Yes, I know there are different types of death spirals and some look prettier than others generally (the "easier" ones, unfortunately for all us viewers). However, the current crop of skaters are nevertheless performing very poor versions of the difficult type. This was precisely the type of death spiral that was required (different ones were required different years in the short program prior to COP) the year Kazakova/Dimitriev won the Olympics. I loved them as a pair, but they had an exceedingly poor death spiral. I even remember the commentators mentioning how totally inadequate it was for a pair of this calibre. Unfortunately, most of the ones we see these days are barely better than Kaz/Dim, if they are better at all. Perhaps they should go back to requiring different types of death spirals in different years, just to give the poor viewers a break. Or they could actually give the bad ones the -GOEs they deserve no matter what kind of whacky entrance the skaters try to tack on for points.
Gush, gush, gush over new American pairs champions
- Thread starter iloveaxel
- Start date
Yes, I know there are different types of death spirals and some look prettier than others generally (the "easier" ones, unfortunately for all us viewers). However, the current crop of skaters are nevertheless performing very poor versions of the difficult type. This was precisely the type of death spiral that was required (different ones were required different years in the short program prior to COP) the year Kazakova/Dimitriev won the Olympics. I loved them as a pair, but they had an exceedingly poor death spiral. I even remember the commentators mentioning how totally inadequate it was for a pair of this calibre. Unfortunately, most of the ones we see these days are barely better than Kaz/Dim, if they are better at all. Perhaps they should go back to requiring different types of death spirals in different years, just to give the poor viewers a break. Or they could actually give the bad ones the -GOEs they deserve no matter what kind of whacky entrance the skaters try to tack on for points.
Are you sure SP actually requires a certain type of death spiral? I don't think so. I believe skaters can choose whatever they like, but to rack up points, most pairs choose those difficult ones which are asehtically challenging. I just watched I/B's LP, as a veteran pair, their death spiral is also ugly, not just position, there's no speed at the end, a dead still.
I totally want them to go back to basics as well.
Yes. Maybe not now, but prior to COP (as I said in my previous post) it was a certain type of death spiral, changing year to year, that was required in the pairs short program.
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2006
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
They still are. This year, it's the one with the hand change (it doesn't matter which edge you choose...which is why they should choose the easy forward inside; alas, that doesn't get as many points as the difficult, but ugly forward outside).
Pretty soon, it'll be an ugly forward outside in the Biellmann!
I knew they still dictated categories of lifts, but I wasn't certain about the death spirals post-COP. The judges really, really need to start using their discretion with the GOE to either force the skaters to do the damn move properly in an aesthetically pleasing manner, or switch to a lower difficulty, but better executed skill.
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2004
I did notice the death spiral was not low enough with this pair, but I still think it was a very exciting program overall. It would be great if they could expand further and improve ( and avoid additional injury.) That triple twist was really something!
(BTW, I always liked Katia's death spiral (G and G). She crossed her feet very neatly and had great back arch. Tai and Randy's was perhaps even better! But, I guess these represented the "simple" positions!
)
(BTW, I always liked Katia's death spiral (G and G). She crossed her feet very neatly and had great back arch. Tai and Randy's was perhaps even better! But, I guess these represented the "simple" positions!
)I look forward to seeing this team. Are they better than I/B to win the American title or did I/B make a number of errors at this competition?
4Continents should be a decent competition. The top two Canadian pairs are ranked in the top seven of the world. M/B will hopefully pull themselves back together after losing their title at nationals. They did have the third best free skate at the Grand Prix final.
4Continents should be a decent competition. The top two Canadian pairs are ranked in the top seven of the world. M/B will hopefully pull themselves back together after losing their title at nationals. They did have the third best free skate at the Grand Prix final.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2006
Sorry - I don't know about the edges, but is that the kind of death spiral that Natalia M used to do?
videos
Inoue and Baldwin LP- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_b1U_1Mj5A
Nam and Leftheris LP- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a91NbwV9nzQ
Castile and Okolski LP- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QOnUQPGBU
Vise and Trent LP- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq7vB18l1QU
Sorry for the gushing, but I just can't take my eyes off the new National champions. They are really outstanding especially after watching the other three pairs.
Inoue and Baldwin LP- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_b1U_1Mj5A
Nam and Leftheris LP- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a91NbwV9nzQ
Castile and Okolski LP- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QOnUQPGBU
Vise and Trent LP- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq7vB18l1QU
Sorry for the gushing, but I just can't take my eyes off the new National champions. They are really outstanding especially after watching the other three pairs.
Last edited:
u should watch the following video, yes, they are relatively new but they are no less polished than I&B, let alone zhang&zhang.
Castile and Okolski
LP-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QOnUQPGBU
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2005
I'm very interested to see the budding "rivalry"(maybe too early to even call it that) between C&O and I&B in the future, especially at Four Continents and Worlds. C&O are a great pair, but to me their victory was a result of I&B's mistakes this time so it will be interesting to see what happens when I&B skate like they did at the 2006 Nationals, complete with the throw tripple axel. C&O do seem to have the edge on the sbs jumps though and that 3twist was Chinese calibar so we'll see what happens...
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
They can hardly wait to be so honored!
No. the difficulty level of C&O is not up to international standard, they have yet to include a sbs triple which is almost unacceptable for a world-class pair; their 3twist is huge, but I'm more impressed with their overall speed, power including their throws.
At the moment, if I&B skate relatively clean(3A step out, no other major fall), they will still beat C&O at international competitions. Reputation does matter. But I do believe C&O seem to have quite impressive mastery of throws, which bodes well for their consistency. Consistency is key to a pair team's ascendance in the ranks.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2006
They *did* have a sbs triple, but dropped it when one of them (he, I think) had an ankle injury. They intend to have one by Worlds.
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2005
dutchherder said it all about the absent sbs triple. And I realize that I&B do still have the edge technically, artistically, and reputation wise, IF they skate a clean program(because we saw at Nationals what happened when they faultered). C&O beat them once, I dont think there is any proof that they can't do it again especially since John is so inconsistant with the sbs triples. C&O seem to be excellent technical skaters and I can't wait to see that develop into the total package. When it does, I'm sure they will have a great shot at challenging I&B when both skate perfectly, especially if they up their difficulty.
Will I&B even skate after this season?
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
Nah. She did the back inside in the Biellmann, but with her skating, I am sure she could have done the forward outside in the Biellmann with no problems.
The best death spirals to me will always be G/G and S/P. Yes, those were considered easier, but they are classic. The skaters now can barely do the simple ones properly--why do they even attempt the tough ones?!
Underhill and Martini also had terrific death spirals. The Wirtzes also had some of the best in the world, weak as they were on other elements.
Similar threads
