2023 World Championships Free Dance

[Diana Delafield]

It's been far too long since there was a circus descent into insanity program. I hope this becomes a trend again like it was 25 years ago.

I cringed when I first saw them take the ice, but I was a convert by a few minutes in. I've always disliked Chaplinesque programs that start with the shy clown thrilled when the pretty girl notices him in the first few seconds, and then they drop that bit of play-acting and go on with a regular program. But he kept the character going all the way through, never stepping out of his role. I laughed at the lift where instead of her just changing position, he discovers her leg is in his way and pushes it quickly back over his shoulder. Just took a second, but fitted his role perfectly. I really liked that program and its performance. I even liked his purple hair (but don't tell my teenage grandkids I said that).

 

[4everchan]

Eww dude. Why would you wish for anyone to be the new Zhulin??

you need to watch the youtube video about these 4 skaters.. then you will get the joke

 

[4everchan]

Well the theme of C/B program was about wind that fans a spark into a flame providing it oxygen so that it grows. Eventually all are fires are extinguished. If that isn't an abstract metaphor for this pairing then I don't know what a metaphor and theme are. Beginning and ending in a love knot inspired by their engagement ring surely seems the way to extinguish this teams competitive days. For me it is a sad day as I will miss their creativity and willingness to take risks. For those of you not fans please feel free to celebrate when they announce they are done = I hope it solves all your problems.

 

[rollerblade]

you need to watch the youtube video about these 4 skaters.. then you will get the joke

I might have seen it, depending on which you were referring to. I started watching figure skating at the 1998 Olympics, there were many puff pieces about them. And afterwards, they switched partners are some pro tournaments.

 

[skatedreamer]

you need to watch the youtube video about these 4 skaters.. then you will get the joke

Can you post a link? I couldn’t find anything except some of their programs and presumably that’s not what you mean.

I adored them back in the day. Loved their balletic style and sheesh, he was gorgeous …but sadly hasn’t aged well.

 

[labgoat]

Ha ha I guess that's what's on Charlene's back...it's a COVID bug

Actually its a Scorpion cause she starts out evil, he falls in love with her anyway and they have a happy ending according to them. They wanted something dark because they were coming out of a dark time of Covid and survived. Costume is very couture and it really is supposed to be a scorpion.

 

[rollerblade]

I'm actually more pissed off that KanaDai placed 11th. Like come on!
Although, I haven't watched anything since I was at work.

 

[readernick]

What I don't understand is how C and B were awarded higher than 9.5 in components when the rules say you can't with a fall. Shouldn't the computer automatically knock down the score? They still would have won but the rules should still apply. Also Fear and Gibson being awarded higher Skating skills then FB and is quite a head scratcher.

Yes, I'm not okay with this either. I like C/B. I thought they deserved the lead in the SP and I even think they deserved their high levels in the FD. Piper/Paul skated small here. Being out of competition did them no favors.

However, a fall even if it's not on an element should effect PCS more than that. They still would have won with 9s in PCS given their lead from the RD. However, in the end they would have won anyway so ehhhh

Now, I am really not okay with the placement of the Brits.

 

[DancingCactus]

For those of you not fans please feel free to celebrate when they announce they are done = I hope it solves all your problems.

Well, their FD last year was actually my favourite one from a season full of great programs. It was intense, unique, abstract yet sensual, had this weird, alien feeling and it built and built...It was marvelous.

Whereas this year...the program started as a shambles, they redefined and redefined and recut the music and changed costumes at least three times and it still only works partly. The lifts and slides are spectacular, but the intensity comes from how Madison looks in these moments and not from the powerful unity of skating that both Canadian teams pull off with less spectacular lifts.

I don't want them to quit but I also thought they were grossly overscored.

 

[4everchan]

Can you post a link? I couldn’t find anything except some of their programs and presumably that’s not what you mean.

I adored them back in the day. Loved their balletic style and sheesh, he was gorgeous …but sadly hasn’t aged well.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[skatedreamer]

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Thanks so much…OMG, now I remember some of that drama. What a soap opera and how very sad that there was so much pain behind the beauty they created on the ice. For me, their FD at Albertville in 1992 is one of the all time greats.

 

[viennaskater]

Nope, didn’t like this program at all. The choreography was just silly. It looked like an exercise routine at one point.

Just re-watched it (Taschlers) and see what you mean. I don't look at it that way. Although I didn't like it at first, it's grown on me and I like the choreography.

 

[TT_Fin]

wrong thread

 

[yesterday]

Everybody in the first group are already interesting. And also the rest. Morisi has ambitious planned elements. Maybe he just should go to the easier ones? He has had problems trough all season. But do his coaches allow it?

wrong therad come to the dark side -> https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/t...-skating-championships-mens-free-skate.95211/

 

[GGFan]

I just finished watching the final 2 groups. I'll put my general thoughts on programs in this post and then do a separate one on my thoughts on the judging.

Penultimate Group

1. Taschlers: first time really watching them. Excellent edges, creative, and avant garde. This is more what I expected from Green/Parsons this season. (Hated the spoken word of it all though)
2. Finnish team: despite the twizzle error there's something beautiful and effervescent about that program. Just real classy.
3. Beautiful skating by Reed/Ambrulevicius and Green/Parsons. Enjoyed both programs but thought R/A were a lot less safe.
4. Sorry but why did the two American teams who are much younger than Chock and Bates do old-timey programs? It stood out like a sore thumb for me here. While other teams are pushing things in new directions these programs were throwbacks. I love this music but this was not the packaging move.


Final Group
1. Fournier-Beaudry/Sorensen: I am obsessed with her skating and looking at him. Awesome moments in this program and they were totally in character.
2. I loved the contrast between FB/S and the Brits. It did not feel like they were from the same training center. Fear/Gibson don't have the skating skills but they put on quite the show. It's a performance discipline after all.
3. Gilles/Poirier: Wonderful thematic program that tells a story. They skated it as well as they skated it before. They portrayed the characters well. I do fear that they have less wow moments than some of the Montreal teams. IAM is really good at the highlights. Great to see them on the podium again.
4. Guignard/Fabbri: The most I've enjoyed this program. It still doesn't all work for me but they've definitely improved it over the course of the season. Congrats to them for sticking it out and winning a medal.
5. Chock/Bates: The wow moments are out of this world. This program grew so much over the season, but I cannot overlook the fall. It definitely killed the momentum even if it wasn't on an element.

 

[GGFan]

Now on to the judging: to put it simply this competition left me with a bad taste in my mouth. While the actual programs that are being produced and the creativity that is being allowed are wonderful, the judging left something to be desired.

I am not trying to take anything away from the skaters. All of them skated great, worked hard, and have amazing stories. Arguments can be made for the placings being completely correct and I unlike others do not think that anyone was clearly robbed (this isn't the women's competition in Sochi, for example).

However three things did not sit right: (1) the lack of change in the standings, (2) the number of season's bests that even surprised competitors, and (3) general 90s deja vu. It all seemed too perfect as if it was preordained (barring something really major).

There is something that feels off when Chock/Bates get TES WR in a program with a fall even if it wasn't on an element. There is something strange about Gilles/Poirier not getting more credit in the free for a well crafted program. For them to not even beat the Italians when they were clearly ahead of them all season?

I'm very much used to politics in ice dancing but I think that by moving away from objective elements and making it a more GOE-reliant system they've moved it closer to 6.0 in a negative way that allows judges to make decisions beforehand. Even though there were huge fights during the Davis/White v. Virtue/Moir era and the V/M v. Papadakis/Cizeron era, something felt somewhat legitimate when you looked at the protocols. Now I'm not so sure.

 

[Andrea82]

Australian and British judges...not liking the Canadian teams... so much for Commonweatlh... especially since without IAM, there would be very little ice dance in the Commonweath countries (outside of Canada)...

And the French (Ronald Beau) and Swiss (Prisca Binz Moser) judges seem not to know that with a fall the cap in PCS is 9.50

 

[4everchan]

And the French (Ronald Beau) and Swiss (Prisca Binz Moser) judges seem not to know that with a fall the cap in PCS is 9.50

do they get punished

 

[SmileHappy34]

Congratulations to all medalist. Greaat job all teams well deserved. I didn't watch just got up and saw results

 

[SmileHappy34]

Now on to the judging: to put it simply this competition left me with a bad taste in my mouth. While the actual programs that are being produced and the creativity that is being allowed are wonderful, the judging left something to be desired.

I am not trying to take anything away from the skaters. All of them skated great, worked hard, and have amazing stories. Arguments can be made for the placings being completely correct and I unlike others do not think that anyone was clearly robbed (this isn't the women's competition in Sochi, for example).

However three things did not sit right: (1) the lack of change in the standings, (2) the number of season's bests that even surprised competitors, and (3) general 90s deja vu. It all seemed too perfect as if it was preordained (barring something really major).

There is something that feels off when Chock/Bates get TES WR in a program with a fall even if it wasn't on an element. There is something strange about Gilles/Poirier not getting more credit in the free for a well crafted program. For them to not even beat the Italians when they were clearly ahead of them all season?

I'm very much used to politics in ice dancing but I think that by moving away from objective elements and making it a more GOE-reliant system they've moved it closer to 6.0 in a negative way that allows judges to make decisions beforehand. Even though there were huge fights during the Davis/White v. Virtue/Moir era and the V/M v. Papadakis/Cizeron era, something felt somewhat legitimate when you looked at the protocols. Now I'm not so sure.

It wAy always been. Exciting.