Brian Boitano skated at my session this morning! Talk about a star-struck 50 minutes. I have my lessons Monday mornings and Brian was at the same session practicing for a Today show appearance tomorrow morning. My only regret is that I was so completely distracted that my poor coach was probably wondering why she was repeating everything four times. It's weird (weird in a good way) to see his signature moves, like the spread eagle, that close up. And it's amazing to see, to feel, the speed on his back crossovers which seemed to rivet everyone around the rink.
I was able to chat with him for a few minutes before the session started -- he said that a television special The Music of Seal on Ice starring Brian Boitano will be airing January 1, 2009, from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. EST on NBC. Tomorrow 
morning he'll be skating at Rockefeller Rink promoting the special on the Today show. Generally the "Today at the Rink" segments are between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. so I'll be watching in person. (The last skater I saw live at Rockefeller was Emily Hughes and that was a real treat as well.)
How many chances does one get to see
someone like him skate up close and personal? In addition to being four-time U.S. champion, the 1988 Olympic gold medalist, and two-time World champion, Brian was also a recent inductee into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (see right). After the session, I saw my coach chat with Brian and she later told me they were discussing the importance of compulsory figures in their competitive days.
There is no question that your coach and Mr. Boitano are absolutely correct.
School figures taught proper technique and discipline - in other words, they taught newbies how to actually SKATE.
There are, for example, many things about Suraya Bonaly that are delightful - but her technique is the worst I have ever seen. Tara Lipinski is better - but not by much. They are not "the whole package" in the way that a Peggy Fleming or a Dorothy Hamill was the whole package.
Posted by: Gayle Miller | December 29, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Was that Nancy Kerrigan skating on the new years Seals 2009 skating show?
Posted by: Mary LYnn | January 01, 2009 at 06:37 PM