musesk8r, I take it it's a case of "You Like Big Butts and You Cannot Lie" ?
I found it interesting how the audience reacted to each performance. Let me say that I did enjoy the freedance event tremendously and thought that each team did a wonderful job.
Harvey/Gagnon - great strong skate, the crowd went nuts when she picked him up- a shame they weren't shown later in the event
Orford/Williams - great energy, almost frantic at times, but I agree with earlier comment that they should have been shown with the later group. Very close in points to the top.
Paul/Islam - lovely lines, although I am disappointed they keep reusing the same lifts each year, would like to see them branch out to something new in that department
Ralph/Hill - their program drew me in, very difficult at times, and they did a great job, I actually thought they would be scored a bit higher then they were
Gilles/Poirier - the crowd loved them, very different routine, full of great features and lifts
Weaver/Poje - they skated this program beautifully, lovely edges and lines, unfortunately seemed a bit boring skating after the dynamics of G/P
Virtue/Moir - gorgeous, seamless and beautiful
Can every ice dance event be like this one where everyone skates their best? I don't care about the scoring, just give me great skating and athletes happy with their performance.
Big Vanessa fan here.
NorthernDancers, Thanks so much for the report!
I really liked R&H's tango this year. Yes, there are some gimmicks in it, but I thought they got a great tango feel going. I suspect they need to leave Scarboro to advance much more. And I wish they would not give Asher those high waisted looking outfits. They do not flatter him.
Seems to be a lot of Gillis & Poirier bashing on this thread. I like G&P a lot, and I agree they were somewhat overmarked in terms of overall points, but I don't think there was anything wrong with them finishing 3rd. Except for a couple of minor errors, they skated 2 very good programs and Tracy Wilson, an Olympic medalist in dance, seemed to think their position was justified.
Paul in particular has amazing edges and extension. There's no reason for him to go into singles, so I don't know why anyone here would suggest that. He is a born ice dancer. He doesn't have the triple axels and quads to win in men's anyway. He is a dancer. He is probably the most artistic male ice dancer in the event, certainly more so than Andrew Poje.
Hopefully he and Piper will now work on their weaker areas so that they can be even more competitive next season.
LEVEL 4, option 1
OPTION 1.a)
Requirements for Level 3 Option 1
AND
Creative/Difficult Entry
OPTION 1.b)
Lifted partner sustains a Difficult Pose
through at least 5 rotations or moves
through a Change of Pose
AND
Lifting partner moves through at least 6
rotations
Adjustments to Levels:
1. In a Rotational Lift or Reverse Rotational Lift, if the lifting partner rotates for a while, stops rotation, and then continues to rotate some more, if
the lifted partner is in a Difficult Pose when the rotation stops, the Level shall be reduced by one Level.
2. If a loss of control with additional support (touch down by free leg/foot and/or hand(s)) occurs after a Dance Lift has commenced and the Dance
Lift continues after touchdown (without interruption), its Level shall be reduced by 1 Level per touchdown (in a Combination Lift only the
Level of the Short Lift where the touchdown occurred shall be reduced by 1 Level)
Oh , Here,here ! ( and/or Hear, hear!)
Here we go again.:disapp:
Ryan O , for most of the people here, it's really not mindless bashing. Most people are agreed that G/P have considerable potential. As NorthernDancers points out, this big inflation does the team no good, internationally. I'd even say it could be worse than that , it might even set up some resistance among foreign judges and audiences...a kind of resentment , as if we're trying to put one over on them. Needless to mention, it's grossly unfair to the teams who should have been marked above them.
Paul unquestionably has very good edges and extension, but he's far from faultless.. stiff upper back , over arched lower back and sticks his seat out, not much real relating to his partner (the ability to make a face when directed doesn't count as relating to your partner ..nor , on it's own , does it count as artistry). He is capable of improving in these areas , but if we all just pretend he doesn't need to , that improvement will never happen..which would be a shame.
I'd be interested in knowing what your criteria are for what makes an artistic skater. I certainly don't know what causes you to compare Paul to Andrew Poje in that respect. ( That seems to come out of nowhere ) I don't think we've been making a point of comparing them one to one, have we ? Well, if we did.. Paul would fall far short in the artistic department..
Andrew is no slouch as far as edges and extension are concerned, and has strengths in the very areas where Paul is weak. His body is more fluid , his posture is good ,he relates well to his partner , both in his body line and eye contact ...as well as in his more natural expression of emotion.
But there's no need to go there..the true comparison should be as couple to couple in regard to their overall abilities ... and G/P are not (yet) at the level of at least the four other couples in the top five.