Musings on my neverending quest for sugar

What I've learned so far from live skating...

First thing: You really REALLY can't judge speed and flow on TV. You really can't. They have a jumbotron set up on the arena ceiling with a live feed, and sometimes I'll switch from watching the ice to watching the screen, and there's no contest.

Secondly, figure skating is such an audience-friendly sport, at least in Canada. Security didn't check my bag, even when I arrived at the arena straight from the airport with my rolling suitcase (long story) - my ticket was scanned and I was on my way. Many people went down to the barrier after performances and gave the skater(s) flowers and stuffed animals and received hugs in return. After the free dance victory ceremony, the skaters went around the barrier to sign autographs and take pictures, even after the zamboni came onto the ice to clean it for the ladies evening practice.

And most importantly, it's so, so, so much harder to NOT root for someone when you're watching them live. You can't help it. You see them as people, and then you forget that they're currently beating your favorite, you forget about the frustration that they've given you over the years, you forget about the negative articles (or FSU posts) that you've just read about them. You just want them to do well. You want them to be happy.

When Emanuel Sandhu came onto the ice, I was still in shock and much depressions for Jeff Buttle, but when he started skating, I forgot all about the negative comments in the media and in FSU. I didn't care that he bombed at the Olympics. He just grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go until it ended and I found myself standing up and cheering for him. He has an electric presence that I've only felt from Michelle Kwan, while suffering from what I call the "Brian Boitano" syndrome. (Boring on TV, but absolutely sublime live.) I hope he stays in, screw the naysayers! I want to see him skate live again. Yes, I'm selfish, but I wish he had more moments like this. He was so HAPPY. Denise, a huge Eman fan for a long time, was in tears.

I was also completely ecstatic with Brian Joubert. I still liked his skating, even when he attempted a style this year that just wasn't right for him. Lord of the Dance? What? Luckily, he figured this out before he arrived to Calgary, and I was treated to my favorite LP of his - Matrix! He fell a few times in warmup, once getting up and grimacing while shaking his arm, so I worried about that. (However, he provided me with my non-skating highlight of the men's LP - after he got off the warmup, his coach unzipped the back of his costume and Brian ripped it off, providing my section with a very nice glimpse of his muscular back. Heeee.) But when it was his turn to skate, did he bring it or what! After the disappointments that were last year's Worlds and the Olympics, I couldn't help but be elated.

Regarding Johnny Weir, I knew that he had had back problems and I worried for him too. He fell a few times in the warmup, which only increased my concern. I forgot about the fur coats (the poor fuzzies, Johnny, the poor fuzzies!), the extravagant spending, the diva personality - when he fell and struggled in getting up, all I could think was, "Oh no, oh no..." All I hoped for was that he would be okay, after he came off the ice and didn't lift his head even to see his scores. I didn't think about the person that the media made him out to be, I thought about the competitor in pain in front of me, and I wanted to give him a hug.

Speaking about hugs, poor Jeff. Oh, Jeff. I had never wanted to give anyone a hug more than when I saw him so dejected after his ending pose. On the jumbotron, he managed a weak JeffGrinTM for the audience, but all his eyes showed was complete devastation. My heart was in my throat when he singled the axel, and then it crashed through the basement when he singled the second one. At that point, I started getting very, very afraid every time he went up for a jump, but he fought through the rest of it.

But he'll be okay. The jumbotron doesn't show the skaters' faces when they show the scores, but I saw it on TV later. He looked at the numbers, shaking his head with disappointment, but the devastation was gone. Undoubtedly, there will be changes made this summer, and I can't wait to see them. I also can't wait for another chance to see him skate live again when it's a good week for him.

I've never been one to ask skaters for autographs or pictures. (Although, I couldn't help it when I found myself wandering into a group of autograph seekers around Angela Nikodinov, LOL.) Denise and Lois wandered over to talk with Emanuel, who was sitting in the audience after the free dance. Since they had met him before, they chattered with him while I sat nearby, shy as always, nodding every once in a while. He and I fiddled with the same chair seat. :P That was enough for me, LOL.

For me, it's just enough to see them, to see part of who they are and then to let them be. They're just people, like everyone else, but with a talent and drive that I will probably never know. It's one thing to hear about them in articles or in the media, and it's completely another thing to look them face to face.

In that vein, how tall is Shae-Lynn Bourne?!?! I walked right past her in the arena and she was taller than me! Even Brian Orser barely cleared my height!

posted by sugarfiend @ 10:58 AM