Free Dance

[bili]

The thing I cannot stand about Ice dancing is that everytime a Russian pair or skater retires there is another one to replace them on top of the poidum the following year and the thing is that they are just a generic copy of the one that just retired. No individuality, creative genius, or true beauty just ugly mafia backstabbing and cheating makes me sick.

That's exactly what I thought when it was over. Still like them more than Navka/Kostomarov, though.
But the Bulgarians...their FD gave me the chills again. I didn't get to see the OD, so I guess the 3rd place might be fair, however, to me, they are always a step too good for the others
And ITA agree with Engwaciriel about the french. Used to like them, but after watching them a couple of times it gets a bit boring.

 

[rain]

Colour me wrong. I didn't think they would try to shoehorn Dom/Shab into the world gold medal until next season, but they are blatantly trying to do it already. Sickening. Suddenly this dance is 100-plus points? Not likely. This is everything that's ever been wrong with ice dance judging. Why are they in first? Oh, they're the Russians.

 

[_Ladybug_]

I don't think the gold was given as a gift to the French. I think they deserved it. They didn't have the best free dance but they definately had the best original dance and that's what put them ahead the others. In my opinion, they had the second best free dance tonight. Overall they deserved to win.

I'm no dance expert but I think Denkova and Staviski deserved to win the free dance. They were brilliant, it was gorgeous, so powerful! No way the russians were better, they were good but not that great, really. They were rather "boring".

The Kerrs were great tonight! What a performance! That was breathtaking! Really gorgeous. The other french couple was very nice. I have a thing for french songs so I'm totaly biased here.

 

[MarieM]

I am THRILLED !
They won, the judges couldn't do it, and despite all they won. I am sooo sad for the bulgarians that it kind of clouds it a little. But at least, Delobel and Schoenfelder won what they should have won years ago. Have they stopped "paying" for A&P Gold ? Let's hope.

Back to the actual skating I have some interrogations.
How come Fraser and Lukanin beat the French number three with THAT skate ? Shades of my beloved Grushina and Goncharov .... only they are not way too overmarked. And her posture sucks.

The Kerrs did a good job although most of their elements had glitches here and there. Not a clean skate, but a very nice material to work on until worlds. At least, they do a program I get and like.

French number Three skated ok, too slow, too tentative, and they have to work on the twizzles more. Anyway, the canadians (Dubreuil and Lauzon) really did a nice job with this program, and I still grow on it when I do watch it.

Cappelini and Lanotte are the ones to watch for years to come. Despite the mistakes and all, they are the most beautifull pair out there, nicely match, with great skills (and blades, what a nice thing for italians). They are young, but will be dangerous in two years if they are not barred by injuries.

 

[MarieM]

Colour me wrong. I didn't think they would try to shoehorn Dom/Shab into the world gold medal until next season, but they are blatantly trying to do it already. Sickening. Suddenly this dance is 100-plus points? Not likely. This is everything that's ever been wrong with ice dance judging. Why are they in first? Oh, they're the Russians.

Agreed.
At least their OD is very good.
But this FD just sucks. And I am sorry, the technical content isn't there. Like N&K they are overmarked and will probably always be until they win the olympics.

 

[MarieM]

On to what I saw then.

DelShoens skated their best tonight but there is still room for a lot of improvement, especially on the twizzles and the circular step sequence. Their speed wasn't the best either. I would rank their performance at 75% of what I saw them do in training some time ago. Which tells a lot about their nerves.
I still think this program is blaaaaah.

Russians K&N get my vote for the team that will soon become the one that matters in ice dance. This FD is just a work of art. Everything is glued to the music, each move, each sequence, each element. That is what I like about ice dance. Add to that they have that thing that cannot be bought or learned, they have that it to their skating that makes me tell they'll soon be the ones who matters in ice dance.
The FD of the night hands down.
Last time I got that crazy on a team, it was A&P (before that G&P). And let me tell you they are a lot better than what they get credit for. Trying to push them ahead of a bunch of other skaters wouldn't shock me since they have "it".

In comparison to this team, DomShab looked blank. No flair at all. And their barbie program is just dull. All the big things like steps or twizzles are done at no speed at all. Their lifts are copy and paste from other teams, with variations. I still don't get the program at all.
Dull program, no way technically better than the french at all. Ah sorry, I am talking about the newly world champions

 

[_Ladybug_]

Agreed.
At least their OD is very good.
But this FD just sucks. And I am sorry, the technical content isn't there. Like N&K they are overmarked and will probably always be until they win the olympics.

That's just sad but I'm afraid it's true.

 

[MarieM]

I am not the biggest DenStav fan, but this FD should have won the free dance hands down. They got the speed, the artistic impression and delivered a clean skate from start to finish. On the technical side, their content isn't the best they've done, but still it was enough to win the FD without any discussions.

I would have had the bulgarians first in the free without any problems, followed by the french and the russians in third, followed very closely by russians number two.

 

[rain]

On to what I saw then.

DelShoens skated their best tonight but there is still room for a lot of improvement, especially on the twizzles and the circular step sequence. Their speed wasn't the best either. I would rank their performance at 75% of what I saw them do in training some time ago. Which tells a lot about their nerves.
I still think this program is blaaaaah.

Russians K&N get my vote for the team that will soon become the one that matters in ice dance. This FD is just a work of art. Everything is glued to the music, each move, each sequence, each element. That is what I like about ice dance. Add to that they have that thing that cannot be bought or learned, they have that it to their skating that makes me tell they'll soon be the ones who matters in ice dance.

In comparison to this team, DomShab looked blank. No flair at all. And their barbie program is just dull. All the big things like steps or twizzles are done at no speed at all. Their lifts are copy and paste from other teams, with variations. I still don't get the program at all.
Dull program, no way technically better than the french at all. Ah sorry, I am talking about the newly world champions

I agree on all points. I love Del/Scho and am happy for them winning this title, but their freedance this season is not even close to, say, Frida.

And this is my big problem with the huge elevation of Dom/Shab this season — their program does not warrant it. At all. I've seen it perhaps 3-4 times this season and when I try to remember it I still virtually draw a blank it is that unmemorable and dull. It makes the judges' decision to push this team up the ladder because they are the new Russian annointed ones totally transparent.

I also like the FD of the second Russians K/N, though I can see that the technical content is not that of the top pairs. At least it has flair.

 

[Rose Red]

I'd like to think that this is a sign that the DelSchoes are finally getting what they deserve, but I'm far too pessimistic for that. I honestly hope this isn't a "goodbye gift", and that they continue to do this well, though.

 

[Ninjagirl]

Well, I have to say that I loved Domnina/Shabalin's FP. I never expected it to be so good so soon but I was thrilled to see it!

Hope they do well at Worlds and continue to develope

 

[lanadd]

Mouthing off and giving in to all the worst stereotypes about Ice Dance judging:

Last years WC was a going away present for the bulgarians and they didn't get the hint. This Euros championship is going away present for the French, Russian D/S will win worlds. I hope I'm wrong because they're everything that keeps me from watching more dance, but .....

No,most probably that won't happen. At the EC the situation was very different from the competitions so far-and what made the difference is the absence of an bulgarian judge,but at the Worlds there will be such one....and the results will most probably be like the ones of the GP and GPF-Den/Sta won all of them very convincingly...
.At Worlds it will be the french turn to not have a judge....thats why they were given the tittle i believe....actually in an interview asked whether they knew before the start of the competition,they won't win the tittle, Albena answered just "YES"

 

[lanadd]

Well, I have to say that I loved Domnina/Shabalin's FP. I never expected it to be so good so soon but I was thrilled to see it!

Hope they do well at Worlds and continue to develope

LOL different people different opinions)The first time i saw Dom/S FD it made me sick-a very powerful music+very weak dance+awlfully a lof of movements with the hands. The second time i watched the reaction was better- i just felt asleep