GPdF 2025 PBP - Free Dance “The Chicken Dance”

[peibeck]

Babs need to run on the ice and stare down each judge, Babs style. Maybe that'll take care of these crazy scores.

More like the feds with judges on a panel with no skaters at IAM need to raise their voices against the juggernaut.

 

[Skaterbob]

It’s early season, they’re skating at home, with a very favourable panel, and clear politicking going on.

I expect coordinated retaliation from other feds who have something to lose.

Yea that all adds up that ice dance shouldn't be a sport.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

It’s early season, they’re skating at home, with a very favourable panel, and clear politicking going on.

I expect coordinated retaliation from other feds who have something to lose.

it's going to an awesome season of watching the blocs and counter-blocs forming.

 

[her grace]

Chock/Bates need to pull something quite spectacular out of their hats, particularly the RD to gain traction ahead of the FD when they eventually are going head-to-head with FB/C. Full lean into their acrobatic capabilities in the lifts, etc. to draw the biggest contrasts and crowd engagement, and make it as much an argument of personal taste that they can.

I am intrigued to see how C/B handle this. The acrobatic lifts are a given. But I recall a lot of big errors in important competitions when C/B felt pressured. Will they skate clean?

 

[Kateri]

People, we have NO break before the men start. C'mon, get a drink, use the bathroom, move!!

 

[Private Citizen]

I mean the 10s are probably overboard but where else should they lose points? They are so much better than the top 3 in the world with this program. And it’s not just the vibes of the program. The elements are quite good already.

I’ll take the top three in the world (or at least the top two). If you look past the pretentious choreography, I can’t explain why there’s such a big difference in GOE… and a gulf v the Italians.

Politiks seems like the most likely expectation behind sudden changes in fates. Lopareva dumped to the point that they may not even make the team. Lithuanians and Georgians suddenly receiving excellent scores for mediocre programs. Italians dumped. It’s all a bit too convenient for me.

 

[tony]

I’ll take the top three in the world (or at least the top two). If you look past the pretentious choreography, I can’t explain why there’s such a big difference in GOE… and a gulf v the Italians.

I have zero argument about the low-balling of the Italians, but I still don't think the GOE for FB/C are unjust. We've seen seasons and seasons of other teams getting massive GOE for questionable elements. None of this to me was really questionable or weak.

Third place team in the World is Fear/Gibson, by the way

 

[Ka3sha]

Going into the season, I really wanted to nitpick and leave some snarky comments about Guillaume doing vogue again. Or the same type of FD again. But today they were absolutely amazing and brilliant. Oh how I have missed the quality of skating in recent three-four years. Just the simple quality of knee work, deep edges, etc.
And for me she is the star of the team, I kept looking mostly at her for the whole dance.

vise versa, had very high expectations about F/G’s FD (absolutely love 500 miles and the Scottish theme), and ended up being disappointed. That felt juniorish after the whole group. Even Davis/Smolkin looked better to me.
And the costumes also scream “look, we are doing a Scottish dance in our day care center”

 

[marbri]

Real talk now.

1. If Babs and all the uberfans of G/F think the only problem they have is a bad RD and corrupt judging with IAM as the boogeyman then prepare to fail this season.

That FD was the most generic crap that they just skated through that any of the many interchangeable US teams provide us on a daily basis. And not even as well because if you are going to do that curve lift that everyone and their dog has done at some point in their career then at least do it at a dramatic point in the music.

And speaking of music nothing in your skating gives me any f****g clue what this song is about and what you are trying to show me. And that is a major fail because Italian is a beautiful language with so much passion. Hell grab any male Eurovision entry for Italy and actually skate TO IT and it would be a huge huge improvement. Doesn't matter if your skating skills are some of the best in the current ice dance world if you skate generic programs and can't emote your way out of a paper bag.

Stop stomping around in a temper tantrum, refusing to talk to the press and resharing fans social media posts about corrupt judging and instead pull your heads out of your asses and realise why you really are getting dumped. It's crowded at the top and someone has to go and if those programs are the choice you made then you have yourselves to blame.

2. LB/C. This Whale FD is Captivating and a great blending of these two talents. I have long held the opinion Laurence is one of the best female ice dancers and happy to see her experiencing this moment. She even brings out a bit of passion in Guillaume that he isn't used to showing. ( not a dig, he and Gabby were a very different pair because Laurence and Gabby are very different skaters). Anyway that program on first viewing gives all the feels. Just gorgeous.

3. I love LesGacs. Keep on being you, we need the variety.

4. Fear/Gibsons. Having seen FB/C now and knowing the US and Rettstatt will be pushing C/B hard you are still fighting for a bronze in Milan at the end of the day. But keep going, you have two fun programs and anything can happen.

Having said all that mine and many others opinions may change when we see all the top teams back to back at the GPF. Which the Italians may not make now so plenty of time to change your FD to Fai Rumore with some modern dancing where you are grabbing at each other and I might get on board

 

[marbri]

Going into the season, I really wanted to nitpick and leave some snarky comments about Guillaume doing vogue again. Or the same type of FD again. But today they were absolutely amazing and brilliant. Oh how I have missed the quality of skating in recent three-four years. Just the simple quality of knee work, deep edges, etc.
And for me she is the star of the team, I kept looking mostly at her for the whole dance.

vise versa, had very high expectations about F/G’s FD (absolutely love 500 miles and the Scottish theme), and ended up being disappointed. That felt juniorish after the whole group. Even Davis/Smolkin looked better to me.
And the costumes also scream “look, we are doing a Scottish dance in our day care center”

Couldn't agree more, she was in her element and even forced Guillaume to emote more than he usually does.

 

[allezfred]

It’s early season, they’re skating at home, with a very favourable panel, and clear politicking going on.

I expect coordinated retaliation from other feds who have something to lose.

All I’m going to say if that’s what you and others here really think you are in for a very disappointing season.

 

[Lilia A]

More like the feds with judges on a panel with no skaters at IAM need to raise their voices against the juggernaut.

True, but I've lost all hope that ice dance will ever not be entirely political and I try to avoid it, but somehow always fail and end up watching anyway. But a Babs stare down would at least be entertaining.

 

[beckab81]

Anyone know why P/B got a deduction for interruption?

 

[DORISPULASKI]

"Interruption in excess" is what the protocol says.

 

[Kateri]

"Interruption in excess" is what the protocol says.

So in excess, I blinked and missed it, apparently. What the hell?

 

[viennese]

It's not just the K&C drama that's good, it's hearing how the skaters and coaches react and discuss. I hope more GP's let us overhear this stuff. You get a much better sense of the athlete when the mics are on.

 

[4rkidz]

Catching up, I really loved Charlene and Marco’s free dance, but I agree totally with Tony ditch the FD. WOW Diana and Glen really have improved since they went to Montreal, but not podium ready yet, give them another year though (actually.. the Team event maybe??), Lithuanians I would put behind the Italians. Love the Brits energy but the skill level just isn’t the same as the new French Team. Florence B and Cizeron.. they have it all and I think we will be having upsets at every competition they are in. Podium bound in Milan? I think they are better than Chock and Bates.

 

[Karen-W]

So, I accidentally slept through the FD and have only watched the top 5 from. Here are my thoughts - without knowing the results/outcome as I kept myself unspoiled.

GuigFab – I stand by my observation when the music was announced – it and they are the nice, background music you’ll hear in the best three-star Michelin restaurant in Milan. But, there’s absolutely no tension, no drama – apart from the bizarre moment they spend doing a bit of oddly & out-of-place writhing/gymnastics on ice during the choreo character seq. That score, though… They are getting punished by the judges for last season’s atrocity of an FD, and that’s perhaps not fair, but that’s a score that won’t be getting them on the podium anywhere this season.

DavSmo – really lovely one-foot seq, but boy, those twizzles were rough for both of them; very cool curve lift; not a fan of the middle section’s music – the classical sections to start & end suit them much better. They should go behind GuigFab, but TES makes me think they could possibly stay ahead. Nope, they didn’t. Fair score.

FBCiz – I really hate modern, contemporary lyrical programs. Having said that, this was fine for what it is – which is the only wheelhouse that Gui really excels at. I know everyone is going to proclaim that this means they’re in medal contention for the Olympics – and perhaps that may wind up being the case, but this is their home GP so their scores were always going to be elevated – we’ll see what happens in Milano-Cortina - is the IAM bloc more powerful than the self-interests of ITA-CAN-USA-GBR joining together to knock FBCiz down for the Johnny-come-latelys they are?

ReedAmbru – So, her costume designer hates her. That’s the only excuse for this weirdly-boned corset that pops out over hips and makes her look wider than she is. They’re really lucky the judges absolutely hate GuigFab’s RD otherwise, I think they’d probably wind up off the podium here. When the natural order of things restores itself once all of these teams are on the same ice in Milano-Cortina, they’re going to be fighting for 8th at best (probably lower now that I realize there's no Lithuanian judge for the Olympic panels).

FearGib – that opening right into the stationary-rotational combo lift is fabulous. The transition from "500 Miles" to "The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond" is growing on me, and while I liked the "Auld Lang Syne" portion at Nebelhorn, I'm back to disliking it the way I did when they debuted at Bolero Cup. It really takes a receptive audience for the whole program to sell that last section and the audience in Angers was NOT that today - and it was clear that Lilah & Lewis felt the lower energy level with their tighter skating in that final section. Yes, it will slay in Sheffield, and I think it would also go over well in Milano, but with the way things are shaping up as far as GuigFab being dumped harshly, I'm not sure the Italian audience will be any more receptive than the French audience today was.

All in all, I'm with @Private Citizen - this is a home GP for FBCiz and the rest of the season won't ever have a panel quite as favorable to them winning. Let's see how things play out over the next few weeks...

 

[million$momma]

Interesting because I think Schizas's parents are pretty well-off.

Very possible they are well off because they invest, save and spend wisely. Paying huge $$$ for their daughter to skate to a certain song is not a wise investment.

 

[Karen-W]

Very possible they are well off because they invest, safe and spend wisely. Paying huge $$$ for their daughter to skate to a certain song is not a wise investment.

Or her parents are just cheap and the $$ for the rights aren't nearly as much as she's implied.

 

[4rkidz]

Very possible they are well off because they invest, safe and spend wisely. Paying huge $$$ for their daughter to skate to a certain song is not a wise investment.

I really don’t think it’s any of our business too! But yes what a waste of $$

 

[NinjaTurtles]

All in all, I'm with @Private Citizen - this is a home GP for FBCiz and the rest of the season won't ever have a panel quite as favorable to them winning. Let's see how things play out over the next few weeks...

The Italian judge gave FB/C some of the highest GOE and PCS of the night. Not sure their political luck is going to change much elsewhere.

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

With the dumpage of G/F, they were my original worry about being a medal threat at a home Olys to displace Piper & Paul. Looks like that worry is no more.

If FB&C are ordained for the podium at the minimum, please Skate Gods let Piper & Paul get on the podium!! The Brits can have their moment at a future Olys if they must.

 

[skatingguy]

So where are the screams about cultural appropriation?

I don't think there's much concern about cultural appropriation from a German film adapted from a French comic book about the ancient Greek culture.

 

[TAHbKA]

I don't think there's much concern about cultural appropriation from a German film adapted from a French comic book about the ancient Greek culture.

Didnt know Um Kultum were greek or about the Greek culture, but ok

 

[kwanfan1818]

Get ready for the made-for-TV and SM viral moment where Fournier Beaudry takes off her Olympic gold medal and puts it around Sorensen’s neck.

 

[pat c]

Get ready for the made-for-TV and SM viral moment where Fournier Beaudry takes off her Olympic gold medal and puts it around Sorensen’s neck.

Argh........you had to mention that didn't you? What a hound. I was thinking before this that it was a good thing they couldn't squeak him into the k&c.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Catching up now, as I’m leaving tomorrow for a week.

I’m already up to Marie Jade and Roman, I really like them ….I wish they would score higher. But why does he get to wear a skirt? And don’t tell me that it’s not…

 

[Rukia]

Get ready for the made-for-TV and SM viral moment where Fournier Beaudry takes off her Olympic gold medal and puts it around Sorensen’s neck.

the way this is a very likely scenario

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I love my fellow Italians, but this song for Charlene and Marco are skating to is completely forgettable. What a bummer. I was expecting something more powerful for an Italian Olympics.

Having seen what Laurence and Guillaume are wearing for their free dance I can’t wait to see it.