P/B's LP in 2011 was awful. Happy they didn't win a medal with that. The Shibs deserved to be ahead that year even if P/B went clean.
Many of you know I'm a huge fan of the Shibs, so perhaps some of you may see less value in my opinion.
But here are just a few points to consider:
1.) For the last two years, Maia has grown considerably. When they won the world bronze medal, Maia was 16 years old and tiny. Look at this photo from Worlds in 2011. As you can see, Maia falls just below Alex's head.
Now here's Maia a few months later, at NHK. As you can see, she's grown a few inches and is no below his head.
Finally Maia at this year's Worlds. She isn't that much taller than 2011, but you can see she's filled out slightly.
2.) Related to that, Alex has dealt with a number of injuries in the last two years. I think it's pretty easy to conclude that trying to lift your sister when she's a few inches taller and 15 pounds heavier will create some issues. Some of you may have noticed that Alex has tried to bulk up in an attempt to adjust to the extra weight, but that has had an effect on their speed and lightness they displayed in 2011.
So with that in mind, we dealt with a team that that has gone through the double whammy of injuries and a growth spurt. If you guys remember, the Shibs had a so-so season in 2009-2010 when Alex went through HIS growth spurt. I remember that many people were worried that Maia wouldn't grow fast enough. Now it seemed there was a different problem at play.
(Per gmeyers' point: Rachael Flatt stopped doing Lutz (and toe pick jumps in general) jumps because of injury. Shibs are dealing with an equivalent thing here, I think.)
3.) One key issue, which was one of their key strengths, is level issues. They went down in a lot of competitions in the last two years because they lost a ton of levels. I'm not sure if the issues above have prevented them from getting the key points to hit level 4, but clearly this is a problem.
4.) Packaging is another issue obviously. They haven't quite found their mature style yet. They made a concerted effort this season, but I think it fell short a bit.
But here are a few things going for the Shibs that I think people underestimate:
1.) Blade work -- the Shibs have a great reputation of having the quietest blades in Ice Dance. If you compare their feet to other dances, they are quite smooth in their blade movements. And that matters in Ice Dance
2.) Work ethic -- Do you guys remember when they basically reworked 2/3 of their entire Latin SD between GPF and Nationals? That was ballsy and it seemed to work. They did much of the same for the SD this year. They are not afraid to go back to the drawing board and workout whatever issues they have.
They seem to show flashes of light at Worlds and 4CC, so perhaps there are better things to come. We'll see.
The Shibs need better choreography throughout the program. The transitions are well-executed but basic and not very memorable. There just needs to be a better range of content and more difficult, more interesting holds.
The same goes for the emotional range of the program, which tends to stay at one flat level without many rises and falls. I would like to see them perform conceptual/spiritually-themed work to get away from the awkwardness sexiness (of say a tango) and from the bubbliness that tends not to look mature and is their comfort zone.
Specific to the SD, the Finnstep does not lend itself to high drama, so we will see plenty of "happy, light" programs. I think the Shibs can do drama, but I would suggest a more classical approach in their FD, keeping within the current rules, of course.
I don't know about classical music (if that's what you're suggesting). I fear that would only up the "boring" quotient of their programs--which is one of their biggest problems. Their Geisha FD this year was sort of "classical lite," and the program did nothing for them.
I think they need some really interesting, unusual, different programs. To me, that means interesting, unusual music. For example, what about Middle Eastern music? (And I mean actual Middle Eastern music by Arabic artists, not the umpteenth use of "Let the Feeling Begin".) It's so much fun to dance to, and the quick rhythms would allow them to showcase their footwork. They need their own Bollywood, something to make them stand out. I think classical only works in ice dance if you're mature enough to do something interesting or great with it, like K/P's Bach FD or U/Z's Four Seasons or V/M's Carmen or D/W's Samson & Delilah.
Specific to the SD, the Finnstep does not lend itself to high drama, so we will see plenty of "happy, light" programs. I think the Shibs can do drama, but I would suggest a more classical approach in their FD, keeping within the current rules, of course.
P/B's LP in 2011 was awful. Happy they didn't win a medal with that. The Shibs deserved to be ahead that year even if P/B went clean.