2016 Skate Canada Short Dance

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Does anyone can explain why C/L got only level 1 ona PSt, please? I mean, what was a mistake? They have got levels in Nebelhorn for this... And why S/B lift got only level 1? I'm asking out of curiosity, I'd really want to know what to take notice of.

I watched top5 for now.
1. I'm really glad Tessa has changed her costume, she looks way better than in Autumn Classic. But like most of us suspected, it was a little fishy that V/M got all levels 4 then. Highest PCS deserved! Time flew with them!
2. I really like C/B SD this season. And since now I can compare, I prefer their SD to Shibs one. And considering they got higher score in Canada than Shibs in USA, judges prefer them too.
3. I SOOOOOO love Piper and Paul
4. C/L were a pleasure. I'm waiting for someone to explain the score for me.
5. S/B made less impression on me than in Finlandia Trophy. But I also want to understand the score, with level 4 on lift they would surely have 70's score.

Just a quick note, I wouldn't be too sure that the judges prefer C/B's SD until we see them go head-to-head. But if you want to do a comparison and make that sort of statement, then looks closer. Just based on the scores the judges had actual control over, The Shibs received higher GOEs and PCS than Chock/Bates. Chock/Bates also had seven judges give at least one PCS score in the 8.0 range (two of them giving them a score in the 7.0s) while the Shibs had almost all PCS scores in the 9.0s or higher with two judges giving them a score in the 8.0 range.

 

[keasus]

My main take away from this competition so far is that Jean-Luc Baker is a s t a r .

Damn right, Matcha. I have a total crush on him, and usually I don't go for shorter male skaters. But Jean-Luc has star quality coming out of his ears.

 

[Skatie]

Did they expand the GPF to more than 6 teams just as they expanded the entries in GPs this year? This is the deepest field in Ice Dance for the GPs I think and it will be a shame that one of these top 4 very deserving teams will have absolutely no chance of getting to final with a 4th place finish. In other GPs I think there is an obvious #1 and #2, but this field has arguably four teams that, if spread out differently across GPs could all make the final.

 

[Mathman]

This judge must have learned from the D/W school of skating.

Matt, Matt, Matt. You do know that Davis and White have moved on, right? You will have to find some other Virtue and Moir rivals to assail this year (I nominate Papadakis and Cizeron). IMHO this would be better than fearing that the ghosts of D&W will linger to spook the ISU judges pool.

 

[Heleng]

I usually agree with you, but I think it really works for the SD. I also think if she had a male partner who was more of a performer himself, she wouldn't look so OTT. I find after all these years and despite his superior skating skills, Evan has regressed a lot in terms of performance since his days with Emily. And Igor possibly encourages it. Yes I know Rohene Ward did the SD and Chris Dean did the FD, but Igor's the one with them every day fine tuning their programs and probably telling them how to sell it. I also really think Madison is a good student and teachable and if she had a teacher to teach her how to tone it down a bit, she'd be able to do it. But again, I find that she works in this SD.

As a fairly new convert to ice dance, I'm finding all the posted insights and divergence of opinions on C/B very educational as well as entertaining! I'm in the camp that Madison's expressions are OTT but you have a good point that this may be due in part to the contrast with Evan and Igor's coaching. FWIW, I think Madison was much better matched with her former partner who retired, and Evan was better matched with his former partner.

 

[cathlen]

Just a quick note, I wouldn't be too sure that the judges prefer C/B's SD until we see them go head-to-head. But if you want to do a comparison and make that sort of statement, then looks closer. Just based on the scores the judges had actual control over, The Shibs received higher GOEs and PCS than Chock/Bates. Chock/Bates also had seven judges give at least one PCS score in the 8.0 range (two of them giving them a score in the 7.0s) while the Shibs had almost all PCS scores in the 9.0s or higher with two judges giving them a score in the 8.0 range.

You're right. I was deceived by TES, whereas Shibs TES score was mostly due positive GOE, C/B just got their levels much better. The Dutch judge giving C/B 7.75 for SS was a little too much... I guess I'll have to wait for GPF to see, if both teams qualify of course.

 

[ice coverage]

Did they expand the GPF to more than 6 teams just as they expanded the entries in GPs this year? ...

The GPF once again will have six entries.

ETA: Never mind what I originally said below. I was wrong. Thx to cathlen for correcting me.

(And as of last season, GPs already had ten dance entries. No expansion this season.)​

---

.... You do know that Davis and White have moved on, right?

... the ghosts of D&W ...

I hope Meryl and Charlie don't hear you referring to them as ghosts .

Meryl very recently reiterated that they have not closed the door on returning to competition .

 

[cathlen]

(And as of last season, GPs already had ten dance entries. No expansion this season.)

Last season there were 8 Ice Dance spots. Look: http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00028323.htm So yes, it was expansion this season.

 

[nocturnalis]

Last season there were 8 Ice Dance spots. Look: http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00028323.htm So yes, it was expansion this season.

Yeah, because the TEB FP/FD got cancelled because it was during the terror attack.

 

[cathlen]

Yeah, because the TEB FP/FD got cancelled because it was during the terror attack.

That's not what I meant I was refering to GP spots, not GPF

 

[nocturnalis]

That's not what I meant I was refering to GP spots, not GPF

Oh okay!

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Yeah, because the TEB FP/FD got cancelled because it was during the terror attack.

Wait, I'm confused. What does the attack have to do with number of entries?

Cathlen was right in that there were 8 for the individual GP events and 6 for the GPF.

 

[matcha]

Matt, Matt, Matt. You do know that Davis and White have moved on, right? You will have to find some other Virtue and Moir rivals to assail this year (I nominate Papadakis and Cizeron). IMHO this would be better than fearing that the ghosts of D&W will linger to spook the ISU judges pool.

lololol

 

[ice coverage]

Last season there were 8 Ice Dance spots. Look: http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00028323.htm So yes, it was expansion this season.

Thx for the correction, cathlen .

My apology for my confusion :hopelessness:.

I should have stopped after I said six GPF entries again this year.

---

Wait, I'm confused. What does the attack have to do with number of entries?

Cathlen was right in that there were 8 for the individual GP events and 6 for the GPF.

Theoretically, a seventh 2015 GPF entry could have been possible -- based on the special ruling after the free skates and FD were cancelled at TEB.

Seven pairs competed at 2015 GPF because of the post-TEB ruling.

http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/gpf1516/CAT003EN.HTM​

(Not that it matters, but my confusion above was unrelated to TEB. I was just confused .)

 

[TheGrandSophy]

Matt, Matt, Matt. You do know that Davis and White have moved on, right? You will have to find some other Virtue and Moir rivals to assail this year (I nominate Papadakis and Cizeron). IMHO this would be better than fearing that the ghosts of D&W will linger to spook the ISU judges pool.

What have Gabi and Guillaume ever done to deserve that?! You meanie! :disapp:

 

[sowcow]

I'm surprised more teams didn't work with actual hip hop dance choreographers in order to get a leg up over the rest of the field.

Do you mean work with someone such as an off-ice hip-hop dance class instructor?? Using V/M as example...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPtTyjTEqwo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIeDTGOfOrw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dYQ6TlQgL8
​

FWIW, I thought Tessa's movements were really fun and inspired at the very start of their SD (e.g. the first 10 seconds of the program) and during the subsequent straight-line (non-touching) step sequence!

• I'd bet somebody from 'outside the rink' worked with her on those 'staccato' movements (...I think that's the right word?!?)

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Thx for the correction, cathlen .

My apology for my confusion :hopelessness:.

I should have stopped after I said six GPF entries again this year.

---

Theoretically, a seventh 2015 GPF entry could have been possible -- based on the special ruling after the free skates and FD were cancelled at TEB.

Seven pairs competed at 2015 GPF because of the post-TEB ruling.

http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1516/gpf1516/CAT003EN.HTM​

(Not that it matters, but my confusion above was unrelated to TEB. I was just confused .)

Oh yeah! I had forgotten about that.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Serious question:

Why do people love Elena Ilinykh's OTT face and dislike Madison Chock's?

I think both ladies are fabulous.

I also think Madi and Evan's dance will gel more by the end of the season, though I don't know if I'll ever really love the "Bad to the Bone" thing. Just too cliche. But as el henry pointed out, kudos to them for getting a black choreographer and legitimate hip hop moves. I'm surprised more teams didn't work with actual hip hop dance choreographers in order to get a leg up over the rest of the field. I've seen some amazing hip hop on SYTYCD, and a performance channeling even a tiny bit of that could've been amazing.

The Shibs' program was choreographed by Hokuto Konishi of Quest Crew (two time winner of America's Best Dance Crew and Emmy winner as well) and Aye Hasegawa, two very respected hip hop dancers/choreographers. They worked with them in the off-season and flew Hok to Michigan to continue work before Skate America. The Sinatra/Jay-Z mix in the second half was done by Alex and Quest Crew member Ryanimay Conferido.

 

[labgoat]

For once I got to watch live - thanks to the live links provided. Here are my comments...

1) Tessa & Scott - great choice of music and concept of merging blues and hip hop. Tessa in particular was energized and very on. Scott was good but looked a less comfortable with both competing and hip hop, but still very good. Speed and technique the best. Programs needs more highlights and I am not quite I. Love with the costumes.
2) Madi & Evan - Definately improving. The choice of bad to the bone is a problem for me as the male voice invites you to look at Evan who is not interpreting that part of the theme. Madi's performance is drawing attention away from Evan's underperformance making her look OTT. Perhaps if a female voice sang the lyrics it could work. I feel Evan is not suited to the bad boy role, perhaps a more moody blues with longer lines could work to highlight him. As for the hip hop, it works for me as it is more funky than hip hop. Evans costume is still too elegant for this although his presentation is improving.
3) Piper and Paul - by far the most fun and interpretation. I wonder if there is still room to grow with the program though. Much improvement from Piper.
4) Anna & Luca - very good, very solid, but nothing new from them. I sense they are just enjoying skating at this level, but not really progressing.
5) Alex & Ivan - great young team full of freshness. Still need to work on posture, closeness, and edges but very enjoyable to watch. Costumes very modern, faked me out as I thought they were going more modern with their music. Will be fun to watch, especially Ivan.
6) Kaitlin & Jean-Luc - Great blending of music and styles. Program very good. Jean-Luc - just wow! Kaitlyn improved as well. I would like to see her arms more relaxed - nerves maybe? I feel like she needs to let the music and interpretation flow through to her fingertips because she hits some awkward arm lines with respect to JL who is very fluid. Very enjoyable to watch. Bravo for versatility.

 

[slider11]

But isn't it the tech specialist who calls elements and levels? My understanding is the Controller can propose corrections if he/she believes the caller has made an error. If they disagree, then the assistant tech specialist weighs in and it's majority rules. Is this incorrect?

Yes! I believe your identification of the technical roles is correct. I thought the same thing initially (would be a US friendly tech panel) when I saw US Shawn Rettstatt on the technical panel but really it is the Ukranian and Polish official who called the levels with Shawn's input. I thought most of the teams were generously scored from the technical end - EXCEPT Anna and Luca. They had some tough levels. I only watched them once so I didn't really see the mistakes or lack of high level technical performance that the panel saw. I suspect Anna and Luca will come out swinging today!