Madison Chock & Evan Bates

[humbaba]

Chock/Bates have been awarded a bunch of +3 GOEs on their lifts this season, though not as many as they deserved. In particular, the underscoring of their curve lift in the SD was a crime and a scandal. IMHO, the political headwinds they faced, both internationally and domestically, are what put a ceiling on C/B’s lift scores.

Who knows what the effects of the rule changes will be. I’ve read comments that the changes target the Montreal style. Certainly, there have been critics who suggest Gadbois games the system, with many of it’s teams favoring open choreography, easier lifts, and slower, less dynamic music. It’s open to question whether the rule changes truly are meant to change this trend, or just circumvent dissent. As always, the real test will be how judges interpret and apply the rules that are adopted.

 

[Barb]

Unfortunately, recently they haven't been getting the highest GOE for their lifts even in this, +/- 3 GOE, scoring. So I doubt they will be getting any + 5s or even many +4s if they stay on. They can't rely on that. I think they would have to change coaches, improve their skating and change their style to truly get back into medal contention. Of course, Madison being healthy and physically stronger can help too, but you know how the judges are - when ice dancers fall down, it's difficult to get back up again (athough not undoable - see W/P).

.

But that is totally unfair, just how it was truly unfair Maia and Alex not getting only +3 on twizzles while other teams were getting perfect score, it was totally unfair C/B not getting only +3 for their lifts.

 

[lauravvv]

Another wild card is that the rules are changing for levels and GOE. I have to pay some attention. But Maddy and Evan have the best, most musically choreographed lifts in the top group. The Shibs have the best twizzles. H&B are not about technical excellence, in general.

I accidentally deleted my post when I tried to edit it on my phone. It does that - when I try to edit a post, it's deleted instead. For a time it had changed, and I could edit my posts, but now the problem has returned. So:

Unfortunately, recently Madison and Evan haven't been getting the highest GOE for their lifts even in this, +/- 3 GOE, scoring. So I doubt they will be getting any + 5s or even many +4s if they stay on. They can't rely on that. I think they would have to change coaches, improve their skating and change their style to truly get back into medal contention. Of course, Madison being healthy and physically stronger can help too, but you know how the judges are - when ice dancers fall down, it's difficult to get back up again (athough not undoable - see W/P).

With H/B you most likely meant Hubbell/Donohue. I think the levels they have been achieving on their patterns and step sequences, as well as their skating skills in general, are also a kind of technical excellece. It's not like USFSA has been trying to "elevate" some mediocre team that is actually really good at nothing.

Also, I think, if it will become impossible to achieve a +5 with lifts like H/D's SD curve lift, they will start doing something different and more difficult again. They have shown in the past that they can do more difficult lifts despite Madison Hubbell not being small like Madison Chock. Their twizzles have been getting very high GOE when clean as it is. I don't think that the new scoring will pose a problem for them unless they make serious mistakes again - in regard to twizzles and in general. Actually it's Madison and Evan who have a bigger weakness in their twizzles.

 

[dorispulaski]

It is usually the case that a new quad's rules target the weaknesses that were allowed to slide by in the previous quad, especially those of the winners in the last quad, which would be the Gadbois style in general.

And what predictably happens is that there is a shake up in the standings. We will have to wait to see the exact form of the rules that pass, and the way the judges apply them.

Meanwhile, Maddie needs to have the surgery and heal. Evan should work on twizzles while he waits, because Maddie and Evan need to add more features to their twizzles for sure, and they have had problems with them under even this quad' s rules.

 

[humbaba]

Looks like Madison's surgery went well. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhRgN-ihlyb/?taken-by=chockolate02

 

[dorispulaski]

She looks great in hospital garb!

 

[humbaba]

Madison and Evan have made Vogue. I bet Mad is thrilled. https://78.media.tumblr.com/41e3c7012ed519ada960a6516d401e92/tumblr_p52zc4zLlE1tenvfao1_1280.png

Eleven skaters are featured in the article. Madi and Evan are #5. https://www.vogue.com/article/figure-skating-style-in-fashion

 

[dorispulaski]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh62TPOhRSH/?taken-by=chockolate02

Maddy has a knee scooter. I hope her rehab is going well

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh62TPOhRSH/?taken-by=chockolate02

Maddy has a knee scooter. I hope her rehab is going well

Well it does have a neat little basket but why no bell? SRSLY!!

As an aside...I firmly believe that healing does benefit from high spirits. She looks to be doing just that and those scooters can be quite fun...well relatively speaking. All the best to Madi in her recovery

 

[humbaba]

Madison is on Pinterest. How did I miss this? She has posted lots of fun and interesting stuff. I just frittered away a good part of the morning on her "beachin'" board, wistfully drooling over beach houses I can't afford.

https://www.pinterest.com/shopchock02/

 

[Astrid56]

Just read that Chock and Bates inquired about moving to Montreal? Skating lesson tweeted about it on April 19. So Montreal will have Madi and Zach, Luc and Kaitlin ... Hmm, it's getting crowded over there but, I think, our duo moving to Montreal would be great, artistically ... even technically. I hope they will let Marie-France Dubreuil/Patrice Lauzon help them choose good music as their biggest problem stems from wrong music choices ... and, of course, somewhat stale choreography.

 

[dorispulaski]

TSL is not always accurate. Right now Madi is riding a scooter.

 

[chameleon]

"Inquired" is a key word, I think. I would be very surprised to see C/B actually wind up at Montreal, considering the crowd, but they may be looking around and considering their options while Madi can't train. I would be very interested in seeing Pasquale choreography on them, if that's happening.

 

[Astrid56]

"Inquired" is a key word, I think. I would be very surprised to see C/B actually wind up at Montreal, considering the crowd, but they may be looking around and considering their options while Madi can't train. I would be very interested in seeing Pasquale choreography on them, if that's happening.

Actually, I'm also wondering about them changing but the ones that have gone to Montreal have actually improved technically and artistically. Of course, that can't be said about Tessa and Scott, they have the necessary skills set already, they just need more push but Hubbell/Donohue improved quite a bit and so did the French. I'm curious what Marie Dubreuil can do for them choreographically. Her choreographic style would suit them very well and, of course, techinically, they could learn from the Canadian coaches.

 

[humbaba]

Madi and Evan sure are getting around, considering she is on crutches/a scooter. They were in Orlando this past weekend as keynote speakers at the Athletes' Advisory Committee dinner during the annual meeting of the USFS Governing Council. https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/992916919186575360


The weekend before they were in Michigan where Evan spoke to graduates from the department he majored in at the University of Michigan. https://twitter.com/Evan_Bates/status/991363945331077120

Judging from Madi's instagram, they'be been spending a lot of time in Colorado tending to her ankle. Colorado, Michigan, Florida... It's hard to keep track of these two lately.

 

[chameleon]

https://twitter.com/SkatingLesson/status/993553790497370114?s=19

Well apparently this is happening. I have my concerns, but I wish them the best, and they know everything I do and more. Good luck to them!

 

[tinseltown]

I also have concerns but I wonder if there is more to it than wanting a fresh start or the political clout. Both Greg and Fabian have left Igor recently. Maybe they all sense Igor teaming up with Pasquale is not going to be the great fit that those of us on the outside think. I just hope that the move proves fruitful and worth it since they will be leaving a lot behind like their families and a rink where they are top dog.

 

[Colonel Green]

They've appreciably been losing momentum in the standings over the last couple of seasons (this has nothing to do with the quality of their output, to be clear), so I'm guessing they feel they need a shakeup. Particularly with the Shibs sitting out next season, no better time to make a move to regain lost ground.

 

[mylifeback]

I've decided to be excited about this move, if it is true. I agree they've been declining in the standings over the past two seasons, and I'm not entirely sure why, since to my eye they have improved in many ways and have had interesting programs choreographed outside Igor's camp. Whatever the reason for the decline, I think they did need to shake things up, and if they are excited and believe they are doing the right thing for their careers, then I'm on board.

 

[Astrid56]

I'm glad about this move. I feel strongly that their skating will improve technically and artistically. I've been studying the Montreal coaches' choreographic style and, I feel that it will suit this pair's skating well. Again, I hope the coaches will steer them to music that complements their temperament and skills.