Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

[ice coverage]

Another video -- which might or might not be new -- on the NBC Olympics site:

Shibutani siblings open up on ballroom bootcamp and more

Ice-dancing sibling duo Alex and Maia Shibutani open up about their viral YouTube videos, how they survived ballroom dancing bootcamp and their secret to staying relaxed.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/shibutani-siblings-open-ballroom-bootcamp-and-more (1:40 in length)​

Sorry if the video is not new. An off-topic gripe about the hugely annoying NBC site:

The videos are not dated, so it is impossible to tell whether any of them were posted hours, days, weeks, or months ago. ​

And my complaint above is only one of several WORST practices of the maddeningly user-unfriendly NBC site. #FAIL

 

[Barb]

Shibs are having some videos on nbc but this is not available in my country, if someone could upload to youtube I would be very grateful

 

[ice coverage]

‏@ShibSibs

We were in today's @USATODAY Sports Section! Thanks for the article, @KellyWhiteside! #SiblingsForSochi #ShibSibs pic.twitter.com/DFbI4aWolx
7:07 PM - 2 Dec 13
https://twitter.com/ShibSibs/status/407707728694362112​

The tweeted image shows the hard copy of the newspaper, which includes a big photo of the Shibutanis.

Link to the full text of the online version of the article:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...reux-sisters-sochi-olympics-siblings/3799331/​

Caveat: The Shibutanis are not the focus of the article. Just two brief mentions of them.

... And what are the chances a sister and brother would last 10 years together as an ice dance team without killing each other? ....

.... In figure skating, the sister-and-brother team of Maia and Alex Shibutani, known as the "ShibSibs," are also their team's videographers. They post on their ShibSibs YouTube channel. The video spoofs are usually storyboarded and filmed at the spur of the moment. "It's usually a big rush and then me editing, with Maia looking over my shoulder," Alex said. ....​

 

[ice coverage]

So the Shibutanis did not qualify for the GPF.
But I daresay that they are the envy of all the other ice dancers ... and that they are among the coolest people on the planet. Why? Because they are Google Glass Explorers, per their tweets from Dec 6.

Announcement from Maia:

https://twitter.com/MaiaShibutani/status/409103701534449664​

Photo from/of Alex:

https://twitter.com/AlexShibutani/status/409143155422806017​

 

[lcd]

Very cool indeed!

Naming the Shibs to the Glass Explorer program is a smart marketing move by Google. The ShibSibs have been standouts with their Youtube channel, and Youtube is owned by Google. Smart of Google to link up with athletes ahead of the Olympics whose "brand" is also current, fun and innovative.

Google's Olympic sports group also chose the Shibs as one of the first figure skaters to do a Google Hangout during the Olympic Media Summit as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAREGb_bQv8

 

[Barb]

they have not twetted too much lately, I hope it is because they are training like crazy for nationals

 

[Mrs. P]

Maia Shibutani tweeted this in response to Michelle Kwan's new Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/MaiaShibutani/status/410185563933659136/photo/1/large


MaiaShibutani
@Maia Shibutani
.@AlexShibutani and I have already been following @MichelleWKwan for a long time. #2003Worlds pic.twitter.com/chwtK4KcOl

What an adorable photo of Maia.

Michelle Kwan reponded back too (https://twitter.com/MichelleWKwan/status/410197984320577536):
So adorable! #Olympichopeful and now following you @MaiaShibutani @AlexShibutani

Maia and Alex must be thrilled to get a follow from one of their idols.

 

[lcd]

NBC Olympics.com has a photo feature entitled: DOWN MEMORY LANE, ATHLETES THEN AND NOW
Maia and Alex are the 2nd athletes profiled with Maia "wrestling Alex to the ground" and a sharp portrait from the present

http://www.nbcolympics.com/wlwt/photos/down-memory-lane-athletes-then-and-now

 

[ice coverage]

(1) Shibutanis on their skating start and going viral

By NBCOlympics.com,
Dec 18, 1:00pm EST
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/shibutanis-their-skating-start-and-going-viral (text Q & A)​

(2) Destination Sochi Family Tree - Maia & Alex Shibutani on the importance of family

U.S. Figure Skating U.S. Figure Skating
Published on Dec 18, 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFmHmpXrnOY (1:25 in length)​

 

[ice coverage]

How to lift a lady

Long before "Dirty Dancing," figure skaters were lifting their partners high above the ice. How to do it with style and confidence is a practiced art.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/how-lift-lady (1:48 in length)​

The video features the Shibutanis, Davis/White, and Denney/Coughlin.

Shibs are having some videos on nbc but this is not available in my country, if someone could upload to youtube I would be very grateful

The YouTube version of the same video (in case the YT one is not geoblocked, although I am not optimistic):

How to Lift a Lady

NBC Olympics
Published on Dec 18, 2013
Long before "Dirty Dancing," figure skaters were lifting their partners high above the ice. How to do it with style and confidence is a practiced art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G_nRNelhiY (1:48)​

 

[lcd]

At the "invitation" of Kristi Yamaguchi, the ShibSibs made their entry into the #Christmasdancewars battle which was started on Instagram by Derek Hough & Family vs Mark Ballas & Family. All are connected variously by their collaborations on the dance floor and on the ice.

#ChristmasDanceWars - ShibSibs Style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ktMe7ukFXU

 

[Barb]

The YouTube version of the same video (in case the YT one is not geoblocked, although I am not optimistic):

Geoblocked , but thank you

 

[lcd]

Maia and Alex had their US Nationals Teleconference. The replay is available in the video section on IN.

http://web.icenetwork.com/video/topic/59555720/v31288339

Journalists who asked questions included those from the Boston Globe and NBC Sports. Maia and Alex once again showed why they are such articulate spokespeople for their sport, keeping everyone interested for the full allotment of time permitted, with detailed and entertaining answers.

The biggest news was that they have changed music within their Free dance - swapping out the instrumental arrangement of "Ben" and replacing it with "Man in the Mirror" They sound really enthusiastic about the change, working together with their Michael Jackson choreographers.

 

[Barb]

Maia and Alex had their US Nationals Teleconference. The replay is available in the video section on IN.

http://web.icenetwork.com/video/topic/59555720/v31288339

i can't see it neither :scowl:
But good luck at nationals, I am sure they will be great :yay:

 

[dorispulaski]

Icenetwork is almost all Adobe Flash player, which means that even if not geoblocked, videos are not displayable on newer model Android based phones and tablets, unless you do some side-loading magic.

 

[Barb]

Icenetwork is almost all Adobe Flash player, which means that even if not geoblocked, videos are not displayable on newer model Android based phones and tablets, unless you do some side-loading magic.

It is true, thank you Doris , I was trying watch it in my ipad (not android but not working anyway :scratch but in my computer I can listen it .

 

[dorispulaski]

I had heard Apple products, like IPhone and IPad were supported??

Well, with luck, they will return to some player that works on a wider range of platforms next season.

 

[ice coverage]

Siblings go for ice dancing crown at TD Garden
Shibutanis will feel home advantage

By John Powers | Globe Staff
January 06, 2014
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2...82ZKn3LkNO33vnsiN/story.html?s_campaign=sm_tw​

 

[Mrs. P]

Siblings go for ice dancing crown at TD Garden
Shibutanis will feel home advantage

By John Powers | Globe Staff
January 06, 2014
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2...82ZKn3LkNO33vnsiN/story.html?s_campaign=sm_tw​

Nice piece. And explains why he asked Alex where he was born.

Also I'm glad he brought up another point:

The sibs could have skated for Japan, where their mother, Naomi, was born and where they could have waltzed onto the Olympic team.

“It really wasn’t a question for us,” Alex says. “There was no doubt. We’re Americans. We’re going to compete here and we feel like we’re good enough to compete with the best in the world regardless of who we skate for.”

I feel like Powers was determined to put as many dance puns in there as possible.

 

[ice coverage]

Nice piece. And explains why he asked Alex where he was born.

Also I'm glad he brought up another point:

The sibs could have skated for Japan, where their mother, Naomi, was born and where they could have waltzed onto the Olympic team.

“It really wasn’t a question for us,” Alex says. “There was no doubt. We’re Americans. We’re going to compete here and we feel like we’re good enough to compete with the best in the world regardless of who we skate for.”

Mini-update: @AlexShibutani tweeted a photo showing that the article about them was on the front page of the hard-copy sports section of the Boston Globe.

https://twitter.com/AlexShibutani/status/420733872964648960 (Jan 7)​

Mrs. P, I in turn am very glad that you highlighted here the quote from Alex firmly stating that they are Americans who compete for the U.S. -- end of story.

I hope that it will put to rest the recurring comments in other threads speculating whether representing Japan is in the Shibutanis' future. Or worse yet, opining that they "should" compete for Japan (as if any of us could know what is best for them and their lives).