Saturday, February 15, 2014

Why was the lift changed?

Lynn Rutherford (and others) appear to be confirming that Scott and Tessa have changed the first lift so that Scott remains in a spread eagle. Rutherford understands this will help them get Level 4 on steps WHICH MAKES NO SENSE.

What make sense to me is this is the third or fourth time the judges or the isu have given last minute feedback to Virtue and Moir to ditch or amend the most spectacular, accessible element in their program. The public and the press might not be able to tell sloppy feet from clean feet, two feet from one foot, closed hold from open hold, lifts with many points of contact from lifts with no redundancy at all, but the public can tell a spectacular move from a pedestrian-looking move, no matter if the spectacular looking move takes extraordinary skating skills (Scott and Tessa's original straight line) or has nothing to do with skating skills whatsoever (DW' sling the backpack lift).

Now DW have what APPEARS to the casual viewers to be a "spectacular" move where Charlie slings her up onto his back in a counter-motion, while Scott has Tessa in what looks to be a simple pose while she's in arabesque. That should make the silver medal go down easier to both media and public.

95 comments:

  1. Virtue and Moir might as well kiss even the silver medal goodbye at this point.

    PS: Looks like cousin Janet is the official photographer for Sochi!

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    1. Silver is gone too now. I think both Russian teams will be placed above them. VM will be 4th place at the highest.

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    2. 8:15 again.

      I also think the lift and steps will both get called level 3 and the lift will get low GOE and the PCS will take a hit.

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    3. I have to agree with OC that the tech panel, judges again are playing mindgames with VM...but at the same time - Marina in her quote to Rutherford didn`t need to make any reference to the step sequence...so Rutherford has made references to VMs twizzles and then now indirectly from Zoueva the first lift and the step sequence...whatever...again is anyone talking about DWs beautiful skating - no...it`s about trash talking VM...and again no one is talking about the SD...which in every event so far has been the game-changer...
      Anon at 8:15 am - BS and their FD is a huge question mark - so I can`t see VM off the podium...we thought VMs FD has been tweaked - well Zhulin has been all over the map with BS and their FD this season...we don`t even know what it will be - for all I know - they might skate last year`s FD...

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    4. I also have to think that Russia might want the ladies OGM more than a silver in ice dance...

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  2. New article: http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2014Sochi/Athletes/2014/02/15/21473091.html

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    1. "It's the judges' job to decide the quality of skating and what they're looking for this season."

      ROFL. Actually, it's Marina's job to figure out what the judges are looking for this season and then make sure her teams have it. It's obvious she knows how to do that as that's exactly what she did for D/W.

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    2. You've got it wrong, @1:53. The programs she's creating for D/W are the same types of programs she's always created for them. Marina is correct that it's the judges who decide the quality of skating and what they're looking for. They have decided D/W's programs present superior skating by holding them to no standards, while everyone else is held to the old standards.

      Marina could give V/M the same programs as D/W and V/M would not get the same scores for them. She is just as hamstrung as V/M are right now. If they went to any other coach, that person would be hamstrung as well. It's because there is an agenda in place to put D/W on top of the podium. It would be there whether Marina is or isn't their coach. Fans are pissed as hell because she's going to benefit from being D/W's coach if they win. But even if she wasn't their coach, they would still win.

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    3. I've never in my life seen a group of fans be so stupidly obtuse about a coach as V/M fans are when it comes to Marina Zueva and calling for her head. They keep blaming the coach when the problem is the SYSTEM everyone exists within. She can't win. In their eyes, she is the perpetual villain. If she gives them difficult lifts, she's supposedly sabotaging them. If she changes their lifts, she's also sabotaging them. If she stays silent about D/W, she's in the wrong. If she says something positive about them, she's also in the wrong. And on and on.

      The D/W inflation/march to the top is proof positive that the ISU can do whatever it wants. It can claim that up is down, right is left, black is white, etc. If after the Shpilband/Zueva split, D/W had gone with him instead of her, they would still be winning and V/M being held down. If V/M had gone with him and D/W had stayed with her - same thing. D/W would still be winning and V/M held down. If V/M went to another coach, they would still be held down and D/W given inflated scores. If they BOTH left Zueva and went to different coaches - SAME THING.

      The SYSTEM is the problem. NONE of the coaches of the top competitors are calling it out publicly because they can't. Even if they wanted to, they are hamstrung by political constraints. The ones who do make statements in which they question a specific result are usually doing so as a political move of their own and the potential for it to backfire is high.

      V/M lie about damn near everything. But they ARE NOT lying when they say they will not sell out their skating because their programs and career arc have backed that up. Zueva is part of that reality. She's working with them to show what they want to show in their skating. They create programs, get feedback, and try their best to work within the constraints they're given to win. When they don't, it's because the SYSTEM has held them back, not their own coach who purposefully wants to screw them over.

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    4. 1:53 - I agree with those calling you out on your Marina myopia. DW are getting inflated scores not because Marina is giving them the programs the judges want, but BECAUSE THEY ARE DW.

      THE END.

      It doesn't matter what DW skate or what VM skate. I am not buying the steps argument for the change of lift, btw, because the ISU has done this REPEATEDLY with VM - target the most spectacular, audience-pleasing element in their program at the last fucking minute, holding loss of points over their head. It doesn't matter if they've done the element all season. It doesn't matter if the move was part of their Olympic winning od. The straight line lift was the most throw down of anything in Seasons so of course the ISU has to use it as a threat - oops, kids, it's impacting the timing of the steps, timing we don't care about with DW and any other ice dancers, only you. You don't want to end up off the podium, do you?

      The ONLY thing the judges want out of a DW program is that it's constructed to make it impossible for either one to trip and fall on their face and expose the inflated scores to the lay viewer and the ignorant media. Towards that end, Meryl can climb Charlie like a tree, they can skate miles apart and end up on their flats or wobbling on their edges and as long as they don't wipe the rink with their ass they get L4 and +3. It doesn't matter what VM skate, they will lose.

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  3. I'm still gutted over Patrick's skate, I don't know how I'm going to get through the next two days.

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    1. Go stock up on wine.

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    2. Or whatever chocolate is left over from Valentine's Day, lol..but seriously..I will enjoy their last two skates here at the Olympics...going off to birthday party for my 3 year old niece..which will undoubtedly put me in a better mood and put this crap into perspective...remember its the overscoring of DW we should be pissed about...and the crap media that reports on this "sport"...

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  4. Someone asked Rutherford on twitter about how fixing the lift fixes the steps. She said something about the timing. Yeah, right, whatever. The steps and lift aren't the same element and aren't directly connected. Bullshit.

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  5. Has anyone seen any practice footage and can confirm these changes?

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    1. Yes, I've watched the streamed practices over the last week and I can confirm that the lift has been changed to the new version. V/M have been practicing it that way since Tuesday, when they ran through the original version a few times before conferring with Johnny Johns and Marina at the boards. Then they changed to the new alteration of the lift.

      The way it might be connected to the timing of the steps is if V/M's struggles to execute it in time with the music were rushing them into their circular step sequence, which is the next element in the program. It's a timing issue they may have been fighting to perfect over the course of the season that they've finally realized is more trouble than its worth, or the slight issue with the beginning of the lift during the team competition (drop in GOE) might have resulted in judges' feedback to change it for the individual event. When I first saw the change, I wondered if the judges told them at the ninth hour that part or all of the lift in its original form was illegal, because it's not like that hasn't happened before.

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    2. By the way, V/M looked great in those practices. Very confident, happy, and skating at the top of their game. I didn't see one bobble from them. Everything was precise and FAST. Nobody looked down or upset about the lift alteration from what I could tell.

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    3. Thanks Anon 12:10; what could possibly be illegal about that lift? This is ISU fuckery at it's finest.

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    4. What was illegal about the lift in their 2009-2010 OD in March that wasn't illegal in October of that season? The ISU can claim something is illegal whenever they want, it seems. But I actually don't think an illegality issue is what happened with the lift in this season's FD. It sounds like V/M were either given feedback from the judges to change it, or they and their coaches decided on this alternate version because they didn't want to chance execution problems in the individual event.

      Oh, or we could go with the moronic FSU assessment: Zueva is deliberately sabotaging V/M because she's cruel, heartless, and selfish and never mind her ten year history with this team she loves like her own children and has coached through the CECS nightmare, Tessa's pregnancy, and that they chose to stay with her after the coaching split. It's so much easier to claim she's planned to destroy them all season long. Yay! Now we can commiserate about how much different things had been if V/M had another coach or were skating for Russia. Wheeeeee!

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    5. anon 12:10 do you have any more details about their practices? is the ending still the same? because the ending at nats was so much better

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    6. also can you describe the lift in more detail? is scott holding her with two hands or only one - like the straightline from last year? im afraid the judges wont think its difficult enough

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    7. At the Tuesday practice, they ended the FD with their foreheads touching. At today's practice (at the practice rink, not in the main rink) they did their usual ending where they sort of saluted both sides of the rink. The forehead touching may have been them just being themselves out there rather than it being an actual ending they were trying out.

      Not to worry, though. They'll make sure to off-set any forehead touching or other make out sessions they have on the ice. The fake girlfriend is in Sochi so they can pimp her out to the public like a ten dollar whore. Priorities!

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    8. He remained in a crouched, spread eagle position. I can't recall if he kept one hand or two hands on her leg/thigh.

      I think it's safe to say there's no way they would create or alter a lift that doesn't meet the criteria for highest level of difficulty.

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    9. "I think it's safe to say there's no way they would create or alter a lift that doesn't meet the criteria for highest level of difficulty. "

      But that doesn't mean they'll actually be credited with it, since 98% of those watching won't know the difference, 1% will argue the call was right just because they're apologists for the system, and only 1% will actually defend them.

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    10. Whether the judges credit it or not doesn't change the fact that V/M and their coaches would not create a lift that doesn't meet the highest levels of difficulty.

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    11. 2:10 -was his arm not visible because of the camera angle? to me the changes to the lift remind me of the lift D/W did last year but tessa's position is reversed. if d.w can get a level four on that why cant v/m?

      this is a disaster :/

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    12. Because DW are special and get levels for things other people don't.

      The true disaster is they took out the flashiest element in their FD.

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    13. They were always at the far end of the rink. I could see the layout of the lift but not exactly where both his hands were throughout. Tessa's position in the air remained the same. The only difference I could see was that Scott didn't shift position forward onto one foot. It's not an entirely new lift, it's merely an alteration of the old one.

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    14. No, the true disaster is that D/W have been defeating V/M all season long with a subpar program and inferior skating.

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  6. The ISU FB coverpage features a picture of D/W. Seriously.

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    1. I don't have FB but those that do should post on their wall that it's nice to see the ISU already has a picture of the pre-ordained OGM and link the L'Equipe article. Make it as unpleasant for them as possible, if nothing else.

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    2. JFC, they couldn't even wait until Monday.

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    3. ^done (but i posted it on the cover photo instead)

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  7. Who is this Elif poster that is always dissing V/M on Goldenshit?

    http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?49007-2014-Olympics-Free-Dance&p=854793&viewfull=1#post854793

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    1. This elif person is a joke. She is the one who says she loves D/W's FD this year, because all the hops and jumps are all part of the choreography whereas in the past all the hops and jumps were just used to gain speed.

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    2. Fucking Doris P enters the thread: "Ice Dance is primarily geared to stepping and hitting elements on the beat, not the melody. That said, we won't know where the lift is placed until we see the program, especially given changes made to the lift. "

      I guess this goes back to the "being tight with the music" nonsense.

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    3. Someone reply to her with the words from whichever handbook it's in that speaks about using all parts of the music, not just the beat.

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    4. Just remember you are dealing with a woman who thinks sitting on a stool is the same thing as performing the rotational lift from Carmen.

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    5. She is so passive aggressive.

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    6. Skating to the beat and not the melody is the first and most important rule of ice dance. How do you not know that?

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  8. holy hell the comments on ISU's cover photo. people can call v/m fans crazy and whatever but at least we get shit done.

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    1. Get shit done? What is that accomplishing? Congratulations on convincing yourself that your trolling is doing V/M any good.

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    2. how is reminding people about the collusion trolling? they need to know the truth before they watch the competition.

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  9. This is bullshit. Their lifts have been so boring except for the first one. The lifts at finlandia were perfect. This is nonsense. I won't even watch now.

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  10. Where is the V/M interview where the baby was crying in the background?

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    1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf-qx74vxaE

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    2. Great baby!!! well done! toddler moir is in sochi now?

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  11. OT, but interesting that the IOC is denying knowledge of Yuna Kim's earring ban (because they are not an official IOC sponsor)

    Funny they are denying that, and at at the same time, not investigating the collusion accusations. No doubt because Yuna is favoured to win again, and wouldn't want anything getting in the way.

    http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ioc-denies-knowing-of-earring-ban-for-figure-skater-yuna-kim-140459709.html

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  12. The ISU judges didn't ask them to change the lift. If anything, they're surprised and worried about it.

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    1. really ? where did you hear this? why are they even changing the lift anyway? goddammit.

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    2. My question is the same as 6:22. Where did you hear this? If it's not a requested change, why is it being changed now instead of 3 months ago?

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    3. I've seen the "new" lift performed at least five times in a practice setting/run-through. It looks good and well executed.

      Substitute "fans" for "ISU judges" and your comment becomes accurate.

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    4. Why are they changing the lift? Either they were told to do so via feedback, or they realize their inability to bring in a high enough GOE on it means it needed to be altered. Either way, it's the result of the judging panels handing out the scores all season long.

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    5. There is literally nothing different about the lift except Scott stays crouched in the spread eagle position instead of shifting his body forward and onto one foot. Tessa's position in the air remains the same.

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    6. And that shifting forward to one foot by Scott was what made that lift so flashy.

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    7. It's a bit more similar to a goose-type lift now where Tessa does all the work in the air and Scott provides the stable base for her. It doesn't look like the goose lift, just that it's that type of base/position set-up.

      From what I could see, it looked impressive with or without Scott shifting forward, though I agree that was a spectacular aspect of the old version.

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    8. Have you've seen them practice their SD? and the twizzles? im also worried that this change in lifts have given them less time to practice their SD.

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    9. Yes. I guess not a lot of people are watching these practices since they're aired on NBC's website at 4:30 am, haha.

      They've run through their SD and everything has been SHARP, SHARP, SHARP. At one point during yesterday's practice they were rotating so fast in the twizzles something flew off Tessa's costume. Maybe a bracelet or something. It didn't faze them, they kept going and nailed the twizzles perfectly. Andrew Poje skated over and picked up whatever had fallen on the ice.

      I want to reiterate that at the Tuesday practice where it looked like they first changed the lift, V/M first ran through the original version a few times while Johnny Johns got it on video. Then they skated over to the boards and watched the video with him and Marina. Then they all chatted for a bit. V/M were doing most of the talking, looked at the video again, then went out and ran through the alternate version of the lift. It seemed to me like the change was V/M's call rather than it was Marina or Johnny saying "you *will* change this." The camera was zoomed in on them because only one other team was on the ice and the guy manning the camera didn't bother to film them much at all. He kept the camera on V/M and their coaches.

      Nobody looked upset or annoyed. In fact, while they were very focused, the mood was also light. All of them were cracking jokes and smiling. At one point, they even started dancing to Paul/Islam's SD music (which was playing even though Krylova/Camerlengo's teams skipped that practice).

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    10. They got the levels when they shouldn't have because they were skating while Davis and White. Expect more of the same as the tech panel is the same.

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    11. That was meant to go under the comment at 7:24.

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    12. Really 5:38? Please share more about the ISU's perspective on VM v. DW. Poor, flummoxed ISU.

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    13. omg thank you so much 7:13 PM. im going to cross my fingers they NAIL the sd and im going to pray they do the same in the fd

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  13. DW are called out on their mistakes again...just not by the tech panel:

    icedanceanalysts.blogspot.com/2014/02/reviewing-top-two-finishers-in-free.html

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  14. Charlie is clearly on a flat--how did they get a level 4 for that step sequence? and Merl had shallow edges throughout. And that lift!

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  15. PJ is predicting D/W to win, based on "historical results", and nothing to do with the actual difficulty of the skating:

    http://olympics.cbc.ca/blogs/author/kwong/article/virtue-and-moir-davis-and-white-begin-showdown-sochi.html

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    1. PJ knows the fix is in and she can't talk about the actual skating because of it.

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  16. the fact that theres still people who don't believe in the collusion allegations is hilarious
    "no one's disputing the existence of the article. whether an anonymous source speaking to one newspaper about alleged behind-the-scenes goings-on in an already admittedly subjective and often political judged sport counts as actual proof, however, is another question entirely." lmao how delusional can they be? why would l'equipe lie about their sources?

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  17. Can someone explain to me how having Marina as a coach for both teams is not perceived as a conflict of interest? How can she fully support and psychologically prepare both teams? As a mother of two children, I can understand loving each child equally, despite their differences, but coaching Olympic athletes is not motherhood...it is competitive sport. How can she give each team ALL of her support, vision and confidence when they are skating AGAINST each other? I just don't get that. She can't possibly put 100% of herself behind both teams....

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    1. My opinion is that for Marina, prestige/reputation plays a big part in being a coach for the two teams. She says she's professional enough to do her job. Ideally, as long as she does her best for both teams, this should be okay, right? But the history of skating (and ice dance in particular) shows just how hard this is in practice. Consider Grishuk/Platov, who changed coaches a couple of times. While the move from Dubova's group to Linichuk's was done because of Grishuk's affair with Zhulin, the move from Linichuk to Tarasova was prompted by the feeling that L was paying more attention to Krylova/Ovsiannikov. I don't think you can coach 2 teams of the same level without one or the other eventually becoming dissatisfied. Though in the case of VM and DW, the latter is in reality below VM's level.

      The situation with Marina is compounded by the ISU's 'suggestions' and 'feedback' concerning VM's skating. Think of Carmen, a program for the ages; it did not get the scores it deserved despite VM showing superior skating, difficult, innovative choreography and marvelous, in-character presentation. The judges lowballed it and told VM/Marina to go back to the lyrical style VM was famous for. Then there's that rumor (if you believe such a thing) that USFSA paid for Marina's legal fees when Shpilband brought that lawsuit against her and Arctic Edge. If it's true, then she has quite a debt to the Americans.

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    2. Just because YOU don't understand how someone can coach two teams and give them each her full support doesn't mean it's not possible. That's the crux of that arguments: "I just don't think it's possible because I don't think I could do it!"

      You're not Marina Zoueva. I also don't think comparing the situation in Canton to situations in the past with Grishuk/Platov or others is a valid reason to assume Zoueva can't do her job the way she says she's doing it, or that each of her teams can't feel satisfied with the work she's doing for them.

      Plenty of coaches nowadays coach multiple teams who compete against one another. The difference with V/M and D/W is that they're considered the top two teams in the sport. Suddenly in the minds of many, that makes their training situation seem impossible to understand when somehow it wasn't hard to understand when both teams were just coming up in the senior ranks.

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    3. 5:27

      "My opinion is that for Marina, prestige/reputation plays a big part in being a coach for the two teams. "

      And this opinion about Marina is based on what knowledge of Marina?

      "But the history of skating (and ice dance in particular) shows just how hard this is in practice. Consider Grishuk/Platov, who changed coaches a couple of times. While the move from Dubova's group to Linichuk's was done because of Grishuk's affair with Zhulin, the move from Linichuk to Tarasova was prompted by the feeling that L was paying more attention to Krylova/Ovsiannikov"

      So we're going back 20 years? What other history shows this?


      "I don't think you can coach 2 teams of the same level without one or the other eventually becoming dissatisfied."

      Really? Then why are Virtue and Moir still with her if they're dissatisfied? Go ahead and tell us what's in their heads.

      "Though in the case of VM and DW, the latter is in reality below VM's level."

      YEP.

      "The situation with Marina"

      You haven't really established that there IS a "situation with Marina." You've only rehashed the "situation" with Grishuk and Co.

      "is compounded by the ISU's 'suggestions' and 'feedback' concerning VM's skating."

      That's not "compounding" that is a separate issue and not even the primary issue, which is the overscoring of DW. And I don't see how what you claim is the problem with Marina combines with the ISU feedback. Would the ISU not be giving that feedback if VM were with another coach? Is that what you believe?

      "Think of Carmen, a program for the ages; it did not get the scores it deserved despite VM showing superior skating, difficult, innovative choreography and marvelous, in-character presentation. The judges lowballed it and told VM/Marina to go back to the lyrical style VM was famous for."

      Uh huh - and that demonstrates Marina is the problem HOW?

      "Then there's that rumor (if you believe such a thing) that USFSA paid for Marina's legal fees when Shpilband brought that lawsuit against her and Arctic Edge. If it's true, then she has quite a debt to the Americans. "
      So you're throwing in a RUMOR that the USFSA paid Marina's legal fees in a dispute versus ANOTHER coach for the USFSA? Marina, a Canadian citizen, Igor, a U.S. citizen? Let's not consider that bullshit, okay?

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    4. Nobody has ever demonstrated how a coach has politicked their way to success for their skaters. Even though this is also part of the Marina argument - she could politic for VM if not for DW, and if VM moved to a different coach, that coach could politic for VM.

      Bullshit. There is only one type of politic that would have any effect, and that is to loudly and often and publicly repeat that DW are inferior skaters, to argue it with the judges and the ISU, to take it to the powers that be. Look around. Not even European coaches or Russian coaches dare to that. You think some hypothetical coach of VM would throw themselves under the bus for VM by tearing apart the skating of DW in this climate? Their own Federation is enabling DW (look at Slipchuk, post-GPF, talking about how confident he is that the scores will be fair).

      I find it incredibly amusing, btw, the rumor that the USFSA paid Marina's fees, as if Skate Canada is this big advocate for Virtue and Moir.

      Virtue and Moir would have accomplished more by changing Federations than they would accomplish changing coaches, as impossible as that would have been.

      Nobody has pointed out how VM moving to another coach would cause that other coach to politic for VM and point out the inferiority of DW. The evidence is all around us that NOBODY in North America, either Canadian or American, and just about nobody, PERIOD, in figure skating, is going to point out the inferiority of DW - the first to do so with specificity was Beverly Smith and that's far too late.

      In order for VM to benefit from not sharing a coach with DW, DW would have to leave Marina, not VM leave Marina. Without Marina's choreography, DW are far more exposed to the eyes of the uninformed viewer and the uninformed media. They are already exposed in the eyes of anybody who knows even the basics of figure skating, but apparently everybody in the sport has agreed to pretend not to see it.

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    5. "Really? Then why are Virtue and Moir still with her if they're dissatisfied? Go ahead and tell us what's in their heads. "

      LOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL!

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  18. God help us...Kurt Browning's preview of the SD including comparing D/W and V/M to Christmas trees....D/W are the bright flashy tree, but V/M are the more subtle, detailed tree. He also said that if you "feel" an ice dance team is performing well, likely the judges feel it too. This is going to be a long afternoon.

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  19. Level 3 for the Finnstep and for the lift.
    The exist of the lift wasn't completely smooth but how on earth did that deserve a level 3 ?
    Anything for DW's gold medal, I guess ...

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  20. Haha, Ice Dance Analysts said the results in the team event didn't make sense and DW should have been downgraded on their diagonal and their lift. Finally, more people are calling it like they see it! OC, what did you think?

    icedanceanalysts.blogspot.com/2014/02/reviewing-top-two-finishers-in-free.html

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    1. I think it's too late.

      And VM just skated an absolutely brilliant sd and nobody can understand the score.

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    2. Paul/Islam were woefully underscored, and the Shibs were underscored vs an unclean Chock/Bates. Hinkiness all round.

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    3. This was a competition of rewarding flailing from the lower-to-mid-ranked teams in the aim of justifying D/W, and/or boosting Igor teams aside from P/B since they have to be kept away from third for Russia's sake. There's a lot of overlap in "flail" and "Igor."

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    4. Igor's flailing choreo is the worst.

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  21. Even Petri Kokko is scratching his head at the judging:
    "Thanks @Virtue_Moir for a beautiful #finnstep @ #Sochi2014 #sotshi . Let's see what the rest will do." Then:
    "Hope @Virtue_Moir wins. Americans timing off in the #finnstep and restrained even otherwise." But suddenly:
    "I don't understand the judging in #icedancing. @Virtue_Moir should be leading in my honest opinion. #finnstep #Sochi2014"

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    1. Well, the creators of the Finnstep think they should have won this part of the competition. Small comfort when DW is being overscored, but I hope VM will get to know of it later.

      Susanna Rahkamo ‏@ssusu 11m
      #TessaandScott the best for me. They dance for each other.

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    2. What a mess...and it's so obvious not just for VM - but IK better than PB - really? And WP got buried...and seriously folks if Petri Kokko is questioning this - yikes...and to think that DW got the highest PCS - including interpretation - jesus...well I am just happy that VM were happy with their skate...but if this doesn't leave a sour taste in your mouth...(and folks let's face it - the Finnstep in favour of DW - and they still can't nail it)...

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  22. Tara and Johnny thought it was effervescent chic mature fabulous... Best performance since Vancouver. Had to leave the house before dw. Brits on live extra thought ts were wonderful, and until dw scores came up thought they were slow and lacking in this performance.

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  23. Judges are still 'leaving room' for skaters in the last group. Not that they would have given VM the time of day.

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    Replies
    1. FD draw
      P&B
      V&M
      I&K
      B&S
      D&W

      LOL! Perfect. Be tentative with the scores for the first two and go nuts for I&K; but if they fuck up, you know you have to overscore B&S. And then go to town with a perfect score from D&W.

      Delete
    2. This folks is NOT a random draw..You really have to wonder how much $$$$ is being exchanged by the USFSA and even DW's parents..

      Delete
    3. Can a draw be rigged? Isn't this just pulling a number out of a hat?

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    4. Twice IK skate after VM? no folks - there is some rigging...

      Delete
  24. VM drew 17 for the FD. DW skate last. I know that the draw is supposed to be random, but holy shit does DW have some sort of magnet?!

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    Replies
    1. maybe 17 is good luck? 17 is tessa's birthday and tessa and scott have been together for 17 years.

      Delete
    2. That's a very sweet sentiment 5:57, but there are no miracles forthcoming in ice dance. This was all over with a year ago at 4CC when they had to stop.

      I just hope for VM to have another great skate tomorrow.

      Delete
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