Pairs - Short Program

[slutskayafan21]

It sounds like the interpretation of a lift totally screwed the Zhangs over. Since their silver at the Olympics was such an outrageous gift over both Shen/Zhou and Pang/Tong, after the whole crash/delay thing, I am not dissapointed to see this happen to them. What comes around goes around.

Great to read Shen/Zhou, Germans, and Pang/Tong all skated superbly. Cant wait to see their performances on TV.

 

[rain]

I can't wait to see this tonight. Sounds like a very impressively skated SP. In some years all it took was a relatively clean skate to put you in the top 5. Not this year. I, too, question a little placing I/B above D/D who did harder SBS jumps and had no fall. But no matter, D/D are still well within striking distance of, I'd say, as high as fourth place depending on how the LP goes. Likewise it's pretty tight behind them. So great to see them come back after their terrible accident and a foreshortened season with such a great skate. Pleased to see Kawaguchi/Smirnov right in there as well. I was impressed with what I saw of them at Cup of Russia. Ouch for the Zhangs, and hugely surprised.

 

[slutskayafan21]

The 2 Canadian pairs both did well it appears. Good scores and placements for both. Kawaguchi/Smirnov look like they are setting themselves up as the clear future hopefuls for Russia.

The biggest battle for a medal will probably be between the Germans and Pang/Tong to which wins silver and which bronze.

 

[SeaniBu]

= Since their silver at the Olympics was such an outrageous gift over both Shen/Zhou and Pang/Tong, after the whole crash/delay thing,

I don't disagree that Karma is:agree: .... But the crash / fall is the only thing to conceder in not deserving a medal or silver in particular. Whether the rules are subject to being wrong or whatever - the rules still say a 2 minute from the time the ref calls it and they made it in time. The "delay" was using the rules. They did nothing wrong there IMO or the regulations of the CoP. Silver I don't agree with either, but the "delay" is getting a bad wrap. They did nothing wrong there. And Damned if they both didn't recover nicely. Wasn't it just one doubled triple?

Think of how many kids it inspired. Use the system, never give up, brush yourself off, and do it again.

 

[hongligl]

wow, i'm in tears! Great for S/Z to get a PB and best luck in FS! Their dream has been beating their PB of 206+ (and the PB internationally) and this is a great step toward it. Thanks for the great play-by-play report! you're great Rosaleen! Can't wait to see the programs tonight!

 

[La Rhumba]

Poor Pet & T, they were dinged again by the judges. 56 points?? for no obvious mistake?

No obvious mistake? They skated poorly today, with obvious errors, and well behind their music.

 

[Tinymavy15]

sounds like the zhangs ruined thier chances with a dumb mistake. Shen and Zhao... so glad to hear that they did what we expected-perfection. Sounds like it isn't the best year for american pairs. Poor Brooke coming down with the flu. glad to hear that she fought through anyway... you go girl!

 

[lehmeh]

I'm very surprised how quick people are to say that Inoue and Baldwin were not deserving of their placement.

There are an awful lot of things that go into determining a score, including things like speed, unsion, interpretation, and numerous others.

In addition. a few of their elements are very high scoring (level 4s), something that might not be easily detected by the average viewer.

Throughout history, there have been numerous times a more difficult but less clean skate has beaten an easier (and perhaps less artistic) but clean one
I don't know why Inoue and Baldwin are being singled out here.

 

[Muse]

WOW, I was really impressed by Kawaguchi & Smirnov, what a wonderful pair!!!

Me, too! Wow -- I've been pretty "blah" about most of the pairs since B & S have gone (exception being Shen/Zhao, Dube/Davison), and I was surprised at how quickly I took immediate notice. There were small ways (certain movements she made, her extension/flexibility) that almost reminds me of Berezhnaya and he almost reminds me of a young Dmitriev.

I agree on how you placed the top three. I think the Germans have been pretty robotic to me, too.

As for the Zhangs, I've never been impressed with their tricks, with the exception of their high twist lift, but now that there are other pairs who've caught up on that, it's not as impressive to me. I think they were well placed -- compared to the top ranked pairs in the short program, they're slow on the execution of certain elements, they're transitions are not as fluid as other pairs, and overall, particularly artistically, I just see a more amateurish performance compared to the other pairs. I like that Pang and Tong, comparatively, have worked on their artistry and transitions between elements, and their overall interpretation of the music, and think they deserved to be placed second above the Germans in the SP.

Congrats to Dube and Davison, by the way, for a great performance. I liked the speed at which he carried her in a lift.

 

[hongligl]

Just watched video of P/T S/S Z/Z and M/B. Congratulations to M/B for a finally clean SP! Great! Go for the LP!

IMO, P/T's SP is very polished, pure beauty with terrific technical content. S/S' is very rough, rushing from one thing to another, there was no emotion and those moves can go with any fast paced music. I did like S/S but not this time. P/T definitely deserve more PCS than S/S, especially in this performance. For technical element, I don't know level wise, but P/T deserve more GOE except the 3T. This placement is not convincing at least to me.

About the Zhang's. That was not their best performance but no major error except for the extra rotation of the lift. But I dont understand the logic to give the element ZERO point and on top of that a 2 points deduction! SO ZHANGs ACTUALLY GET -2 FOR THAT ELEMENT?! Are there rules for that? If yes I'm OK for the result but not with the rules. Just think it this way, when a triple jump is underrotated, it is treated as a double, it will not be treated as an illegal element, then why a lift is illegal when rotated more than 31/2 times? Doesn't make sense at all. Anybody knows the logic or the rules? Please advice. I'm seriously puzzled. Thanks!

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

For the record, Inoue and Baldwin got all Lvel 4's for their elements....which is why their score is stilll high despite the fall

 

[slutskayafan21]

IMO, P/T's SP is very polished, pure beauty with terrific technical content. S/S' is very rough, rushing from one thing to another, there was no emotion and those moves can go with any fast paced music. I did like S/S but not this time. P/T definitely deserve more PCS than S/S, especially in this performance. For technical element, I don't know level wise, but P/T deserve more GOE except the 3T. This placement is not convincing at least to me.

I will reserve judgement until I see them tonight but I am not particularly surprised that Pang/Tong maybe outskated the Germans and still were marked behind them. The Germans have skated very consistent and well all season. Pang/Tong have been sick earlier in the year and were overlooked coming into this event, despite being defending champions.

 

[lutzskate]

How the heck are Siudek & Siudek ahead of Langlois and Hay??? Anabelle landed a throw triple LUTZ and they BOTH landed clean triple toes. Siudek and Siudek BOTH stumbled on their jumps and their spins were WAY out of sync. Yes S&S have the better lift, but that's only ONE element.

I don't understand! I like S & S very much, but they did not deserve to be higher than L&H.

 

[slutskayafan21]

How the heck are Siudek & Siudek ahead of Langlois and Hay??? Anabelle landed a throw triple LUTZ and they BOTH landed clean triple toes. Siudek and Siudek BOTH stumbled on their jumps and their spins were WAY out of sync. Yes S&S have the better lift, but that's only ONE element.

I don't understand! I like S & S very much, but they did not deserve to be higher than L&H.

I just saw the two and I agree. Langlois and Hay should definitely be over the Siudek's. Siudek's are sentimental favorites though so that explains alot of it.

 

[slutskayafan21]

I saw the Germans and Pang/Tong and I agreed with the Germans being in front. The only tech. element I though they were clearly weaker on was the twist, most were similar, but the Germans throw was harder and their side by side spins much better. As for the PCS I liked both but the Germans had more speed and personality.

 

[lutzskate]

How the heck are Siudek & Siudek ahead of Langlois and Hay??? Anabelle landed a throw triple LUTZ and they BOTH landed clean triple toes. Siudek and Siudek BOTH stumbled on their jumps and their spins were WAY out of sync. Yes S&S have the better lift, but that's only ONE element.

I don't understand! I like S & S very much, but they did not deserve to be higher than L&H.

AND Inoue & Baldwin in 6th???!!! AHEAD of Dube and Davison, as well as many other deserving teams. Not right. L&H got lost in the shuffle. I feel badly for them.

 

[HCOSurfer]

The reason why I/B are in 6th is because they got Lvl. 4s for practically all of their elements which racked them up enough points to put them into 6th.

 

[mizu_iro]

Some of the placements may be debatable, but it sounds like this was an extremely well-skated event.
And for everybody crying wuzrobbed, the Germans and Pang/Tong are separated by less than a point and #5 down to #13 (M/B to L/H) is separated by less than 5 points, so anything could happen depending on the free.

 

[iloveaxel]

Just watched K/S

Just watched K/S, found they are not as impressive as the first time I saw them at Cup of Russia. They do have a lot of potential, but some of their pairs' elements are quite weak, spirals,no speed; pair & sbs spins slow; death spiral, pretty bad; 3twist, not a good landing; throw 3 loop, barely landed. I don't think they should rank ahead of M&B, or even D&D.

Perhaps a bit home advantage there, I wouldn't argue about that. Looks like they're going to be the new pet of the judges. S&S' reign in Europe may be short lived.

 

[slutskayafan21]

I like Inoue/Baldwin but I think they were given a bit of a gift. It is too bad they fell on the throw triple axel though, with such a high score as it was they could have been in reach of a medal even with how well the top 3 skated.