Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani | Page 41 | Golden Skate

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

Going to Taipei Arena to watch their free dance was probably the best decision I've ever made in these years. There were tears in my eyes all the way while watching the free dance. Everything was so beautiful so sensational. I felt fixed! Maia was glowing! Every step she made showed so much poise and confidence,just like 'zen' and Alex was like a mountain, always there to support her. I still cried when reviewing their FD. Wish I could go the sp but I was in the hospital so I could only watch their amazing sp through a tiny cellphone screen. It's so sad that ice dancing is so less appreciated (have to confess that I was one of those who never watch ice dancing but now I understand how beautiful it can be). Hoping more and more people can learn to appreciate this beautiful sport.
MAIA,I LOVE YOU!!!!!
 
neostra said:
Going to Taipei Arena to watch their free dance was probably the best decision I've ever made in these years. There were tears in my eyes all the way while watching the free dance. Everything was so beautiful so sensational. I felt fixed! Maia was glowing! Every step she made showed so much poise and confidence,just like 'zen' and Alex was like a mountain, always there to support her. I still cried when reviewing their FD. Wish I could go the sp but I was in the hospital so I could only watch their amazing sp through a tiny cellphone screen. It's so sad that ice dancing is so less appreciated (have to confess that I was one of those who never watch ice dancing but now I understand how beautiful it can be). Hoping more and more people can learn to appreciate this beautiful sport.
MAIA,I LOVE YOU!!!!!
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Thank you so much for your mini-report! I've been hoping to hear from somebody how they looked in real life :luv17:
 
It’s great to read so many lovely things about the Shibs in this thread. IMHO, the Shibs genuinely love each other and work in harmony as a team. Instead of being just another set of stereotypical all-American idols with perma smile and lots of makeup, they are regular human beings with an incredible talent, natural good looks and personalities to match. If Alex comes across as the big brother, well, that’s what he is and I think that’s only natural. Maia seems to let him occupy this role, but this, as well as her actions and words in general, show that she is at least on the same level as him. I’ve never noticed anything that could suggest they were only celebrating themselves. Alex references forever other sports and his sporting heroes. Yesterday, they answered all the fan questions on twitter immediately and what their fellow skaters think is evident in their vlogs, at the Gala and in comments made, e.g. by the Maxims Kovtun and Trankov, who are always the first to congratulate them. Good on you, Shibs!:points:
 
LOL. Max Kovtun's tweets are adorable. tweet-spewing emojis like an excited teenager celebrating Maia and Alex's recent successes
https://twitter.com/MaximkovtunJR/status/700713634863960065


They're back in LA. Maia posted a pic with this caption: "Inspired by the people we spend time with in this city"

Previous trips to LA they've done choreography with Alex Wong, watched DWTS from the front row by the dance floor right next to the judges' table, Meetings at YouTube/LA, posing for pics at cocktail parties with Katie Couric. Wonder what fun things they're up to this time?! Wouldn't be surprised if they're already laying the groundwork for next season's programs. They seem super organized and big planners. They announced their program music a few weeks after Worlds last year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCOh408y7vv/?taken-by=maiashibutani
 
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Celine said:
LOL. Max Kovtun's tweets are adorable. tweet-spewing emojis like an excited teenager celebrating Maia and Alex's recent successes
https://twitter.com/MaximkovtunJR/status/700713634863960065


They're back in LA. Maia posted a pic with this caption: "Inspired by the people we spend time with in this city"

Previous trips to LA they've done choreography with Alex Wong, watched DWTS from the front row by the dance floor right next to the judges' table, Meetings at YouTube/LA, posing for pics at cocktail parties with Katie Couric. Wonder what fun things they're up to this time?! Wouldn't be surprised if they're already laying the groundwork for next season's programs. They seem super organized and big planners. They announced their program music a few weeks after Worlds last year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCOh408y7vv/?taken-by=maiashibutani
Click to expand...

Max's tweets are so cute. I love seeing various skaters tweeting or commenting on their Instagram pages. There were cute messages from Evgenia and Lipnitskaya on Maia and Alex's Instagram pages, and tons of great pics from 4CC with other skaters like Li Zijun, Chris Reed and Muramoto, Yura Min and Alex Gamelin, etc.

I see that they had dinner with Travis Payne and Stacy Walker (their consultants for their Michael Jackson FD). I wonder if they're going to work on something else with them, namely a hip hop SD. I know people weren't big on their MJ FD, but I think there was potential there.
 
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Oh I think it is entirely probable that they are laying the foundations for their next programs. Both for the new season as well as exhibition and tour programs.

All the top teams that have any sense of organization have to be considering music and planning their programs now. Meryl and Charlie had lifts in their Olympic program which they said took almost 2 years to learn, so the planning and learning is continuous.

All the teams contending are obviously doing fine tuning and polishing every last details of existing programs for Worlds. That's a given. But for creative and obviously highly organized people like the Shibs, I can imagine they would get bored just training their already excellent programs nonstop for the month before Worlds.

Recall how they were able to announce their music so quickly after Worlds last season. They obviously planned ahead. As they have said repeatedly in interviews, for them it is a continuous process throughout the season. Based on feedback, they adapt and make changes, but for sure it doesn't have to wait until the season is over.
 
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I would love it if Alex and Maia worked on a final choreo lift that gave a little oomph to the ending of Fix You. Then that FD would be perfection for me!
 
Since there appears to be a possibility that they're working on next season's programs (not saying it's a given, or even that it's likey, but they could be), what does everyone hope they will skate to next season? I'm really interested to see what they decide to do with the blues SD. :popcorn:
 
I hope they can find the same success in their programs next year as they did this year!
 
solar said:
I hope they can find the same success in their programs next year as they did this year!
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I hope that too since this journey is all directing toward the 2018 Olympics, so their next season will be as much important as this season; their big break-through season.
 
I will admit that I am sort of bummed that the Shibs aren't going to be part of Team North American in the Challenge Cup, but hopefully they will be able to enjoy their time on Stars on Ice and sneak a trip to LA during that time of the competition and relax.
 
musicfan80 said:
I will admit that I am sort of bummed that the Shibs aren't going to be part of Team North American in the Challenge Cup, but hopefully they will be able to enjoy their time on Stars on Ice and sneak a trip to LA during that time of the competition and relax.
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I think it's a loss for USFS as they are hosting this ISU team event for the first time but won't have a fan favorite free dance on the program. Not having to train a competition free dance for an additional month after Worlds can definitely create opportunities for Maia and Alex, and I wouldn't be worried at ALL about whether they'll enjoy their time on tour and have plenty of other stuff to keep them busy.

Team Trophy? Nah ... they'll have other people to see, places to go ... Last year in the month after Worlds while everyone else was still finishing their season training then competing World team trophy, Maia and Alex were seemingly everywhere. Attending State department events in DC, fundraisers for the causes they support, taking meetings in NY and LA with some media companies in my world, zipping to LA to watch a taping of Dancing with the Stars right next to the judges' table. I love how they don't sit still and really feel comfortable "stepping up" in so many worlds. It's part of what gives me confidence in their ability to become visible voices FOR skating beyond just the existing shrinking fan base. Their social media is how I ACTUALLY got pulled into being a more passionate skating fan.

Pics from some of the cool stuff they did last year when they didn't do Team Trophy
https://www.instagram.com/p/1OT9TyS7vh/?taken-by=maiashibutani&hl=en At the Youtube LA space
https://www.instagram.com/p/1ecYnLy7jA/?taken-by=maiashibutani&hl=en At Yahoo's New York headquarters
https://www.instagram.com/p/1dURNgS7jM/?taken-by=maiashibutani&hl=en Lovely "Women of Skating Power corridor" photo - Maia with Michele, Kristi and Meryl at a Gala on Park Avenue in NY
https://www.instagram.com/p/1wUfn4y7oE/?taken-by=maiashibutani&hl=en At an awards show with Food Network star Alton Brown
 
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This is why they are my favorite ice dance team. Maia and Alex seem so open to everything. I see a bright future beyond skating for these two.
 
Maia looks awesome in this campaign for Target's women's sportswear. Great to see them continue to grow their marketing and brand partnering reach outside of "usual suspects" from the skating world like boot makers or MK blades. Maia has had some opportunities with specialty brands like Uniqlo and magazines like Vogue in the past. Target is definitely mainstream USA. Will be great to see them continuing to raise the profile of skating, even during a non-Olympic year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCeFKP0y7nO/?taken-by=maiashibutani
 
Celine said:
Maia looks awesome in this campaign for Target's women's sportswear. Great to see them continue to grow their marketing and brand partnering reach outside of "usual suspects" from the skating world like boot makers or MK blades. Maia has had some opportunities with specialty brands like Uniqlo and magazines like Vogue in the past. Target is definitely mainstream USA. Will be great to see them continuing to raise the profile of skating, even during a non-Olympic year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCeFKP0y7nO/?taken-by=maiashibutani
Click to expand...

I was really excited to see that post by Maia - mainly because it shows that figure skaters are able to see sponsorships/endorsements even if they are still up and coming in their careers. I'm glad to see that it's possible to get support if you aren't #1 in the USA or World - yet.

I have wondered what we can do to encourage companies (especially smaller "niche" ones like certain healthy/natural foods) to consider supporting these athletes. Would a Twitter campaign work?
 
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