2025 Cup of China Free Dance

[Karoltyna]

I wonder what is going on behind the scenes in IAM and how the coaches are explaining the scores of some teams...

 

[TallyT]

I know Madi is into costume design but that skirt is going to make me very nervous over the season.

She's going to need to learn as she goes how to manage it to best advantage, but I've seen more impossible-to-skate-in costumes done brilliantly...

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Same. Like, the music is Paint it black, and the red part of skirt is like the highlight of the program... eh.

When you look at the full lyrics, I suppose it does fit. After all, the first line of the song is:

"I see a red door and I want to paint it black"​

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Sabsi]

I wonder what is going on behind the scenes in IAM and how the coaches are explaining the scores of some teams...

Madison’s face says it all.. she’s not pleased

 

[theblade]

Loicia and Theo are better than their final placement here. Le sigh.

 

[FSFan1999]

Madison’s face says it all.. she’s not pleased

At the same time, reguardless of how you rate their skating skills and ability, surely they know they didn't skate to the best of their ability?

 

[anonymoose_au]

don't know, didn't watch FD last week, I'm rioting, but judges bias is always right in ID

I haven't caught up either not sure if I want to as Charlene and Marco appear to be yesterday's news as far as the judges are concerned and I ain't in the mood for that.

 

[readernick]

To be honest, Madison and Evan had some low levels which is the primary reason the score is this low. They clearly need more practice. Were they injured in the offseason? I got the same impression from the RD and despite the opinion of some fans here this is not their usual level of skating. Anyway, the low levels in the FD were in part a result of Madison's skirt which actually prevented her from getting her levels on her twizzles. Madison is usually a queen at getting levels from all panels. The other levels and the speed issues are likely just a lack of preparation. They did not seem surprised by that score.They know they aren't ready.

 

[Karoltyna]

Madison’s face says it all.. she’s not pleased

you know, they told her she will get the gold this whole quad, I really want some of IAM skaters to spill the tea (or wine, like Olivia a few months ago) and I don't want it at the same time because I know I will lose part of my faith in humanity...

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Right, that's it for me today. Too many overnight practices from the MotoGP and Formula 1 to catch up on before this evening.

Delighted to see Emilea and Vadym take home a Silver Medal. It will go well with the Gold Medal that Emilea's former team-mate from her days representing Cyprus, Stefania Yakovleva, took home from the Gordion Cup yesterday.

All in all, it's been a good few days for my kids!

WELL DONE!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Sabsi]

At the same time, reguardless of how you rate their skating skills and ability, surely they know they didn't skate to the best of their ability?

Of course they know… but this year they’re facing a completely different situation, and you can literally feel how much pressure they’re under.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Madison’s face says it all.. she’s not pleased

Madison always has that face when they don’t score well I don’t think it has anything to do with the coaching. This programme is very different to what they’ve done before and it doesn’t have as much flow yet to it but they always improve as the season goes on.

I think all teams will naturally be miffed at the FB/C pairing cause she was the best female ice dancer on the circuit the last few years and he is the best male ice dancer so they were always going to be hard to compete against. I do feel for Madi and Evan cause you know they stayed skating for so long because they really want that Olympic gold medal and then FB/C show up and get 133 at their first GP.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

you know, they told her she will get the gold this whole quad, I really want some of IAM skaters to spill the tea (or wine, like Olivia a few months ago) and I don't want it at the same time because I know I will lose part of my faith in humanity...

What tea did Olivia spill a few months ago?

 

[auser]

She's going to need to learn as she goes how to manage it to best advantage, but I've seen more impossible-to-skate-in costumes done brilliantly...

I'm also hoping that the dance does not become about skirt rather than the skirt serving the character of the dance. I know it is early in the season but in some spots the skirt obscures her positions. And I almost felt a bit today like the skirt was motivating her interest in the dance. Although I would never think of Madison as not totally committed to her dance. I hope this makes sense it is 1:19 am here.

 

[Karoltyna]

What tea did Olivia spill a few months ago?

Oh, only the general "it's going to be so interesting this year". You know, she can't afford to irritate her coaches much...

 

[Jammers]

C/B really needed to skate a Challenger this year i know they usually don't and that's why they aren't at their best at the start of the season. It's worked out for them in the past but there is no 4CC for them this season because of the Olympics meaning it's one less competition before the big one in Milan to get this program right so why did they start the season like usual on the GP?

 

[Skater Boy]

I almost get ZK are the flavour of the season. Remembrer we have seen this sparkle or hope with PC, LB, LaLa, Smart and Diez etc. I am not srprised I guess to a point about Chock and Bates. They definitely lok rough, unfinished and their RD in particular was not the same level. But somehow CB always end up winning worlds even with errors, they manage to win like here not very impressive in what should be a cake walk. Remember Piper and Paul have the bad luck of skating against Guillaume and Laurnece later but CB had an easy competition here.. I wouldn't be surpised if they go bak for some rework at IAM and maybe one new program. This reminds a bit of when the favoured coache was Zueva and how Virtue andMoir begged for more help as they could see the writing on the wall but did not get what they wanted and were right they lost the gold. In the end right now things seem to be favouring Guillaume and Luarence but ice is slippery.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

I'm also hoping that the dance does not become about skirt rather than the skirt serving the character of the dance. I know it is early in the season but in some spots the skirt obscures her positions. And I almost felt a bit today like the skirt was motivating her interest in the dance. Although I would never think of Madison as not totally committed to her dance. I hope this makes sense it is 1:19 am here.

No I totally get this - I understand the appeal of the skirt but it does feel like it was maybe too much of a main character today?

The best skirt action/interpretation I’ve seen recently have been from the two Latin-themed FDs Laurence did with Nik…the skirt was a definite highlight but didn’t over power her movenments.

 

[Blackmirage]

As per Chock/Bates. with all my respect to their age: it is difficult to imagine that THIS FD was created by the same coaching team than of Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron's both artistically and technically... It means THAT is the only offer they could give them knowing their technical ability.
More "work" with the costume and face than with the patterns and legs. I am really disappointed having THIS in their carreer after more than 14 years in the elite of the discipline.
As per Zhingas/Kolesnyk: a VERY positive surprise. I can see a great potential. Their lines, carriage, technical ability promise a "star quality". The fact that they (correctly) got a higher technical points than the 3x Worldchampions says a lot (about both couples). They give the reason to be excited in the future (maybe even the recent days).
As per Lopareva/Brissaud: They are good, but always creating a feeling that they are "working hard", and cannot get to the level, when you can see "art".
As per Smart/Dieck. They are smooth, definitely more "artistical" than L/B, but their fault in the RD avoided them to be on the podium. I have a mixed feeling about their free dance. Last year it was an unexpected (let's say sensational) one, which gave them a "name". This 2nd part is good, but its "highlights" need to work more on them.

 

[museksk8r]

I’m very surprised that Madi and Evan have gone this route for the most important Olympic season. It is certainly a risk and much more avant-garde for them. Similar to how no one had ever seen Annie Lennox interpreted as a tango until Piper and Paul did it last season, Madi and Evan may have been inspired by them to interpret Rolling Stones as this flamenco. It’s definitely not what you would expect from a Chock/Bates program based on the past couple of seasons and just like I appreciated them stepping out of their comfort zone with their Daft Punk FD during the last Olympic season, I also appreciate this effort from them to flex themselves. It’s daring and enthralling, but it certainly needs more mileage and a new, shorter skirt/cape for Madi, as that is a mishap waiting to happen (think Charlene Guignard during the 2024 Worlds FD).

It’s funny how fickle figure skating judges can be. They claim they want skaters to show versatility, growth, and change, but then when that happens, they act like they don’t quite know what to do with it/score it. I can see how they found Madi’s long skirt/cape distracting, as I did too, and she appeared to be fighting it at times throughout the dance. I hope C/B don’t get discouraged by these scores because I love the concept of this creative dance and they just need more time for it to marinate and fully bake. I will be intrigued to see the results once they are more comfortable with this theme. It’s WAY more advanced in creativity than anything Laurence and Guillaume are doing this season! Onward and upward!

This was an absolute dream week for Z/K and Sphilband! If this team can just continue going in this upward momentum and stay clean and consistent, that Olympic spot may be theirs for claiming. I was really impressed by their maturity and progress as a team here. They were noticeably crisp and clean and competed with great attack for so early in the season and that’s exactly what you have to do as a rising team to make the panel take notice of you. This definitely could be the breakthrough competition for this team and I’m so happy for them!

As for Lopareva/Brissaud, this FD for me marks the first time I am seeing flashes of who they were as a team prior to 2025 Worlds and I really hope they can continue to make positive strides in their season. This performance relit the candle and they just need to continue shining on through the season. I have been so worried for them in every past performance of this Bjork FD and it was really frustrating to me how they were not properly interpreting the theme and nuances of the music and making silly mistakes, but this is the first time I have seen any sign of comfort and passion from them in interpreting this music. Bjork is a favorite artist of mine and I definitely want to continue to see this team properly do her justice. Best wishes for them to continue improving throughout the season!