Madison Chock & Evan Bates | Page 22 | Golden Skate

Madison Chock & Evan Bates

This picture from Rostelecom Cup was just posted on Madi & Evan's facebook. I just love it because it really shows their different look this year. I can't quite put my finger on it but they look more mature and more comfortable; Evan in particular looks completely different.

https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn....=4bf502a240ea5209d05e221349acc0be&oe=588B2E14

I'm excited for the GPF to see how these programs develop. Evan mentioned in the FD press conference in Russia (I think?) that they are not only working with Rohene Ward this week on the SD but will also be visiting Christopher Dean again, so I'm sure there will be tweaks here and there in both programs. The SD & FD scores they've gotten in the GP series are holding up well against other teams (despite the twizzle mishap). Team USA posted an article about H/D making the GPF today which also confirmed C/B are in. I guess we knew that would happen but I hadn't seen it officially reported anywhere yet.

http://www.teamusa.org/News/2016/No...ry-Donohue-Strike-Grand-Prix-Silver-In-France
 
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Nice of them to sit for an interview with TSL since he's not exactly known to be a supporter of C/B (to put it mildly).
 
That ice-dance.com article has me so excited to see the changes they've made in the programs. I love the conscious choice they made to do something completely different and I'm thrilled the judges are responding to the new look. I'm feeling really confident for them this season, maybe because they seem relaxed & confident themselves (Rostelecom mishap notwithstanding).

Meanwhile, they have each had their own instagram accounts for a long time, but in the last few days they set up a chockbates instagram account, and posted this adorable picture tonight. They look really happy!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNsWiaslHrm/?taken-by=chockbates
 
Too bad, Madi fell ... But I still can't get over the feeling that the judges don't find the music and routine appealing thus the low PCS. I hope they do very well tomorrow enough to place 4th, not last. But based on the FD routines that have scored really well, I don't expect that much. For sure, it will be the Shibs either bronze or silver _ quite possibly bronze, P/C may get the silver and V/M_ gold. It will take a miracle for C/B to get to the podium.
 
Well, to say the SD was disappointing is a huge understatement. It's not just the random fall, it's the score overall in comparison to the huge SD scores they've had in their two GP events this season. She went down hard on her knee, I just hope she is OK for tomorrow.

On a happier note, I love the changes & difficulty they added to the program. Obviously just wish they'd skated it better. But, on to tomorrow & Nationals and will hope for the best. They need a strong showing tomorrow heading into Nats.

Here is the British Eurosport commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osEwlFJNAJk
 
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I'm disappointed for them but there's still the Nationals, 4-continents, and Worlds .... They're still my favorite dance team because they dare to be different and take risks and not going with what appears to be the favored trend. Despite this, I am hoping they'll try a more softer routine ... sweet, fluid, and romantic because they have such a natural chemistry.
 
Madi had a similar mishap in short dance two years ago (2014) and took Evan down with her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2g6IMnLd8o. And then she sort of had a twizzle bobble last year in their FD.

Yeah I think it's safe to say that GPF isn't their lucky competition...

But I hope that they make up for their mistake in the FD. It's better to be in last due to obvious mistakes rather than putting out a clean performance and still being underscored.
 
Yeah I think it's safe to say that GPF isn't their lucky competition...

But I hope that they make up for their mistake in the FD. It's better to be in last due to obvious mistakes rather than putting out a clean performance and still being underscored.

I've noticed that Judy Blumberg in the panel is bad luck for them, :frown: ... Anyway, I also felt that they were bound to be underscored - I don't think the panel is fond of this hip hop music and choreography.
 
I remember the fall last GPF very well, I think that was the last time I watched them live. They are by far my favorites & but I find it too stressful to watch live so I watch as soon as it's over and I can find a video online.

But back to this season, I know one of their goals was to be consistent and clean, so that continues to be elusive. But, I feel confident they will have a good skate tomorrow and move up hopefully to fourth, but we'll see. Then they've got a good long time to work at home on their programs. They are fighters, so they'll be right back at it working hard. As I said earlier, I do like the changes and difficulty they've added to the SD and am looking forward to seeing how the FD develops.
 
These things will happen :shrug: I can't pretend I'm not disappointed too but this competition is hardly the end of the world one way or another... the most important competitions are still coming, if something needed to happen, best that it happened here. I still love their personality out there and how they never give up on the performance.
 
I have grown to appreciate their FD more and more, fresh. But I don't understand the need to make the SD even more difficult than it was. I don't think the other SDs that placed above them were more difficult just better executed. If anything this need to make both dances more difficult might make them come across as cluttered and hence get a ding on the PCS marks. I think they should get some good feedback from the technical specialists here, because I think they will remain in second at Nationals if they don't stop with all these unnecessary changes to their programs. They just need to perform them well and work out the narrative for the FD. It was honestly shocking to see them in last place.
 
So glad to see them performed their FD without mistakes. I think, the score reflects the hesitation on the execution of some elements - Evan's lifts showed obvious caution and Madi didn't look that confident but they survived.
 
So happy they skated the FD well, although a little cautious especially on a couple lifts, but they made it through. The score was less than I expected, but I'm sure they are relieved to end on a better note. I liked the enhancements to the music, especially in the beginning, giving it a stronger beat. Kind of bummed they took out Evan's knee slide in the choreo, I loved that little part so I wonder why that changed (my only quibble with the changes).

Here's a short interview with PJ Kwong of CBC after the FD talking about coming back after the disappointing short. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGc5BRT4txg
 
I think their SD is fine. Madi slipped and that was unfortunate. I think there's no need to redo or make some changes in the choreography: they just need to practice and practice until the movements become automatic and natural. Once they have mastered the routine to the point that it becomes second nature, they'll earn back the previous high scores.

Anyway, the panel overscored most of the SD performances and then reined in the scores for FD. It looked like they made sure the top three will remain in the top :sad21: I'd say the FD scores were more real.
 
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