2024 Skate America: Ice Dance - Thoughts?

[gsk8]

Fear and Gibson pocket seventh Grand Prix medal

2024 Skate America | Ice Dance Great Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson claimed the Skate America title in ice dance on Sunday afternoon in Allen,

www.goldenskate.com

...their faces in the Kiss&Cry did not reflect the usual exuberance at this event. In fact, there were just subdued smiles. They might have felt they had won only due to Chock's fall in the rhythm dance, and not completely on their own merit. The total margin was 0.75 points. Had Chock not fallen, the Americans would have had at least five more points in the rhythm dance.

What are your thoughts? Which free dance did you like the most? Who are you going to be watching in the future?

I really enjoyed Smart/Dieck's free dance (Chock designed the dress).

I also will be watching Neset and Markelov as they mature. Such a beautiful team!

 

[NanaPat]

What are your thoughts? Which free dance did you like the most? Who are you going to be watching in the future?

I really enjoyed Smart/Dieck's free dance (Chock designed the dress).

I also will be watching Neset and Markelov as they mature. Such a beautiful team!

Between the top two teams, I think Fear/Gibson had the better free dance (better concept and choreography, not necessarily execution).

I also really liked Smart/Dieck's free and Neset/Markelov.

Really liked Fabbri/Ayer's short dance. Their free was also good, except for the one glaring error that cost them dearly. I see a lot of potential for them.

 

[gsk8]

I agree! Those were my favorite FDs as well!

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I'm glad F/G got the win - I enjoy their Beyonce medley but think they've had better frees in the past - still, early in the season.

C/B were way overscored in the RD (I mean, 9.5's with a fall?!), but much stronger showing in the FD. Even without the fall, their RD just felt a bit... basic? Lacking their usual spark.

Smart/Dieck's FD is by FAR my favourite FD (maybe even program) of the season so far. And it was superbly skated. What a contrast from Nebelhorn (even the styling was 100x better). I'm hoping this gives them that same hype that Papadakis/Cizeron were getting when they made their leap, because this was really just wonderful and so different, and well-executed. Brilliant cut from Dune to the Feeling Begins, and I got a sense of ice dance nostalgia but it still felt modern and fresh overall.

 

[Mathman]

Chock and Bates' fall in the rhythm dance was just too great an error to be overcome. C&B often satrt off a new season so,ewhat tentatively. Fear and Gibson skated great in both phases and and took full advatage of the opportunity.

 

[Rebecca Moose]

Smart/Dieck's FD is by FAR my favourite FD (maybe even program) of the season so far. And it was superbly skated. What a contrast from Nebelhorn (even the styling was 100x better). I'm hoping this gives them that same hype that Papadakis/Cizeron were getting when they made their leap, because this was really just wonderful and so different, and well-executed. Brilliant cut from Dune to the Feeling Begins, and I got a sense of ice dance nostalgia but it still felt modern and fresh overall.

Here! Here! I agree on all points. Brilliant program, costuming, energy, even if his skating skills are lacking somewhat.

 

[DancingCactus]

I don't watch Challengers etc so this was the first time I ever saw any of these programs.

Olivia Smart was my highlight. That Dune program was exquisite.

Madison Chock looked amazing as always, but both programs are bad in their own way, the short more so than the long, IMO. Frankensteining eleven pieces of music together might work in a 2 h musical, but not in 2,5 minutes. Music needs to build; how are 15-20 seconds of each chopped off song supposed to evoke any emotion or get the viewer into the required rhythm? I think the long program might be salvagable if they cut the music differently and add more interesting choreo to the middle part.

With Lilah and Lewis, we mostly got more of the same, exept for the slow part of the FS. I like them, but I'm over the ass shaking and posing. They are such a dynamic team with exciting lifts, I bet they could skate programs with less of a Macarena choreo.

In regards to the rhythm dance, they were really all over the place. Why did the Czech team do the Beatles in what look liked folk dance inspired clothing? That one ABBA program was the most phoned in, sad medley imaginable. Why do Davis/Smolkin do what they do?

In short, I'm really hopeful Piper and Paul and the European teams will have more sophisticated takes on the RD theme (ergh). Although I fully expect the Italians to come up with some truly terrible costumes after last season.

 

[Weathergal]

I don't watch Challengers etc so this was the first time I ever saw any of these programs.

Olivia Smart was my highlight. That Dune program was exquisite.

Madison Chock looked amazing as always, but both programs are bad in their own way, the short more so than the long, IMO. Frankensteining eleven pieces of music together might work in a 2 h musical, but not in 2,5 minutes. Music needs to build; how are 15-20 seconds of each chopped off song supposed to evoke any emotion or get the viewer into the required rhythm? I think the long program might be salvagable if they cut the music differently and add more interesting choreo to the middle part.

With Lilah and Lewis, we mostly got more of the same, exept for the slow part of the FS. I like them, but I'm over the ass shaking and posing. They are such a dynamic team with exciting lifts, I bet they could skate programs with less of a Macarena choreo.

In regards to the rhythm dance, they were really all over the place. Why did the Czech team do the Beatles in what look liked folk dance inspired clothing? That one ABBA program was the most phoned in, sad medley imaginable. Why do Davis/Smolkin do what they do?

In short, I'm really hopeful Piper and Paul and the European teams will have more sophisticated takes on the RD theme (ergh). Although I fully expect the Italians to come up with some truly terrible costumes after last season.

Your wish has been granted. Guignard / Fabbri's FD costumes this season:

 

[meem]

Chock and Bates' fall in the rhythm dance was just too great an error to be overcome. C&B often satrt off a new season so,ewhat tentatively. Fear and Gibson skated great in both phases and and took full advatage of the opportunity.

I was thinking about this re: C/B, having shaky starts the last few years... mainly Evan. The OTT multiple music cuts were really annoying.

 

[DancingCactus]

WHAT are these costumes, Flash Gordon????

 

[labgoat]

WHAT are these costumes, Flash Gordon????

A competitive version of their Robots exhibition

 

[NanaPat]

A competitive version of their Robots exhibition

I hope they use silver or light gray skate covers. I find the skates (particularly his black ones) spoil the effect of the costumes.

 

[Joubabe]

I seem to be the only one, but I love Chock and Bates Rhythm dance.