I loved the Kerrs as I have all season long. The theme and the way they are doing it is wonderfull. I'd have them 5th or 6th.
Same applies to Nathalie and Fabian. Working with the 2002 spanish choreographer of A&P's Flamenco was a brilliant idea. I wouldn't have put one euro on them before the season started, but this program is a jewel. I'd have them 5th or 6th.
These are the two programs that stood out yesterday.
The italians were nice, as usual crowd pleasing. But I didn't think their technique was on par with the americans 1 & 2, the french or the british below them.
Skating in the last group helped them big deal. 8th for me.
Belbin & Agosto skated a bit tentatively, which is sad because they took risks with this program and it worked for me all season long. But they didn't look well in the first minute then it was fantastic. Should have been at least second of the OD if not first IMO.
Del / Schoen skated way better than all season long, although Isabelle was stiff in parts. This program never worked for me because I don't like the pieces they choose. There are so much more interesting pieces they could have picked ! First or second would have been ok by my book.
Davis and White skated great. BUT. This program is the same thing as last year in terms of intention. They didn't take any risks in picking that kind of russian folk. They could have taken a lot more risks since I bet there are many interesting folk music in the USA. I'd have them 7th.
Khoklova and Novistky were good, smooth and all that, but what I said about taking risks applies more to them. Come on. They could have found any other piece of russian folk music ! 3rd in my book. Had Virtue and Moir not made a mistake, I'd have the canadians above.
Virtue and Moir, although they didn't take any risks in this theme (Igor I am gonna kill you one day for the crime of wasting talents), were fantastic until Tessa became nervous.And she made that crazy mistake. Sad ! Because up to that, I was changing and warming up to their fantastic technique and the interpretation they did, so young ... I will say it once more : get a choreograher ! they are young, they can take more risks ! 4th is right on the day, clean 3d at least. If not second.
In terms of technique, I admire the deep edges and knee bend all Igor's team have. With those qualities, he could do so much more for ice dance ! He could make all his teams influence the ice dance world but it's not happening.
I have high hopes for Virtue & Moir that are tall and probably more suited to classical or moderne pieces. They are trying hard with work on lifts and that's nice. A tad more of compulsory here, a good choeographer there, and I don't know if anyone can beat them. I'd love them to work with Shanti Rushpaul because it could be very interesting.
Davis and White, Khoklova and Novitsky are my personnal favorites. These two couples have something you can't learn : they shine. Because of one of their partnership. White on one hand and Khoklova on the other one. These two are the best on the circuit, their partners are not yet u to their level. These two couples are exiting because you can't predict whether they'll be on or not. Don't ever ever let them ask Morozov to do work for them please ! They should ask Marie and Patch to choreograph for them.
The russians have the advantage of knowing how to "WOW" the audiences, but their program only works the first time IMO. The americans are more subtle, but in the end, they draw you into whatever they're doing.
I'd put my money on these teams for Vancouver, alongside Virtue and Moir.
IMO, Dom Shab are skaters of the past. Once DenStav left Gorshov, they lost a model that pushed the boundaries, and they stopped going forward and started going backward. Not in terms of technique let's be clear. The russian fed wants to make them into theatrical skaters that they'll never be. The best coach would be Linitchuk since they have a K&O quality here and there. I'll pray.
Khok/Novitsky would be just a Tarassova team for a comparison
