Is that why they give out four medals in the USA nationals? I've never understood the pewter medal thing, especially when you see a photo of the podium with the "close-but-not-quite" pewter medallist(s) standing off to one side.
I remember one big competition long ago (might have been Worlds, or Canadian nationals leading to Worlds), when Aaron Lowe got food poisoning but they skated anyway. By the end of the program Megan was practically holding him up and his face was the same colour as the ice. He was lucky that was before the days of twizzle sequences. Would have been a killer, feeling that sick!Drat! I like them!
But, totally the right decision. If you are not well, it is better to not do something that could make it worse.
Get well soon!
I am kind of surprised (from a stadium viewpoint only) why people seem to think the British couple had a chance at the podium. I didn’t see TES so maybe their elements are good, but they didn’t look interesting live, while B/B were incredible. Beaumont maintained sincere facial impression throughout the skate looking over the audience for example, a great marker for maturity of performance. Bashinskaya was channeling so strongly it was amazing.
People have their personal pitfalls and mistakes and problems
I made the mistake of venturing into the postings of a subset of the ice dance fan crowd on Twitter and your post reminded me of exactly why I was put me off that particular part of skating Twitter: Teams being anointed as 'the chosen ones' and/or 'the next VM' while other teams are torn down/insulted, purely based on the whims of a few vocal posters, plus the constant comments that some teams are 'hags' and should retire immediately to let [insert chosen team] win/get a Worlds spot/get a place on the National team. Needless to say, I'm now much more careful with the skating-related accounts I interact with and read!
ETA - in case this gets screenshoted (saw that practice few times already) and goes on Twitter among ID fandom there: hope you will have a good laugh from it (being also a laugh from yourselves
).
Nowhere I said that Bekker/Hernandez had chance for the podium. I was rather sure B/B will get above them, which in the end proved to not be that clear case (should Brits had no deduction, they would be on the podium). I've only reflected on my personal impressions, being fan of both teams and unprofessionally judging both performances yesterday as impsctful and deserving recognition.
It is always the same though... Last year, people said the same of the Browns... yet, some fans (including yours truly) were careful, acknowledging how much fun they are and how talented they are, but also, being "responsible fans" in admitting they had areas of weakness that do not affect them in juniors but will do so in seniors. And then, after a year of senior competition, I feel the Browns have improved steadily. Not enough to compete with the top teams, but they are doing better and better... yet, the fans who had projected them as the special team, are now changing their tune and saying they must change coaches and packaging etc... It is always like this... The Czech team is talented, strong, powerful, athletic, but they have work to do too before they fair well in seniors.. Their first test will be to get out of Czech republic ahead, because the Taschlers are also very good. Twitter can be a good resource if you look at "verified" and serious accounts... but there are so many trolls out there...
I consider myself old for quite some time already, even more so when I speak about Ice Dance and especially facing opinions/narratives/takes posted by teenagers. You sound reasonable, not old.
I hope that the vibe won’t be. I like fair judging! The stories that unfold in the competition when someone gives a good fight or is charismatic are great, but I don’t want all extroverts all the time.
I think this is a holdover tradition from the way that US Nationals competitors used to be chosen. In that system, the 9 Regions of the USA held qualifying competitions, with the top four of each region moving on to one of the 3 Sectional Competitions. Then the top 4 from each of the 3 Sections move on to the Nationals. That's 12, added to the competitors receiving byes from high placements/results at international competitions. I think the thinking was that 3 medals vs 4 progressing upward was an awkward moment for the 4th place person, hence a pewter medal.
Ah. Unless it's changed since the days when I was more involved with the CFSA/Skate Canada, we also used the "top four move up" system from the zone/region etc levels of competition, but without any tangible award for the fourth place finisher. I guess the thinking was that just getting to move on to the next competition level was reward enough.
Keegan Messing used to get comments like that until the Skate Canada public relations dept (I guess that was the source, anyway) started pushing his notable gt-gt-grandfather who was the first "official" Japanese immigrant to Canada and be granted citizenship. That ancestry is also via his mother, like Kai's.
As an old (in both senses) pairs skater, my concern is that dance is encroaching more and more into pairs territory. I didn't mind them adding the pairs spins, but the lifts are creeping higher every year, there are "partner assisted jumps" that are looking like low twist lifts, some ice-level spins by the woman that are touching on death spirals. There are show-skating elements being added that were for long forbidden in competition, like helicopter spins, the ultimate being that cringe-making stomach-on-head-lift thingy by the Cypriots. (Yes, it took a strong neck for him, but also very strong abdominal muscles for her, as I can recall from my teenage days learning a hands-free platter lift. But just because it was difficult didn't make it look less tacky or make me wince any less. A former Canadian champion ice dancer told me that in one competition he picked his beautiful sister up in a swan-dive with a fast grab under her stomach. She'd unwisely been sipping carbonated water in the dressing room and in his words "she let out a belch like a truck driver". They spent the rest of their dramatic performance stifling splorts of giggles.) I see pairs now using dance elements as transitional moves -- twizzles, notably. I can see a time in the future when skating becomes like tennis, with men's and women's singles, and doubles for two skaters competing as a team.
We are saying a lot of the same things. Not everyone fantasizes about instant success moves from junior dance to senior danceHmmmm.
Well, with regard to Oona and Gage, maybe other GS posters projected great things. I loved them, I love them, they have the "it" factor (particularly Gage) that you can't teach. I thought they had a good chance to win Junior Worlds. Turns out they did.
Never ever ever in my wildest dreams did I think they would even crack the US top five as seniors. Let alone GPs. And they didn't.
I, and most of their fans that I know (which certainly isn't all of them), have been fantasizing about a coaching switch for years now. I think Joel is a good person and a good coach, but ID is politicking and Oona and Gage need that push. And more polish.
Anyone who projects success for junior skaters in senior ranks ...hmmm again.
Don't know enough about the Czech team to project their success, but for me they do not have the "it" factor of Oona and Gage. Nothing to do with their results, everything to do with who I watch.
but it has happened last year with enough fans for me to notice. I am not making this up It would be very interesting like the videos shown for singles about junior world champions becoming then senior world champions, to do a similar tally for dance... I would say it is even harder than in singles...
Never been interested in using Twitter. After reading this - nope, no thanks, definitely not. I'll stick with GS. Much nicer people, who can argue a point and remain respectful of others' opinions.ETA - in case this gets screenshoted (saw that practice few times already) and goes on Twitter among ID fandom there: hope you will have a good laugh from it (being also a laugh from yourselves
Finally someone who 'gets' me, thank you.
Ice Dance Twitter is one the most toxic, biased, hypocritical places online I've ever saw. Mind you, I'm a ID fan/viewer/enjoyer (well, for some part...) and I can be petty/snarky on there regarding the discipline, BUT - the amount of judgemental prejudice and 'if we like them - it's judging fault, I we hate them - it's their fault' mentality I am seeing over there makes me shake my head. The other thing? Glorification of particular ID coaching places at the cost of condemning others (how many tweets I saw dreaming that Nadiia/Peter would change coaches...). I can write a book at this point about this.
The overall lack of some kind of maturity, sense of cattiness and 'privilege' of sorts (meaning 'stanning' the 'right' team/teams, in the perception of the auditorium of course) are overwhelming in that space. Seeing 'usual' people there posting stuff only convinced me in what I wrote above. The senior Worlds will be MUCH worse.
Kayyyyyoreeeee! LOL!i am picky with him on the names but then, he is a trooper... I am exhausted from watching all of this and i don't have to keep a smart and informative conversation, nor enthusiasm.. and i take mental breaks whenever
