2022 Winter Olympics: Free Dance

[anonymoose_au]

with these olympics my schedule is all messed up... having dinner at midnight.... i dedicate my greek salad to Gabby whose last name is obviously Greek.

You know what's funny... there's a character in the Baby-Sitter's Club book called Gabby Papadakis.

I wonder if Gabby ever read them and was like "OMG!"

 

[auser]

Oh Piper and Paul, that would make an absolutely gorgeous exhibition program. But for an Olympic year? I think it was a miscalculation.

They will always be my favorite team from this quad, but that was not their best. That botched lift! And Paul, that drum major costume looks like you wandered off from a Stonewall Parade.

But thank you thank you because you have brought me so much joy.

So I have harbored this secret theory that "Long and Winding Road" was meant to fondly bookend Paul Poirier's Olympic career that started with 2010 Olympic ice dance to Elinor Rigby with then partner Vanessa Crone. Like I said only in my imaginings... have found no indication in reality.

 

[labgoat]

Well I am happy for P/C and H/D to finally get the medals they wanted. I am also happy that C/B had a beautiful memorable skate that so many will remember for a long time. I am happy S/K were able to skate well after so many injury problems earlier. My compliments to Nikita for evening out his efforts to match Viktoria and to her for improving so much to match him. I am also very happy for G/F and S/D for exceding expectations and doing their countries proud with beautiful emotional programs. I am also happy for H/B who skated as well as they did after so many injuries and earned dozens of new fans with their lovely skating. Here's to an even better skate at worlds. I am sad for the teams that had mishaps S/B, G/P, FB/S and K/S here's to redemption at worlds.

 

[skatedreamer]

You know what's funny... there's a character in the Baby-Sitter's Club book called Gabby Papadakis.

I wonder if Gabby ever read them and was like "OMG!"

Whaaa…..? That’s gotta be one of the craziest coincidences ever!

 

[Janice4th]

My favorite Free Dance of the night was Chock and Bates. Their music and program was interesting. Normally, I love Gilles and Poirier, but it wasn’t their night

 

[labgoat]

Why are so many fans under the impression that the judges ever liked "Hitchcock"?

I loved it. I wish they could have done it here.

 

[labgoat]

Congrats to P&C! I'm very happy for them! This isn't my favorite FD of theirs but it still was beautiful and well skated. Congrats to S&K and H&D for completing the podium. A lot of pressure on them coming in as the top three so kudos to them for holding it together as we some some nervy problems among the others (S&B, G&P and FB&S most noticeably). My heart is with C&B and I'm so proud of them - wish there were pewter medals here haha, am so glad they got the team medal (hopefully they will eventually have their medal ceremony!) I also loved S&D - probably skating more full out than anyone (of course they had less pressure than the top teams though). And G&F moving up to fifth - congrats to them! Also loved H&B's freedance, definitely a favorite of mine this year!

yes Pewter!

 

[Colonel Green]

I loved it.

I thought it was great too, but the judges never liked it (nor, really, any of the "quirky" programs they did pre-2018). So no team trying to win a medal at these Olympics would have brought it back.

 

[labgoat]

I thought it was great too, but the judges never liked it (nor, really, any of the "quirky" programs they did pre-2018). So no team trying to win a medal at these Olympics would have brought it back.

I also really liked the Bond program with the green dress.

 

[Artistry]

Wow the programs of the top 3 are a complete snooze this year.

Not an ounce of creativity between the three teams.

I agree, this was SO much more boring than during Virtue/Moir and Davis/White era…

 

[Skater Boy]

No question PC were the best. It wasn't their best program. as in concept but it was so well skated. Really well skated and yay fot the Americans. sK really imprssed me with t heir injuries and lack of prep wow. Yay for the Italians. But what is it about Canada and 7th. WEapo and now GP both possible gold medal teams. HOnestly the French were amazing. THe music and concept ok sos but this is the olympics o not masterpiece programs but masterpiece skats tech wise bravo Nathan, PC, Yuma and CB, HD. I also giv credit to SK. I think we all know that Nikita's back is a real issue. There were reports of him in pain but they pulled it together - not nough really th challenge PC (well they didn't have the programs to do that anyways but still good for them. It would be nice if HD retired now and let CB get on the podium at worlds since PC are likely to go on to worlds in France. With no competition and with Russia really vulnerable (SK with his injury. INjury is a fact of life but skaters like Hanyu and sK amazd me. Th athelt heart.

 

[WeakAnkles]

I think Radford was out by the team gold in 2018.

You may be right. I forgot about the team gold.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Truly a rarity. I also have to credit the kindness of the Japanese fans sitting next to me at GPF 2018 for turning me into the fangirl I am today.

My seat mate Miki, 2012. She spoke some English and was delightful.

 

[4everchan]

I am obviously disappointed for the Canadian teams..

Piper and Paul had one costly mistake.. about 4 points on that lift... and some PCS most likely...
FBS : their few bobbles cost them even more : they have the lowest Base Value of the 20 teams tonight... that they didn't go any lower in the ranking is due to the very good overall quality of the other elements and their strong skating.. They will do better at worlds.

Lala : they were a bit tight though they skated super well... May the judges reward them... any pcs score below 8 is not fair ...

Happy Smart Diaz were rewarded, same for the Italians.

I have already praised the USA and French teams. I really love the programs of PC this time around ( I didn't 4 years ago) and I am happy they lived up to the expectations.

 

[4everchan]

You may be right. I forgot about the team gold.

a gold medal is a gold medal man

 

[WeakAnkles]

I agree, this was SO much more boring than during Virtue/Moir and Davis/White era…

In a way I do have to agree with that. But ID has REGRESSED this quad; the judging is back to pre-Salt Lake City "scoring by reputation" and there simply isn't any reward for true innovation, for all the lip service TPTB may spout about it.

 

[rinkside_user]

I was hoping C/B could climb onto the podium for a FRA - USA - USA finish but this was more realistic, sadly. She also had a wobble on the twizzles. However, this was a nice outing and I hope they are satisfied. Chock is a true gem and Evans is a worthy partner.

As for P/C, I prefer their Moonlight Sonata but this FD also had very nice choreographic elements and nice touches. I agree the music feels generic, though. Nonetheless, a deserved win for P/C. (And with that I'm gone listening to their RD music for the foreseeable future.)

 

[4everchan]

P/C's music is by Gabriel Fauré, a fabulous, underrated composer. I play a lot of his music. It's refined, complex yet sounding understated. It has long and beautiful sweeping phrases. I thought it suited P/C perfectly.

 

[WeakAnkles]

P/C's music is by Gabriel Fauré, a fabulous, underrated composer. I play a lot of his music. It's refined, complex yet sounding understated. It has long and beautiful sweeping phrases. I thought it suited P/C perfectly.

And its emotional power strikes me as quiet but cumulative. I quite liked it.

 

[Skater Boy]

I agree, this was SO much more boring than during Virtue/Moir and Davis/White era…

Agreed. or even the 1990's (maybe Bukin should look at dad's drama) As good as PC were this was not their best program as a concept r genre. The skating wonderful. I am really disappointed this olympics some great tech work ie pc, Nathan, Yuma and the Americans in dance but an alien for an Oly medal competitive program???? Even PC's costumes had a VM look in the SD and the free dance I have no idea why Guillaume was wearing red. Gabby looked stunning and she kept her assets covered tis time but I am not sure what their costumes were trying to do in respect to the program - thy didn't even go together. I feel for Chock and Bates s close but they will have an Olympic gold still or silver pending Valieva. Nice skate by the Italians to come in fifth. I feel for them, Piper and Paul, SB and CB - all medal worthy teams. Looks like Canada just lost three spots come worlds. Piper and Paul are going to have to move up on that podium. SK is the only team I see not showing up to worlds. But let everyone celebrate. Looks like Canada is not winning a medal in skating unless Valieva is dq'd