- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
Don't remind me of that travesty.
Ice Dancing - Free Dance (Mon. Feb 22 - 16:45)
- Thread starter skatemom1122
- Start date
Don't remind me of that travesty.
Awww, Meryl is crying in her NBC late show interview.
So proud of both teams. So good to see top teams push each other and deliver.
I have to feel for Tracy. She was probably thinking of Rob McCall the whole way through V/M's free dance and the medal ceremony. I'll never forget seeing her shed a tear when she was judging World Pros in 1992 (?) when Orser skated a tribute to McCall as is artistic program.
As for all this talk about V/M's skate tonight not being in the class of T/D, I thoroughly disagree. The most iconic Olympic performances or names were not the seasoned pro skaters we got to know for years after winning. Those years of familiarity only intensified and deepened people's memories of their winning moments. It takes time for a legend to grow. Those who have been there before, like Cousins, have enough experience to know when a performance has the potential to ripen into a treasured memory. I certainly think this one does. It was brilliant and easily better than any Olympic free dance except T/D and Klimova/Ponomarekno which I think were its equal. And I say that as an ardent D/W fan.
Remember, icons like Fleming and Hamill were 19 year olds when they won gold. Chris Dean was only about 3 years older than Scott Moir in Sarajevo. Klimova was only 25 Albertville. You don't have to be 30 to create an indelible memory.
So proud of both teams. So good to see top teams push each other and deliver.
I have to feel for Tracy. She was probably thinking of Rob McCall the whole way through V/M's free dance and the medal ceremony. I'll never forget seeing her shed a tear when she was judging World Pros in 1992 (?) when Orser skated a tribute to McCall as is artistic program.
As for all this talk about V/M's skate tonight not being in the class of T/D, I thoroughly disagree. The most iconic Olympic performances or names were not the seasoned pro skaters we got to know for years after winning. Those years of familiarity only intensified and deepened people's memories of their winning moments. It takes time for a legend to grow. Those who have been there before, like Cousins, have enough experience to know when a performance has the potential to ripen into a treasured memory. I certainly think this one does. It was brilliant and easily better than any Olympic free dance except T/D and Klimova/Ponomarekno which I think were its equal. And I say that as an ardent D/W fan.
Remember, icons like Fleming and Hamill were 19 year olds when they won gold. Chris Dean was only about 3 years older than Scott Moir in Sarajevo. Klimova was only 25 Albertville. You don't have to be 30 to create an indelible memory.
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I've been away from ice dancing for quite a while. Torvill & Dean spoiled me, and then the discipline went in a direction I didn't care for. I overheard Dick Button saying there was a free dance this year that was the best thing since T&D, so I had to watch. Glad I did.
Although I don't think there will be another team to equal what Torvill & Dean did with Bolero, for me, Virtue & Moir have come closest with their free dance tonight. I think it's because of how and how much they move together. Their skating has a deceptive simplicity; it was evident in the OD as well. No flashy extraneous moves, everything fits and goes to tell the story. Like T&D, they make it look easy. I especially appreciate that they are dancing together - some of the teams look like would-be pairs, rather than dancers.
Davis & White skated very well, but I didn't like their choreography as well. The arm movements were distracting, and they seemed more apart than together. They are showier where V&M are more emotional. Still glad they won silver. No one else came close to these two teams IMO.
Someone upthread said they were the only person to prefer the Russians' program (as a program, not necessarily the execution) to Belbin & Agosto. I agree. This is my first time seeing it, so I didn't notice the missing jumps. But I liked the choreography better. However, they shouldn't get credit for moves where they use help! And they were slow. Still, I can tell they have a quality to their skating.
Belbin & Agosto ought to find someone else to do their costumes and choreography. Maybe they are great skaters, but their costumes are plain distracting to me - last night, fussy; tonight, cheesy. Their program tonight was nothing special, neither told me a story nor conveyed a feeling. It didn't surprise me at all that they didn't make the podium.
As a side note, how thrilling for Canadians to have this gold medal performance on home ice. Gives me chills. Congratulations.
Although I don't think there will be another team to equal what Torvill & Dean did with Bolero, for me, Virtue & Moir have come closest with their free dance tonight. I think it's because of how and how much they move together. Their skating has a deceptive simplicity; it was evident in the OD as well. No flashy extraneous moves, everything fits and goes to tell the story. Like T&D, they make it look easy. I especially appreciate that they are dancing together - some of the teams look like would-be pairs, rather than dancers.
Davis & White skated very well, but I didn't like their choreography as well. The arm movements were distracting, and they seemed more apart than together. They are showier where V&M are more emotional. Still glad they won silver. No one else came close to these two teams IMO.
Someone upthread said they were the only person to prefer the Russians' program (as a program, not necessarily the execution) to Belbin & Agosto. I agree. This is my first time seeing it, so I didn't notice the missing jumps. But I liked the choreography better. However, they shouldn't get credit for moves where they use help! And they were slow. Still, I can tell they have a quality to their skating.
Belbin & Agosto ought to find someone else to do their costumes and choreography. Maybe they are great skaters, but their costumes are plain distracting to me - last night, fussy; tonight, cheesy. Their program tonight was nothing special, neither told me a story nor conveyed a feeling. It didn't surprise me at all that they didn't make the podium.
As a side note, how thrilling for Canadians to have this gold medal performance on home ice. Gives me chills. Congratulations.
I agree about B&A. If it wasn't for the "interesting" costumes to watch I would have been totally bored watching them. I never was a fan of them and I honestly believe they were given a gift in 2006. And on the other hand, the Russians had me bored as well. V&M and D&W are waaaaaaaay off in a league of their own!
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
So, someone tell me if I'm wrong.
They got all threes for all of their lifts. I think that's a first.
They got four tens, so they're the first team to score more than one in a competition.
They're the first ice dance team to win gold at their first Olympics since 1976, the Games the sport debuted at.
Youngest/first Canadians/first N. Americans....
They got all threes for all of their lifts. I think that's a first.
They got four tens, so they're the first team to score more than one in a competition.
They're the first ice dance team to win gold at their first Olympics since 1976, the Games the sport debuted at.
Youngest/first Canadians/first N. Americans....
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
they were the best in everything!!!
When i saw that the dance was coming to the end i said "please no, keep on skating" it was the best peformance i have ever seen!!!
So am I!! Both teams so, so, so delivered and deserved the Podium!!
I remember that. I've also been wondering what's going through Tracy's mind right now. It just seemed so *right* that she was on NBC and Victor Kraatz was doing the CTV Commentating tonight. Fitting I guess is what I'm going for, but you know what I mean.
Amen!! Beautifully said!!
This is one of the best posts I've seen here on GS and thank you for it.
Just one thing to add...That final lift of D/W's, I need to rewatch it, but I actually thought there was a bit of smashing around on the one transistion and I was scared Charlie was about to drop Meryl. That might be where the deduction came from, having to possibly do another rotation or something like it, just to make sure Charlie had a good grip on Meryl.
Out of all the things I expected to see in here reaction wise, seeing "Their program's too easy." wasn't one of them. You need to be good to make it look easy and Tessa and Scott are that good!!!
And please, can't we just be happy we had a fairly judged event, which we *did* for the most part, and be happy w/that?
I wish after the last week and seeing some of the behavour in here that everyone acted like the Dutch Speed Skating Fans at the Richmond Oval. The band they bring w/them, knows all of the National Anthems, they cheer for all the Medalists, there aren't any fits or hysterics even when things don't go their way or a skater of theirs is fouled out....That's how all fans of Sports should be.
Not acting like a bunch of Kindergardeners throwing fits because they didn't get what they wanted.
Well...Booo hoooo hooooo....Tessa and Scott won. They deservedly won.
Deal w/it!!
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
Let me disagree with you... by the way Tarasova said DelShos and Canadians have the best skating technique, but gave more credit to Canadians saying that they are the best. I did love Americans' performance, but Canadians were better)))
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2006
Who fell?
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2010
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/va...-Moir-gold-assured-for-Canada-?urn=oly,221488
That pic is to die for.
That pic is to die for.
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2006
Other thoughts..
That was an amazing night of ice dance!! The penultimate & final flights were both amazing. The highlight of the penultimate flight for me was the Kerrs, even if they had a couple of mistakes. Khokhlova's costume was out of control. I never thought I'd say this about a Russian team, but I thought maybe they should have been placed a bit higher? It was very emotional to watch Isabelle and Olivier's last free dance. I'm sad they didn't win a medal here, but they didn't really deserve one because they were underprepared. I really think their best shot was in 2006, but they were kept out because of politics, grr. Pechalat and Bourzat's program was meh to me.
Meryl and Charlie really laid it down, in the words of Rod Black. I love, love, love this program and I was on the edge of my seat during it. The Italians seemed meh in comparison. Then, Virtue and Moir. I actually couldn't watch because I was afraid that they'd have a mistake. I sat there with my eyes closed the whole time, bahaha. I was really happy to see that they were in first! Belbin and Agosto were wonderful and I was sad that they didn't get a medal. It's a tough call whether Domnina and Shabalin really should have beat them, but in the end I think I would have given the edge to Belbin and Agosto. I personally didn't like DomShabs' free dance even though it was *somewhat* well skated. At least they weren't handed the gold like Russians in years past. After watching Virtue and Moir's free dance, when it was shown again, I honestly think they and Davis and White were both PERFECT and if you asked me to choose which one was better, I couldn't say. I like watching D&W's more because I prefer the music, but based on skill, I think these teams are equally PERFECTION.
Good to see DomShabs didn't do anything stupid at the podium, like try and stand on the gold spot a la Plushenko. They didn't look pissed but they didn't really look joyous either.
I'm wondering what's going to happen at Worlds now. I assume DomShabs won't be going because of his injury. Since V&M have to go (signed the contract with Skate Canada that all the Canadian Olympians had to sign, apparently, saying they would all go to Worlds after), and I guess D&W aren't retiring, I guess it'll be a repeat showdown. I just hope it's not a letdown for V&M if the results end up flipped, but I guess we'll see.
That was an amazing night of ice dance!! The penultimate & final flights were both amazing. The highlight of the penultimate flight for me was the Kerrs, even if they had a couple of mistakes. Khokhlova's costume was out of control. I never thought I'd say this about a Russian team, but I thought maybe they should have been placed a bit higher? It was very emotional to watch Isabelle and Olivier's last free dance. I'm sad they didn't win a medal here, but they didn't really deserve one because they were underprepared. I really think their best shot was in 2006, but they were kept out because of politics, grr. Pechalat and Bourzat's program was meh to me.
Meryl and Charlie really laid it down, in the words of Rod Black. I love, love, love this program and I was on the edge of my seat during it. The Italians seemed meh in comparison. Then, Virtue and Moir. I actually couldn't watch because I was afraid that they'd have a mistake. I sat there with my eyes closed the whole time, bahaha. I was really happy to see that they were in first! Belbin and Agosto were wonderful and I was sad that they didn't get a medal. It's a tough call whether Domnina and Shabalin really should have beat them, but in the end I think I would have given the edge to Belbin and Agosto. I personally didn't like DomShabs' free dance even though it was *somewhat* well skated. At least they weren't handed the gold like Russians in years past. After watching Virtue and Moir's free dance, when it was shown again, I honestly think they and Davis and White were both PERFECT and if you asked me to choose which one was better, I couldn't say. I like watching D&W's more because I prefer the music, but based on skill, I think these teams are equally PERFECTION.
Good to see DomShabs didn't do anything stupid at the podium, like try and stand on the gold spot a la Plushenko. They didn't look pissed but they didn't really look joyous either.
I'm wondering what's going to happen at Worlds now. I assume DomShabs won't be going because of his injury. Since V&M have to go (signed the contract with Skate Canada that all the Canadian Olympians had to sign, apparently, saying they would all go to Worlds after), and I guess D&W aren't retiring, I guess it'll be a repeat showdown. I just hope it's not a letdown for V&M if the results end up flipped, but I guess we'll see.
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2010
More
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/5b/f...y-oly-2010-oly-2010-fskate-ice-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/e1/f...y-oly-2010-oly-2010-fskate-ice-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/48/f...y-oly-2010-oly-2010-fskate-ice-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/41/f...837272f8-getty-oly-2010-fskate-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/57/f...22795adc-getty-oly-2010-fskate-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/66/f...y-oly-2010-oly-2010-fskate-ice-dance-free.jpg
(the Goose)
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/5b/f...y-oly-2010-oly-2010-fskate-ice-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/e1/f...y-oly-2010-oly-2010-fskate-ice-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/48/f...y-oly-2010-oly-2010-fskate-ice-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/41/f...837272f8-getty-oly-2010-fskate-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/57/f...22795adc-getty-oly-2010-fskate-dance-free.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/66/f...y-oly-2010-oly-2010-fskate-ice-dance-free.jpg
(the Goose)
Uh what beautiful photos. I'm happy Tessa changed her dress. This was the best of all the different ones she had this year. Reminiscent of Katia Gordeeva's. "Ella Fitzgerald" number "My Man" with Sergei.
Oh, the more I look, I'm seeing so much of G&G connection in V/M.
Oh, the more I look, I'm seeing so much of G&G connection in V/M.
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
I didn't like B/A. I can't understand dissapoinment...It's more of patroitism than real state of affairs...I would have put the Kerr on the third, I liked their free dance much more than all others (except 1,2). B/A were not fast, not impressive, not as they used to be... they seemed old.
What's for D/S - they were perfect on CD, the other two dances were not outstanding, they got the bronze because they were 1st after CD... and I'm not going to defend them and say nasty things about others just because I am Russian.
Who cares about the bronze? There's a huge huge gap between VMDW and all the rest... after what I saw they do not even deserve to be mentioned...
What's for D/S - they were perfect on CD, the other two dances were not outstanding, they got the bronze because they were 1st after CD... and I'm not going to defend them and say nasty things about others just because I am Russian.
Who cares about the bronze? There's a huge huge gap between VMDW and all the rest... after what I saw they do not even deserve to be mentioned...
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
I agree. I've just watched some of their videos on youtube... they are just like them, the way the look at each other, touch each other...I wish them to become at least two times Olychamps!!!!!!!! There's something more in them than just good skating. They are THE ONE!!!
In my opinion, the gold medal could have been rewarded to either DW or VM depending upon one's personal preference. I personally preferred Davis & White but Virtue and Moir were also phenomenal. I simply had difficulty being absorbed into a program with the music they chose. I don't think either team could be compared to T/D or G/G but they're both still very young.
I felt horribly for Tanith & Ben but they deserve major kudos for the class they showed tonight. I think most people agree that they should've been on the podium. I also felt for D/S because I felt that they had the backbone of a phenomenal program but due to the lack of time & Maxim's knee, the program had to be simpler. I miss the days when D/S and B/A were at the top of their game.
Tonight gave me so much hope for the future of ice dance, especially the performance of Samuelson & Bates. This team has tremendous promise! I'm also hoping DW and VM will continue to push their skating further. I'd love to see DW develop more polish & for VM to expand past their slower, love story genre they do year after year.
I felt horribly for Tanith & Ben but they deserve major kudos for the class they showed tonight. I think most people agree that they should've been on the podium. I also felt for D/S because I felt that they had the backbone of a phenomenal program but due to the lack of time & Maxim's knee, the program had to be simpler. I miss the days when D/S and B/A were at the top of their game.
Tonight gave me so much hope for the future of ice dance, especially the performance of Samuelson & Bates. This team has tremendous promise! I'm also hoping DW and VM will continue to push their skating further. I'd love to see DW develop more polish & for VM to expand past their slower, love story genre they do year after year.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
Nice going Tessa and Scott!! You won !!!!!! 
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V/M and D/W were both amazing! I was so happy for V/M but so disappointed for D/W (although a silver medal at the olympics is nothing to sneeze at). All season long i've preferred D/W's FD because the music drew me in more than V/M, but I think V/M really succeeded in creating that "olympic moment" with Mahler and that made all the difference for me. For the first time all season I really enjoyed their FD!
Heartbroken for B/A though...
Heartbroken for B/A though...
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