As for programs, i´m pretty sure they will get better ones for next year. As it was unclear they would even compete this season, i´m not surprised they didnt bother much in getting something amazing.
The important thing is, the quality is already there, and once they glue up a little bit more, it will be just incredible overall next season.
I don't 100% 'buy' this, because the flip side is that they have had literally 2 years to prepare these programs. Surely they had hope that they'd be able to compete eventually- why not take some of the training time over the past 2 years to actually devote some real time and thought to programs?
S/S and V/T are the best i ever seen.
Now i'm double happy, V/T are back and S/M are on the way to get close what S/S was
Alyona <3
As a side note, i have a feeling they may not go for a quad. Their triple is waaaay to huge, so they would need to probably tweak the technique or something...
So, I just watched S/M without benefit of music, and it was interesting.
I'm wondering whether anyone but me admires their unison. Most of the remarks here refer to their elements. Their programs seem slow and choreo not great to me; but what if they've spent this time on ironing out even the smallest kinks that there must have been in their unison? If that's the case, I think it was time very well spent.
It didn't take V/T nearly this long, but I read that they devoted their early training together to changing their technique to be the same. I've always thought that US pairs should pay much more attention to unison and they should take a page from Russian pairs in that respect; now it seems to me that S/M have taken that approach as well.
It's long-term thinking, IMO, as opposed to "we've got to impress everyone right away."
They don't even have money to invite Aliona's fiancé to come and cheer for them. No shows no money all those months and Aliona didn't even coach. I think they have spent most of their time to develop elements and unison, which is good already.I don't 100% 'buy' this, because the flip side is that they have had literally 2 years to prepare these programs. Surely they had hope that they'd be able to compete eventually- why not take some of the training time over the past 2 years to actually devote some real time and thought to programs?
Well, S/S was pretty much same "unison" school already, so guess Alyona just kept it =)
And yeah, that is a big deal, specially in sbs spins for example - some pairs just make me cringe by how they manage to *not* rotate together at all. Even some pairs quite close to top sometimes neglect it =/
So, I just watched S/M without benefit of music, and it was interesting.
I'm wondering whether anyone but me admires their unison. Most of the remarks here refer to their elements. Their programs seem slow and choreo not great to me; but what if they've spent this time on ironing out even the smallest kinks that there must have been in their unison? If that's the case, I think it was time very well spent.
It didn't take V/T nearly this long, but I read that they devoted their early training together to changing their technique to be the same. I've always thought that US pairs should pay much more attention to unison and they should take a page from Russian pairs in that respect; now it seems to me that S/M have taken that approach as well.
It's long-term thinking, IMO, as opposed to "we've got to impress everyone right away."
LOL it is a small competition with almost no audience. In senior A they will not give out such high scores. I guess judges were trying to pay back for the time they couldn't compete.I truly hope this competition had very generous markings/ scoring because otherwise we might as well just give S and M the next oly gold. The scoring is ridiculous considering the errors and not exactly glowing programs - forget what their strategy is or that they have had two years. The scores were very kind, generous if not crazy for this team. Compared to d and r or v and t or s and h, S and M look like the anointed and appointed ones undeservedly.
S/M: monotonous music and a not very engaging program BUT glorious elements (besides the two foots) and Aliona is so, so fierce. Hope they reach lots of success this season and can afford a better LP next year
I wish I could understand S/M's music or programmes. It's good that Aliona managed to sustain her shape and transfer everything she did well with Robin to this new partnership. However my first impression is that all the weaknesses she had in previous partnership also present. Her throws are big but they have often been two-footed in the past as well. Also the skating skills difference is too apparent. Definitely a threat for Euro podium and even title, but I doubt they can do much damage to the Worlds standings, but you never know.
Thinking of their possible future layout, I'm more than thrilled.