Canada World Results 2008

[all that]

In dance, I'll admit that I'm puzzled by V/M and their scores at the GPF. I really hate to blame judging, since I'm a big fan of the new system despite It's flaws. I just don't see why they're not scoring higher artistically. I'lla admit, I'm biased. I've been following their career for years, and I think they're amazing. Are they not mature enough, because chemistry and expressing meaning in the musci isn't a problem for them in my eyes. And in terms of speed, I've seen them live. Truset me, they'rte fast. I don't think they'll medal this year, based on the GPF scores, but watch out for them too. They'll be on top one day. Again, JMO. No offence ment to anyone here.

The trouble with the GPF is there is no compulsory dance -- therefore, the judges had to be more obvious in their "holding down" of V/M by giving them low (lower than they deserved) PCS in the FD. At Worlds, I bet the judges will hold them down by giving them low compulsory scores. It's the one phase of the dance competition where one can legitimately argue that skaters with age and experience have the edge -- even if it's not true in each specific case. Although I'm a great fan of CDs, I do think they allow the judges more room to monkey with scores if they feel the need.

 

[chuckm]

The reality is the ISU judges do protocol judge. During their GP events, V/M were so much better than all or most of their competitors that the judges jacked up their scores to reflect this. But in the GPF, they were competing against the top teams in the World, and so the ISU judges put them 'in their place', so to speak. The same thing is likely to happen at Worlds, and the ice dance panel (loaded with judges from former SSRs) isn't going to help them.

It's ice dancing. It's political. It's ugly, and often unfair. Ice dance fans have to accept that or quit being ice dance fans.

 

[Winnipeg]

The reality is the ISU judges do protocol judge. During their GP events, V/M were so much better than all or most of their competitors that the judges jacked up their scores to reflect this. But in the GPF, they were competing against the top teams in the World, and so the ISU judges put them 'in their place', so to speak. The same thing is likely to happen at Worlds, and the ice dance panel (loaded with judges from former SSRs) isn't going to help them.

It's ice dancing. It's political. It's ugly, and often unfair. Ice dance fans have to accept that or quit being ice dance fans.

I can't believe the above submission to cheating!!:disapp::disapp::disapp::scowl::banging::banging::banging::banging:


Then it should not be a sport...................sport is supposed to be about fairness, thus the heavy focus on performance enhancing drugs etc. If you want to call spade a spade then let's take it out of competition and keep it to shows and fun skates.

Having said this, I will resume the boycotting I have taken with dance in previous years if Worlds seems biased in dance again.hwell:

 

[Pikachuusb]

I wanted to apologize for the slightly bitchy post. Bad day.... Personally, I hope things go better than most of us expect for the Canadian skaters at worlds. One thing to consider, though, is that for all of these skaters the goal is no doubt 2010, and these competitions (even worlds) between now and then are just stepping stones.

No worries I understand how a day can make you feel when you are reading stuff. I get the same way, more often than not I am with you hoping that everyone does better than expected. Everyone has time to grow and improve by the next Olympics. Then it will really get exciting.

 

[museksk8r]

Men: I LOVE the Canadian men for the most part, especially Patrick Chan, Jeff Buttle, Shawn Sawyer, and Fedor Andreev. I'm sad Canada only has 2 spots for the men at Worlds this season. I would think most likely those spots will be earned by Patrick and Jeff this year. Realistically, I could see the two of them finishing in the top 8 if they skate well. A 6th and a 7th place will give Canada 3 men for 2009 Worlds. Lambiel, Joubert, and Takahashi will likely occupy the top 3 with Lysacek, Weir, Verner, Buttle, Chan, Voronov, and possibly Van Der Perren fighting for the top 10. I'd personally love to see Yannick Ponsero in the fight for the top 10 too.

Ladies: I always root for Joannie, such an underrated skater. If she skates well, I could see her finish 4th or 5th. If she goes full out with the 3+3 in the SP and goes clean or nearly clean and Miki Ando struggles the way she did in the GPF, I could see Rochette with a potential bronze. Kim, Mao Asada, and Ando are expected to occupy the top 3 while Nakano, Rochette, Kostner, Meissner, Meier, Sebestyen, and Korpi fight for the top 10. I'm hoping Ashley Wagner can make a fight for the top 10 too.

Pairs: I always root for Dube & Davison, such a pleasant pair. I can realistically see them finish 4th or 5th in the World this season. The top 3 of the Germans, the Zhangs, and Pang/Tong seem too strong to overtake the way things have played out this season. Dube & Davison and Kawaguchi & Smirnov I expect will complete the top 5. There have been so many injuries in the pairs discipline, it's difficult to predict how the rest of the top 10 will play out.

Dance: Virtue & Moir are a special couple indeed, so beautiful to watch. I can see them finishing anywhere between 2nd and 4th. The judges really seem to be favoring Domnina & Shabalin for gold. Delobel & Schoenfelder seem to be the most likely candidates for silver, but Belbin & Agosto and Virtue & Moir will be fighting for that spot too and I see these 4 couples as the top 4. Russian couple #2 and French couple #2 along with the Kerrs, Faiella & Scali, Davis & White, and Cappellini & Lanotte should fight for the top 10.

Good luck to all the skaters!

 

[fumie_fumie]

Men - I am still sad to see Sandhu not in the game and men's spot down to 2. While I think it will be Jeffrey and Patrick going to the worlds, the last 2 flights of men will be a dog fight. We have Shawn Sawyer (my favourite LP of any time), Chris Mabee, Fedor Andreev, Marc Angre Craig, Vaughn Chipeur, Jeremy Tan to name a few.

I also hope Maxim-Billy brings out what he is capable of doing at the Nationals. He is such a talented jumper.

Ladies - Two thumps for our national champ Joannie (She looks so pretty in the picture) http://photos.skatetoday.com/displayimage.php?album=77&pos=7. I am hoping Joannie completes 3 salcow- half loop- 3toe as well as two double axel sequence in the last minute of her LP. As for Mira, I know she will go to another Worlds and it would be nice if the hard-working Lesley goes to the first worlds of her life. It will be interesting to see what the dark horses lurking out there, namely Lacoste, Samson bring out against the top ladies.

Pairs - D/D, L/H are probably guaranteed a spot to the Worlds team. Serious FS watchers noted that Duhamel and Buntin have really jelled together since Skate Canada and now they skate with attack. So, we will see how D/B pair stir things up. I also want to see how Kyra has progressed in terms of speed and jumps. I also wouldn't mind seeing a throw quad from M/M.

Dance - VM is overall favourite. Weaver/Poje appears to lock in for No. 2. Sorry, dance is the discipline that I follow least. It is a shame that Canada is the strongest in dance, and I have the least knowledge of.

 

[all that]

Dance: Virtue & Moir are a special couple indeed, so beautiful to watch. I can see them finishing anywhere between 2nd and 4th. The judges really seem to be favoring Domnina & Shabalin for gold. Delobel & Schoenfelder seem to be the most likely candidates for silver, but Belbin & Agosto and Virtue & Moir will be fighting for that spot too and I see these 4 couples as the top 4. Russian couple #2 and French couple #2 along with the Kerrs, Faiella & Scali, Davis & White, and Cappellini & Lanotte should fight for the top 10.

Good luck to all the skaters!

I'm thinking the judges are going to put Dom/Shabs first, B&A second, and Del/Shoe into third, leaving V&M in fourth. I'm hoping the actual skating done by these couples alters my prediction, but I think everything's already set.

 

[museksk8r]

I'm thinking the judges are going to put Dom/Shabs first, B&A second, and Del/Shoe into third, leaving V&M in fourth. I'm hoping the actual skating done by these couples alters my prediction, but I think everything's already set.

I could see that happening, but I also believe that if Virtue & Moir really skate their personal bests at Worlds through all three phases, they do have a realistic shot at silver. Personally, I'd love to see them win, and I see Dom/Shabs as inferior to Virtue/Moir, Belbin/Agosto, and Delobel/Schoenfelder, as well as some of the other teams I mentioned in my initial post. I also think it's really too bad that Dubreuil/Lauzon are not competing this season. Quite possibly, they would be this year's World Champions with the way the skating world has played out this season.

 

[fumie_fumie]

After watching US Nationals, I get the feeling that Joannie might have a better shot at finishing top 6 or 7th ish this year. Her main competitors and those who will place above her are likely:

those who will be ahead of Joannie:
yu-na kim
mao asada
miki ando (?), if she is on.
yukari nakano
carolina kostner

those who will compete with Joannie or might come close to Joannie
sara meier
kiira korpi
laura lepisto
kimmie meissner

Things are looking better than last year. It will come down to Joannie herself. If she can do a clean SP, she will be good to go, and she will be able to pull off a decent LP, considering she is always a strong LP skater.