Madison Chock & Evan Bates

[icekiwi]

All the best to Maddie & Evan this weekend at Nationals.

I put in my predictions for them to come first.

On the Short Dance list, they are skating second to last, which is fantastic! If they do everything flawlessly, there is every chance to be first after the SD. Let's get 'Bad to the Bone' baby! Rock it guys!!

 

[Barb]

They had their practice https://www.instagram.com/p/BPat_qCA-Nz/?taken-by=usfigureskating I don´t know why people are not reporting dance

Eta. Here is their practice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfs6uwkwyq4

 

[Astrid56]

Wow, some cool changes .... and Maddie's costume, too.

 

[mylifeback]

Looks like they both have new tops for the SD. Evan's shirt lost the huge zipper on the back, this looks more comfortable.

I like the changes but I miss that swoosh entrance into the twizzles. These are also way more changes than I expected based on their teleconference!

 

[Astrid56]

I was surprised to see the changes but I think this SD has become more alive, more hip hop, and flows better. Rohene is a fantastic choreographer ... I wonder what his work will be like in something romantic, lyrical ... classical. He knows how to make something hard like this SD music really sing with his style/touch: clearly, he knows this genre very well.

 

[Astrid56]

Speaking of the teleconferences, C/B didn't give much information. For instance, they didn't mention anything about changes in the SD. They just spoke of minor changes in FD. Anyway, the teleconference was extremely short - about 13 minutes while the Shibs was almost twice that time. I think, the journalists treat them like they're almost 'has been' hence the cool reception. I hope C/B will do well with both of their dances.

 

[Astrid56]

Cool pictures from Evan's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPbWZ1GB246/?taken-by=evan_bates&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPdUO4lhAFz/?taken-by=evan_bates&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPeAPaqh7IJ/?taken-by=evan_bates&hl=en
And from Madi's
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPdk_FtjMWf/?taken-by=chockolate02&hl=en

 

[Astrid56]

Wow, C/B closer to H/D in score? Judy Blumberg is bad news for C/B.

 

[humbaba]

Thoroughly enjoyed C/B's short dance. I'm really proud of Madison and Evan for delivering a great performance.

 

[elbkup]

I enjoyed their SD too, much more than any other SD done tonight. The music IMO more closely meets the required pattern... is edgy, unexpected. The audience loved it!

 

[icekiwi]

That was the best I have seen them skate that SD this season! I am also very impressed with their speed and power across the ice - huge upper body control in their movements, obviously Igor continues to work on their skating skills. I do miss that 'difficult' transition into the spins, unfortunately the judges haven't noticed a lot of difficult transitions into spins (the one I just mentioned) and lifts, etc. during the GP series, hence it could be why they have taken them out.

I am bumped that H/D's marks are so close to Maddie & Evan's, if anything Maddie & Evan should be closer to the Shibs (there should only be less than a point difference between the top two) with H/D 3 points behind both of them in 3rd. H/D's skating skills are nowhere near Maddie/Evan's and the Shibs. Lots of politics at play as usual with Ice Dance.

I never liked Judy Blumberg. When I saw Ms Blumberg's name on the judges' list, I was a bit anxious for Maddie & Evan. Fight on, it is not over till it is over. All the best for the FD tomorrow Maddie & Evan!! You can do it!!

 

[Astrid56]

C/B should hire Michael Seibert as their next choreographer: he is pretty good and maybe he'll be able to help improve C/B's standing with Judy blumberg, after all, he was Judy's former partner. I wish good luck to C/B because competing in a Free Dance choreographed by Christopher Dean who was Blumberg's ice-dance rival is going to be a challenged.

 

[katha]

That was one fabulous FD performance! :luv17: Congratulations! Great new costumes as well. They'll go into the rest of the season with way different momentum now, compared to the disappointing GPF performance.

 

[icekiwi]

Congratulations to Maddie & Evan for the Silver.

They were robbed of the Gold!! The 3 points deficit thrown in by the judges in the SD were to give the Shibs the cushioning going into the FD. Listening to the commentators during the SD, they were calling the SD to be close between the Shibs and Maddie & Evan. The commentators themselves were surprised that it was closer to H/D. The judges can't hide their hidden agenda.

The audience were a lot more into Chock & Bates programs this year, especially in the Free Dance, which is a good sign.

'Under Pressure' was skated with such attack, fierceness, precision and passion last night. I almost feel like this is a new Chock & Bates, one I haven't seen before - such control of their blades, upper body movements and such projection to the audience. I think working with a legendary choreographer like Christopher Deans has helped a great deal in terms of their overall skating. I love the different shapes & movements across the ice (Christopher Dean is famous for that). The changes in the middle was great - the soft, romantic touches to match the change of tone in the music.

Above all, this is such a FUN program!

This program is worthy to be in the Top 3 come Worlds. Well done, Maddie & Evan, thank you for giving us fans, such pleasure, excitement and enjoyment from your performances this weekend!!

 

[lauravvv]

Above all, this is such a FUN program!

I do like their FD (for the first time really, although their 2014/2015 season FD was also quite likeable), but I hope it's not meant to be "fun", as the song/lyrics are not. That's why I did not like their performance of it that much - I thought their expressions were too one-note, especially Madison was just smiling too much. I am glad that they have added more different emotions now. It still does not quite convey what the song is about, but I am aware that it's close to impossible to completely accurately convey complex messages from songs with lyrics in a competitive figure skating program.

 

[Astrid56]

'Under Pressure' is a tough music to skate to and interpret. Also, it's tough to dance to something with lyrics. I am glad they did make the changes because the original program looked 'frenetic'. I wish them good luck ... One more thing, I hope Madi changes her SD outfit - I have a feeling the style is working against them .... I love it but Ice-dancing is a little different - still too old-fashioned.

 

[humbaba]

Thanks to Madison and Evan for giving us two beautiful performances to enjoy. I wish the judges had put them in first, but such is the sporting life. Anyway, I got what I most wanted--that Madi and Evan would skate their best and have two great programs. I am so proud of them.

 

[mylifeback]

Late here but I just wanted to say Madi & Evan absolutely slayed US Nationals last weekend. Both performances were amazing & so full of energy & emotion; they were absolutely fantastic. I believe they would have won the title back if they'd been more consistent this season but it appears the judges had already decided they would put their money on another team. The judging was a bit shady with last minute adjustments to scoring (upgrade of Shibs SD after the TES box disappeared and downgrading of a step sequence for C/B in the FD at the last minute which flipped the gold). Anyway .... moving on. I am really encouraged by the reports that they had the most crowd response to both their programs, that had to have felt good. Sometimes you win even if you lose.

I hope they carry this confidence into 4CC and Worlds and really skate these programs lights out again.

By the way, I'm not sure if one needs an Ice Network subscription to listen to the Scott Hamilton podcasts, but in his post-Nats video, he talks about how incredible C/B were, how they gave him goosebumps, and that they'll turn heads at Worlds with this program. Interestingly, he also said there were a lot of comments about the program being too edgy/modern and people aren't ready for it. I think it's been the first time I've heard this acknowledged? Hopefully by the time Worlds comes, the judges will be more open to a modern program like this.

Here's a link to the Scott Hamilton video (Dance discussion starts at about 2:40):

http://web.icenetwork.com/video/v1221217883

And if anyone isn't already following C/B on social media (instagram especially), you really need to. They are killing social media lately, posting all kinds of cute pictures and responding to fans. They seem very happy and are much more open to letting fans into their lives.

 

[humbaba]

Madison and Evan have posted some great new photos on instagram. Here's Evan looking very handsome; apparently bench testing is his new hobby.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPviyGZBYNj/?taken-by=evan_bates



and here's charming proof that Madison was a fashionista early on. Those pink lacy socks are adorable. The double-helix model is a nice touch.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQA9tEvDIfz/?taken-by=chockolate02

 

[Astrid56]

Nice pic of the two https://www.instagram.com/p/BQO1SFGD6Ii/?taken-by=chockolate02&hl=en Are they really dating? I don't know. Evan isn't doing anything to confirm or suggest that they are. He said he's happy with his relationship??? Anyway, I just hope the best for Madison. I like her a lot: she seems very trusting ... and so passionate about things she loves. I like Evan, too.