2025 Four Continents Rhythm Dance

[museksk8r]

Piper and Paul’s RD perfectly embodies the fun of enjoying a carefree, summer day at the beach with your friends. The music cuts are far more cohesive and seamless than those abruptly pieced together in Madi and Evan’s RD. They were really deep in their knees in this dance and displayed quick, clean turns while also maintaining speed and musical interpretation that all made sense to their music phrasing and program theme. The surfography and swimography is really cute and they really live those classic beach party movies of the 1960s. This team has learned over the years that nothing is just going to be handed to them; they have to always be clean to be rewarded by the panel and they delivered here. Bravo!!

 

[TontoK]

Right, this was a strict judging/tech panel too; they certainly were not throwing out high scores like they were candy.

I assume... I haven't checked... that Judy Blumberg is on that tech panel.

She is an absolute stickler, and she doesn't give a rip about past performances or federation politics. Even Shin Amano could take a few lessons from Judy.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Just caught up - I am SO happy for Piper and Paul!! They were so much fun but also fast and sharp. I really hope they are able to maintain their lead in the FD.

Chock and Bates were still very good but I feel like Psquared deserve to have their time to shine since the season they were leading in was hampered by Piper’s cancer diagnosis. After seeing the Italians robot FD again at Europeans, I really appreciate Madi’s sharp and precise armography cause it clearly is not easy to do (sorry Marco/Charlene).

I am so glad Hannah and Ye changed their music and revamped the RD - this suits them much better. I still wish they had gone for a full out 50s RD as I think they would have rocked it.

Pleased for Lala and CPom - they skated so well. I’m looking forward to seeing their friendly rivalry in the future. Shame about Fabbri and Ayer’s fall - I thought they were a lot more tentative than they were at nationals or their Grand Prixs. I missed Green and Parsons - I just don’t think I’ll ever be a Zingas/Kolesnik fan - I like him but I just can’t get on board with Emilea

 

[rain]

well... i am just glad Piper and Paul redeemed themselves after the GPF disaster. I wish it didn't have to go through another Paul's sacrifice... poor Fabbri and Ayer, at their first ISU senior champs...making such a major mistake. I hope they do better in the free.

Chock and Bates were good but didn't have the speed and sharpness both top Canadian teams had and I guess that mattered in the end...
Judges really got into Piper and Paul in the last couple elements, they outscored the Americans on both the lifts and choreo sequence, which is a place where traditionally, Chock and Bates own everyone.

Really too bad for Fabri/Ayer, since the rhythm dance is where they've been making their mark this season.
Piper and Paul's program this year is just better than what Chock/Bates (and everyone else, IMO) have come up with, and it's nice to see some acknowledgement.

I'm no judge but Piper's arms and the changes in position during the lift were really, really impressive as well as fun, and while C/B usually reign over the choreo sequence their RD is not the best vehicle for them to do so, in my uninformed opinion

Piper moving around as she does in that lift makes it really difficult and impressive. And it's in character with the music.

I will be blunt. I was at worlds last year. I don't think Chock and Bates are that great. They won worlds because the judges sank Piper and Paul in the RD. Do not forget Piper and Paul won the Free dance.

Piper and Paul have always been FD skaters. The fact that they won the RD here is HUGE even if the margin is small. I do not expect them to win the event but if they do, I will be pleased.

Regarding Lala, their RD here scored higher than all RDs at Euros but the Italians'
and considering the tech panel was harsh, it's a good sign.

I think the Italians, Lithuanians and Brits are on a downward trajectory while LaLa, the French and the Finns are moving up.

I thought, even with the standings after the RD last year, that Piper and Paul were so much better in the FD that they should have won it overall. Don't get me started on how undermarked I thought their RD was all season....

That said, I wish I didn't feel like this was throwing Piper/Paul a bone because the deal is already done for Chock/Bates to win worlds again, so this is a consolation prize. So I wouldn't be that surprised either way if Piper and Paul win overall, or if Chock/Bates surpass them in the free. Yes, I'm that cynical. I've been watching ice dance too long to be otherwise, lol.

I'm glad that LaLa scored well here, but I still think this RD is their weakness this season, and could keep them from fighting for the worlds podium. I love, love, love this team, but this RD is less than inspired, and I think they needed something to knock the judges' socks off to really capitalize on the momentum from last season. But then, most of the other RDs from their competition are also uninspired, so....

 

[museksk8r]

Piper and Paul's program this year is just better than what Chock/Bates (and everyone else, IMO) have come up with, and it's nice to see some acknowledgement.

Piper moving around as she does in that lift makes it really difficult and impressive. And it's in character with the music.

I thought, even with the standings after the RD last year, that Piper and Paul were so much better in the FD that they should have won it overall. Don't get me started on how undermarked I thought their RD was all season....

That said, I wish I didn't feel like this was throwing Piper/Paul a bone because the deal is already done for Chock/Bates to win worlds again, so this is a consolation prize. So I wouldn't be that surprised either way if Piper and Paul win overall, or if Chock/Bates surpass them in the free. Yes, I'm that cynical. I've been watching ice dance too long to be otherwise, lol.

I understand your feelings. A reasonable argument can certainly be made that with their errors here in the RD, Chock and Bates should have been scored lower than they actually were. Fans wouldn’t be so outspoken about the judging controversy if Madi and Evan were winning titles with clean skates, but I have only ever seen them manage to do that at the Grand Prix Final when up against the other top teams in the world. When a team has won 2 world titles with flawed FS programs both times, it’s totally understandable that fans are critical and skeptical, especially when every other team in the world has to be flawless in order to win. It only gives a marred impression that the whole event is rigged.

 

[NoNameFace]

Popping up to give @museksk8r an A+++++ for the choice of avatar

 

[Chantilly]

For me Chock and Bates program just doesn’t work.
They skate and sell it well but o don’t engage with it at all.
I do think Piper and Paul have the best choreography of all the RD’s here and likely the season of the top ten team’s although I still have more to see.
CPom’s is ok but I find her more believable in it than him.
It’s amazing to me how a simple costume change for Lala made a huge difference.
Now it’s just two 60’s/70’s dancing duo. It works much better as the Austin power theme didn’t carry over from the first song.
A shame for Fabri and Ayer who had a great program that really suited them, but I don’t think it will affect them too negatively. They are definitely giving me a vibe that they are going to be on the Canadian team going into the Olympics.
I like the other American team better in the FD. I do think he’s a better skater than her but given her short time as a dancer, she’s doing remarkably well. And I like her quickness in her moves and leaps.
On to the free.
I am so hoping Piper and Paul take this and send a message not to count them out for the top of the podium at worlds despite their wonky season.
I still think their GOE’s should be higher.

 

[moonvine]

Chris on commentary.

AND HE'S GIVING SPOILERS ABOUT THE PAIRS!!!

This is why I like prefer things in order. But, 3am was far too early for me, and I want to watch my Ice Dance kids live. Plus, it's always nice to watch things in your company.

CaroLiza_fan

He does give spoilers about every event. Best to FF him.

 

[moonvine]

Yall! I was so glad to see the Mexican team there and participating! Donovan must be proud!

 

[VickB]

I thought the second and third American team should have been reversed and the including the scores between them.

I thought the second American team was skating slow and simple skating too.

While the third team had more complex skating skills and difficulty with it.

 

[moonvine]

What is with all the Pattern Step B’s? Chris is not informative.

 

[moonvine]

They did that at the last one I was watching... Euros? I can't remember but I was sitting here with my mouth open going "wha....?????"

They do this at US Nats every year. And once a marriage proposal on the Jumbotron.

 

[demarinis5]

I just caught up with the ID. Wow Piper and Paul were Amazing! They skated that program like a second skin. I was expecting them to score 89-90 easily for that performance.

 

[moonvine]

Chris : they didn't miss a beat...

Me : they certainly do : base level on pattern.... and her second set of twizzles was the leaning tower of pisa

He seems to not know much about ice dance. I don’t know much about ice dance and I know base level on pattern dance is no bueno.

 

[moonvine]

I think it may have been chock and bates...

the TP was harsh on everyone it seems.

It was.

 

[4everchan]

It was.

Until they lowered it...

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I will be blunt. I was at worlds last year. I don't think Chock and Bates are that great. They won worlds because the judges sank Piper and Paul in the RD. Do not forget Piper and Paul won the Free dance.

Piper and Paul have always been FD skaters. The fact that they won the RD here is HUGE even if the margin is small. I do not expect them to win the event but if they do, I will be pleased.

Regarding Lala, their RD here scored higher than all RDs at Euros but the Italians'
and considering the tech panel was harsh, it's a good sign.

I think the Italians, Lithuanians and Brits are on a downward trajectory while LaLa, the French and the Finns are moving up.

100% agree. And I'll add that La/La should have been ahead of C/B here too. Both top Canadian teams are just better than them. Just like in some competitions this season Ca/Pono should not have placed 2nd to them.

 

[moonvine]

Until they lowered it...

Yes.

 

[rain]

It’s amazing to me how a simple costume change for Lala made a huge difference.
Now it’s just two 60’s/70’s dancing duo. It works much better as the Austin power theme didn’t carry over from the first song.

His makeover is actually a big positive. He looks way older/more mature now, which will help them to be taken seriously as a top senior team. It surprised me in a good way. (I still wish they had a better program — music and choreography.)

 

[fehervari]

BV 2.00 GOE 6.21? why? where? it's a good rotlift4, so GOE is a plus element. I think it's not normal. the winners of the day for me are Yoshida / Morita, Lim / Quan, Xiao / He. I know, they are not the best skaters but this could have been absolutely enforced with the GOE...