The Shibutanis Thread 4: Ready for Paradise

[MRani]

I agree. Their unison is one of their most spectacular qualities and something few other teams can match. They should milk it for all it’s worth.

 

[Rukia]

What a great angle to see all the details! Those choctaws in the rhumba pattern are delicious. And there's so much detail in their footwork. Hands down my favorite SD of the year.

 

[VGThuy]

What a great angle to see all the details! Those choctaws in the rhumba pattern are delicious. And there's so much detail in their footwork. Hands down my favorite SD of the year.

Mine too. That's what makes their FD so frustrating for me. It's not bad and it's actually good on its own, but they could have really made a much bigger statement with the actual choreography and difficulty of the transitions with it. I'm sure it'll improve and change, but the Shibs are doing so much content with their SD and doing it so effortlessly and really dancing in it that I wish there was more of that in the FD.

 

[firstflight]

Mine too. That's what makes their FD so frustrating for me. It's not bad and it's actually good on its own, but they could have really made a much bigger statement with the actual choreography and difficulty of the transitions with it. I'm sure it'll improve and change, but the Shibs are doing so much content with their SD and doing it so effortlessly and really dancing in it that I wish there was more of that in the FD.

Part of what made W/P's "Je Suis Malade" performance in Nice so effective and beloved was that Kaitlyn was literally throwing her whole body around to help convey the music. Charlie White made an interesting point that that last section of the Shibutanis' FD could use more expressiveness in their upper bodies. I think the music is just so big in the last section that they need to appear more free and throwing caution to the wind, even if they don't necessarily feel it. And it needs to be more full choreographically. "Fix You" was ok after the twizzle sequence because they had a pretty packed step sequence, but here, it kind of feels like the program gets emptier and emptier heading into the finish.

 

[teacakes]

OK, so the pictures here are so damn cute I cannot: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-are-maia-and-alex-shibutani

 

[Jessica]

OK, so the pictures here are so damn cute I cannot: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-are-maia-and-alex-shibutani

OMG--I smiled so much I teared up.
Thank you so much.

 

[VGThuy]

OK, so the pictures here are so damn cute I cannot: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-are-maia-and-alex-shibutani

Omg, 22 pictures of baby Maia and Alex give me life.

 

[chapis]

OK, so the pictures here are so damn cute I cannot: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-are-maia-and-alex-shibutani

I had not seen those photos. So adorable!!! I love this one https://imgur.com/a/Uw6TT they were always dancing, I see why her mother decided to form the team, it was too logical that it would work and that they would have fun.

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They are in NY, tomorrow Facebook live for 100 days until Winter olympics. NBC olympics 10:15 ET https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/925527861406117888

 

[MRani]

OK, so the pictures here are so damn cute I cannot: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-are-maia-and-alex-shibutani

This was way too cute to look at on Halloween!

I love their matching bowl cuts haha. Adorable.

 

[Spun Silver]

I like the one where two year old Maia is sitting on Alex’s back -he’s grinning. Caption:Maia and Alex won the US National Championships in 2016and 2017. Too adorable!

Seriously, the way they are documented and always so happy together is unbelievable. Now that I’ve seen Papa Shib on skates with Maia, I’m starting to think he and Mama Shib are like Richard Williams.

Cool to see the pics of Baby Maia with Kwan.

 

[Spiralgraph]

Great great pictures. All that cuteness astounds me.

 

[chapis]

closing ceremony uniforms for olympics 2018, Team USA

https://twitter.com/RalphLauren/status/925721254736351232
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba9CvrzlfIW/?taken-by=teamusa
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba9DxRZlD4f/?taken-by=usfigureskating
https://imgur.com/a/NDaDq

They look great. I love the jackets, seems very warm.

 

[VGThuy]

The power of a pretty woman on the Internet, this five second clip of Maia just stroking on the ice at Kristi's show has 90K views and counting:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba5Ji6RFLsi/

Maia and Alex are supposedly doing a FB live right about now, but I don't see a link to it:

https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympic...1509546406./10156974221110329/?type=3&theater

 

[chapis]

The power of a pretty woman on the Internet, this five second clip of Maia just stroking on the ice at Kristi's show has 90K views and counting:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba5Ji6RFLsi/

I know, it seems a commercial, she could be promoting a shampoo, sportswear, skates, figure skating, new vlog, anything, lol.

 

[VGThuy]

The FB live was just posted:

https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics/videos/10156976893260329/

I don't know how to directly link to it, but it's there if you scroll down.

ETA: The direct link.

 

[sap5]

Mine too. That's what makes their FD so frustrating for me. It's not bad and it's actually good on its own, but they could have really made a much bigger statement with the actual choreography and difficulty of the transitions with it. I'm sure it'll improve and change, but the Shibs are doing so much content with their SD and doing it so effortlessly and really dancing in it that I wish there was more of that in the FD.

They have time still to add choreo, etc. I'm betting we'll see significant changes at Skate America.

 

[Mrs. P]

Today show clip of closing ceremony outfit reveal: https://www.today.com/video/get-a-f...lympic-closing-ceremony-outfits-1086093891836

 

[VGThuy]

The NBC Olympic FB page has a lot of videos featuring the Shibs now. There's a cute one where Ashley Wagner is hosting a relay race between the Shibs, Hillary Knight, and Gus Kentworthy with Ashley commentating. Ashley was rooting for the Shibs but alas Maia came in third and Alex fourth. There's also a clip of their interview with NBC Nightly News.

https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics/videos/10156979118620329/

NBC Nightly News small clip:

https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics/posts/10156978627265329

 

[aftershocks]

These might have been posted already, but I'm just now catching up:

23 Questions with ShibSibs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOvMtaulwWs
Vlog #46 The Shibs at Work ... glimpses of Peter T -- funny spot with their Gram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_U5uBwFwBY such cutie pies @2:49 Awww sleepyhead poohs (Lily & Po)
Vlog #47 70 Hours in June (Olympic Day; costume fitting; music editing with RyanImay)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYOOJsbXY8s
Vlog #48 140 Hours in June (LA Koreatown; training with Renee; Instagram party @the Beach; hard work @the rink)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89QuQ0xDUtM
Vlog #49 July 2017 Skating, Shoots, Cake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9frqvFrRJ2o
Vlog #50 about August 2017 Champs Camp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G37HzPSVAXk
Vlog #51 at Yamaguchi's show with JereAmazin, Polina, Karen, et al ... Baby Maia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6sWnRCHNp4
Instagram Live 9/9/2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQvIqF3AMzQ

Shibs in Korea 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlEDFINUC6M (learning Korean dance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqXG9IArWzQ (sampling Korean food)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-rPQHX7QIE full Sports Envoy video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IndvS5VsJhs Shibs whip up a chicken recipe, introduced by Brian B

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgfXk9SMS1I Chasing Olympic Dreams: Lunch Break
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5buONjXTMlU Alex Shibutani feature in lead-up to Sochi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0R9EAoTwn4 Maia Shibutani feature for Sochi

 

[VGThuy]

Thanks for compiling all those videos in one post. I think it's very useful to have a reference post like this.

 

[MRani]

Looking through the NBCOlympics Facebook page, I was actually really impressed with their coverage. They do a great job of highlighting US athletes but also give attention to non-USA top athletes too. I saw little features on Kaetlyn, Evgenia, V/M, and Yuzu’s performances at their GPs too which I thought was very cool and great for more casual American fans to see on that page.

And I’m loving all the media attention the Shibs are getting. It’s great to see them getting so much recognition and support. Alex’s pun game was on point in that Facebook live LOL.

 

[aftershocks]

Thanks for compiling all those videos in one post. I think it's very useful to have a reference post like this.

You're welcome. I had fun doing it too. Major thanks to Maia and Alex and friends, of course!

 

[Sylvia]

Here's the NBC Nightly News feature story (almost 5 mins. long), narrated by Lester Holt: https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-new...ans-aim-for-gold-in-pyeongchang-1084177987908

 

[chapis]

Here's the NBC Nightly News feature story (almost 5 mins. long), narrated by Lester Holt: https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-new...ans-aim-for-gold-in-pyeongchang-1084177987908

It works only in the USA, right?, it does not say it's blocked but I can not see anything.

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eta. Fancam SD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcRX9NmfSE I love it!!, and their twizzles look spectacular

 

[VGThuy]

It works only in the USA, right?, it does not say it's blocked but I can not see anything.

-----

eta. Fancam SD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcRX9NmfSE I love it!!, and their twizzles look spectacular

I was going to post the link the Aaron's brilliant fan cam of their SD performance. I love seeing it from this angle (you see how FAST they're going in the pattern) and I like seeing Tarasova and Trankov watching from their commentary booth on the left side of the screen.

 

[MRani]

It works only in the USA, right?, it does not say it's blocked but I can not see anything.

-----

eta. Fancam SD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcRX9NmfSE I love it!!, and their twizzles look spectacular

Omg that little baby ice clearing skater jumping up and down to try to see Maia and Alex over the boards at around 1:43 just melts my heart.

And wow I love this view. You get a much better idea of speed and ice coverage, and the crowd reaction during the beginning of the dance going into the rhumba section was great too.

 

[VGThuy]

Just watched C/B's SD. Now that we've seen all of the SDs from the main contenders, I really do honestly believe (not just my bias at play) that the Shibs have the best SD of the field in terms of choreography and character. I'm warming up to P/C's SD (I rewatched it a lot after Finlandia). At COC, it seems Gabrielle took what Maia did in the SD last year with the ponytail and really ran with it. Gabi had a lot of whipping her hair back and forth going on. Maia's was a lot more subtle and sprinkled the ponytailography in small doses the SD.

 

[Mrs. P]

The thing that was sort of shocking about watching Chock and Bates is the distinct difference in skating skills between them and the Shibs. They were able to hide a lot of that in the past because they were fast (and I do think Madi has improved), but there was a lot of choppy steps today.

I still like the feel of it -- it did feel different from the other SDs we've seen so far. I think they will improve (and their twizzles looked improved, actually) but there's work to do, a contrast from the smoothness we saw from the Shibs at their first competition.

 

[chapis]

I really like the new SD of C/B, but yes, definitely Maia and Alex have the best SD. Can you believe that when latin rhythms were announced, everyone were worried about the Shibs? . I think these challenges motivate them, to show their worth to all those people who use their sibling situation to put them down.

 

[suki]

Just watched C/B's SD. Now that we've seen all of the SDs from the main contenders, I really do honestly believe (not just my bias at play) that the Shibs have the best SD of the field in terms of choreography and character. I'm warming up to P/C's SD (I rewatched it a lot after Finlandia). At COC, it seems Gabrielle took what Maia did in the SD last year with the ponytail and really ran with it. Gabi had a lot of whipping her hair back and forth going on. Maia's was a lot more subtle and sprinkled the ponytailography in small doses the SD.

I don't like P/C's SD at all. I understand using non-traditional Latin music to create something new, and I think V/M does well with the concept. But, P/C's Latin Ed Sheeran. I still don't understand the massive hype around this team.