2018 Olympic Figure Skating Team Event Day 1

[Mussique]

Ugly donut spins (ughgghgh I'm trying to reach for my boot —and look I kind of caught it™ spins, those that are more triangular-like than donut-like) looked poor enough without the aerial angle.

(I do appreciate it when the spin is centered enough, I guess.)

 

[s_parks]

Ugly donut spins (ughgghgh I'm trying to reach for my boot —and look I kind of caught it™ spins, those that are more triangular-like than donut-like) looked poor enough without the aerial angle.

(I do appreciate it when the spin is centered enough, I guess.)

I think in recent memory I've only liked Denis Ten's donut spin. All others- pass. I may be missing some good ones, though.

 

[skylark]

They are excellent (and better than the rest of the field competing today) in some elements of the skating which are strictly connected with the fact that 2 skaters are on the ice at the same time, as unision, 'oneness' (skating as one), spatial awareness, harmony and timing in the movements between the partners... So for the pairs and ice dance what is also very important and what is another base for good PCS (except your basic SS) is that synchronicity.

I wish this paragraph could be posted on threads, and read out by a commentator, at every pairs event. I think that audiences, both live and broadcast/video, respond to this subconsciously. But when the left brain analysis takes over, it leaves this important value of pairs skating out.

As of Europeans this year, I'm completely in Tarasova and Morozov's corner (after my favorites Savchenko/Massot). This year, T/M have somehow made more visible their own personalities and how they complete and complement each other on the ice. I've loved seeing this, as it's always been clear how stellar their elements are.

On a side note, I'm completely sold on their FS since Euros, because they've done what GS'rs always said they needed to do: show more of their personalities on the ice. It didn't happen for me at first, but they've developed the program over time. I'm surprised the vast majority of posters continue to hate it or make fun of it, because I see a great difference from September to January.

 

[rmsxvi]

Can anyone tell me why Hanyu wasnt in the SP? or did i miss something? i was out the whole day so i didnt have time to be updated on the news.

 

[da96103]

I did! I thought it was rather cool

Although I did notice the overhead camera work on the spins/death spirals...it's a bad angle, don't do it camerapeople!

At least they did not do the Mortal Kombat 3-d view where they freeze the skater in midair shift the camera and continue the motion. It was 4cc last year 2017.

 

[skylark]

It's interesting, and debatable. I am not a morning person, so I fully understand. Doing quads at 10 am (in competition) means you do at least triple jumps at 6 am. They are lucky they are young, as the older you get, the more dangerous it becomes. Still planning sport event for prime time on Eastern coast is wrong and insane. Money, and adds are all that come into consideration. I doubt they care for figure skating fans or figure skaters.

Exactly. I'm not a morning person either. And if you look at the difference in the overall performances between the men's segment here and the pairs segment, it's even more obvious. Skating in a comp that begins at noon is what the skaters are all acclimated to being able to do, if called upon.

 

[da96103]

Can anyone tell me why Hanyu wasnt in the SP? or did i miss something? i was out the whole day so i didnt have time to be updated on the news.

He needed more time to practice. His 4Lz is not going to be featured, his 4Lo is work in progress, but the other elements are competition-ready.

 

[moriel]

Well, time to give oppinions =)

Men: overall disappointing. I would really have Shoma 1st, Bychenko 2nd, Cha 3rd, and Rizzo 4th. Everybody else should get 0 points for that and get a life ban from Olympics.
Russia should have sent Plushenko to team event.

Pairs: TM had a deserved win, they were pretty much perfect. Actual scores given may be debatable, but I don't see how they could score below DR or SM here. On PCs - after DR got 35 for an average skate (it was not bad, but it was not brilliant either), it went downhill.


I see why some skaters don't really want to do team event, for instance why T/M are not doing the FS. They came here to get their own personal Olympic medal, and the Pais SP is on 14th, just 3 days after the team pairs FS. They cannot risc injury or whatever, and probably they want to focus on preparing for the individual competition.

 

[Putina]

1	UNO Shoma	JPN	103.25	1	video
2	BYCHENKO Alexei	ISR	88.49	2	video
3	CHAN Patrick	CAN	81.66	3	video
4	CHEN Nathan	USA	80.61	4	video
5	RIZZO Matteo	ITA	77.77	5	video
6	CHA Junhwan	KOR	77.70	6	video
7	YAN Han	CHN	77.10	7
8	KOLYADA Mikhail	RUS	74.36	8	video
9	FENTZ Paul	GER	66.32	9	video
10	BESSEGHIER Chafik	FRA	61.06	10	video

Quoting this so that more people can find it. Also, is there Mr. Yan's performance anywhere?

 

[Putina]

Ugly donut spins (ughgghgh I'm trying to reach for my boot —and look I kind of caught it™ spins, those that are more triangular-like than donut-like) looked poor enough without the aerial angle.

(I do appreciate it when the spin is centered enough, I guess.)

I am in total agreement. Especially the part where skaters reach out to their blades to make donuts.. Ugh. It makes them look desperate and needy. I would rather watch classic Camel spins with beautifully straightened lines.

 

[da96103]

Ugly donut spins (ughgghgh I'm trying to reach for my boot —and look I kind of caught it™ spins, those that are more triangular-like than donut-like) looked poor enough without the aerial angle.

(I do appreciate it when the spin is centered enough, I guess.)

I remembered seeing a rectangular one today (was it Nathan Chen?) and was wondering is it supposed to look like that from the top?

 

[skylark]

The whole idea of team event is frankly stupid. Like, is it normal when a skater completely failed his skate(Kolyada) but will most likely end up with an olympic medal through the merits of others? Or other skaters who aren't able to win gold(or medal) in their disciplines (Kolyada just being the best example after his fail).
I consider team event a meaningless medals giveaway for top federations. What's the point of holding a competition between 4 countries, with 3 medals available?

It worked quite well, though, when the Russians won it in Sochi, right? Got Plushy his 2nd OGM, after all.

 

[Jedi]

Well, time to give oppinions =)

Men: overall disappointing. I would really have Shoma 1st, Bychenko 2nd, Cha 3rd, and Rizzo 4th. Everybody else should get 0 points for that and get a life ban from Olympics.
Russia should have sent Plushenko to team event.

Pairs: TM had a deserved win, they were pretty much perfect. Actual scores given may be debatable, but I don't see how they could score below DR or SM here. On PCs - after DR got 35 for an average skate (it was not bad, but it was not brilliant either), it went downhill.


I see why some skaters don't really want to do team event, for instance why T/M are not doing the FS. They came here to get their own personal Olympic medal, and the Pais SP is on 14th, just 3 days after the team pairs FS. They cannot risk injury or whatever, and probably they want to focus on preparing for the individual competition.

I actually disagree I think D and R were brilliant and were just held down in pcs by reputation. They deserved to be ahead further of S and M who made a major error. AT the very least if D and R are being marked down because her lines aren't as good that S/M should be dinged in pairs and P/C should also be dinged for the inequity in skating skills but that approach is not taken to those teams. THe Germans and French in their respective events are generously scored all the time pc wise.

 

[deedee1]

I have many thoughts after watching Mens SP, but will write one big thought that I've had for years:
Male single skaters NEED to eat more and get appropriate amount of muscle AND body fat for their stamina not only physically but also MENTALLY, that are of course required for athletes of ANY sport in order to compete under enourmous pressure at the very high level like the Oly Games. Look at Shoma. He may, most probably in this particular sport, weighs heavier for his height, however his speed, ice coverage, sharpness of body, attack and concentration did beat all other men. I mean it sans his tech score. When a skater can fly, s/he literally dominates ice, judges and audience. Her/his tininess doesn't matter at all. They are athletes first. They need to eat properly.

ETA: That's is one of reasons why I admire female ice dancers' skating these days, e.g. Tessa and Madison Hubbell. Also Kaetlyn Osmond, Wakaba and Yuna Shiraiwa to name a few.

 

[anyanka]

It appears that no one but Shoma and Alexei showed up to work today in the men's event ... ugh, what a mess.

Hoping everyone skates well tomorrow!

 

[Jedi]

Well, time to give oppinions =)

Men: overall disappointing. I would really have Shoma 1st, Bychenko 2nd, Cha 3rd, and Rizzo 4th. Everybody else should get 0 points for that and get a life ban from Olympics.
Russia should have sent Plushenko to team event.

Pairs: TM had a deserved win, they were pretty much perfect. Actual scores given may be debatable, but I don't see how they could score below DR or SM here. On PCs - after DR got 35 for an average skate (it was not bad, but it was not brilliant either), it went downhill.


I see why some skaters don't really want to do team event, for instance why T/M are not doing the FS. They came here to get their own personal Olympic medal, and the Pais SP is on 14th, just 3 days after the team pairs FS. They cannot risc injury or whatever, and probably they want to focus on preparing for the individual competition.

I am not a skating competitor but was thinking that the athletes could also treat the team event as practice - like a dress run through? With a chance at a shiny medal to go home with. And wow, to be able to share it with friends on your team - kind of a nice sentiment. WInning something is useless if you don't have someone to share it with. What better way than with teammates. And those of us who love skating - more skating the better. Arguments an be made the team gymnastics should be canned and relays in swimming and track then? Talk about legitimacy many of the X type sports can be argued are not legit or shouldn't be in the olympics but they are because, maybe this is the 2018 revelation the olympics / ioc is still about money and what the public want.

 

[jenaj]

I like the team event. It gives skaters a second chance at a medal (or for some, a first) and showcases some skaters who have excellent skates like Bychenko, but who would get lost in the shuffle in the individual event. The problem with the men's skate wasn't the team event. Does anyone remember the individual men's long program at Sochi? Talk about a disastrous event...

 

[anyanka]

Just glad the pairs for the most part looked pretty good. S/M made a major error but even they laughed it off in the end, it was just a dry run anyhow. D/R had unsightly leans on their SBS but flowed beautifully. T/M were the class of the field, bar none, it was indeed a clinic with them. The Knierems were great, except for that one unexpected bobble! It saved the event from a debacle given how awful the men were.

- - - Updated - - -

I like the team event. It gives skaters a second chance at a medal (or for some, a first) and showcases some skaters who have excellent skates like Bychenko, but who would get lost in the shuffle in the individual event. The problem with the men's skate wasn't the team event. Does anyone remember the individual men's long program at Sochi? Talk about a disastrous event...

I had blocked it out from my memory. Yikes.

 

[Mrs. P]

I think like anything else, it's going to take an adjustment. This is only the second Olympics for the Team Event and I think it's a bit much to expect it to have the prestige of longstanding individual events.

I think there are skaters who loved the team event, like Jason Brown. He even did back-to-back senior Bs last season because he wanted to show USFS he could do events close together. And how nice for Savchenko/Massot ot have the opportunity to do the SP in competition after missing Euros?

I think it has growing pains and things that have to be adjusted, but I like the concept overall.

 

[tjb]

It worked quite well, though, when the Russians won it in Sochi, right? Got Plushy his 2nd gold medal, after all.

at the next games it should be no competition for the russian gold, and canada probably not gonna get any medals in the team, but i still think that they should drop the team event completely. or change the format and a schedule at least