CBC Revives Battle of the Blades Skating Show!

[Alvyne]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainme...ack-and-there-s-going-to-be-bruises-1.5288635

 

[rdavies]

Battle of the Blades is back and there's going to be bruises

Spooner points out that she's bigger than most female figure skaters (5' 10" 181 lbs), an added challenge for her partner, ice dancing champion Andrew Poje who has to lift her in the air.

"I don't think little girls have probably seen a figure skater quite as big as me, so hopefully it shows them that they can do anything that they put their mind to and want to do."

 

[rdavies]

Spooner's greatest moment. She almost scores the goal of a lifetime and then takes out the American player and the rest is history in what might be the greatest women's game ever played. She will shine on the big stage when the pressure's on. She also finished second with Meaghan Mikkelson on Amazing Race Canada so this kind of thing isn't new to her

 

[rdavies]

For comparison purposes, Andrew Poje is 6'3" and Kaitlyn Weaver is 5'7"

 

[Skate Talker]

For comparison purposes, Andrew Poje is 6'3" and Kaitlyn Weaver is 5'7"

I don't know how tall Kaitlyn's partner is, but Sheldon Kennedy looks to be just about the same height as her in some of the preview vids.

 

[rdavies]

I don't know how tall Kaitlyn's partner is, but Sheldon Kennedy looks to be just about the same height as her in some of the preview vids.

Sheldon Kennedy 5'10" 170 lbs

 

[starrynight]

Spooner points out that she's bigger than most female figure skaters (5' 10" 181 lbs), an added challenge for her partner, ice dancing champion Andrew Poje who has to lift her in the air.

"I don't think little girls have probably seen a figure skater quite as big as me, so hopefully it shows them that they can do anything that they put their mind to and want to do."

The pairs and dance guys are so strong they can manage this. I've seen pairs guys lift other pairs guys. Dylan Moscovitch can lift other pairs guys above his head. I've seen videos of Andrew easily lifting Natalie. It probably more only becomes an issue if these lifts need to be repeatedly done amongst other elements in a 5 minute competition program.

But the BOTB programs are shorter and don't have any set elements, so I think they will all be fine.

 

[rdavies]

Andrew Poje

Q: I was asked if I needed a spoon for my ice cream?...
A: I already got my dancingspoon

 

[rdavies]

Brian McGrattan and Colton Orr: From fist fights to ice dancing on Battle of the Blades | Expect the unexpected. "I never thought when I was fighting this guy in my career that I'd be holding hands with him out there spinning on the ice." —... | By B

Expect the unexpected. "I never thought when I was fighting this guy in my career that I'd be holding hands with him out there spinning on the ice." —...

www.facebook.com

 

[rdavies]

The pairs and dance guys are so strong they can manage this

They are strong, yes. But it's all about leverage, timing and balance. Like pro wrestling, the guy getting lifted is doing a lot of the work, you can't "deadweight" somebody. If you notice the early footage of spoje (Spooner and Poje) she didn't go up so easily. That's because she didn't know how to help. Practice makes perfect.

 

[rdavies]

My team's goin' first, that's a good sign. Please don't fall

 

[Colonel Green]

Good start for Eric and Natalie. Also, they’re both very attractive, which should help.

 

[victorskid]

Good start for Eric and Natalie. Also, they’re both very attractive, which should help.

I'm sure you mean Andrew & Natalie

 

[Colonel Green]

I'm sure you mean Andrew & Natalie

Indeed, heh. That’s what I get for commenting while also trying to fix my washing machine.

 

[Colonel Green]

Amanda/Colton: My mother remarked that she was clearly doing most of the work there. But he seems quite sturdy in the lifts, which is good.

 

[victorskid]

Very smart to get Elladj involved in helping with the choreography/training

 

[Colonel Green]

Kaitlyn/Sheldon: He’s got a surprising amount of speed so far, and he’s trying by far the most footwork.

 

[honey]

I think should should keep Colby as a judge. I find him delightful.

Sheldon Kennedy is by a long shot the best skater thus far. I wish Scott had explained even more how amazing it was for him to have been doing some of the Yankee Polka. Doubtful the general public will have a clue that he was doing part of competitive dance pattern. Loved it.

 

[victorskid]

It's great to watch the CBC feed from Halifax - hope everyone enjoys this when it's 8 p.m. in your CDN time zone

 

[Colonel Green]

I’m not sure that highlighting Amanda’s role in Team USA winning gold over Canada is going to endear this team to the voting public.

 

[Colonel Green]

Amanda/Eric: They do a real death spiral, impressive.

 

[KatieC]

Very impressive here in the rink. Sheldon and Kaitlyn fabulous.

 

[Colonel Green]

Vanessa/Bryan: Not especially complicated choreographically, but that's probably the smoothest we've seen so far.

 

[Colonel Green]

“And widely considered the greatest of all time...”

Across the world, though she knows not why, Rodnina suddenly becomes enraged.

 

[JasperBoy]

Elladj!

 

[Colonel Green]

Ekaterina/Bruno: They have probably the most sophisticated lift of the night. She's workin' it, as you'd expect.

 

[victorskid]

Ekaterina/Bruno: They have probably the most sophisticated lift of the night. She's workin' it, as you'd expect.

And she said she had never done that lift before!!

 

[rdavies]

Colby Armstrong is a good judge, he must have talked to his mother (skating coach). Gerry Dee in the crowd, funny as always.

Poje/Spooner
Good start. She is a big girl, I think you'll see them do a lot of intricate skating because I'm not sure how good the lifts will look aesthetically.
9.3 9.3 9.3

Evora/Orr
Looks like another Evora/Thornton pairing (a little stiff)
9.2 9.1 9.1

Elladj Balde makes an appearance and we see a clip of him helping the skaters (Sheldon Kennedy might be good at this)

Weaver/Kennedy
Graham James gets buried
Sheldon's buying into this (gets a standing O)
9.4 9.4 9.5

Radford/Kessel
She's rockin the skirt and does a death spiral, a little unsteady but not too bad
9.3 9.2 9.2

They've got to get Colby Armstrong back as a regular judge (or is he) he's better than Virtue/Moir
Some schtick with PJ and V, charming as always

James/McGrattan
Is is just me or does Brian remind anyone of a younger Randy Bachman (looks and talks/sounds just like him) Seems to feel the music like him too. Vanessa James, I don't know her too well, she seems nice.
This could be THE pairs team
9.4 9.3 9.2

Gordeeva/Gervais
They're going to be in there, Gervais was pretty good
Gerry Dee picks them to win
9.4 9.4 9.4

 

[Colonel Green]

They've got to get Colby Armstrong back as a regular judge (or is he) he's better than Virtue/Moir

I agree, I was very impressed with Colby.

I'll be interested to see who else they get as guest judges. I guess Meagan would probably be a conflict of interest.

Between this and the Aurora Games, this is a golden age for people who like skating contests with baseline numeric scoring that have no discernible criteria.

 

[rdavies]

“And widely considered the greatest of all time...”Across the world, though she knows not why, Rodnina suddenly becomes enraged.

Amen, how soon we forget, I think Gordeeva gets a free ride sometimes.