The most electrifying performance of yesterday evening was arguably delivered by 25 year old Shawn Sawyer. After enticing us for years with his exciting stretchy skating, he really put it together last night. He gave us the performance of his life and won the Silver at the 2011 Canadian Nationals. 151.45 for his free skate. Wow!
Note that Josee Chouinard just learned the word cantilever. We forgive her because English is not her native tongue. She may not have remembered the occasions when Uncle Dick taught the name of this classical show skating movement.
Much better music, choreo and interpretation than Chan. Chan fairly won on TES, but if his performance truly merited 9s and 10s in choreo and interp, then this one should have got bonus points.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm sorry, watching this wonderful performance with such appalling commentary is just not possible. I would love to see a commentary free version... can anyone make that happen? I'd wait for the Eurosport commentary at Worlds, but who knows what kind of performance Shawn will give there.
ReplyDeleteI am sitting here, screaming YES, YES, YESSSSSSSSSS!!!
ReplyDeleteLove!!! <3
ReplyDeleteThis was AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteQuestion though, now that the half loop counts as a 1Lo in combination (so Shawn did 3F+1Lo+3S), and then he did a 2A-2T-2Lo, so will he be knocked for that?
I know Shawn has had skating issues but I just don’t get why federations would encourage talent like this to retire. It’s nothing like knowing that you have the full support of your own federation.
ReplyDelete@1:29--Canada doesn't need his talent. They have Patrick Chan. He won the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Olympics with his performance at this competition. Don't take my word for it, go read the forums.
ReplyDelete@ 1:31
ReplyDeleteYes, the forums are the bastion of truth *rolls eyes* Did you post that opinion on the forums yourself?
And no way would Chan have beaten Yagudin at 2002. Yagudin, for one, didn't double his 3A in the short. And I'd take Winter over Take Five anyday.
Shawn did 3F-1L-3L, so it is a sequence.
ReplyDeleteI think (I hope)@1:31 was being sarcastic.
ReplyDeleteI think countries should want more than one talent.
@ 1:59--Uh...you missed the sarcasm. I find that sort of hyperbole completely ridiculous.
ReplyDelete@2:50--Thank you! I was being sarcastic. Very sarcastic. Unfortunately, out there on the rest of the internets the insane Chan fans are not.
ReplyDeletei fear that the canadian federation didn't support shawn because he doesn't skate with the stiffness of an in-the-closet skater. really happy for shawn!!
ReplyDeleteI know Skate Canada has a reputation for promoting the "next great straight boy" (kinda like USFSA), but I imagine they'd have given Shawn more support if he'd been landing 3Axels more recently than last weekend. He's been a mighty headcase over the years-- a super talented and entertaining one-- and I think he's had the federation's support in the past. I can't entirely blame them for giving up, when it seems to have worked for Shawn. I hope they give up on Elladj Balde next. :P
ReplyDeleteI just about gave him a standing ovation in my living room. What a fantastic performance! Sooo much more emotional than Chan's.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Skate Canada supported Shawn at all. He totally did enough to make the Vancouver Olympics last year but his PCS was low balled for Chipeur and Reynolds of all people. Such insult.
ReplyDeleteGlad he is so far ahead this year that there's no way to deny him.
I agree with the last comment. I have been following canadian skating for years and it was always someone else that was pushed as the `next big thing` by Skate Canada before Shawn Sawyer, only to fade out in a year or two. It was alos very evident last year. Yet Sawyer never gave up and stayed on the Senior National Team since 2005. Kudos to him for preservering. At age 26, it`s inspiring. I hope with all my heart that Shawn Sawyer tops it all off with that same magic in Tokyo, Japan. If anyone deserves it, it`s him.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous skate--so vibrant and fluid. And he is adorable to boot.
ReplyDeleteI am crawling out of my Johnny Weir-obsessed shell to watch more performances by other skaters--Johnny's performance at the Olympics last year got me fired up about skating, but mostly his. It's nice to see how the other half lives.
When the commentator said "stay in focus!" toward the end of the program, was she talking to Shawn, or herself? Goofy lady.
Sorry, make that "don't lose your focus!"
ReplyDelete@ 11:43 & 4:02, Skate Canada may have abandoned Shawn the last few years, but I think they did support him earlier on. He went to the 2006 Olympics and seemed to be an up and comer back then. But the federation already had one gorgeous skater with iffy jumps in Jeff (and Emanuel before he retired). It's not right that Shawn received less support, especially when it was for skaters like Vaughn (ugh) and Kevin. Still, I can see how it happened.
ReplyDeleteSkate Canada totally supported Shawn in the past. And look, I love me some Shawn Sawyer, but historically he is a massive head case -- a massive head case who has rarely been able to land the triple axel. I mean, he barely hung on in this program, and that was the best quality 3A he's landed in years. I think he's a gorgeous skater, but as we all know, you need the jumps.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'm delighted that he decided to come back this year and go out on a high note.
I do hope she's knows about how Charlotte Oelschlagel performed the Charlotte Spiral at the Hippodrome.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with those who say SC supported Shawn for a long time until his headcase-y-ness made them give up. I gave up, too. Say what you will about Reynolds' skating, but watch his LPs from Canadians and Worlds last year and you'll see why I'd rather send someone like him to the big internationals than a Sawyer or a Russell. Reynolds is our best bet to keep three World team spots, like it or not. People will very likely realize this when we come home from this year's Worlds with one less spot than last year.
ReplyDelete