Olympic Champion SURVIVOR: Pairs Round 1

[skateboy]

Okay, now for the Olympic Champion SURVIVOR!

The rules are: vote for the weakest link. For the first three rounds, we'll eliminate the bottom two. After that, one at a time. Other than that, there are no rules.

[Blair]

I'm always amazes at how people insist that Sale and Pelletier are so terrible...or at least terribly inferior to their rivals.

IMO, the strength of their elements alone puts them near the top of this list.

[crankyintheAM]

I hope Sale/Pelletier and their fake gold medal go first

[flipforsynchro]

Can someone explain to me why so many people hate S/P? Besides the gold medal part.

[skateboy]

Can someone explain to me why so many people hate S/P? Besides the gold medal part.

That's the only reason.

[Cherub721]

S&P were definitely voted out too quickly in the other poll, ahead of teams with no Olympic medal and only 1 world title (and even those who do not agree that S&P should have won in SLC surely must believe they deserved silver). However, in this poll, their record does put them near the bottom. Their OGM was originally a silver. They only have 1 World title. R&Z have 6; Protopopovs, R&U, and G&G have 4; V&V and S&Z have 3; B&S and T&M have 2. Only K&D lack World gold, but their OGM win is unquestionable (except the German judge ). S&P have no other World medals.

Based on their records, K&D and S&P would be eliminated this round. Obviously, there's other factors to consider, and S&P do have some great pair elements and a few memorable programs. I would rather watch them over Rodnina and partners or S&Z, myself, and I did not vote for them this round. But I don't think they're hard-done-by if they go first in this poll.

[Badams]

That's the only reason.

I had no idea that was the reason I disliked them so much!

[falling_dance]

I think a lot of people here find even S/P's best performances too sugary for their liking.

[satchelpooch318]

I just hope the winners of this game are the Protopopovs!
(I'll also accept Rodnina + partner as a second choice.)

[Cherub721]

I just hope the winners of this game are the Protopopovs!
(I'll also accept Rodnina + partner as a second choice.)

We all know it'll be G&G. Ho-hum.

[satchelpooch318]

We all know it'll be G&G. Ho-hum.

Aww...no disrespect to Sergei, of course.

[jamesy]

Can someone explain to me why so many people hate S/P? Besides the gold medal part.

fake snowball choreo

[Macassar88]

I hope Sale/Pelletier and their fake gold medal go first

Yes please
Anyway, I don't hate them exclusively for their fake gold. It's also because of her unsportsmanlike conduct when the marks came up and their boring recycled program with no choreography and transitions. And the fact that they fell in the short program and shouldn't have placed second.
Also I didn't like Orchid. I still can't understand why everyone thought it was so amazing.

[skateboy]

We all know it'll be G&G. Ho-hum.

Really? I loved them, but they're not my first choice.

[Blair]

For all the criticisms of S/P, aren't Kazakova/Dmitriev or Totmianina/Marinin worse on all counts? Technique, choreography, skating skills?

[gingercrush]

No Totmianina & Marinin have way better skating skills. I don't really care for pairs skating that much. I guess the choice is between Gordeeva & Grinkov or Rodnina & Zaitseva for the win.

[judgejudy27]

Sale & Pelletier. Unlike the other poll it is even easier to vote for them first this time as they are truly the weakest pair on the list this time, in addition to the biggest jerks.

[judgejudy27]

For all the criticisms of S/P, aren't Kazakova/Dmitriev or Totmianina/Marinin worse on all counts? Technique, choreography, skating skills?

Totmiana & Marinin are way stronger jumpers, and overall stronger technically than S&P, although S&P did have stronger lifts and a stronger twist. I dont see S&P beating them often or ever under COP had they continued. I also think Totmianina & Marinin once matured had better lines and superior basic skating, and S&P's choreography was just as simple for the most part.

Kazahkova & Dmitriev? Both S&P and K&D werent around very long and skated under different times so not really sure how they compare. S&P are worse jumpers than pretty much every top 10 pair of any modern era, Jamie can barely jump at all, even though Oksana had some jump issues at times. S&P had harder lifts and stronger death spirals. I prefered the choreography and programs of K&D personally.

[judgejudy27]

Can someone explain to me why so many people hate S/P? Besides the gold medal part.

1. Many of us believe they were clearly favored by politics and being propped up for 2 seasons bring to the SLC games. At some events they would even make major mistakes and beat a clean Bereznaya & Sikharulidze which is ridiculous. They managed to go undefeated except for 1 minor event for 2 years despite Jamie almost never doing a competition without atleast 2 major jumping errors over the 2 programs combined.

2. Their sportsmanship is terrible and hit its apex in SLC.

3. They had one signature program which makes them look like a one trick pony.

[blue_idealist]

Kazakova and Dmitriev. I'm too much of a Sale/Pelletier fan to vote them out at this point, although I probably should by at least the third round.