Shibutani Return for Olympic Season

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Blah. No offense to their fans, but the top 5 in ice dance is already stale af -- a Shibutanis comeback only exacerbates the situation.

Please don't tell me they're skating to Coldplay again.

You’re calling my Paul stale? Meet me down by the creek.

 

[MacMadame]

I’m totally an uber, but your take is what I expect too. Of course, my opinion can change once I see what shape they’re in and how their programs look. I will say that nothing at 2025 Worlds made me think anyone was doing anything out of the Shibs’ league, but then that was the from 2016-2018.

I almost never agreed with @Andrey aka Pushkin on anything but I agree with the both of you. You more because I was also an uber.

Maybe I'll be an uber again when I see their programs. That will make the season fun.

 

[On My Own]

as a former dancer I would argue that Ballet is both indeed an art form and a sport.

I would argue that this is a bastardization of a tradition.

 

[chantilly]

Aside from the twizzles and footwork, I don’t think the new requirements of ice dance favour the Shib sibs being on top of the podium.
This opinion is solely based on their past performances and what I am seeing from the current top teams.
Honestly if anyone team should be afraid of the Shibs return, it should be the Italians.
I think the Shibs are fine, clean technical skaters, like the Italians, but the choreo elements IMO favour C/B, G/P and even S/D.
I think in terms of lifts I’d place the Shibs below the top two teams. And arguably the top 5.
As for the choreo elements, they seem more introspective skaters.
Who knows, I could be wrong, but given the lack of political power of their team and the return of Cizeron and Laurence and the lack of competition for several years, I’m not giving them a big chance.
I DO think however that they will make the US team.

 

[VGThuy]

I changed my mind. Shibs will win gold in Milan.

 

[marbri]

The one advantage I suspect the Shibs have is that they have been training and working a FD for months now so are months ahead of every other team. And likely have their elements sorted for the RD ready to fit into whatever was confirmed when the time came.

I recall when V/M moved to IAM they said one of the differences in creating programs was that Marina and Igor did it in parts, all the elements were done first and then they just made it fit into the music whereas IAM choreographed programs as a whole where each movement was made before the next. So when it comes to muscle memory and skating clean elements early in the season I put money on the SHIBs.

And before it's pointed out, its not hard to tweak a FD made months ago when new rules are put out after the fact.

 

[chantilly]

I changed my mind. Shibs will win gold in Milan.

That would be the story! Would love this for you!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I changed my mind. Shibs will win gold in Milan.

I mean, Alysa came in and did the same exact thing basically just now although dance is a lot more political.

 

[Jammers]

I really want to see 2 new teams go to the Olympics in Milan not two teams that were on the Olympic team way back in 2014 and have been to multiple Olympic games especially for a country that has as much depth as the US has in Ice Dance right now.

 

[Jarrett]

I mean, Alysa came in and did the same exact thing basically just now although dance is a lot more political.

2 years now equals 7? lol just no. The Olympics also aren’t in the United States.

 

[VGThuy]

I mean, Alysa came in and did the same exact thing basically just now although dance is a lot more political.

Time to pull some political favors.

I really want to see 2 new teams go to the Olympics in Milan not two teams that were on the Olympic team way back in 2014 and have been to multiple Olympic games especially for a country that has as much depth as the US has in Ice Dance right now.

I don’t mind this so long as the Shibs is that 1 team who competed way back in 2014.

 

[jägerbomb]

You’re calling my Paul stale? Meet me down by the creek.

Obviously, he's hot, but programs and skatingwise, I'm a little bored.

If it makes you feel any better, they're definitely my favorite team of the stale top 4.

I think I'll pass on the creek invite.

 

[jägerbomb]

I really want to see 2 new teams go to the Olympics in Milan not two teams that were on the Olympic team way back in 2014 and have been to multiple Olympic games especially for a country that has as much depth as the US has in Ice Dance right now.

I agree.

I will slightly amend my previous stance -- if a Shibutanis comeback manages to shake up the standings, I'm totally here for it.

I find the teams placed 5-15 at Worlds infinitely more interesting than 1-4. I'm hoping things are chaotic next season.

 

[Jammers]

I agree.

I will slightly amend my previous stance -- if a Shibutanis comeback manages to shake up the standings, I'm totally here for it.

I find the teams placed 5-15 at Worlds infinitely more interesting than 1-4. I'm hoping things are chaotic next season.

Well hopefully after next season we will finally have a more open Ice Dance field of teams that haven't been around for 4 Olympic cycles and almost quality for Social Security.

 

[Willin]

I agree.

I will slightly amend my previous stance -- if a Shibutanis comeback manages to shake up the standings, I'm totally here for it.

I find the teams placed 5-15 at Worlds infinitely more interesting than 1-4. I'm hoping things are chaotic next season.

The thing I always come back to is a C/B fresh off their snake and alien/astronaut program saying they were staying because they had more great ideas! And I said great! Those were great programs! And then what we've been getting from them is not nearly that interesting. Or loving G/P because they were goofy and funny - and their SDs are to some extent - only to become boring, bland generic team number 5 for every FD. Or the campy, over the top Rocky program from F/G dropping off to a very underwhelming Beyonce FD this year.

You're right that teams 5-15 are so much more interesting! S/D always own the FD and it will be a true tragedy if L/B are left off the French team in favor of that new team that shall not be mentioned.

 

[Matryeshka]

The Runthrough (Ashley Wagner and Adam Rippon's pod) came out of their planned hiatus to do an "emergency" episode on the Shibutani's return (and implored all other skaters planning on making a comeback to wait till September so they can have a break ) and I kind of like their take--whether or not they medal or not, the Shibs combined with F-B/C (so weird to write) return could--or at least should--light a fire under certain teams to be more creative and up their games.

Like some have already written, the last two seasons have felt stale. F-B/C have a lot of and are a new team and the Shibs have been gone so long they might as well be a new team, has made me A LOT more curious about this upcoming season. While I don't think C/B, and G/P have that much to be worried about and probably won't change their plans at all, if I were F/L and G/F are at the very least...concerned about F-B/C and will (hopefully) be a little more intentional in their choices of FD. I doubt C-Pom are that concerned about making the Olympics, but I'm really interested to see how G/P, Browns, and Z/K react to the Shibs.

I don't see any situation where the Shibs are #1 or even #2 US but depending on the programs, I can see them having AT LEAST an outside shot at #3 based on the programs of US 4-7.

I'm excited for this season in dance, if not for the teams at least the . I hope the Shibs get everything they want out of their return, especially Maia. While I think maybe too much time has passed for them to be truly competitive, their retirement felt unfinished and I feel like if it had not been for cancer/covid, they might have been at the top of the podium in Beijing, or at least had another Worlds Championship.

 

[PRlady]

Sorry, they were not going to beat P/C in Beijing. And SinKats unfortunately were a political lock, so they would have bumped H/D off the podium? Nope nope nope.

 

[Bigbird]

But are there really any locks for the podium this season? I mean they're all pretty stale, right?

 

[VGThuy]

so they would have bumped H/D off the podium? Nope nope nope.

I mean H/D should be used to that.

 

[On My Own]

Fanwarring between Shibs and Hubbell/Donohue is like fanwarring between Russian team 1 and Russian team 2: I literally don't remember what they've done at this point, and am baffled others do, so I'll have to take your word for it.

It's like when a Kaetlyn Osmond tweet got 500 likes. Why? How? Who? And yet there she was. I had to google how to type her name, even, apparently she won worlds?!

 

[Willin]

@Bigbird Based on ice dance trends, I don't think C/B or G/P are in any threat of being left off the podium. C/B could fall and still win with the margins they've been getting. G/P would need a fall to keep them off. I think bronze is a bigger competition, but I don't think there's any shot for anyone but F/G or G/F.

 

[Karen-W]

But are there really any locks for the podium this season? I mean they're all pretty stale, right?

Based on what we saw at Worlds and WTT with respect to scores, I'd say that ChoBat and GilPoir are pretty secure for the podium. The question is bronze - and I do think that's way more open than conventional wisdom was saying before Worlds.

 

[olympic]

'Nuf slagging off of C/B. I find they have developed great presence on the ice and technical wizardry, a definite solidity on the big moves. They just fall short of the je ne sais quoi offered by P/C and V/M; that is what we are used to if you are an ID fan and have been watching the last 4 Olympic cycles. This cycle may be more akin to 2006, no real superstar teams, headband be damned

Now, if C/B offer a snake charmer or alien program and skate it to the max, it will be memorable if they win with it, I think.

 

[On My Own]

The Runthrough (Ashley Wagner and Adam Rippon's pod) came out of their planned hiatus to do an "emergency" episode on the Shibutani's return

Really? 50 crossover per program skaters commented on ID? Figures (but not the ones from figure skating, I doubt either could even do a 3-turn).

 

[VGThuy]

Fanwarring between Shibs and Hubbell/Donohue is like fanwarring between Russian team 1 and Russian team 2: I literally don't remember what they've done at this point, and am baffled others do, so I'll have to take your word for it.

I guess you weren’t around for ice dance in the 80s and 90s when fan-warring between Russia no. 1 and Russia no. 2 (or Soviet) was what figure skating life was all about. FSU was a refuge for those skating fans who wanted to fan war about ice dance all they wanted, both in the intra and inter-national realms.

 

[On My Own]

I guess you weren’t around for ice dance in the 80s and 90s when fan-warring between Russia no. 1 and Russia no. 2 (or Soviet) was what figure skating life was all about. FSU was a refuge for those skating fans who wanted to fan war about ice dance all they wanted, both in the intra and inter-national realms.

I mean IDK. Y'all do you, of course, it's like I can't even remember details of 99% of the things anymore.

I do remember Delobel/Schoenfelder winning 2008 worlds, rightly.

And Virtue/Moir existing.

And Papdakis/Censored.

And Shibutani twizzles, and how they're the most awful people ever according to people who were then making lists about how many 'zionists' exist in skating.

I'm sure I can be a study in relational memory for figure skating.

 

[On My Own]

It would be fun if the ID fanwars were based on the really technical stuff btw, 'that bracket was shit and they still got level 4!', 'you call that a rocker?', 'there were only 2.9 revolutions to that set of twizzles', 'that counter was so bad that even ashley wagner could - snort no no she couldn't'.

I'm 99% sure that's what ID needs - a KK style account pointing out everything that went wrong and publishing conspiracy theories about the judging panels with dramatic music playing. Because the skating definitely aint attracting fans.

 

[withwings]

It would be fun if the ID fanwars were based on the really technical stuff btw, 'that bracket was shit and they still got level 4!', 'you call that a rocker?', 'there were only 2.9 revolutions to that set of twizzles', 'that counter was so bad that even ashley wagner could - snort no no she couldn't'.

I'm 99% sure that's what ID needs - a KK style account pointing out everything that went wrong and publishing conspiracy theories about the judging panels with dramatic music playing. Because the skating definitely aint attracting fans.

Stop once and forever to attack Ashley Wagner (( do not know the better expression to say in English as only "attack", my English vocabulary is limited).I have read so many times in your posts quite derogative comments of her. Stop it. IF you do not like her ( as a person), then deal with it but do not needlessly attack her as a skater. I am sure that she, like all skaters, did her very best and in the way only she could. Deal with it. Today is today and past is past.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I can’t wait to see all of your expressions when Turkkila and Versluis podium.

 

[jägerbomb]

It would be fun if the ID fanwars were based on the really technical stuff btw, 'that bracket was shit and they still got level 4!', 'you call that a rocker?', 'there were only 2.9 revolutions to that set of twizzles', 'that counter was so bad that even ashley wagner could - snort no no she couldn't'.

I'm 99% sure that's what ID needs - a KK style account pointing out everything that went wrong and publishing conspiracy theories about the judging panels with dramatic music playing. Because the skating definitely aint attracting fans.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but do you get any enjoyment whatsoever watching skating?