We want your Q&A questions! In our next episode, we'll be answering your listener queries about anything and everything figure skating. Ask us about yours-and our-favorite skaters, programs, eras. What events or stories did we miss that you'd like us to comment on? What curiosities do you have about the show and its hosts? Drop your question(s) in the comments below!
I love how positive and respectful you guys are to every skater, even in criticism, and how you bring attention to international, lesser known skaters beyond the podium. This podcast is a joy to listen to, thank you so much 🥰 Totally agree that Hana Yoshida deserves the newcomer award, her smile and cheer at every competition is infectious. I think her Shakuhachi FS has been a bit overlooked by commentators this season, it has a lot more culturally relevant imagery from an Asian perspective. Hana’s portraying a crane common in Chinese/Japanese ink wash paintings, monochrome except for the crane’s red crown, her single red glove. The step sequence with just the sound of wings and her blades against the ice, perfect imagery of a crane taking flight from the water's surface **chef's kiss** *Some fun Q&A questions:* If skaters swapped programs with each other (e.g. Shibs To Build a Home + Gabby/Guillaume Fix You) what would you want to see? Includes costumes and choreography. Can be genuinely workable and/or maximum chaos combos ❤ If singles skaters formed into pairs and ice dance teams, disregarding nationality, who would you want to see together? Thoughts on over the boots tights? I have no idea how it’s supposed to invoke “clean lines”, it just invokes “chunky ankle” to me. Since I'm trying to manifest their comeback into existence, do you guys have a favourite Gabby and Guillaume program? Mine are their Fame RD and Find Me FD. I saw another comment about you guys making an educational Ice Dance series, I think it's a fantastic idea. Would watch for sure!
These are great questions, thank you! (And we definitely have some feelings about tights-over-boots...) We didn't know the cultural imagery in Hana's free skate, that's so cool! We need to revisit it with that context in mind.
The Art on Ice event seems like such a weird place to present ISU awards at. It seems like a cool event, it just seems more appropriate to give them out at the Worlds gala or something like that. I am really happy that Hana Yoshida got Newcomer of the Year! I've loved her this season. For the Q&A: Do you guys have any notable favorite/least favorite skating costumes? This season or otherwise.
The fact that ISU came totally unprepared for all possible scenarios for Valieva case speaks volumes. They also can't read or math lol I feel for Canadian skaters. Skate Canada has been the very quiet cricket for 2 years and now they want a medal?
Art on Ice is not patterned after the “the stars on ice” event. It is European style which is more sensual and the musical artist are as important as the skaters. We Americans tend to be more puritan. These types of events are big in the European countries without the ISU Awards included. These events are a combination of current musical stars, skating and even cirque de soleil type acts. The ISU awards alone were a failure so it was added to Art on Ice.
Do you think that Kevin Amoz will return to skating next season or will he have to retire before the 2026 Olympics? Also, I would love to see Chock and Bates and Jason Brown go to 2026 Olympics. However, how likely do you see both of these things happening? If Jason makes the 2026 Olympics, he should be put in the team event.
Russia can't show up at the medal ceremony anyway, right? The gold and silver medals should be given to the USA and Japan soon. Then, the bronze can be fought over later. Enough of this already!
USA and Japan should get their medals at Worlds. But, considering that'll be in Canada, it could feel like a slap in the face to the host country for their skaters to not be honored there, too... The amount of politics tied up in all this is not good for anyone's patience or sanity!
I actually don't agree about Ilia drawing in fans outside of skating. He doesn't come close to having the largest social following. The general public has no idea what a quad axel is or that he's done it. Think about moments that have gone viral with the actual public outside of skating. Tessa and Scott's moulin rouge, Star's whip my hair routine. They want to see something that's unique or personal or artistically moving. For future content it would be interesting to hear about your all-time favorite skaters and moments in skating history.
Totally understand that viewpoint. Tessa and Scott's Olympic free skate was arguably the most viral performance of recent memory. It was certainly exciting to see a lot of non-skating fans watch it, have their minds blown, and then ask "wait, ice dance/figure skating is this awesome?". The question is whether it actually drew in new enthusiasts-that's hard to quantify. The frustrating thing about Ilia and the quad axel is that, when something like that happens in other major sports, it's a huge news story. But, at least here in the states, figure skating just doesn't hold the public attention (unless it's the Olympics). Not that one nigh-impossible jump is the most important thing in the sport, but it would be nice if a story like that hit the zeitgeist in a real way. Our non-skating-fan friends don't know who Ilia is or what a quad axel is. But they're hard pressed to remember Nathan Chen's name, either. (One of them does follow Amber Glenn on TikTok, though...) A couple of weeks ago, I (Adron) was at the dentist, and mentioned our podcast. The hygienist made a thinking face and said, "figure skating... like Nancy...Yamaguchi?" She knew that wasn't right, but she could only recall skaters from the 90s. And she was only 35! That's the reality this sport is fighting against.
@@scoreography I'm there with you, I think it's truly a shame that the current athletes and artists are just unknown by the public. What Ilia has done many thought impossible. It really should have been everywhere online and in the news. It's wild that the sport was such a major part of our culture in the US and now it's just dead outside of the devoted fans. I'm 31 and I don't know a single person outside of the Internet that follows figure skating. I've been telling everyone who will listen about Amber and I'm trying to force my friends to come to Boston worlds lolll I agree that the viral moments haven't changed the tide. I wish we could figure out exactly what needs to change with skating to be more modern but what do we also need to bring back from the golden days. Certainly what's happening right now isn't working and it's terrible because the athletes devote their lives to skating.
@@LoLovesLife Totally agree. We have plans for an off-season episode or video to address what the sport needs to do to reignite interest in the US. But we've got a lot of research, brainstorming, and interviews ahead of us to make that one a reality.
I think the ISU should award the bronze medal to Canada and the ROC. They could issue another nonsensical statement about how there was no figure skating precedent for this situation, and out of fairness to all skaters, two bronze medals will be given. Then, hold an elaborate ceremony for USA, Japan, and Canada at Montreal Worlds, and mail the ROC their medals...Oh, sorry, you're not invited, but you know you're banned....
That sounds like a pretty workable solution, honestly! And there is a bit of precedence for that, if you consider the Salé & Pelletier / Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze shared medal decision from Salt Lake City 2002.
Could you dedicate some space to Adron's rating sistem for costume from now on? In every single episode please 🙏!!! It would be super interesting and funny.
Love your podcast! Wasn't sure if you were aware, but the inaugural ISU Awards were going to be held at 2020 Worlds in Montreal. I had tickets for Worlds but was going to fly out before the exhibition, and I remember wondering if I should change my plans so I could be there for the "red carpet" event as it was billed. I wish they would have had the awards at the exhibition in Montreal this year! I'm staying for the exhibition this time. 😀
Did not know that! It would make so much more sense at the World's gala (or heck, even the banquet). Extremely envious that you'll get to be at Montreal!
A note about sound quality: we're always trying to give you a better listening experience. We've invested in some new audio equipment to upgrade our sound, but we're still getting the hang of it. Let us know if you had any issues with the audio quality in this episode!
