Underrated Rivalries

[BillNeal]

There have been many rivalries that have created much excitement in figure skating. V/M vs. P/C and S/M vs. S/H are two examples from this quad. But what about those rivalries that aren't as recognized that you believe should get more attention.

For me, I would say the rivalry between W/P and C/L deserves much more recognition. Out of 11 meetings in the last 7 seasons in GPF, Worlds, Olympics, these two have been separated by one placement 8 times. W/P won both GPF meetings and C/L won both Olympics meetings. W/P won 4/7 meetings at Worlds, edging C/L for the bronze this year by 0.27 points while C/L won the other 3 meetings including a razor thin victory for the World title in 2014 by 0.02 points! I can say that the battle between them made the ice dance events in both post-olympic worlds very exciting. Both teams have their individual strengths and weaknesses relative to each other. However, they have been pushing the sport in both their countries and Worlds, both being Top 6 teams for the past 7 seasons. Both teams get great reception from the audience and are sentimental favourites among fans (I enjoy them both).

What rivalries do you think are underrated?

 

[ladyjane]

What a lovely thread this is. I am mostly thinking about underrated rivalries in the pairs events. Who would even think of M/O rivalling J/C at the Olympics (and they did), even if the rivaly wasn't present at World's.So it's not that spectacular I suppose. Billneal's example is of course one of the best. I also like the rivalry between the three US ID teams this year, with my beloved Shibsibs getting Olympic bronze medals though H/D had won their National Championships....

 

[Skater Boy]

Gracie and Ashley had a nice little rivalry. Gabby and Kaetlyn are duking it out in Canada. Slutskaya and Butryskaya had a nice seesaw battle.

 

[nekun]

Yuzuru and Tatsuki Machida, if only Tatsuki stay abit longer we would witness some Japanese version of Plu vs Yag

 

[largeman]

Russian girls: http://cs622228.vk.me/v622228213/200f6/YMeikpL9nR4.jpg

Japanese ladies: http://c7.alamy.com/comp/D8PN4Y/l-r...pn-february-26-2010-figure-skating-D8PN4Y.jpg

 

[iluvtodd]

Todd & Elvis, back in the mid-late 1990's. I was always cheering for both of them to make the World/Olympic podiums. Their handshake @ the 2002 Winter Olympics men's free skate was very touching.

 

[Ice Dance]

For me, I would say the rivalry between W/P and C/L deserves much more recognition. Out of 11 meetings in the last 7 seasons in GPF, Worlds, Olympics, these two have been separated by one placement 8 times.

Throw in Chock & Bates with Weaver & Poje and Cappellini & Lanotte, and you have three teams that have split their international results about 50/50 for the past quadrennium.

And, obviously the rivalry between the three U.S. dance teams is a big deal. These same athletes have been fighting it out since at least 2009--albeit three of them in different teams. And in the world of dance, to see three different National champions from the same country over the course of an Olympic cycle. The only other time I think we've seen that happen with top international dance teams was 1977-1980 in the Soviet Union. And that was with both Linichuk & Karponosov and Moiseeva & Minenkov out of Nationals for a season. These three U.S. teams competed at every Nationals, on every GP, at the same three 4CCs, and at 3 of the same 4 Worlds over the past quadrennium. It's really remarkable.

 

[BillNeal]

These three U.S. teams competed at every nationals, on every GP, at the same three 4CCs, and at 3 of the same 4 Worlds over the past quadrennium. It's really remarkable.

And kudos to these three teams for remaining as the top 3 in the U.S. this past quad despite having very promising junior teams that moved up including 3 sets of World Junior Champions. The last two seasons have been especially exciting to see these three teams duke it out as they all improved and narrowed the score gaps between each other.

 

[rlopen]

Gubanova vs Konstantinova and RusFed

 

[chopinskate]

I read this as "underrotated rivalries".

 

[pohatta]

This season figure skating got some extra attention in Finnish media because of the rivalry between Lindfors and Peltonen. Lindfors earned the Olympic spot for Finland but it was given to Peltonen. They seem to have quite different personalities, one trains in the US and the other in Russia. Their relationship doesn't look at all like Lepistö and Korpi who are always friendly with each other.

 

[BillNeal]

I read this as "underrotated rivalries".

I would get tomatoes thrown at me if I started that thread.

 

[Barb]

The Parsons and M/C. Last year the Parsons were jr. World champions but this season (their first senior season) M/C did it better, and they train in the same place, potential drama.

 

[blue_idealist]

Marchei/Hotarek vs. Della Monica/Guarise, although that will be ending with M/H's expected retirement.

 

[Mohacz]

And what about Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding? I guess that rivarly is known everywhere, even among the people who don't follow figure skating and can't mention the name of any other figure skater. And it has become even more widespread after the recent success of I, Tonya.

 

[Barb]

And what about Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding? I guess that rivarly is known everywhere, even among the people who don't follow figure skating and can't mention the name of any other figure skater. And it has become even more widespread after the recent success of I, Tonya.

but that is not an underrated Rivalry, it is overrated.

 

[Mohacz]

but that is not an underrated Rivalry, it is overrated.

Oh, yes. Silly me I didn't pay attention to the whole title of the thread. I noticed "rivalry" and got excited [emoji15]

 

[cheerknithanson]

The Parsons and M/C. Last year the Parsons were jr. World champions but this season (their first senior season) M/C did it better, and they train in the same place, potential drama.

Nah, I read a Washington Post article and there's no drama. They seem to be friendly rivals.

 

[WeakAnkles]

Oksana Grishuk and Evgeni Platov versus Anjelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsyannikov. One year they're on American television doing a fluff piece about how they're BFFs. Then K/O improved, the BFF went out the window (so much for friends forever...) and so did the mutual coaching situation.

And then there's the whole do-si-do of Grishuk and Platov's changing partners with Usova and Zhulin.

That Oksana G was endlessly entertaining. Who needs soap operas with her around?

 

[perspicuosity]

Stolbova / Klimov vs. Volosozhar / Trankov. According to commentators, they avoid each other?

Ksenia vs. Max would be a great fight.