Ok
Mathman said:
I don't think it's "brutal" to notice that ABC posed these skaters awkwardly for their interview. No fault of the skaters. The pose made Rena's legs look foreshortened by the perspective of the camera angle, IMHO. No offense intended.
Mathman
OK--now that you've said it that way--- you intended no insult to the skater

I took it the wrong way. But guys--if we love skating and skaters who pour their lives, work, talents and money into developing their skills, I think we should try extra hard to not make comments based upon the way a person looks--the way a person is born. There's nothing anyone can do about those things and I hate to see comments that direct attention towards something like that as opposed to the things that one CAN do something about, like style, practice, costumes, music, attitudes, putting more time on the ice, or putting more years in--- and so on.
And, yes, I & B are the best we have, and have been for a few years now, whether anyone likes it or not....a fact that was lost on the other pairs skaters in our "stable", or they would have felt them coming up behind them over these past 3 years.....maybe would have been TCB a little more stringently had they realized. Even amongst the developing teams, I don't see anyone coming along that will match their basic singles/skating skills. There's just no one who's had the TIME on the ice that they've had, coupled with complete technical training in anything to do with skating--i.e., singles, figures, and pairs; national and international competition, even Olympics (Rena). Don and Hunt are the best possibility on the horizon. But, for the most part, many years down the line our pairs teams have not been developing their triple jumps and other singles skills independently of their pairs training---most times the lower level pairs still don't even do consistent s-b-s double axels coming into seniors. In fact, there has been a pervasive attitude here (as opposed to in Russia, or China, for instance?) that a skater might go into pairs if they CAN'T compete as a viable singles powerhouse (with triples and spot-on skating skills)....instead of pairs being its own discipline from the get-go....something to choose because that's where you will develop best as a skater....or pairs becoming a possibility after having developed as a complete singles skater--through singles Sr. competition at a national level. Perhaps coaches of present Novices and Juniors should be warned....because not only are s-by-s triples routinely required now, but a s-b-s triple toe is just not going to cut it, either. In all skating disciplines, the ante has been upped and is upping as we speak. Again, American pairs will be left to cool in the shade.
And, as far as age goes.....I & B are about the "right" age for elite pair international competition...perhaps on the far side of it, but definitely "in the zone"....in fact, with a few more years "left" in them

---the fact being that they are not "developing" their "potential" i.e, triple lutzes at all, since they've both had them now for many years as singles skaters. They need yet only to perfect their timing on these jumps as a pair to keep them in their national and international programs. As any skater knows---practicing something, even something you've been able to do for many years--and putting it on the ice in competition (esp international competition) are two different things entirely....ask Michelle Kwan or Kurt Browning, or_________(fill in the blank)....about that one.
Overall (with some few exceptions), pairs is not a discipline for teenagers or young guys who are still developing into men......call to your mind the young Chinese pair you might have seen at Skate America and you will be picturing the reasons why.....strength, experience "over your boots", conditioning, mature line, overall finishing of movements, basic skating skills, mature interpretation of the music, relating to each other as skaters, and so on....these things only coming with maturity in age and maturity of the skater's body. Again, there is no substitute for time, and this is the one skating discipline that requires it. It is not as gorgeous to watch and it is, above all, dangerous without some maturity and age components.