I watched videos of the live RD practice session and they were for me by far the best, for sure better than P/C. They have a more challenging program, better speed, and ice coverage. Unfortunately, if both teams will look like they did at practice it won't matter much since it's pretty much pre-determined at this point.
Can't Help Falling In Love ... with Hubbell & Donohue (fan thread #2)
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VGThuy
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They're creating a buffer. Only bronze is up for grabs it seems, just like 2018.
It should have been. That should have gotten at least 86 and in a fair world would out score P/C.
clairecloutier
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Great program for them today—some parts really outstanding. I’m wondering if they can add something/tweak the music a bit to add more oomph to the end of the Midnight Blues section. I did feel like there was a bit of a valley of intensity at the end of that section. I think just a little more tweaking and working on climaxes in the music will give it just a bit more. P.S. I do think their score could’ve been closer to P/C. The judges indicated which way they were leaning with the very first GOE on P/C’s twizzles.
i
(i do think that h&d demonstrate a great deal of effortlessness in how they generate speed, etc, in relation to most of the field but p&c are just on a different level)
i'm ok with the placement. it's fine by me that the judges are rewarding p&c's ability to make everything they do look effortless. tanith once remarked that p&c never demonstrate any tension in their bodies no matter what their blades are doing. yes, h&d have sheer, raw power and a comparably beautiful knee action/glide to p&c. but i think when it comes down to it, the judges prefer the guise of effortlessness over raw power.
(i do think that h&d demonstrate a great deal of effortlessness in how they generate speed, etc, in relation to most of the field but p&c are just on a different level)
I think they should've been scored way above G/P in any competition. But I saw the programs here in Torino from the same fan camera angle and I saw no "greater" speed and coverage from H/D as compared with P/C. Anyway I still think the biggest thing that they can think about, that is in their control, is the...program packaging, as much as I dislike that word. Neither the RD nor the FD makes them shine. The RD especially feels conventional and unexciting.
Bigbird
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I really like the RD for H/D. I think both P/C and H/D should have been scored higher for what they did. P/C should be closer to 90 with H/D closer to 87. How I really wish H/D had done a Tango or a Flamenco. They have all this power, dynamism and softness and it's just hidden in this flat piece of music. I know this is what Maddie wanted but as they get more comfortable with it, it's beginning to look bland.
Sylvia
Flight #5342: I Will Remember You
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Re-posting @Ka3sha's link here - Hubbell/Donohue interview for Russian press after Italian GP event
www.championat.com
«Ты такая сильная, но я больше не могу». Голливудская история лучших фигуристов США
Брату Мэдисон Хаббелл платили за выступления с сестрой. А потом в жизни американки началась настоящая «Санта-Барбара».
www.championat.com
Machine translated excerpts:
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TheresMaude
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Now that we’re officially in a lull, I thought I’d take a wade in the shallow end: I think Maddie bears a facial resemblance to Kristen Stewart. Perhaps a pixie cut a la KS is in order?
VGThuy
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I thought that for a while. There is a real similarity.
escaflowne9282
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Madison had a bob haircut several years ago, so I do think she could rock short hair if she wanted to; however, I don't think any of Kristen Stewart's specific hairstyles have been that flattering.
KS seems to go for very severe styles that either lack texture and movement, or seem to just miss the right angles of her face to accentuate.
Sylvia
Flight #5342: I Will Remember You
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From Hubbell/Donohue's pre-Nationals media call today: https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/1473078066926788615
ETA another transcription - "Madison Hubbell on program changes before U.S. Nationals next month": https://twitter.com/S_V_Knight/status/1473078064942833669
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Zach and Madi also talked about taking measures to protect themselves in this time of uncertainty
And plans to do video training if they couldn’t go back Canada after nationals
And plans to do video training if they couldn’t go back Canada after nationals
semogal
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That FD was a great way to end their nationals careers. Congrats to Madison and Zach on winning the FD and earning the silver medal. I won't lie, I am disappointed it wasn't gold. I wanted that for them so badly. And happy belated birthday to Zach. It will certainly be a memorable one!!
~tapdancer~
Knees won't let me tap dance anymore
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Their FD was fantastic. I love their power and speed. They are hands down, the most powerful team...in the world. Wanted gold for them but they are going to the Olympics!! We have a great US Ice Dance team for Olympics.
aka_gerbil
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I don’t know what to say other than like the rest of you, I also wanted it to be gold.
I fully agree with you, @Plusdinfo
I fully agree with you, @Plusdinfo
Cherub721
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Madi & Zach have had a tough road compared to the other World medalists from this quad. They all had their home GP events and Nationals where they were the clear best team and could get showered with great scores. H&D's experience:
-A battle with C&B at Skate America, which they won, but they didn't get that type of runaway win with the huge gap.
-They were the top seeds at their second GP and were unlucky that unseeded P&C were invited there.
-They didn't get another crack at C&B in front of an international panel at GPF.
-They had to fight again at Nationals, and despite such a brilliant FD, a few small mistakes in the RD cost them the gold. In comparison, P&C made major errors at Nationals and S&K couldn't even finish the competition, but both will go to the Olympics with the total support of their federations.
-If H&D get selected for the Team Event, it will probably be a split, so they will go in as "one of two very strong dance teams from the US, either of which could medal" and not "the top US medal contenders in ice dance."
It's always been like this back to 2014 when they were scoring very close to the Shibs and C&B on the GP and ended up 4th.
It has made them better skaters and fighters. And that's why I believe even though they won't go in as the champions they still have excellent chances at an Olympic medal.
-A battle with C&B at Skate America, which they won, but they didn't get that type of runaway win with the huge gap.
-They were the top seeds at their second GP and were unlucky that unseeded P&C were invited there.
-They didn't get another crack at C&B in front of an international panel at GPF.
-They had to fight again at Nationals, and despite such a brilliant FD, a few small mistakes in the RD cost them the gold. In comparison, P&C made major errors at Nationals and S&K couldn't even finish the competition, but both will go to the Olympics with the total support of their federations.
-If H&D get selected for the Team Event, it will probably be a split, so they will go in as "one of two very strong dance teams from the US, either of which could medal" and not "the top US medal contenders in ice dance."
It's always been like this back to 2014 when they were scoring very close to the Shibs and C&B on the GP and ended up 4th.
It has made them better skaters and fighters. And that's why I believe even though they won't go in as the champions they still have excellent chances at an Olympic medal.
Laura4
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Count me in as also being disappointed Madi and Zach didn't win gold. Now I'm wondering which team is going to be chosen for the team event if they decide to go with one instead of two teams for ice dance. Madi and Zach's skating skills are second to none and they have a stunning free dance. I've always thought that if any team could challenge P/C for gold, it would be them, so I'll be so disappointed if they don't get chosen for the team event.
Peepsquick
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It often comes with the territory of being part of a big federation with many good contestants. It is also easier to make mistakes if you skate with unrestrained power as it happened in the RD. Add to this the fascination that people have with Madison Chock's performative skills and it becomes easy lo loose. Imo they should have gotten a better score for their FD but I am no judge.
I wish them the best for the OG!
aka_gerbil
Rooting for the Underdogs
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H/D have had such a tough road to follow their whole career. They’ve never been a pet team of USFS, and it makes it all the much harder on the world stage to go up against teams who have feds that are all in for them the way France is for P/C, Russia for S/K, or Canada for G/P. H/D have simply had to run a gauntlet full of challenges and obstacles that almost no one else has had to face.
I feel like it’s almost a given that if they don’t split dance, C/B will get the nod despite H/D coming in as world silver medalists. H/D come into this as essentially being in the same position as the Shibs in 2018 (the reigning world medalists who finished second at the pre-Olympic nationals). It’s just given the lack of usfs support, I expect a different outcome.
Logically, usfs should split dance and men, but given how dance gets treated as the unwanted stepchild discipline, I expect they’ll probably split ladies or even pairs instead to reward more of their pet teams/skaters… of which h/d are not one.
Basically, I’m hoping they get a Sotnikova moment in the individual event.
I feel like it’s almost a given that if they don’t split dance, C/B will get the nod despite H/D coming in as world silver medalists. H/D come into this as essentially being in the same position as the Shibs in 2018 (the reigning world medalists who finished second at the pre-Olympic nationals). It’s just given the lack of usfs support, I expect a different outcome.
Logically, usfs should split dance and men, but given how dance gets treated as the unwanted stepchild discipline, I expect they’ll probably split ladies or even pairs instead to reward more of their pet teams/skaters… of which h/d are not one.
Basically, I’m hoping they get a Sotnikova moment in the individual event.
More often than not I think H/D are the superior team in the world and should defeat P/C. Their speed, power, and edge quality are the best in the world imo and if they had the support of USFS and the judging was impartial, this quad should have been a very close P/C vs. H/D rivalry.
People love to say that H/D are prone to mistakes and they are, but the difference is that they are a team that is penalized for their mistakes much harsher than others, and they are penalized for much longer than one competition. Every time they skate they skate as the underdogs that need to prove their worth almost from scratch. It's so exhausting that I have no idea how they withstand it.
People love to say that H/D are prone to mistakes and they are, but the difference is that they are a team that is penalized for their mistakes much harsher than others, and they are penalized for much longer than one competition. Every time they skate they skate as the underdogs that need to prove their worth almost from scratch. It's so exhausting that I have no idea how they withstand it.
SidelineSkater
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While it’s very disappointing, there are some silver linings here.
Silver will make them even hungrier to train harder to get the levels they need. I think an international panel will know their are surperior (like at SkAM), even if it’s by a small amount.
It helps that C/B have said they want to split the team event…likely bc they were #2 heading into Nats.
I would be shocked if they don’t split dance. To reward both teams mostly. But for women’s and pairs, their reward was just getting to the Olympics.
Definitely bummed but still hopeful they will be double Olympic medalists.
Silver will make them even hungrier to train harder to get the levels they need. I think an international panel will know their are surperior (like at SkAM), even if it’s by a small amount.
It helps that C/B have said they want to split the team event…likely bc they were #2 heading into Nats.
I would be shocked if they don’t split dance. To reward both teams mostly. But for women’s and pairs, their reward was just getting to the Olympics.
Definitely bummed but still hopeful they will be double Olympic medalists.
The thing is the 2.5-Point gap in the RD was not warranted given the noticeable difference in edge quality and overall execution of elements. I thought their starting order hurt them. No idea why they had to skate in the middle of the order essentially.
aka_gerbil
Rooting for the Underdogs
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I think skate order could have played a role with h/d have to go fairly early.
Someone broke down and compared the key points. Very interesting.
Someone broke down and compared the key points. Very interesting.
clairecloutier
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The bottom line for me is that H/D consistently show superior skating skills, ice coverage, and speed compared to a lot of their competitors, and yet the credit they receive for it is always less than it could be. It really puzzles me. Sometimes I feel like judges are almost scared of, or resistant to, the power they bring to ice dance. It's like they feel it is too unrefined or untraditional or something. (I admit I'm purely theorizing here.)
Bigbird
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Look we all hate to say it but there are prejudices in ice dance. Be happy for the guys that they medalled and finished well. If the games go on as planned I hope they have a much better showing of their RD. Why did they make so many changes to the RD before such an important competition? The RD looked rough or flat in several places and that also contributed to their loss at this competition.
