Ice Dance Preview and Contenders | Golden Skate

Ice Dance Preview and Contenders

russell30

Final Flight
Joined
Dec 14, 2004
Well if anyone can remember the introduction of vocals used in the free dance at Nice 2000?, the wonderful Free dance of Drobiazko & Vanagas to "Spente Le Stelle", the first medal for Lithuania, the battle for gold between Fusar-poli & Margaglio who won the original dance and home advantage of Anissina & Peizerat who took GOLD to thunderous applause with their "Carmina Burana" routine.

Ice dance has seen a lot of changes since 2005 and more recently in the last two years, compulsary dances are thing of the past and the new Short dance has begun (which includes a compulsary set pattern).

All last years's medalists are back and everyone is wondering whether Zueva & Co will get a clean sweep again - well they are guaranteed 1 & 2 at least but in what order?? The battle will be between Davis/White and Virtue/Moir many are considering are joint favourites for Nice so it will be an exciting and enthralling encounter. Both teams are very good in all departments so there is going to be no room for error between them, a slight slip or failure to get a full level will benefit one over the other here but lets hope they are close together and locked for the Free.

The remaining bronze medal should have been a duel between the French team of Pechalat/Bourzat and the ever improving Weaver/Poje BUT I only learned of the injury to Pechalat recently and becacuse of the home advantage I was confident they would have got their first World medal here after a disappointing 4th last year - all that is in the air. Not sure if they will compete but if they do it will be very uncomfortable for Nathalie and the COP is so complexed enough that they might fall short. Weaver/Poje unfortunate as it stands should get a clear shot of the medal now, their Free Dance from the start of the season has been one of my favourites - all credit to Krylova & Co there.

The rest of the best:

Shibutani/Shibutani Shock bronze medalists last year - they have not really advanced this year, they still have the relative sameness about them and I wished they explored other music for the Free - still great to watch they have that Zueva look about them - very fast and flow around the ice - be difficult for them to retain that 3rd place this year.

Bobrova/Soloviev Have to say disappointed with them this year. I loved their programs last year but like the Shibutani's have not taken a step ahead this year, might be difficult for them to get top 5 here, we shall see.

Ilynk/Katasapalov Excuse me for the spelling - Love this couple and love their FD this year certainly their strongest part of the competition - I hope they have made some adjustments to the SD to give them a good shot.

Cappelini/LanotteLove this couple to but vice versa for me here where the SD is very strong one of the best SD's this year but a rather weak Free to "La Strada" An over used piece of music and everytime I hear this I can only think of Rahkamo & Kokko and Usova/Zhulin who used it to the best potential.

Long shot but Ralph/Hill another couple I love this year and just love their tango Free Dance which is very classy - Love their lines - I hope they do well.
 
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luvsk8ing_12

Spectator
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
I agree with you on all counts, just wanted to point out that Anissina/Peizerat won the free dance in 2000 with Carmina Burana. Man In The Iron Mask was their 1998-1999 free dance.
 

twizzgirl

Rinkside
Joined
Dec 30, 2011
My (Obvious) predictions:
1-2 Davis/White or Virtue/Moir
3 Pechalat/ Bourzat (If they have strong skates despite the broken nose)
4 Weaver/Poje (they might get Bronze depending on P/B skates/participation...)
5 Shibs
6-7 Cappelini/ Lanote or Bobrova/ Soloviev (I do prefer C/L over Bobrova's bad posture)
8 Ilinykh/Katsalapov?

I believe Ralph/Hill can make it to the Top Ten...
 

CARA

Final Flight
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Country
United-States
I would also like to see Hubbell/Donohue make top 10, thereby ensuring two GP assignments for the next season. Donohue made several mistakes at 4CC, perhaps due to insufficient international experiences and nerves? Hopefully Zach turns out better performance at worlds. :)
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
I would also like to see Hubbell/Donohue make top 10, thereby ensuring two GP assignments for the next season. Donohue made several mistakes at 4CC, perhaps due to insufficient international experiences and nerves? Hopefully Zach turns out better performance at worlds. :)

Is it top 10 for two GPs in dance? Not top 12 like singles? But it would be great for those two to get 2 GPs!
 

CARA

Final Flight
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Country
United-States
Is it top 10 for two GPs in dance? Not top 12 like singles? But it would be great for those two to get 2 GPs!

I think you are right in that it's top 12 teams that are ensured of 2 GP spots. I would still like to see them place within top 10 though. It will be great for their confidence boosting, and I'd love to see this young and promising team to gain international standing. :yes:
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Is it top 10 for two GPs in dance? Not top 12 like singles? But it would be great for those two to get 2 GPs!

I think you are right in that it's top 12 teams that are ensured of 2 GP spots. I would still like to see them place within top 10 though. It will be great for their confidence boosting, and I'd love to see this young and promising team to gain international standing. :yes:

Per ISU website (27 Jun 2011): Yes, for 2011-2012 season, "skaters/couples" who placed seventh thru twelfth at Worlds were selected for two GP events. Same for "each of the four categories." (As you will recall, those who placed first thru sixth had the option of a third event.)
Of course, placing in the "Top 10" would earn even more cachet. :bow:
 

blancanieves

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 3, 2012
I would also like to see Hubbell/Donohue make top 10, thereby ensuring two GP assignments for the next season. Donohue made several mistakes at 4CC, perhaps due to insufficient international experiences and nerves? Hopefully Zach turns out better performance at worlds. :)

I think it may have been more of a physical thing (over training, tiredness). They seem to perform well, overall, under pressure: Skate America, Nationals.

Does the U.S. need to place three teams in the top ten to secure 3 dance spots for the following Worlds?
 

CARA

Final Flight
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Country
United-States
I think it may have been more of a physical thing (over training, tiredness). They seem to perform well, overall, under pressure: Skate America, Nationals.

Does the U.S. need to place three teams in the top ten to secure 3 dance spots for the following Worlds?

No, the US (or any other countries for that matter) is assured of three dance spots as long as the top two teams' total placement equals and/or less than '13.' Thus, three countries earned 3 dance spots the last season's worlds:

US (1 + 3) = 4 (D/W & the Shibs);
Canada (2 + 5) = 7 (V/M & W/P); and
Russia (6 + 7) = 13 (B/S & I/K);

However, France narrowly missed earning three spots (4 + 12) = 16 (P/B & P/J).

As far as I am concerned, Us & Canada are the only two countries that are fairly secure of earning three spots. :party2: Russia may really fight to retain three spots. We shall see. ;)
 

colleen o'neill

Medalist
Joined
Nov 3, 2006
I'm kind of coming back out of a fog , here, trying to count the competitors , remember everyone's programs..hmmmm. I think Ralph and Hill deserve some recognition , in light of the improvements they've made this year , but they might be in tough for a top 10 finish..
 

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
Yes, I think it would be hard for R&H to get 10th, but I'd like to see it, because this may be their only trip to Worlds. I don't expect it, but I'd like to see it.
 

romanoff81

Match Penalty
Joined
Nov 20, 2004
Ice musings will be wrong on his gold medal pick especially since the tech specialist will be canadian again they are strict and pick up on the mistakes and D&W have some that other tech specialists might not give or pick up, and V&M have the more difficult Free dance this year.
 

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
?

V&M's dances aren't particularly difficult this year, compared to D&W. They're about the same, as choreographed.

In fact, all elite skaters plan for everything to be level 4. They just don't always succeed in executing those plans.
 

romanoff81

Match Penalty
Joined
Nov 20, 2004
Doris you are biased and a D&W fan yes it is more difficult especially the free dance go listen to someone neutral like Annick the women from france 3 who analyzes with Condeloro she said it is alot more risky and difficult even Zueva said it in a russian newspaper they also have a higher base value.
 

jcoates

Medalist
Joined
Mar 3, 2006
Doris is just about the fairest poster on GS. Rude labels being tossed at her or anyone else only reveal the actual bias of the person making such accusations. Doris has painstakingly spent this entire season carefully analyzing protocol sheets and videos of all the top dance teams. She has thoroughly educated all of us about what it is that the callers and judges are seeing and why they give the marks they do.

BTW, she is also a strong fan of V/M. She may prefer D/W, but she is more than mature enough to view both teams critically and to note when one is better than the other.
 

romanoff81

Match Penalty
Joined
Nov 20, 2004
And what makes her an authority or an expert in the matter, i am neutral between both teams but i immediately picked up at the gp final that the canadians free dance was superior technically on all levels i don`t think Scott Moir would have said anything if he didn`t believe that as well and that is not even mentioning their superior latin interpretation and flair, sorry but for me cutesy shimmying to JLO is not latin.
 
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