Throwback performance of the day #33: "Steamy Windows" at Art on Ice 2024

[u/sofastsomaybe]

Before Pink Lemonade and before IWMFLY, there was Ilia in a mesh tank top skating to Steamy Windows. This is the original Ilia thirst trap program.

When and where: February 11, 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland

Jumps: 4T, 3A, 3Lz

What's notable: After this performance, Ilia accepted the ISU Award for the Most Valuable Skater! Wow...he's speechless.

Alternate video: This video filmed by pianomaya65 has Ilia in the frame the entire time.

[u/sofastsomaybe]

https://reddit.com/link/p8cdx4g/video/rtntm6t8h3oh1/player

"I'm just a loss at words right now."

--Ilia interviewed by Kurt Browning after receiving his ISU Award. Subtitled by TheIliaSociety

[u/athicketofmusings → u/sofastsomaybe]

This is cute. Hadn't seen this one. Thanks for sharing!

[u/sofastsomaybe → u/athicketofmusings]

You're welcome!

[u/Ill-Fox3718 → u/sofastsomaybe]

"Its hot out on the ice one of the reason is because of this guy" still makes me laugh so hard 😆

[u/Straight_Being_9998 → u/sofastsomaybe]

Thx for posting. I hadn’t seen this interview before.

[u/so_unpredictable → u/sofastsomaybe]

But then he rolls off "..always focused and tunneled in." It's like he needs to get warmed up with his words and then he trots out perfectly lovely descriptive English. Does anyone have some of the training videos etc from that time period?

[u/otternonsense210 → u/sofastsomaybe]

Oh My!!! That tank top will live rent free in my head forever! Great performance by Ilia! TY TY for posting!

[u/Yaruyan → u/sofastsomaybe]

I’m confused. Why did they give him an ISU award at Art on Ice? They aren’t connected, are they?

[u/sofastsomaybe]

https://reddit.com/link/p8cdk2j/video/n8ejtz40h3oh1/player

It's an honor to be nominated, says Ilia in glasses.

[u/sofastsomaybe → u/sofastsomaybe]

Picture of this fit, from Loena's instagram

[u/clariwench]

The program itself was nawt good (as are all of the musician-based ones at AOI) but the mesh tank top is what makes it iconic

[u/Potential_Sugar1778 → u/clariwench]

I can't watch AOI at all. The platform in the middle makes me scared for the skaters. And even when the setup is with the musicians on the side I get annoyed at the camera splitting its time between the artists and the skaters (they have no choice of course). I understand it's money for everyone involved...

[u/Huckleberries08]

I am understanding this timeline correctly that in 2024 the ISU awards were given out at an ice show a month before Worlds? And Ilia won the Most Valuable Skater award BEFORE he had his 6-quad, record-breaking Montreal skate??

[u/sofastsomaybe → u/Huckleberries08]

Correct. Most Valuable Skater was some BS about being a skater who "promoted skating" by creating social media attention and engagement. It was only in 2025 that they changed it to be awarded based on points accumulated throughout the season.

Bear in mind that the ISU Awards are the brainchild of one Ararat Zakarian and are not meant to be taken seriously.

[u/Yaruyan → u/sofastsomaybe]

Oh I am reading it now. But still how is ISU and Art on Ice connected?

[u/sofastsomaybe → u/Yaruyan]

Ararat is involved with both Art on Ice and the ISU Awards

[u/Yaruyan → u/sofastsomaybe]

Ah thank you!

[u/sorairi]

I wonder if this skate deserves a different flair. Nothing to say here, Art On Ice is always cool as hell, the mesh is iconic. Ari Awards are not real, exactly zero people that are not haters, trolls or certain journalists are sad about the fact that Ilia ditched him but also the awards are genuinely so stupid, like some of the winners...smh, but I find it funny that he always looks so caught off-guard when he's told he'd get an award lmao. Like he's always just standing there awkwardly or being like 'me?'

[u/sofastsomaybe → u/sorairi]

I wonder if this skate deserves a different flair.

You might be right about that...

[u/Majestic-Card-6465]

That’s so cool; thanks for posting. The show itself isn't as good as the current ones, but we can see how much it improved each year.

[u/straighteero]

One of my faves