Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

[TMC]

Is last considered good? I know skaters don't like to be too early in the group but is too late bad also? It seems to me that last would be perfect, especially with their program and the emotional response it gets (and nobody is coming afterward so no need to withhold any points) but I didn't know if last tends to be bad in any way.

I think it's definitely a great spot. Their FS is so wonderful and the audience always gets behind it, skating at home and last? The arena will fall apart! The only possible worrying point I see is that they're skating right after Gabriella and Guillaume so they will really have to bring it. But They've had wonderful performances this season so I don't doubt them :yes:

I think normally skating last is not ideal for many skaters - in fact, in one interview Tara & Johnny said it's the absolute worst! But this time the Shibs' FD is an exception, for the reasons xibsuarz gave. The audience will be pumped after P/C's beautiful free, and they will be aching for the Shibs to fix them!

 

[cathlen]

Congrats ShibSibs on new SB!

 

[LadyB]

No doubt, they'll be fine. Their FD has been the strongest part of their programme all season. It will be tough, but they can nail it. The audience will be on their feet, can't wait!

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Sending the Shibs the best. I know they're going to create THE moment of the Championship if they just trust in their technique and really fly. They have in them and I think they're going to blow the roof off TD Garden tonight.

 

[Celine]

LIGHTS WILL GUIDE YOU HOME

:2thumbs:

 

[skatingfan4ever]

OH MY GOSH!!! Congrats to the Shibs for being in 2nd after the SD and with a new SB/PB!!! :yay: I'm so excited for the FD tonight! I LOVE THIS FD (as you can tell from my previous couple posts in this thread). Whatever place the judges give them, I want them to create an UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT and it will be amazing. Can't wait!

 

[JMJ2015]

Silver sure is a pretty color.......

 

[skatingfan4ever]

SILVER FOR THE SHIBS!!!!!!! :hap57: CONGRATS!!! SO HAPPY FOR THEM!!!!! Now I really must get to bed. Looking forward to indulging in the program tomorrow. :yes:

 

[liv]

They have to be proud of themselves. They renewed themselves, got recognition, and brought down the house at home. Loved it. That twizzle perfection, at that moment of the music, brings tears and shivers everytime.

 

[rosacotton]

Over the moon for the Shibs! World Silver Medalists! So so so happy and proud of them.

 

[msmelissa]

I'm over the moon for these two. Looking back to the Ondrej Nepela where they finished 3rd was surely disappointing. I remember Maia's tweet commenting how this program felt special and oh boy, was she right! I can't quite formulate words for all the feelings I have--admiration, inspiration, excitement, etc. It is so hard to think of what they had to go through from 2011 onward, and its hard not to get emotional because it must have been so hard for them, yet they never gave up and they believed in themselves. Personally, the ShibSibs will be one of those team that are ethereal, simply for their perseverance. Also, they've accomplished some pretty amazing things. 1. Their debut at the 2011 Worlds and their bronze medal 2. First sister and brother team to get to the podium since the Duchesnays 3. Longest gap between podiums (if it makes sense--don't really know how to articulate this)

I'm still celebrating, and I can't wait to see what they will give us next season!! To the ShibSibs!:hap36:

 

[Anni234]

So happy for the Shibs! The Fix You program is a perfection and so are they. Finally a well deserved podium finish for them, establishing themselves as no.1 couple of the USA. They should be so proud of themselves, I know I am.

 

[xibsuarz]

Just passing by to congratulate the Shibs on their breathtaking performance, the audience was right there with them. My mom and I were crying before it even ended. I hope they're very proud of themselves and how much they've grown this season. Have fun at the EX Gala guys!

 

[demarinis5]

A Big Congratulations to the Shibs, World Silver Medalists, they were absolutely fabulous!

 

[cathlen]

Congrats, ShibSibs! Second medal in career and a silver one!

 

[invisiblespiral]

Congratulations on their silver!

 

[naz]

I am extremely happy for them! They were incredible this season, and it was such a comeback, with a lot of promise for the future.

All I have to say about the silver is all in its time! They established themselves as top contenders for the next few seasons, and that's really exciting. Can't wait!

P.S. I am also quite sad, though, that the Coppelia/Fix You era is over. I love both of them to pieces. The dances, and Maia and Alex :luv17:

 

[GF2445]

So So happy for them. They made a moment for themselves, which I think they see as more important than the result. I felt that last night, Ice Dance in America got itself a level of respect.
Teams who were held back previously were given a chance by the judges to be marked fairer, and the Shibs were one of those teams who finally awarded a score which matches their actual ability.

 

[onyxrose81]

I'm so happy for the Shibs!!!!! Surely the silver must feel like gold to them because of all their detractors saying they would never factor on the Worlds stage again. I love them.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

The Shibs have proved all their detractors who were watching with glee when they would place low and waiting for them to retire ever since they dared beat more favored teams at 2011 Worlds wrong. All the calls for them to retire, for Maia to find a new partner, all the predictions that they will lose a Worlds spot after 2014, all the talk about them never being a true contender again...the Shibs just told them to shove it. They performed the impossible and made an honest-to-God comeback in Ice Dance. That never happens in this discipline where once you lose favor, you lose it forever and you keep going down further and further. They showed the whole figure skating community and the world that they are a force to be reckoned with, and I do not believe they are anywhere close to hitting their peak.

I also love the renewed competitive spirit they showed. You saw that they were disappointed before their FD, and didn't let that phase their performance at all. In the past, Alex would stumble or Maia would not do enough to achieve a desired level when the pressure was on. I was needlessly worried all season because I thought they were due for a mistake like at 2015 4CC FD or even 2015 Worlds FD where they lost two levels on a lift, or various other incidences in the past. Now I know those things aren't going to happen again as they are on a different technical level than they were before. They are true competitors because even though Alex said their score didn't matter in the KnC, when they saw their PB of 113+ and the fact that they secured the silver and beat competitors who they had lost to for 3-5 seasons consistently even when those competitors made obvious and egregious errors, they were NOT happy. They are hungry and I cannot wait to see what they do from now to the end of their competitive career.

I admit I was a little sad that they didn't have a complete Cinderella story, but then someone on GS stated that why does this have to be the end of their comeback story? It's true. This page of their career is only beginning, and unlike some other teams who get the favored judges'/fan/forum pet treatment, the Shibs has had to earn all their accolades the hard way. Those PCS and GOEs they received this season did not come easy at all and the judges are still reserving the best scores from them. The Shibs haven't gotten any favors so any future and possibly surprising success will be due to their hard work rather than being an anointed one.