Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani | Page 79 | Golden Skate

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

The Shibs are going to do double duty at USOC Media Summit next week!

They're doing stuff for skating (including a press conference with other singles skaters -- also that's quite a feat given that ice dance can't be given the time of day otherwise), of course, but they're also going to be part of the LA 2028 Olympics press conference since they're part of the athletes commission. Whew!
 
Mrs. P said:
The Shibs are going to do double duty at USOC Media Summit next week!

They're doing stuff for skating (including a press conference with other singles skaters -- also that's quite a feat given that ice dance can't be given the time of day otherwise), of course, but they're also going to be part of the LA 2028 Olympics press conference since they're part of the athletes commission. Whew!
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They really do have a jam-packed schedule. They mentioned having a busy week this week as well. I wonder if they're shooting their fluff pieces for NBC or something.

Anyone else getting nervous about the Shibs? It seems a lot of teams have generated buzz by going to Challengers or providing hints and behind-the-scenes glimpses into their programs or work. I know the Shibs' latest vlog had almost 2 mins of them showing what they were working on in May, but it was such a short clip. I really wish they chose to do a Challenger so if something really didn't work, they could be well-prepared by Rostelecom like with what happened when they revamped Fix You after Nepela and before Skate Canada. I see that Bobrova/Soloviev are doing a lot of domestic competitions getting their programs out there. Maybe they feel they can afford to come to Rostelecom completely unknown and give that element of surprise. Plus, maybe they're feeling super confident in their routines, and whatever doesn't work they can fix in the 5 or so weeks in-between Rostelecom and Skate America.
 
I feel like the circumstance RE: Nepala are different than they are now.

At Nepala, they were a 5th place ID team that was squarely U.S. No. 2. Now they're three-time world medalists and for now a pretty strong U.S. No. 1. And I'd also argue that the Nepala/Fix You experience may have made them feel the opposite of doing a lot of senior Bs -- that they would be better off come prepared with a program they had full-confidence and belief in, which means investing time in those programs rather than spending valuable training time going to competitions.

I agree that they like the element of surprise. I remember that Alex and Maia were even very secretive of who did their costumes (it wasn't one of the typical skating costumes types but someone in LA). And I feel they are a more confident team now then they were a few years ago.

ETA: I looked back on the Nepala video -- and yes, they looked really tentative there. It was pretty obvious while they liked the program, they weren't 100 percent on it. I wouldn't be surprised if with their current FD, they've tried out a bunch of different versions to ensure they can come out swinging when the first GP came around.

Also, I feel like the skating gods are having them go back to their low point competitions as a way to have new more positive memories. Rostelecom Cup is one of just two GP where they have not medaled in (they've never competed at TEB, TdF or it's other versions) and their one appearance five years ago is the only time in their whole GP career (other than GPF) they were off the podium.
 
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I just hope that they are not delaying the presentation of their programs because things went wrong and they needed more time than planned. Reading that C/B had to change their program twice, I'm almost sure that is the reason why they will not make a senior B, they are adjusting things after the time lost in making and fixing programs.

Anyway, maybe all the hype of hints could be harmful too, I think with all the hype that H/D were getting, people were expecting a lot more from them, and definitely Ashley created much fuss about La la land and now people are dissapointed.
 
Mrs. P said:
I feel like the circumstance RE: Nepala are different than they are now.

At Nepala, they were a 5th place ID team that was squarely U.S. No. 2. Now they're three-time world medalists and for now a pretty strong U.S. No. 1. And I'd also argue that the Nepala/Fix You experience may have made them feel the opposite of doing a lot of senior Bs -- that they would be better off come prepared with a program they had full-confidence and belief in, which means investing time in those programs rather than spending valuable training time going to competitions.

I agree that they like the element of surprise. I remember that Alex and Maia were even very secretive of who did their costumes (it wasn't one of the typical skating costumes types but someone in LA). And I feel they are a more confident team now then they were a few years ago.

ETA: I looked back on the Nepala video -- and yes, they looked really tentative there. It was pretty obvious while they liked the program, they weren't 100 percent on it. I wouldn't be surprised if with their current FD, they've tried out a bunch of different versions to ensure they can come out swinging when the first GP came around.

Also, I feel like the skating gods are having them go back to their low point competitions as a way to have new more positive memories. Rostelecom Cup is one of just two GP where they have not medaled in (they've never competed at TEB, TdF or it's other versions) and their one appearance five years ago is the only time in their whole GP career (other than GPF) they were off the podium.
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Those are all good points. They are in a totally different place now than they were at the beginning of the 2014-2015 season (where they did 2 Challengers with one being in-between Cup of China and GPF) and the 2015-2016 season (where they did Nepela). They minimize it now, but I remember them talking about actually considering quitting ice dance after the way their 2014-2015 season ended up. Then they were excited about Fix You (though I think they announced it before they went to Kazakhstan and got pep talks from skaters like Tatiana Volozshar and Maxim Trankov), but you can see they were still feeling the waters at Nepela there. Then Skate Canada happened and they looked rejuvenited and fresh after those FD scores.

About your point about the Skate Gods having them revisit their low point competitions, I'm not a superstitious person...normally...but I do like that they are given opportunities to revisit their low point competitions and have a chance to redeem themselves. I remember I was really nervous about them in Cup of China last year because that was the competition where they surprisingly lost to the not-yet World Champion team of Papadakis/Cizeron. I was worried there would be another surprise. Their one Rostelecom Cup appearance did not go well for them as Alex got injured after starting their FD and needed time to regroup and thus placed out of the medals (though they were 4th in the SD, I believe had they been able to do their FD normally they would have made up the point differential against Sinitsina/Zhiganshin in the FD). I'm hoping they not only redeem themselves there, but big time.

chapis said:
I just hope that they are not delaying the presentation of their programs because things went wrong and they needed more time than planned. Reading that C/B had to change their program twice, I'm almost sure that is the reason why they will not make a senior B, they are adjusting things after the time lost in making and fixing programs.

Anyway, maybe all the hype of hints could be harmful too, I think with all the hype that H/D was getting, people were expecting a lot more from them, and definitely Ashley created much fuss about La la land and now people are dissapointed.
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I can see that. Plus, it's a very long season with many competitions and scores and hype and narratives can all change instantly. Right now, many people on the forums seem to desperately want H/D to become U.S. no. 1, and they have the hype right now that they've carried from Worlds 2017. Last season, the Shibs started out very strongly in the GP series and even at 4CC only to have the wind knocked out of them a bit at Worlds where they medaled by the skin of their teeth with lower-than-expected GOE and PCS. It's important to have an excellent start so that you're not playing catch up the entire season, but how they finish and how they are perceived as continually improving their programs is also as important if not more. Maybe they have full confidence in their plan and confidence, excitement, and energy will carry them over this season and that the judges may have did them a favor at Worlds 2017.
 
chapis said:
I just hope that they are not delaying the presentation of their programs because things went wrong and they needed more time than planned. Reading that C/B had to change their program twice, I'm almost sure that is the reason why they will not make a senior B, they are adjusting things after the time lost in making and fixing programs.

Anyway, maybe all the hype of hints could be harmful too, I think with all the hype that H/D were getting, people were expecting a lot more from them, and definitely Ashley created much fuss about La la land and now people are dissapointed.
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This is interesting. My takeaway was exactly the opposite - that H/D had ramped up the Wow Factor a great deal in SLC.

Of course, that debate is probably better suited for another thread.

Back on topic: I am really excited to see what the Shibs deliver this season!
 
Maia wasn't even two yet (she would be 2 in July and video says this was two months before that) and she could say 6-word sentences?! She was like 1 going on 30 already!
 
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Mrs. P said:
Maia wasn't even two yet (she would be 2 in July and video says this was two months before that) and she could say 6-word sentences?! She was like 1 going on 30 already!
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Wow, it is true. Granted, my english is bad, but I did not know how was called the ¨hair clips¨ until I watched her video , I am learning it from baby Maia :o:.
 
chapis said:
Wow, it is true. Granted, my english is bad, but I did not know how was called the ¨hair clips¨ until I watched her video , I am learning it from baby Maia :o:.
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I think I might have to have my 27-month-old learn from baby Maia!! She can say a few phrases, but certainly not six-word sentences, LOL.
 
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