Dance Gold - USA or France?

Bruin714 · Oct 23, 2008

With the withdrawal of Virtue & Moir from Skate Canada, who has the better chance to take gold, Davis & White or Pechalat & Bourzat? This would be the first ISU Grand Prix gold for either couples.

D&W came out on top at last year's Worlds (7 7 6 6) to P&B (6 6 7 7). I didn't want to look up the history of this match-up. Can anyone recall? Have P&B consistently been better in the CD (have better technique) than D&W?

silver.blades · Oct 23, 2008

With V/M out I really hope that D/W can take the gold. I really like P/B, but D/W are a better technical team, and I think they have been underrated by judges and fans.

lmarie086 · Oct 23, 2008

Bruin714 said:
D&W came out on top at last year's Worlds (7 7 6 6) to P&B (6 6 7 7). I didn't want to look up the history of this match-up. Can anyone recall? Have P&B consistently been better in the CD (have better technique) than D&W?

From what I saw last season, P/B had stronger CDs than D/W did (Igor does not focus a lot on them, but he may for this particular competition with more time to concentrate on them). They were very tight in the CD at Worlds however; only .02 separated them in the Argentine Tango. I'd almost give the benefit of the doubt to P/B, but don't want to count out D/W. It should be very interesting to see.

silver.blades said:
With V/M out I really hope that D/W can take the gold. I really like P/B, but D/W are a better technical team, and I think they have been underrated by judges and fans.

I agree that D/W are better technically, yet I think P/B are more polished. They were last season at least; this clown FD may serve as a setback for them. I think it all depends on the strength of D/W's programs and what they've focused on this summer. I am hoping for the best.

~tapdancer · Oct 23, 2008

Well, I'm certainly rooting for D/W and I believe that with a strong program they will prevail. I have no idea, though, what they are skating to, nor have we seen any previews. It's been pretty much a lockdown on info from Canton! We barely knew much about V/M and certainly didn't know that this injury has been going on for as long as it has.

Anyway, I have seen P/B's FD and I'm not impressed. I'm betting that D/W will take gold, if they have made any improvements and if their programs are strong. Technically, they've got the goods, they just have to sell it a bit more.

So, here's hoping...D/W for the win! :clap:

Joesitz (RIP) · Oct 23, 2008

I would think Pechalat/Bourzat, but that is what I would say based on last season.

dorispulaski · Oct 23, 2008

The CD for Skate Canada is the Paso Doble.
If that helps, it probably helps P&B who do Spanish dances (like their flamenco OD). very well. If it were Finnstep (or say Yankee polka, not one of this year's dances), it would favor D&W who do technical quickstepping dances very very well.

P&B choosing to skate to clown music in the FD may help D&W, if D&W's FD is a good one.

Last year D&W were working on speed and interacting with each other. I hope they have regained the unison and matched lines they had in 2007. If so, they've got a good chance, especially if they have a good FD & OD.

lmarie086 · Oct 23, 2008

dorispulaski said:
The CD for Skate Canada is the Paso Doble.
If that helps, it probably helps P&B who do Spanish dances (like their flamenco OD). very well. If it were Finnstep (or say Yankee polka, not one of this year's dances), it would favor D&W who do technical quickstepping dances very very well.
Last year D&W were working on speed and interacting with each other. I hope they have regained the unison and matched lines they had in 2007. If so, they've got a good chance, especially if they have a good FD & OD.

What do you think D/W's chances are with the Paso Doble? It may not be their best, but suppose that P/B won the CD portion; do you think they'd have a very big lead over D/W? As long as they are second with a strong OD and FD (ie better than or equal to P/B's), D/W could overcome a second place CD. I can't wait to see how they do with this one, although I do agree that more technical dances such as the YP would favor them more.

And I definitely agree on that last part. I hope now that they have increased their speed and improved their expression, that their unison and leg line have returned to the quality they were in the 06/07 season. If they have done that, then all that's left for me to want them to work on is posture and toe point.

lcd · Oct 23, 2008

I think this makes for a great match up. Looking back at past events, these teams have been quite the rivals. With Davis/White healthy (at least no injury reports) and trained, I would say "look out"! I think a lot of stars are lining up for them in ways not anticipated... becoming the top US team at the Shpilband/Zueva camp... Virtue/Moir pulling out (which also opens up their odds for Grand Prix final)... looking forward to the match up, but I'll put my nickel down on Davis/White

AwesomeIce · Oct 23, 2008

I hope P&B. D&W just don't look polished enough to me. Nothing about them really says "gold medalists" to me. Her lack of extension and toe point in particular annoy me to no end, and their lines do not match. I find P&B to be much more interesting.

Dyan · Oct 24, 2008

Well, most of you guys have beat me to the punch and said basically what I was thinking. I like P&B's FD but not as much as last years. IMO, it's not as creative or intricate as last seasons dance though I do think that P&B have continued to improve their technical elements. They may have to depend on that to get a victory over D&W.

Of course as others have already stated it depends on what D&W's programs look like. I'm a little surprised that there hasn't been any information out of Canton regarding Meryl and Charlie's programs or what improvements they have made in their own skating. They are excellent technicians but could always improve even more and they will probably further develop the interaction and chemistry with one another.

Unlike most here I don't have a preference on which team I want to win the gold. I love both teams so will be happy no matter what.

I do have a preferrence for the bronze; I'm wondering if it will go to either N&B (which is what I'd like) or W&B. OTOH, given that I'm not overly familiar with the other remaining teams it's possible one of them could take third.

KwanFan1212 · Oct 24, 2008

I think it's going to be a toss up and possibly come down to who performs better throughout the weekend. I agree that P&B have an advantage in the CD but if D&W have really strong programs for the OD and FD, then they could pull ahead and win overall. It should be a really great competition and I'm excited that I get to see it in person next weekend.

chuckm · Oct 24, 2008

I wouldn't be surprised to see Canada's Crone/Poirier in solid contention for the bronze. They finished right behind Samuelson/Bates at JW, and S/B recently beat the Zaretskis at Nebelhorn---the Zaretskis finished 3 places and 14 points ahead of N/B at Worlds.

missysays · Oct 24, 2008

While D/W are my favorite, they do tend to peak later in the season. They need the development time to settle into their programs and usually don't put in their best performances until nationals and worlds. So depending on the state and nature of D/W's programs, P/B might have the edge here.

Regardless, it's going to be close.

Pikachuusb · Oct 26, 2008

I have to say I do think it will be tight for all medals it should be a fight for 1st and 2nd and a seperate battle for the bronze. Although Id like to see the podium look like this:

1) Davis/White
2) Pechalat/Bourzat
3) Navarro/Bommentre

but you never know how it will turn out especially since we havent seen everyone's programs yet. None the less it should be exciting:agree:

AwesomeIce · Oct 26, 2008

Pikachuusb said:
I have to say I do think it will be tight for all medals it should be a fight for 1st and 2nd and a seperate battle for the bronze. Although Id like to see the podium look like this:

1) Davis/White
2) Pechalat/Bourzat
3) Navarro/Bommentre

but you never know how it will turn out especially since we havent seen everyone's programs yet. None the less it should be exciting:agree:

I would love to see your top three flipped upside down. N&B are so much more pleasant and enjoyable and FUN to watch than D&W are!

mycelticblessing · Oct 27, 2008

lmarie086 said:
I agree that D/W are better technically, yet I think P/B are more polished. They were last season at least; this clown FD may serve as a setback for them. I think it all depends on the strength of D/W's programs and what they've focused on this summer. I am hoping for the best.

I am also thinking the clown FD will not help them. In fact, I'm thinking most of their FDs may not sit well with the judges since they are so unique from the rest of the field, which may not be a good thing. I'm hoping to see that the clown program will be a good one though, but I have my doubts.

Davis and White are really good skaters.

I'm thinking both of these teams are underscored. They're way above the rest of the field at Skate Canada though. They're the only two teams from the top ten in the world there aren't they?

Pikachuusb · Oct 27, 2008

AwesomeIce said:
I would love to see your top three flipped upside down. N&B are so much more pleasant and enjoyable and FUN to watch than D&W are!

Im a huge fan of Navarro & Bommentre but I dont see them taking the Gold. But who am I foolin I love about 10(or more) teams right now 3 of which were on the Skate America podium and 3 of which I am hoping/predicting to be on the Skate Canada podium. So as long as they end up on the podium I'll be happy:agree:

~tapdancer · Oct 27, 2008

AwesomeIce said:
I would love to see your top three flipped upside down. N&B are so much more pleasant and enjoyable and FUN to watch than D&W are!

While I really like N/B, I don't agree that they are more fun than D/W. But then again, I'm totally in luv with D/W!

Sadly, I think N/B are in serious danger of losing their #3 spot in US dance...see Samuelson/Bates and Summerset/Gilles...

AwesomeIce · Oct 27, 2008

Pikachuusb said:
Im a huge fan of Navarro & Bommentre but I dont see them taking the Gold. But who am I foolin I love about 10(or more) teams right now 3 of which were on the Skate America podium and 3 of which I am hoping/predicting to be on the Skate Canada podium. So as long as they end up on the podium I'll be happy:agree:

Oh, I don't see them taking gold, I just like them a heck of a lot better than I do D&W! D&W are so unattractive to me.

~tapdancer · Oct 28, 2008

AwesomeIce said:
Oh, I don't see them taking gold, I just like them a heck of a lot better than I do D&W! D&W are so unattractive to me.

Wow, bizarre! Oh well, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But I hope you mean you find their skating unattractive...

I think they are both lovely and VERY attractive.

Dance Gold - USA or France?

Bruin714

silver.blades

lmarie086

~tapdancer

Joesitz (RIP)

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl

lmarie086

lcd

Match Penalty

AwesomeIce

Match Penalty

Dyan

KwanFan1212

Joey Votto Fangirl

chuckm

missysays

Pikachuusb

AwesomeIce

Match Penalty

mycelticblessing

Pikachuusb

~tapdancer

AwesomeIce

Match Penalty

~tapdancer

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