Pairs Free Skate

[Medusa]

I don't like their lines - she grabs her blade whenever she gets the chance - lifts, spirals, spins, death spirals (hideous postion this week). They often make several mistakes which results in a sloppy program. I've never seen a pair team fall so apart at a competition and I think they are the most over-rated.

I really don't care if you don't like D/D. That's your preference, fine by me.

And D/D always have such clean performances that's why they are multiple ... oops, just Canadian champions. Even in the 4CC they lose to the Chinese again and again.

Line is also more than just one position, it's about extension, it's about posture. And what happened to the edges comment? You really want to say that they have bad edges?

Oh, and I always wanted to say this: S/S have better choreography and more transitions than D/D! I can't say that about lots of my favourites, but here it actually fits.

--------------

That said; I enjoyed M/T. A clean program is often appealing, even if it seems choreographically empty at times. Plus their speed and fluidity over the ice makes their cross-overs look so very pretty. I hope they can keep it up, they could snatch the Gold at Euros this season... Maybe they could even extend Russia's reign in pairs, but I have to see the Chinese first before I talk about their Olympic chances. Oh, and Maks Trankov is way hot.

[i love to skate]

And D/D always have such clean performances that's why they are multiple ... oops, just Canadian champions. Even in the 4CC they lose to the Chinese again and again.

Line is also more than just one position, it's about extension, it's about posture. And what happened to the edges comment? You really want to say that they have bad edges?

Oh, and I always wanted to say this: S/S have better choreography and more transitions than D/D! I can't say that about lots of my favourites, but here it actually fits.

I said I enjoy D/D's deep edges....I didn't say anything bad about S/S edges. Considering S/S are world champions shouldn't they be able to be consistent in competitions? Obviously since D/D are just Canadian champions (that is a very offensive comment by the way) S/S should be more consistent then them shouldn't they?

Why do you take everything personally and respond in such a rude manor??

[Medusa]

I said I enjoy D/D's deep edges....I didn't say anything bad about S/S edges. Considering S/S are world champions shouldn't they be able to be consistent in competitions? Obviously since D/D are just Canadian champions (that is a very offensive comment by the way) S/S should be more consistent then them shouldn't they?

Why do you take everything personally and respond in such a rude manor??

Being World Champion means that on two days in late March one couple/skater had two excellent skates. It's not a lifetime award for being consistent.

Lambiel is a two time World Champion and I am not quite sure he has ever had a truly clean freeskate.

I found your comment offensive, it was generalising, flat and partly unfounded.

I take everything personally?
Every time someone dares to say something against Canadians you come galloping into the room, draw your sword and fight for their honour! Which I find quite cute actually. But please accept that other skaters also have fans who also react if those skaters are criticised.

[i love to skate]

I take everything personally?
Every time someone dares to say something against Canadians you come galloping into the room, draw your sword and fight for their honour! Which I find quite cute actually. But please accept that other skaters also have fans who also react if those skaters are criticised.

And couldn't you say the same thing about you and defending Europeans every chance you get? I think I am quite level headed in terms of competitors and performances and I don't think I've ever defended anyone when they didn't deserve it. I also think the same thing about the majority of your posts.

I'll stay away from your posts from now on I though if it is just going to become a fight. ETA: I take it back Medusa...let's keep the fights going!

[evangeline]

Being World Champion means that on two days in late March one couple/skater had two excellent skates. It's not a lifetime award for being consistent.

And sometimes, it doesn't even take two excellent skates. It could just be the fact that the skater did less disastrously than all the other skaters on the two nights in March (e.g. Yagudin's LP at 2000 Worlds...that LP was riddled with mistakes but Plushenko and all the other contenders were even worse).

I mean, consistency is a great thing but sometimes all it takes is laying down the right performances at the right time, like Shizuka at 2004 Worlds and 2006 Olympics. S/S are indeed frustratingly inconsistent, but it's not like any other present pairs teams are much that better at both consistency and skating level.

[nevergonnadance]

Very few teams, if any, can match the power and speed S/S have, which comes from their excellent skating skills.

ITA on D/D. They've been doing romantic schlock forever because it's the only thing Jessica can do.

Honestly I just saw their exhibition to last season's awful "Fix You" short and it was the best and most cohesive I've ever seen them skate. Actual energy from Jessica. Obviously she has energy or she couldn't be an elite pairs skater but I feel her locked up most of the time. And there's something about her upper body - even when her legs are moving it's like her upper body is disengaged, waiting for something or I can't even describe it. It's not literally true but I feel like her arms are always just held out to the side while she's staring forward worrying or waiting. "Fix You" for the TEB exhibit was practically effervescent compared to the usual, and that song is a dirge. So IMO the exhibit's a good sign.

Problem with "Way We Were" is that is not good music. Hit song a billion years ago, long since become an elevator snoozer. I don't think it triggers the tear ducts like other touching movie music. It's awful actually. And the program is sort of Blower's Daughter only there's pain faces at the end.

[i love to skate]

I mean, consistency is a great thing but sometimes all it takes is laying down the right performances at the right time, like Shizuka at 2004 Worlds and 2006 Olympics. S/S are indeed frustratingly inconsistent, but it's not like any other present pairs teams are much that better at both consistency and skating level.

That's a good point. However, most people often say that S/S are in a different category than the other pair skaters . Therefore, I don't think it's an outrageous suggestion that they should be more consistent than the other teams when they receive the marks that they do. For example, TEB long program PCS were the same as D/D.

[skatingbc]

And D/D always have such clean performances that's why they are multiple ... oops, just Canadian champions. Even in the 4CC they lose to the Chinese again and again.

I don't understand why you say, "EVEN ... they lose to the Chinese." Last time I checked the Chinese were pretty good?

I don't think losing to the Chinese is something to be ashamed of. The Chinese teams are strong right now. Losing to I/B last year on the GP circuit kind of sucked, though.

[evangeline]

That's a good point. However, most people often say that S/S are in a different category than the other pair skaters . Therefore, I don't think it's an outrageous suggestion that they should be more consistent than the other teams when they receive the marks that they do. For example, TEB long program PCS were the same as D/D.

Yes, the marks S/S received for that disaster of a LP were pretty outrageous, but isn't that just reputation judging? I don't think it has anything to do with consistency at all--you manage to win some major titles, judges are more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt. S/S are far from the only skaters to have benefited from this sort of judging, as unfair as it is.

[dorispulaski]

Moving right along, I think Todd Sand gets the coaching award of the year already.

That was the best 3ATh that I&B have ever landed. It doesn't hurt in coaching that M&S had a great throw 2A...but to do something no one else in the world can do in athletics when you're in your mid 30's is amazing.

Oh and the 2A into a skid spiral in the SP was excellent too. Even their horrible attempts at a 3tw are a little smoother than they used to be, and they actually got credit for the triple in the LP. M&S always had a nice twist, so I hoped they would be able to help improve I&B's twists a bit.

Likewise, Todd being a technical specialist has helped them get most of the levels on the skills they could get, something that was a big problem for them after the last COP set of rule changes.

In fact, I think they really got shafted on their PCS, particularly in the short program. It wouldn't have changed their placing, but it would have been more correct. I actually liked that SP.

They could very well end up on the US Olympic team if they keep improving. If USFS will let them, of course.

[lakeshore]

I don't like their lines - she grabs her blade whenever she gets the chance - lifts, spirals, spins, death spirals (hideous postion this week). They often make several mistakes which results in a sloppy program..

Her position with excessive blade-grabbing in lifts is just ugly. Also, the position in death spirals, well I guess everybody has to do that way Another trade-mark element of this pair is the excessive 'skating-between-legs' move.

They're running out of creativity... I hope they ditch this horredous LP.

[ImaginaryPogue]

I don't understand why you say, "EVEN ... they lose to the Chinese." Last time I checked the Chinese were pretty good?

I don't think losing to the Chinese is something to be ashamed of. The Chinese teams are strong right now. Losing to I/B last year on the GP circuit kind of sucked, though.

Agreed. That comment really rubs me the wrong way. Medusa, would you mind explaining what you meant.

[mycelticblessing]

I love M/T but I really hate 'Love Story'! Thank goodness they had that 'Cinema Paradiso' moment in the middle. Now why couldn't they have skated to 4.30 minutes of Cinema Paradiso instead?

That said, they skated great! I really hope they continue to do well for the rest of the season.

[Mikoto]

entire post

I cannot believe there is someone who is positive toward I/B!

I thought their PCS were very low, too. I don't know about pair skating well but I think they have very good quality in many aspects--basic skating, unison and something so called pairness?.

Yes, their programs in the last few seasons were not exciting and they were a bit slow. Not to mention his SBS triples. But now they(including John!) have good shapes. for th3A!

[museksk8r]

Jess and Bryce broke up before Worlds 2008 -- she's been dating Scott Moir for a while now. Apparently it caused a few friendship issues between the guys at the time, but I think they're all okay now.

-kypma

Wow, I didn't know that Jessica and Scott are dating. They are a very attractive couple.