Davis & White #15: The Polka Connection

[nlyoung]

In defense of PJ, V/M did receive one more L4 element than did D/W. This can be taken to mean that D/W lost it with "a mistake" as lost levels are extremely costly in dance and this difference accounts for the difference in their respective technical scores. The "errors" everyone talks about in V/M's FD were minor and not on elements, not to mention that most viewers wouldn't have noticed them at all if perfectionist Tessa herself hadn't made mention of them after their skate. Had D/W scored L4 on footwork as did their rivals the results might have been different.

[literaryfreak]

In defense of PJ, V/M did receive one more L4 element than did D/W. This can be taken to mean that D/W lost it with "a mistake" as lost levels are extremely costly in dance and this difference accounts for the difference in their respective technical scores. The "errors" everyone talks about in V/M's FD were minor and not on elements, not to mention that most viewers wouldn't have noticed them at all if perfectionist Tessa herself hadn't made mention of them after their skate. Had D/W scored L4 on footwork as did their rivals the results might have been different.

Quite a few people noticed V/M's mistakes before she ever mentioned them. It was clear Worlds was not V/M's best performance of that FD.

[Jessiebanana]

Johnny manages to be witty and insightful with his skating commentary, and it's too bad he's not setting his sights on making Sochi in the commentary booth. Pardon me tho', I'm whether you're referring OT to Johnny's admitted lies from his rebellious teenage years, or to PJ's whopper re V/M deserving to win in Nice last year over D/W's "not perfect" Die Fledermaus.

I'm referring to PJ. I'm only speaking about their careers as commentators.

[lauravvv]

Quite a few people noticed V/M's mistakes before she ever mentioned them. It was clear Worlds was not V/M's best performance of that FD.

I noticed only one slight stumble by Scott, and that was not on an element, as nlyoung already wrote. Since then I have rewatched the performances very carefully at least several times, but I still haven't noticed any other mistake from them. Probably I have to rewatch once again, as it may be that there was something that I was not able to notice previously (as I am not an expert). What I did notice, though, that Meryl and Charlies edges in that particular performance were not as deep as usual (and not only in step sequences). Tessa and Scott's edges were deeper overall, so that might be one of the reasons why they received a higher mark for their skating skills despite Scott's slight stumble.

[literaryfreak]

I noticed only one slight stumble by Scott, and that was not on an element, as nlyoung already wrote. Since then I have rewatched the performances very carefully at least several times, but I still haven't noticed any other mistake from them. Probably I have to rewatch once again, as it may be that there was something that I was not able to notice previously (as I am not an expert). What I did notice, though, that Meryl and Charlies edges in that particular performance were not as deep as usual (and not only in step sequences). Tessa and Scott's edges were deeper overall, so that might be one of the reasons why they received a higher mark for their skating skills despite Scott's slight stumble.

Tessa had a slip as well.

[lauravvv]

Tessa had a slip as well.

I now rewatched their Worlds performance. I guess I had forgotten about it, or even sort of registered both of their slips as a one mistake in my head because they happened so close together, almost at the same time. I can also see how many people might even not have noticed those barely there stumbles without the slow motion playback, as they happened during the faster part of their FD, and it all went by so quickly. I agree that those slips should have influenced their SS, and P/E marks a bit, but certainly not by so much that they could loose the gold even after winning the SD by close to one and half points and with a higher technical mark in their FD. I didn't write this to start a new argument, especially in this thread, I just wrote my honest opinion. But if someone disagrees so strongly that they feel like they absolutely have to respond, please PM me instead of responding here.

[nlyoung]

Quite a few people noticed V/M's mistakes before she ever mentioned them. It was clear Worlds was not V/M's best performance of that FD.

I agree it wasn't their best performance. I pointed out the technical levels and scores only because of the indignation of some posters that PJ could imply that D/W's skate was anything but perfect. Both could have skated better. D/W lost a level and points as a result. The fact that V/M's slips were on non scoring elements was just luck.

[mollymgr]

Would this be the first time D/W have kept pretty much the same costumes all season?
I think the La Boheme, La Traviata SD from 2011 probably saw the most Meryl costume changes. It went from red to various shades of peachy orange. Her purple World's costume was so amazing that year
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPQv1oLyCz.../practice1.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4-PJrkBI6...s1600/SD12.jpg

[Whitneyskates]

Their Phantom/Bollywood costumes stayed the same throughout the 09/10 season.

[mollymgr]

Their Phantom/Bollywood costumes stayed the same throughout the 09/10 season.

Oh yeah, that's right.

I loved this polka costume too

[circuscandy]

Team Canton has been costume stable all year long. I think that must be a record! (Now watch all three teams randomly swap costumes at Worlds. )

I looove Meryl's purple SD dress. I also really loved the peachy one, but jewel tones really help keep her from washing out. Charlie looks fabulous in a cravat. He was channeling some glorious Regency flair that year. Paging Colin Firth as Darcy!

[mollymgr]

Team Canton has been costume stable all year long. I think that must be a record! (Now watch all three teams randomly swap costumes at Worlds. )

I looove Meryl's purple SD dress. I also really loved the peachy one, but jewel tones really help keep her from washing out. Charlie looks fabulous in a cravat. He was channeling some glorious Regency flair that year. Paging Colin Firth as Darcy!

I agree, the light peach was the second best one that year IMO. I'm expecting the same costumes for Worlds because they have been quite fabulous. But with Meryl…who knows

[Cachoo]

Would this be the first time D/W have kept pretty much the same costumes all season?
I think the La Boheme, La Traviata SD from 2011 probably saw the most Meryl costume changes. It went from red to various shades of peachy orange. Her purple World's costume was so amazing that year
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPQv1oLyCz.../practice1.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4-PJrkBI6...s1600/SD12.jpg

Yep I wish we could have seen that one more. It is not only beautiful but so put together from head to toe.

[suki]

Is there any truth to the rumor that Marie Bowness of Canada
willbe the techncial caller for ice dancing this year at worlds? Wasn't she the tech caller last year as well? Thetechncial caller is the one who decides the levels, correct?

I guess it pays to have a powerful skating federation at the ISU

[sap5]

Is there any truth to the rumor that Marie Bowness of Canada
willbe the techncial caller for ice dancing this year at worlds? Wasn't she the tech caller last year as well? Thetechncial caller is the one who decides the levels, correct?

I guess it pays to have a powerful skating federation at the ISU

I think she was already tech caller for this season's GPF, so I don't believe she can be the caller for Worlds. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

[DORISPULASKI]

I heard that, but wonder whether it can be true. The source is a usually reliable source. She said Judy Blumberg would be the Asst. Tech. Specialist, which makes sense, since I don't think she's done a major event this year? She did not say who would be the tech controller.

[mollymgr]

I heard that, but wonder whether it can be true. The source is a usually reliable source. She said Judy Blumberg would be the Asst. Tech. Specialist, which makes sense, since I don't think she's done a major event this year? She did not say who would be the tech controller.

Does the ISU specify how many events one can judge?


The online version of the Skating Magazine issue from last month is now available.

[Sylvia]

The Professional Skaters Association (PSA) announced the 2013 U.S. Nationals winners of their EDI Awards for Best Performance on March 4.

From the PSA's Facebook page:

The EDI awards are named after the late World and Olympic coach, Edi Scholdan, who died in the 1961 world team plane crash. Scholdan was the first president of the PSA and inspiration for the Education and Dedication International (EDI) Awards.

One winner was chosen from each category; Men’s, Ladies, Pairs, Dance, and Synchronized to honor and recognize the outstanding efforts of these skaters. The award is based on the "total performance" with an eye to costuming, presentation, music selection, choreography, style, and technique. Winners were determined by a committee present at nationals that reviewed all long and short programs at the junior and senior levels for each discipline.

Ice Dancing: Winner - Meryl Davis & Charlie White (Senior Free Dance)
Coaches - Marina Zoueva & Oleg Epstein
Choreographer - Marina Zoueva
Music – “Notre-Dame de Paris” by Riccardo Cocciante and Luc Plamondon

A formal presentation of these awards will take place during U.S. Figure Skating’s Champs Camp later this year.

[leafygreens]

Carmen is such an overused war horse. I agree with Dave that it's fascinating to see Tessa groping herself

PJ had overall more generous things to say about the Shibs than she did about Meryl and Charlie.

If she had anything nice to say about the Shibs it's because they aren't threats to V/M. Throw a nice comment in about any non-D/W American team and it makes up for talking trash about D/W.

[volunteer]

Why do you think she has to "make up" for what you call trash talk about DW? She stated her opinion, glad to know you can interpret her intentions.