2015 Worlds Free Dance March 27

[4everchan]

interesting about scali … perhaps that's what they need… regarding their rise in standings, many teams have retired so aside from P/C topping them and the Russian team fall-out, they haven't moved in comparison to previous years…if anything G/P are on the upswing (wishful thinking as i like his skating a lot)

I do think the Shibs have found a great mentor in Scali. And the feeling appeals mutual, judging from his comments about them. I think he played an instrumental role in their SD, which was a fan favorite this year (and who expected that one of the better Pasos would come from a sibling team?)

I think you see old-school Marina more in the FD, which is why it felt a bit antiquated to many fans.

I'm hoping that perhaps Scali can do more work on both the SD/FD (or they can some how get Peter T to choreograph for them). I am one of like two people who don't think they need a coaching change. I might have felt differently if not for the success they did have this season: First GPF appearance since 2012, first ISU Championship medal (at 4CC) since 2011 and brand new personal bests (which had dated back to their breakout season in 2011). Also Scali's work has made me inclined to think it's worth sticking around.

As for the judges, I think they are slowly coming around to them. It may seem sort of frustrating given the meteoritic rise of other teams, but in a sense, they already had one meteortic rise during their first season and perhaps it's good to just see incremental, but positive momentum. They broke 50 barrier in TES/PCS in the FS for the first time in their careers at Worlds. (Even when they won bronze back in 2011, their FS TES/PCS was in the 48 range). Their PCS was the closest yet to the top teams then it had been in past years.

They have four years to make this momentum work for them. I'm eager to see what happens.

 

[slider11]

Wow! Very insightful! I think I'm agreeing! Alex and Maia are young yet old souls in many ways. So maybe they do just need to keep working with Scali, explore new choreo and innovate performances. They need to put something on the ice that the judges will see with a new appreciation. One thing that's bugging me - why was their first lift in FD given a level 2. Can't see the mistakes or shortcomings.

I do think the Shibs have found a great mentor in Scali. And the feeling appeals mutual, judging from his comments about them. I think he played an instrumental role in their SD, which was a fan favorite this year (and who expected that one of the better Pasos would come from a sibling team?)

I think you see old-school Marina more in the FD, which is why it felt a bit antiquated to many fans.

I'm hoping that perhaps Scali can do more work on both the SD/FD (or they can some how get Peter T to choreograph for them). I am one of like two people who don't think they need a coaching change. I might have felt differently if not for the success they did have this season: First GPF appearance since 2012, first ISU Championship medal (at 4CC) since 2011 and brand new personal bests (which had dated back to their breakout season in 2011). Also Scali's work has made me inclined to think it's worth sticking around.

As for the judges, I think they are slowly coming around to them. It may seem sort of frustrating given the meteoritic rise of other teams, but in a sense, they already had one meteortic rise during their first season and perhaps it's good to just see incremental, but positive momentum. They broke 50 barrier in TES/PCS in the FS for the first time in their careers at Worlds. (Even when they won bronze back in 2011, their FS TES/PCS was in the 48 range). Their PCS was the closest yet to the top teams then it had been in past years.

They have four years to make this momentum work for them. I'm eager to see what happens.

 

[Astrid56]

If the judges wanted them to win so badly then they would not have placed them 4th after the SD.
Some people on here are very bitchy about P/C & their high score.
Just accept that other couples who are not V/M or D/W can skate like this & get a high score.
V/M screwed up in their twizzles several times yet still never dropped from the top two, even D/W made errors yet were not held back.
Why can't people accept a new team has come along & taken Ice Dance to yet another level. This takes nothing away from the V/M & D/W era but skating moves on.
P/C made a SMALL timing error yet got it back together quickly. Chock nearly fell over during the twizzles, they were lucky to get Silver.
W/P did nothing new this season. They played safe.
P/C created something special.

The judges could hardly score P/C higher in SD as technically they were not on par with C/B and W/P or even C/L. Yeah, they were wonderful to look at but that was not the point - there's still the judging criteria to consider. Yeah, their FD was wonderful but it was hardly a '112'. C/B's FD was NOT your typical FD but it was performed superbly despite Madison's slight bubble in her Twizzle. P/W's FD was great but they were slower compared to C/B and speed in ice-dancing mattered so much. I'm not conversant with Ice-dancing techniques but I could see and note the mistakes or bubbles. I noticed that most posters in here are, for unknown reasons, quite hostile to C/B -- I don't know why (?). What did they ever do to merit the attitude. Oh well, we like whom we want to like ....

 

[anyanka]

They've played it safe. After what V&M went through with their The Seasons program, I would think this is the last thing they would pick. When people criticize your choices for being too bold, you double down.

^ This and YES they must!

 

[whatif]

The moment I saw Alla Shekhovtseva proclaiming P/C as a second coming, I knew this would happen. Said that, this was the first time I really enjoyed their FD and got why everyone is going nuts over it. That 112 score was to whoever put together that choreography. Simply brilliant.

 

[Alba]

I think you see old-school Marina more in the FD, which is why it felt a bit antiquated to many fans.

I was rewatching the dance with RaiSport. The commentator is ISU Assitant Tech.Specialist Pedrazzini, who was on the tech.panel in SC.

He spoke and explained some things about couples, their programs, execution, their weak and strong points. He said about Shibs that they are a team with extremely clean technique. He explained what errors they made, but about the program he said the same thing. He said it looks antiquated and nothing special. In his opinion the gala program is beautiful. He started to tell that he asked Scali about the FD, why they choose that, but the woman Secondini (general commentator, how do you call it?) who can't stop talking about usless thing as "look happy they are", "hugging with Scali" etc.etc. he couldn't finish to tell what Scali told him.

 

[el henry]

I was rewatching the dance with RaiSport. The commentator is ISU Assitant Tech.Specialist Pedrazzini, who was on the tech.panel in SC.

He spoke and explained some things about couples, their programs, execution, their weak and strong points. He said about Shibs that they are a team with extremely clean technique. He explained what errors they made, but about the program he said the same thing. He said it looks antiquated and nothing special. In his opinion the gala program is beautiful. He started to tell that he asked Scali about the FD, why they choose that, but the woman Secondini (general commentator, how do you call it?) who can't stop talking about usless thing as "look happy they are", "hugging with Scali" etc.etc. he couldn't finish to tell what Scali told him.

Very interesting to hear what the RAI commentators say; thanks.

The second commentator is called the "color commentator" in more traditional sports coverage; the first commentator is the "play-by-play". I'm not sure how well those terms translate to figure skating.

 

[Alba]

The moment I saw Alla Shekhovtseva proclaiming P/C as a second coming, I knew this would happen. Said that, this was the first time I really enjoyed their FD and got why everyone is going nuts over it. That 112 score was to whoever put together that choreography. Simply brilliant.

I told you, she is gushing over them for months. Anyway, judges went with P&C on the SD also. I mean the judges, GoE's. They had the highest GoE's and PCS.

 

[Alba]

Very interesting to hear what the RAI commentators say; thanks.

It really was this time because he is also an AST, and when he is alone without other guests (sometimes they are 3) or not influenced by national interests he speaks his mind. Anyway, he said about C&B also that their lift is illegal becase Bates keep the hand (his right hand on Chok's knee) above his for more than 5 (or it's 2 now, I have to re-listen that) second. He actually keep his hand in that position during the whole lift. I have to say I didn't pay attention to that before till he mention it and showed the reply. He thought that the C&B b&w costume was the right choice. More suitable for that dance. He also said they made a mistake on the serpentine as well.

 

[Sackie]

I told you, she is gushing over them for months. Anyway, judges went with P&C on the SD also. I mean the judges, GoE's. They had the highest GoE's and PCS.

So true - if their levels had been up there in the SD they would have been on top after the short dance as well. And maybe that is why W/P had to be marked down close to them in the short dance just in case W/P skated close to their 109 from the GPF. If W/P had been above C/B mark wise in the short dance they may have been out of reach. I think W/P coming 3rd was not so much them skating and deserving 3rd but rather the callers and judges playing a numbers game that left W/P the losers.

 

[caitie]

The thing that cracks me up is that people keep forgetting when they compare 112 to VM and DW's scores that PC scored 112 with one less lift than DW and VM.

I agree with the podium results. W/P didn't skate their best in either program -- they looked slow in the FD, too. CB have also skated both of their programs better, although the perfect tech on the SD was impressive. I think they deserved silver over WP based on them getting more levels in the SD and I love their lifts this season, they are amazing. PC were great in the SD performance-wise and all around great in the FD and I am fine with them winning outright... But their score is quite shocking. What basically happened is that the judges scored them to be first after the SD but technically they were fifth. So after the FD the judges gave them basically the best score ever to make sure they were first, which... this system is supposed to prevent that, ugh.

It also made me unexcited for them because I feel as if I watched a team be anointed rather than win. As a fan of ice dancing I recognize their talent but their win felt empty to me.

 

[Mrs. P]

interesting about scali … perhaps that's what they need… regarding their rise in standings, many teams have retired so aside from P/C topping them and the Russian team fall-out, they haven't moved in comparison to previous years…if anything G/P are on the upswing (wishful thinking as i like his skating a lot)

I think G/P has improved greatly, but the gap between these two teams actually widened compared to last season.

2014 Total:
Shibs: 158.87
G/P 155.35
Difference: 3.52 points

2015 Total
Shibs: 172.03
G/P: 165.02
Difference: 7.01 points

 

[4everchan]

yup… gap is still quite big… but i am hoping that finishing 6th will now make them a even more respected for the grand prix season… and perhaps the PCs and GOEs will start going up too….

I think G/P has improved greatly, but the gap between these two teams actually widened compared to last season.

2014 Total:
Shibs: 158.87
G/P 155.35
Difference: 3.52 points

2015 Total
Shibs: 172.03
G/P: 165.02
Difference: 7.01 points

 

[keasus]

Frankly, I found the ice dancing this year to be underwhelming. I wish I could be as enthusiastic about P/C, but I find them sloppy. I miss the teams that achieved technical perfection as well as performance. I just don't see it with P/C. Granted all the teams made mistakes or were lackluster, so somebody had to win. It's ironic: ice dancing used to require a team to "wait their turn," while men and women's free skating seemed to often favor the "new flavor of the month."

 

[yyyskate]

Watching CBC coverage of ice dance right now. learn so much about ice dance!
Their comments about shibs are so good!

 

[nocturnalis]

^ This and YES they must!

If I was V&M and someone told me Carmen was too sexy, I would have Scott dragging me across the ice by hair because idgaf what critics say.

 

[kresslia]

Finally watching this now. 112 even with a visible twizzle error. Omg. I can't...

 

[yyyskate]

just watched the whole ice dance FD coverage.
I love W/P:

 

[kresslia]

Dammit, had tears in my eyes watching W/P's skate knowing their fate. This was probably the last chance they had at the world title too... sigh.

lol, CBC commentators are really not here for C/B at all. I'm not either.

 

[blue_idealist]

Dammit, had tears in my eyes watching W/P's skate knowing their fate. This was probably the last chance they had at the world title too... sigh.

lol, CBC commentators are really not here for C/B at all. I'm not either.

Who knows? it seems the judges are fine with placements being shuffled, what with last year's champs down in 4th.