GPF Free Dance, Sun. 12/11 at 1:50 pm EST

[eyria]

That's a great observation about sepia tone.

I've got to say how impressed I was with W&P's FD. Despite the fact that I don't particularly like that song, it's evident that they, and especially Kaitlyn really connect with it. Usually she breaks character with a fist pump at the end of the program, but the emotion of it carried right on to the KnC this time. It was lovely to see the great ovation the audience gave them!

I agree; their performance was truly great. I've been neutral on Weaver/Poje in the past--liked some programs, didn't like others, didn't have a strong feeling about them overall. And even at Rostelecom, I wasn't sold on this long program. But they really skated it outstandingly here at the Final. I was spellbound throughout the performance and even had tears in my eyes at the end. Definitely the best I've ever seen them skate. It was terrific, and they totally deserved the sustained standing ovation.

I thought they were miles ahead of Pechalat/Bourzat in terms of PCS. Can't speak to the technical levels, but I certainly thought they deserved the bronze based on performance quality, anyhow.

[KKonas]

Well, well, well, the people have spoken. Not well for those who are slanted. The competition was over on the first day but today was a terrible and unfair result. Chemistry, Flow, Program development and even the technical score were clear to us novices as well as the experts. If you look back at my previous texts I said the U.S. has sold thier soul for this dance victory (never more evident than this free dance result) and get used to it, even with an unsteady floor it will continue. D/W skate amazing but really it could have been any piece of music in mostly waltz time, no connection no feeling. Oh well, we will continue to watch this unfair judging for this season and then hopefully slowly we will get a panel in place that watches and cares about the sport enough to judge, without pressure of how it will affect my countries other events....yup, remember no U.S. woman, man or pair are a threat so bank on this as the event to.....

What drivel! The Ref was Canadian, tech controller was French, tech specialists were from Japan and Israel. One judge each from USA Can, France - hardly a group on the take for the US with some skaters of their own to root for.

[silver.blades]

Just my thoughts from the stands:

B/S: This free dance is a mess and her dress is terrible. Who thought it was a good idea to have such a ragged dress for such a sophisticated piece of music? Their lifts looked really laboured and contorted and they seemed to have to work very hard to gain any speed. Her posture really needs improvement. They seem to have really regressed since I saw them at Skate Canada a few years ago. Hopefully with better material they can get back to where they were.

S/S: The Shibutani's are so enjoyable to watch. They had great energy and performed the program really well. They need to work on speed as they were noticeably slower than all the other teams, except the Russians. There is also a lack of refinement/sophistication? I can't really define it, but watching them compared to the four teams ahead of them they're missing something that has nothing to do with specific skating technique. I think maybe a lack of excitement and pushing the boundaries of their performance and technique and being a little too safe, not just in the music and choreography, but also in the execution of the program.

W/P: They have improved so much. This program gave me goosebumps. They were so invested in their performance it was truly a treat to watch live. They need to work on their acceleration onto the edge and work on their speed as they are noticeable slower than the top three teams live and don't quite have the depth of edge. Their lines, however, are gorgeous.

P/B: I was really impressed by the speed of this team. I've always thought they were kind of slow, but I was wrong. They have nice lines and are strong performers. I'd like to see them be a little sharper and more precise with their feet.

V/M: I was actually a little disappointed with their performance. I love V/M, but I found their performance a little flat in places. There were moments that were absolutely fabulous, and it defiantly picked up as the program progressed. I'd like to see Scott be a bit more angular and sharp through the middle jazz section, although Tessa does this part very well. Technically they are still superb, fantastic lines and unison, great depth of edge, although D/W are faster. My favourite part of the competition was watching Tessa and Scott do their cross cuts in a circle on the warm up, followed by a change of edge. Absolutely breathtaking. That was the attack they needed for the entire free dance.

D/W: This program is 4 minutes of pure joy. Meryl and Charlie have effortless flow across the ice with wonderfully clean feet. Meryl's dress is absolutely perfect for her as it helps to hide her slightly bend free leg without appearing to do so. That said they have defiantly improved their lines since the last time I saw them and this program with it's flow and less emphasis on line is perfect for them as they have a wonderful movement quality.

[Tonichelle]

V/M: I was actually a little disappointed with their performance. I love V/M, but I found their performance a little flat in places. There were moments that were absolutely fabulous, and it defiantly picked up as the program progressed. I'd like to see Scott be a bit more angular and sharp through the middle jazz section, although Tessa does this part very well. Technically they are still superb, fantastic lines and unison, great depth of edge, although D/W are faster. My favourite part of the competition was watching Tessa and Scott do their cross cuts in a circle on the warm up, followed by a change of edge. Absolutely breathtaking. That was the attack they needed for the entire free dance.

D/W: This program is 4 minutes of pure joy. Meryl and Charlie have effortless flow across the ice with wonderfully clean feet. Meryl's dress is absolutely perfect for her as it helps to hide her slightly bend free leg without appearing to do so. That said they have defiantly improved their lines since the last time I saw them and this program with it's flow and less emphasis on line is perfect for them as they have a wonderful movement quality.

thank you for your opinions/observations! I think they are a little more... objective than a lot of the ones shared here.

[eyria]

Thanks silver.blades for your report from the stands. I really appreciate your comments about the relative speed of the different teams. It is so hard, almost impossible, to judge this accurately on TV. Hearing of Pechalat/Bourzat's superior speed helps explain why they were placed above Weaver/Poje.

[jcoates]

Just my thoughts from the stands:

B/S: This free dance is a mess and her dress is terrible. Who thought it was a good idea to have such a ragged dress for such a sophisticated piece of music? Their lifts looked really laboured and contorted and they seemed to have to work very hard to gain any speed. Her posture really needs improvement. They seem to have really regressed since I saw them at Skate Canada a few years ago. Hopefully with better material they can get back to where they were.

S/S: The Shibutani's are so enjoyable to watch. They had great energy and performed the program really well. They need to work on speed as they were noticeably slower than all the other teams, except the Russians. There is also a lack of refinement/sophistication? I can't really define it, but watching them compared to the four teams ahead of them they're missing something that has nothing to do with specific skating technique. I think maybe a lack of excitement and pushing the boundaries of their performance and technique and being a little too safe, not just in the music and choreography, but also in the execution of the program.

W/P: They have improved so much. This program gave me goosebumps. They were so invested in their performance it was truly a treat to watch live. They need to work on their acceleration onto the edge and work on their speed as they are noticeable slower than the top three teams live and don't quite have the depth of edge. Their lines, however, are gorgeous.

P/B: I was really impressed by the speed of this team. I've always thought they were kind of slow, but I was wrong. They have nice lines and are strong performers. I'd like to see them be a little sharper and more precise with their feet.

V/M: I was actually a little disappointed with their performance. I love V/M, but I found their performance a little flat in places. There were moments that were absolutely fabulous, and it defiantly picked up as the program progressed. I'd like to see Scott be a bit more angular and sharp through the middle jazz section, although Tessa does this part very well. Technically they are still superb, fantastic lines and unison, great depth of edge, although D/W are faster. My favourite part of the competition was watching Tessa and Scott do their cross cuts in a circle on the warm up, followed by a change of edge. Absolutely breathtaking. That was the attack they needed for the entire free dance.

D/W: This program is 4 minutes of pure joy. Meryl and Charlie have effortless flow across the ice with wonderfully clean feet. Meryl's dress is absolutely perfect for her as it helps to hide her slightly bend free leg without appearing to do so. That said they have defiantly improved their lines since the last time I saw them and this program with it's flow and less emphasis on line is perfect for them as they have a wonderful movement quality.

My complaint re B/S is more with the cuts of music than the concept or the dress. They are trying to portray the witches theme from the festival celebrations that take place in the spring in Europe for Walpurgis night. But the middle section of music drains the program of tension and drama. It also draws attention to their hideous posture. IMO, the dress actually fits the intended theme rather successfully. Sadly their skating quality, propensity for mistakes and some of the overwrought choreography serve as major minuses for them.

Fine points on all the other teams.

[chuckm]

Both of Bobrova's costumes---SD and FD---make her appear as if she has no neck. Not flattering at all. The bent-over posture makes it that much worse.

I was watching the V/M exhibition video and noticed that Tessa has grown taller and filled out a bit, which is normal for a woman her age (22). She isn't that much shorter than Scott any more. Maybe that's why Scott seems to struggle slightly with the lifts. Their footwork looks light and easy, but their lifts don't have the freedom and effortless quality they used to have.

[demarinis5]

Thanks silver.blades for your report. Always nice to hear from a GS member who was actually at the competition.

[cotillion]

I wonder why the ISU haven't updated the Dance world standings ? Pairs Ladies and Men have all been updated, odd.

[veravina]

I think Moir's venting is a culmination of the marks they've been receiving all season for their marks - PCS in particular. They have been lower than usual and yet I don't see any difference in their skill levels from other years. I also don't see much difference between what he said and the numerous comments made by fans on this and other boards over the past few years. Don't forget that both D&W fell at Skate America last year and still won handily, so it isn't a stretch to think that the two teams marks might have been closer in the SD rather than the competition ending 5 points. I think the coaches need to get talking to the judges to find out what V&M are doing wrong or not doing right, much the way was done when D&W weren't getting appropriate marks for the compulsories. And I'm willing to overlook Scott's inappropriate remark the way I did Meryl's after last year's GPF FD. These are fierce competitors who in the end have to work together. If they need to let off steam now and then - well that's normal.

[shan]

I don't care for V/M's FD this year. For me it's missing something, it's well executed and performed, but it's missing a wow factor.

[dorispulaski]

Was there anything else Meryl said after the FD last year than this quote from icenetwork that you felt required forgiveness?

We were feeling really confident about the program that we've built up over the season," Davis said. "It wasn't the strongest performance we know how to do, but I think it's definitely on its way to being something special.

"This has been a testament to moving forward, but we have to keep doing more, and keep getting better scores . . . We'd like to stand atop the podium at the World Championships this year. We've worked long and hard to get there and we feel like we deserve it, and like we've got the programs to accomplish it."

and the quotes in the GS article

http://www.goldenskate.com/2010/12/d...nd-prix-title/

[veravina]

No, it was the dismissive remark made about V&M skating at all when asked a question by a Canadian tv interviewer about their unexpected withdrawal from the competition. It certainly didn't require an apology but it was a tactless comment made to a network that has given D&W unbelievable coverage over the years. It just struck a sour note.

[dancemaster]

I think Moir's venting is a culmination of the marks they've been receiving all season for their marks - PCS in particular. They have been lower than usual and yet ,I don't see any difference in their skill levels from other years. .

You see that's the problem right there,,THERE IS A DIFFERENCE,, take another look

[jcoates]

I think Moir's venting is a culmination of the marks they've been receiving all season for their marks - PCS in particular. They have been lower than usual and yet I don't see any difference in their skill levels from other years. I also don't see much difference between what he said and the numerous comments made by fans on this and other boards over the past few years. Don't forget that both D&W fell at Skate America last year and still won handily, so it isn't a stretch to think that the two teams marks might have been closer in the SD rather than the competition ending 5 points. I think the coaches need to get talking to the judges to find out what V&M are doing wrong or not doing right, much the way was done when D&W weren't getting appropriate marks for the compulsories. And I'm willing to overlook Scott's inappropriate remark the way I did Meryl's after last year's GPF FD. These are fierce competitors who in the end have to work together. If they need to let off steam now and then - well that's normal.

Do you honestly think Igor and Marina would make any less of an effort to gather feedback on one team vs another? What makes you think they have not already sought out comments and did not do so at the event itself?

Also, D/W's errors at Skate America last year or their stumble at COR this year, were versus substantially weaker fields. No one in either event came close to the overall quality of execution of elements of complexity of transitions they exhibit. Now had V/M or B/A been in those fields and skated to any sort of reasonable standard, we would have had another story entirely and a gap of similar size would likely have developed. Also, not the significantly lower score D/W accrued at Skate America in both the SD and FD than what they earned at the GPF, 4CC and Worlds or between COR this year and the GPF. Relative to their potential to scores, they were marked significantly lower and presumably punished appropriately.