The Dance Hall 9: Bring the Bling or No Beijing 2021-2022

[bcash]

World champs have never been so brutally dumped ever. S/k have been dumped. Why should they compete after they have a gold medal?

The judges still gave them the highest PCS (by a tiny margin). And there was a bobble on their spin exit.

 

[shuilee]

Did Gabi predict the Olympic podium when she told Hubbell that the GPF 2020 Torino results (Montreal sweep) could become the Olympic result?

Although Madi seemed upset that implied she'd be 3rd behind Chock!

 

[caseyedwards]

The judges still gave them the highest PCS (by a tiny margin). And there was a bobble on their spin exit.

it’s s/k! isnt there always a bobble! But They still won worlds over all these people who beat them

 

[Andrea82]

The Canadian judge continued with her RD path.

Did SinKats just fall off the podium entirely in the individual event? Losing to USA teams both nights.

I know Team Event is a Marie-France friendly panel though. I wonder if there'd be lots of Eastern Euro judges for the individual event, which could change everything.

The pool of individual event judges are the 9 used in the team event plus China, Ukraine and Great Britain.

Those who will serve in 2 segments and those in just 1 will depend on the draw held 45 minute before the segment and on the result of covid tests that day.

 

[Dobre]

The American teams put themselves in the game.

All the skating that counts still to come, but they did what they needed to do to set themselves up for a real fight.

Guignard & Fabbri did pretty well too.

 

[VGThuy]

Results from 2020 GPF (the last time P&C, S&K and Americans all competed head-to-head against each other):

1. PapCiz
2. ChoBates
3. HubDon

SinKats off the podium with those RD mistakes, and then more mistakes in FD. Kinda like the team competition here.

Just saying......

Maybe now that the events happened the way it did, they can properly score the teams and not hold S&K up.

 

[Bigbird]

Maybe now that the events happened the way it did, they can properly score the teams and not hold S&K up.

Or maybe SinKats are just conserving their energies for the IE? While I do appreciate the scoring here, it feels a little sketchy. What took the judges so long to get it? Or am I missing something?

 

[VGThuy]

Or maybe SinKats are just conserving their energies for the IE? While I do appreciate the scoring here, it feels a little sketchy. What took the judges so long to get it? Or am I missing something?

It wasn’t for lacking of trying. S/K were still held up and it took a deduction for them to lose the FD. In the RD, they arguably should have placed below the Italians and even Piper and Paul.

 

[skatingguy]

Or maybe SinKats are just conserving their energies for the IE? While I do appreciate the scoring here, it feels a little sketchy. What took the judges so long to get it? Or am I missing something?

Other than the Canadian judge, no the judging seemed good - not sure what the delay was for Chock/Bates because they didn't have that many elements under review, but they were the last team so probably just judges making sure they had the marks in that they wanted.

 

[VGThuy]

Hasn’t Canada learned by now that when they make deals with Eastern Euros their ice dance teams don’t medal? Who knows? Maybe it’ll pay off in the individual.

 

[Bigbird]

I'll take it. But now Zhou has tested positive. I hope no one in the team has been affected. Really sad for him. I know he wanted a redemption skate. And as I type this I realize: wrong thread. Sigh.

 

[Bigbird]

Hasn’t Canada learned by now that when they make deals with Eastern Euros their ice dance teams don’t medal? Who knows? Maybe it’ll pay off in the individual.

No, their programs and costumes just like Sinkats belong in a garbage bin.

 

[VGThuy]

Looking at the protocols, S/K received .75 higher in base value but C/B got nearly 1.10 higher in GOE and the judges have them within 0.5 points in PCS. It’s going to be wild.

 

[Amantide]

They had an extended lift.

Ah ok.

I have to say though. I never cared for S&K but since the last time I saw them skate (which was 2 yrs ago?) prior to these Olympics, they have improved a lot. She in particular, which used to be eclipsed by him. Now I notice her and often I look at her more than I look at him.

 

[blancanieves]

Did Gabi predict the Olympic podium when she told Hubbell that the GPF 2020 Torino results (Montreal sweep) could become the Olympic result?

Although Madi seemed upset that implied she'd be 3rd behind Chock!

Gabi's comment was at the 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia GP where the medalists were PC, HD, and SB.

 

[Karen-W]

Gabi's comment was at the 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia GP where the medalists were PC, HD, and SB.

She was talking about the countries, not the teams, but, yes, the implication was gold-PapCiz, silver-HubDon, bronze-SinKats.

 

[I❤️Marina&Sergai]

Ah ok.

I have to say though. I never cared for S&K but since the last time I saw them skate (which was 2 yrs ago?) prior to these Olympics, they have improved a lot. She in particular, which used to be eclipsed by him. Now I notice her and often I look at her more than I look at him.

I agree, when they got together he was the star of the partnership but she really outshines him now.

 

[MarieM]

Well since he has a bad back, he does have trouble doing clean steps this season.

I wonder why nearly ALL of the men ice dancers from Russia suffer either from the back or the knees. Bad technique???

 

[Bigbird]

I agree, when they got together he was the star of the partnership but she really outshines him now.

It looked like they were thinking about every move like it was just a basic runthrough? And were they trying to change the choreographic step sequence to immitate P/C? I am still scratching my head.

 

[litenkyckling]

I'm in 2 minds about S/K's performance: On the one hand, Zhulin looked pretty pleased with the performance (but that could be an act) and I know that they likely did the event because they wanted to prove they could beat the Americans. I don't think this is good news for their momentum. On the other, were they holding back to save his back? It didn't look as free as it has in the past (but also, I don't think that this FD has ever really got to a performance level that they need it to be at). There was a moment when I thought it looked like an error - near the choreo steps I think (I've not rewatched yet) where she jumped towards him and it kind of looked like a botched lift attempt? I'm not sure, but it was odd choreo.

It's tough because I think they have really quality skating - but the programme just isn't it at all. It doesn't move me, it doesn't have any cool highlight moves, it has a weird music edit and it doesn't scream Olympic Champions to me. Chris Howarth on Eurosport had some interesting thoughts on this too, imo. A full on tango, like an extension of their 2018/19 RD would've been a moment, not this.

I also think however, that C/B should have been in second behind them. They are slow as molasses and while yes, an unusual programme, it never reaches a high for me. I feel like I want the music annd the movement to really pick up and become huge and grand and it just falls a little flat for me. Great that both US teams can come away as Olympic medalists (and may satisfy C/B enough to retire) but I think that with the way S/K were scored here, H/D could have really convincingly beat them. Their FD for me has more power and highlight movements and when they are on, they are just so so good.

I do think that Piper and Paul are likely out of the conversation for the bronze at this point. Chris Howarth was saying that he thinks that the blues is a bad rhythm for them in Olympic season because it doesn't suit their skating - but idk because the Elton isn't exactly for me but I loved their disco SD.

 

[skatingguy]

There was a moment when I thought it looked like an error - near the choreo steps I think (I've not rewatched yet) where she jumped towards him and it kind of looked like a botched lift attempt? I'm not sure, but it was odd choreo.

It's just odd choreo.

 

[clairecloutier]

I asked my casual-viewer husband for his impression of S/K's free dance. He thought that the skating looked good, but he was underwhelmed by the program. He felt that they didn't a real connection between them while they were skating. Like, they were trying to mime or act out a connection, but he thought it felt very surface, particularly from Nikita. Also, in his perception, they didn't skate in hold enough and were too separate. He felt that Chock and Bates skated with more genuine connection and holds between them, and also that their program was more interesting.

 

[PRlady]

I asked my casual-viewer husband for his impression of S/K's free dance. He thought that the skating looked good, but he was underwhelmed by the program. He felt that they didn't a real connection between them while they were skating. Like, they were trying to mime or act out a connection, but he thought it felt very surface, particularly from Nikita. Also, in his perception, they didn't skate in hold enough and were too separate. He felt that Chock and Bates skated with more genuine connection and holds between them, and also that their program was more interesting.

As much as we hate to admit it, casual viewers sometimes see the simple truths. (My husband watched the ladies' SP quietly and at the end said about Kamila that she's so elegant and smooth, by far the best. Let's face it, that's certainly true!)

Both H/D and S/K would have done better this quad with at least one really memorable program. C/B are not as good skaters and they are getting the highest marks because their programs really work for them.

 

[litenkyckling]

As much as we hate to admit it, casual viewers sometimes see the simple truths. (My husband watched the ladies' SP quietly and at the end said about Kamila that she's so elegant and smooth, by far the best. Let's face it, that's certainly true!)

Both H/D and S/K would have done better this quad with at least one really memorable program. C/B are not as good skaters and they are getting the highest marks because their programs really work for them.

Imagine if H/D had continued with the style from 2018 - in both programmes in fact. An latin inspired FD would've been lovely for them I think, or something with a more dark and dramatic storyline. Or another blue-sy FD. A Fleetwood Mac FD? So many options that I'd have loved to have seen from them instead of R&J etc.

 

[marbri]

I like H/D's FD this year. But I do think their best FD was their 2018 FD. That, imo, is the style they are best suited.

 

[Wyliefan]

Imagine if H/D had continued with the style from 2018 - in both programmes in fact. An latin inspired FD would've been lovely for them I think, or something with a more dark and dramatic storyline. Or another blue-sy FD. A Fleetwood Mac FD? So many options that I'd have loved to have seen from them instead of R&J etc.

Yes, I'll never understand why they didn't go that direction. They could have had some killer programs.

 

[PRlady]

Yes, I'll never understand why they didn't go that direction. They could have had some killer programs.

It might be that they didn’t want to be locked into a sensual style given their romantic history. Just guessing.

 

[litenkyckling]

It might be that they didn’t want to be licked into a sensual style given their romantic history. Just guessing.

I think they don't care about that, I think they will do everything they can to win, thats what they care about

 

[bcash]

Their 2017 FD was great too. Not necessarily dramatic or bluesy.

 

[Impromptu]

It might be that they didn’t want to be licked into a sensual style given their romantic history. Just guessing.

Well... sensual licking might send the dance event into NC-17 territory.