Definitely, good material is essential. But Z/K have developed a stronger technical base than all the other American teams and their combined performance quality is better as well. It would take a serious misstep in program selection or mistakes during competition to be unseated IMO.
2026 4CC - Free Dance
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Vagabond
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4rkidz
plotting, planning and travelling
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His mom made it for him it’s very intricate beading he always wear it to share his pride, it’s of his clan. I asked him about it when I was interviewing him last week.
just tuned in
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Maybe instead of PSOTY we should have G (Gentleman) SOTY.
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Thank you for saying that. Intuitively I think Z/K have climbed to another level in speed, intricacy, performance and precision, but I don’t have the technical language to describe it. (One of those “I know it when I see it” situations.)
annie_mg
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He is obviously one of the best male dancers out there, she is catching up, and they have the chemistry and good programs to go with it all. I see what you are too!
Bunny Hop
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There was an interview with them last year where they said they decided to keep the Free Dance because they were going to the Olympic Qualifier so it made sense to only have to learn one new program and then work on improving the Free Dance, given that it was by no means certain they would qualify, so that gave them the best chance. I think it was the right call.
I'm thrilled they managed to stay in 5th! And yes I also believe it's Australia's best dance result at 4CC. O'Brien/Merriman's best was 7th.
Really enjoyed the Brown's Godfather program. Should have been above Green/Parsons - I like their RD but the Free drags for me, and I also thought the Browns was better skated.
jlai
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Past seasons I kept hearing about Zingas's weaker skating skills. How is she now compared to other female ice dancers?
Or will they be more like F/G where they had to stagnate among the 4-10th place for a while before Lilah improved enough to be podium worthy?
There are many teams with skating skills worthy of podium (L/L, L/B, the young Italians potentially, the Czechs, the Finns), so I'm curious how Z/K stacks up
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SidelineSkater
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Z/K remind me a little of Davis/White (not a great comparison, I know, in light of recent events). An Igor-influenced team with speed and power. The Benoit choreo on them worked well for a musical choice as tired as R&J. If they can sell something like that with a refresh, hopefully they can continue with strong programs. Cause more often that not, Igor teams of late miss the mark on packaging and programs.
marbri
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Sorry but that is nonsense. The overhype for this team is reaching cult level that it has me dreading the next cycle.
I think her skating skills have reached an acceptable elite level. Carreria, Lopareva, Lajoie, DeMougeot have stronger than hers, but hers are better than Reed, Smart, and arguably Fear. Igor is known for teaching to the levels and her steps and turns look okay to me now. She has definitely improved since last season. Igor is also known for lots of toe pushing and female partners being pulled by their partner to generate speed, but I think there's less of that in this year's programs as well.
I don't know that they'll be instantly on the podium, but I think they have the goods and the USFS political power to get there. I mean when you look at who is in the top 4 now, skating skills are not exactly the driving force
and what's currently "in" with judges are characteristics that Z/K have.I am interested to see what is valued in the next quad. Also whether we'll see more diversity in the RDs. It's been an extroverted dreamfest this quad, and skaters who might not do well at a waltz or blues have been able to hide behind vibes. If it continues to be "upbeat" "party" music, then Z/K have as good a shot as any. If there is more emphasis on bladework, they're in okay shape, too. To me, what is impressive about Z/K this season is they have obviously improved their technique and their performance quality continues to grow: it's the blend of the two that make them exciting.
Rhumba d’Amour
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Yes. I am already over the hype!
~tapdancer~
Knees won't let me tap dance anymore
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Sorry you feel that way. I love them and their skating. Igor will always be the best ice dance coach America ever had. There is always hype on this board and unfortunately way too much judgement as well. Skaters need our support.
kwanfan1818
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I’m not sure why it’s all hype. Shpilband hasn’t even able to politik results since maybe Nguyen/Kolesnik were atop Juniors, and, generally, politikal mojo doesn't usually reestablish itself instantly, unless it's due to the expected return of the Russians, including judges, referees, tech panel members. Zingas/Kolesnik beat Lopareva/Brissaud, Smart/Dieck, Demougeot/LeMercier, Lim/Quan for silver at CoC, beat Smart/Dieck, Davis/Smolkin, the Taschlers and Browns for bronze at Finlandia, made GPF, were a clear US 2 over Carreira/Ponomarenko at US Nationals, with US 1 expected to retire, and just won 4C’s, if in a pre-Olympic version, with no head-to-head with Lajoie/Lagha. It's not like their 4C's scores were unprecented: their CoC total score was less than a point lower.
If the expected post Olympic season clear out at the top happens with Chock/Bates, Gilles/Poirier, and Guignard/Fabbri retiring -- no one knows what Fournier Beaudry/Cizeron plan -- even without any changes to vibes-based choreo elements or dumb-ass “party” RD themes and no required pattern snippets like in juniors, V/K are at least looking at Top 5 results out of the gate if they skate well, and that’s with no US teams poised to surpass them until Aboian is age-eligible, and even with Aboian, probably not until after 2030, this being Dance, not Women's singles. I think Carriera/Ponomarenko have maxed out their potential, with him being the weaker link, Green/Parsons are being dumped, and who knows what their coaching situation will be next year if they continue. After their Worlds disaster, Bratti/Sommerville have been treated as radioactive, a contrast to the benefit of the doubt given to Torgashev -- again, Dance vs. singles -- and they’re at MIDA, too. I love, love, love the Browns, but their twizzles only cover a small footprint and are noticeably weaker than the rest, and reports are that they still skate small and have lesser ice coverage live, if improving. I can't see them overtaking Z/K, even if their programs continue to be the best/among the best overall.
At worst for Z/K, they’ll be duking it out with C/P and maybe another team with a break-through, the way C/B, Hubbell/Donohue, and the Shibs did.
I think Z/K’s FD this year is fantastic. One part of the Prokofiev is well-known, the others less so, and the Kissing You’s and other modern scores have outnumbered Prokofiev in recent years. The choreography was inspired and fit them like a glove. She’s still getting better, and they’re getting better as a team.
Until this season, to me they looked manufactured as a team. Even though I’ve taken to them this year, there are at least a handful of other teams in the US I love more, and, internationally, I love D/LeM, L/B, L/L,T/V, the Taschlers (while I recognize they’re struggling), and a bunch of juniors/new-to-seniors, and I'm hopeful for Reitan/Majorov and Hensen/Lickers, too. I don't have any incentive to become a Z/K uber, but they've convinced me to watch them, not use their skating as a reason to pick up dropped stitches.
If the expected post Olympic season clear out at the top happens with Chock/Bates, Gilles/Poirier, and Guignard/Fabbri retiring -- no one knows what Fournier Beaudry/Cizeron plan -- even without any changes to vibes-based choreo elements or dumb-ass “party” RD themes and no required pattern snippets like in juniors, V/K are at least looking at Top 5 results out of the gate if they skate well, and that’s with no US teams poised to surpass them until Aboian is age-eligible, and even with Aboian, probably not until after 2030, this being Dance, not Women's singles. I think Carriera/Ponomarenko have maxed out their potential, with him being the weaker link, Green/Parsons are being dumped, and who knows what their coaching situation will be next year if they continue. After their Worlds disaster, Bratti/Sommerville have been treated as radioactive, a contrast to the benefit of the doubt given to Torgashev -- again, Dance vs. singles -- and they’re at MIDA, too. I love, love, love the Browns, but their twizzles only cover a small footprint and are noticeably weaker than the rest, and reports are that they still skate small and have lesser ice coverage live, if improving. I can't see them overtaking Z/K, even if their programs continue to be the best/among the best overall.
At worst for Z/K, they’ll be duking it out with C/P and maybe another team with a break-through, the way C/B, Hubbell/Donohue, and the Shibs did.
I think Z/K’s FD this year is fantastic. One part of the Prokofiev is well-known, the others less so, and the Kissing You’s and other modern scores have outnumbered Prokofiev in recent years. The choreography was inspired and fit them like a glove. She’s still getting better, and they’re getting better as a team.
Until this season, to me they looked manufactured as a team. Even though I’ve taken to them this year, there are at least a handful of other teams in the US I love more, and, internationally, I love D/LeM, L/B, L/L,T/V, the Taschlers (while I recognize they’re struggling), and a bunch of juniors/new-to-seniors, and I'm hopeful for Reitan/Majorov and Hensen/Lickers, too. I don't have any incentive to become a Z/K uber, but they've convinced me to watch them, not use their skating as a reason to pick up dropped stitches.
jlai
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There is still W/T and N/M. Would like to see a breakthrough from some of the younger teams
LilJen
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Stupid Peacock already took the FD down.