Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner-1979 Worlds (1 of 2)

[cookieucf2007]

Their artistry, technical elements, chemistry....you just cannnot even compare to anyone else out there. Just pure magic.

[rickram1961]

Beautiful, Lovely and a very powerful skating program!!

[firmingitup]

The cameraman must have really loved Tai b/c for a lot of shots it's like he forgot she was skating with someone else and was just filming her.

[EchelonSummer]

I love to watch the older videos, before they threw out the 6.0 system of judging. Now, there are so many required elements that there isn't any time for choreography of any kind. I mean, there are linking steps and transitions and jumps and spins that are slowed down and so many required changes of edge and position that "artistic Impression' just isn't possible. It's like watching the same elements over and over, in different order as each skater TRIES to make something of one big hot mess.

[bemar1972]

Without a great speed, without double axels SBS, without triple twist, she got great pre-rotation on throw 2A, with so many asynchronous moments (especially 3:31)... also remember more difficult throw triple loop (done by Baess/Thierbach). Marks 5.4-5.6 - absolytely right, and 5.9 (?!) - wrong! Yes, americans could win only due to Rodnina and Zaitsew absence here.

[belenjopunk]

Extensions and Araian pulls are suberb!

[cinthiarose]

Just wonderful. Thank you so much for posting this. I was 8 years old when I watched this the first time. Pure artistry.

[WHATTHEBUCKSHOW]

amazing!! 

[blueberrymuffin99]

@WHATTHEBUCKSHOW Have You Got A Video Up Today?

[skaterdude1962]

Wow! The first time that I have seen the whole performance. Love all their extension and artistry. They were strong technically too. So sad they were not able to compete at the following year Olympics.

[italianjen29]

You don't see throw salchow entrances like that anymore. Fantastic.. I love watching old figure skating videos. I didn't like her helicopter leg on her throw axel. Their flying camel pair spin was so cool! I've never seen that before.

[PandorasRuby]

I watched pairs in the Olypmpics tonight and really missed the beautiful artistry that seems to be lost in today's figure skating. I kept telling my husband about Tai and Randy, who he'd never seen. Thank you for posting this so I could show him how beautifyl skating used to be without today's flailing arms and blade grabbing.

[corinnabambina]

WOW beautiful just beautiful!! (tearing) yes even after all these years!!!

[goober5151]

Thrilling to watch, even after all these years. :)

[hankm77]

That spiral sequence is really just sublime. What artistry!! And the side by side splits at 1:51!!!  Just beautiful

[gvsku]

Not that it seems all that fantastic to me, but what I Do find impressive is the ease with which the man handles the partner practically his own height and - couldn't help noticing :)))- weight...Anyway, glad to see a bit of solid skating from a US pair.

[skateschool]

Shame on that Canadian judge for giving them a 5.4.

[skateschool]

They can still be proud of that program 30 years later. Now that is something!

[propaganda63]

Now this is skating! Magnificent!

[FergusMcDopey]

Those magnificent Arabian pulls and superb Ina Bauer sequence make up for the horrendous music cuts. Can't believe its been almost 30 years!

[mrshinyshoes]

Wonderful synchronicity and flow. Beautiful. You rarely seee that these days in pairs.

[flatsee]

This is a classic--a true time capsule video

[sashaskywalker]

their back outside death spiral!amazing!

[Novelwit2000]

I wish every skating pair today would watch this video and see how it used to be done!!! I mean, how many times I could say it, but it is as though artistry nowadays is COMPLETELY thrown out in favor of jump this and jump that. I mean, are there any pairs out there doing star lifts or cartwheel lifts? And don't let me start talking about the Arabian pulls Randy & Tai were able to do. I mean, I'd take this performance any day over the stuff they're doing now. Man, do I miss the good old days!!!

[abbieflyer]

I have always wanted to see this performance again....it gave me chills then and still does! Thank you for posting it!!

[yodabeesh]

BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE! Not only is their technique superb, but the extension and balletic movements are wonderful. Thank you!

[mca1218]

Thank you SO much for posting tis clip. Have not seen this since 1979. (Another YT clip of this exists, but the video stammers in a few places, and the commentary is different.) As critical as people sometimes are of Button, I'd rather hear him do the commentary, biasness and all. Knowing what becomes of them in the 1980 Olympics, this performance has even more emotional significance. And everything is gorgeous- from the throw-double axel to the almost romantic-looking dual ina bauer movement.

[txbadgirl1]

Totally beautiful!!! So simple by today's standards, but then it is more about big stunts rather then the skating anymore.

Thanks for posting.

[Chocolatesonnet]

I'm so glad yo see this video. Tai and Randy are still my facorite American pair team. Great unison, class and artistry.. and a super throw triple salchow in 1979! And that pair Ina Bauer is so sublime...

[sashaskywalker]

they get a lot better from years to years...well done!!

[rick10687]

Babilonia and Gardner did for pairs skating what Torvill and Dean later did for Ice Dance. We will not see the likes of them again. Thank you for this magic. We will never forget.

[dolcevitausa]

You are correct...they are the best! The fluidity and unison in their skating is without comparison.

[Sactotrixie]

Tai and Randy - you two are simply the best. You will always be Olympic champions to me. I remember crying my eyes in 1980 watching the pain Randy was in and unable to compete. It seems like yesterday - where does the time go? Thanks for sharing this program that still gives me chills. I hope you will share more!

[avonee1976]

I have never seen a pair like Tai and Randy before and I haven't seen once since that skates like them. They skate like one single moving unit. Neither one is a second behind or ahead of the other, they are just together! Simply beautiful...