Matt Savoie. (Swoon.)

[kitchen_kink]

Still watching the figure skating stuff. I'll freely admit that my favorite thing in figure skating, bar none, is the men's skating. I love, love love to watch the athleticism and especially the artistry of these skaters. I'll never forget Brian Boitano in '88 and Paul Wylie in '92; tonight Viktor Petrenko was helping the judges out, and I was amused ot see how his incredibly bony face has filled out and he looks handsome.

Watching the short program I was struck by Johnny Weir, the rebellious young skater who simply seems sincere to me, and like the kind of kid I'd like to hang out with. But then there was Matt Savoie, who reminded me for all the world of Robin Cousins: introspection, grace, sophistication. His costume was simple and his expressiveness touched by an originality one doesn't see in skating very often, particularly not with the wacky new scoring system, which seems to be only about points.

My two favorite male skating types are the Scott Hamilton type and the Robin Cousins type: the first a spunky, somehat effeminate showman who gets the crowd going and isn't afraid to be silly; the second a tall, lean, serious dancer whose feet barely seem to touch the ice. Matt Savoie is definitely of the latter category; in the former, currently, is the adorable Jeffrey Buttle of Canada, who just kills me with how gay he is. It's very sweet.

I just wanted to make a note about Matt. He's one to watch; I hope to see him again.

Comments

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

Have you seen much of Evan Lysacek? Physically, he reminds me quite a bit of Robin Cousins, although his style is quite different.

BTW, when you run out of Olympics, there is tons of skating on YouTube.

[dietrich.livejournal.com]

I only saw his short program, and I have to say he didn't impress me, but then he didn't skate well. Savoie just struck me in the way that skaters do sometimes. I saw a lot of amazing athletes on the ice (Pleshenko, for instance, who is flawless and passionate, but whom I don't enjoy that much), and a lot of very good looking men, but Savoie just had it all, to me. Open intelligent face, with a certain focus behind the eyes, dancerly grace, and a humility and sincerity that I always appreciate.

Were I 15, I would be completely obsessed. :)

See here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5HyECUaNtw8

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Matt Savoie is a beautiful skater. He's one of those heartbreaks though--never seemed to be able to put together two good programs in a single competition, struggled a lot with nerves, etc. I was very sorry to see him retire and head off to...law school, if I remember correctly...but it was time.

Have you see Ryan Jahnke? I think you'd like him, for similar reasons.