Shen and Zhao are my favorite team, but I don't really have a problem w/ the Zhang's getting 2nd instead - I would've been fine either way. You have to take into account that the Zhang's had a lead over them going into the free skate and that despite the fall, their program had more level 4 elements in it and most of them were performed well.
Haven't watched my tape yet but I did see Pt/Tk whom I felt a bit sorry for because they really have been coming along quite well with their presentation. Sorry again that they retire medalless.
Didn't see S&Z but from their SP I thought they skated a routine without much practice. Very sad for them.
Zhang and Zhang - Whoa that fall. Not easy to continue but she did!!! I think they got extra points for that. The standing ovation perks up the judges.
The most improved Pairs is Pang and Tong. She has come a long way from just being someone to toss around in the air. They had quite a rapport with each other and with the audience, too. The wave of the future?
T&M have never been of any interest to me (sorry T&M fans) and they continue to be of no interest. That slow cautious approach to everything just isn't skating with my requirement of a joie de vivre. It can win medals, though, and I definitely believe they deserved the gold. Their calculated precision technical is very special. (aside: Sasha has a much better R&J with an invisible R)
JMO - Joe
Considering I have always been a fan of Russian figure skating, having gotten into the sport watching pairs as the first discipline, with G & G and M & D, I have to say the pair I most enjoyed at the LP competition was Dube & Davison. It was my first time seeing them in competition, and I loved their chemistry. I think they have great artistic ability and look forward to seeing them develop more. If I had to pick the pair I could watch over and over again, it would be Dube/Davison. Yes, even after the Zhangs' drama, the Chinese tricks, and the technical perfection of T/M. Why? Because I enjoyed their chemistry and artistic interpretation, two elements I didn't see much of from the other pairs last night.
I loved the entrance to the Polish pair's LP. I thought it was cool. :D
T/M's performance was technically perfect. Their cautiousness was felt, however, I thought as big a story as it is, interpretation of R&J could be more artistic, and I didn't feel emotion until the end. However, from the perspective based on the new system of numbers, I think T/M deserved the gold. I hope Russia pulls out a new pair. I've watched O/S, and I'm not inspired by them as I was with Bechke/Petrov, G/G, B/S, and M/D (not K/D). I wonder whether we will see another Russian pair like them. I guess only time will tell.
I was happy that Shen and Zhao were able to finish their long program as well as they did. Their lifts weren't the best I've seen from them - there was a tentativeness I sensed, especially from the exits of those lifts, and their SBS spins were off. Technically, I see how Pang and Tong and the Zhangs could have outranked them last night. Artistically, I think Shen and Zhao still carry themselves above the other two. But like SunshineSlayer, I'm fine with the outcomes between the three Chinese pairs. I agree with the assessment of the Zhangs lead from the SP and the level 4 elements.
The German pair was also enjoyable to watch. They would be one of my favorite pairs to watch in the coming years. I liked their extensions and transitions in both programs.
Last edited by Muse; 02-14-2006 at 10:01 PM.
Totally agree with you Muse about D/D. This is virtually the only pair I'm excited to see. As a fan of the Russian pairs of the past, I'm not surprised these two grab you - they have an almost Russian pairs quality about them - something about the lines and a certain aristocratic air. It's just icing on the cake for me that they are Canadian, as am I. I spent virtually the entire pairs final wishing I liked one or two of the top teams more.
I don't really enjoy T/M's skating. It was fine and all, but didn't seem extremely special to me. Tot has always looked cold and harsh to me. Did she change her red hair to blonde to seem warmer to audiences? It just made her look like an ice queen =/ And her comment about the Z/Z fall being divine retribution or whatnot just put me off. I'm sure they WERE aggressive during warmups, but geez... sympathy?!
Yay for S/Z, I'm happy to see them back. P/T's skate was good, but I think the rankings were correct for them, even though I'm partial to Phantom of the Opera music lol.
Just wanted to say that I agree with Muse's assesment, although I have to say I was also a big Dimitriev-kasakova fan too (and G/G and M/D)
It's funny, because Dube/Davison are probably the first Canadian pair, after Hough/Ladret, that I could really sink into and like. But like you said, D/D just has that quality that I felt from the pairs of the past. I know they've got a little more work to do technically, but I think they could definitely have a chance for a medal someday because they already have the chemistry and artistry at such a young age.Originally Posted by rain
I didn't mind K/D. I liked them well enough actually, but some of their moves reminded me too much of Natalia, and I didn't feel the same chemistry between them like I did with M/D, who I still miss... *sigh*
It was the best of the night, technically, but it sure the heck was not perfect. Every one of the lifts should have been -1 for man's footwork unsteady. There was also a chest crash on the triple twist, another deduction.T/M's performance was technically perfect
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