Senior Pairs' Free

[museksk8r]

Yes, and?

That shouldn't matter. Megan and Craig had the better skate, they should be in first.

No way should Jess and Bryce be placed over them. I do agree w/them on the Podium and going to Worlds, but not as Two Time Cdn Champions. Which is what it looks is about to happen.

Hey, I'm not saying it's right. I'm just shedding some light onto how Nationals politics work. I'm sure we'll also see it come into play next week at US Nationals. It's not so much the performances that are delivered at Nationals as to who gets what podium spots; it's more the federation's way of selecting a team that can potentially win world medals based on past competitive history. That's the way figure skating has always been! Of course, there are exceptions like last year with Ryan Bradley and Johnny Weir, but Johnny only did 4 triples to Ryan's 7 triples and had Weir been placed over him, the public outcry would have been obvious.

 

[fumie_fumie]

final results

1 Anabelle Langlois / Cody Hay QC 62.73 112.28 175.01
2 Jessica Dubé / Bryce Davison QC 54.32 120.54 174.86
3 Meagan Duhamel / Craig Buntin QC 61.48 108.80 170.28
4 Kyra Moscovitch / Dylan Moscovitch WO 57.01 103.75 160.76
5 Rachel Kirkland / Eric Radford CO 50.46 106.60 157.06
6 Jessica Miller / Ian Moram BC/YT 55.61 98.31 153.92
7 Mylène Brodeur / John Mattatall NS 52.67 96.82 149.49
8 Becky Cosford / Brian Shales WO 46.04 93.69 139.73
9 Taylor Steele / Christopher Richardson WO 52.78 84.29 137.07
10 Amanda Velenosi / Mark Fernandez QC 48.37 82.94 131.31
11 Brooke Paulin / Robert Paxton CO 48.42 82.80 131.22
12 Stephanie Valois / Jonathan Boudreau-Beland QC 46.77 81.76 128.53

 

[pista04]

...and to be honest, I'd rather have them do this then entirely throw out the national championships order and choose on their own, like some other sports/federations.

 

[Tigger]

Funny. Thought this new system was supposed to fix that.

As I said to a friend of mine not that long ago, this new system changes nothing in the way the politics of this sport works. That's sad too. As much as I love Jess and Bryce, they do need a wake up call to improve. They've stagnated just a bit this year. Not going to Worlds *this* year, a full two years before Vancouver would have done that, but then again, Kyra and Dylan aren't age eligible either, so they'd be going regardless, but it makes me angry when I see the same old, same old games going on.

 

[rain]

I think it's more Skate Canada's way of placing a National team that will place well at the World Championships. Duhamel/Buntin have been together for such a short period of time and do not yet have the backing of international judges or the international success/track record of Dube/Davison.

I actually disagree, though of course there is some wanting to back D/D as Canada's best-ranked international team going into worlds. However D/B, as you said, have been together a very short time, and in some things — their pairness, if you will, and the polish of elements and programs — it does still show quite noticeably, which is where D/D outscore them. Given some time and at the rate D/B are gelling as a team, I expect the gap to close, but right now, I don't think the judges got it wrong.

On another note, congrats to L/H winning their first Canadian title. Hopefully, this will give them some cred with the international judges, who I thought have lowballed them all season. It's interesting, watching them back to back on the CBC coverage last night with D/D, I did notice L/H need more speed to really compete with the top teams in the world. Sometimes I notice D/D lack speed compared to say, the top three internationally (though I did note decided improvement at Canadians), so for L/H to appear slower still could be an issue with gaining points on the world stage.

 

[Winnipeg]

Just finished watching the pairs. I thought the results were very fair. D/D won the LP but finished 2nd due to their terrible SP. They are a beautiful team and have the extra somthing that gains them presentation and pairness points.

The best point though is that we have an excellent, strong team ging to worlds. We also have t strong back up teams to round out the national team. I think we will keep 3 spots for 09!

Is Kyra old enough yet to skate in ISU events? (senior)

 

[museksk8r]

Funny. Thought this new system was supposed to fix that.

HA! This new system hasn't fixed or changed a thing. We still have suspended judges coming back to judge international events when they should be banned from the sport for good for their offenses and the same people in charge of the ISU who are responsible for the corruption of the sport are still in administration. The new system I feel has made it easier for federations to camouflage judging scandals by making the PCS marks more ambiguous. The judges still prop their favorites the same way they always did with 6.0.

 

[Tigger]

I was being sarcastic up there. I know that and personally, I think the new system is sucking the soul out of the sport.

That's a topic for an entirely different thread though.

 

[museksk8r]

I was being sarcastic up there. I know that and personally, I think the new system is sucking the soul out of the sport.

That's a topic for an entirely different thread though.

:hug: If you're like me, you stick around for the sheer love of the sport and its athletes while scratching your head in frustration over why skater x placed over skater y. I'm sure most viewers have a love/hate relationship with competitive figure skating. Love the skaters/skating, but hate the judging system and politics of the whole thing.

 

[KwanFan1212]

Congrats to Anabelle & Cody on their first Canadians gold medal!! I am SOOOO happy for them and hopefully this gives them even more confidence heading into Worlds. I'm SO happy Anabelle finally has a gold medal at Canadians!!!

I'm very glad Jess & Bryce came back strong after their disappointing SP yesterday. I really wanted to see them on the podium too and I think Canada has a very strong team heading to Worlds!

 

[rain]

I think the next step for the Moscovitches is to upgrade their side-by-side jump content and get a really top-flight choreographer who will give them a program that will really make them stand out from the crowd, and use their beautiful matching heights and line to advantage. Their program here struck me as still somewhat generic and I think they deserve better. It's really too bad about the age difference that keeps them out of both senior and junior international competition.

 

[astimegoesby]

I know one thing--I sure wouldn't have wanted to be a judge at this competition!

I agree maybe D&D and D&B deserved to switch positions, especially considering D&D were so far behind after the SP. I'll have to rewatch both programs again to compare which elements they landed, but it seemed to me D&B did have the more exciting, aggresive LP while D&D, as well as they skated, seemed to be more tentative. And I think that's the one thing D&D most need to improve on if they want to contend for a World title. I hope the fact they were able to fight back here after their SP will be a step in the right direction.

I was also really impressed with the Moscovitches and I just wonder whether the final results would have been different if Kyra was age-eligible for Worlds.

But I have no problem whatsoever with the three teams who will be at Worlds and I wish all of them the best of luck!

Loved Bella's reaction when she realized they'd won it.

So did I, but I also noticed how long it took her to figure out they'd won. I hope this thread doesn't turn into another 6.0 vs. CoP debate, but one of the things I miss about 6.0 was how quickly the skaters reacted in the kiss-and-cry after their results. Now even skaters have trouble figuring out where they stand, let alone those of us watching at home.

But congratulations to Anabelle for winning her first national title, and to the rest of the pairs for making this such an exciting competition!

And on a lighter note, is it just me or did the Moscovitches look like they were wearing Putnam and Wirtz's old costumes during their LP?

 

[Elizabeth22]

Yes it did look like a Putnam and Wirtz outfit that the Moskivitches were wearing.

 

[mycelticblessing]

I agree maybe D&D and D&B deserved to switch positions, especially considering D&D were so far behind after the SP. I'll have to rewatch both programs again to compare which elements they landed, but it seemed to me D&B did have the more exciting, aggresive LP while D&D, as well as they skated, seemed to be more tentative.

I think that D/D may have had an edge since they came into the competition as defending champions.hwell: D/B have made amazing progress considering they have only been together for months.:thumbsup:

But congratulations to Anabelle for winning her first national title, and to the rest of the pairs for making this such an exciting competition!

Yes, congrats to Anabelle and Cody. arty: I'm so happy that they are Canadian champs now after a rough Grand Prix season. All the best to them for Worlds!

 

[kasiaavery]

And on a lighter note, is it just me or did the Moscovitches look like they were wearing Putnam and Wirtz's old costumes during their LP?

It seems the case!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Putnam_wirtz.jpg

 

[laceup]

Having been both at Challenge and Nationals here is my take on things (remembering IMO).

Annabelle and Cody - Congrats - they skated two very nice skates and should be very proud of that. It is by far the best they have skated and it was nice to see.

Jess and Bryce - Congrats on their come back!!!!! - They had an unusually rough short but were able to hands down win the freeskate and rightly so. There is no one else in Canada anywhere close to having their chemistry, polish or grace on the ice!!!!! They are a magical team and in no way was this a gift as some people implied - if they were in the building, they would know that !!!!!

Megan and Craig - I did see improvement in their on ice performance since the challenge but no where near enough. They are powerfully but they skate as two singles and not a pair. I don't think the elements will ever be a problem for them but they made no effort to draw the audience in. The crowd was basicly bored by their skate and I don't think it will change. I do not think she is the right girl for him. I think she'll do the tricks but never master the chemistry, softness or polish to be a top pair girl.

Moscovich's - skated about the two nicest programs they could have. However, they were not robbed because of her age as some people suggest. They did have a nice 3 twist and side/side jumps and spins. However, they really lack speed compared to the other teams. It isn't too noticable on youtube but you can certainly notice it LIVE. Also even though they have some nice positions in the lifts, they are slow, his feet can be very scratchy and he almost lost the first lift (LP) before it came down early (also not as noticable on youtube). So all in all, they placed where they belonged IMO. If she ever stops growning they may be a stronge force once she is age eligable .... time will tell. Wirtz needs to address all his skaters outfits ... borrowing ugly old outfits that don't match music and putting skaters out in ill fitting outfits, such as their junior man, is pretty bad when you are at a national level... I'm sure they can do better than that!!!

 

[hockeyfan228]

Duhamel/Buntin are still rough around the edges, and while it's understandable that they've spent the year getting acquainted and their timing down, they did not have much response to their music or matching line. Those things may come later, but there is simply no way that they were superior overall to Dube/Davison. Dube/Davison have the quietest blades and the softest stroking and knees than any other current top 10 pair in the world. (Although I haven't seen Murkhortova/Trankov live since they've really put in time with Vasiliev.) The closest to them were the Moscovitch's (although I missed both of Kirkland/Radford's programs, drat!) Dube alone was top 3 in edging and smoothness in the Women's Senior competition.

I'm disappointed in the last minute of so of "Blower's Daughter," which I think fades. (I'll be happy to see them with a new LP.) But they were in another league in terms of skating quality compared to Duhamel/Buntin. Just as the basic skating quality of Rochette, Pfaneuf, and Dube was in another league than Leslie Hawker, although D/B have better power and speed than Hawker.

If anything, I think that it was Langlois/Hay who were short-changed, in my opinion. I thought their victory should have been a bit more definitive, with a higher LP score. They have huge throws and fantastic lifts. They've gelled as a team, but they've had a few years together under their belt.

There are a lot, lot of crossed fingers that Kyra Moskovitch doesn't grow anymore. They are a gorgeous team.

 

[Winnipeg]

I think Dube and Davison are really fantastic and have the qualities to make the World podium. They can't skate a short like that at Worlds though...........they'd be lower than fifth and would not be able to come back far enough to podium.

 

[backoutsideedge]

As I said to a friend of mine not that long ago, this new system changes nothing in the way the politics of this sport works. That's sad too. As much as I love Jess and Bryce, they do need a wake up call to improve. They've stagnated just a bit this year. Not going to Worlds *this* year, a full two years before Vancouver would have done that, but then again, Kyra and Dylan aren't age eligible either, so they'd be going regardless, but it makes me angry when I see the same old, same old games going on.

D&D have stagnated? How do you think a team who BEAT Pang & Tong at SA, medaled in their other GP events, made the GPF and are the 4th ranked team in the world at the moment have stagnated? I'm sorry, but your post is ludicrous.

Kyra and Dylan have no where near the difficult of transitions, choreography or speed that D&D have and they also have shaky lifts because they are too close in height.

D&D are our best shot for the world podium this year (could happen if they skate the lights out and P&T have a lot of mistakes).

I read a post such yours, Tigger, and it makes me think you don't know much about skating or the new judging system regarding the program components mark.

There is no way Skate Canada would not have sent D&D to worlds this year especially after their GPF showing.

 

[Winnipeg]

Re the comment about Duhamel and Buntin never being a 'pair' team from an artistic perspective and the comment she is not right for him.

I agree that they do not have the 'magic' yet but maybe they will (Shen and Zhou did).

Does anyone think they will stay together and is there enough time for one or both to find another partner? What about Elizabeth Putnam?