I'll be glued to my TV tomorrow...But leaving aside placement of elements, speed and ice coverage ,which you can't always tell about on TV, and given that speed, ice coverage can vary from skate to skate, I really think that D/W's OD may have it over B/A's....though I do like their OD..Hmmmm...
It was inevitable that Belbin/Agosto's continuous withdrawals from competition and injuries would catch up with them and they have. In their absences, Davis/White have carried the baton for US ice dancing, winning the most recent 4CC, all their GP events, and the GP Final. Plus, Davis/White's routines last season and this season have been more difficult than Belbin/Agosto's routines, IMO. Meryl and Charlie really worked hard and have improved so much!
I also agree with the choreography and interpretation marks for Davis and White.
That said, I thought this particular performance was not as magical as, say, the Grand Prix final performance. Meryl seemed just a tad bit off all the way through, not just on the twizzles. Like she was having to work hard rather than just letting it happen.
Yes - i agree. Maybe they feel pressured to score D/W according to their GP success.Originally Posted by ImaginaryPogue
I'm one of the few who will but I agree with you that B&A are getting a little dumped. IMO D&W's OD is better artistically than B&A's but the overall skating is close but B&A are (of course IMHO) better in some areas. IMO with clean skates I have to say that as much as I love Tanith and Ben over Meryl and Charlie then yeah I'd give the nod in the OD to D&W. But with any mistake both teams are close enough that I would have B&A win that portion or at least D&W's score should be a little lower.
I'll probably get slammed for this but so be it but with the exception of the OD this year, I've found D&W to be a little bit overrated.
However, if the international judges (who's marks USFS seem to be taking to heart) think that D&W's skating skills are better than those of V&M then I guess it's no surprise that they will also be considered better than B&A. Sadly I did expect this.
IMO, the moment the international judges decided that B&A's FD was only worth a 95 they lost their chance to repeat as National champions. I think if the international judges had marked B&A on the same level as D&W and V&M they might have been given an opportunity to regain the title.
I think B&A's FD is to them what D&W's OD is to them and if B&A skate well they should in theory be able to win the FD but I'm not counting on it.
ANYTHING can happen in the FD. The competition is very close.
Warmup Group 2
6 Tanith Belbin, IceWorks SC
Benjamin Agosto, IceWorks SC
Moldavian (Romanian) folk dance
Same outfits as they've used all year. He give her a bird, she sets it free.
The twizzles were good, not great.
Straight line lift still awkward and unsmooth in the transitions
Final steps high energy and very, very good
transitional lift to end again kind of awkward
They think it felt good. I thought it was better than SA and CoC. Still work to do on those lifts though.
32.06 34.83 total 66.89 overall (111.91)
dear me. Score inflation.
7 Katie Wyble, Center Ice & Blades of Western PA
Justin Morrow, All Year FSC
Zorba the Greek (sirtaki)
Over all quite pleasant. They got the stop and go and knee slide thing from sirtaki going quite well
trouble on the twizzles, a bit, especially the first set. Lift very basic as these things go.
8 Meryl Davis, Arctic FSC
Charlie White, Detroit SC
Meryl & Charlie were shown meditating during B&A's routine. I think they may be a little tight. Still they start out as usual.
The lift was wonderful, as were the 2 step sequences. The midline not touching is particularly special where there hand motions, which are quite complex are very synchronized. Meryl had a problem in the second twizzle set, but I think she might still have gotten the rotations to get the level. Not sure. Very smooth final transitional lift
Scores inflated for not their very best for this superb dance. OTOH, they will get the extra +1 GOE for each element for keeping Indian character in the element, plus they should be extra high in the choreo and interp PCS components.
32.56 35.55 total 68.11 overall 113.53
9 Jane Summersett, Broadmoor SC
Todd Gilles, Broadmoor SC
Chilean pan pipe music & dance (choreo Chris Dean) Duchesnay music (also Illinyk Katsalopov)
white shirt, black pants on him, white blouse, blue skirt, wide red pseudo belt on her
Really good energy, nice twizzles and I really liked the straight line step. They also handled the change in tempo very, very nicely.
28.92 23.56 total 52.48 overall 83.20 (3rd)
10 Kimberly Navarro, Santa Rosa FSC
Brent Bommentre, Philadelphia SC & HS
Brazilian/African. I dislike this dance almost as much as the DomShabs, and for similar reasons.
He's in the dreadful costume with the mini shield on his chest, the pseudo dreadlocks on his head, and lots of cowrie shells
She is the ocean? in blue?
They are tight. They are a bit odd in the straight line step. She is kind of jumping a turn that ought to be smooth, and the
unison is not perfect. I'd have to check the levels, but I preferred S&G...And normally, I am very fond of N&B
29.42 28.18 total 57.60 overall 95.20
I hope that 95.20 is enough for NavBom to stay in 3rd please.
After the Europeans Championships, i think Meryl and Charlie are the favourites to gold medal in the olym because they have the highest score of the season (210.10 e 210.97) in the GP'S and today, the russian couple are 199.95 total. The Shabalin's injury is hampering him. So i think the americans really the best couple.
As for Tessa and Scott, I think they are no match for Meryl and Charlie. They had an absurdly high score considering that she almost fell twice. And not only did so because the Scott held her.
So, i believe in Meryl and Davis!
Does anyone else think the steps of Samuelson/Bates don't go well with their music to The Dixie Chicks? The choreography is not in sync with the music to me. I don't like this OD.
Really? Loved it. Should secure them a trip to Vancouver IMHO.
Didn't notice that at all. Love the number, the music, the costumes, and this couple!!!
haha oh well, different strokes for different folks.
Poor Kimberly appeared visibly upset (were those tears?)about not holding onto 3rd after the OD. There's still the FD to look forward to!
Loved S&B!
I admit I don't get the politics & judging of dance, et al, so now I just sit back & relax.
Can't wait to see their FD.
Looks like a close fight between the top 2 (i.e. D&W and B&A), and also the fight for 3rd (i.e. S&B and K&B). Will be interesting to see how it all plays out...
At one event. At the GPF they aced it, and then followed that with an all level four Nationals. They have the FD of the season (using my completely unscientific poll here). If the team that wins gold at the Olympics has never medalled before (which I think would be the first time that's ever happened.) that would be a definite surprise, I think.After the Europeans Championships, i think Meryl and Charlie are the favourites to gold medal in the olym because they have the highest score of the season (210.10 e 210.97) in the GP'S and today, the russian couple are 199.95 total. The Shabalin's injury is hampering him. So i think the americans really the best couple.
As for Tessa and Scott, I think they are no match for Meryl and Charlie. They had an absurdly high score considering that she almost fell twice. And not only did so because the Scott held her.
So, i believe in Meryl and Davis!
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