Pairs - Short Program

[Jasper]

No. For me, I can't stand watching a so-called 'pro skaters' do 1-2 3toe in a program. I don't feel excited at all. The only 'pro skater' attracts my attention at the moment is Arakawa. She's brilliant and still does lots of tough jumps, spirals, spins.

I like Sasha, but it's painful to watch her only posturing around and doing a 2A these days.

I completely agree. Pro skating is of no interest to me. I want to see the difficult technical content combined with the choreography, and Olympic-eligible skating is where that is. Granted that pairs skating is pretty weak right now, but I am seeing huge signs of improvement in the last couple of months. The start to the season in skating in pairs was awful, but the teams have come a long way and I'm very excited for the futures of P/T, S/S, Z/Z, K/S, and the new American champs C/O. As well as the other Russian team whose names I forget - they were GREAT in the SP and I love his flexibility.

But I agree that besides Arakawa who still goes for 3-3s and is really blossoming as a pro, pro skating isn't offering much for me to watch.

 

[iloveaxel]

I was actually very frustrated with the British commentary complaining non-stop about this because I DID think that I/B's program was incredibly well-constructed and probably the best SP they've ever done. Obviously the fall on the 3A was major, but they did deserve points for full rotation. I think D/D should have been slightly ahead of I/B after the short, but I don't think it was as big an issue with judging as the British commentators thought - they just kept going on and on about it as if the judges are all of a sudden very biased towards I/B when they've actually never given them much respect in the past. And in the end, D/D finished ahead of I/B after the LP, so it doesn't matter!

I also don't understand all the whining about D/D should have ranked ahead of I/B. D/D did not do a real clean program. Except that 3A, I/B were pretty clean.
There's not much different between 2A and 3s points wide, and D/D's 3s had a problem as well.

They have potential in their line, artistry and basic skating skills, but a long way to go in terms of their technique. They don't have power in their throws, the landings are always awkward, twist, death spiral are also weak. Their 2a+2a is great, but 3S is a hit and miss. They do have great sbs spins though.

 

[Mathman]

I completely agree. Pro skating is of no interest to me. I want to see the difficult technical content combined with the choreography, and Olympic-eligible skating is where that is.

To each his own. But in the past, amateur/Olympic skating was the audition, then the very best moved on to the show. Now it's all audition and no show.

 

[SeaniBu]

It seems the whole "pro" world changed some, where it once seemed a competition it now just seems like they went more "hoky" and "showy" and left the competition out too much. I like it, but can see where the world might not see it as a "competition" anymore and they lost interest. IMO, if there is not some form of "omnipresent factor implicating the serious nature of comp" (which it does not seem so anymore) people wont take it seriously. It is the balance issue again IMO. Too much focus on the artsy to the degree it seems like the pros are not comp, just show. Also, amateurs are usually better / "harder" than pros and that can be some what confusing to many.

Great job S / Z !!!!!

 

[scs]

I was too tired to comment last night, but wow, what a great evening of skating. The only on going weakness that I noticed was on the spins--many of the teams were either slow (at least on tv) or out of synch.
I was mesmerized by Shen/Zao. How much more mature looking they are! I think back to their early years on the world scene, and they have grown sooooo much. I guess time and practice can do that!
The German team was, for me, a thrill to watch! I look forward to seeing them over the next few years, undoubtably winning medals everywhere!
Happy for Marcoux/Buntin; they looked so at ease out there! Do think they should have been one placement higher. Same for Dube/Davison...but I'm not a judge and am just happy to see them skating.
Here's hoping for an equally top notch free skate!

 

[mzheng]

Skating to fast pace powerful music is a strategy to cover up roughness and lack of presentation in skating. In the early years, S/Z and Sluskaya all used that strategy in their career. It's a way to avaid the weakness and highlight the powerful aspect of skating. Nothing wrong with that.

Exactly!