Pairs - Free Program

[shawntooth]

I love S/S, but I also think they sorta over-rated throughout this competition, esp taking Pang/Tong as a benchmark. Yes the program was innovatively choregraphed, both of them have great extension and everything, but they're way too tense on the rink; rushing into every elements and nothing was quite yet finished off. and I'm not sure about some of the choreography of postures.....just looking kinda weird to me.......

anyway, I do think they would become one of the great pairs in upcoming years, but they still have some work to do before the judges cuddle them as the most precious pets.

 

[slutskayafan21]

I can't agree more with you! What the judges were looking at? With three major errors on elements and lack of fire performance of S/S, and a near perfect performance from P/T, less than 2 points difference??? Give me a break! P/T were so undermarked! or S/S terribly overmarked. whatever.

Congratulations,S/Z!!! What a great way to end their career!

I did not find the Germans mark too high as much as I found Pang/Tong's mark too low. Remember the Germans had a 134 at the Europeans so to score only a 119 they were definitely marked down alot from their best performance, and seems appropriate. Pang/Tong though were scored too low, they should have been close to 130 with that performance, they have scored higher with worse performances to that same program.

 

[emma]

I agree with slutskayafan21 - I sort of can't believe that Pang and Tong didn't get scored higher - they were just spot on; really, really great unison including those side by side spins, i just couldn't get over it. I wish they had a higher score, but great job for them !!!

I do love S/S - but also agree that they rush and don't finish off elements as they might; and yes, some positions are just wierd. But they have beautiful line and extension and are innovative.

I just love Shen/Zhao - I'm glad they finished this season with gold - and with these very memorable programs.

 

[cloudkicker09]

Where does everybody keep hearing that Shen and Xue are going to retire? I thought that there was an article about them staying in competitive skating until 2010? Remember they themselves do not get to make the decision to retire, the Chinese federation makes it for them.

 

[iloveaxel]

I did not find the Germans mark too high as much as I found Pang/Tong's mark too low. Remember the Germans had a 134 at the Europeans so to score only a 119 they were definitely marked down alot from their best performance, and seems appropriate. Pang/Tong though were scored too low, they should have been close to 130 with that performance, they have scored higher with worse performances to that same program.

Agree with u. 119 points were probably right for them, it's a performance that's on par with their GPF outing with some jump mistake. Considering Z&Z scored 116 with that ugly LP, i think 119 points were probably fair.

P&T were marked too low, this program should at least score to 125 points. Anyway, they were lucky to squeeze out a silver medal otherwise another controversay would break out.

I also like V&M's program very much. In a perfect world, I would them to take the bronze. It's just technically superb, and very lyrical with lots of wonderful moments. Three sbs triples!! Unbelievable. All the throws, twists are just crazily good. The male partner is a bit weak though. I do wish them the best next season.

 

[jennylovskt]

Where does everybody keep hearing that Shen and Xue are going to retire? I thought that there was an article about them staying in competitive skating until 2010? Remember they themselves do not get to make the decision to retire, the Chinese federation makes it for them.

It's true. They wanted to retire after this season. But they might not be granted to retire. What a way to end their amateur career! I am so happy for them that they re-claimed the title and had a golden season. It is an awfully old age for a skater, I think. They should retire before they finally being proved that they couldn't do it any more.

 

[kolab]

from what I understand of the articles I have read, Shen and Zhao will sit out next year because they want to take a rest. Especially for Zhao who has said that he is feeling his age and that his injury still bothers him. They have also said that they will decide depending on their conditioning if they can and will come back. So, in a sense this could be the last we see of them or it could just be the last we see of them for a while.

 

[rain]

I also thought Pang/Tong deserved to be scored closer to S/Z than to S/S, whom I found not only messy technically with lots of little errors, but also lacking in performance here in the LP.

I think Langlois and Hay really got shafted by not having a big international rep this season, being the third Canadian pair and getting lost in the SP shuffle. Their LP was really well-skated, as was their SP and I thought they should have been midway in the top 10. I still preferred D/D's LP to M/B's in spite of D/D having one more major error than M/B. The fall on the jump for him (D/D) seemed really uncharacteristic and flukey. I really hope they get the chance to put in a whole season next year.

 

[stickle]

What's the story about Marcoux and Buntin? Do you really think they would split up as a pair and skate with other partners? They're still partners off the ice, aren't they?

 

[Peter_K]

What's the story about Marcoux and Buntin? Do you really think they would split up as a pair and skate with other partners? They're still partners off the ice, aren't they?

No. They split off-ice last year.

It was _very_ noticeable during Canadians where they basically stayed away from each other during warm-ups and practices. It was kind of sad to see. You sort of had a feeling that something not too pleasant was going to happen.

If they were to announce their on-ice split, or probably more likely an outright retirement, it wouldn't surprise me.

--Peter

 

[Jasper]

I can't agree more with you! What the judges were looking at? With three major errors on elements and lack of fire performance of S/S, and a near perfect performance from P/T, less than 2 points difference??? Give me a break! P/T were so undermarked! or S/S terribly overmarked. whatever.

Congratulations,S/Z!!! What a great way to end their career!

I also got the feeling that P/T were undermarked. But then again I did notice that a nearly flawless performance at Euros for S/S resulted in a 199 while a nearly flawless performance for P/T at 4CC (with a slight problem coming out of the 3tw) got them about a 185 there. Different judges, but that did tell me something about how the judges consider a clean S/S vs. a clean P/T. I don't necessarily agree with that, and I definitely think P/T should have been closer to S/Z at both 4CC and here!

 

[emma]

Jasper - interesting observation. I wonder if any experts out there can explain why, I'd be curious to know (and i like both teams very much, but did think P/T - from my view of Youtube - should have recieved higher marks).

 

[Mathman]

...Different judges, but that did tell me something about how the judges consider a clean S/S vs. a clean P/T. I don't necessarily agree with that, and I definitely think P/T should have been closer to S/Z at both 4CC and here!

Well, if you look at the program component scores in the LP, it's a virtual dead heat between Pang & Tong and Savchenko & Szolkowy (60.06 versus 59.81).

Zhen and Zhao are in a different league in terms of artistic maturity. Just no comparison (they beat both of the others by 7 points in PCSs).

 

[passion]

Shen and Zhao were absolutely stunning! Their connection/energy between them was magical, their choreography was superb especially in terms of use of music. I particularly liked the interwoven steps that matched the music. It was so original. Even if another pair were to skate to the exact same music with the exact same choreography, I don't think they can match S&Z in how they pulled it off. They just blew me away. That was absolutely exquisite. They are truly in a class of their own. I think back a few years ago and how dissappointed they were coming close to a podium medal, but just missing it. I remember the judges and commentators critisizing them for being supremely technical, but lacking artistry and musicality. Well, noone can say anything now. They have grown so tremendously over the years. It was just great to see them skate and I feel so proud of them. I think they will become (if not now) icons in Chinese figure skating.

 

[mzheng]

I like S/Z's SP better than the LP. Though both of their programs were mesmerized. Just feel that their SP was better skated than their LP. I tunned into the worlds just because they are there. I have been so busy lately that I diddn't even catchup with the US nationals.

 

[emma]

It's good to see you back mzheng -- I felt a little sad that S/Z didn't skate a pb in the LP - I was hoping for them (and, yeah, me too :agree: ) that they would. BUT, I think the LP was beautiful and I am so pleased they won with two really good skates.

I'm totally tickled abougt Pang and Tong too...

 

[Jasper]

I agree that S/Z's SP is actually a little more mesmorizing and intriguing than their LP, which I honestly find slightly boring , but overall they were definitely the class of the field and deserved their 3rd Gold!!! I hope to see them with the pack in Vancouver, if their fitness is still good enough by then.

My favorite LP of theirs ever is actually the one they skated in the 2004-2005 season - the one they never got to perform at Worlds, sadly. T/M won that year with that UGLY LP with the black and orange costumes that was completely unmemorable. But of course they also rocked Turandot and Pas De Deux, two of my favorite pieces of music used often in ice skating.

 

[iloveaxel]

I agree that S/Z's SP is actually a little more mesmorizing and intriguing than their LP, which I honestly find slightly boring , but overall they were definitely the class of the field and deserved their 3rd Gold!!! I hope to see them with the pack in Vancouver, if their fitness is still good enough by then.

My favorite LP of theirs ever is actually the one they skated in the 2004-2005 season - the one they never got to perform at Worlds, sadly. T/M won that year with that UGLY LP with the black and orange costumes that was completely unmemorable. But of course they also rocked Turandot and Pas De Deux, two of my favorite pieces of music used often in ice skating.

I found it's so funny that different people do have different tastes. I read a Chinese skating fans' forum, S/Z's short program did not receive very positive feedback, some folks 'trashed'(still their fans , lol) the program lacking of originality. Many folks there really love their long program. But they hated those costumes, which I found were quite nice.

I totally agree that T/M's 2005 LP was the worst I've ever seen from them. I watched it again on youtube the other day, it's just horrible. I can't believe Lori did the choreography for them, it's almost like a trap set up by Lori. To me, T/M's 2004 and 2006 long programs were much more memorable.

 

[Jasper]

I do love T/M's Romeo and Juliet from last year, but the skate of theirs I just want to watch over and over again is their Snowstorm SP! I thought it was perfectly choreographed and had their personal stamp, just like B/S and their Lady Caliph SP from 2002 SLC which I never get tired of either.

 

[iloveaxel]

I do love T/M's Romeo and Juliet from last year, but the skate of theirs I just want to watch over and over again is their Snowstorm SP! I thought it was perfectly choreographed and had their personal stamp, just like B/S and their Lady Caliph SP from 2002 SLC which I never get tired of either.

Yup, the 'Snowstorm' seems to be universally accepted.