Shibutanis thread 3: Evolution

[Jammers]

Skating with abandon is what the Shibs still lack. They are technicians who are all about being perfect but they never let loose with their skating. They are still too introverted as performers.

 

[chapis]

Yes, come everyone to point out their deficiencies, even if this has nothing to do with their levels, it is the perfect timing .

At least it relieves me that no one has been able to point out the error they made in the partial sequence, if the call was fair, It was an stupid mistake, they got very good GOE.

Tomorrow will be a great day .

 

[VGThuy]

Yes, come everyone to point out their deficiencies, even if this has nothing to do with their levels, it is the perfect timing .

At least it relieves me that no one has been able to point out the error they made in the partial sequence, if the call was fair, It was an insignificant and stupid mistake, they got very good GOE.

Tomorrow will be a great day .

I think people are ignoring how close it is. Not saying the Shibs will medal, but they are certainly more than capable of getting a high FD score and moving up. The lead H/D and C/B have over them is not close to being insurmountable for a team that has the Shibs' scoring potential.

 

[chapis]

https://youtu.be/BzhTaQPiuCQ?t=7374 FD practice

 

[DDNatalia]

A strong practice. They look ready to deliver a terrific free dance performance. Sending out the energy of love, support and positive thinking to share amongst Maia and Alex fans!

 

[Jessica]

This may not be the score I wanted them to get and the way I wanted them to get on the podium, but I'm still breathing a long sigh of relief.
All I can say is I love them and their skating.
Maia and Alex--go home and have a good rest and come out with the best programs you've ever had next year.

 

[chapis]

well, this competition was difficult!!! They skated beautifully their FD, I still prefer their performance at 4cc because here they looked a little tense, definitely I was super tense, but it is understandable given the message they got yesterday. Anyway taking the positive, it will be a big motivation to prepare the olympic season. And they showed again why they are the num. 1 team of USA, regardless many people want/say otherwise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaCYDL09uVo FD
http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1617/wc2017/wc2017_IceDance_FD_Scores.pdf protocols

Eta. I think Alex said in the press conference that they already have the concept of their next FD. (I am not sure)
https://youtu.be/n4VmtdhH3bI?t=979 press conference.

Bronze medal, congratulations Shibs!!

 

[Spiralgraph]

Not the best way to get that medal, but as Chabis said, they proved why they're USA number 1. Thank goodness their twizzles are their best element. And they know how to compete and don't succumb to nerves.
With that said, they better work their hearts out to get ready for next season.

 

[DDNatalia]

Congratulations to Maia and Alex. Hard work. Well earned. Proud to be their fan. Not just as athletes, but as people.

There are many different ingredients that go into making a champion competitor and it is not the same for all athletes or sports. Maia and Alex pour their hearts and souls into the craft. They put unparalleled effort into promoting the sport in positive ways. I'm not saying they are perfect skaters, nor the best - and neither have they. They talk of striving to best that THEY can be.

When the pressure was on, YET AGAIN, they showed that they could rise to the challenge. They bring home the only medal for the U.S.

 

[chapis]

I guess that Maia and Alex will be competing at WTT

 

[VGThuy]

I was trying to stay unspoiled because I'm watching it on NBCSN but I saw an Instagram alert from Maia and I absentmindedly clicked on it and saw a pic of them with their medals.

Congrats Maia and Alex. Not a bad tech score considering how unfriendly Dostatni has been with them their entire career. It was not the most friendly panel for them but they are clearly America no. 1.

All that bs we had to hear after the SD, f*ck that noise.

 

[Rukia]

Man I thought they were insanely lowballed at this comp, but it doesn't matter they got the medal. People will split hairs with how it got handed to them because the others messed up, but that's how it works, isn't it? You have to be able to perform, and the Shibs did it. You can try and keep the medals from them, but they are going to fight tooth and nail for them. Congrats to them!

 

[Firedancer]

Congratulations to Maia and Alex on bringing home the only US medal! I'm sure it's not exactly how they wanted to win it, but they got the job done despite the unfriendly tech panel and judges. I look forward to seeing the at WTT.

 

[teacakes]

Congrats to the Shibs for winning their third world medal (and the only one for the US).

I had to watch it after it was over for my nerves lmao, great that they performed well as the chasers to get back to podium position.

 

[chapis]

I am really proud of them because really everyone were just expecting/wishing that they would did not make the podium , I mean, everyone, figure skating fans, media, technical panel. Everyone trying tell them that they do not belong to the top. I hope at least their family show them some of support .

 

[Jammers]

The Shibs probably have won their last World medal because i don't see improvement in their skating and they won't catch P/C and V/M. Other teams are right there too getting closer.

 

[VGThuy]

I am really proud of them because really everyone were just expecting/wishing that they would did not make the podium , I mean, everyone, figure skating fans, media, technical panel. Everyone trying tell them that they do not belong to the top. I hope at least their family show them some of support .

Seriously. I hope they show everyone up next season.

The Shibs probably have won their last World medal because i don't see improvement in their skating and they won't catch P/C and V/M. Other teams are right there too getting closer.

Yeah and according to you Gracie Gold should have replaced Karen Chen to ensure our third spot.

You can think whatever you want but the Shibs have often exceeded expectations and it's not like the judges have been itching to reward them like some other chosen ones. All of their success is due to forcing their way to be respected.

 

[Jessica]

The Shibs probably have won their last World medal because i don't see improvement in their skating and they won't catch P/C and V/M. Other teams are right there too getting closer.

You have a right to your opinion. My opinion is that posters who come into a fan thread and make comments like this about the skaters who the thread is about have no class.

 

[DreamsofBliss]

Eta. I think Alex said in the press conference that they already have the concept of their next FD. (I am not sure)
https://youtu.be/n4VmtdhH3bI?t=979 press conference.

Bronze medal, congratulations Shibs!!

Yes they definitely said they know what they are skating to next year and have already put a lot of thought into it. He also said they have ideas for the SD and have plans to meet with professionals to work on it.

 

[Spun Silver]

I am really proud of them because really everyone were just expecting/wishing that they would did not make the podium , I mean, everyone, figure skating fans, media, technical panel. Everyone trying tell them that they do not belong to the top. I hope at least their family show them some of support .

Supporting them is one thing, but misreading what happened is another. I dont think it does them any favors to act like this medal is something to celebrate like last year's. It is bad enough that they were so far from gold -- 13 pts, vs 6 last year. They very likely would not have gotten a medal at all if not for *two* other US teams' mistakes. Their free dance score was 3 pts below last year and they were 5th in the SD. Their overall score went down just from 4CCs. They got dinged on a lift they've done a million times.

We may find out they were under the weather - actually I thought Alex did look kind of pale coming out for the FD. Some think there is a conspiracy to push them back for BS who incomprehensibly placed a hair above them in the FD. Or maybe they are getting feedback from the judges that they need to make some changes. And I am not sure we will know for sure unless we find out they were sick or hurt.

Either way, the only "champion" way for them to respond is to work harder and, like you said in your first post, come out with their best programs ever, because at the moment "their" Olympic podium spot is being seriously challenged by at least CB, HD and apparently BS and WP. (I would add CL but it doesnt seem the judges agree with me.) It looks like other teams have gained or regained ground while the Shibs have lost it. Plus, another really good sibling team is coming into seniors and we know from the Shibs themselves and the Olympics in general that young skaters can sometimes have great early success.

It's not being unsupportive to state any of this. Being supportive is acknowledging it while letting them know we believe in their talent and their ability to overcome this challenge. They are smart, talented, special and hard-working. I got the impression they were shocked at what happened at Worlds. Maybe, assuming they werent skating sick (which may be a wrong assumption), they will get some useful feedback from the judges. It may take them time to digest this Worlds, decide what it means, and figure out what they need to do. I will only be unhappy if they act like nothing is wrong, because a little earthquake just happened in ice dance.

 

[chapis]

I am sure every team, including Maia and Alex will be working their ass off for the next season. This was only 1 competition, at 4cc they showed that they improved a lot, we already know that the american team is strong, the strongest of the world, so, it is not easy to be clearly dominant.
P/C had a rough season and today they broke the world record, yesterday H/D were at 2nd place, today they fell to the 10th place, many people predicted to C/B for the bronze medal, and today they are at 8th position, yesterday we all were hanging up the olympic medal to V/M and today, they lost the FD. I mean, one bad competition is not the end of the world, and yes, you are right, they must to take the feedback and work about it, but the same like every other team. This competition was difficult before the beginning because they already knew about the judges, I am almost sure they would not got those scores with another panel. I agree that Alex did not look very well and I don´t think Maia changing boots after 4cc was planned. Even if their only problem was a strict panel, they handled the situation very well, unlike other teams. C/B and H/D had practically the bronze medal in the bag and they by themselves lost the medal, Maia and Alex skated clean and got a big standing ovation, in fact, according to a poster in goldenskate, they probably got the biggest ovation of the crowd at the arena. So, yes, they have a lot of work to do, but also the other teams. C/B and H/D had worse result here than the Shibs, I don´t think they are done, but they have a lot of work to do. People can to say that the fall of Zach was a fluke, but it is the second fall this year, can you remember the last time the Shibs had a fall?, H/D must to learn to handle the pressure and it is not easy at all, in fact this mistakes can be very traumatic, ask to Gracie G. People say Shibs need better programs but C/B had not the best response with their programs. In conclusion, I don´t think Maia and Alex are in a worse situation than the other teams. Every team has strengths and weaknesses and all of them need work really hard, including the Parsons.

 

[snoopy]

I think that is true. The shibs are not in a worse situation than any of the teams ranked 3-10. They are in the fight for bronze mix. But we were kinda hoping they'd be moving up to fight for gold mix.

 

[suki]

I was trying to stay unspoiled because I'm watching it on NBCSN but I saw an Instagram alert from Maia and I absentmindedly clicked on it and saw a pic of them with their medals.

Congrats Maia and Alex. Not a bad tech score considering how unfriendly Dostatni has been with them their entire career. It was not the most friendly panel for them but they are clearly America no. 1.

All that bs we had to hear after the SD, f*ck that noise.

A big THANK YOU for expressing it so succintly, VIETgrl. I am so sick of some of the dismissive criticism heaped on the Shibs. If one of the Shibs made the mistake Scott Moir made in the free dance, the panel would have buried them. And don't get me started on the travesty that was the SD judging. How P/C keeps pulling those numbers for a lackluster and flawed SD is a mystery.

 

[kittyjake5]

Congrats to the Shibs! They should be proud of their Bronze medal. They won Bronze skating clean other than the lift deduction something their teammates did not do. So in my eyes their win is not lessened. This is sport and C/B and H/D failed to out perform the Shibs in the FD.

 

[kittyjake5]

The Shibs probably have won their last World medal because i don't see improvement in their skating and they won't catch P/C and V/M. Other teams are right there too getting closer.

Oh please give it a rest with your negativity.

 

[VGThuy]

This Worlds was like where everyone else was trying to make "fetch" happen and Alex and Maia were like "stop trying to make it happen."

 

[gk_891]

I just don't want them to be so dependent on a caller who may give them lower levels than what they've been getting for most of the season. I want them to be in a position where they'll still score and place high even if they receive a lower call like some other teams can afford.

Hmm, I'm completely out of loop in regards to this caller. What's the story behind it?

Regardless, nice to see the Shibs on the podium again.

 

[VGThuy]

Just reflecting, I've avoided the PBP thread but noticing other posts here, I think the reaction to the Shibs medal (the only medal Team USA won this whole championships) is getting compared to everyone else. Yeah the scores themselves are disappointing and people expect more and now they are ready to write them off or to arm chair coach them as to how their work this season was a failing one even compared to every team they beat for that medal (where's their critique?) and how their whole season went. I'm guilty of that too and I stand by what I said but at the same time I'm not going to undervalue the work they put in.

Which ice dance team other than V/M and P/C actually medaled at every event they entered this season? Won more than one international competition? Which other ice dance consistently scored more than 110 points in their FD this entire season? Which ice dance team actually has by far the third highest FD score this season?

Better yet, where's all the congratulations to Maia and Alex for ensuring that we have 3 spots for the Olympics? Chock/Bates and Hubbell/Donohue's placements alone would have lost us a spot. Karen and Ashley and Nathan and Jason got all kinds of love for that and they didn't medal, but now the Shibs had a failing strategy this season and people are salivating at the thought that they will be left behind while Hubbell/Donohue are considered to be on an upward trajectory despite falling 3 spots from last year's Worlds. I sound harsh on H/D and I don't mean to be because I would have ranked them 2nd in the SD and love their qualities and I rewatched their Worlds Tron FD more than any other ice dance program from that Worlds other than Alex/Maia's. It's just so frustrating seeing the difference in reactions but it does show who the forum's faves have been and will always be.

 

[DreamsofBliss]

I think it's partially because they were pretty much expected to win the bronze here. Some people hoped they'd be able to challenge PC and win silver. So the result is what was expected at minimum for them but disappointing because of how much lower the score was than 4cc. And it may seem frustrating to observers as well to see them lose so many levels consistently this season when attaining levels is how they clawed their way up. Then of course the SD happened and shook things up and people were happy for HD who got more than was expected in the SD. I don't know if that makes sense, but I think that's sort of how the emotional wave goes for the sports fan. A lot of Shibs fans are also HD fans so you have some overlap there as well and probably a lot of mixed emotions.

Of course everything you say is correct, but we're in the immediate aftermath of the event. Regarding, HD being seen as on an upwards trajectory...well, I guess they got a PB in the SD but the Shibs did not get a PB this competition, and in fact were several points off their PB in the FD. Of course, HD's FD could certainly change that perception of being on an upward trajectory, but the huge loss of points is easy to see was due to a fall and missed element while it's harder to understand the Shibs loss of points and for most fans who don't study protocol closely, think it's the judges dumping them.

 

[chapis]

Better yet, where's all the congratulations to Maia and Alex for ensuring that we have 3 spots for the Olympics? Chock/Bates and Hubbell/Donohue's placements alone would have lost us a spot. Karen and Ashley and Nathan and Jason got all kinds of love for that and they didn't medal, but now the Shibs had a failing strategy this season and people are salivating at the thought that they will be left behind while Hubbell/Donohue are considered to be on an upward trajectory despite falling 3 spots from last year's Worlds. I sound harsh on H/D and I don't mean to be because I would have ranked them 2nd in the SD and love their qualities and I rewatched their Worlds Tron FD more than any other ice dance program from that Worlds other than Alex/Maia's. It's just so frustrating seeing the difference in reactions but it does show who the forum's faves have been and will always be.

I had not even noticed that. And you are right, everyone was congratulating the other guys, in fact Ashley thanked especially to Karen.