tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post6293479198961576324..comments2024-03-15T09:03:33.742-07:00Comments on Jessica Dube Loves Scott Moir: ISU's Communication 1738: Ice DanceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-5844759773446805942013-03-23T10:15:39.551-07:002013-03-23T10:15:39.551-07:00They don't care. They are a huge part of the ...They don't care. They are a huge part of the problem here. These results are exactly what they wanted. It's sad. I don't think anyone knows what to do to deal with this. People claim that IJS is the problem but I disagree. If IJS is applied properly, it seems to work (in my opinion, of course) but in the case of V/M v. D/W the IJS is being ignored by the Judges.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-1168705387855219122013-03-22T09:43:40.280-07:002013-03-22T09:43:40.280-07:00This was something that anyone who has ever taken ...This was something that anyone who has ever taken their dance compulsory exams is aware of. Some of the things good coaches emphasize is stillness/control and posture of the upper body while executing the desired foot sequence. This shows mastery of the edges and positions if you do not have to compensate with your upper body.<br /><br />This is I guess brings up the point that the compulsories need to be brought back. <br /><br />I wish skating broadcasts had a feature like they do in tennis and other sports where they track the total distance covered by the athlete during a point/period of time by tracking movements against the fixed surface (also what compulsories allow us to visualize). This would highlight how much ground VM cover during the course of their performance and would put a dagger through the argument that DW are so much faster. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-43112792221829532192013-03-21T19:03:39.571-07:002013-03-21T19:03:39.571-07:00or at least post a complaint on the isu's face...or at least post a complaint on the isu's facebookAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-70953496762293529142013-03-21T18:57:33.122-07:002013-03-21T18:57:33.122-07:00you should send this complaint to the isuyou should send this complaint to the isuAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-9615366134891758662013-03-21T14:26:00.148-07:002013-03-21T14:26:00.148-07:00Yeah - it's not about Poirier choosing someone...Yeah - it's not about Poirier choosing someone with potentially less citizenship roadblocks. Teams from separate countries are formed all the time, it's not a big deal. It's Skate Canada's immediate, egregious crawling up their ass and OTT gushing promotion. And in the process they dump their Olympic champions and the best thing to happen for ice-dance in this generation. Way to go Skate Canada.<br /><br />Of course SC is getting some compensation. You can smell the corruption from space.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-52564691483226283902013-03-21T14:24:38.784-07:002013-03-21T14:24:38.784-07:00I think it's typical of this sport to invent a...I think it's typical of this sport to invent a problem to explain why figure skating has lost popularity (it's too gay, it's not a sport and people think it's not a sport cause they think it's not hard) and then address the made up problem.<br /><br />People think it's not sport because they're led to believe there's no correlation between how someone skates and how they're scored. The people who comment reinforce this with their vague allusions to "like better" "enjoy more" and "prefer". Gymnastics doesn't do this. Gymnastics has a complex scoring system and the previous scoring system has failed, and there's been some corruption there but the commentators themselves aren't pretending the ultra subjective "preferences" is legitimate.<br /><br />Then there's the incredible amount of politics and manipulation that takes place when various interests try to EXPLOIT the public's perception of corruption in order to manipulate the public into false conclusions about the merits of a competition's outcome or the comparative merits of different skaters. I.e., in my view, the real corruption in 2002 were the interests that intended Sale & Pelletier to win that competition, just as they'd been handed worlds on a platter. The spanner in the works was that the program Sale & Pelletier had created for the Olympics was a program they couldn't pull off (Orchid), so they returned to Love Story, an extremely open program with very little executed in any type of hold. Meantime B&S's coach Tamara Moskvina had created such intricate, content packed choreography for both B&S's short and long it made it difficult for S&P to position themselves as the stronger team. Anton's slight stumble in the 2 axel was the opening needed to cry corruption and they railroaded that idea through. My eyes still roll clear into the back of my head that they were able to produce an apparently unstable person who was able to conveniently "confess".<br /><br />The tactics are very primitive - it's no more than the thief pointing at an innocent bystander and accusing the innocent bystander. I'm not saying that's the literal, calculated reality here or then, but it's definitely the dynamic. The ones who thought S&P were a done deal had a reason to believe that or they wouldn't have had a meltdown over the actual outcome. <br /><br />Here, there is a ton of shadiness afoot with the railroading of DW as the best ice dancers in the world, and a component of that manipulation is to pump into the atmosphere the idea that VM are attempting to manipulate competitions because they can't beat DW on the merits. As noted in this conversation, commentators like Kurt and like Tanith are even pretending that making something look harder than it is is PREFERRED.<br /><br />Worlds in London was also somehow used as an example of how DW could be robbed, the 4CCs was ludicrously used to repeat the argument that VM invented their issue in the lp to avoid outright defeat.<br /><br />It's ugly, it's exploitative. The corruption in the sport breeds the impression of corruption in the sport, and then that impression is manipulated to get away with more corruption. But it's always using the same tactics. Flip the script. Turn it around. It's not a sophisticated tactic - it's just very very very aggressive. But that's really all they're doing - it's guilty people pointing the finger at their victims.<br />oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-64319404264752035382013-03-21T14:06:04.898-07:002013-03-21T14:06:04.898-07:00I wouldn't be surprised either.I wouldn't be surprised either.oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-91028665144837907152013-03-21T14:05:14.171-07:002013-03-21T14:05:14.171-07:00For me it's as if the ISU has beaten the crap ...For me it's as if the ISU has beaten the crap out of them and then complains that they're limping for some reason.oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-36069829809060806392013-03-21T12:17:04.503-07:002013-03-21T12:17:04.503-07:00To be fair, there were citizenship and federation ...To be fair, there were citizenship and federation release issues with a Samuelson pairing. That said, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the Gilles family is offering up some nice perks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-52774452190647992332013-03-21T12:13:53.304-07:002013-03-21T12:13:53.304-07:00"What's changed about her body is the amo..."What's changed about her body is the amount of muscle she's added. But, as Maria Mountain has noted, the goal is to give Tessa the muscle she needs to execute and not any more, so as to preserve the aesthetic. That's what she't got now."<br /><br />Tessa's hips are wider and her rib cage has expanded, but those are just skeletal changes from carrying a baby and giving birth. The big change though is, yes, definitely the amount of muscle Tessa has now. She's strong, she's fit, and she's lean. <br /><br />"With Meryl, I do believe she's far too thin. She's created an artificial body type - the tell is when your joints - and your head - are the biggest parts of your body. But why? She's already fairly petite. Does she need to be as light as possible because Charlie actually manages better - so the lifts can look less labored and lighter - something's that being achieved more with weight loss and Meryl's own physical fitness than with strong technique? There's still a lot of sack of potatoes or moving a plank around stuff going on there."<br /><br />ITA about Meryl being too thin. I've seen the D/W fans and others call her ethreal and delicate because of it (and what the hell does that have to do with anything?), but it's really no advantage for reasons already explained. Dollars to doughnuts, I'd bet that Tessa is FAR easier to lift in practice than Meryl is. Tessa is fit. She can carry herself, and she has that incredible awareness of her position in space and control over her body. <br /><br />One of the many things that bugged me this season was all of the talk that V/M were struggling with their lifts and they looked labored. Really? Sure, the lift at SC was botched--in their first outing of the season, mind you--but when it comes to V/M's lifts this year, I certainly haven't seen a team that's struggling or looking labored. Meanwhile, I have thought D/W have looked quite labored at times.<br /><br />Another thing: since when is it a requirement to come out in your first event of the season and have everything perfect? It feels like if a team comes out still needed to work on things, the struggling label gets slapped on for the entire season. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-15872989727561700562013-03-21T11:37:23.584-07:002013-03-21T11:37:23.584-07:00Perhaps the Gilles' family are offering some b...Perhaps the Gilles' family are offering some beautiful vacation packages in Colorado...throw in a sundance festival...skiing...aspen...?..I mean seriously why would Poirier not skate with Emily Samuelson and would rather Gilles? Don't tell me that it was just a skating - personality decision...Gilles is from Colorado...Torvill Dean is out there in Colorado...it was a $$$ decision and the Gilles were more than happy to oblige...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-17374374684159928032013-03-21T11:36:08.474-07:002013-03-21T11:36:08.474-07:00I think VM are expendable because they no longer s...I think VM are expendable because they no longer serve the self-interest of key members of Skate Canada's personnel. This regime has always been about personal advancement and self-aggrandizement for personnel - it's never been about the health of the organization or doing what's best for the skaters - clearly.<br /><br />Virtue Moir were stars. The Skate Canada personnel are star fuckers. Why do administrative people work relentlessly to promote or associate themselves with stars except that they want enjoy the reflected spotlight, enjoy the perks that come from being the gatekeeper, take the credit for the enhanced revenue and interest the stars bring to sport both in terms of tickets sold, television ratings scored and sponsors acquired, and basically Virtue Moir are the platform and Debbi & Company are the ones being promoted. You purchase this platform for youself not only by occupying a supposed "key" role in the organization but also by doing favors for the stars. I'll stage manage the sham at competitions and you let me paste myself to your parents and to you so everyone can see how important a part I am of your success.<br /><br />Well the plug seems to have been pulled on all of this last year. So why should Skate Canada support and promote Virtue Moir anymore when there's no quid pro quo? The people most concerned aren't interested in figure skating or the skaters, they're interested in themselves. Gilles and Poirier are publicity whores - Skate Canada promotes them and Gilles and Poirier are delighted to share the spotlight.oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-30685727077617738302013-03-21T11:29:31.060-07:002013-03-21T11:29:31.060-07:00Not to mention it's beyond obvious Skate Canad...Not to mention it's beyond obvious Skate Canada is doing at least small deals with other Federations on Gilles & Poiriers behalf - Exhibit 1: TEB. Hubbell & Donohue don't skate, Gilles & Poirier who finished lower, DO skate "Due to the reception our programs received." Yes, and they packed two sets of costumes in pure starry anticipation and hope, not because they knew they'd skate in the gala no matter how they did, because it was all set.<br /><br />It's a bit OT but the "personality" memo we're getting clubbed with about Gilles & Poirier is purely 2 dimensional. It's incessent self-promotion on social media and it's mugging for photos. I haven't seen much material showing Gilles & Poirier off ice prior to this awesome partnership, but there's a Piper Gilles interview on youtube from a few years back, circa her partnership with Zach Donohue, and she barely seems awake. Her entire demeanor is in slow motion and slow blink. The personality memo as contrived as everything else about them. It's also a bit insulting to some figure skaters who have natural fun personalities, but these figure skaters don't seem to want to handcuff themselves to the SC personnel, and that is a requirement.oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-8421047477309566612013-03-21T11:25:18.427-07:002013-03-21T11:25:18.427-07:00I've been following this sport for several dec...I've been following this sport for several decades and ice-dance is the most corrupt discipline and the one to accept changes the slowest. It doesn't surprise me in the least to think SC has been exchanging favors for G/P while throwing V/M under the bus. SC Directors are all products of the older, corrupt practices. They wouldn't know how to do things differently. What I wish to understand is why G/P. And why were V/M considered expendable. VM have been able to maintain in the top two places of the world thanks to their own talent and sublime skating skills. No thanks at all to their federation nor their asinine personal PR practices.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-37912448032640244402013-03-21T10:55:08.234-07:002013-03-21T10:55:08.234-07:00Oh OC I agree - with G/P it's beyond ridiculou...Oh OC I agree - with G/P it's beyond ridiculous - they even get to skate in galas including worlds this year over teams that placed higher than them...it's beyond nasty....and arrogance...ideally at this point since Paul/Islam have a very slight possibility to getting to the Olympics next year - I will hope that Orford/Williams squeek onto the Olympic team and deny G/P cuz that would be some form of justice...and hell wouldn't you want the coaching Lowe's coaching team to be there instead of Scarborough supporting both V/M and W/P. Now that would make an excellent team photograph, Orford/Williams with the Lowes (former Zoueva student), Weaver/Poje with Krylova, Carmenlengo, Bourne and then V/M with Zoueva and perhaps Swan. Now I could say yes to that picture...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-81434577424486827542013-03-21T10:41:12.135-07:002013-03-21T10:41:12.135-07:00What's been happening in the media over the la...What's been happening in the media over the last 6-8 months has been negative campaign ads against V-M...well it's election year next year with the Olympics..I would imagine that the USFSA's negative campaigning will continue...at some point if your team D/W don't come out with significantly different lifts, twizzles etc this year - I think there is a possibility that even some of the other federations including Japan will start saying wtf? So whoever was going through Obama-Romney withdrawal will get their political fix next season...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-62476218383010110412013-03-21T10:38:02.066-07:002013-03-21T10:38:02.066-07:00What was done at Canadians was unforgiveable. If y...What was done at Canadians was unforgiveable. If you want to pick over Virtue and Moir, have at it, but in the same competition you damn well better not pretend anything Gilles/Poirier do on the ice is within 20 points of them or it's going to raise a flag.<br /><br />It makes you wonder if Skate Canada did ALL of its politicking for Gilles Poirier and threw Virtue Moir under the bus. If Skate Canada signaled to the ISU (and its Canadian judges followed suit ) here - we're going to give Virtue Moir disrespectful and underrated scores at two Canadians - giving the ISU cover for themselves underscoring VM - hell, their own Fed thinks they need to improve a bunch before they're on DW's level - and in return we'd appreciate it if you'd join us in pumping up Piper and Paul.<br /><br />It worked out at the 4CCs but then somebody must have betrayed the agreement at Worlds. Only partially kidding but there's hinkiness with the Canadian scoring following that pattern two seasons running.<br /><br />Not to mention - I've been looking over the skating message boards and something caught my eye - a post from somebody who seemed well versed in the ways a Federation's skaters could receive international assignments. There's more than one way to skin a cat. One would think the goal would be to get your talented teams as many opportunities as possible. As a returning split couple team, Gilles & Poirier received the options Crone & Poirier had earned - that rule has boosted a lot of new couples in the past few years. But Skate Canada went further and spent most of its assignment options on Gilles Poirier while leaving such as Paul/Islam out to dry. It's been noticed that is the ONLY team they're interested in pushing. It can't just be Debbi unless Debbi's reach extends to influencing assignments and working the options available - and who knows. The outcome is that other skaters got ignored by Skate Canada. Usually the response is "They're a new team - give them a chance" fuck yeah, they're a new team give them a chance. It doesn't mean let them have it both ways - the allowances of a new team but the scores of Olympic champions.oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-1301297584861193072013-03-21T10:18:28.637-07:002013-03-21T10:18:28.637-07:00OC - I totally agree - if you are a fan of Michell...OC - I totally agree - if you are a fan of Michelle Kwan's skating then how the hell are you not a fan of V/M? Again it appears to me that the hardcore US fans want to cheer any American at any cost that has a chance at a medal at Sochi and that D/W are the only legitimate shot...so again for me it's become not that you are HUGE D/W fans and are breaking down why Notre-Dame or Giselle is so great etc...you are tearing down V/M in order to elevate D/W...huge difference...it will be interesting to see what D/W skate next year...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-72318927259486655452013-03-21T10:13:40.587-07:002013-03-21T10:13:40.587-07:00Tessa has added muscle everywhere.
Look at her fr...Tessa has added muscle everywhere.<br /><br />Look at her from Mahler. She's more proportionate than Meryl Davis, and she doesn't have that lollipop look, but you can count her vertibrae and her elbows jut out, her shoulder blades just out, and her shoulders jut out. Her face is very thin.<br /><br />What's changed about her body is the amount of muscle she's added. But, as Maria Mountain has noted, the goal is to give Tessa the muscle she needs to execute and not any more, so as to preserve the aesthetic. That's what she't got now.<br /><br />Furthermore, one of the misconceptions the gymnastics/figure skating blogger promotes is that lifting in figure skating is like weight lifting. It's nothing like weight lifting. It's extremely important for the woman to carry her own weight in a lift and to manage her body with control. Partners have said their partner is "light as a feather" if they're able to carry themselves. Look at that old video of Torvill Dean where Dean is whining throughout the entire practice, including bitching "Carry yourself!" as he's about to lift Torvill. Weight gain can be an issue with a female partner for two reasons - one, it can throw off her center of gravity and her sense of balance. Two, depending on the weight gain, it can mean that she's not in such great shape anymore and lacks the conditioning to carry herself properly. Conversely, if a woman is too skinny but not in shape, she'll also lack the strength to carry herself. Tanith claims this was the case before she went to Linichuk. As thin as she was it was as if Ben were carrying a wobbly sack of potatoes, she says, and when she was in better condition it was a whole lot easier on Ben.<br /><br />Another good example is Kirsten Moore Towers. I'm a big fan - I thought she and Dylan were great from the first. However, this year, it's so obvious that in the lifts she's both lighter and stronger. Entrances and exits are swifter and smoother. She's hit a completely different level of conditioning.<br /><br />Tatania Volosozhar isn't the teensy weensiest pairs girl out there (though all pairs girls are pretty small) but it's obviously incredibly easy for her partner to execute lifts and maneuver her in space.<br /><br />With Meryl, I do believe she's far too thin. She's created an artificial body type - the tell is when your joints - and your head - are the biggest parts of your body. But why? She's already fairly petite. Does she need to be as light as possible because Charlie actually manages better - so the lifts can look less labored and lighter - something's that being achieved more with weight loss and Meryl's own physical fitness than with strong technique? There's still a lot of sack of potatoes or moving a plank around stuff going on there.oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-72342974589052925982013-03-21T10:03:10.767-07:002013-03-21T10:03:10.767-07:00This means we need to look at the pcs in CoP and s...This means we need to look at the pcs in CoP and see where "evident effort" must be rewarded.oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-21489778866534548982013-03-21T10:01:04.588-07:002013-03-21T10:01:04.588-07:00I don't understand why more people aren't ...I don't understand why more people aren't concerned about her weight. And yet, there are still people jumping all over Tessa for being fat. In case anyone failed to notice, Tessa was looking extremely thin at Worlds, to the point where it was almost scary.<br /><br />Anyone who has seen Tessa in person knows that she's tiny. Her body has changed in recent years (no, not because she "grew up", it's because she had a baby) so I guess maybe there's where some of it is coming from?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-56644741554113669042013-03-21T09:57:37.528-07:002013-03-21T09:57:37.528-07:00It's common sense. I used to have a coffee tab...It's common sense. I used to have a coffee table book on figure skating that had a lot on 1994. Some comment went "The hardest thing is to keep an arm still". It's self-evident. The remark was made about the pairs competition in 1994. Which is harder - riding and holding a long, deep, silent edge with beautiful posture, in unison not just of line but of rhythm with your partner, and keeping the upper body beautifully still or at least your movements beautifully controlled - or pumping along working hard and flailing? The still, quite fluid looking skating is by far the more difficult and it's better quality skating. You can't do it without superb skating skills - that edge has to be deep and secure. Look at Michelle Kwan - she's flowing like water out there.<br /><br />Tanith is full of it. But if she'd elaborated on her point maybe she means it's something the judges fall for. However, it's so basic that any judge who fell for it would be obviously unqualified.oycanadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056686007756844095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-39963037742121129862013-03-21T09:27:24.554-07:002013-03-21T09:27:24.554-07:00I will third this...it irritates me to no end when...I will third this...it irritates me to no end when sports fans cannot understand that CONTROLLED refined movements are actually harder athletic accomplishments than appearing pushing everything to the max. Perfect example - track and field athletes. The best in the world - yes have explosive power but they make it seem natural because their TECHNIQUE is perfect dammit. It's when the TECHNICAL is not perfect - these athletes have to work harder and cheat. When do you actually give your best performance in terms of world records? When it becomes second nature and you are NOT FIGHTING your body and there is FLUIDITY...sorry but my exercise physiology and biomechanics background is coming out LOL...Sorry for the rant.do you Usain Bolt making it look hard...Michael Phelps being frantic in the water..so all of a sudden instead of figure skating being about actual figure skating (in memoriam of what Barbara Ann Scott cherished) - we should it make it make more about making the events look like the X-Games....good for you Kurt...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-55276854280490807352013-03-21T09:05:19.668-07:002013-03-21T09:05:19.668-07:00"Does Kurt Browning keep up with CoP every ye..."Does Kurt Browning keep up with CoP every year? When GP were skating he praised Poirier even though Poirier wiped out at the end of the twizzles, because he said you're supposed to "look like you're pushing everything to the max." For real Kurt? What page is that on?"<br /><br />This new meme has been something that's bugging the crap out of me. I forgot what event it was at, but sometime I think last season, Tanith, while commenting on D/W, made a remark about how it was good to make things look hard.<br /><br />HELLO? For years, everyone has yammered on about how important it is to make the difficult look easy. Skaters who do this were praised for making the difficult look easy. Now, with D/W around, the important thing is to make it look like what you're doing is hard? Bullshit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583966972735299482.post-25486494182334148702013-03-21T09:00:18.318-07:002013-03-21T09:00:18.318-07:00Not only does Tessa absolutely kill it, she and Sc...Not only does Tessa absolutely kill it, she and Scott are FABULOUS quicksteppers. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what they come up with for their SD. Like, geeked out excited looking forward.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com