Just a quick question as I didn't watch it this time, and Smudge's mum just fast forwarded to the skating bits missing out the talk, but were the Kerrs mentioned at all in the programme? After all, they came 5th in the Europeans last week.

Wouldn't it be good if they could do an appearance on the show to show how far ice dancing has come in the past 20 years.

I saw them briefly on BBC2. No idea as to the original question but just thought I'd mention that.

Dave

I missed that on BBC2, as guess what? It clashed with the Gala live on Eurosport, where the Kerr's were the first GB skaters performing since Steven Cousins back in the 1990s!

Pingman, could you describe what the BBC showed please, and did they have an interview with the Kerrs?

Apparantly they showed Ladies Free live on Interactive on Saturday, but who knew to watch? It wasn't blimmin' advertised anywhere?

To anser your question smudge's dad, no the Kerr's weren't mentioned. Nicky did try to talk about being in Warsaw all week for Europeans, but the numpty presenter on Defrosted had no clue what he was on about, and yes, it would be fab if they could skate an exhibtition routine on DOI.

Because IceDance has actually moved on since T&D in Britain, we have a top 5 Euros, and Top 10 World couple again.

BTW the Kerrs will be skating in a show in Sheffield soon.

http://www.artonice.co.uk/index1.htm
Last edited by La Rhumba : 29-01-2007 at 22:35

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai.../soskate27.xml

Ice Skating: Kerrs enjoy high-five finish
By Sandra Stevenson in Warsaw

I saw them in Budapest a couple of years ago, there were quite a few supporters from Murrayfield there as well. We thought of going to Warsaw his year to see the Europeans (Smudge's Mum was a reasonably high level figure skater, and I have a thing about tight lycra - on women), but will probably go to the worlds in Stockholm in 08.

It's a pity they aren't given a high profile on DOI, someone's missing a trick somewhere.

This is a clip of the Kerrs from Skate America last year. Its the same routine they performed at this years European Championships.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy4CRR0Jvok

In my opinion Ice Dancing has regressed in the last 20 years. They have to perform so many required elements now that it is more like Pair skating and the musical interpretation is suffering. If Torvill and Dean were skating today, their Mack & Mabel, Barnum and Bolero routines would have been very different. Having said that, they are such brilliant skaters that they would have adapted to the new system and still won.

Maybe they can't appear/be mentioned on DOI for the same reason Marika couldn't take part this year? This new rule someone mentioned about cometitors/judges not being allowed to have anything to do with these reality shows.

Don't see why the competitors/judges/whoever can't _talk_ about them on Defrosted or whatever though. Hate to say it but typical ITV. Fingers crossed British skating in general gets a higher profile on Extra/Exclusive when it's back on air!

Hehe, this won't be at all helpful but they had just started the routine, and were sort of whizzing around, and wearing sparky white costumes. Didn't watch it all, so no idea on interview?

Dave

Not 20 years, I am sorry. In the last 20 byears ther have been lots of fantastic performers and performances.
It all changed a few years ago when this stupid new scoring system was intorduced. It doesn't allow to be inventive and artistic.
Since it was introduced the performances has become really boring and repetitive. Many skaters have exprssed their concerns about it but nobody cares.

last year at the Olympics Evgeniy Plushcenko demostratively made his performance very boring and mechanical. he never smiled, he wasn't emotional which is very unusual for him. he wasn't himself... and he won. What he wanted to say: no need to be creative, all you need to do is just do all the elements and win; if this is what you want to see that's what you get. He could affor this little trick since there wasn't anybody around to compete with him
Unfortunately this didn't help to change the system

To anser your question smudge's dad, no the Kerr's weren't mentioned. Nicky did try to talk about being in Warsaw all week for Europeans, but the numpty presenter on Defrosted had no clue what he was on about, and yes, it would be fab if they could skate an exhibtition routine on DOI.

I mentioned this on a thread a couple of days ago (getting the presenter of Defrosted axed) and I agree completely - he has no idea about Skating and seems to have no interest in it either - please can he be replaced by someone who cares.

Incidentally the Kerrs weren't even shown on the condensed version of the Gala on Eurosport - all the other fifth place competitors were but not them - you would have thought that British Eurosport could have slotted them in especially as they showed the Polish guy who came 19th or whatever and was only performing because it was in Warsaw - typical

Well done to Sinead and John - look forward to the World championships now

sorry for answering for Pigman
The interview was mainly about thier new coach - Evgeni Platov. They both siad how amazing he is and how he doesn't try to change them and change the way they were taught to skate by their precious coach. He tries to use what is best in them. They also said that it's much better for them to work to 'share' a coach with 6 other couples because they feel more competetive and it makes them work harder.
And that was all I am afraid
Last edited by babysquirrel : 30-01-2007 at 17:00

*Ahem*

Dave

In am really sorry, Pingman ...........

I've just noticed

Apparantly the Kerr's were invited to be on the one-off BBC Strictly Come Ice Dancing in 2004, but ofcourse they are too busy competing and training [and now appearing in shows like Art on Ice] to take part, but I agree they should be invited to give a one off exhibtion on this series of DOI.

LOL! Smudge's dad, hmmmm? I shall have to ask Mel from Murrayfield who your famous wife was, I'm sure I would've heard of her, and boo hoo, that's the Worlds that was meant to be in London, but we lost the bid! Have a fab time though next year!! Please post on their forum when you get back from Stockholm! Cheers!

Indeed, I believe their 1984 routines were recently reassessed under CoP, the new Judging system, and they still would've won!!

Certainly the icedancers today have to be soooo much more athletic, especially the men, with all the required elements, the Freedance is no longer Free, as T&D had the freedom to express.

Agree ^. It also seems to me that, particularly in the mens' event, competitors aren't including so many "big" elements like quad salchows or quad combinations because the deduction, and the fact that an under-rotated jump is marked as the next jump down, makes the cost for failing to make it too great. More and more safe programmes in the singles events, and repetitive elements across all the disciplines. If I see one more dance lift where the girl is in a variant of the Biellmann position, I think I'm going to hurl.
Last edited by glitterbug : 30-01-2007 at 21:37

I believe you are allowed to perform an exhibition as a one off entertainment. Some eligible skaters like our own Jenna McCorkell and her fiance Kevin van Der Perrin and Karen Venhuizen skated exhibs on the Dutch DOI after the ISU rule was brought in. The rule is they can't be a Pro or a Judge for the whole series AFAIK, it is confusing though.


ITA!! We'd like to hear about Skating and Skaters and not just celebs!
Last edited by La Rhumba : 30-01-2007 at 21:41

LOL! We'll turn you into an avid fan yet!

That's their Freedance this season to Last of The Mohicans.

I know re Eurosport! Disgraceful!! We got short shrift this year, they didn't show our singles champions completely, not John Hamer's SP or Jenna's LP, thank Gawd for downloads!

Hopefully a top 10 finish for S&J, but mostly to skate clean throughout and cut out the silly errors.

Very fascinating! Thankyou so much, I'm so sorry I missed it, as I'd have loved to see that. For those who are new to Skating, their previous Coach was Joan Slater, Nicky's Mum.

Nice to hear that Platov isn't trying to change their quirky style which is what attracts alot of fans.

I hope you don't mind, I'd like to quote your post on their forum, as others will be interested who didn't see the interview.

Apparently Sky3 are showing highlights of the British on Feb 5th, at 7:00 (half hour prog)... bit after the event but...
Last edited by glitterbug : 30-01-2007 at 21:53

Hope this was okay babysquirrel.

http://absoluteskating.*********37.c...=12#1170194556

Thanks for the date, I haven't got Sky, but thankfully it'll be on the new NISA website to view after the Sky broadcast.

By next year they hope to have live streaming like last year of the British.

Kevin Van Der Perrin was fantastic at the Europeans wasn't he ? and how pleased he looked to have won bronze - I didn't know he was engaged to Jenna !