The Shibutanis Thread 4: Ready for Paradise

[Mrs. P]

I want someone to make a video game called ShibSibs vs. Dostani, with the Shibs SLAAAAYYYINNGGG their video game enemy with twizzles (with the Spanish-speaking count, of course), Maia's blink during the Partial Step, the sassy no-touch step ....

Bowser Dostani is no match for the Shibs!

In all seriousness, that was bomb, like more than I even would have expected. I watched the NBC, Olympic Channel and Ice Network versions and all of them were heaping tons of praise on them. I am thrilled for them.

And I agree with VGT, they're playing their own game -- I don't think they're even caring that much about where others think they should rank in the top World teams, just that they do everything in their power to CRUSH IT.

 

[MRani]

Ok, I finally got to watch it, and that was the best skated SD I’ve ever seen from them ever. I’d even go as far as to say it’s my favorite SD I’ve seen since becoming an ice dance fan. They were completely fearless and sharp and fast and absolutely killing the performance in every available second. They didn’t look like they were thinking about the tech at all and still nailed it.

If they keep skating like this, it’s going to get more and more difficult to deny that they deserve to be in the Olympic medal conversation beyond just bronze medal hopefuls in a pack of several other bronze medal hopefuls. Seriously. They were so good and I’m glad they got the huge score to show it. I am SO excited for the FD.

 

[Anyasnake]

This is the best I've seen the Shibs skate - Not talking just about a performance point of view but technical. We often say how clean they are etc, but they took it up a notch, I was so impressed, Bravo to them !!
Now I'm sure their goal is to reach at least 115 FD (114 maybe if imperfections). From what I've seen on the practice video, the whole program seemed much more polished and flowy, I think they can do it (don't give Mr D. the opportunity to hammer you !).

Funny thing : I tend to be on edge on I'm watching Ice Dance live. So I was so focused on the No-touch, pattern, Pst... and then twizzles came and I just relaxed : "Oh that's just the twizzles... the Shibs twizzles - Whatever". Anyway the improvement is awesome, I think they can definitely reach 80 by either the GPF (but it depends on the judges and tech panel + comparaison with other teams, so we'll see) or the Olympics (I think that one is very likely to happen).

But the rest of the field... that was a weird moment. Like everyone went backwards. (Some of it was deserved, some not at all : they just had a tougher panel...).

 

[Kultakissu]

They were so good - Definitely the best I've ever seen them. I wonder much more a level 4 ntms would have been? Over 80?

 

[Anyasnake]

They were so good - Definitely the best I've ever seen them. I wonder much more a level 4 ntms would have been? Over 80?

1.50 by level added.
But I said the same for P/C : it's somehow "better" not to have your huge score right away when the big competition isn't there yet. Instead of getting all your levels 4 now and thus you can only add GOEs and PCS (which Shibs did now) you have a 1.50 point margin. It's much better in a way.
Of course, now the goal is to add all the competitions together and get all levels at GPF. But it's nice to see that there is room for improvement.
Depending on the tech panel, if they skate clean like today at GPF plus look what to add/change/tweak in the No-touch, they'll get 80.

 

[VGThuy]

Aaron M posted a HD fan cam video of their Rostelecom Cup FD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpSN0Yb8shU

It looks great from that angle and the audience seemed seriously into the program. I loved the loud woman before their skate who wished them luck.

 

[Spun Silver]

Aaron M posted a HD fan cam video of their Rostelecom Cup FD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpSN0Yb8shU

It looks great from that angle and the audience seemed seriously into the program. I loved the loud woman before their skate who wished them luck.

It says a lot that the audience is wild about a team that is beating theirs!

 

[firstflight]

Goosebumps good! So great to see them fully engaged in the high energy portion of the song.

 

[Rukia]

I haven't got to watch the program yet because I just got home, but I can tell I'm going to need to hide in this thread for a bit.

 

[suki]

Okay, just watched the Shibs FD. I officially love itThat gave me chills!

 

[Kultakissu]

The very last lift - I was almost in tears!

 

[suki]

Beyond the technical changes they have made to their FD, they are skating with a whole new level of emotion and abandon. I can finally see the "Triology" and how all the pieces fit together. They did not take the easy way with this program, and I'm sure there will be naysayers. I say to hell with them.

 

[VGThuy]

That was an excellent performance by them. The few snarkers are coming out of the woodwork now because they couldn't say much after the SD. They're not really able to say much here either except some lame comments about last year's programs which means it's obvious they didn't really watch last year's programs if they think they skated to Coldplay last year or that the choreography was similar and thus makes them look ignorant to me.

 

[suki]

That was an excellent performance by them. The few snarkers are coming out of the woodwork now because they couldn't say much after the SD. They're not really able to say much here either except some lame comments about last year's programs which means it's obvious they didn't really watch last year's programs if they think they skated to Coldplay last year or that the choreography was similar and thus makes them look ignorant to me.

I don't get it. P/C has been doing the same program for the last few seasons, yet they are praised for being artists true to their "art." The Shibs programs have more intellect and intricate choreo, and stronger technique.

 

[VGThuy]

And H/D are being promoted by some (I'm not counting the very true and sincere H/D fans who I know genuinely love them and want them to get the best results) because they're less of a threat to upset the current applecart.

Anyway, not only did the Shibs do what needed to be done, but they scored very high scores in front of a very difficult technical panel unlike at Skate Canada where so many teams were getting much higher scores than they received elsewhere for similar performances and NHK where Cappellini/Lanotte amazingly got some high levels for some rough footwork sequences.

 

[Mrs. P]

You usually throw shade at people who are a threat.

Anyway, they should feel encouraged (and it's clear they did) from coming out of what could have been a terrible tech panel. Also the +GOE? It's not that much less than what V/M got at NHK Trophy or Skate Canada, FWIW.

 

[Spun Silver]

I don't get it. P/C has been doing the same program for the last few seasons, yet they are praised for being artists true to their "art." The Shibs programs have more intellect and intricate choreo, and stronger technique.

Actually P/C have many critics who say just that. (The V/M crowd, of course. ) And of course with the Shibs constantly improving and breaking out of their shell and keeping their eyes on the prize and becoming a real threat the haterz are going to come out guns a-blazing. Take it as a compliment! If the Shibs can handle it, so can we!

 

[suki]

You usually throw shade at people who are a threat.

Anyway, they should feel encouraged (and it's clear they did) from coming out of what could have been a terrible tech panel. Also the +GOE? It's not that much less than what V/M got at NHK Trophy or Skate Canada, FWIW.

Preach, Mrs. P!!!!

 

[Spun Silver]

You usually throw shade at people who are a threat.

Anyway, they should feel encouraged (and it's clear they did) from coming out of what could have been a terrible tech panel. Also the +GOE? It's not that much less than what V/M got at NHK Trophy or Skate Canada, FWIW.

So what was it like in person, Mrs P?

 

[Mrs. P]

So what was it like in person, Mrs P?

You're thinking of chapis. I'll give my report at Nationals.

 

[Anyasnake]

I don't get it. P/C has been doing the same program for the last few seasons, yet they are praised for being artists true to their "art." The Shibs programs have more intellect and intricate choreo, and stronger technique.

Come ooon now. These are not the same programs at all unless Bethoveen is somehow connected to their strange music from last year
I may be team P/C but I'm a big fan of the Shibs : no need to tear one team apart for the other (plus some weird Ubers do that already)

Anyway big congrat to the Shibs ! I may have foresee that 115 in the previous comments
I feel like I might have preferred it in Russia though... actually not all just the Dist part. But I'll have to rewatch it again. The rest was very good.

 

[Spun Silver]

You're thinking of chapis. I'll give my report at Nationals.

Oh sorry. I thought you were there too.

 

[Mrs. P]

Ha, I wish!

 

[VGThuy]

So, the Shibs did the right thing changing their diagonal step sequence. It's much more on beat with the music, and it looks like there's much more going on too. Win-win as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Spun Silver]

Omg I got so excited about the Shibs that I forgot about ladies and turned off my TV!!

 

[Mrs. P]

Did anyone notice some of the changes in the music? I think they reworked the para-para-para-dise part when they do the old Fix You lift....and I think that was a good change.

 

[Spun Silver]

Did anyone notice some of the changes in the music? I think they reworked the para-para-para-dise part when they do the old Fix You lift....and I think that was a good change.

I thought the same but need to do a SBS comparison

 

[Mrs. P]

Here you go:

RC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPibMgNZn88&t=3m22s
SkAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6c5feWaFhQ#t=3m25s

It's really slight, so it's easy to miss. I only noticed it after watching them play that clip's music.

 

[suki]

Come ooon now. These are not the same programs at all unless Bethoveen is somehow connected to their strange music from last year
I may be team P/C but I'm a big fan of the Shibs : no need to tear one team apart for the other (plus some weird Ubers do that already)

Anyway big congrat to the Shibs ! I may have foresee that 115 in the previous comments
I feel like I might have preferred it in Russia though... actually not all just the Dist part. But I'll have to rewatch it again. The rest was very good.

No disrespect intended to P/C, Anyasnake. What I find so infuriating is the double standard some people use in the ice dancing discussion boards where one team is praised for certain qualities that are turned into negatives for other teams the commentator likes less/not at all. I realize it's an "uber" problem, which thankfully, we don't have in this thread.

 

[Anyasnake]

No disrespect intended to P/C, Anyasnake. What I find so infuriating is the double standard some people use in the ice dancing discussion boards where one team is praised for certain qualities that are turned into negatives for other teams the commentator likes less/not at all. I realize it's an "uber" problem, which thankfully, we don't have in this thread.

I very much agree with what you say. I'm guessing when a team is threatening, you want to convince yourself that they have many many flaws.
It might get a bit worse now since it's not just 1-2 who look like they are a lock now, it does feel like a clear 1-2-3... the scores are very big it's going to be hard for anyone to catch up for a place on that podium, even for H/D. I know you can't compare competitions (again) but just the PCS gives you an idea.
Actually, even 1-2-3-4. Based on scores, placement, skating skills, etc.

EDIT : any eurosport link ? I couldn't find any for the SD.