2025 NHK Trophy Rhythm Dance PBP - Spice Up Your Live(Barn)

[her grace]

Some thoughts

Shibs: looked undertrained. There just isn't a way to make up for 7 years of not skating; it showed. Positives: clean movement, and their choreo steps were a model of what choreo steps could be with holds and steps (they missed the memo that you don't need to do that, just wave your arms and vibe). Negatives: slow overall. Twizzles especially look about 10 times worse then they used to be able to do, and costumes obscured their excellent legline.

Wolfkostin/Tsarevski: loved this! In the past, I've thought their styles were somewhat opposite: She's sharp and dynamic and he's soft and elegant. But in this program they really looked like they have achieved "togetherness." Fantastic technique and bold, bright expression.

Taschlers: This team looked like they were actually dancing and not just performing what they've rehearsed. Very free and into it. Also not as polished as they typically are--little mismatches in unison, sloppy positioning, etc., but since the judges reward vibes more than technique, I can see that being a strategic choice. To say they are not just technicians. My, how this sport has fallen Ideally, they would eventually be able to skate freely and with polish.

Green/Parsons: Nice comeback from their first GP. Like how they are doing something different, but that still fits the 90s rules. Parsons has added more expression, which was nice to see. Still in it for Olympics depending on what happens with Carreira's citizenship.

Guignard/Fabbri: Agree that they are fading. They still skate better than many of the top teams, though. His twizzles

Fear/Gibson: They always look like they skate small when they skate after anyone with good skating skills. Nice twizzles and they worked the choreography.

 

[VGThuy]

Why would I need an explanation from a random poster on a forum (who didn’t even post on this thread) when I have a real life Japanese native speaker I live with and with whom I speak in Japanese with every day?

Yes, I know you’re the expert on being Japanese even over Japanese people (dismissed as random) because of your husband/partner.

The Japanese judge and every other Japanese person will have got that the Shibutanis were not referring to themselves as brothers (or as mobsters), but as siblings.

I agree. Hence, the tongue in cheek.

Also for future reference, I think you should leave comedy to other people.

Right back at ya. Other people got what I was saying. I was being friendly by explaining I was making a joke but you thought I was taking away your Japanese authenticity or something. It’s ok if you didn’t get that I wasn’t being serious about the Shibs evoking Yazuka imagery.

 

[skipaway]

Kept wondering if she did the rocker correctly.

 

[Coco]

Too bad the Shibs couldn't have switched countries, and started competing 24 months ago That would have made a lot more sense.

 

[Allen]

Oh thank goodness Hanretty is here, I just need a complete break from all of the cracker and dream start phrases for a long time

Had enough of hearing about the Barbarian open?

 

[Yuri]

I am very late weighing in but agree with others that this thread has the funniest title of all time! All of them have been great, but this one is spit out your drink fabulous!

I took a short nap last night and still fell asleep a couple times watching the RD. I fell asleep when they were showing replays of the Shibutanis before their scores came up, during the 2nd warmup group for 1-2 couples, and right before Green & Parsons scores were posted so I missed the Italians and Brits. Not sure if that's a commentary on what i think of these 1990s RDs or my sleep patterns, but I plan to watch the RD replay on Peacock before the FD goes live.

 

[peibeck]

Well, that was much improved from CoC. Score is still going to be lower than they'd like if they want to be competitive with ZingKol and CarPon for the Olympic spots.

It will be interesting to see if the American judge scores the Shibs higher than G/P and W/T again tonight. That was pretty unexplainable based on their skate.

If so, that should send up a flare to any team not named Chock/Bates that perhaps the fix is in. Not that they couldn't get better before nationals, but how much they could improve rusty skills in only 7 weeks seems limited after so long away from competitive ice.

Guess we'll see what the US judge does with them at Finlandia before I consider this a full blown conspiracy though...

 

[Matryeshka]

The Shibutanis were a master class in how to tarnish your reputation in three minutes or less. Their Oly hopes went out not with a bang but with a twizzle.

I liked W/T. Bratti/Sommerville and Pate/Bye, we hardly got to know ya.

It hurts to see G/F in second to the Brits. It hurts even more that I think it's completely fair. I HATE the circumstances of how C/FB got together but praise be to Grishuk, I can't see any universe where if they're clean, they don't deserve the gold. And hey, while I have learned to like Fear/Gibson (not unlike a fungal growth), I kind of balk at the idea of them being Euro champions, and C/FB should runaway with that.

I don't have opinions on whether or not Charlene and Marco should have skated at NHK or now--there are good arguments for both and I'm not techie that way as I am only here for the drama and the glitter--but I think they DEFINITELY should have done of the Challenger series. Part of the reason why R/A look so good is because they have mileage on that program. I don't understand the decision of some of the top teams to "wait" for the GP. Their scores are all lower than expected and honestly they should be. R/A, F/G, and C/FB I think are partly getting such high marks because their programs are clearly ready for prime time. Just what in the hell were their coaches thinking?

 

[skatfan]

G/F have reported that several family issues came up over the summer, hindering them getting their season underway. They weren’t ready for the Challengers because of that. It’s not like they specifically chose to skip them.

 

[jlai]

I like the Shibs' program. If they are more trained, they can still be in it, if C/P cannot qualify for the Olympics (C's citizenship).

 

[Karen-W]

I like the Shibs' program. If they are more trained, they can still be in it, if C/P cannot qualify for the Olympics (C's citizenship).

You do realize that she expects to receive her passport this month, right?

 

[jlai]

You do realize that she expects to receive her passport this month, right?

Did she go through with the citizenship ceremony? I monitored the ice dance thread on and off and didn't see a mention (or perhaps I missed it)

 

[Karen-W]

Did she go through with the citizenship ceremony? I monitored the ice dance thread on and off and didn't see a mention (or perhaps I missed it)

She and Anthony gave an interview with Tatjana Flade for Ice Skating International at the conclusion of Skate Canada last week and she stated she's only a few weeks away from completion of the naturalization process.

ETA - I posted the link in the US Ice Dance thread as well as their fan thread.

 

[tony]

Wrong thread

 

[jlai]

She and Anthony gave an interview with Tatjana Flade for Ice Skating International at the conclusion of Skate Canada last week and she stated she's only a few weeks away from completion of the naturalization process.

ETA - I posted the link in the US Ice Dance thread as well as their fan thread.

Thx for providing the link. That, however, doesn't tell us whether she went through the ceremony or getting the passport (which is after the ceremony). If she did the ceremony already I'm sure there would be a post.
That means, she is on an extremely tight timeline for the passport portion, if the ceremony hasn't happened.

 

[PRlady]

It took my husband more than two months to get a US passport after the formal ceremony. And that was during the last administration, before State laid off so many consular officials.

 

[jlai]

Back to ice dance, those who have US passports already may be picking up USFS backing along the way and perhaps G/P may get some of the backing back

 

[Karen-W]

It took my husband more than two months to get a US passport after the formal ceremony. And that was during the last administration, before State laid off so many consular officials.

I'm going to guess that the USOPC has the right connections to ensure that any potential Olympic athletes needing their passports who have already been naturalized or are naturalized before the deadline will get their passports before the IOC deadlines.

 

[MacMadame]

Also, passports have been going out pretty fast in the past year. I got mine back in a matter of weeks.

This was pre-shutdown though.

 

[~tapdancer~]

Finally got to watch the replays. My opinion for what it's worth. G/F aren't winning the Olympics. Might not even be on the podium. They have simply been surpassed by several other teams. I found it funny that Chris commented that their skating skills are way above the others, but the protocols don't show that to be true. F/G better and G/Par only slightly below.

I have loved Fear/Gibson since their fun Lion King program back in the day. They have improved so much and more than that, they appeal to the audience. They skate to fun music, they are dramatic in their own way. They fit together perfectly and she especially has come a long way. They are what judges and audiences want...engage the audience...so important especially for the Olympics which are watched by many people that aren't regular skating fans and wouldn't know a rocker from a counter. I am not much of a techie either, I am more moved by the interpretation and music. Which is why I also thought F-B/C were so amazing when I saw them skate together and I can totally see them with Olympic Gold.

I really was glad to see Gr/Par skating better here. It is never good to see a team have an injury and have to withdraw. They looked happy, especially Caroline.