2012 GPF Pair's Free Program LP

[Kinga]

I know Stas wasn't all that elegant, but because he was so strong, their lifts were amazing. Obviously there are things that Tatiana does better now that she's skating with Trankov, but not everything.


I don't particularly care for either of her partners, though I somewhat prefer Stas because he wasn't whiny and didn't have tacky taste in music and programs. Anyway, she is very deserving of some good results, but I wish the programs were better... I say they should give her a medal on her own

Oh, I agree that none of their programs do justice to her skills and presence. I kept repeating that they deserve much better programs. An original concept that is not tacky. A program that shows Tanya more and somehow 'silences' Trankov's sometimes annoying expression (which together with mustache in the SP made me feel not watching that program at all). I think a 'calm', lyrical program could work for them.

[Buttercup]

Oh, I agree that none of their programs do justice to her skills and presence. I kept repeating that they deserve much better programs. An original concept that is not tacky. A program that shows Tanya more and somehow 'silences' Trankov's sometimes annoying expression (which together with mustache in the SP made me feel not watching that program at all). I think a 'calm', lyrical program could work for them.

Absolutely! I know Trankov has spoken about the "lyrical snot" he had to skate with Mukhortova, but personally I thought Vasiliev was right in having them do that; it's a far better fit for his style than the melodramatic/vulgar stuff he's doing now. Nobody Home was especially good because he did get to do some drama but it wasn't over the top.

I thought Tatiana was really good in the Pearl Harbor program she and Stas did their last two seasons, but I don't think something like that would suit Trankov.

[lea]

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[3T3T]

I just don't get the marking in this competition at all. I would have K/S winning the free, it was the best they have performed in a long time and by far the best performance of the night. The SBS jumps were much better than what they have shown this season. Yet they end the free, nearly 10pts down on B/L and V/T. Just crazy, I think the writing is on the wall for them, but I really hope I am wrong. Russian nationals will be interesting.

I enjoyed B/L, apart from the SBS jumps (as usual) they performed really well and it built to a good end. V/T were very lucky to win this, I liked the performance until the mistakes starting happening but they were way overmarked. It's clear the judges love them but they are not going to get away with this level of performance for ever. I think Chanflation is starting to wear of for him this year, the same could happen to V/T

I would have MT/M ahead of D/R. P/T put out their best perfomance of the season but it just strikes me as the olympic programme recycled. I hope all this competiting will not do long term damage to his knee.

[StellaCampo]

I just don't get the marking in this competition at all. I would have K/S winning the free, it was the best they have performed in a long time and by far the best performance of the night. The SBS jumps were much better than what they have shown this season. Yet they end the free, nearly 10pts down on B/L and V/T. Just crazy, I think the writing is on the wall for them, but I really hope I am wrong. Russian nationals will be interesting.

It's so strange. I was, as a lot of you were, watching it live on an on-line Russian channel and right after the first (I think) throw jump the connection went, which was not restored until the last element(s). Judging from K/S's emotional embrace and audience reaction I thought it must have gone really well...until the score came up. I didn't know what had happened. There were no deductions for falls, really puzzled. I see from the protocol that their jump content was weak and the lifts, which I didn't see, weren't level 4. I don't know what it is. They seem to have this ability to grab your heart but somehow technically always fail to deliver. Since their qualities are not measurable and their shortcomings are, they are doomed.

I now want to cheer for D/R. Their approach is more rational, quantifiable and measurable. I think that's the only way to beat this scoring system. Even Interpretation can be handled this way - match the rise and fall of the music, particular notes, etc, ie the musical score, with the highlights in elements and transitions. You can, no SHOULD, do it on paper.

For some time I have had this funny feeling that the protocol has this uncanny similarity to a segmental profit & loss account. You need the mind of an accountant who can do balance sheet control and profit maximisation, knowing the limiting factors in the human resources (ie skaters) etc, etc.

Just don't think about beauty, poetry, fantasia, of figure skating.

[rvi5]

As I mentioned in another thread, the ISU could be trying to protect the integrity of Figure Skating as a sport. Some aspects of entertainment are not related to sport, but rather performing art. Performing art often can not be easily measured in quantifiable numbers, because it is typically very subjective. On a ballet discussion board, someone once posed the question whether ballet was a sport. Most members agreed it was not, but was instead fine art. One member further suggested the definition of sports included the lack of subjective judging. Although there are ballet competitions, it is very subjective.

Certainly beauty, poetry, and fantasia can be a part of figure skating. However, the entertainment needs to be built on top of a "solid" skating foundation (view the entertainment as added fluff). Skaters should not depend on the entertainment to win competitions over skating skills. This may be what happened to W/P in ice dance. After last season, they said they had been searching for another audience friendly program. However, it would appear the judges felt they neglected the skating content. Some skaters can perform a solid skating program, but lacking in emotional entertainment. Others can produce a very entertaining program which lacks satisfactory skating. However the best skaters can do both (unfortunately, they may be a minority)

[Ilvskating]

ITA! Something that can showcase her classy lines, and theirs to give Trankov some credit. I never though Trankov as a great skater before he paired up with V, and I always love V. However she can't do sexy. I would think even she were showgirls outfit she would still look like a lady. Trankov always comes across as arrogant, angry/bad tempered spoiled brat. When I watch their LP, after the big fall of that throw, it looked like if V didn't motherly coaxed/encouraged him, he wouldn't continue.

Oh, I agree that none of their programs do justice to her skills and presence. I kept repeating that they deserve much better programs. An original concept that is not tacky. A program that shows Tanya more and somehow 'silences' Trankov's sometimes annoying expression (which together with mustache in the SP made me feel not watching that program at all). I think a'calm', lyrical program could work for them.

[yqs100]

The athletes can take a rest in 2014 sochi,,, and ISU please reward the gold to V/T directly,,,,

save TIME, MONEY and ENERGY,,,, and everyone will be happy...


Then 2014 world champions lets have a real battle.....

[tdnuva]

I wish the other couples wouldn't go to Sochi 2014 and each of the Russians were medaled, in any kind of order the Russian Fedration wanted.

Is this meant to be ironic? Seeing no emoticon in this post I am not sure. And probably certain people really would want that.

What I never understood and probably never will is how someone can be glad about a victory when it was cause of no competition or flawed judging. To me that would be no joy... so - is it all about money? There are so few skaters who really earn a mentionable amount of money, I honestly can't see V&T becoming a member of that group.