Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani | Page 66 | Golden Skate

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

The FD looks improved with the small changes, and I like that Alex added some bling to match Maia's alterations from Nationals. Their costumes make me think of a star-lit night sky which evokes the perfect mood for their FD.
 
Congrats to the Shibs on getting the highest GOE of the night and actually win multiple judges over on specific PCS categories.
 
VIETgrlTerifa said:
Congrats to the Shibs on getting the highest GOE of the night and actually win multiple judges over on specific PCS categories.
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in the faces of all let's say 'over-frustrated' people complaining.

It's really more pleasant to acknowledge their progress and the fact that they're maintaining rock solid consistency in execution than fussing over 'overscoring' in PCS, lol btw

Or better not to say anything at all, only some positive thoughts on teams appreciated.

Both Tessa and Scott and Maia and Alex stood out for me for different reasons and I'll continue appreciation fest for both teams as I enjoyed both very much.
 
VIETgrlTerifa said:
Congrats to the Shibs on getting the highest GOE of the night and actually win multiple judges over on specific PCS categories.
Click to expand...
It's great and all, but, to be honest, the one judge who gave them higher PCS for all components is american. The chinese judge gave them higher PCS for skating skills which probably would not have happened if Virtue/Moir had not had their minor problems in this particular instance, and the spanish judge gave them higher PCS for interpretation. As for GOE, Shibs will always receive higher marks for their twizzles if Virtue/Moir don't do something drastic about them which I don't think is possible in such a short time, but in this case the partial step sequence was also the element on which V/M had their minor problems, and that probably won't happen at Worlds.

Although I am a Virtue/Moir fan, I have started liking Maia and Alex quite a lot these past two seasons (before that I did like their Memoirs of Geisha FD and the Pasodoble SD). So I don't want to be a downer, I am just trying to be realistic about their chances of receiving higher GOE and PCS than V/M at Worlds etc. If they stay on after these Olympics probably they will have a serious chance of competing with Papadakis/Cizeron on an equal level as they have some qualities that P/C don't possess at least yet. Both teams have areas in which they could improve. Currently the areas that Maia and Alex are a bit lacking in are also keeping them from being able to beat Virtue/Moir.
 
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Honestly, I don't think the post about getting higher PCS/GOE than V/M means that the Shibs will suddenly by-pass Virtue and Moir -- on the whole (emphasis mine).

I think the point -- and VIETgrlTerifa, please let me know if I am incorrect in my understanding -- is that the fact that the Shibs DID get some attention from judges is indicative that their programs are highlighting their skills/strengths in a way that the judges are taking notice.

I looked at their PCS from the SD in 2013 and it's incredible the change -- the Shibs were in the high 7s (31+). To get 9s now is a testament to their efforts these last two seasons.
 
lauravvv said:
It's great and all, but, to be honest, the one judge who gave them higher PCS for all components is american. The chinese judge gave them higher PCS for skating skills which probably would not have happened if Virtue/Moir had not had their minor problems in this particular instance, and the spanish judge gave them higher PCS for interpretation. As for GOE, Shibs will always receive higher marks for their twizzles if Virtue/Moir don't do something drastic about them which I don't think is possible in such a short time, but in this case the partial step sequence was also the element on which V/M had their minor problems, and that probably won't happen at Worlds.

Although I am a Virtue/Moir fan, I have started liking Maia and Alex quite a lot these past two seasons (before that I did like their Memoirs of Geisha FD and the Pasodoble SD). So I don't want to be a downer, I am just trying to be realistic about their chances of receiving higher GOE and PCS than V/M at Worlds etc. If they stay on after these Olympics probably they will have a serious chance of competing with Papadakis/Cizeron on an equal level as they have some qualities that P/C don't possess at least yet. Both teams have areas in which they could improve. Currently the areas that Maia and Alex are a bit lacking in are also keeping them from being able to beat Virtue/Moir.
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you know, the thing is that some months ago people could swear that V/M and P/C even with mistakes were unreachable, I think that is changing and this is an indication. And just like V/M did nervous to P/C and now they are more prone to mistakes, same can to happen to V/M if they start to feel the pressure.
 
It's very inconceivable for most people to think the Shibs could even be spoken in the same breath as V/M and P/C. However, for most people, the Shibs had no future after Sochi or even shortly after their bad 2012 Worlds showing. Most people told them they reached their potential together and it's time for them to find new partners if they want any further success. Most thought Hubbell/Donohue, Hawayek/Baker, and even Aldridge/Eaton would have overtaken them by 2015 or 2016. When Marina got Sinitsina/Katsalapov, everyone thought she was going to put all of her energy and politicks on them and it'd be "bye bye Shibutani". When they lost Nepela Trophy in the beginning of last season, everyone thought that meant Gilles/Poirier and Coomes/Buckland would now forever beat the Shibs regularly from there on out. After the GPF, everyone thought there was no way the Shibs will ever beat Chock/Bates. Then they thought there is no way they would beat Weaver/Poje and Chock/Bates in front of an international panel.

So I think as of right now logic does say the Shibs won't beat V/M and P/C. But nothing is forever, and smart people analyzing scores and what they think is potential, at times doing it well, have been wrong before. It may be a real longshot and inconceivable right now to think the Shibs deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with V/M and P/C, but we never know what can happen. I just think the Shibs have never been this respected by the judges and this close to V/M. As a long time Shibs fan (and V/M fan and ice dance fan in general), I thought I'd never see that happen ever. It's like a new world to me.
 
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VIETgrlTerifa said:
It's very inconceivable for most people to think the Shibs could even be spoken in the same breath as V/M and P/C. However, for most people, the Shibs had no future after Sochi or even shortly after their bad 2012 Worlds showing. Most people told them they reached their potential together and it's time for them to find new partners if they want any further success. Most thought Hubbell/Donohue, Hawayek/Baker, and even Aldridge/Eaton would have overtaken them by 2015 or 2016. When Marina got Sinitsina/Katsalapov, everyone thought she was going to put all of her energy and politicks on them and it'd be "bye bye Shibutani". When they lost Nepela Trophy in the beginning of last season, everyone thought that meant Gilles/Poirier and Coomes/Buckland would now forever beat the Shibs regularly from there on out. After the GPF, everyone thought there was no way the Shibs will ever beat Chock/Bates. Then they thought there is no way they would beat Weaver/Poje and Chock/Bates in front of an international panel.

So I think as of right now logic does say the Shibs won't beat V/M and P/C. But nothing is forever, and smart people analyzing scores and what they think is potential, at times doing it well, have been wrong before. It may be a real longshot and inconceivable right now to think the Shibs deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with V/M and P/C, but we never know what can happen. I just think the Shibs have never been this respected by the judges and this close to V/M. As a long time Shibs fan (and V/M fan and ice dance fan in general), I thought I'd never see that happen ever. It's like a new world to me.
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:laugh: same here. I hope don´t jinx their fd :slink:
 
I am so happy to see the Shibs score a personal best. I loved their reaction in the Kiss n' Cry. I believe this was another Skate Canada moment for them where they realized things are not pre-ordained nor are the judges putting a ceiling on their scores. Like at Skate Canada, they placed second, but the real victory was worth more than the ranking and will propel them going forward to newer heights.

Watching the victory ceremony, I couldn't help but notice that the Shibs received the loudest ovation. That dance and performance really resonated with the audience there. I hope that's a sign of things to come next year at the Olympics in the same arena.
 
I poured my enthusiasm already in FD thread (for common view, fan or no fans LOL) and just want to say big 'Thank You' to Maia and Alex for oday's experience. Yes, for me it was something special and the moment will stay in me as a great memory. The way they connected today with that dance, with each other and with me was deep and very much emotional and personal. They showed me once again how impactful their presence is, how strong and smooth their execution is.

They are showing now what they're made of and are signaling to the rest of the world about their strenghts. And it happens to be a consistently great, sharp execution, making any of their stuff shining like a polished diamond.

Relieved tbh that their effort is actually fairly rewarded, maybe there's justice after all LOL. And all that seething over scores, program, connecting with them, not connecting, blah et all amkes me smile politely. It's a good feeling to be an Ice Dance fan in general and being able to appreciate various qualities in defferent teams without betitling one over another.
 
So after re-watching the top 6, and I admit I am a Shibs uber, this is the first time I ever felt the Shibs should have beaten V/M, at least in the FD. I know it sounds crazy, but the Shibs were seriously on and V/M seemed a bit distant from the performance. I felt C/B and G/P were more into the actual performance aspect as well. I understand V/M's technical superiority most of the time, and I love them, but to me, the Shibs were better this morning.
 
Honestly, it's just sort of crazy how the Shibs beat so many teams in their first season and then got beat by them for the next three years and then climbed back up and beat them again.

2011 Worlds- Only Davis and White and Virtue and Moir were higher
2011 GP Series - Loses to Bobrova/Soloviev in Cup of China, win NHK Trophy (beating Weaver and Poje and Elena Illynkh/Nikita Katslapov) but places 5th at GPF behind Davis/White, Virtue/Moir, Pechalat/Bourzat, and Weaver and Poje. The Shibutanis would never beat Pechalat/Bourzat again.
2012 4CC - Places 4th behind Virtue/Moir, Davis/White, Weaver/Poje
2012 Worlds - Gets beat by the above three, plus Pechalat/Bourzat, Illynkh/Katslapov, Cappellini/Lanotte and Bobrova/Soloviev.They lose the FD to Hubbell/Donahue, Ekaterina RIAZANOVA / Ilia TKACHENKO and Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI after a diaster skate.
2012 GP Series - Rough start at Rostelecom Cup and is off the podium (which thankfully the only time during a regular GP event) behind Virtue/Moir, Illynkh/Katslapov and Sinitsina/Zhighastan. They are back on the podium in NHK Trophy but loses again to Illynkh/Katslapov and Davis/White
2012 4CC - Places 4th behind Davis/White, Virtue/Moir and Chock/Bates (Weaver/Poje isn't there due to injury IIRC). They finish ahead of Chock/Bates in the FD but behind Gilles/Poirier .
2013 Worlds - Basically stays in 8th in 2012 by beating Illynkh/Katslapov but Chock and Bates beat them again.
2013 GP series - Holds off Hubbell/Donahue and gets third beihnd Davis/White and Cappellini/Lanotte at Skate America; They are 3rd again in NHK Trophy again behind Davis/White Cappellini/Lanotte and beats Illynkh/Katslapov for the second time in a row.
2014 Olympics- Dropped to 9th in the Olympics after Illynkh/Katslapov bots to 3rd, all the teams that beat them in 2013 Worlds beat them again in the SD and FD. They place 10th in the FD behind Coomes/Buckland
2014 Worlds - With Davis/White and Virtue/Moir and Bobrova/Soloviev gone, they are 6th (behind all the teams that beat them at the Olympics)
2014 GP series- 2nd to Chock and Bates at Skate America by a margin. Was 1st after the SD in Cup of China but then beatend in FD and overall by Papadakis/Cizeron. Makes GP final, was 3rd in the SD, but then drops to 5th after a 6th place FD behind everyone including Weaver/Poje, Papadakis/Cizeron, Chock/Bates, Gilles/Poirier and Ilynkh/Zhighanstan
2015 Worlds - In 6th after SD behind Chock/Bates, Weaver/Poje, Cappellini/Lanottee, Papadakis/Cizeron and Illynkh/Zhighanstan
2015 Challenger SEries - Loses Ondrej Nepala to Gilles/Poirier and Commes/Buckland
2015 GP series - 2nd behond Weaver/Poje but beats Bobrova/Soloviev for the first time since 2011 Worlds. Wins NHK Trophy, beating Bobrova/Soloviev and Hubbell and Donahue. They also beat Commes and Buckland again. At GPF behind Weaver/Poje, Chock/Bates, Cappellini Lanotte. Alex had the flu and was sick but got through the FD
2015 U.S. Nationals - Beat Chock and Bates for the first time since 2012 U.S. Nationals.
2015 4CC - Beats Weaver and Poje for the first time since 2011 Worlds, Beats Chock and Bates again.
2016 Worlds- We all know--they got the silver medal only behind Papadakis Cizeron
2016-2017- won both GP events, placed third behind Virtue/MOir and Papadakis/Cizeron (though beat the latter in the SD), won 2nd US title and place second at 4CC behind just Virtue and mOir.

Crazy journey huh.
 
VIETgrlTerifa said:
It's very inconceivable for most people to think the Shibs could even be spoken in the same breath as V/M and P/C. However, for most people, the Shibs had no future after Sochi or even shortly after their bad 2012 Worlds showing. Most people told them they reached their potential together and it's time for them to find new partners if they want any further success. Most thought Hubbell/Donohue, Hawayek/Baker, and even Aldridge/Eaton would have overtaken them by 2015 or 2016. When Marina got Sinitsina/Katsalapov, everyone thought she was going to put all of her energy and politicks on them and it'd be "bye bye Shibutani". When they lost Nepela Trophy in the beginning of last season, everyone thought that meant Gilles/Poirier and Coomes/Buckland would now forever beat the Shibs regularly from there on out. After the GPF, everyone thought there was no way the Shibs will ever beat Chock/Bates. Then they thought there is no way they would beat Weaver/Poje and Chock/Bates in front of an international panel.

So I think as of right now logic does say the Shibs won't beat V/M and P/C. But nothing is forever, and smart people analyzing scores and what they think is potential, at times doing it well, have been wrong before. It may be a real longshot and inconceivable right now to think the Shibs deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with V/M and P/C, but we never know what can happen. I just think the Shibs have never been this respected by the judges and this close to V/M. As a long time Shibs fan (and V/M fan and ice dance fan in general), I thought I'd never see that happen ever. It's like a new world to me.
Click to expand...

Very thought provoking! A year ago it seemed that Papdakis and Cizeron were unbeatable. Bring in Virtue and Moir and the rising stock of the Shibs and you have a tighter podium. I still find Chock/Bates, Cappellini/Lanotte, Bobrova/S and Hubbell/Donahue as interesting dark horses. Still...when I want to view again an ID performance from this year I watch Gilles and Poirier.
 
Marina spoke about the Shibs here:

http://fs-gossips.com/marina-zueva-maia-and-alex-became-closer-to-tessa-and-scott/

Maia and Alex became closer (in scores) to Tessa and Scott, the fight is serious, but they are different, they will still win, just wait. All skate the same: the same expression, the same style, the same genre, with the same message. I’m talking about all the pairs, including mine, but these (Shibutani) are different from the rest. They are different and the method of work with them is different. We will continue to work this way. And, firstly, it’s a strategy. – Zueva told.
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Nice to see Marina promoting them now. ;)
 
Wow. Wow, wow, wow, WOW! I am still in awe. I think this is the strongest performance of both the SD and FD so far this season.

"Fix You" is my favorite ShibSibs program, but "Evolution" is suddenly a very close second! Last year it was all about that song: the building music and uplifting lyrics, Alex and Maia's story, carrying them (and us) along for the journey. This season we don't having soaring music and words, but instead serenity and quiet, the story all resting completely on what Maia and Alex lay down on the ice. And here they told me a powerful story -- a celebration of their partnership -- as THEY swept me along into their beautiful, emotional skate. By the end I was breathless.

Thank you, Maia and Alex.
 
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