2016 Worlds! Expectations? Concerns?

[4everchan]

i don't know... i guess you are expressing concerns that tech panels/judges are more powerful than good skating... i remain hopeful it isn't... not sure how Italians can hurt Russians so much as they are not favourites in any event, perhaps remotely in dance, where they are ahead of russia anyways...

traditionally, and no offense, but the judging panel made out of former soviet republic or allies has dominated the sport.... and it's been difficult for north americans... sort of still is... if anything, W/P should be worried that there's no Canadian judge in ID...

 

[whatif]

i don't know... i guess you are expressing concerns that tech panels/judges are more powerful than good skating... i remain hopeful it isn't... not sure how Italians can hurt Russians so much as they are not favourites in any event, perhaps remotely in dance, where they are ahead of russia anyways...

traditionally, and no offense, but the judging panel made out of former soviet republic or allies has dominated the sport.... and it's been difficult for north americans... sort of still is... if anything, W/P should be worried that there's no Canadian judge in ID...

Clean skating is always the key factor, the ice is what it is. BUT when you have rather close competition, everything matters. Except for MEN, no other competition can be predicted with certainty. It's all rather open this year, which make it both exciting but also prone to many other "factors".

 

[4everchan]

except for men ? i wouldn't say so... anything can happen

Clean skating is always the key factor, the ice is what it is. BUT when you have rather close competition, everything matters. Except for MEN, no other competition can be predicted with certainty. It's all rather open this year, which make it both exciting but also prone to many other "factors".

 

[Kelly Lynn]

Actually I'm surprised Russia's skaters are being allowed to skate. Most of their athletes are banned from international competitions because of widespread doping. They will not be allowed to compete in the Oylimics unless there are changes.

 

[katha]

The technical panels in all disciplines are very tricky for Russians. Unless they get lucky with the judges draws, I would not expect good showing score wise. This coupled with drug scandals, I am thinking no Gold for Russians this year.

On a related note: I'm always concerned about the ice dance tech panels and dread looking who was assigned. No matter who is on the panel, it's always someone with ties to somewhere and you have to perversely hope that it's at least competing affiliations on one panel so it doesn't favour one country/coaching unit/team too much while disadvantaging others. I'm wary about this panel, but I've been wary about the Euros panel and the 4CC panel...it's always the same: All of them come with history and IMO with bias. And they wield so much power, yet the ISU doesn't want to acknowledge that they could be anything but totally neutral and objective. When it's clear that none of them really are, how could they be?

ETA: Case in point: Arguably the 4CC panel was very Shibs friendly. They absolutely deserved their title and skated great, but the panel was in their favour. The panel at Worlds seems trickier for them. Of course skating well is important, but when teams are so close skills wise like in ice dance, every little thing matters.

 

[Skater Boy]

The russians are a non issue in dance now and three teams would be next to impossible. The issue is whether Chock and BAtes or the Shibs or PC will win gold and can Weaver and Poje do well enough to podium. The Canadians (in ladies and men) are looking very shakey. Their practices have not been going well.

 

[katha]

The russians are a non issue in dance now and three teams would be next to impossible. The issue is whether Chock and BAtes or the Shibs or PC will win gold and can Weaver and Poje do well enough to podium.

And IMO that's where the issues in dance judging come in. I realize I'm banging on about this, but every year at big events I have the same realization that dance results are so ridiculously dependent on the panels and IMO most of the tech specialists available have obvious connections to some coach, country, team etc. I don't know how to change that, but for me it's a problem. It's a problem that in every dance comp thread in the forum when the tech panel is known, inevitably some posters will crop up and say which couples will be favoured by that panel and which will have a hard time. And sadly, too often these posters are right. Ice dance judging has gotten a lot better, but IMO this is still an area that needs improvement. Agree that the Russians are a non-factor in dance. But the couples that are in contention, like C/B, Shibs, P/C or W/P are close in skills, so they are very affected by the tech panel and how the level calls go. And IMO the assignment process and pool of tech specialists for ice dance is generally problematic and the ISU doesn't want to acknowledge that.

 

[4everchan]

so with this ID tech panel, who is favoured in your opinion katha?

 

[da96103]

Actually I'm surprised Russia's skaters are being allowed to skate. Most of their athletes are banned from international competitions because of widespread doping. They will not be allowed to compete in the Oylimics unless there are changes.

Well, presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

You are right though. It is widespread. Even Elizaveta said she took meldonium last year until the ban was announced in Sept last year.

 

[sk8hrd]

The russians are a non issue in dance now and three teams would be next to impossible. The issue is whether Chock and BAtes or the Shibs or PC will win gold and can Weaver and Poje do well enough to podium. The Canadians (in ladies and men) are looking very shakey. Their practices have not been going well.

Canadian ladies looking shaky? Please direct me to the practice threads that say this. I know Chartrand was a little shaky in her run through yesterday, but Daleman didn't even arrive until last night in Boston, so how can you say she was shaky? Do you have info on this morning's practice? I could only find/read Jackie Wong on twitter saying "Walked into the beautiful Steriti rink to see Gabby Daleman nail a beauty of a 3Lz".

 

[GoddessMinerva]

Well, presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

You are right though. It is widespread. Even Elizaveta said she took meldonium last year until the ban was announced in Sept last year.

Right, but you can't ban athletes for doing anything when it was legal, whether it is ethical or not, doping rules are black and white. It's banned or it isn't. It is NOW. The idea that Russian skaters shouldn't be allowed doesn't even make sense. If they win a medal, they will be tested. If they are on an illegal substance - the medal will be taken from then.

I thought it was only track and field athletes facing a wide spread ban? The rest have been individuals, so I think it's rather extreme to expect the Russian shouldn't be allowed to even compete. Whatever was going on in track and field had to have been more than just meldonium anyway to end up with a mass ban.

 

[4everchan]

Right, but you can't ban athletes for doing anything when it was legal, whether it is ethical or not, doping rules are black and white. It's banned or it isn't. It is NOW. The idea that Russian skaters shouldn't be allowed doesn't even make sense. If they win a medal, they will be tested. If they are on an illegal substance - the medal will be taken from then.

I thought it was only track and field athletes facing a wide spread ban? The rest have been individuals, so I think it's rather extreme to expect the Russian shouldn't be allowed to even compete. Whatever was going on in track and field had to have been more than just meldonium anyway to end up with a mass ban.

Last week, I read that they are looking at swimming (for a widespread ban) as well... but I don't think the investigation is over.

 

[KweenAsada]

I don't know why, but I feel like the ladies podium is going to be a surprise. I see Mao and Ashley both on it.

 

[randomfan]

I don't know why, but I feel like the ladies podium is going to be a surprise. I see Mao and Ashley both on it.

Me too. In fact my predictions have both Mao and Ashley on the podium. I really hope my predictions turn out true!

 

[SarahSynchro]

I'm loving all the video clips of today's practices on both the TSL and John Wilson Blades Instagram accounts!

http://instagram.com/johnwilsonblades

http://instagram.com/theskatinglesson

 

[KwanIsALegend]

Very excited for Worlds and also getting very nervous!!!
Hope everyone skates lights out.

 

[NanaPat]

Canadians......It's question time again. I can't remember her first name but, I think her last name is McCloud, or something like that. She was Eman's Coach when I saw him. Does She have an elite level skater at Worlds this year? I'll look up her first name. BRB Joanne..........That's her name. What is she up to these days?

Joanne McLeod is Kevin Reynolds coach. So yes to elite level skater but no to worlds this year. Sorry if this is late and repetitious; I just got around to reading this thread.

 

[mrrice]

Joanne McLeod is Kevin Reynolds coach. So yes to elite level skater but no to worlds this year. Sorry if this is late and repetitious; I just got around to reading this thread.

Thank you....Better late than never, right!!

 

[Tinymavy15]

want Gracie to medal. If Adam Rippon could somehow win a bronze I would be happy. Shibs should also medal. medals all around.

 

[AsadaFanBoy]

Wow. Gracie! Yasss. And Ashley. Oh yes.

Mao, Mirai, and Pogorilaya were underscored. Gracie and Anna should be closer than that. Med was way overscored.