I doubt the Fed has much to do with it. I don't know. I was disappointed that they'd made no changes to the program. Honestly it's clear international judges don't love it but this is indeed a step down...
I don't debate that they're good in person, but that score is just insane. Basically, since it's a challenge event, this slots Guinard and Fabberi in No. 4 slot in the season's best rankings, above the Shibutanis and only behind Chock and Bates, Ilnykh/Zhiganshin and Weaver/Poje. They haven't scored anywhere near that during the GP. I think they're probably a good candidate to top the bottom half of the top 10, but their senior B scores gives the impression that they are in the top 6, which obviously isn't the case since they not in the GPF and aren't even an alternate. In fact they're 11th in the Grand Prix standings.
I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I just don't get why their Senior B scores are higher than the ones they earned on the GP.
First team to get steps level 4 in the FD this year??
I said earlier in the season not to underestimate them. But like you I never get the JudgeLove for them. They did something similar last year if I remember, some insanely inflated score at a senior B. Well one thing that can be said for them this year, at least, is that they have finally stopped the "Gee, this kind of program really worked well for a skater last year, so we'll rip it off this year" rehashing. They may finally be startling--just starting mind you--to develop a style of their own.
There's no question, based on the scores here, that H/B are now officially In A Rut. Enough with the Young Long Stuff. That well has dried up for now. Go SUPER DUPER BALLROOM TRADITIONAL. Great American Songbook time. Not Gershwin--too obvious. Maybe Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields. Rodgers/Hart. They need to show the judges they have Grown Up. Think sophisticated, think classy, Classy dancy.
I said earlier in the season not to underestimate them. But like you I never get the JudgeLove for them. They did something similar last year if I remember, some insanely inflated score at a senior B. Well one thing that can be said for them this year, at least, is that they have finally stopped the "Gee, this kind of program really worked well for a skater last year, so we'll rip it off this year" rehashing. They may finally be startling--just starting mind you--to develop a style of their own.
There's no question, based on the scores here, that H/B are now officially In A Rut. Enough with the Young Long Stuff. That well has dried up for now. Go SUPER DUPER BALLROOM TRADITIONAL. Great American Songbook time. Not Gershwin--too obvious. Maybe Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields. Rodgers/Hart. They need to show the judges they have Grown Up. Think sophisticated, think classy, Classy dancy.
I totally agree with your suggestions for Hawayek Banker. They could definitely pull off a Fred-Astaire/Eleanor Powell (since Ginger was blonde and Kaitlin has dark hair) MGM, big dance production number. It's pretty nervy to do with 6 weeks until Nationals but either they do a complete renno on that balletic SD or start from scratch. Considering the coaches attention to Weaver and Poje at the GpF and preparing for their Nationals, I doubt the start-over will happen. But next year, consider the dancers; don't impose a style that doesn't fit. At least can that SD dress - again, accentuates Kaitlin's lack of long limbs and balletic poses.
G/F scores make the MO ornament scores seemed conservative
So this year I've discovered that in Ice Dance we have bankers and beavers
https://web.archive.org/web/20151120142834/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012929.htm
It was not just similar, it was EYEdentical.
Their highest scores ever were at 2014 47th Golden Spin...with an Italian tech controller
https://web.archive.org/web/20150223165153/http://www.croskate.hr/GS47/html/SEG007OF.HTM
Until 2015 Golden Spin,
http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012929.htm
with an Italian tech controller. Again.
http://www.tvoj-toner.com/goldenspin/SEG007OF.HTM
This is a team who was fourth at Skate Canada, (154.74 points) and fourth at Cup of Russia (153.54 points). and suddenly then gets 172.28. points. That is an inflated score, for sure.
And they win Challengers over Tobias and Tkachenko, who I think are a lot better.
I've liked this team since they won junior worlds (though I admit to being a turned off in the last few months because of all the comments of how they were just going to storm ahead of Hubbell/Donohue).
It's a sophomore slump. H&B aren't my kind of team, but I think the concern is a bit premature. More related to the surprise successes they had last season & the hype you mention than to their actual status as a dance team. This season they have two fourth place results & a second place. Last season they had a fourth at Finlandia and a sixth at Rostelecom Cup. Their surprise successes included a third at NHK, after Coomes & Buckland (not to mention Sinitsina & Katsalapov) imploded. And a fifth place at 4CC's, after Paul & Islam did the same thing. As it was, H&B wouldn't have been at 4CC's at all if USFSA hadn't offered them the slot over Hubbell & Donahue who had defeated H&B at Nationals. At Rostelecom, H&B finished behind S&K and Stepanova & Bukin.
Ranking-wise, H&B remain above Cannuscio & McManus, which is really the highest team behind them at Nationals. H&D appear out of reach and this has much more to do with their own programs and skating than with H&B's. I agree that H&B's SD is weak. Kaitlyn isn't pulling off the role of the ballerina. But TBH, I'm not sure changing the program at this late a stage would be worth it. The costume, yes.
Next season, though, McNamara & Carpenter are coming. It's always a big leap up into seniors. But these two teams were 1 & 2 in juniors two years ago. I'm looking forward to seeing them go head-to-head as seniors.