(Video) 2007 Canadian National Team Test (Vancouver)

[all that]

You can use props in this year's ODs. It's specified in the rules. I don't have the cite to the rules on me, but I'm sure you could find them on ice-dance.com

And Scott is wearing Ben's costume from B&A's gypsy FD a few years back.

Ben: http://www.tanithandben.com/photos2004/image_04_lg.jpg
Scott: http://photos.skatetoday.com/displayimage.php?album=68&pos=9

That costume set is going around! Siobhan Karam is wearing Tanith's costume for her FD: http://www.tracings.net/photos/2007thill/203-karam.jpg

 

[hrmsk8ngnutt]

Mira's Boots

I can't look at the videos as I am at work, but I took a look at the pictures. I was shocked when I saw Mira's boots. It looks like there is a bunch of white tape on them. How can someone show up for even a test event with their boots looking like that????

Can someone confirm if Joanne is keeping her long from last season? From the quick look at the pictures, it looked like she has the same costume from the Don Juan LP. Then again, perhaps her new costume may not have been ready as Mira also wore a costume from a few seasons past.

Herm (sk8ngnutt)

 

[dfj]

Can someone confirm if Joanne is keeping her long from last season? From the quick look at the pictures, it looked like she has the same costume from the Don Juan LP. Then again, perhaps her new costume may not have been ready as Mira also wore a costume from a few seasons past.

Herm (sk8ngnutt)

I was at the training camp and it appears that Joannie is keeping last year's FS.

 

[SK8LUVR]

I too saw Mira's boots and you have to wonder what is up with her. Time to get a new pair of skates, don't ya think!. They just look like they are so broken down. Can't someone get through to her to clean herself up, after all she is representing herself, her family, her club and Canada.

 

[nadster]

I too saw Mira's boots and you have to wonder what is up with her. Time to get a new pair of skates, don't ya think!. They just look like they are so broken down. Can't someone get through to her to clean herself up, after all she is representing herself, her family, her club and Canada.

I can understand if she had problems with breaking in a new pair and went back to her more comfortable beat-up skates but she can at least cover up the skates with booted tights.

And one more thing, make sure your tights don't have holes in them.

 

[sillylionlove]

Wow those boots are really, really bad. They are falling apart. I think this is an instance where duct tape does not repair everything.

 

[sillylionlove]

You can use props in this year's ODs. It's specified in the rules. I don't have the cite to the rules on me, but I'm sure you could find them on ice-dance.com

And Scott is wearing Ben's costume from B&A's gypsy FD a few years back.

Ben: http://www.tanithandben.com/photos2004/image_04_lg.jpg
Scott: http://photos.skatetoday.com/displayimage.php?album=68&pos=9

That costume set is going around! Siobhan Karam is wearing Tanith's costume for her FD: http://www.tracings.net/photos/2007thill/203-karam.jpg

Oh my....are they really wearing the same outfits? The outfists are exactly the same!! Did Tanith and Ben give thier outfits to them to wear or did they just copy them? I am asking this seriously...do skaters trade costumes or give other skates their costumes that they no longer use..especially on this level?

 

[Kypma]

Oh my....are they really wearing the same outfits? The outfists are exactly the same!! Did Tanith and Ben give thier outfits to them to wear or did they just copy them? I am asking this seriously...do skaters trade costumes or give other skates their costumes that they no longer use..especially on this level?

In the case of Scott and Ben's "sweater" (pardon my lack of vocabulary), remember both teams train together, so maybe Ben wanted to lend a hand and lent Scott part of an old costume? It suppose it's like lending your best friend a sweater or shirt or something (I suppose guys sometimes act like us girls!) As for Tanith's dress, no clue. I honestly don't have an eye for detail unless both are in exactly the same position...


Kypma


Oh and about Mira's boots... I remember seeing a fluff about them maybe a year ago (or less, because I've only been following skating actively since last season), possibly at Skate Canada, where the commetators made remarks on how broken down they were. I hope this isn't a habit of hers. I haven't seen enough pictures of her skates up close since then so no clue how long she really kept them. Hopefully this is a new pair!!!!

 

[Ladskater]

My impression is that many of these skaters are not ready for competition. Too many mistakes. I'm kind of disappointed with Duhamel & Buntin. Buntin is a weak jumper, and their lift is very very scary. I guess this is due to the fact Duhamel is not as small as Buntin's former partner.

I'm pleasantly surprised by Langlois & Hay.

May add more if i have time.

I wanted to see them skate, but could not make it. Thanks for this.

Don't forget, this is just the beginning of the season. Some of these programs may not be the final product. Skaters now change their programs quite often. Duhamel & Buntin just formed their partnership so will take some time to grow.

 

[waxel]

This was very interesting if only for a taste of what is to come. I'm sure everyone was "bare bones" and still working and polishing. I think Jeff's has potential, I would re-think ending it at corner ice, but maybe that's just a personal thing.

I wish USFS had a similar event so we could get a glimpse of our skaters. Can't believe it's still over a month until SA.

 

[shine]

Wow, Patrick Chan. He probably has the best technical qualities in a long time, maybe since Ilia Kulik. Spins, jumps, MIFs, stroking - I simly love his knee bend!! And his artistic side has really developed beautifully - he moves so well!! What an amazing combination!

 

[rain]

I would be concerned if skaters looked like they were 100 per cent at this point. That would inevitably mean they'd be way over their peak by spring worlds.

That's not to say I don't think this event is a good idea, because I think it's great. A chance, before real competition, to see if there are any major problems with any programs, get some basic feedback early on when there's still time to make changes.

 

[all that]

I would be concerned if skaters looked like they were 100 per cent at this point. That would inevitably mean they'd be way over their peak by spring worlds.

That's not to say I don't think this event is a good idea, because I think it's great. A chance, before real competition, to see if there are any major problems with any programs, get some basic feedback early on when there's still time to make changes.

I think the event is great too. Maybe if B&A had this last year, they wouldn't have come out with "That's Entertainment" in the first place. But then again, maybe "TE" wasn't even put together in time for something like this.

 

[cassieandcheetah]

oops wrong thread sorry!

 

[rain]

I have to say, Duhamel and Buntin do go together a lot better than I expected. Somehow, she seems to have lost a lot of the clunkiness I always associated with her skating in singles. Good power.

Selfishly, I'm thrilled Dube/Davison have kept their programs from last season. I loved them both desperately and never thought they achieved the maximum from them with the last season start and the accident derailment. I agree, though, that they didn't look as polished as I expected for old programs.

I cannot listen to Langlois and Hay's SP music without having flashes of Torvill and Dean's brilliant OD to that number at the Olympics.

Liked Jeff Buttle's new program. Loved Joannie's new SP.

Loved Virtue and Moir's take on Dark Eyes. Like Umbrellas, but not as much as I want to. I like the opening, but found that somewhere in the middle it descended into fairly generic-looking footwork without the clever phrasing that made Valse Triste such a stand-out. I'm hoping they can address that.

 

[all that]

Loved Virtue and Moir's take on Dark Eyes. Like Umbrellas, but not as much as I want to. I like the opening, but found that somewhere in the middle it descended into fairly generic-looking footwork without the clever phrasing that made Valse Triste such a stand-out. I'm hoping they can address that.

My problem with Umbrellas is the music. I actually watched the program with the music muted, and loved it -- but when I turned the volume up, I couldn't love the program as much. I think the music is generic, and it's unfortunately making the program look generic. I'll admit though, I never was a fan of "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" -- and I really don't like whatever version V&M are using.

I'll say though -- V&M move beautifully. It's really amazing how well their lines match, and how light they are on the ice.

 

[rain]

My problem with Umbrellas is the music. I actually watched the program with the music muted, and loved it -- but when I turned the volume up, I couldn't love the program as much. I think the music is generic, and it's unfortunately making the program look generic. I'll admit though, I never was a fan of "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" -- and I really don't like whatever version V&M are using.

I say though -- V&M move beautifully. It's really amazing how well their lines match, and how light they are on the ice.

You know, this is a big part of the problem for me as well. I had to actually watch it twice, the second time deliberately trying not to be as turned off by the excessively earnest violins and the weird way the uninspiring vocals cut in and out. But I do think that a few more moments that really pop could help in this regard.

I really did think Valse Triste was a masterpiece of choreography — they managed to pick up on some of the less obvious undertones in the piece to match the movements with, and provided moments of stillness that vividly contrasted and thus highlighted other points — the total effect was one of subtlety and sophistication that made it so the program never got old, there was always something new to see in it. I don't feel the same way about this piece of choreography, and I do think that there are some ways to get there, even with this piece of music, which is not my favorite.

 

[all that]

I really did think Valse Triste was a masterpiece of choreography — they managed to pick up on some of the less obvious undertones in the piece to match the movements with, and provided moments of stillness that vividly contrasted and thus highlighted other points — the total effect was one of subtlety and sophistication that made it so the program never got old, there was always something new to see in it. I don't feel the same way about this piece of choreography, and I do think that there are some ways to get there, even with this piece of music, which is not my favorite.

I agree, which is why I've always wondered who really choreographed Valse Triste. Umbrellas was definitely choreographed by Shpilband -- I see moves in there that have been done by all his teams before. But Valse Triste really looked different. I've rewatched it more times than I can count -- and I still enjoy it every time.

Umbrellas can be good -- if they switch to a different version of the music! This one isn't too bad: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Pn90y84_mk It has a lighter, more "fantasy" sound, which is what I think they are trying to go for with all the twirls and twizzles they have going on in their choreography.

 

[cassieandcheetah]

I agree, which is why I've always wondered who really choreographed Valse Triste. Umbrellas was definitely choreographed by Shpilband -- I see moves in there that have been done by all his teams before. But Valse Triste really looked different. I've rewatched it more times than I can count -- and I still enjoy it every time.

Umbrellas can be good -- if they switch to a different version of the music! This one isn't too bad: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Pn90y84_mk It has a lighter, more dreamy sound, which is what I think they are trying to go for with all the twirls and twizzles they have going on in their choreography.

I think every program for V and M is a joint effort of Marina Zueva and Igor Sphilband....Incidentally, Marina Zueva was the choreographer for most of Gordeeva and Grinkov's programs....

I have to agree their new FD to Cherbourg looked more disorganized and less thematic and reflective of the music than Valse Triste...but perhaps the magic will emerge with time and practice?

 

[all that]

Incidentally, Marina Zueva was the choreographer for most of Gordeeva and Grinkov's programs....

I know. But Marina isn't credited as the choreographer for Valse Triste at all -- only Shpilband. Perhaps it really was him...and I'm just an old confused person remembering subtle masterpieces like "Moonlight Sonata" and "Vocalise" and trying to see the same here....