CBC Commentary RD:
S: The skating world has been waiting for this moment
T: (twizzles) Perfection
S: (simultaneously) Owwww
Sharp enough for you, T?
T: Wowww
These two leveraging the dance style waacking which is characterized by striking arm movements and poses and it’s a style that’s focussed on empowerment and strength, two thing Gabrielle and Guillaume masterfully display
S: (MB) Pay attention to the ice they’re taking up on this sequence, all the way across centre
T: And watch for the intricacy of those dance holds and positions, unlike anyone else on competitive ice
S: Putting on a clinic here
S: (after program has concluded) Have mercy on the rest of the field!
T: Oh, I was totally enveloped into their web, I was captive audience. That was…extraordinary
S: (low soft voice) I’m at a loss for words, to be honest, I just thought, how commanding. Um, when they do that, the waacking with the arms, it doesn’t look human, it’s like the legs are doing something and the ar—I don’t even understand. Those special effects that are used in this is pretty incredible. But the unison, the strength, the…I mean, obviously the clean turns but they brought you in, I thought.
T: And, and to do that with all eyes on them as they eye the top of the podium. not an easy feat
S: (as Gabi and Gui embrace MF and Romain) And the look on their face says it all.
T: Do you see a little relief?
S: Relief. I was gonna say. Clearly what they’ve been doing at home. Sometimes that is the emotion that comes to you first, especially in the short dance. But we always say you can’t win the Olympics in the short dance but you can lose it. (slow motion replay starting)
I mean, for anyone who’s never seen Papadakis and Cizeron before, pay attention to the way they use their skating leg, the leg that is on the ice, the intense knee action. Look how low, they’re in a full squat as they’re using, using every single bit of the stride. It is technique that is completely mastered, arguably the best we’ve ever seen
T: This program, to me, felt like it was good for the sport
S: Ah, totally. And what do you think, why Tess, just, is it the arms, is it the way they, like, it, it’s perfectly matched, I mean
T: You’re right about the technique but it’s that they can balance that with this otherworldly ability to express themselves with their upper bodies, and that is so hard to do and remain strong on your blade
S: (replay of end of stsq) That swizzle at the very end of the footwork, she
T: Uhh, she held on
S: Yeah. You know what, when you have a little bit of attack in your performance like they do , you can kinda give that one to them. Judges may be looking down a little earlier for the GOE hopefully.
And for me it means setting up my alarm clock for 3 am
