Really?? Just look at the her hands, smoother moves, better extensions. Look at some of their videos again. You'll see, and if you still deny it, then I can't change your opinion nor will I try.Originally Posted by mousepotato
Really?? Just look at the her hands, smoother moves, better extensions. Look at some of their videos again. You'll see, and if you still deny it, then I can't change your opinion nor will I try.
You look at the videos; I know what I see. No you won't change my mind, I've been watching pairs too long, skating like you have an apple on your head doesn’t mean you have good knee bend and edges, if it did Bazarova would be a world champion by now. Obviously you adore Tatiana and that's fine, go right on ahead. I have more than backed up the reason why I prefer S/S over V/T; you can either accept it or you can't.
Maybe if V/T start doing better choreography like Pink Panther or Pina I may change my mind but as long as they are stuck in the Morozovian rut that is Romeo and Juliet or The Swans.....I doubt it.
Again, It doesn't matter to me if you disagree but I have been watching pairs skating for quite some time as well and know what a really good pair looks like. You're right, I am a Volosozhar fan just as you adore Savchenko. But you say she skates like she has an apple on her head- quite wrong. That would be Bazarova which is a big difference. Volosozhar, on the other hand, moves her whole body.
And about you changing your mind, V/T would care less what you or I think as long as they get medals.
Wait, really? I mean, I agree with you that S/S are the better couple, but give credit where credit is due, at least, mousepotato.
I couldn't begin to argue to the level of detail you all have cited. It seems to me that both of these couples are excellent enough so that, if one is better with this jump and the other is better with that lift, it kind of evens out and comes down to personal preference. For me, S/S have the added dimension of being wonderful interpreters of innovative choreography. Their work reflects well on their own abilities and on those of Ingo Steuer, who's got some fabulous ideas that are in an entirely diifferent direction from everyone else's. So I prefer S/S. Without sacrificing any technical level or grace, they make me feel that I'm looking at skating in an entirely new way.
Clearly it does.
I'm sure they wouldn't, but that doesn't seem to the point of the OP's question.V/T would care less what you or I think as long as they get medals.
I do give credit, The question was: Volosozhar/Trankov or Savchenko/Szolkovy? Whom do you prefer and why? I answered the question with my opinion just as everyone else has and I seemed to have backed mine up with a ton of reasons as to why I feel that way and what might change my mind, mostly better choreography.
Maybe others should give S/S just as much credit as they think I should give V/T?
Everyone else gives credit to S/S as well. I just as you have also gave reasons why I prefer V/T over S/S and I would add now what would change my mind- better lines, smoothness, more emotion, and consistency in elements. That is it. I have nothing else to say.
I kind of disagree here a bit. While V/T looked great on paper, whether or not they'd actually "fit together" was a bit of gamble. Maxim (I think especially) was leaving a very promising partnership. I actually DO think that M/T would have ended up on the World podium and frankly Olympic podium in Sochi. Maria was getting more and more consistent, and they had some very good qualities. I don't feel the same about V/M.
And as for Aliona/Robin. If I remember correctly from the very beginning the German fed was very much was excited about the idea of getting Aliona.. She was a world Junior Champion and considered a HUGE talent.. Any fed would have wanted her. Aliona had already seen Robin skate (and Robin was a German National Champion with his previous partner) at Junior Worlds, when she had agreed to pair with him.
Just like the Russians gave Tatiana the best male partner they had, the Germans pretty much gave Aliona the best male partner they had. Aliona wouldn't have moved to an entire different country at such a young age, if she didn't think she had a shot at being very successful with Robin. And they both climbed the ranks very quickly. They won German nationals their first year, and placed 6th at their first worlds (and I believe many felt they deserved better than 6th)
As for their second year V/T should have better choregraphy. It takes time for teams to gell even if they were successful with others. By their second year, Aliona and Robin were only doing double twists, double axel throws...If by Sochi or next year V/T don't have harder choregraphy than we will talk.
Last edited by bekalc; 01-15-2012 at 04:11 PM.
I happen to love both teams. As of now I prefer S/S and have for years. I love the creativity, lifts & throws from them. But there is a definate wow factor from V/T that caught my attention from the beginning.
When the pairing of V/T was in the works I was torn. I knew it needed to happen as I enjoyed Tatiana and thought Stanislav Morozov was dreadful. I also enjoyed Maxim, but thought Maria was icey and not on par with him. I knew the two them teaming up would be good & planned on not liking them because they were competition for my favorites. I know its lame, but like any sports fan, I want MY favorite teams/skaters to win. The 1st time we saw V/T skate, my boyfriend starting laughing. I asked him why he was laughing and he replied,"you soo want to hate them, but I can already tell they are everything you like, you are soo going to love this team."
and he was right
What you say here is very interesting. Regarding "I don't feel the same about V/M." Do you mean V/T? I myself have been scratching my head over the question of "is Tatiana so much better than Maria?" Admittedly, Maria's jumps weren't consistent and her twist not as high as Tatiana's, but M/T were a beautiful pair.
I did not have the knowledge you have about how S/S teamed up. So both S/S and V/T went through a similar process.
Both Tatiana and Aliona actually skated with Morosov, intriguingly. Aliona and Stanislav Morosov went to the Olympics together (2002) and have won World Juniors (2000/01).
Right now, V/T are better than M/T simply because Maxim likes skating with Tatiana in a way that was not true with Maria.
I agree. Trankov looks much happier both on ice and off ice now. He says he likes skating with Volosozhar and it is not as stressful because he doesn't fight with her as much and feels that his voice is being heard and he is an equal. He often said before that Vasiliev took Maria's side in almost all arguments. At least he is happy.
Oh I think V/T are better than M/T and have more potential too. But I'm saying it was "a risk" (well kind of )
No i was talking about Tatiana and Morosov. i was saying that while I think Trankov and Maria could have ended up on a world/Olympic podium; I don't think Tatiana and Morosov would have.
Yes Tatiana and Aliona had similar paths. They shared partners (and two coaches). Both are from the Ukraine. Both were considered incredible female pairs skaters, and most have felt it was a pity that the Ukranian federation could not produce a male pairs skater worthy of them. Morosov had the privilege of skating with the two best female pairs skaters of his generation. But I think Aliona's situation another trajectory would be think Marina Anissina. Very talented Junior World Champ, puts out feelers to people she's seen before to get a partner because she can't find one in her home country. Ends up with someone who impressed her at Junior Worlds.
Robin had no partner at the time (much less a partner of Maria's caliber) and was considering retiring. Trying things out with a former Junior World Champ was hardly this big gamble for him. Aliona strikes me as a very ambitious young lady and likely would not have agreed to skate with Robin if she didn't think she could be successful with him. Any more than I suspect Marina would have gone with Gwendol. Neither strikes me as people who would be okay with a "rent a Russian/Ukranian" situation. They wanted to win. And both Robin and Gwendol had been successful enough in their home countries. Robin won German Nationals with a previous partner, that there was no need to rent a skater just to finish well at their own Nationals.
I'm sure the Russians would have been interested in her as well (given how talented she was regarded as) Her and Robin won German Nationals their first year together. And in the next year at their international debuts were 4th at Euros, and 6th at worlds respectively a year later when Aliona was allowed to compete. And some felt they should have placed higher than 6th at the Worlds (but they were a new team) So really not this big gamble; they were successful very very quickly.
Just as Gwendol and the French knew they were getting an extremely talented young skater when Anisina made the move. The Germans, Robin, Steuer knew they were getting a very talented skater when they encouraged Aliona to move countries.
Last edited by bekalc; 01-15-2012 at 07:59 PM.
I prefer S/S just because I feel like I've been able to see their evolution over time and am kind of attached to them- I really want them to succeed through the next Oly cycle. However, both teams are fantastic and I'm thoroughly enjoying the rivalry
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