim – Arms Wide Open. This is a really good program from him. I actually saw more artistic presentation from him than in any other program. He just looked comfortable on the ice tonight. Maybe they should take a lesson from this and give him something more contemporary for one of next year’s programs.

Shae and Vic – Variations on their free dance from Worlds (exhibition version of their costumes as well.). While I really enjoyed this, I don’t know that the general public appreciated the difficulty in their program. They and especially Vic seemed to be having a great time all night!

Oksana and Artur – Unforgettable; also from the winter tour. Nice program that highlights their innovative lifts and positions. When you remember how scared she used to look when they first started skating, it’s amazing to see her joy and comfort on the ice now.

Elvis – Fast footwork and fun. He’s having a great time and he makes sure that you do also. Several power skating and hydroblading moves.

Sasha – Romeo and Juliet exhibition number from worlds. Just wish that there was more content in this program and I would love to see this turned into a competitive program for next year.

Plushenko – St Petersburg 3000 free skate from worlds. This time I saw it from the judges side rather than the other side at worlds. I actually really loved this program for the first time between the “right side” view and the spotlights, it was great.

Michelle – Fallin’ by Alicia Keys. I actually really liked this. It’s not your usual Michelle number – no drama or raw emotion just fun sultry and sexy. And I would have never thought that I would see Michelle in a costume with dangling bugle beads. It was cute – bronze and light brown.

Carnival closing number – also from winter tour.

[Josef]

Thanks for the review!

On a sidenote, it looks like Fumie was added to more shows than she originally was scheduled to do. I think she was originally only supposed to do the shows up to the Colombus stop, but she's been added to most of the Midwestern leg, as well. Here are the rest of the shows she'll be doing, according to her official site:

�œApril 24 Ames,IA Hilton Coliseum�@PM7:00 performance.
�œApril 25 Chicago,IL United Center�@PM7:30 performance.
�œApril 26 Peoria,IL Peoria civic Center�@PM2:00 performance.
�œApril 27 Milwaukee,WI Bradley Center�@PM3:00 performance.

Yeay for me, since I'll finally be able to see her skate live at the Milwaukee stop! :)