Trophée Eric Bompard

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Trophée Eric Bompard
Topic Started: Nov 3 2008, 02:00 AM (354 Views)
kioewen	Nov 3 2008, 02:00 AM Post #1
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	So at the moment, the only upcoming event that I know of at which Emily will be skating is the French installment of the Grand Prix: Trophée Eric Bompard, Nov. 13–16, 2008 Does anyone know if this will be televised? I imagine it will be in France. Therefore, is there any way that Canadians (or Americans) will be able to view it? Will IceNetwork.com broadcast it online, perhaps? Or is there another Web source for international events? I certainly wish Emily good fortune, and I hope she has an amazing skate! I'd love to see her performance(s) at this event.



Particle Man	Nov 3 2008, 06:55 AM Post #2
Novice Posts: 123 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 30, 2007	Icenetwork is showing everything this season - all of the grand prix, nats worlds etc. If you haven't subscribed, I would highly recommend it. $30 for the season. There are also competing (sports) services now, but I don't remember their names. They were mentioned on other boards. Though I recommend icenetwork, it still has plenty of things that annoy me. Audio weirdness, compression noise, and I always get unfairly blacked out at the beginning of the season (I have to call their customer service to manually unblock my IP.) They also don't show the exhibitions... bleh. I just watch clips of those on youtube...



kioewen	Nov 9 2008, 09:41 PM Post #3
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	I think I will subscribe to IceNetwork.com. I registered already, in order to watch a really charming video that the site has, showing Emily with a video camera recording some footage behind-the-scenes at the Skating for life show. It's a lot of fun to watch. Here's the link: - Emily: Behind the Scenes at Skating for Life TEB is just a week away now. I hope Emily does very well!



Particle Man	Nov 14 2008, 06:57 AM Post #4
Novice Posts: 123 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 30, 2007	So did you subscribe? 12:40 PM tomorrow, icenetwork, TEB Ladies Short!!



kioewen	Nov 14 2008, 11:31 AM Post #5
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	Particle Man Nov 14 2008, 06:57 AM So did you subscribe? 12:40 PM tomorrow, icenetwork, TEB Ladies Short!! Thank you for reminding me. Yes, I plan to register right now. I won't be able to watch the show live, (work calls,) but I'll catch it on-demand a little later in the day. By the way, there's a great article about the event here: - Link It includes the following fascinating observation from Emily: Quote: I love to be here," Emily Hughes said. "When I told my friends at the University [Hughes is a sophomore at Harvard] that I was going to Paris, they were so jealous!" With such a short competition period, however, time will be scarce for shopping and visiting. Hughes has even more to worry about: "I am missing a mid-term exam today at Harvard. It is for my Comparative Government class, so I have brought several books because that class requires many readings, and I have to catch back on that mid-term next Thursday." My lord. I can't even imagine how difficult, how impossible it must be to juggle Harvard and university. The article continues with more about Emily: Quote: The Trophée Bompard will be Hughes' only Grand Prix assignment this year, after her hip injury forced her to miss most of last season, including the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. "In fact, this is the first time I have really competed internationally this year," she said. "I am getting back into competing, and I really hope to skate a clean program and do better than I did last year. I really love my new long program." Hughes feels her first year at Harvard has matured her. "I am living on my own now. I have to drive myself to the rink every day, so there is a lot more responsibility on my part."



kioewen	Nov 14 2008, 10:42 PM Post #6
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	How foolish of me. I actually subscribed to IceNetwork, and when I attempted to see TEB, I was informed that I am blacked out from watching it. Apparently, viewing is only available to those in the "U.S. or territories." (I'm in Canada.) Worst $29 I ever spent. I hope someone uploads the videos from the event to YouTube, at least for a day or so.



Particle Man	Nov 15 2008, 09:23 AM Post #7
Novice Posts: 123 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 30, 2007	Wow. That really sucks. I bet that if you stop using it immediately and explain the situation to the support people you might get a refund. Otherwise... I know there are ways to capture the video from icenetwork (or any streaming video) so maybe someone could do that for you... but an entire competition would be pretty large to send. I've never done it... still seems ridiculous to pay for that, though.



kioewen	Nov 15 2008, 12:02 PM Post #8
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	Fortunately, the performance is now on YouTube (at least for a while), courtesy of a very kind French skating fan whom I specifically asked for an upload. He appears to have obtained it from some EuroSport channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB90j8oOdbo&fmt=18 Pity about the first fall, but othewise it looked like a nice outing. I just love Emily's facial expressions, especially the wistful smile at the beginning fo the performance. She has such charisma. I think the scores were absurdly low, given that the other girls at this performance were falling all over themselves too. No one had a clean skate, as far as I can tell. It makes me think that the judges are trying to "persuade" Emily to devote herself to skating full time, by artificially lowering her scores. Nice costume too. The colour definitely distinguishes her. The ribbon in the hair is the prettiest touch. (I wonder if she thought of that herself?) The only thing that saddens me is how painfully skinny she has become. I still enjoy watching her, but she used to be so much more beautiful when she was a bit fuller-figured.



Particle Man	Nov 15 2008, 06:36 PM Post #9
Novice Posts: 123 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 30, 2007	For the SP, her first jump was a fall, and 2nd was 2-footed. I didn't really feel she was unfairly scored, I think she must just be lacking in a lot of basic elements now or something. Ladies FS is starting up now. In warmup, Emily singled a 2A and her coach looked concerned. We'll see what happens (I won't post any event spoilers don't worry.) I hope that at the minimum she can climb back into the top 6.



kioewen	Nov 17 2008, 12:47 AM Post #10
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	Here's the LP: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7f63g_emily-hughes-2008-teb-lp_sport What a shame -- three falls. In both the first and the second, it looks like her skate just dug right into the ice. (I wonder how smooth that surface can actually be, for that to happen?) Everything else in her skating looks fine, just the jumps, but at competitions I realize that's everything. I imagine that will be the focus in practice from now on. Very elegant outfit. Very chic and sophisticated. I think sleeveless costumes are always better, but I'll grant that this one was very feminine and regal. Edited by kioewen, Nov 18 2008, 03:00 AM.



Particle Man	Nov 18 2008, 01:05 AM Post #11
Novice Posts: 123 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 30, 2007	Very bad news for Emily. She would have come in LAST if another girl hadn't messed up bad as well. Just a couple years ago she was essentially National Champion, then had a bad season and missed Nationals due to injury, and now has come in near-last in a GP event which had a pretty weak field overall. I think it's pretty clear that she just can't do the college thing and keep her skating together. She has some hard choices to make. They are either to postpone college and try to salvage her skating career for a while, to keep on with the status quo and probably keep having results like this, or to give up competition, if not forever then at least while she is in college. I fear she may do the latter, because of how much she has fallen in status, because of the tough competition in the US right now, because of her injuries, and because I get the feeling college is becoming more important to her than skating. I could be wrong, but I'm kinda bracing myself for some kind of announcement later this season.



svengaliesque	Nov 18 2008, 02:13 AM Post #12
Intermediate Posts: 30 Group: Members Member #243 Joined: July 26, 2008	I would hesitate to blame Emily's poor performance entirely on her college attendance because Emily has had problems with her technique for quite a while now and they remain a persistent and problematic part of her skating. Underrotation is one of her persistent errors and it is leading to her falls. This problem was apparent way before Emily went to college -it continues and will be very difficult to eradicate. During her performance at Mid Atlantics in September, she skated pretty much as she did here in Paris. When I spoke to Emily, Bonnie , her father, John, and her brother Matt, they were confident that as the season progressed her programs would be stronger. She said that she had worked very hard on her long program, but as I saw it, the technique was just too weak. Jumps are a really big part, but they aren't everything. If you look at the protocols for each skater you'll see that jumps are a big part of the scoring, but skaters can do boost their scores with spirals and spins (Emily's are great) and footwork (Emily's are very weak). You can also get bonus points for jumps done after the two minute mark, but Emily failed to pick up points there. You can also get bonus scores for well executed elements -Emily picks those up easily for her beautiful 2A, spins and spirals. but, you also can get downgraded for underrotated jumps, pops and falls. Then there are the Performance Component scores which judge: skating skills, performance, choreography, transition, and interpretation. An elite skater like Emily should rack up a lot of points here by getting high sixes and sevens.She got three 6s and the rest were 3s, 4s and 5s. These marks reflect exactly what is wrong with her performance. And these are what I have seen deteriorate since last year. (See her protocols on page 5. TEB http://www.isufs.org/results/gpfra08/gpfra08_Ladies_FS_Scores.pdf) And at the same time, Emily is not regaining her lost jumps - her loop disappeared in 2006,and she can't land a 3F or a 3Lz , and the 3S and 3T are inconsistent and she's underrotating worse than ever. So college may be partly but not completely to blame for Emily's problems. It's her history of uncorrected bad technique that is coming back to haunt her. But, she sincerely wants to keep trying to make it to the top three. She believes that she is capable of doing so. It's my impression, from talking to her, that competing and college are equally important to her and she intends to continue with both. My feeling is that if she has a good showing at Nationals (top 6), she may take off a year to try to make the Olympic team. .But, correcting all of the unfortunate skating habits she's developed over the years might be too difficult to do at this point. Meanwhile, I will continue to support her and enjoy what I've always enjoyed about her and hope to see her on the ice for at least another Olympic cycle. She is a joy to talk to, her family is warm, gracious and supportive and Bonni is accommodating,dedicated and loyal and Emily has the love of her fans. It's perfect and no skater could ask for more.



Particle Man	Nov 18 2008, 10:25 AM Post #13
Novice Posts: 123 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 30, 2007	How'd you get to talk to Emily and the others? Edited by Particle Man, Nov 18 2008, 10:25 AM.



svengaliesque	Nov 19 2008, 01:38 AM Post #14
Intermediate Posts: 30 Group: Members Member #243 Joined: July 26, 2008	This just happens to me all of the time. Every event I go to I find myself sitting next to skaters and/or their team and we strike up a conversation. I'm naturally gregarious and willing to engage in small talk with folks I hardly know. For some reason I usually get interviewed by journalist s at these events and I've been featured (complete with photos) in several articles from various events I've attended. I've even been interviewed by Japanese media and appeared on Japanese TV. In Chelsea Piers there are two rinks at either end of the arena with a large food court/lounge in between. Skaters, coaches and parents often congregate there before and after the skate to wait for scores, eat or chat with other.s After Emily's SP (really bad) , she and Bonni came into the food court to wait for her scores. I talked with them about being late to the competition then the conversation turned to Emily's long program. We were joined by John and Matt Hughes and talked about Amy Hughes (she was at a conference in Cornell), Matt Hughes' career (photography) Emily's long program, future training, school, etc. Then we met again the next day before and after her LP. By then, Bonni was calling me Emily's biggest fan. Bonni is an angel. Emily is cute and perky - a typical 19 year old. I had similar conversations that weekend with Morgan Matthews, Lief Gialson (sp) Samantha Caesario, Morgan's mother, Rocky Marval, Blake Rosenthal, Ron Luddington and many others. Everybody there is accessible in this setting and very chatty. Also there and sitting next to me in the stands for awhile was Timothy and we talked a lot about studying and Columbia and Harlem Figure Skating Club. I also talked with (briefly) Ann Patrice (blond now) and Jonathon Hunt who are coaching Sam Gordon. More interesting is that at St. Paul's Nationals I was sitting high in the stands during practice where coaches, parents and skaters congregate. They shared a lot of information about Emily and the Skating Club of Boston. It seems that Emily left Mark and Peter in or around December and returned to Bonni in January. My most interesting conversation was with Matt Savoie after a 2006 competition in South Carolina. He is the most amazing person I know. The most surprising person I've met was Lucinda Ruhe(sp). She has a business enterprise, was speaking Japanese with a Japanese family there, - and she is breathtakingly beautiful. I've also sat with the Kwans and talked with them. The first time I met her parents was at Nationals 2003. The mother is friendly and a bit reserved but Danny loves to talk. However, I was never able to do more than mumble something incoherent when I've met Michelle. Yes, I'm a Kwan fan. I have better luck talking to Karen and Peter. I recommend attending these local events as a way of getting to meet elite skaters and up and coming skaters. I usually go to all of the events in the tri-state area of New York, CT. and New Jersey. I had planned to go to Boston for Sectionals, but I went to Skate America instead and didn't want to spend any more hotel money since I have to save for Nationals.



Particle Man	Nov 20 2008, 03:18 AM Post #15
Novice Posts: 123 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 30, 2007	Wow, that's ridiculous. Sounds like a dream some forum member would have. I'd never be able to talk to Emily or any skater like that. But I'm not good at conversation... You aren't by any chance the guy I met at Skate America 2007 with the big photograph book of pictures of Emily and others?



kioewen	Nov 20 2008, 08:28 AM Post #16
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	Particle Man Nov 20 2008, 03:18 AM Wow, that's ridiculous. Sounds like a dream some forum member would have. I'd never be able to talk to Emily or any skater like that. But I'm not good at conversation... Even if I were a long-time follower of skating, I would consider it presumptuous to start talking with coaches, parents, let alone skaters themselves, about what is right or wrong with their skating. It kind of puts the skaters in a difficult position too, a no-win situation for them. Let's say that the skater just had a so-so performance. If I were in their shoes, the last thing I'd want to do is talk to someone from the general public about it, let alone to hear a skating dissection from someone who may or may not be qualified to give it. But the skater is in a bind. If they try to indicate that they're not in the mood to speak, they'll be called "stuck-up" on every skating forum. So they're compelled to force a smile and be genial, even if they just want to be alone with their thoughts for a while. Mind you, from what I've heard, Emily is very positive, etc., so her civility in such circumstances would undoubtedly be genuine. But if I were in the skater's shoes, I'd consider any fan approaching me a bit presumptuous. At Skate for Hope, it was all I could do to ask for an autograph, and even that was a stretch.



kioewen	Nov 29 2008, 08:10 PM Post #17
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	So I was watching TV, and what did I see as I was flipping through channels but the familiar banners of Trohee Eric Bompard. The CBC network broadcast some of the LP performances this afternoon. I watched the rest of the broadcast, in case Emily's number would be on. (It wasn't, unless it was the very first performance that they showed, which I missed.) Waiting for Emily's performance, though, forced me to sit through some of the other skaters' routines -- the top three -- and I have to say, I found them rather...dull. Mechanical. Oh, there was the technical expertise, I suppose, but I just don't respond to that -- at least, not at this stage of watching skating. There is just something about Emily's performances that is much more captivating to watch -- yes, even at a show like this, where she "struggled." She just has a certain charisma that other skaters lack, a charisma that I can't define, a je ne sais quoi. The only other free skater who has engaged me the same way, so far, is Lisa Ervin. Also, and this may be a cosmetic point (but heaven knows, I've seen enough focus on cosmetic matters on other skating forums that I feel no guilt in offering my very different perspective on this), the other skaters are not at all appealing to watch, physically. The winner of TEB, a Canadian skater, has a figure that frankly looks repellently masculine, like a female bodybuilder's, with a ropy musculature. It's borderline disgusting, to be quite honest, and reminds me of the old jokes about East German swimmers, with their drug-manipulated physiques. By contrast, even though she has become very thin, at least Emily still has a feminine build -- and that is part of the appeal of her presentation. * * * But back to the issue of Emily's performance, I just don't know how she, or anyone, can juggle school and skating. I did my undergrad at an ordinary Canadian university (U of Toronto), not an Ivy League school, and it absorbed all of my attention. I could never have juggled, say, my B.A. and a part-time job. I don't know what Emily's abilities are, but skating competitively seems to be a demanding enterprise, and splitting one's efforts between studies and skating is a daunting challenge. Whatever she achieves while maintaing her degree is many times as extraordinary as the achievements of performers who have nothing else on their minds but skating itself. Edited by kioewen, Nov 29 2008, 10:39 PM.



Particle Man	Nov 30 2008, 01:32 PM Post #18
Novice Posts: 123 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: January 30, 2007	kioewen Nov 29 2008, 08:10 PM The winner of TEB, a Canadian skater, has a figure that frankly looks repellently masculine, like a female bodybuilder's, with a ropy musculature. It's borderline disgusting, to be quite honest, and reminds me of the old jokes about East German swimmers, with their drug-manipulated physiques. Ermmm. Well I think that's harsh. Joannie Rochette is the skater you speak of: I'm really not a Joannie fan, although I think her artistry has improved with time. Her consistency has also improved - for a long time she bombed almost every event which wasn't Skate Canada. Now she's doing a lot better, and managed a TEB win. Good for her. I don't begrudge skaters for winning. They all work hard and go out and skate their best, and then it's up to the judges to screw everything up. Anyway, she may have some slightly masculine features, but I think you're blowing it way out of proportion. I think she's plenty lovely. Not every girl has a Sasha Cohen type of build. And as far as steroids, that's a really nasty accusation. Steroids have never been found in figure skating (one of the only remaining sports without them) and they could actually have negatives for a skater's fine motion control. Just cause she is a little muscular, she's on steroids? That's just terrible. People called Emily "fat" on a lot of boards, and I screamed at them for it. I wonder if she heard any of the criticisms and started crash dieting, since she is actually looking kind of gaunt nowadays, and it certainly hasn't seemed to help her skating... Edited by Particle Man, Nov 30 2008, 01:33 PM.



kioewen	Nov 30 2008, 01:55 PM Post #19
Novice Posts: 109 Group: Members Member #242 Joined: July 22, 2008	No, I don't think she actually is on drugs. Not at all. I'm just saying that's what her build reminds me of. It was even worse at TEB than in these pictures. Pity to have so many pictures of a different skater in an Emily thread. I probably should have posted my comments in the general skating discussion board. My bad. (Incidentally, it's a shame that there aren't more pictures of Emily from TEB on her official site. The GWTW costume was a new one, and quite beautiful.) On the other hand, if my criticism of this Canadian skater seems harsh, it's no different in tone from what most fans seem to say about any skater who isn't either skeletal, or built like a weightlifter. If they can make their attacks, I feel little guilt about responding in kind. Maybe if they appreciate how unpleasant it is hearing it from this angle, they'll stop their own vitriol. What you say about the ignorant criticism of Emily's appearance is sadly all too true, and it's one reason why, although I want to like figure skating, I'm frustrated by the mindset of many of its fans. They seem to have a very warped perception of weight. (It reminds me of the fashion industry, in that regard -- another enterprise in which eating disroders are rife.) Really nasty attacks on skaters who are still thin, but ever-so-slightly shapely, seem to be par for the course. It appals me. Quote: People called Emily "f*" on a lot of boards, and I screamed at them for it. I wonder if she heard any of the criticisms and started crash dieting, since she is actually looking kind of gaunt nowadays, and it certainly hasn't seemed to help her skating... You could be right. What a dismal situation, if that's the case. It's a certainty* that if Emily was fuller-figured right now, and having the same challenges with her skating, that's exactly what critics would be pointing to as the supposed cause of her problems. Well, turns out it's not. I'll bet more than a few female skaters have been ruined by an excessive focus on weight, when their problems lie in entirely different areas... (By the way, BRAVO for "screaming at them." They deserved it. ) Edited by kioewen, Nov 30 2008, 02:09 PM.



svengaliesque	Dec 25 2008, 03:22 AM Post #20
Intermediate Posts: 30 Group: Members Member #243 Joined: July 26, 2008	Particle Man Nov 20 2008, 03:18 AM Wow, that's ridiculous. Sounds like a dream some forum member would have. I'd never be able to talk to Emily or any skater like that. But I'm not good at conversation... You aren't by any chance the guy I met at Skate America 2007 with the big photograph book of pictures of Emily and others? From kioewen Even if I were a long-time follower of skating, I would consider it presumptuous to start talking with coaches, parents, let alone skaters themselves, about what is right or wrong with their skating. Nope, I'm not the guy with the big photograph book. If it's the same one, I met him at Everett- Skate America 2008 in October. He's really into skating. kioewen wrote: Quote: Even if I were a long-time follower of skating, I would consider it presumptuous to start talking with coaches, parents, let alone skaters themselves, about what is right or wrong with their skating. It kind of puts the skaters in a difficult position too, a no-win situation for them. Let's say that the skater just had a so-so performance. If I were in their shoes, the last thing I'd want to do is talk to someone from the general public about it, let alone to hear a skating dissection from someone who may or may not be qualified to give it. But the skater is in a bind. If they try to indicate that they're not in the mood to speak, they'll be called "stuck-up" on every skating forum. So they're compelled to force a smile and be genial, even if they just want to be alone with their thoughts for a while. If you're referring to me, please reread my post. Nowhere did I ever or would I ever imply that I talk to a skater, coach, or family members about what is right or wrong with the skating. Dissecting their skating? Why would you assume that? Why in the world would any sane, intelligent person even think of doing something like that? And - there are lots of things parents, skaters and coaches like to talk about besides skating - travels, weather, traffic jams, restaurants, makeup, mishaps, public transportation, missed flights, cameras, Ipods, Blackberries, haircuts, city parking, child care, goofy stuff, anecdotes, photography, movies, TV shows and of course Me- whatever . They've run the gamut of what is commonly known as "small-talk" and I'm the world's greatest listener. Skaters, coaches and parents are a lot of fun socially and are not as fragile and uptight as some think they are. Particle Man wrote: Quote: I'm really not a Joannie fan, although I think her artistry has improved with time. Her consistency has also improved - for a long time she bombed almost every event which wasn't Skate Canada. Now she's doing a lot better, and managed a TEB win. Good for her. I don't begrudge skaters for winning. They all work hard and go out and skate their best, and then it's up to the judges to screw everything up. I'm not a Joannie fan either but I do enjoy seeing a solid breakthrough performance and Joannie rocked at TEB. Everything was much improved about her performance. Loved her improved artistry and her attack with the jumps.



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