Best-looking pair teams

[hanca]

hmmmm whatever that Michael Buble program was for them was a bit lackluster for my taste.

They were also only doing doubles (was it the twist or sbs jumps) so of all the Russians they were the ones who didn't make you fall asleep??

I feel a Ksenia stare coming on.

I agree. Their technical content is quite weak. There are juniors in Russia that are stronger. Double throw axel, doubling or popping side by side jump...

 

[angi]

I agree. Their technical content is quite weak. There are juniors in Russia that are stronger. Double throw axel, doubling or popping side by side jump...

It's really not that poor at all - they had the highest scored jumps combination of the season with their 3T2T2Lo combination and other than the throw double axel their other content was at the same level as most teams with their technical base value of the free being around 58 points (they had TES of around 64 points at Europeans for example - you don't get that with poor technical content).

 

[hanca]

It's really not that poor at all - they had the highest scored jumps combination of the season with their 3T2T2Lo combination and other than the throw double axel their other content was at the same level as most teams with their technical base value of the free being around 58 points (they had TES of around 64 points at Europeans for example - you don't get that with poor technical content).

Same level as most teams? They often popped side by side triple into double, plus putting there double axel throw, I am amazed that they scored so high with such low technical skills. At the times when the top teams try quad throws or quad twist, I don't think double axel is the throw that should be done by a senior team.

 

[angi]

Same level as most teams? They often popped side by side triple into double, plus putting there double axel throw, I am amazed that they scored so high with such low technical skills. At the times when the top teams try quad throws or quad twist, I don't think double axel is the throw that should be done by a senior team.

They had problems with execution for sure, but my point was that as far as technical base value they are not so far from other senior teams (and scored higher than many). They are not a top team at the moment but as a new team they were quite successful this season and I at least will be interested the see what they will bring to next season.

 

[clairecloutier]

I wish we could get past the criticism of Zabijako/Enbert including throw double Axel. First of all, its base value is only about 1/2 point less than the standard throw triple Salchow. And if they are confident with it and landing it well, they may well get strong GOE and wind up scoring more on it than other pairs do with a so-so throw throw triple Salchow. (It's about what you can reliably deliver well.) Second of all, let's not forget Savchenko/Massot won Europeans and put up the third-highest FS score of the season with a throw double Axel--so it doesn't necessarily doom you. Third, Z/E's throw double Axel is in the program for the same reason that S/M's sometimes is---Because their original planned intent was to do throw triple Axel, BUT they just didn't want to risk it this season, after Natalia's head injury last year. If Z/E decide to give up on the throw 3A, most likely they will then replace the throw 2A with another throw triple. But I don't see the fact that they have it in there as some kind of definitive evidence of completely subpar technical ability--far from it.

I agree that side-by-side triple Salchow is not a strong element for Z/E, but again, many top senior pairs actually do not have 2 reliable side-by-side triples: Sui/Han, Yu/Zhang, Peng/Jin, Ilyushechkina/Moscovitch, Knierims. Yet that did not stop any of these teams from scoring top 10 at Worlds, or high elsewhere (Peng/Jin). And it's because they make up for the side-by-side issues in other areas of their skating (twist, lifts, spin elements, etc.)

Going into Worlds, Zabijako/Enbert were #10 in average TES score in Grand Prix/major ISU competitions, and were actually #11 in average base value score, so really they're a pretty strong team technically, or at least they were this season. Their relatively poor free skate at Worlds was somewhat of an anomaly.

 

[Mad for Skating]

I feel a Ksenia stare coming on.

Oddly enough, our death-staring diva seems to have ditched the glaring as of 2015.

I wish we could get past the criticism of Zabijako/Enbert including throw double Axel. First of all, its base value is only about 1/2 point less than the standard throw triple Salchow. And if they are confident with it and landing it well, they may well get strong GOE and wind up scoring more on it than other pairs do with a so-so throw throw triple Salchow. (It's about what you can reliably deliver well.) Second of all, let's not forget Savchenko/Massot won Europeans and put up the third-highest FS score of the season with a throw double Axel--so it doesn't necessarily doom you. Third, Z/E's throw double Axel is in the program for the same reason that S/M's sometimes is---Because their original planned intent was to do throw triple Axel, BUT they just didn't want to risk it this season, after Natalia's head injury last year. If Z/E decide to give up on the throw 3A, most likely they will then replace the throw 2A with another throw triple. But I don't see the fact that they have it in there as some kind of definitive evidence of completely subpar technical ability--far from it.

I agree that side-by-side triple Salchow is not a strong element for Z/E, but again, many top senior pairs actually do not have 2 reliable side-by-side triples: Sui/Han, Yu/Zhang, Peng/Jin, Ilyushechkina/Moscovitch, Knierims. Yet that did not stop any of these teams from scoring top 10 at Worlds, or high elsewhere (Peng/Jin). And it's because they make up for the side-by-side issues in other areas of their skating (twist, lifts, spin elements, etc.)

Going into Worlds, Zabijako/Enbert were #10 in average TES score in Grand Prix/major ISU competitions, and were actually #11 in average base value score, so really they're a pretty strong team technically, or at least they were this season. Their relatively poor free skate at Worlds was somewhat of an anomaly.

Ah, what would we do if not for Claire's sensible breakdowns of everything in the sport? Thank you.

 

[Mad for Skating]

In my opinion, Eric Radford wins the medal for best-looking male pair skater. I like Meagan because she doesn’t overdo it with hair and makeup, and she’s definitely got the best biceps in the business! I love the contrast between them.

Gorgeous Meagan and Eric: https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdCjePgam3/?taken-by=ericradford85&hl=en
Another great pic: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTl4DE_A10s/?taken-by=ericradford85&hl=en
Eric always looks SO good in suits: https://www.instagram.com/p/BLwOHPbDCLW/?taken-by=ericradford85&hl=en
And…with a little less clothing: https://www.instagram.com/p/BKXAY1XjGy4/?taken-by=ericradford85&hl=en

I also love Ksenia and Fedor because they look like a couple together. She is so unique-looking, and also A+ for her sense of style To me Fedor is more cute than hot, but I love his smile, and he totally looks great with her.
Very classy pic of Ksenia and Fedor: https://vk.com/id1017934?z=photo1017934_432494632/photos1017934
Ksenia and Fedor looking fab at 2015 GPF banquet: https://vk.com/id1017934?z=photo1017934_394669107/photos1017934

This is probably one of my favorite pics of them; does anyone else miss Ksenia's gorgeous hair? https://vk.com/id1017934?z=photo1017934_349049332/photos1017934

Another great pic of Ksenia and her dog: https://vk.com/id1017934?z=photo1017934_346314178/photos1017934

And...they also did a pretty hot photoshoot in 2014 if you're interested... https://vk.com/id1017934?z=photo1017934_332378214/photos1017934

A little food for thought before we go declaring that Vanessa and Morgan are the only pretty people in the sport...

 

[Jeschke]

This is probably one of my favorite pics of them; does anyone else miss Ksenia's gorgeous hair? https://vk.com/id1017934?z=photo1017934_349049332/photos1017934

I for sure miss Fedors not slimy hair very much!

 

[Mad for Skating]

I for sure miss Fedors not slimy hair very much!

Fedor and Maxim Trankov both have this habit of over-gelling their hair. Mozer boy problems, I guess. Overly slicked hair always reminds me of the Phantom of the Opera. In general, I'd say Sochi was S/K's best hair day.

 

[GREGORY]

This poll is à joke without James/Cipres.