Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010

[APhiAnna]

I LOVE snowboardcross. It is so exciting!

Figure skating is so blehh for me. I think the athleticism of the jumps and spins is incredible, but the way it is covered at the Olympics drives me nuts. First of all, the judging this year seemed so rigged...there were several times (including the gold medal) where I felt the judges were just assigned scores based on seniority or "sob stories" even when there were visible mistakes and falls. Second, I feel that four minutes is far too long...the majority of the interesting elements happens in the first half, and then it is two minutes of just skating around. I would LOVE to see something like the gymnastics, where everything is packed in to a shorter amount of time. Third...would it kill somebody to not use a maudlin piano score? It is such an athletic event, and I would love to see a music choice with a little more "oomph" and edge...but maybe the judges would rate that routine poorly. And fourth, whoever is the American announcer is, she is beyond pretentious...if I had a dollar for every time she threw out a term like "exquisite", "ethereal" or "beloved"...

Anyways, I LOVE the Winter Olympics. Although I do miss the inclusion of diving, which is my all time favorite Olympic sport.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by APhiAnna

I LOVE snowboardcross. It is so exciting!

Figure skating is so blehh for me. I think the athleticism of the jumps and spins is incredible, but the way it is covered at the Olympics drives me nuts. First of all, the judging this year seemed so rigged...there were several times (including the gold medal) where I felt the judges were just assigned scores based on seniority or "sob stories" even when there were visible mistakes and falls. Second, I feel that four minutes is far too long...the majority of the interesting elements happens in the first half, and then it is two minutes of just skating around. I would LOVE to see something like the gymnastics, where everything is packed in to a shorter amount of time..

The programs are not just jumping and "skating around..."

For the short program, there are certain requirements EVERYONE has to do. You have to do different footwork sections, spins, jumps, etc. They have three minutes to try and put all of these elements together in some sort of musical/artistic way. You are judged on each element.

There are also "kinda" requirements for the free skate/long program, as well. It used to be a free-for-all. But, it was becoming just a jumping sport. So, now, you have a list of elements to be judged on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISU_Judging_System

Because of the judging issues in the past, they completely restructured the system. It is complicated. And, I am not a fan. But, it's better than when the competitions were influenced...

Basically, there is a reason for everything they do on the ice. It's an extremely intricate sport.

[kchaptergphib]

If you think Shaun White looks like a woman, did you SEE Johnny Weir's costume for the short program?! It was FAHHH-BULOUS! My god, that boy has some guts. I found the pink tassel rather annoying/distracting, though.
I'm so excited for Men's Halfpipe tonight!!!

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by kchaptergphib

If you think Shaun White looks like a woman, did you SEE Johnny Weir's costume for the short program?! It was FAHHH-BULOUS! My god, that boy has some guts. I found the pink tassel rather annoying/distracting, though.
I'm so excited for Men's Halfpipe tonight!!!

i have started referring to him as Johnny Weird.

also excited for the halfpipe tonight-if i can make it thru all the million dang commercial breaks. "sigh" i wish i had tevo(sp?). go shaun!!

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by kchaptergphib

If you think Shaun White looks like a woman, did you SEE Johnny Weir's costume for the short program?! It was FAHHH-BULOUS! My god, that boy has some guts. I found the pink tassel rather annoying/distracting, though.
I'm so excited for Men's Halfpipe tonight!!!

Did you think he "rocked the tassel"?

[ASUADPi]

Originally Posted by APhiAnna

I LOVE snowboardcross. It is so exciting!

Figure skating is so blehh for me. I think the athleticism of the jumps and spins is incredible, but the way it is covered at the Olympics drives me nuts. First of all, the judging this year seemed so rigged...there were several times (including the gold medal) where I felt the judges were just assigned scores based on seniority or "sob stories" even when there were visible mistakes and falls. Second, I feel that four minutes is far too long...the majority of the interesting elements happens in the first half, and then it is two minutes of just skating around. I would LOVE to see something like the gymnastics, where everything is packed in to a shorter amount of time. Third...would it kill somebody to not use a maudlin piano score? It is such an athletic event, and I would love to see a music choice with a little more "oomph" and edge...but maybe the judges would rate that routine poorly. And fourth, whoever is the American announcer is, she is beyond pretentious...if I had a dollar for every time she threw out a term like "exquisite", "ethereal" or "beloved"...

Anyways, I LOVE the Winter Olympics. Although I do miss the inclusion of diving, which is my all time favorite Olympic sport.

OMG totally agree with the music. When I was watching the pairs the other night I was like "blugh boring". The music was so depressing. I know I'm not a judge, but seriously everyone doesn't need to do boring classical music. If you have to do something ochestral in nature, hello there are soundtracks and there are some amazing scores out there! It seemed like all the music was piano or a solo violen, which to me is boring. Give me a full ochestra any day.

I wanna see a ice skater do music from Glee

Plus as soon as a team screwed up (i.e. fell), I fast forwarded because I knew they were no longer in the running for a medal.

Plus the commentators... another Ugh. They would be like "this pair is going to be one to look out for" and you watch them and they can't even do a jump in sync and they are slow, have no speed and thier boring and I was like "yeah right". They said that about the two American teams and I was like "your full of crap". I think they were saying it because let's face it at the Olympics you are "go (insert name of country)".

I'm looking forward to the ice dancing though. The two American teams are amazing. The Gold winners from Nationals (can't think of their name) did Phantom of the Opera at Nationals (with singing), so different. I hope they do it for their long program at the Olympics.

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

OMG totally agree with the music. When I was watching the pairs the other night I was like "blugh boring". The music was so depressing. I know I'm not a judge, but seriously everyone doesn't need to do boring classical music. If you have to do something ochestral in nature, hello there are soundtracks and there are some amazing scores out there! It seemed like all the music was piano or a solo violen, which to me is boring. Give me a full ochestra any day.

I sooo agree about the dirge music in skating! Did anyone see the guy (maybe Swiss?) who used blues-y harmonica music? It was great! He was not, however (nor was his costume, which was an unfortunate one shouldered overall... but I digress) The music was a highpoint. Also, totally agree about Yvegeny... yuckgeny.