Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

[skatingfan4ever]

The Shibs have two very different programs this year, but I love both of them! The SD is SO MUCH FUN. The FD showcases the purity of their skating. The lifts in the FD are mostly different from last year, which is impressive. The twizzles were good at SA but they seemed a little tentative too. I look forward to watching the Shibs become even more comfortable with the FD as the season progresses. The SD looks ready right this moment - wow!!! When he got off the ice, Alex said, "It will be really fun to skate this this year." Well, Alex, it will also be really fun for the fans to watch you skate that SD all season!!! :yay: Congrats on the SA win, Shibs!

 

[demarinis5]

Congrats to the Shibs! I am not a Frank Sinatra fan so when I heard that was part of the music for the SD I said uh oh, but
the music mix with JayZ was just fabulous and I loved it!

I also loved everything about the FD the music, the tempo, the purity of their skating skills and of course the Twizzles! They
told a story to the audience. I can't speak for anyone else but I was listening and I was transfixed.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Does anyone know what the second piece of their FD is and who composed it?

 

[Barb]

Does anyone know what the second piece of their FD is and who composed it?

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/10/22/206966824

Here says is a composition arranged by Alex Shibutani, no idea Alex knew to do that

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/10/22/206966824

Here says is a composition arranged by Alex Shibutani, no idea Alex knew to do that

Thanks for the article. I knew he arranged the composition for the program, but I wonder who actually wrote the original piece and what it is.

 

[naz]

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/10/22/206966824

Here says is a composition arranged by Alex Shibutani, no idea Alex knew to do that

Marina Zoueva said in an interview with The Skating Lesson here that "Alex created the ending". Apparently Spiegel im Spiegel didn't have an ending that was necessary to finish the program and he created it? I don't know what she means by "created", but if it really is the way I understood it (which is that he either wrote the music or sampled other pieces to put them together), maan these people are too talented for this world

 

[Heleng]

I was absolutely mesmerized while watching the Shibs' FD for the first time, and it felt to me as if it was over in a heartbeat. So I was surprised at some of the negative reactions, like did we watch the same program?lol! I loved everything about it, the choreography, costumes, but especially the music. I didn't think it would be possible but my emotional response to this program is even stronger than it was for Coldplay. I'm sure others can express this better but to me it felt more nuanced, layered, and complex.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

I was absolutely mesmerized while watching the Shibs' FD for the first time, and it felt to me as if it was over in a heartbeat. So I was surprised at some of the negative reactions, like did we watch the same program?lol! I loved everything about it, the choreography, costumes, but especially the music. I didn't think it would be possible but my emotional response to this program is even stronger than it was for Coldplay. I'm sure others can express this better but to me it felt more nuanced, layered, and complex.

:agree: I was mesmerized by it too and loved every moment. Yes it can improve, but it's so lovely to me already. I love it and to me it's not a copy of P&C (and even if it was, they are winning right now, so of course people are going to want to imitate them; it's not like P&C "own" the smooth skating style). To each their own.

 

[Celine]

Maia and Alex, once again, showing their commitment to being the positive ambassadors for the sport of figure skating.

A day after competing their Free dance and skating in an exhibition, they were in New York as Athlete Ambassadors for Right To Play to support the annual fundraising event the Big Red Ball.

Looking good on the red carpet (as always) and getting congratulations on their Skate America win from other world class Athlete Ambassadors like speed skater Bonnie Blair, swimmer Maya Dirado, bobsledder Elana Meyers, and NBA player Rondae HollisJefferson,

Maia with Maya
https://www.instagram.com/p/BL-DRL8BNwb/?taken-by=maiashibutani

Alex with Rondae
https://www.instagram.com/p/BL_mr4dAHzv/?taken-by=alexshibutani

Bonnie Blair
https://www.instagram.com/p/BL-Q3NJj-wE/?taken-by=bonnieblairc
https://twitter.com/AlexShibutani/status/790741588666351616

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

So the ISU bio lists their second piece of music as "Anyone Like You (Club Mix)" by Digitize, but I just heard it and that can't be right. Maybe it's their Jeff Buttle-choreographed exhibition that we haven't seen yet.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I know we can't really compare scores, but after reviewing the protocols from the judges from SA and SC, I think the Shibs are setting themselves for a VERY excellent season (one that will be even better than last season) once they start consistently hitting those levels.

 

[Tallorder]

I know we can't really compare scores, but after reviewing the protocols from the judges from SA and SC, I think the Shibs are setting themselves for a VERY excellent season (one that will be even better than last season) once they start consistently hitting those levels.

Not based on my opinion, but from looking at protocols, I would agree.

Even with the obvious caveat that scores cannot truly be compared across competitions because of the different composition of the judging and technical panels, a couple observations do jump out right away.

If the Shibs can improve their levels (which given their widely recognized technical skills and track record, is certain possible) they are really well positioned to improve their scores. The base value for their short dance at Skate America was ~3 and exactly 5 points lower than what was given to Virtue&Moir and Chock&Bates at Skate Canada. For the Shibs, improving level 2 footwork and PST sections just to level 3, would add 3 points. The level 3 lift from Skate America is still puzzling to me, and cost 0.5 points.

The judges are recognizing the quality of their execution with GOE and PCS scores that are not far from Virtue&Moir. So, very promising indeed.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Not based on my opinion, but from looking at protocols, I would agree.

Even with the obvious caveat that scores cannot truly be compared across competitions because of the different composition of the judging and technical panels, a couple observations do jump out right away.

If the Shibs can improve their levels (which given their widely recognized technical skills and track record, is certain possible) they are really well positioned to improve their scores. The base value for their short dance at Skate America was ~3 and exactly 5 points lower than what was given to Virtue&Moir and Chock&Bates at Skate Canada. For the Shibs, improving level 2 footwork and PST sections just to level 3, would add 3 points. The level 3 lift from Skate America is still puzzling to me, and cost 0.5 points.

The judges are recognizing the quality of their execution with GOE and PCS scores that are not far from Virtue&Moir. So, very promising indeed.

As a longtime Shibs fan, I just couldn't believe the rows of 9.0s and 9.0+s (about four 8.75s total) for PCS in that SD and those high GOEs. That's pretty much a consensus, and I couldn't be happier for a season debut of what was a risky SD.

 

[TMC]

When I was watching the SC SDs last night, I found myself missing the Shibs' SD! I was watching something, I think it was S/B at the end, and I found myself thinking about the Shibs' dance, picturing it in my head, and feeling sort of nostalgic! It was the weirdest feeling and has never happened to me before It was like in a romantic movie where the heroine is on a date with a charming gentleman but all she can think of is the man she really loves :luv17: I had to laugh at myself.

 

[Celine]

Another episode of "Olympic Sports Revealed with the ShibSibs" is up.

"Sliding sports" bobsled, luge, skeleton
http://www.teamusa.org/Video/2016/1...aled-With-The-Shib-Sibs-Sliding-Sports?pg=133


It's a good feeling to see Maia and Alex put in the effort to not just be ambassadors for figure skating, but also for other "underappreciated" Olympic sports.
Some appreciative tweets from US Olympians

Nick Cunningham
https://twitter.com/BOBSLEDR/status/792810162771800064

Erin Hamlin
https://twitter.com/erinhamlin/status/793185709771268096

 

[msmelissa]

Another episode of "Olympic Sports Revealed with the ShibSibs" is up.

"Sliding sports" bobsled, luge, skeleton
http://www.teamusa.org/Video/2016/1...aled-With-The-Shib-Sibs-Sliding-Sports?pg=133

It's a good feeling to see Maia and Alex put in the effort to not just be ambassadors for figure skating, but also for other "underappreciated" Olympic sports.
Some appreciative tweets from US Olympians

Nick Cunningham
https://twitter.com/BOBSLEDR/status/792810162771800064

Erin Hamlin
https://twitter.com/erinhamlin/status/793185709771268096

It might be premature, but I see them as the stars of the 2018 Olympics.

 

[Celine]

It might be premature, but I see them as the stars of the 2018 Olympics.

In my opinion, the US Olympic people are smart including the Shibs in projects. Especially now that they are US champions and world medalists, and given how proactive the Shibs are, taking seriously their responsibility as role models or ambassadors for the sport, qualities that even the British Eurosport commentator noted when reviewing their performance at Skate America.

In my opinion, NBC and US Figure Skating miss the boat when they focus so much on singles skaters. It's odd to me considering the attractiveness and success of US ice dancers especially over the past decade.

 

[Tallorder]

Maia and Alex once again bringing positive recognition to figure skating, as accomplished and popular athletes within the broader realm of Olympic sports.

They were named US Olympic Committee's October Team of the Month.

I believe this was their second award, having won in November 2015.

 

[dorispulaski]

Good luck to Alex and Maia at CoC!!

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

It looks like they're already acclimated to Beijing time. Good luck to them.