2020/2021 Canadian Ice Dance: News and Updates

[skatingguy]

I think it's difficult to say that Gilles/Poirier are in the running for an Olympic medal. We've seen this before with teams like Gilles/Poirier. They've got a career medal at Worlds now, so they won't get an Olympic medal, but they're going to retire next year so it's all good. I think we'll see Russia, France & the US on the Olympic podium next season.

 

[Colonel Green]

I think it's difficult to say that Gilles/Poirier are in the running for an Olympic medal. We've seen this before with teams like Gilles/Poirier. They've got a career medal at Worlds now, so they won't get an Olympic medal, but they're going to retire next year so it's all good. I think we'll see Russia, France & the US on the Olympic podium next season.

That’s the most likely outcome. There best bet is to make the final flight of the FD and hope for screwups from others.

 

[yurokis40]

That’s the most likely outcome. There best bet is to make the final flight of the FD and hope for screwups from others.

Whatever keep doubting them the americans are overrated and weak at this point they should have won the silver outright not just beating H&D in the free no doubt protected by the american fed. Hallelujah a pale copy of G&P new lyrical style of the last 2 years when they were beaten twice by them last year and most judges saw that in the fd they were just lucky to hang on.

 

[Colonel Green]

Belatedly, since we were only talking about Gilles & Poirier, I thought both Laurence & Nikolaj and Marjorie & Zach had a solid event -- but it was also obvious that they were doing those programs for the first time in a "real" competition, compared to Piper & Paul's routine (or their own rhythm dances). I'll be interested to see if either of them retain those free dances, since they didn't get used much (and Marjorie & Zach's costumes deserve more use).

 

[puglover]

In an Olympic year, material seems to be almost everything. With P/C back in the mix, I think it would be poorly advised to do anything remotely in their wheelhouse as they generally do it so much better. H/D have not hit it out of the park as far as programs go in recent years and I say that as a fan of theirs. C/B are going to be hard pressed to find something that connects as well as this snake free dance. G/P have already started working on their material and seem excited about it. I think if it is a more normal skating season, to be able to get out of the gate strong with good/hopefully great material, create a buzz and then not have to tinker with it too much would be a huge advantage.

 

[WanderlustTO]

wow - what a fantastic day for gilles and poirier (and all Canadian skating fans).

so well deserved.

 

[WanderlustTO]

I think it's difficult to say that Gilles/Poirier are in the running for an Olympic medal. We've seen this before with teams like Gilles/Poirier. They've got a career medal at Worlds now, so they won't get an Olympic medal, but they're going to retire next year so it's all good. I think we'll see Russia, France & the US on the Olympic podium next season.

we shall see. i do think the fact they now have a world medal will just, by definition, put them in a better place going into the olympics than if they'd finished 5th or something.

 

[skatingguy]

we shall see. i do think the fact they now have a world medal will just, by definition, put them in a better place going into the olympics than if they'd finished 5th or something.

Maybe, I just think this is a Pechalat/Bourzat situation where the panel is giving them a career medal - congrats you stuck around so long we actually started to enjoy your skating medal - and now they won't have a reason to consider them for the Olympic podium. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic.

 

[nimi]

Belatedly, since we were only talking about Gilles & Poirier, I thought both Laurence & Nikolaj and Marjorie & Zach had a solid event -- but it was also obvious that they were doing those programs for the first time in a "real" competition, compared to Piper & Paul's routine (or their own rhythm dances). I'll be interested to see if either of them retain those free dances, since they didn't get used much (and Marjorie & Zach's costumes deserve more use).

Personally, I hope La/La keep their FD.

When it comes to FB/S, I'm somewhat torn: I appreciated the choreography and would like to see it develop further, but I found the voice-overs distracting and the actual music rather bland.

 

[Colonel Green]

Watching the CBC coverage of the dance event, Zach said that because they didn't have enough time with their lift coach this year they decided at the last minute not to to do the new lift at Worlds, but that's going to be what they focus on for next season.

 

[marbri]

I loved FB/S 's FD, just
I actually really enjoyed all three of the Canadian's teams programs. I am not one for repeating FDs but FB/S and L/L have really great choreography that it would be a shame to leave them behind. G/P on the other hand had their shining moment with that FD yesterday and it's time for a new one. But happy they had their moment finally with that program

 

[screech]

G/P are now the 3rd ranked team in the world when it comes to the FD (only P/C and S/K have ever scored higher). AND they left points on the table. In looking at their FD protocols, on their one foot step sequence, Piper got a level 2, Paul a level 3. Both Madison and Zach got level 3 - if Piper had done a level 3, that would have given them around an extra 0.5 and the silver medal.

In the RD, they only got level 2 for their Finnstep, and again Piper only got level 2 on the step sequence (Paul got 4). Comparing to C/B who were one level higher on both elements, that's over a point that G/P lost in base value.

While the US is definitely favoured for the medal, I don't think we can rule G/P out, especially if they work on Piper's levels. In the SD, teams 2-5 were basically tied on PCS, and in the FD there was about a point between 1-3. And that's without G/P having the 'former world medallist/big name coach' reputation points.

In any case, Piper and Paul have been knocking it out of the park with their FD choices the last couple years. And they also normally have really fun RD (Sgt. Pepper, disco pornstache, sleeve reveals). It'll be interesting to see what they've come up with for next year.

 

[puglover]

G/P are now the 3rd ranked team in the world when it comes to the FD (only P/C and S/K have ever scored higher). AND they left points on the table. In looking at their FD protocols, on their one foot step sequence, Piper got a level 2, Paul a level 3. Both Madison and Zach got level 3 - if Piper had done a level 3, that would have given them around an extra 0.5 and the silver medal.

In the RD, they only got level 2 for their Finnstep, and again Piper only got level 2 on the step sequence (Paul got 4). Comparing to C/B who were one level higher on both elements, that's over a point that G/P lost in base value.

While the US is definitely favoured for the medal, I don't think we can rule G/P out, especially if they work on Piper's levels. In the SD, teams 2-5 were basically tied on PCS, and in the FD there was about a point between 1-3. And that's without G/P having the 'former world medallist/big name coach' reputation points.

In any case, Piper and Paul have been knocking it out of the park with their FD choices the last couple years. And they also normally have really fun RD (Sgt. Pepper, disco pornstache, sleeve reveals). It'll be interesting to see what they've come up with for next year.

I am not sure how many watched the press conference after the free dance but I really enjoyed Piper and Paul's comments. I can't exactly remember the question but I really loved their answer. It was something like what they want to work on and Piper mentioned hitting all their levels in competition. She acknowledged they are more successful at home but competition makes achieving them extra challenging. No excuses - not blaming poor judging - something they are aware of and want to fix.

 

[blue_idealist]

Maybe, I just think this is a Pechalat/Bourzat situation where the panel is giving them a career medal - congrats you stuck around so long we actually started to enjoy your skating medal - and now they won't have a reason to consider them for the Olympic podium. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic.

I don't think that's exactly the case, but I think it's going to be harder for Gilles/Poirier to get a medal when Papadakis/Cizeron are back. Assuming P/C win the gold, they'll have to beat at least two of S/K, H/D and C/B in order to win the bronze. C/B have skated better than they did at 2021 Worlds, so G/P could find themselves in 4th or even 5th.

 

[Skate Talker]

So I am way too lazy to actually look this up, but my admittedly senior memory tells me that Piper and Paul have often had exceptionally high levels & GOE in the Rhythm/Short Dance in the past but were ranked lower mostly by virtue of TSS. (Which, imho, was completely undeserved.)

At any rate, I attribute their levels at Worlds directly to the lack of competition experience for them this year.

 

[Colonel Green]

So I am way too lazy to actually look this up, but my admittedly senior memory tells me that Piper and Paul have often had exceptionally high levels & GOE in the Rhythm/Short Dance in the past but were ranked lower mostly by virtue of TSS. (Which, imho, was completely undeserved.)

At any rate, I attribute their levels at Worlds directly to the lack of competition experience for them this year.

Piper has often struggled to get the keypoints in the short/rhythm dance, which is the main source of the gap between them and the top American teams in the RD now. Fortuitously she did have some success with the Midnight Blues the last time it was the pattern (though that was ironically the year things kept going wrong for them in the SD for other reasons, until Worlds).

A lot of us, and seemingly Piper & Paul themselves, were quietly penciling in 2022 as their retirement date. It will be interesting to see if the plan for Montreal 2024 changes the calculation at all. I could see their World medal going either way in this regard, since on the one hand they've finally got the World medal that was forever eluding them and maybe that and whatever comes their way next year is enough; on the other hand, were they to decide to continue they'd be doing so knowing that there was a meaningful basis to think the judges were finally willing to recognize them. And while things can change quickly in the other disciplines, for the time being they're clearly the country's most important skaters and I'm sure the fed will want them to stick it out.

 

[greenapple]

Gilles and Poirier - and especially Poirier - have made it very clear that this is their last season.

The federation has other ice dance teams coming up behind them. Lajoie and Lagha are likely the team it will be looking to for medals by the time 2024 rolls around.

 

[Colonel Green]

Some improvements (especially aesthetically) from Carolane and Shane. Pattern levels are still bad, but we’re at least done with the Finnstep now. Hope for better with the Midnight Blues.

Marjorie’s happy birthday post for Zach, including a photo from the very early years of their competitive careers.

 

[Wyliefan]

From their Instagram practice videos, I didn't think I was going to like the yellow dress much, but then I did. The skirt moved nicely. And kudos to Carol for finally getting Shane out of a jacket. Not that I disliked that particular jacket, but he was really getting in a rut.

 

[Colonel Green]

Speculate away on Piper & Paul’s next RD:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1384162497859514377

 

[screech]

Well the colour made me think of a peacock, so I googled songs about peacocks, and the Katy Perry song that came up... well, I don't think that'll be used.

Then I googled songs with the colour teal, and came up with the Teal Album by Weezer, which consists of cover songs, mainly from the 80s.

Then I googled turquoise, and the top result was a song by Donovan.

So basically, I have no idea, but I know they'll be unique and creative in their choice.

 

[skategal]

I hope it’s “I’m Blue.”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=68ugkg9RePc&feature=share

 

[mjb52]

I was thinking she was just implying they were going to do the blues instead of one of the other approaches more generally, but your thoughts that she was referencing something more specific are intriguing.

 

[quartz]

I’m reading that colour as cobalt. There is most likely some sort of clue both in the colour, and that it’s feathers. Piper and Paul’s program choice will likely be one of the very few that I will get excited about.

 

[marbri]

I went a different approach and googled blue feathers:

Blue Feathers Records Archives | HipHopCanada

The Gateway to Canadian Hip-Hop. Get Connected!

hiphopcanada.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSrsidK1ZZH3zLDLsVuUFBA

 

[screech]

I was thinking she was just implying they were going to do the blues instead of one of the other approaches more generally, but your thoughts that she was referencing something more specific are intriguing.

Oh it probably does just mean the blues, but with G/P it's fun to try to interpret things, since they always have quirky choices. For all we know the flamboyant feathers mean they'll be skating to Disco Duck. (Though is it sad that the only reason I think that isn't their pick is because they did disco last time this rhythm came around?)

If we actually try to interpret the picture, another potential with the colourful feathers is something Elton John, since he famously wore a feathered costume to perform Crocodile Rock on The Muppet Show. And we know G/P wouldn't shy away from going full Elton (unlike others who shall not be named...)

 

[marbri]

Apparently there is a European band from the 80s named Blue Feather. Carol Lane is of the age to perhaps remember them and the music is totally in their wheelhouse (if not a bit similar to their 2017 RD ) This one I can see them skating too more so than the Blue Feather Records label I linked about:

Funky Nights, Let's Funk Tonight and Shadows of The Night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC-2kUyDIE4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lViP_OYUlE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrkBdOlbBGc

 

[marbri]

Oh it probably does just mean the blues, but with G/P it's fun to try to interpret things, since they always have quirky choices. For all we know the flamboyant feathers mean they'll be skating to Disco Duck. (Though is it sad that the only reason I think that isn't their pick is because they did disco last time this rhythm came around?)

If we actually try to interpret the picture, another potential with the colourful feathers is something Elton John, since he famously wore a feathered costume to perform Crocodile Rock on The Muppet Show. And we know G/P wouldn't shy away from going full Elton (unlike others who shall not be named...)

Well she just posted in instagram story and the phrases "I guess that's why they call it the blues" and "I'm still standing" are in the messages by them so you might win the guessing game

 

[euterpe]

MIDNIGHT BLUES is the RD for next season---I doubt they would do another blues piece for the FD.

 

[RoseRed]

MIDNIGHT BLUES is the RD for next season---I doubt they would do another blues piece for the FD.

The picture was a hint about their RD