Pechalat, Bourzat start fresh in Moscow

[SailorGalaxia518]

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081011&content_id=52910&vkey=ice_news

Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat are one of the fast-rising duos on the ice dancing planet. In just two seasons, they have climbed from 15th in the world (2006) to 12th (2007) to seventh in the current icenetwork.com World Figure Skater Rankings. One of their highlights from last season was qualifying for the Grand Prix Final for the first time in their careers. But, after the season, they were still looking to improve.

 

[lmarie086]

I really, really like this team. I tell you, it was hard at Worlds to decide which of the two (out of D/W and P/B) I wanted in 6th overall, even though D/W are my favorites. I hope they do well this season, their FD looks amazing!

 

[dorispulaski]

Whose FD? Have you seen D&W's?

P&B's OD is fun, but their FD is a dreaded Clown/Circus program. Not only that, a significant part of it is skated to the standard circus march from the 3rd Piano Book, Entry of the Gladiators:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z961FEgdlWM

(Played by a better musician than the one here )

The only team I ever saw who really succeeded with the Circus motif was T&D's Barnum.

Lord knows, a clown program was a total loser for Chait and Sakhnovsky:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omTvcyAL3ys

 

[Mathman]

...Entry of the Gladiators:..

 

[missysays]

These two skaters continue to grow on me season after season. I really like their OD this year- very charming. I agree with you, doris, about their circus FD- ack!! They moved themselves to Moscow for that?!

But I will say this- I really admire their creativity and their willingness to work with different choreographers and different styles year after year. Many skaters can move gracefully but are artistically bland and "safe." These two push themselves every year- sometimes there are misses- like their Egyptian mummy exhibition from last year. But sometimes it's just cool- like their FD from last year.

The senior grand prix season can't start soon enough for me.

 

[lmarie086]

Whose FD? Have you seen D&W's?

P&B's OD is fun, but their FD is a dreaded Clown/Circus program. Not only that, a significant part of it is skated to the standard circus march from the 3rd Piano Book, Entry of the Gladiators:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omTvcyAL3ys

I actually think P/B's FD has some potential. I did think it was a little over the top, but in a quirky sense I still think it fits them. And I like that they're not afraid to take chances. But then I'll wait to see how it is received in the Grand Prix, but I did think they made it work, and I've never seen the other "clowns" FD you mentioned.
One thing, as far as costumes go; those fringes she has on her skates, the pink ones? I want those gone.
I did like their OD a lot though; thought it was very charming.
And I have no idea what D/W's programs are and it is driving me up the wall! They must be like, the only ice dance team left who's music is completely unknown; nothing about the OD or the FD. It's incredible that they've kept it under wraps.

 

[dorispulaski]

The problem with a clown program is that the essence of clowning is the antithesis of lovely extended lines, deep edges, which are so admired by ice dance judges..

Clowning is in the bent knees, wacky uncoordinated moves, etc. So grading a clown program is difficult. If it succeeds in clowning, it skirts failing as a COP ice dance. If it fails at clowning, that's not good either, because it fails artistically.

It's not that it can't be done--just many have tried and very few have succeeded.
And trite music, like Entry of the Gladiators, is another negative point.

But I wish them well, and as I said, I like their OD!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I would have given them top score for their OD in Gotenborg. Unfortunately, they are in that under-appreciated class of competitors. Hopefull this season will be a big turnaround.

 

[lcd]

Wonderful to see their progress and willingness to take risks, even though I don't always find that all their decisions would be my own taste (costuming in particular). I particularly enjoyed their flamenco OD from last season; subtle postural accuracies which made the dance come alive

 

[jamie]

Whose FD? Have you seen D&W's?

P&B's OD is fun, but their FD is a dreaded Clown/Circus program. Not only that, a significant part of it is skated to the standard circus march from the 3rd Piano Book, Entry of the Gladiators:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z961FEgdlWM

(Played by a better musician than the one here )

The only team I ever saw who really succeeded with the Circus motif was T&D's Barnum.

Lord knows, a clown program was a total loser for Chait and Sakhnovsky:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omTvcyAL3ys

I love their new FD, it;s really distinctive and fun. I *kind of get what you're saying as it's not judge friendly and it's perhaps a step back from last year, but this team always does what they want to do. Ice dance is so competetive these days, it's actually kind of sad. Last years 4th placer down to the Kerrs would wipe the floor with minor medalists from recent years [Winkler and Lohse, Moniotte and Lavanchy, Romanova and Yaroshenko etc] . It just seems like the standards and creativity just keep going up and up! Good problem to have but unfortunately, probably means that couples as talented as the Kerrs and P&B may retire without the international medals they deserve!