Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

[msmelissa]

OMG. YASSS! to your post. I agree. The best has yet to come. To me they should have had a greater gap with C/B. They have had to fight for every single point like no other team, especially when other teams have very visible and notable errors and they still somehow get +GOEs and even the levels. They've really grown so, so much. I really like that Alex commented at the FD press conference that they would stick to their new style, so I'm definitely excited to keep seeing them grow and improve with this style. I'm assuming Peter Tchernyshev will be their choreographer next season, so that makes me even more excited.

 

[slider11]

Maybe they'll convert their Clair de Lune exhibition to a FD next year?

 

[Vili67]

Im so happy been waiting for this since their last bronze in 2011
:hap85::gclap::clapper:

 

[alain06fr]

OMG. YASSS! to your post. I agree. The best has yet to come. To me they should have had scored higher in the FD, proving the judges are still holding them back. They have had to fight for every single point like no other team, especially when other teams have very visible and notable errors and they still somehow get +GOEs and even the levels. They've really grown so, so much. I really like that Alex commented in the FD press conference that they would stick to their new style, so I'm definitely excited to keep seeing them grow and improve with this style. I'm assuming Peter Tchernyshev will be their choreographer next season, so that makes me even more excited.

Accusing the judges is not a good approach imHo especially when there's such a big gap with P/C...
In the arena, only 4 teams got a standing ovation, S/S, C/B, H/D and .... P/C...
They Shibs had a huge pressure on their shoulders, people were expecting so much from them and when waiting for the warm-up, they saw the standing ovation from the crowd for Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. They could not miss it! Skating after the French couple was certainly not the best draw! Since the cup of China 2015, all couples who actually skated after Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron had the same kind of bad experience.

Looking to the best season FD scores (table below), it was obvious P/C had a great advantage:
1 P/C 111.97 (Europeans)
2 W/P 109.91 (GPF)
3 S/S 108.76 (4-C)
4 B/S 107.79 (Europeans)
5 C/B 107.59 (4-C)
6 C/L 106.23 (Europeans)

Finally, I think the Shibs face the same difficulties as Isabelle and Paul Duschenay. Being brother and sister implies some limits in terms of choreography and what can be portrayed or not. I think you see what I mean. This being said, their programs this season were brilliant! Maia and Alex are great skaters and I think they found their style. Next season will be exciting for them, no doubt!

 

[Tallorder]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDqDWtxwm_r/

The Shibs are clearly seeing this season as a positive "step" in their journey. They have figured out who they are and are still quite young at 21 and 24. They should be pleased by the inflection this season, but it is also clear that they are far from being fully satisfied. Looking forward to next season

 

[LadyB]

They're well on their way now. We watched the making of future dance legends! Credit where it's due: Pap/Ciz are tricky to beat at the moment, and (unfortunately ), they're even younger than the Shibs! But nothing lasts forever. Maia & Alex will be the major challenger, even if V/M return.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

The Shibs are just having a blast at Worlds as evidenced by their posts on social media and taking over NBC Olympics' Snapchat yesterday. I loved their Ice Desk segment with Tanith and John Coughlin. There was a segment where they were answering fan questions and they had a special fan question from Michelle Kwan. Maia was so excited to see her. The sound didn't quite work while Michelle was being very animated in the arena asking her question, but she apparently asked the Shibs if they could help her with her inside and outside edges. Alex said that if anybody had ever seen her spirals, they'd know Kwan needs no help with her inside/outside edges.

 

[dlo2113]

Does anyone have a link to eurosport commentary on their fd from worlds? I know they are big fans of it and I wonder what they said...

 

[xibsuarz]

Does anyone have a link to eurosport commentary on their fd from worlds? I know they are big fans of it and I wonder what they said...

Here you go

 

[Barb]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDw0ba1TX7i/

Maia, Zijun and Mao

 

[ozmodiar]

Maia and Alex will be performing on the Today Show tomorrow morning (Tues 4/5).

 

[Wanted girl]

Maia and Alex will be performing on the Today Show tomorrow morning (Tues 4/5).

Does someone have a video ?

 

[musicfan80]

Here is what looks like an audience cam of their skate. I haven't seen footage from the Today show broadcast, which would probably include an interview of Maia and Alex.

 

[naz]

Here is what looks like an audience cam of their skate. I haven't seen footage from the Today show broadcast, which would probably include an interview of Maia and Alex.

Willie Geist and Savannah Guthrie interviewed them very briefly. I don't have a video, unfortunately, but there were only two questions, one about winning Nationals and the other on their hopes for Pyeongchang. The interviewers did not even mention their silver at worlds! Alex had to say it himself.
They were VERY cold! It was freezing out there and I think they had to stay close to the ice all the time to skate these little previews before their actual performance. I think it was even hard for them to speak. Can't imagine what it must've been like to skate with the icy wind blowing everywhere. The rink also seemed quite small for these two, haha.
Overall it was very exciting to see them on NBC, working to broaden the spectrum of people who watch figure skating. And they were beautiful as always.

P.S. Forgot to say that they were all smiles nevertheless, laughing and joking :luv17:

 

[msmelissa]

I watched their interview too! Poor Alex and Maia were stuttering. I felt like giving them a blanket and some hot chocolate.

 

[Celine]

Maia with Yuzu "Yuzu, Poo and Me"
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDwboECy7jf/?taken-by=maiashibutani&hl=en

Striking a final Fix You pose amidst the freezing temps at Rockefeller Center Rink
https://www.instagram.com/p/BD1Zf-nwm99/?taken-by=alexshibutani&hl=en

Maia and Alex took over the NBC Olympics Snapchat account: Their day actually seemed to start with Alex giving some pointers and tutorial to Meryl and Charlie who were doing takeover of the US Olympic Snapchat account on the same day. They had some 'mock' confrontations around the arena including an extremely clever "filming" by Maia and Alex (all you see are shoes, as if they are accidentally recording the 4 of them arguing off-camera/not realizing the tape is rolling). Very clever
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDtzNVSwm0x/?taken-by=alexshibutani&hl=en

 

[LadyB]

They just have a great presence, wherever they skate. But Rockefeller Centre is of course absolutely top venue.
I hope they turn Fix You into their Exhibition piece.

 

[msmelissa]

Does anyone think the Shibs have made "Fix You" their song? Ten years from now, if someone else skates a program to "Fix You," will you think of the Shibutanis? Will this program be part of their legacy?

 

[TMC]

Does anyone think the Shibs have made "Fix You" their song? Ten years from now, if someone else skates a program to "Fix You," will you think of the Shibutanis? Will this program be part of their legacy?

Absolutely!

 

[lyndichee]

Does anyone think the Shibs have made "Fix You" their song? Ten years from now, if someone else skates a program to "Fix You," will you think of the Shibutanis? Will this program be part of their legacy?

I think so. I think Coldplay works great for them (Their O exhibition was fantastic and what helped them pick out Fix You and Peter Tchernyshev).

I don't think anyone could choreograph the song differently; the twizzle sequence is perfection. I would imagine choreographers would put a spin in that place for a singles or pairs and it would never carry the same weight as a twizzle sequence that travels across ice and builds momentum.