- Joined
- Aug 27, 2003
Bezic is prohibited from choreographing for eligible skaters due to her NBC commentating contract. (Frankly though, I'd much rather see her choreography than listen to her biased commentary.)
I/K - if they fall behind C/L this season, they are really in trouble. B/S already scored 97+ in the US (!!), have a somewhat similar FS and are far better in many aspects (lifts, presenting the male partner (for the first time it's able to see Soloviev, because he isn't hidden between voluminous costumes), concept ("Tosca" means culmination, fitting or not; "Ghost" is falling to pieces because of the dialogue), costumes (B/S understated, but fitting (S) and a bit elegant (B)). Zhulin got it right with them, only the "Carmen - experiment" V/M is such a perfect match (or will be, when cleaned up); Lanotte hasn't the cool arrogance, Capellini hasn't the fire; W/P don't live up to "Malade"; P/B are still superior, but their FD isn't interesting per se.
Davis and White should move to Igor and have Tarasova choreograph their programs
Bezic is prohibited from choreographing for eligible skaters due to her NBC commentating contract. (Frankly though, I'd much rather see her choreography than listen to her biased commentary.)
I think the Shibs have a great FD this year...she has matured so much (in a good way) and if he was healthy I think they would have moved up into podium position with it. the SD is kind of odd....they would have pulled off a traditional polka/waltz very easily, and should have just gone that route instead of trying too hard to be original.
Virtue and Moir were better, but the program was still sloppy around the edges. They should perform much better by the GPF and certainly for Canadian Nats. For me, this program makes them have that more European/Russian look on the ice. Big strong movements, dramatic lifts. Its a different feel for them...it's a great program, i just don't love it as much as I thought I would...maybe if once they skate it clean.
I was thinking about how its kind of unfair to the students that Igor left....it seems aparent that they are all suffering in to some extent from the lack of technical expertise on the coaching staff now. Because the Shibs and Meryl and Charlie are all students at the U of Michigan, I don't think they will change coaches. If Marlie lose again at worlds they may but their education on hold until after Sochi and move for a change of coach, but then again, changing coaches the summer before an olympic year sounds like a gamble as well. Virtue and Moir don't really have ties to staying with Marina, but they work so well together I don't see them leaving at all. They are Marina's muse.
V/M practice
They aborted the candlestick lift and the rotational lift afterwards looks like it was impeded by I/K (who apparently were quite aggressive during practices, according to one reporter over at FSU).
re: Igor - isn't he still in Michigan? Would D/W or the Shibs really have to upend their education to work with him?
I/K - if they fall behind C/L this season, they are really in trouble. B/S already scored 97+ in the US (!!), have a somewhat similar FS and are far better in many aspects (lifts, presenting the male partner (for the first time it's able to see Soloviev, because he isn't hidden between voluminous costumes), concept ("Tosca" means culmination, fitting or not; "Ghost" is falling to pieces because of the dialogue), costumes (B/S understated, but fitting (S) and a bit elegant (B)). Zhulin got it right with them, only the "Carmen - experiment" V/M is such a perfect match (or will be, when cleaned up); Lanotte hasn't the cool arrogance, Capellini hasn't the fire; W/P don't live up to "Malade"; P/B are still superior, but their FD isn't interesting per se.
I was thinking about how its kind of unfair to the students that Igor left....it seems aparent that they are all suffering in to some extent from the lack of technical expertise on the coaching staff now. Because the Shibs and Meryl and Charlie are all students at the U of Michigan, I don't think they will change coaches. If Marlie lose again at worlds they may but their education on hold until after Sochi and move for a change of coach, but then again, changing coaches the summer before an olympic year sounds like a gamble as well. Virtue and Moir don't really have ties to staying with Marina, but they work so well together I don't see them leaving at all. They are Marina's muse.
D/W and Shibs could easily move to Igor if they want. He's not that far from Canton at all, and they've worked with him for years, so it wouldn't be a huge shock. In fact, since they are keeping in touch with him anyway, they could all easily be planning their Olympic programs with him as we speak.
Igor mentioned that Meryl emails him, congratulations on the success of his skaters etc, but it is social/friendly (as far as we know).
I mostly agree. Davis and White are pretty much screwed at this point. And they will not beat VM in Canada with that ugly FD Marina gave them.
V/M practice
They aborted the candlestick lift and the rotational lift afterwards looks like it was impeded by I/K (who apparently were quite aggressive during practices, according to one reporter over at FSU).
I think the Shibs have a great FD this year...she has matured so much (in a good way) and if he was healthy I think they would have moved up into podium position with it. the SD is kind of odd....they would have pulled off a traditional polka/waltz very easily, and should have just gone that route instead of trying too hard to be original.
Well, said. I agree that they would have rocked a traditional polka/waltz. I don't think the new one does them any favors- it's too late to change between now and NHK though. According to Alex's instagram, they're on their way to Japan now. Hopefully, a rest this next week will do him some good. He responded to a comment that he's "doing everything I can to get better."
Good luck to them!
Now that I've seen all programs from the Zoueva group, I actually feel a bit angry. It seems clear that once again, V/M got Zoueva's best effort by far. Meryl & Charlie and the Shibs got the leftovers, creatively. There have been rumors for so long that Marina favors V/M, and I am now more inclined than ever to believe it. I think D/W and the Shibs should at least give some serious consideration to another coach next season.
Last season many many people were saying Zoueva gave her best to D&W and were angry with what she gave V&M. Believed that Marina gave D&W the best because Meryl was dating Fedor. It seems in so many ways these two teams swap back and forth.
What I think.
Last year D&W were supposed to skate La Strada and the USFSA didn't like it and made them change it. All a bit last minute and fortunately Zoueva had in her mind a program she wanted them to skate to for a long time that they refused, were not interested. They find themselves in a situation where they are in a way desperate for a new FD and therefore much easier for Marina to sell them a program she has already imagined in her mind. She was right, Die Fledermaus suited them beautifully and made a huge impact with fans. This year at some point they dumped their Sinatra FD and had to start from scratch, it would seem this year Meryl picked the alternative, music she loved and we get Notre Dame.
Last year Tessa got music she loved, Funny Face, which was as well received initially as Notre Dame was for D&W ie..not well. This year they had in mind to use Carmen for the SD but were told by someone in ISU it was unacceptable for the polka. Having already played with the idea and music it is decided to switch it out for their FD. It comes to light this is a program idea Marina has tried to sell them for a number of years which they refused. Just as D&W refused DF. Recent interviews tell us it took all summer to make this program and Marina says she pulled in Jennifer Swan to make it less typical. So I believe it's Swan that gave it the quality we are seeing now, before Swan Marina says it was too typical.
What is the common factor here? In a pinch Marina seems to know what to do to bring her teams up competition. Last year in a pinch she gets D&W to skate DF and this year she gets V&M to do Carmen for a SD which likely made it much easier for them to accept as a FD. In both cases Marina's vision of D&W doing a great DF and Tessa being great as Carmen were correct. I don't think it's so much favouritism (unless she decides to swap years she plays favours in which case 2014 is D&W's turn ) but rather Marina doing well in a pinch.
Perhaps Marina also allowed Swan in because she was swamped with trying to sort out the three teams, at least two of which have program changes through the off season and likely three (something went on with Shibs SD which was supposed to be MaryPoppins??). I suspect Notre Dame, Carman, Shibs SD have/had very little mileage and runthroughs as all were probably ready late, which is why I'm not ready to write off any of them just yet. Now that they have the basic bones of their programs sorted and have gotten feedback on the levels it's practice, practice, practice and I don't think ANY of these teams need Igor around to practice hard. What makes these teams as good as they are is their own work ethic and drive.
It says Sinitsina/Zhiganshin have work up to 54 hours a week during the summer.
Well, ISU bios are interesting...I highly doubt that Sinitsina/Zhiganshin pull in 50+ hours a week during the summer - if so that means that they are also training full time on the weekends with no rest days...hmmm Mr. Shpilband would doubt this....