GPdF 2025 PBP - Free Dance “The Chicken Dance”

[PRlady]

I finally got to watch a few FDs.

After watching G/F and then the (entertaining as always) Brits, FB/C were a revelation. They were just that much better. The flow and beauty of their movement is stunning.

I always respected P/C for their undeniable skill but their programs were not emotionally moving. This one is and I give Laurence the credit.

Sorry but I think the Oly race is probably over, politics aside. No matter how good C/B and G/P are, and they are talented and experienced teams, I don’t think they can accomplish that FD.

 

[Vagabond]

Ground control to Major Tom! What has happened to Guignard & Fabri? At the start of last season, they were part of the "Big Three" destined to be on the podium at their home Olympics, and now they are behind the Lithuanians, even on Skating Skills? And what is the matter with his hand?

All that said, they would be better served by skating to Peter Schilling's Major Tom than David Bowie's.

 

[Matryeshka]

I do have a problem with G/F getting lower skating skills than R/A. I don't have a problem with their overall placement. This is the first skating I've actually watched all season, but I have kind of kept up with who has won what and beaten whom and any politics/conspiracy theories aside, I think the judges have been very consistent so far: be beautiful, be fun, be weird, but it's an Olympic year, SO DON'T BE BORING. And G/F are boring. Absolutely lovely, absolutely snoozy. To me, this is a clear directive to change their programs, and maybe they could have if they had done any earlier competitions/Challenger series. I think if they're honest with themselves, they should have gotten feedback on their programs early on especially in light of some of their...unfortunate choices last year with their programs.

 

[MacMadame]

I really liked Fear/Gibsom's program but those costumes... they must be burned! Stat!

 

[Bunny Hop]

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.

I liked their FD but agree about it being generic. They need to look at the protocols and work on where they're not getting levels or making an impression on the judges. Even if they do think it's all politics that doen't change the need to do something about it.

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.

Also agree. Even if they do feel hard done by (and clearly they do), they still need to sit down and look at where they are losing points and put a plan in place to address that. It's not the fans on social media who are going to be handing out the marks.

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

I wouldn't discount that they were being asked to pay too much. Music Rights are very tricky and some copyright holders charge over the odds. Television programs often have to change planned music because the rights holders want more than the budget allows. If her parents have money they probably also know when something is too much.

Oh ok yeah I remember that became a rule bc ppl were so scandalized by Zhulin's tights but thought they later changed it which allowed John to wear a kilt.

I thought he had to ge special permission to wear the kilt due to the trousers rule. And be sure to be suitably covered underneath, hence the fitted shorts beneath the kilt.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

I really liked Fear/Gibsom's program but those costumes... they must be burned! Stat!

I've liked both iterations of Lilah's dress, and while I probably prefer the colorway of the blue/purple/red tartan, this new dress is closer to resembling a Westwood piece...which I really think they should lean into to maximize the potential of this program being a celebration of the UK and Scottish influence in pop culture. The top is more corset in nature, with the slight bust drape, and the black lace piece is similar to the bustline insets Vivienne Westwood often did in jackets, etc.

Lewis' suits are harder for me to enjoy. They're trying to do a traditional Prince Charlie jacket, but the cut of the bottom isn't short and angular because he can't wear a high waisted kilt underneath. So they have those tartan pieces to give the illusion of where the kilt would show along the waist and side/back, but it doesn't really work...just looks like decorative fabric added as ornamentation to the bottom of a regular jacket.

 

[Cayuse]

Lewis' suits are harder for me to enjoy. They're trying to do a traditional Prince Charlie jacket, but the cut of the bottom isn't short and angular because he can't wear a high waisted kilt underneath. So they have those tartan pieces to give the illusion of where the kilt would show along the waist and side/back, but it doesn't really work...just looks like decorative fabric added as ornamentation to the bottom of a regular jacket.

Lewis should pay good money to retrieve John's outfit from whatever "Skating Outfit Hall of Fame" it is located!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[zigzig]

Lewis should pay good money to retrieve John's outfit from whatever "Skating Outfit Hall of Fame" it is located!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

The ISU should pay and make him wear it - if they want a viral moment for skating at the Olympics that would be the way to do it.

 

[nuge]

How long has the rule been for allowing arms over the head? F/G beginning RL looks like a pairs move.
Did G/F refuse to skate in the gala?

 

[Aceon6]

Did G/F refuse to skate in the gala?

Maybe not even invited. If I was in charge, I would have approached the Italian Fed and said something like “No go for the gala, right?”

 

[skatfan]

How long has the rule been for allowing arms over the head? F/G beginning RL looks like a pairs move.
Did G/F refuse to skate in the gala?

The rule has been for quite some time that overhead lifts are ok as long as the arms remain bent.

 

[Vagabond]

I do have a problem with G/F getting lower skating skills than R/A. I don't have a problem with their overall placement. This is the first skating I've actually watched all season, but I have kind of kept up with who has won what and beaten whom and any politics/conspiracy theories aside, I think the judges have been very consistent so far: be beautiful, be fun, be weird, but it's an Olympic year, SO DON'T BE BORING. And G/F are boring. Absolutely lovely, absolutely snoozy. To me, this is a clear directive to change their programs, and maybe they could have if they had done any earlier competitions/Challenger series. I think if they're honest with themselves, they should have gotten feedback on their programs early on especially in light of some of their...unfortunate choices last year with their programs.

Guignard & Fabri have always been boring. Dreariness did not stop them from earning seven medals at ISU Championships. What has changed?

They finished fifth at the Winter Olympic Games in 2022, and I doubt that they will finish even that high next year.

 

[victorskid]

Final FS results
1 Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Guillaume CIZERON FRA 133.02 74.88 58.14 9.71 9.82 9.54 0.00 #8
2 Lilah FEAR / Lewis GIBSON GBR 125.86 70.42 55.44 9.36 9.36 9.00 0.00 #10
3 Allison REED / Saulius AMBRULEVICIUS LTU 120.07 67.21 52.86 8.71 8.93 8.79 0.00 #9
4 Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI ITA 118.73 65.95 52.78 8.86 8.82 8.71 0.00 #6
5 Diana DAVIS / Gleb SMOLKIN GEO 116.47 64.25 52.22 8.79 8.75 8.57 0.00 #7
6 Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain le GAC CAN 112.74 63.54 49.20 8.39 8.32 7.89 0.00 #5
7 Emily BRATTI / Ian SOMERVILLE USA 107.71 61.07 46.64 7.82 7.82 7.68 0.00 #2
8 Eva PATE / Logan BYE USA 106.36 60.00 47.36 7.96 8.04 7.68 1.00 #4
9 Natacha LAGOUGE / Arnaud CAFFA FRA 103.21 57.85 45.36 7.64 7.68 7.36 0.00 #3
10 Celina FRADJI / Jean-Hans FOURNEAUX FRA 92.00 51.64 41.36 7.00 7.00 6.68 1.00 #1

Protocols: https://results.isu.org/results/sea...------FNL-000100--_JudgesDetailsperSkater.pdf


Final overall results:
Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Guillaume CIZERON FRA 211.02 3 1
2 Lilah FEAR / Lewis GIBSON GBR 210.24 1 2
3 Allison REED / Saulius AMBRULEVICIUS LTU 201.05 2 3
4 Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI ITA 195.98 5 4
5 Diana DAVIS / Gleb SMOLKIN GEO 194.27 4 5
6 Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain le GAC CAN 186.49 6 6
7 Eva PATE / Logan BYE USA 177.68 7 8
8 Emily BRATTI / Ian SOMERVILLE USA 172.80 9 7
9 Natacha LAGOUGE / Arnaud CAFFA FRA 171.29 8 9
10 Celina FRADJI / Jean-Hans FOURNEAUX FRA 148.92 10 10


[Enjoy the Men - I'm off to early church commitments]

I went off to my church commitments and missed this update:
Eva Pate/Logan Bye’s free dance received a deduction for an interruption in error. Their score has been rectified, but this did not affect the final standing order.
The FD results were updated.

 

[million$momma]

How long has the rule been for allowing arms over the head? F/G beginning RL looks like a pairs move.
Did G/F refuse to skate in the gala?

Is there a no arms over head rule for spins? I thought it was just lifts.

 

[skatingguy]

How long has the rule been for allowing arms over the head? F/G beginning RL looks like a pairs move.

Hubbell/Donohue had that lift in the Romeo & Juliet program (???) where he puts her above his head - it was new for that year, and the lift is valid as long the lifting partners arms are bent.

 

[Kateri]

I went off to my church commitments and missed this update:
Eva Pate/Logan Bye’s free dance received a deduction for an interruption in error. Their score has been rectified, but this did not affect the final standing order.
The FD results were updated.

Thank you, I was so confused about this! It's so rare that scores are changed, when when there are clear errors. @tony pointed out that a judge gave Isabeau two 8 component scores and a 2 last weekend. Clearly a mistake, but this stuff never seems to get revised.

 

[tony]

Thank you, I was so confused about this! It's so rare that scores are changed, when when there are clear errors. @tony pointed out that a judge gave Isabeau two 8 component scores and a 2 last weekend. Clearly a mistake, but this stuff never seems to get revised.

It was Sumiyoshi but yeah, clearly a very big mistake!

 

[Asli]

I finally got to watch a few FDs.

After watching G/F and then the (entertaining as always) Brits, FB/C were a revelation. They were just that much better. The flow and beauty of their movement is stunning.

I always respected P/C for their undeniable skill but their programs were not emotionally moving. This one is and I give Laurence the credit.

I found FB/C's free dance mesmerising.

Same style as P/C's, very similar choreography, a little slower and not as well skated, but still head and shoulders above everyone else IMO. Laurence's posture is a bit distracting with the way she often pulls her shoulders up and forwards but her hair sort of hides it most of the time.

I don't believe Guillaume could have found a better match if he wants to continue in this style. They look lovely.

I'm amazed that you found P/C's programs not moving. Just shows how subjective "emotionally moving" can be.

Sorry but I think the Oly race is probably over, politics aside. No matter how good C/B and G/P are, and they are talented and experienced teams, I don’t think they can accomplish that FD.

ITA.

 

[cholla]

I seem to recall that she was writing one but I don't think it's out yet.

It will be out mid-January.

Did G/F refuse to skate in the gala?

They were not invited. Only the first 4 are + skaters from the organizing country.

 

[skatingguy]

They were not invited. Only the first 4 are + skaters from the organizing country.

Are you sure? The schedule included:
Elyce Lin-Gracey - 8th Women
Andrew Torgashev - 6th Men
Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain le Gac - 6th Ice Dance
Chaeyeon Kim - 6th Women
Diana Davis/Gleb Smolkin - 5th Ice Dance

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

It will be out mid-January.

I like the title. I hope it's possible for Canadians to buy the book.

 

[cholla]

I like the title. I hope it's possible for Canadians to buy the book.

If it's not, tell me and I'll buy and send a copy.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

If it's not, tell me and I'll buy and send a copy.

Merci!

 

[just tuned in]

Most of the dances looked underbaked to me. I was especially disappointed with Fear/Gibs. She just hopped around in her Scottish-French maid costume while he tried his best not to make the armography look superfluous.

 

[vireo]

They were not invited. Only the first 4 are + skaters from the organizing country.

Guignard/Fabbri finished fourth. Fifth in RD, fourth in FD, fourth overall.

There must be another reason they weren't in the gala.

 

[cholla]

Guignard/Fabbri finished fourth. Fifth in RD, fourth in FD, fourth overall.

There must be another reason they weren't in the gala.

Ooops...

 

[BittyBug]

Guignard/Fabbri finished fourth. Fifth in RD, fourth in FD, fourth overall.

FORTH.

 

[Vagabond]

Did G/F refuse to skate in the gala?

Maybe they were following doctor's advice. Fabri has some sort of problem with his hand and wore a brace during their programs.

 

[Asli]

Maybe they were following doctor's advice. Fabri has some sort of problem with his hand and wore a brace during their programs.

They must have had laryngitis too, because they refused to talk after both programs.

Which I agree was a smart move, guessing what they would have said if they had talked.

 

[Sally1214]

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

Sadly, I can't argue with you on that point. If it's all about politics, then dump it (as much as I love it).
So, Chock/Bates, Beaudry-Fournier/Cizeron and Fear/Gibson are all training at IAM. Well, that makes a nice Olympic podium sweep, doesn't it? In a perfect scenario, either C/B or BF/C would win gold and silver (and then retire) leaving F/G to be potential World Champions going into the next Olympic quad. Works for IAM. I hope this whole thing is fairly judged and based on the work/talent of the athletes but I think I'm going to bow out of the dance competition viewership this season .... just have an uncomfortable feeling about it all. I could be totally wrong but "gut feelings" .... well, they can mess with you.