Free Dance

[Medusa]

The French are all happy, just read the L'équipe coverage. But what I love about them is that they are honest - for example they said that D/S seemed a bit tense. I hated that about the German coverage of S/S pairs gold medal, they played down S/S mistakes big time.

They also loved V/M

en remportant le programme libre au terme d'une prestation très émouvante patinée en totale symbiose.

and if I understood them correctly they think that V/M will be favourites in Vancouver.

 

[shanm]

What kind of "story" were the top 3 telling? I don't mind the top 2, but I'm wondering how the 2nd ranked Russian team conveniently rocketed up the standings as D/S withdrew. Oh well, it's ice dance.

I agree.

 

[london_calling]

That was a very emotional medal ceremony. I'll say it again, I'm so happy for Isabelle and Olivier.

And thanks to all the fantastic teams who gave so many wonderful performances tonight.

 

[gold12345]

Wow. If that's what she said, I am quite disappointed. Whether the judges "got" the FD or not, where does she place the blame for being so far behind going in?

It's not like they won the FD. They only placed 3rd. And this same FD had them ranked above both the French and the Canadians at the GPF. So what gives? Isn't it strange how the 2nd ranked Russian team suddenly medaled at Worlds after never really coming close before? Ice dancing is very political, so I am almost always skeptical.

 

[lutzskate]

What kind of "story" were the top 3 telling? I don't mind the top 2, but I'm wondering how the 2nd ranked Russian team conveniently rocketed up the standings as D/S withdrew. Oh well, it's ice dance.

I agree with you. If you notice in what I wrote, I did not say the "top 3". I said 1st and 2nd.

 

[jennylovskt]

Thank you very much, Sweetie!

I wanted to see the posted result to make sure that V/M are silver. I couldn't believe and am so thrilled for them. Congratulations to Virtue&Moir! I believed many months ago that V/M could beat B/A, so I am not surprised to see it, but I feel sorry for B/A.

 

[lutzskate]

It's not like they won the FD. They only placed 3rd. And this same FD had them ranked above both the French and the Canadians at the GPF. So what gives? Isn't it strange how the 2nd ranked Russian team suddenly medaled at Worlds after never really coming close before? Ice dancing is very political, so I am almost always skeptical.

Please don't get me wrong. I wasn't being critical of her saying it. I personally thought they should have been 3rd instead of the Russians. All I reported was what she said. I wasn't being critical of her.

 

[Dodhiyel]

I got misty-eyed during the victory ceremony. I'm happy for D&S, who have worked and waited so long for this; I'm happy for V&M, who have done so well, so young; and I'm happy for K&N, who medalled for Russia when Domnina & Shabalin had to drop out. (I spelled out their names when I realized I would otherwise be writing D&S twice lol, and might be confusing).

 

[oxade21]

Ok Ben Agosto, I can tell you what you have to understand "Do not wipe ice with your ***!" As simple as that, in ice dance it is a big NO-NO.

How funny to read again Russian conspiracy theorists even though it is so clear how much this panel of judges tried to push K/N off the podium. Common putting them behind F/S???
LOL. I can wait for chuckm to show up.

 

[escaflowne9282]

Ok Ben Agosto, I can tell you what you have to understand "Do not wipe ice with your ***!" As simple as that, in ice dance it is a big NO-NO.

How funny to read again Russian conspiracy theorists even though it is so clear how much this panel of judges tried to push K/N off the podium. Common putting them behind F/S???
LOL. I can wait for chuckm to show up.

that is all...

 

[Medusa]

How funny to read again Russian conspiracy theorists even though it is so clear how much this panel of judges tried to push K/N off the podium. Common putting them behind F/S???
LOL. I can wait for chuckm to show up.

I think that's the point here. The Russians finished 5th (!) in the free dance. They didn't even beat their personal best. And Belbin/Agosto also beat Virtue/Moir at GPF and Virtue/Moir are better here - is that a conspiracy too? Virtue and Moir are not from Europe as far as I know. Or is that the Next-olympics-are-in-Canada-so-we-need-a-top-team conspiracy?

 

[zandor]

Congrats for Isa/Olivier!!! They deserved it!

Congrats for V/M!!

Congrats for my fav russian ice dancer diva Jaana/Sergei! They are so good!

Please, no theory of conspiracy

 

[volk]

Congrats D/S on a well deserved victory!

 

[Mafke]

Did I dream up the theory that any Country with a podium placement gets three teams?

No, but as far as I can tell that's no longer the case. At one time medallists were assured a place in the next year's championship (should their federations send them) that's why the US often only had two competitors after an olympics. The olympic medalist retired and USFSA couldn't name anyone in their place.

Then it was any country that medalled got three places. That's gone.

Now if a country has two or three skaters the top two teams have to have a total of no more than 13 to get three places (so if a country with the 6th and 7th skater gets three slots, while a country with the 1st and 13th places gets two.

I forget what the minimum for two skaters is, I think 26 but that's kind of a guess.

 

[Dodhiyel]

As to the rules for the following year, if one competitor gets not more than 2 as a placement, they do get three entries for the next year.

The part that is not clear to me is whether, when there are other competitors from that same country, as well, the placements of both competitors have to be counted. If they do, then the sum of their placements must come to not more than 13, in order to earn 3 entries the following year. *I am hoping that one is allowed to count only one's best entry.* Since only gold or silver will suffice to keep one's total at 2 or less, this does seem likely. The rules information is an excerpt from ISU Rule 378, from June 2006.

Russia just misses three entries next time, because their highest placement is 3, and the sum of their two highest placements is more than 13.

 

[fanofskate]

Wow. What incredible depth of good skating that was and I mean from all the teams. Really nice programs. I'm excited about the competition next season and on towards the Olympics. Thank you D/W for being magnetic enough your first time out to draw my figure skating fan heart towards ice dance. So many teams to enjoy...

Congrats to Del/Schoe! What a way to cap their careers (if they are indeed retiring). One more season please, at least...

 

[phoenix]

Anyone think that if B/A hadn't fallen in the CD, that they would have scored higher in the OD and the FD and might have ended up 2nd overall.

i do

 

[Dodhiyel]

I forget what the minimum for two skaters is, I think 26 but that's kind of a guess.

Sorry, I posted before your post showed up. I have memorized the the minimum for two skaters: it's 28.

 

[ManyCairns]

As I understand, if there are 2 or more competitors, the top 2 placements MUST count.

If you think about it, it's fair -- otherwise, those who have more skaters in the current competition would have more chances to get those podium placements. Thus, it's fair that the placements of the top 2 in a 3-member team, or both if it's a 2-member team, must count.

 

[Mafke]

Sorry, I posted before your post showed up. I have memorized the the minimum for two skaters: it's 28.

Wow, that's ... unimpressive. I think 13 is too stringent and 28 too lenient, I'd go more like 16 and 24 .... maybe.