The concept of the SD is that the pattern dance is supposed to be the highlight of the program. Davis & White's SD does that. Virtue & Moir's SD highlights the waltz. Their pattern dance (yankee polka) is an afterthought. Quickly entered, quickly forgotten.
B/s lost to I/k in the free dance and only beat them because of the sd. They are pretty much equal but b/s has all the federation support and the national titles. Worlds is where I/k beat b/s once. Both teams are at best a 5th place in the world team and have no shot at a world or Olympic medal until after 2014 Olympics.
Regarding V/M's lifts (I can't decide who to quote) I think like most people here that the problem is they are close in height. She is also heavier than many ice dancers, which does not help, though I do not advocate her losing weight.
I think though, as I have said before, that the 'real' problem is that they are trying to do the same acrobatic lifts as all the other couples. They would do better with less acrobatic lifts. For examples, see their 2010 Olympic free program (I am thinking of the swan lift in particular). Contrary to what some seem to believe it IS possible to do Level 4, high GOE scoring lifts that are not acrobatic. The problem is V/M have decided for whatever reason to do the same type of lifts as everyone else when they should instead be trying to make innovative, new, less acrobatic lifts that play to their strengths.
Regarding V/M's lifts (I can't decide who to quote) I think like most people here that the problem is they are close in height. She is also heavier than many ice dancers, which does not help, though I do not advocate her losing weight.
I think though, as I have said before, that the 'real' problem is that they are trying to do the same acrobatic lifts as all the other couples. They would do better with less acrobatic lifts. For examples, see their 2010 Olympic free program (I am thinking of the swan lift in particular). Contrary to what some seem to believe it IS possible to do Level 4, high GOE scoring lifts that are not acrobatic. The problem is V/M have decided for whatever reason to do the same type of lifts as everyone else when they should instead be trying to make innovative, new, less acrobatic lifts that play to their strengths.
Tessa was really skinny at the Olympics but maybe this is her normal weight which is NOT overweight.
Gotta disagree with this entire post.
You realize that Dimitri fell which cost them two points plus it messed with their final step sequence and choreographic lift right? And it affected their pcs probably. They'll blow Ilinykh and Katsalapov out of the water if both teams skate clean.
Gotta disagree with this entire post.
You realize that Dimitri fell which cost them two points plus it messed with their final step sequence and choreographic lift right? And it affected their pcs probably. They'll blow Ilinykh and Katsalapov out of the water if both teams skate clean.
IMO the reason why V/M keep trying to do the same type of lifts as D/W and C/L do because those teams get a "wow" reaction from the crowds and high GOE from the judges. But the downside is V/M can't execute those lifts effortlessly and so they don't reach the same GOE levels.
But they do. The only lift not working for V&M with the judges is the choreographic lift at the end. Remove the choreographic lift from the numbers of all teams and D&W and V&M get the same total points for their lifts. Add in the choreographic lift and D&W get a total of 22.21 points for their lifts whereas V&M get the second highest with a total of 21.63. The difference between the two being 0.58 which is precisely the difference between the choreographic lifts for the two (1.07 vs. 0.49).
V&M have strong impressive lifts. It's their choreographic lift at the end that is letting them down with the judges.