Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Worlds

As an FYI, I am in the middle of (trying to) travel, and I don't know what the internet situation will be when I arrive at my destination, although it's supposed to have WiFi. But it's also a very outdoorsy trip. I'll be away from my reliable internet, IOW, during most of Worlds.

Here's a placeholder:

10th place. Sheesh. No matter what my attitude has been, they're better than that.

Notable head styling on Marinaro. A little Evan Bates-ey.

I see Virtue Moir are still being cagey re their status AND have yet to go one way or the other about retirement.

We know how ice dance will play out, goldwise at Worlds. Enjoy it, P/C.

Kostner ahead of Zagitova? I need to check that out.

P.S. - re MTM 2, noticing the streamlined presentation. Wish they (and MTM V.1) had gone that way from the first.


74 comments:

  1. Over the past month or so, I've slowly been making my way through your blog (not finished yet), and I wish you would one day soon do a post about V/M and all the relationship crap they have put out during/post Olympics this time. I found you early on in Feb when no one else's theories/explanations made an once of sense to a sane person with normal senses. Lots of "fans" and "shippers" try to discredit you, but frankly you present the only narrative that can begin to explain their ridulous behavior (plus you talk about skating with a lot of insight and intelligence). The exact things that are happening now (Ellen interview, etc) you called as a pattern way back in 2012 and prior! I'm just waiting for the next Jessica to show up. Anyway, if you ever decide to write about it, I'm looking forward to it. I think most people don't want to accept the reality because you then have to also accept the truly twisted mindset behind it--and these fans would rather go around moping and heartbroken that V/M just can't realize their love for each other rather than see them as calculating and manipulative.

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    Replies
    1. Maybe I'm being naive but I don't think we'll see a "next Jessica" Actually admitting anything though? Not holding my breath on that one.

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    2. If OP's got receipts then she should show them. I've read some of the posts from way back but I had to do a lot of mental gymnastics to arrive at the same conclusion. I don't take everything at face value, though so I don't 100% believe V/M -- they're the source, however.

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  2. Ladies sp:
    - Bradie tennell was overscored
    - redemption for gabby (yay!)
    - Wakaba kinda faltered (Knew this would happen and i like wakaba's skating ALOT) still enjoyed her prefrormace
    - Caro was nice i guess (this program doesn't do it for me)
    - Alina had a an iffy jump not as fresh as the olympics. well deserved place.
    - Sataoko was meh. (can't get into her)
    men:
    Nathan chen: was okay. thoguht he was Overscored on PC's
    That russian who i forget: I liked his performance
    Vincent Zhou: MEH. overscored. boring. take away the jumps and he would be innovative for the 80's
    Boyang jin: spectacular! should have been higher.
    shoma uno: MEH. expressionless.

    Dance: lol. now that V/M and the shibs aren't there booooring.

    Pairs: S/M were fab! I am going to be fucking pissed T/M's candyman wins the FS



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  3. A list of salty skaters who are bitter against v/m winning:
    Jane tor-hasbeen who is a bitter old hag
    madison hubbell (no one will remember you in 2/3 years lol)
    Gabi (retweeting an article trashing the shibs and V/M no one will remember you outside the FG forums you barely have a fucking fanbase as it is. enjoy your silver and your 2018 world gold you bitter bitch and (i look forward to the isu dumping your ass when Russia pays the isu to prop up a mediocre/good team 1-2 seasons
    from now)
    -meryl: are you still bitter even after you have 4 bought and shilled GPF golds and one bought world gold and olympic gold? i have been on forums and even on their people are forgetting about you. your olympic gold performance is about to be surpassed in views for V/M's soon hahaha.

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    1. gabriela and meryl really have no class. charlie and guillaume know they dont deserve their accolades and are more honest with themselves. they know they've been propped up and dont believe they are the best.

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    2. Can you provide link to Gabi's retweet on that? As for America couple, I had no doubt that they would retire after Sochi. It was obvious from the two yrs prior to that games that v/m were set up to be placed second. I even called on it on forum boards even before Sochi games occurred. Sick of corruption. Sick of the whole attitude adopted by journalists and skaters themselves on not calling out on cheating and/or corruption

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    3. She retweeted this, you can find it in her profile... https://twitter.com/nytimesarts/status/966156466825715712

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    4. That article in the NY Times is so slanted in such a nasty way. Extremely poor form for Gaby to re-tweet that nonsense. She should feel lucky for what she got and that her whole outfit didn't fall off. Its a shame that other skaters have to be bitter and jealous of real, natural talent instead of seeing it as a standard to grow more themselves. Putting others down says more about that person than it does the other individuals. I remember when Tara Lipinski was going on and on in an interview with Michelle Kwan - and Michelle just looked at her and said something like congratulations Tara I am happy that you won. Michelle showed herself as she is as a person with class and professionalism.

      Guillaume and Charlie seem like nice guys who mind their own business and just focus on the skating. Their women are another story...

      The real truth is that V/M are the most decorated ice skaters - no matter what category - in history. They will be remembered long after 99.9 of the other skaters are retired and have to use walkers to get around.

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  4. Both Davis and Papadakis can stay pressed.

    Davis/White's win in Sochi is remembered merely for being the first American ice dance Olympic gold (undeserved). The general public don't even remember their skates, just that they won. On the other hand, V/M's performances, particularly Moulin Rouge, will live on in the public consciousness and will be remembered and referenced in the years to come. Be happy with your bought medals and your coach's son/fiancee, Meryl. Stay salty permanently.

    Papadakis better hope that Russia doesn't start politiking for their junior dance teams until after Beijing 2022. And if Didier starts messing around with her team again, it's only what she deserves. She and Cizeron were merely a blip during the Olympics, save for her (preventable) wardrobe malfunction. Girl, you're not that good. And yes, the public already forgot about you.

    Until the day comes that Donohue doesn't make some stupid mistake in their programs, Hubbell doesn't have a leg to stand on. Keep making those errors, and soon the judges will get tired of propping your overrated ass.

    V/M's legacy has been cemented. Ice dance and its dodgy judging can go to hell.

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  5. I am tired watching worlds. The judging is predictably unpredictable. Goe's make no sense. If I see perfectly executed side by side jumps that are in sync, decent height, running edge coming out and in time with music why is the goe only a 1? Much like Osmond's clean jumps not getting in the 2-3 range, I am confused. What are the judges looking for?

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    1. I was shocked when I went to Golden Skate today and saw that Kaetlyn had won (because she was up against the reigning Olympic champion and the hometown favorite). But it was actually a podium I liked (yay Wakaba). I feel sorry for Zagitova, but I also think she is overrated and juvenile. While her strategy of backloading jumps is technically allowed, to me it is a disturbing trend towards point-getting but unbalanced programs. It is also very risky, in that the skater needs to be at her/his absolute best to pull off.

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    2. At least at some degree, Kaetlyn's win made sense against a less-than-perfect performance from Zagitova. I really enjoyed Kat's performance here and even at Olympics. My only wish is that they'd limit the no. of jumps in a program in the men's & women's discipline.

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  6. PC clowns were just awarded world record

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    1. LOOOL everyone was calling them overscored on twitter and dragging them.

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    2. hawayek baker fell. too bad

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    3. I don't care. World records are not always a true reflection of what is put out on the ice anyway. The only ones who are paying attention anymore are the hardcore skating fans. V/M are 2X Olympic gold individual medalists. P/C can suck it.

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    4. Undeserving WR of late is making me seriously put off watching ice dance altogether. Before at least there's some degree of restraint, I noticed this more during the d/w and v/m quad seasons 2012-14. Got away in that. Now in this but with even less stellar performances tagged on them. Disgraceful ...

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  7. OC, what do you think of these new ice dance rules? LOL @ "sliding" being a choreographic element. Sounds like it's right up P/C's alley. *roll eyes*

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  8. Oops, forgot to put thelink:
    http://saucylittlesmile.tumblr.com/post/172163344694/the-ice-dance-technical-requirements-came-out-for

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  9. I just saw a tweet that showed Gabi and Guilaume in kiss and cry and it said:

    IS THIS A JOKE ? Did Gabriella really said that she doesn’t care (“on s’en fout”) when Marie France told her to greet the crowd ?? You can even see the change of MF and Romain faces when they realized what she just said . #Disrepectful #Givemeback #VirtueMoir

    I listened to the video snip and that’s what it sounded like she said. Give a diva too high marks and she is too good for the peasants....

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    Replies
    1. Yikes. No one is asking her to do Miss Universe-level hand-waving and cheesing, just acknowledge the crowd, especially your fans/supporters.

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    2. she either said "ils sont fou" "they are crazy" or "ils s'en foutent" "they do not care" but not your nonsens,don't try to deceive people please

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    3. “on s’en fout”
      "ils sont fou"
      "ils s'en foutent"

      This is why I hated studying French!

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  10. Re: Hubbell/Donohue's SP scores... I wonder if they and P/C are being set up for the next 'rivalry'.

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  11. The Worlds were so predictable, P/C won obviously, which was expected to happen. I am glad V/M retired so they don't have to participate in this shit show anymore. P/C broke V/M records, just 0,06 point in the short dance (ridiculous). I don't like P/C, their lifts, their choice of music/style of the dance, their artistic rigidity and fear to try something new and challenging, their fear to try to push the sport and themselves. The interview with P/C before the medal ceremony was funny, particularly Guillaume's answer to the question "You just said that it's very difficult to add more, there is something that you can give more and add more ... higher level that you can reach now and so the question is: What's next?". He said that they are gonna do some ice shows and "I don't know what we're gonna skate to, but I'm sure it's gonna be very exciting." LOL. Exciting of course. My prediction is that they are gonna do Moonlight Snorata nr. 4512854395 and think that they are so innovative and artistic. I can't believe they are handed World gold medals for this. The highlight of the ice dance for me was Hubbell and Donohue's programs and I'm glad they got silver.

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    1. Well, the Russian commentator was great. "It's French federation lobbying. There is a lot to nit-pick about this dance. They automatically get all level 4s, unlike other teams. They skate the same thing as 3 years ago. Tessa and Scott never skated the same dance, in the same tempos and style. All their programs were different. The world has divided, some people love them others find them nauseating. To skate the same thing for 3 years is to not respect your self."

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    2. Oof. Someone's telling it like it is. Can you give a time stamp?

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    3. I think it's this video with the russian commentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSt4UznDbF8 and they talk about the "3 years the same" around 6:25 and after. I wish someone translates this.

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    4. The youtube comments say the commentator is someone named Zhurankov, who is that? I would've assumed it was Averbukh because he's the one who usually calls them out.

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    5. I watched the Papadakis/Cizeron FD with british commentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHQVG4TooWY and they were praising them and sugar-coating everything. The difference between the russian and the british commentary is just so evident. I had to write their comments down because the amount of shit is just on another level. They were comparing Guillaume to Christopher Dean and said that he even choreographed some of their routines (which is a known fact and maybe that is the reason why the british commentators like P/C so much). The woman said about P/C: "The only thing if you were scratching around at the bottom of the barrell to find something to criticize them for, the only thing you could possibly say is that HE OVERSHADOWS HER, which I don't actually believe is the case anymore, I think she has come along so much in her confidence and expression. I think they are a match for one another but perhaps at the start a few years ago he was always the most appreciated and she's taken a while to blossom from his shadow, but I think he is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MALE SKATER OF ALL TIME. (And the male commentator says: "He is a PEACOCK, isn't he? But a beautiful peacock.") But she matches him every step of the way I think now. She looks like she's about to break into tears at any moment. The emotion that she's expressing. I don't know how she holds it all together and doesn't let it sort of spill over. They are the FIRST couple to perform level 4 step sequences and they did two of them. It goes without saying they were level 4 on every single element. And enormous grades of execution..." etc. etc. So this just gives you an insight on the commentators, talking about beauty and peacocks instead of skating and the issue that they skate the same program for fourth year now. WTF. Ice dance goes to hell. And what is even more sad is that even they acknowledged that Gabriella's skating/performance wasn't on the same level as Guillaume's. So how is it possible they won Worlds before? But I personally think that the judges will get fed up with P/C and some younger team will take their place (one must hope)...

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    6. 3:27 again It's this video, and yeah it's Zhurankov.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSt4UznDbF8 He is the commentator on Russian eurosport. He always talks about how he fell in love with V/M when he saw Mahler live in Vancouver. The part that I translated starts at around 7:00 and ends on Weaver/Poje's video.
      Conversation at 6:08
      The other commentator: Many say like you that they don't change, they will listen and do even bigger and better.
      Zhurankov: No one needs even more abstract philosophy.
      The other commentator: No, I mean they'll do a completely different program with more difficult elements.
      Zhurankov: No, they won't they don't have the skill to skate differently.
      Well, we'll see. They have four years to prove it so far they have been skating the same thing for 3 years straight.
      The other commentator: And others skate different programs ?
      Zhurankov: They do, C/L skate different programs.
      The other commentator: They finish in 5th, 6th place.
      Zhurankov: You know there is also the judging, and after to Canadian lobbying joined the French this is what it became. Everything is rigged.

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    7. Continued:
      Zhurankov: If you look carefully at this dance, a lot can be nit-picked, a lot. But they automatically get a level 4. Other teams have a level 3, and they maybe change to level 4 and these two get it automatically. Sure, they are 2 time world champions, Tessa and Scott never skated the same thing in the same tempo and the same style. They were always different, they had a rock program, they had waltzes, and what they did this year. The world has divided,some people love them others find them nauseating, sorry. To skate the same thing for 3 years is to not respect yourself. I'd say that asexual dancing doesn't touch the heart as much as human relationship. And now we're going to see a human relationship, now we're going to see Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje.

      Zhurankov's commentary after V/M free dance at the olympics:
      I understand that the French have a lot of 10s in the components , we haven't seen it yet, but we know, we've been there before. I wonder how many they're gonna get. Ivan (Bukin), many think that this is the type of program that has been done before. I even heard it from experts, I won't call names. To me it's a fantastic program.
      Bukin: I think it's genius.
      Stepanova: There were many programs like this, but you need to have the skill to skate it like they do. They show such mastery.

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    8. Refreshing to see a journalist who started the obvious. I couldn't stand how the British could gush on P/C based solely on looks and feels. Yes, yes, it's one important factor to any programs. Unlike when the do v/m for years, it's all about the skating skill. And that's what it should be from these journalists. Bonus, if program comes out artistically pleasing. But primary focus should always be the skating. Yes, to C/L & W/P. Love them.

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    9. I think it is refreshing that v/m is among those who actually couple pull off warhorses with great success. Carmen and now Moulin Rouge. They should be proud of leaving a mark in that. Who knows maybe with time P/C may prove us wrong. But boy, they need to still brush up on their skating skills. I truly believe there are other much more deserving teams that deserve better marks and ranking. But the judges, oh well

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    10. There was one poster on the 2018 Worlds Free Dance thread who basically said that s/he found P/C's partnership uneven. Cizeron was doing most of the work, and Papadakis was getting dragged around, etc. Well, not exactly in those words, but that was the gist, that the partnership was unequal.

      P/C's much-lauded programs are nothing more than smoke-and-mirrors.

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    11. Confession: I actually enjoy some of P/C's dances, but not as competitive programs (although that Ed Sheeran SD is a travesty). I enjoy them as if they were exhibition skates, because under no circumstances do I consider their actual skating skills and content to be on par with V/M's (and many other teams' for that matter). They're not as versatile. Also, their junior-level lifts are appropriate for an exhibition; it's insulting that many other teams are executing harder/more intricate lifts while P/C get rewarded more for theirs. They should definitely not be getting scored as high as they've been doing for the past quad.

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    12. A huge thank you to the poster who translated the Russian commentary! Wow, that Russian bluntness. Love it. And it's not like they had skaters anywhere close to P&C in the scores so it can't be attributed to jealousy or anything like that. The video has been taken down now so I appreciate having that record of what was said, and it's so true. Makes you wonder how people "really talk" behind the scenes. I think a lot of the love from European fans, especially in Western Europe, really is genuine. I think many of those fans/commentators, like the British ones, really are feeling the feelz and are minimizing the technical aspect in their minds (and P&C do have a nice glide over the ice, so it's easier to accept this as just some avant garde styling as opposed to the total non-skating of D&W that I think everyone can see). If you drill down on these fans and ask them about P&C's particular lifts, spins, and footwork, they will begrudgingly admit that V&M are better element for element but point to some magical aspect of P&C that makes them better, and I think many of them honestly believe this. But there have got to be a lot of people in the skating world like that Russian guy, who are seeing the forest for the trees. It feels a lot of the new rules for ice dance are tilting away from the P&C style, so maybe there are more people seeing it than we think.

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  12. I find it kind of therapeutic to see that I am not the only one who doesen't like P/C's style of skating. I am looking at their scores in utter disbelief.

    A world record for their free dance? Why ? What would justify that? That would mean this is the best free dance with the new scoring system. I just cannot see that, even if I try.
    I think that presentation- wise it is very far from being one of the best free dances ever, I think it is not well choreographed, it lacks variety and dynamics. I think it is more boring and uncreative than many other free dances ice dance has seen. It is like an essay that is not well sctructured.

    When it comes to figure skating I don't care about nationality at all. I have liked many skaters from different nations. It's all about the programmes. I like V/M, but I have also liked D/W, for instance.

    But I just cannot see how "Moonlight Sonata" can place higher than "Moulin Rouge" and get such high scores. The judges themselves have given similar technical scores to both programmes at the Olympics,so we can leave that side out of the equation.

    I think presentation- wise MR is so much better in several aspects- it has more dynamics, variety, change of mood, creativity, surprising moments, spectacular lifts, much better use of music etc. I think that is really an outstanding free dance in the history of ice dance that will be remembered. For its difficulty, the superb execution and creativity.


    The current judging with those exagerated scores is bothering me like it never has before. It is putting me off ice dance because I just can't take it seriously.
    Those high scores would mean that P/C are by far the best ice dancers the world has seen in a long time. Better than Virtue/ Moir and Davis/ White. Seriously?????
    I think that both V/M and D/W are much more well-rounded.




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    1. PS: I wrote the above comment critizising the Moonlight Sonata programme and I am European. : )

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    2. I get why people like D/W Bollywood OD, but how can any one like their giselle 2013 SD ? It looks like a parody. It has direct references from the ballet, but Meryl has no extension and can't point her toes. I think it's one of the worst programs I've seen ice dance. And people disliked V/M short dance.... Why ? It was gorgeous.

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    3. For me to like a skater or a couple doesn't mean that I like every programme they have done.

      The point for me is that over the years I have appreciated many different skaters, but I really don't get why P/C are receiving such incredibly high marks- even world records.

      For instance I also liked Anissina/ Peizerat, who are also French. I think they had much more interesting and creative programmes.

      Or if you just look at the lifts I think there is a very obvious difference- V/M's lifts being much more complex, spectacular and creative.

      I have been watching figure skating for many years and have never been so irritated by the judging.
      I really don't get the scores that are given. They would mean that P/C are the best skaters of the last years- better than V/M and D/W- and I really can't see that.

      I think that V/M for instance are much more complete skaters- I think that is very obvious. They have athleticism and artistry. They have more chemistry, they do more difficult and creative lifts. They have shown much more versatility.

      In the past I haven't always been happy with the judging- but most of the times I could somehow understand it- for instance when athleticism was valued more than artistry. This time I really don't understand it. And I find it frustrating.





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    4. To explain my irritation with the judging better...
      2001 for instance was a different time for ice dancing. But I find that Fusar Poli/ Margagio's "Romeo and Juliet" Free Dance is still remarkable- they had an amazing speed and energy!

      And there is probably no need to discuss Virtue/ Moir's 2010 Mahler Free Dance. That was outstanding. But even Davis and White's "Phantom of the Opera" that year was a very good programme in my opinion- great speed, energy and creative lifts.

      Over the years there have been many programmes that I did find remarkable.

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  13. Some P/C fans are "seeing the silver lining" in V/M's Olympic win in that this means they're not going to continue/are retiring (as opposed to what might happen if V/M had gotten silver, might feel the need to continue), because this means there will be "cleaner/clearer air", less toxicity (because of the rivalry) and more "happiness and joy".

    From where I'm sitting I see it as them being salty for the past two years because V/M's return meant that P/C's smooth sailing to Olympic gold got blocked, and V/M's superior skills showed the stark reality of P/C's sub-par technique/weaknesses. Basically, the emperor has no clothes. As flimsy as this "rivalry" was, they couldn't stand that there were people who could wipe the floor with their favorites.

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    1. I think Scott felt the rivalry more intensely than Meryl and Charlie. In Charlie's commentary at the Grand Prix Final 2017, SD, you can hear his great admiration of V/M's artistry in general and of this performance in particular. https://youtu.be/8y119iKRIhM

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    2. Correction for Jun24/18 at 4:45 PM: It's their SD at 4CC of 2017 https://youtu.be/MX4zoMJAbo0

      Also, NHK, SD CAN OC https://youtu.be/8y119iKRIhM

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  14. LMAO, I read that post at FSU and laughed heartily at the extreme saltiness of it. The same poster went on to post later that the team event is horrible and should be abolished because it is clearly a "childish" way to increase the medal counts for "certain skaters". They clearly are whining because they know France will be extremely unlikely to win an Olympic team medal during PC's career, so PC will never be able to match VM's historic medal count.

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    1. Which...V/M still have THREE INDIVIDUAL EVENT MEDALS. Two of them GOLD. The fact is the biggest part of their medal tally is longevity -- how many skaters are great at the outset and then can continue, and remain great, especially in the modern era? Not many. And P/C are extremely unlikely to match even that medal count. D/W didn't even try to.

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    2. Watch P/C get "dumped" by the ISU in the next quad by whatever young upstart team they are grooming to be the next fake champions. My bet is on a Russian team.

      I wonder too if the ISU will "extend" the scores so that another team eventually surpasses P/C's (bullshit, unearned) world records. What a blight on ice dance that those records are "held" by such a shit team.

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    3. Hi @ 2:27, they are in fact extending the scores in a way by augmenting the range of GOE from -5 to +5 next season. But honestly, it will probably be used to elevate P/C even higher to ensure they never lose another Gold like in Pyeongchang. The ISU Dance meeting was live streamed for the first time and use V/M's MR twizzles to demonstrate what constitutes a +5 which is somewhat encouraging but we will only know until we see it in play next season. It's at 1:16 in the video. Also, they are careful to mention that they are only using video of teams NOT skating at Worlds.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7tYDftWFGg

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  15. From a new Russian interview with Patrice Lauzon:

    - What does the process of selection of dance,music, costumes look like ?
    - Each of us is looking for music because you never know which one will be chosen. Choreography is mostly done by Marie-France, but sometimes there are of course situations when you have more than enough music, but it doesn't work for the ice.I wouldn't say that this happens often: we have about six different specialists working in our team, sometimes their number grows to a dozen, so there is always a chance that someone will tell you the right solution. Many different opinions is a great thing. During time when we do choreography we often invite judges to the rink. Technical specialists have a tendency to look at programs from a different perspective, so it's really important to not just try to persuade them that you did an amazing job, but to listen to their remarks and take them into consideration. IF YOU REMEMBER THE LAST YEAR'S FREE DANCE OF GABY AND GUILLAUME, IT WAS QUITE ATYPICAL AT THE TIME - VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING WE SAW IN ICE DANCING IN RECENT YEARS.
    Gaby and Guillaume fought with this dance all season, it wildly annoyed them, and I saw that in fact the dancers just were not ready to cope with the choreography, can not skate it without errors.The turning point came only at worlds, where everything coincided: understanding of dance, emotions, quality of elements. This I consider to be a rather revealing example of what many of my colleagues call "not having the right program." A huge number of dances in our sport at different times were considered unsuccessful, although they actually were simply not skated to fullest potential. Yes, sometimes patience is needed, a certain conviction. It's not easy, especially when the judges tell you from all sides that everything is bad.

    https://rsport.ria.ru/interview/20180327/1134674720.html

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    1. Don't understand your point @5:10pm

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    2. The point is, if you have to tell people that there is an originality, well, then there is no originality whatsoever.

      Other brilliant parts of this interview:

      "Well, yes, Madison and Zach do not have such skating skills as Gabby and Guillaume. But physically they are more powerful, they can do on ice what the French can not."
      "After the Canadians left, Madison and Zak became second. And since there is no one between them and the French, the[ir] scores have grown."

      Oh, I see. I see.
      It's so charming when he tries to hide the fact, that H/D skating-wise are simply a Universe ahead of the French.
      And I'm not even an ardent fan of H/D.

      Regards,
      Margot

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    3. The point is that P/C didn't like their program and were annoyed by it and they still win Worlds with it - Patrice said they had errors all season. BUT they have a world record. Unbelievable. My question is: what dance they did not like, 2016/2017 or 2017/2018? I think Gabriella has said before in interview that their programs are philosophical, artistic and they stand behind them 100% and now Patrice says that they didn't like their program, couldn't skate it without errors all season and were annoyed by it... interesting. So whatever they say in interviews is nowhere near the reality, they couldn't admit that they hate the program to the press. They are full of shit. But WHY they get world records for this? How is it possible?

      (Off topic, but I watched the 2018 Worlds press conference for FD and SD and the "comradeship" between P/C and H/D - "Gabriella and Madison are BFF's" made me sick, I don't know why). Gabriella is so relieved that V/M are out so she can pretend she and Guillaume are the best of the best. LOL.

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  16. I think that P/C are focused too much on the artistic side, but in the end, their free dance is boring. As some figure skating commentator has said, figure skating fans (and the judges too) like and prefer programs that tell some story and portrait a relationship between two people, because they like to connect to something. P/C's Moonlight Sonata for me is lifeless, it feels like watching two statues skating together, I can't like the program even if I tried. It's sterile like an exhibit in a museum behind the glass. It bores me. It has nothing to do with the fact that I prefer V/M, because through the years of watching figure skating I have liked many programs by different dance pairs even if I'm not a fan of them. What seems to be P/C problem is that they refuse to evolve. They seem too arrogant to try to change their style because they think this is the "golden" material which no other team has and it will take them to gold. I would like to know if they pick their music for programs or the coaches, because I can't understand how a pair that has won 2015 and 2016 Worlds choose the same crap for their FD for an Olympic season, when they knew that V/M are back. Did they think they would beat them with that? Ice dance evolves, slowly, but it does. What's funny, I've read some comments by fans in the beginning of the season, that the V/M Moulin Rouge program is too similar to their Carmen routine. It's not. Yes there is the same lift, but otherwise it's different, because V/M constantly push themselves and work at the skating technique and the performance. Which can't be said about P/C.

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    1. Looking at how the judging is conducted since P/C's rise, it has nothing to do with skating and more to do appearance of "skating" (i.e. what it feels, or looks pleasing). they tack on innovation (whatever the heck it is) to their dancing but it's not even close to what past ice dancers have done. (Not even talking about v/m here) Really sad to see how ice dance will only go on from here. It's all narrative now and no substance or evidence of skating to back it up for future generation who watch or a part of this discipline. Sad ...

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  17. Rumour has it that Hawayek/Baker are moving to Gadbois...

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    1. barf. but you know what, they have no choice so hopefully they will get in medal contention by next olympics. they can skate.

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  18. rumor has it that they aren't

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  19. The winds of coaching changes have started to blow. Both coaches and students

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  20. Madison Hubbell and Adria Diaz got engaged. She posted pictures of it on her Instagram. I didn't follow the posts on them on this blog because I don't care much for them but weren't there speculations that Madison and Zach were shamming like VM and were secretly married with a child or am I imagining this?

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    1. I don't get the obession about skaters' personal lives. We think we know them but we don't. Not really. Even if VM decided to claim being unmarried (and not parents to child/ren) - which I don't care to speculate, but who knows may turn out to be complete opposite - it's their reputation that will be in tethers, their integrity & honesty questioned and their words in the future scorned by fans. Nothing or no one is stepping forward (after (what, 8 years) to leak it and on top of that they decided to claim loudly on media all this year about being great friends, what can we do anyways? Like I said if it turns out to be that they are dating (I probably think it's they like to keep their life private) but if it's bigger than dating, then they'll have to own up to their falsehood later on. Again I don't claim I know anything about them and their lives. It's pointless to get worked up on word of other ppl.

      https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.bustle.com/p/zachary-donohues-girlfriend-is-also-ice-dancer-so-get-ready-to-be-obsessed-8213594/amp

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  21. Surprised considering the chatter going around since Worlds about her You would have thought she had already learned that lesson from her time DSC

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    1. What is the chatter?

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    2. DSC became a dysfunctional rink. You saw teams unhappy with what was going on leave for different reasons. Look at what has happened with DSC's coaches. It's Gadbois turn

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    3. Ok, thanks. I feel confident that Gadbois will survive Madison Hubbell. :)

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    4. I heard the same. Would be awful if MF and P split. They have such a history.

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  22. No, you didn't imagine that this blog speculated that Hubbell/Donohue were secretly married with a child. But, who are you going to believe-----this blog, or your lying eyes?

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  23. Fake engagements are a thing. Anyone can post pretend photos and those don't look the slightest bit convincing to me.

    If there's a fake wedding and kid, maybe then it will be convincing!

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    1. It seems odd that a third tier team with barely any fans would go through all of that. It's not like anyone ever cared about their dating lives and if they didn't bring it up themselves nobody would ask them.

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  24. sooo H/B is moving to gadbois....

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