watching ilia go viral among people who aren’t actively following figure skating is wild. it’s like your neighbor barging into your house while it’s on fire and saying they love what you’ve done with the place.
You know what? I truly, totally lucked out with my @deancasreversebang collabs this year! Two fantastic partners and two very delightful stories <3
From an artistic POV, one was more of a "faces & expressions" practice for me, while this one was definitely an anatomy challenge. Or an excuse to draw some angel cake? ... xD Anyway, here's my initial "Hockey Players gone Figure Skating" prompt:
I was SO excited when the amazing tiamatv claimed my art!! We already worked together once before and her way of storytelling made me so very happy, giddy and emotional <3
Tia put a ton of research and heart into writing my prompt, and I ended up learning much more about hockey and figure skating than I anticipated when I said, "I have no clue about hockey OR figure skating so don't worry about it, I'd just love an emotional journey!" - Tia managed to do it all, and with an insane word count for the short time she had on top. So the least I could do was provide one more "anatomy practice" :D
I'm actually a bit salty that this month has been so busy that I couldn't draw one more art piece - the story certainly would've deserved it. Well, maybe it'll call me back later :)
Thank you dear Tia for claiming my art and for the very emotional journey, thank you dear DCRB mods; and once Tia has pressed the 'release' button, please go read OPEN SKATE !
My hope for next season and leading into the Olympic season is that the ISU somehow revives womens skating cause yes it’s beautiful yes it’s lovely but is it exciting? Ehhhh.
In my personal opinion it’s the discipline that’s stagnated the most post Covid. You can argue that the crown goes to ice dance in that regard but even though the judging is shitty and the ISU insists on ridiculous themes for the rhythm dance we’re still getting quality and creativity through the bouts of corruption.
I just feel like women’s choreography has plateaued, it’s become uninteresting, very little memorable programs. Same elements same ordering same music like it’s becoming a by bland to watch. And my honest wish for the future is to reignite the spark it once had.
The way everyone was so depressed after the SP because Adam placed 19th, even french media put up articles about how he was not going to medal, they didn't even AIR the men's free live... only for the madman to backflip his way up to BRONZE.
A wonderful positive article on the Men's Free Skate at Worlds 2024 by Florentina Tone from insideskating
Here is the part about Shoma with pictires by Alberto Ponti
When the first seconds of music pour over him and he starts skating, is it as if Shoma Uno enters a trance – and we follow him no questions asked.
We just go with him, and his skating takes us to beautiful places.
It is always the case with Shoma’s free skate this season – to “Timelapse” and “Spiegel im Spiegel” – maybe the best he’s ever had. A program that shines a light on him, a soft, translucent light that goes so well with his expression, with the almost silence his blades glide across the ice.
And even if some of the jumping passes don’t work for Shoma on the day (and they don’t), and even those jumping passes are at the start or in the middle of the program, nothing derails the two-time World champion: Shoma Uno has a story to tell, he has a spell to cast on everyone watching.
Exactly how he wanted it to be.
“I put my heart into this free program – aimed to make everyone watching me perform happy – and this is the result I got. It truly reflects who I am, regardless of how I did today.
I visualized how I would do my free program beforehand and, looking back on everything, it was an exhilarating experience overall. Every day, I faced myself and practiced diligently, which instilled a sense of accomplishment within me. I am grateful for the cheers and the support from all spectators”.