I'd agree, though the odd thing for me so far as far as the RD scoring, in particular, goes is that the Challengers have revealed an unmistakable scoring boost for teams outside the Big 7, taking a lot of teams from the mid-60s into the 70s and from the low 70s to the mid- or even upper-70s (and obviously, F-B/S' surge into scoring identically to the Big 7). But there's been no commensurate surge for the Big 7, who are still in the 80-ish range they were at in Saitama.
I don't know. I think it's still too early to know. I think we're getting some movement, but with early events it's so often about how the scoring runs at different events. Because the top teams aren't going up against each other, and even when the mid-range teams do, you've usually got someone skating near home or someone mucking up because they are at a more developmental stage of the competitive process. (I mean, I don't really see the point in trying to judge where S&K are relative to the larger field based on either their comparatively lower Nepela scores two weeks ago or comparatively high RD score at a non-ISU event this week).
Skate America is going to be a real test for some of these escalating scores because the judges are going to have to separate that field. (They had to separate teams at Lombardia also, where there were so many teams in that battle for the bronze).
A few contradictory thoughts about teams that are scoring many points higher this pre-season than last year:
F-B&S are getting a scoring surge that . . . well . . . is probably not unconnected to the fact that Weaver & Poje are out and Canada needs both teams to move up if they are going to get three spots for next season. Last year F-B&S weren't even competing the regular season so obviously they
are in a better place right now. But how much of one, I don't know.
Hurtado & Khaliavin also scored high at Nepela, despite a botched lift. We wait a little and see if they can repeat and/or improve on that elsewhere. They don't have very deep GP events. SC isn't Zhulin's territory, but still top 4 seems very doable there. And the Rostelecom podium
appears to be a cakewalk relative to most of the events. H&K's first heavy-duty field will be Europeans.
Carreira & Ponomarenko had two CS events early--one at home with very little competition and one against very serious competition in the form of Hawayek & Baker. Still we wait & see what happens when C&P aren't on Igor's turf . . . if they are ever not on Igor's turf this season? They skate at home for SA. There's no one at the top at the Asian Open. NHK should be pretty neutral territory for C&P.
Fear & Gibson are scoring high, but didn't pass C&P. (Which means I don't know if F&G are actually moving or not).
The space behind last year's top 8 teams was always unlikely to last. Teams @10-20 points back (several of whom are not yet listed above) were earning comparable and in several cases superior levels. Those teams didn't have the experience & had a lot of proving to do last year. But there were a lot of opportunities to prove oneself last year. 10-20 point gaps are not normal in dance. They usually do get filled.
youtu.be
I thought the place was going to collapse
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