Shibutanis thread 3: Evolution

[chapis]

The Olympic YT channel did a piece on the shibs w/ commentaries from them. thanks shiroKJ from golden skate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZEaxiDAtJY

It is great and include interview to their parents and Marina (I would prefer to Massimo )

Her mom said she tried that they to skate together because in middle school it was a requirement for Alex to participate in a team sport. I understood well? Blessed school , Alex did not like figure skating so much as Maia did.

 

[semogal]

I just watched the video on the Shibs, it is very enjoyable. I think it is the first time I have ever seen their Dad!

 

[VGThuy]

I wonder if Maia will still follow Mark Hanretty on Twitter after his comments here:

https://youtu.be/HpoelrwIJao?t=682

 

[princeton123]

I know TSL is pretty much just a gossip rag and I wouldn't care if it was, say, La Sechu saying these things, but the fact that Mark also works for Eurosport is pretty unprofessional. He's pretty much admitting he can't be objective about them.

 

[aftershocks]

The Olympic YT channel did a piece on the shibs w/ commentaries from them. thanks shiroKJ from golden skate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZEaxiDAtJY

It is great and include interview to their parents and Marina (I would prefer to Massimo )

Her mom said she tried that they to skate together because in middle school it was a requirement for Alex to participate in a team sport. I understood well? Blessed school , Alex did not like figure skating so much as Maia did.

Great feature. @Sylvia has posted a new thread in GSD highlighting this and other figure skating videos from the Olympics channel

 

[aftershocks]

I wonder if Maia will still follow Mark Hanretty on Twitter after his comments here:

https://youtu.be/HpoelrwIJao?t=682

Hmmm, well Dave gives a good comparative analysis between B/S and the Shibs. But Hanretty surprisingly seemed to be referring to something related to personality and personal characteristics during training. If Hanretty is working off of rink gossip, he needs to be less judgmental. I don't think there's anything wrong with being intense and focused during training, whether or not such focus and intensity is off-putting to others during training sessions. In any case, Dave got things back on track, so Hanretty did not clearly specify exactly what he was talking about re the Shibs.

 

[DDNatalia]

I try to always post POSITIVES to celebrate my favorites.

And so it's a shame. Dave Lease's hard work with TSL gets a self-inflicted black eye when guests like Mark Hanretty become so enamored by their own voice that they lose total perspective on the implications of their role. A sampling of IMO appropriately irate commenters on the Youtube video:

Mark Lefebvre:
"Mark Hanretty clearly has it out for the Shibutanis. His commentary is consistently undermining. They deliver under immense pressure at Worlds and he implies their marks came out of 'nowhere' and are undeserved. Really?

They get a Canadian crowd to roar their approval of both programs and almost take down the home town heavyweights at Skate Canada. They win gold at NHK with standing ovations. With Alex dog sick with food poisoning they bring a Barcelona audience to its feet and with tears in their eyes and with class, take yet another 4th place disappointment behind teams with flawed performances.

They create an unforgettable moment with a historic upset of heavily favored defending champions. They take convincing gold at Four Continents. And so by Worlds, their marks and results came out of nowhere and are somehow a suspicious manipulation as he implies?

The cartoon personna is unreal. He obviously resents the Shibutanis work ethic, their resilience, their talent, their ability to win over fans worldwide for being talented skaters, classy competitors and genuinely cool people.

He trashed the Shibutanis for what reason? And this is who British Eurosport thinks is fit to commentate? The producers and have them know how Hanretty walks the walk."

Robert Aly
"Hanretty's self-described frustration and attention craving. With mawkish clown faces, underhanded attack on the Shibs who are amongst the most gracious, quality people. Inclusive and positive ambassadors for the sport. Hanretty is Deplorable. Lease has become his Trump."

 

[aemeraldrainc]

Can someone please tell me what he said exactly?
Can't play YouTube right now.

 

[chapis]

Can someone please tell me what he said exactly?
Can't play YouTube right now.

Thanks to Naz from golden skate: "I think the Shibutanis are better than Bobrova and Soloviev ... and, again, this is where I become not a skating commentator, but a skating fan [blah blah blah here] ... but, you know, recently I heard stuff about what happens in the training rink with the Shibutanis and now I carry that on through to my opinions of them ... is perhaps not as wholesome as the perfect image that's presented".

 

[teacakes]

So maybe Maia really is a quiet assassin, offing the lessers one by one

Hearsay and pot stirring go hand in hand with figure skating - it wouldn't be fs without it, but it's also 2017 so unless you have receipts, hold your tongue. (Especially is you're a commentator effectively admitting that you can't be impartial, literally b y e).

 

[DDNatalia]

I have met Maia at different events including fundraisers and competition autograph signings. I try not to be gushy or creepy in front of skaters, and I think I do OK in that department. I would find that just "ick." Instead, as you all know, I love sharing cool stuff with other Shibs fans.

Maia has an aura. Not everyone sees at first glance. There is some fierce steel in that girl's core. You can catch a glint in her eye if you look for it but I wouldn't want to stare into it too long lest it vaporize me, haha!. Girl probably has an IQ and EQ (emotional intelligence quotient) that are off the charts. If you told me she was a princess I would believe you. At the same time, if you told me that when not doing her day job she was an assassin, I figure she could also pull that off with the same cool grace. I bet she and Ksenia Stolbova (another aura goddess fave of mine) could pull off world-saving "assignments" together. I'd run to watch THAT movie!

In my opinion, Maia is the most underestimated skater, and more importantly young woman, in this sport.

 

[VGThuy]

Shibs uploaded a 2016 retrospective video with never before seen footage. I appreciate the small glimpses of them dancing hip hop off ice. They actually look really good, they need to bring that on the ice. People criticize Maia, but on the floor, she really knew how to move. I was actually pretty shocked at how great she looked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2inMxxDvrg

 

[Sylvia]

Maia and Alex have been nominated for the US Olympic Team of the Month Award!

Congrats to Maia & Alex on their second win of the season (October & now December)! http://www.teamusa.org/News/2017/Ja...r-Honors-For-Team-USA-Awards-Presented-By-Dow

 

[chapis]

Shibs uploaded a 2016 retrospective video with never before seen footage. I appreciate the small glimpses of them dancing hip hop off ice. They actually look really good, they need to bring that on the ice. People criticize Maia, but on the floor, she really knew how to move. I was actually pretty shocked at how great she looked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2inMxxDvrg

yes, her progress has been impressive. I remember their MJ program when she was giving everything but we all could not help but see to Alex. Now she is in his same level or even better. Seeing how well they dance on the floor I think this section could to be improved https://youtu.be/oI3Zzb7oRK4?t=112

 

[aftershocks]

So maybe Maia really is a quiet assassin, offing the lessers one by one

Ha ha, yes! And Alex as (Lazy-assed Criminal) is Princess Maia Quiet Assassin's hardworking partner in crime. They rip off my heart something fierce. They are classy, classy, confident and deserving of all that they so diligently work for with such determination and grace. Plus, they know how to have fun! They'd be such a blast to hang out with! Don't I wish.

Maia has an aura. Not everyone sees at first glance. There is some fierce steel in that girl's core. You can catch a glint in her eye if you look for it but I wouldn't want to stare into it too long lest it vaporize me, haha!...
If you told me she was a princess I would believe you...

Indeedy, oh yes! I was in Princess Maia's presence and I sensed her aura, her calmness, her kindness and her steel immediately. Do not mess with Ninja Warrior Shibutanis! They take no prisoners!

 

[VGThuy]

According to Lynn Rutherford's latest tweet:

https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/819621014950842369

The Shibs worked with Ryanimay Conferido and added more instrumentation to their FD music to create a fuller sound to power through the second half.

They also enjoy working with Nathan Chen.

 

[Sylvia]

Lynn Rutherford's tweets:

@ShibSibs told media they enjoy training w/Nathan Chen & they're heading to #USChamps17 confident their programs have grown since GPF 1/2

[They] worked w/@Ryanimay [Ryan Conferido of Quest Crew in L.A.] to add instrumentation to Evolution FD music track and "create a more full sound to power thru 2nd half." 2/2

 

[Spiralgraph]

Ahh so the second half of "Evolution" has been tweaked musically. Good idea, it needed a little more pizzazz to spice it up. On a side note, can I assume both Maia and Alex are musicians too?

 

[gk_891]

Tweaking the music for the second half of their FD is a good move but I hope they didn't overdo it. For that style of program, less is more.

 

[VGThuy]

Ahh so the second half of "Evolution" has been tweaked musically. Good idea, it needed a little more pizzazz to spice it up. On a side note, can I assume both Maia and Alex are musicians too?

I don't think they are. Both of their parents are, so I'm sure they were exposed to music growing up and probably have some music education by just having two musician parents. They did compose a lot of the music for their vlogs.

 

[Spun Silver]

According to Lynn Rutherford's latest tweet:

https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/819621014950842369

The Shibs worked with Ryanimay Conferido and added more instrumentation to their FD music to create a fuller sound to power through the second half.

They also enjoy working with Nathan Chen.

Sacrilege to tamper with Arvo Pärt but Glass is fair game IMHO - but anyhow the skaters' needs come first! I would love to see more emotion in that music and program.

 

[Sylvia]

Audio of the Shibs' media call is up: http://web.icenetwork.com/video/topic/213147480/v1219420983

 

[chapis]

Oh no, that FD was perfect. I am nervous. Though I am aware that some people think the music is kind of flat.

 

[VGThuy]

Sacrilege to tamper with Arvo Pärt but Glass is fair game IMHO - but anyhow the skaters' needs come first! I would love to see more emotion in that music and program.

I agree with you regarding Arvo Pärt, but I heard some people characterizing the "Spiegel im Spiegel" piece as boring or whatever.

From the sounds of it on their conference, they didn't mess with the Pärt part, but rather the Phillip Glass part, but adding more instrumentation but in Alex's word "keeping the integrity" of the piece that they envisioned.

I'm hoping this will result in a "Fix You" at Skate Canada break through for them...except with them actually winning the competition in a good way.

 

[Dobre]

According to Lynn Rutherford's latest tweet:

https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/819621014950842369

The Shibs worked with Ryanimay Conferido and added more instrumentation to their FD music to create a fuller sound to power through the second half.

 

[chapis]

Canadian and US nationals are next week. Marina will be with Shibs or Patrick?
I guess Rafael will be with Nathan.

 

[DDNatalia]

Canadian and US nationals are next week. Marina will be with Shibs or Patrick?
I guess Rafael will be with Nathan.

The Shibs could possibly be the one team that can put THEMSELVES out on the ice at this stage in their careers. More so than in the past and arguably than other skaters, they have taken such significant ownership of so much with their skating and careers. Creating their music. Developing their programs and choreography, working with a collection of on and off-ice influences that they curate themselves and make their own.

They seem to have a deeply trusting partnership with Marina and Massimo. One can see that this mindset carries through into competitions. No last-minute, hand clasping pep talks at the boards. They go out, believe in their material, and trust their training.

 

[chapis]

The Shibs could possibly be the one team that can put THEMSELVES out on the ice at this stage in their careers. More so than in the past and arguably than other skaters, they have taken such significant ownership of so much with their skating and careers. Creating their music. Developing their programs and choreography, working with a collection of on and off-ice influences that they curate themselves and make their own.

They seem to have a deeply trusting partnership with Marina and Massimo. One can see that this mindset carries through into competitions. No last-minute, hand clasping pep talks at the boards. They go out, believe in their material, and trust their training.

true, and there is Massimo too. But it could be interpreted like you are not the priority of your main coach. I remember some similar situation happened when D/W and V/M competed. Marina went with D/W.

 

[VGThuy]

Check out Maia's latest Instagram post aka my new avatar:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPRHCoMhr6i/?taken-by=maiashibutani



That's one striking look.

 

[Spun Silver]

Check out Maia's latest Instagram post aka my new avatar:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPRHCoMhr6i/?taken-by=maiashibutani



That's one striking look.

O.M.G. I would not have recognized her. Wow. I like it although it's a little shades of Michael Jackson.