2026 Worlds Free Dance PBP - Whale, That's All Folks!

[Aussie Willy]

Figure skating is a sport. The winner isn't the one with the most crowd-pleasing program or the happiest athletes. It's the one who meets the requirements the best.

Part of what made that lift impressive is that she was up so high. And she was up so high because the rules were broken. I find the argument that this is bad for the sport to be similar to arguments that skaters who do easier jumps and don't fall should win over skaters doing much harder jumps and one fall.

He could enter a weightlifting competition with that lift.

Look at Olivia and Tim's lifts. So much more impressive but totally within the rules.

 

[barbk]

Elbows aside, I also note that they look very labored getting into that lift. It lacks the ease some of the other top teams show.

 

[shan]

Elbows aside, I also note that they look very labored getting into that lift. It lacks the ease some of the other top teams show.

I noted that when I watched the video with the lift at every competition.

 

[Sally1214]

Opinion. By definition.

Darn right. And, I'm entitled to it.

 

[Andora]

It doesn't help the sport. And seeing the skaters so happy to utterly devastated , is heartbreaking. Figure skating fans are not happy to see that. They had a standing ovation, the audience loved it. I may not watch ice dance live ever again. I am still upset.

Oh my gosh, I'm still laughing at this. I'm sorry you're upset, but... skaters walk away disappointed regularly. Famously.

 

[allezfred]

I think Cizeron is the epitome of entitlement and sore losing, willing to do anything, screw over anyone, and probably cheat (via the always corrupt French fed) in order to win. Congrats to the people who support him and his behavior. May you all reap what you sow.

Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron have lost a total of one competition (due to a fall) this season and I don’t recall him complaining about that so not really sure what you are referring to. As for the rest, if you have evidence of cheating show it or report it. If not, you’re very foolish to post accusations like that on a public forum.

 

[VanillaIce]

I would also add that in the context of the “she said, he said” issue which continues to bedevil ice dance threads that it is unwise, unless the poster actually witnessed the event or has evidence that can be corroborated in law, to post defamatory comments or to imply wrong doing.

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

I can't see his elbows with all that fabric. Men should just be allowed to dance shirtless just like at the ballet. You know that most ice dancers would do it.

 

[allezfred]

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

I said what I said back in October.

 

[Private Citizen]

I said what I said back in October.

And I'll say what I said in October: it would be a season full of politics that came down to luck of the draw in panel selection.

It hasn't been a disappointing season at all for me. I thought the top teams by and large had great material. I'm one of the few who likes the themed rhythm dances.

For years I skipped ice dance. I had no interest in the Virtue/Moir and Papadakis/Cizeron years. The past four years have been the most interesting to me since the 90s.

 

[allezfred]

And I'll say what I said in October: it would be a season full of politics that came down to luck of the draw in panel selection.

No, this is what you said:

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.

The season has ended. Prague is not in France. Judges from everywhere seemed to appreciate them. You’re seething.

 

[Icetalavista]

I suspect we’ll see lyrical FDs for the remainder of fbciz’s partnership. Why change a winning formula? Too bad though, as F-B shines in dramatic programs.

I’m baffled why IAM designs these risky lifts for FearGib. They are smart enough to create safer-per- rules lifts for FearGib, who maybe more than other teams need the points from lifts

 

[jlai]

Considering that they got a lift deduction last worlds too, I think at least half of it is on the coaching team.

You can write one off as a conspiracy but not if there are lift deductions two worlds in a row

 

[Private Citizen]

The season has ended. Prague is not in France. Judges from everywhere seemed to appreciate them. You’re seething.

You're projecting.

Other feds did try. Canada put FB&C third (below Zingas and Kolesnik) in the RD at Finlandia and a distant second in the free. The French judge then retaliated by putting Gilles and Poirier fifth. This was a trend all season -- the French judge overmarking FB&C and undermarking their closest rivals.

Canada and Britain put FB&C third and fourth respectively in the RD at the GPF.

Britain had FB&C third, below Fear and Gibson and five points below C&B, in the RD at both the team event and the individual.

Multiple times, including at the Olympics, FB&C would've lost on an ordinal basis but won because the French judge and a few friends way overscored them relative to others.

Overall this season, Chock and Bates won three out of five segments against FB&C. They won five judges out of nine at the Olympics despite an unfavorable panel and lost because the F-B&C judges (including the French) scored them IMO absurdly high. It wasn't as if FB&C ran away with everything.

Politically, the French were very smart to take out the Italians early. USA, CAN, GBR, and ITA together would've only needed one more judge to sink them. Getting a second US or Canadian team into the GPF had some strategic advantages in terms of neutralizing the judging panel.

 

[allezfred]

The best team won Europeans, Olympics and Worlds. End of story.

 

[PRlady]

They may be the best in terms of skill within the very narrow range of performance, it’s hard to argue that. (I mean the FD style, I still think a junior team had a much better Vogue RD.)They are not the most versatile, interesting, watchable, creative or exciting pair.

 

[skatingcheckers]

Big risk comes with big reward - but still big risk.

Considering how inflated F/G scores have seemed compared to ostensibly better skaters over this quad, it makes sense that they'd be miffed by scoring this season. But I can't say I have any sympathy for them here.

Maybe IAM will chill on these tricks that are asking for trouble, and serve their teams better.

I agree with this 100%.

 

[skatingcheckers]

Opinion. By definition.


The comments about inconsistent calling assume that he always does the lift that way. I think he was trying to keep the lift up and was adjusting in real time and the choice was a locked elbow or a failed lift. I don't think this is a case of inconsistent calling. Also, most of us noticed issues with that lift in real time. I don't think the tech panel has to have eagle eyes to see what was going on.

This is a good point. There have been many comments about how tired the skaters are after a long season. When you're tired, your technique can suffer, and mistakes can happen. What started out at the beginning of the season doesn't necessarily happen at the end.

 

[VanillaIce]

This view that F/G scores are inflated does not sit easily with the fact that for the past three seasons they have found favour with the judges and technical callers. This cannot be for political reasons because the British Federation is not powerful in the same way that US, Canadian and French Federations are. So perhaps it us just based in their skating!!

 

[MacMadame]

They may be the best in terms of skill within the very narrow range of performance, it’s hard to argue that. (I mean the FD style, I still think a junior team had a much better Vogue RD.)They are not the most versatile, interesting, watchable, creative or exciting pair.

As did BratSom. Not in the same league skating skills but their Vogue screamed Madonna in a way that FBCiz did not.

This view that F/G scores are inflated does not sit easily with the fact that for the past three seasons they have found favour with the judges and technical callers. This cannot be for political reasons because the British Federation is not powerful in the same way that US, Canadian and French Federations are. So perhaps it us just based in their skating!!

It's based on them optimizing the scoring system (as all skaters should). Which means that the scoring system favors trick-heavy dances and vibes over skating skill and complex footwork. Some people like this and some do not but you can't fault them for playing to the system and their strengths. (Well, I suppose you can but you are screaming into the void if you do.)

 

[Tinycities]

fear/gibson worked the system the same way smart/dieck did with their dune program, which they received high scores in. Both feature lots of tricks and acrobatics with minimal holds.

 

[Vagabond]

To receive one lift deduction at Worlds may be regarded as misfortune. To receive lift deductions in successive years looks like carelessness.

 

[Alilou]

They may be the best in terms of skill within the very narrow range of performance, it’s hard to argue that. (I mean the FD style, I still think a junior team had a much better Vogue RD.)They are not the most versatile, interesting, watchable, creative or exciting pair.

Plus they're both rape apologists so there is that.

 

[BittyBug]

One can always count on ice dance for .

 

[Aussie Willy]

Considering that they got a lift deduction last worlds too, I think at least half of it is on the coaching team.

You can write one off as a conspiracy but not if there are lift deductions two worlds in a row

I agree. Particularly coaches at this level are being paid to know the rules and apply them. But like I said before why push it so much and risk it. Couples can still do spectacular lifts and spins that fall within the rules.

 

[allezfred]

They may be the best in terms of skill within the very narrow range of performance, it’s hard to argue that. (I mean the FD style, I still think a junior team had a much better Vogue RD.)They are not the most versatile, interesting, watchable, creative or exciting pair.

As did BratSom. Not in the same league skating skills but their Vogue screamed Madonna in a way that FBCiz did not.

Neither of those teams got an approving message from Madonna herself. Just saying…

As someone who actually was in my clubbing era when “Vogue” was released, it’s not a question for me who had the best version this season and it was the Olympic champions. And now World champions.

 

[MacMadame]

Neither of those teams got an approving message from Madonna herself. Just saying…

Oh, did Madonna watch all 3 in a row and pick FBCiz?

 

[terisa]

I love F/G but the more I watch that opening lift, the straighter his arm looks.

 

[jlai]

There is no point whale-ing or be up in arms about this

 

[allezfred]

Oh, did Madonna watch all 3 in a row and pick FBCiz?

The woman is no fool. She knows excellence and quality when she sees it. It has her seal of approval and everyone else’s critiques of its authenticity etc are irrelevant. Case closed.