Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani
- Thread starter cornell08
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2013
Yay! I hope this do this well at Worlds. 
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
Congrats on their first, hopefully out of many, ISU Championship title!
Congrats to the Shibs! :hap85:
I am so proud they held it together and pulled out the convincing win. They looked a little nervous/tight/tired/sleepy, but didn't make any glaring mistakes. It is very hard to win when you're the front runner and that target is on your back, but this experience will help them out tremendously if they should find themselves in a similar position in the future. I'm actually kind of pleased that they didn't peak here at 4CC's as I expect them to be at the top of their game at Worlds in front of the home crowd, and hopefully in front of a lot more people than I saw in Taipei. I'll be in Boston white-knuckling it through their performances.
I am so proud they held it together and pulled out the convincing win. They looked a little nervous/tight/tired/sleepy, but didn't make any glaring mistakes. It is very hard to win when you're the front runner and that target is on your back, but this experience will help them out tremendously if they should find themselves in a similar position in the future. I'm actually kind of pleased that they didn't peak here at 4CC's as I expect them to be at the top of their game at Worlds in front of the home crowd, and hopefully in front of a lot more people than I saw in Taipei. I'll be in Boston white-knuckling it through their performances.
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and we also really need a :happytears: emoticon and I'M A TOTAL MESS OK and I'M JUST SO HAPPEH because THEY FINALLY HIT THEIR LEVELS AND THE JUDGES DID THE RIGHT THING! 
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
4CC was a real test for them. They've never been in that front runner position before against this sort of competition and they shown that they were able to hold it together. NHK was a similar sort of test, but this was a higher level. Last season, they were expected to win Cup of China and were first after the SD only to be upset by a then relatively unknown P/C and scored the lowest their lowest scored FD of the season there. They were also third in the SD at GPF but faltered a bit and placed 6th in the FD. Then at 4CC where they surprisingly beat WeavPo in the SD, Alex messed up his twizzles. Even though WeavPo were most likely going to make up lost ground, the Shibs opened the door for them. This season is really different. They are exhibiting a much better mental fortitude than before.
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- Joined
- May 20, 2015
So THRILLED about the Shibs win here - their performance was fantastic! Now we have to wait until the second best part: their vlog! 
Which lift did they get the deduction for? It's great that they only have the fine tune a few things like that before Worlds.
Which lift did they get the deduction for? It's great that they only have the fine tune a few things like that before Worlds.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
I'm still in disbelief. My precious Shibs, 4CCs Champions! I am so proud with how they controlled their nerves and performed well in the FD. Their Coppelia SD I've always liked, but their performance here made me fall in love with the program. Maia was adorable as Coppelia, and Alex presented both of them very well. And their Coldplay free once again gave me chills.
SQUEEEEE! :hap57:
SQUEEEEE! :hap57:
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- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
SO THRILLED FOR THE SHIBS!!!!!
I expected them to skate well but did not expect them to win. I fall more and more in love with both programs each time I see them. Their material is SO AMAZING this year!!! I decided to post the British Eurosport videos here, so enjoy reliving the programs again.
SD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQq9XzfXDvA
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DhTqp7hHEg
I expected them to skate well but did not expect them to win. I fall more and more in love with both programs each time I see them. Their material is SO AMAZING this year!!! I decided to post the British Eurosport videos here, so enjoy reliving the programs again.SD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQq9XzfXDvA
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DhTqp7hHEg
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- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
I found this great article in the Examiner:
http://www.examiner.com/article/shibutanis-shatter-glass-ceiling-claiming-gold-at-four-continents
I loved this quote from Alex:
"We’re excited about the potential and what we can continue to do to push ourselves forward, not just this year and this season, but moving forward as well,” Alex Shibutani said according to U.S. Figure Skating. “It’s really opened things up for us. There used to be a glass ceiling and we’re kind of flying through it right now."
Well said.
http://www.examiner.com/article/shibutanis-shatter-glass-ceiling-claiming-gold-at-four-continents
I loved this quote from Alex:
"We’re excited about the potential and what we can continue to do to push ourselves forward, not just this year and this season, but moving forward as well,” Alex Shibutani said according to U.S. Figure Skating. “It’s really opened things up for us. There used to be a glass ceiling and we’re kind of flying through it right now."
Well said.
Maia and Alex were selected to give the Athlete's speech at the Four Continents closing banquet.
An American friend who was at the event to coach a non-US skater said he was really especially impressed by the poise and confidence of Maia's delivery. He thinks in interviews, she shouldn't defer to Alex so much. "Give THAT the girl the mike!"
An American friend who was at the event to coach a non-US skater said he was really especially impressed by the poise and confidence of Maia's delivery. He thinks in interviews, she shouldn't defer to Alex so much. "Give THAT the girl the mike!"
I have a confession to make, I used to not be crazy about them, and was disappointed from the material they got. But this season I'm enamored with them.I always liked them as people, and their poise, but this season I think they grew so much like skaters and performers, they enjoy it, it shows and the results show it. I guess they are a bit like red wine, the older it gets, the better. I started feeling something positive is in the air from their exhibition last season.
As a younger sister, with a very impressive older brother like Alex, it is very hard to change our ways! I have been trying for years to break break out of that mold. But in the meantime, I'll just sit back and watch him go to work.
I think actually that Maia, wants to give Alex that big brother role. In their interviews, Alex goes on about how Maia basically has acted like a 30 year old since she was a kid. If you listen to their interview after they wone intermediate a decade ago, she's the one that's sounds so composed and articulate.
I think Alex likes being the center of attention and Maia's glad to give her brother the spotlight. arguably, that's been a criticism of their dancing for years until now.
I think Alex likes being the center of attention and Maia's glad to give her brother the spotlight. arguably, that's been a criticism of their dancing for years until now.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
My two cents are that I have never found Maia to be deferential to Alex.
She is indeed poised and self-confident ... and when they are at a press conference or in an interview, she often answers a question before Alex does. (And Alex is happy for her to do so.)
Alex often ends up being the one who then echoes her: "As Maia said, we feel that thus-and-such, etc., etc."
oh, yes, Alex wants to be in the big brother role but Maia always has the answer. That girl is really smart and confident. Alex seems more emotional, when they were getting low scores, especially last season Alex could not hide his dissapoinment, frustration or anger while Maia remained calm and smiley like a always (and I am sure inside she was feeling exactly like Alex)
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
It's so awesome that they were selected to give the Athlete's speech. I didn't know they did that.
