|
|
|
Mel's Weekly#5: October 20, 2004Twelve and a half years ago, I watched figure skating for the first time. My mom called me out of my room because she thought I might like it. I came grudgingly, and refusing to put down my Barbies. I sat on the floor of our living, between the couch and the coffee table, continuing to act out a story between my dolls while the TV was stuck on some sort of commercial break or pre-skating introduction. That was the night of the pairs' long program at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. I remember exactly two pairs from that night, completely vividly - Mishketunok & Dmitriev, largely because of her pretty pink costume, and the cute Canadian pair, Brasseur & Eisler. They had spatter painted costumes. I had been bugging my mom to let me spatter paint my jeans for two years, ever since my best friend got to spatter paint hers with her babysitter. Every night for the rest of the Olympics, I'd ask my mom, "Is the lady with the pink coming back, or maybe the people with the spatter paint?" She tried numerous times, of course unsuccessfully, to explain the layout of a competition to me, and that the pairs were over. In the end, I won. They came back for the gala. She forgot about that in her explanation. I may not remember much about the skating, but that night made a huge impact on my life. I can't tell you who landed what, or which lifts went where, without watching a tape to refresh my memory, but certain things about that night stay in my memory like they happened yesterday. Most clearly, I remember the medal ceremony and the way that everyone seemed to proud to be on that podium. I suppose it was then that my analytical mind began its fascination with scorings and rankings, and I know it was that night that began my fascination with one of the most dynamic pairs of our day, Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler. It was a different era then. They competed in a time before highly publicized judging scandals, before the media turned figure skating into somewhat of a circus, before you had to do all the big elements to get noticed. Isabelle & Lloyd, though always stunning technically, were able to concentrate equally on their artistry, improving drastically in their last few competitive years. They pushed the envelope to the limit with their difficult and intricate lifts; they did the outside death spiral in the opposite direction, just because they wanted to see if they could do it. Pioneering the golden era of professional skating, Isabelle and Lloyd led the way, making a name for themselves with outrageous programs like "Patricia the Stripper." Back in the days when there was a professional skating show or competition on television every weekend, just about all winter long, I remember watching in amazement from my couch. Their tricks never got old; I was never able to watch them without gasping. Fred and Herbie taught me about pairs skating - what it is, what it isn't, and what it could be. When pairs suffered the ultimate tragedy in 1995 with the loss of Sergei Grinkov, it was Brasseur & Eisler who carried the torch of professional pairs skating, always giving the audience a reason to smile, even if it was through tears. Over the years, they have touched a continent and they have done so with class, with consistency, with entertainment, and with technical precision. They have become one of the most versatile teams in the business, and they are always ready to jump in on a moment's notice. Oh, but how the times have changed for young Isabelle and Lloyd. They make their homes in different countries now, both have a child, both are in pursuit of careers. Still, without making a production out of it, they gave and gave to each and every audience, right up until the very end. Although both are feeling the toll of a life of skating on their bodies, neither dares show it. Still, this day has been looming in the distance and on Sunday, October 17, 2004, Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler took the ice together for the last time. I was fortunate enough to attend their show in Kitchener ten days prior to the absolute last show in Montréal. Although there were slight differences in the cast and programming, most of the show remained the same. It was, of course, incredibly emotional, but true to Brasseur & Eisler's character, the show had many moments of fun. However, in the end, the clowning around came to a halt, and the cast and audience alike were given an opportunity to honour two of skating's legends. When the last speech was made and I watched them leave the ice, arms around each other, for the final time, my friends and I fell into a group hug. A slideshow continued to play on the screen, the camera crews began to take down their equipment, and we watched most of the audience members file out, fairly quietly. Still, we stayed, standing in a moment of reverence at the edge of the ice. Before we left, I bent down and touched the ice, a final gesture of appreciation, and my way of saying goodbye to a magnificent career. At the reception that followed, I stood quietly for a moment, watching their friends and family shower them with gifts, cards, and hugs. It was only then that I truly realized what was happening. They were not saying goodbye to their career so much as they were saying hello to a future. Although that is what they had continued to say throughout the thank yous during the show, it did not sink in for me until a relative of Lloyd's was holding his son and I got a good look at him. He is the future...Gabriella is the future. It finally made sense. As we left the reception about half an hour later, I wiped a tear from eye. It may have taken all night, but I finally said goodbye. Thank you, to Isabelle and Lloyd...for opening my eyes to pairs skating, for capturing my attention when I was just seven years old, for your dedication, your entertainment, and your ability to make my heart stop. But most of all...thank you for giving your fans the opportunity to say goodbye. You will be missed, but never forgotten. There will never be another tonight. Archives -- Contact -- Features -- Guestbook -- Links (c)2004-7 Melanie L. Hoyt All rights reserved. |