Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir #48: Long Time Running

irena said:
It was all planned for the French to win but all stars on the sky aligned the right way so it was justice at the end. The French were sure to win, so they skipped the team event, turned to be big mistake, while Tessa and Scott took it all, did not save anything and they won hearts even before stepping on the ice for their last performances, the fact that the French judge was left out from the last competition but the Canadian stayed, the fact that they skated last, and the judges thought they have given the French high enough marks, and the fact that Tessa and Scott did not give them any chance to be deprived of what they deserved and finally the audience. I expected that the audience will love Tessa and Scott but I also thought they will love Moonlightsonata and I was truly surprised by how much the audience did not give attention to the French. I think that the audience would have stormed the judges if they decided otherwise. But after all, it was Tessa and Scott moment and they truly deserved it, fighting till the end for what their hearts felt right.. It is so rare to see justice in this sport and I am so happy I saw it this one time. The Universe for sure got these two together, so it owed them this moment.
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Beautifully written and expresses my own belief exactly. Especially the French not skating in the TE.
 
Shayii said:
Is the Olympic Channel video the same as this one https://youtu.be/wOEKdWrtz6U? The YouTube link says it’s not available in my country which is weird.
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No - this one hasn't got the commentary. The other link has the OBS team of Belinda Noonan and Jim Van Horne - though they say little. Like all the English commentators I have been able to access they respectfully let the audience enjoy the performance first.
 
Interesting, when they will come back to Montreal? After there victory Sam posted message with - now time for Stars on Ice. So will they have Tim to made something new before SOI in Japan?
 
lauravvv said:
I think Japanfan meant to say that it may/could have happened that way if P/C had competed in the team event.
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No, I mistakenly thought they had competed in the TE. I really did not remember by the time the FD occurred in the IE.
 
pani said:
Interesting, when they will come back to Montreal? After there victory Sam posted message with - now time for Stars on Ice. So will they have Tim to made something new before SOI in Japan?
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In the video from the airport Scott said something about returning to Montreal on the 15th, but not sure what month. When does SOI start? I think they’re going to deal with media obligations this week.
 
Watched their FD at the Olympics again for the 20th time. What I noticed this time was the audience reaction to their MR program and when the announcer said, "they're currently in 1st place" was deafening. They were certainly crowd favorites by miles.
 
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V&M had a different emotional connection to the audience for their program for sure.

I read a comparision of V&M vs P&C as G&G and M&D from 1994 but don't think that is apt at all. Neither team compares. It is like watching 2010 V&M vs 2018 V&M.

Both programs are exceptional but for different reasons. If people liked 2010 V&M they probably quite liked P&C's because both programs were lyrical and soft with deep knee bend and long lines.

I preferred this FD because it was musical, mature and had incredible choreographical moments and fine touches that their other programs didn't have the same level of.

Apples and oranges but still fruit. ;)
 
Twilight1 said:
V&M had a different emotional connection to the audience for their program for sure.

I read a comparision of V&M vs P&C as G&G and M&D from 1994 but don't think that is apt at all. Neither team compares. It is like watching 2010 V&M vs 2018 V&M.

Both programs are exceptional but for different reasons. If people liked 2010 V&M they probably quite liked P&C's because both programs were lyrical and soft with deep knee bend and long lines.

I preferred this FD because it was musical, mature and had incredible choreographical moments and fine touches that their other programs didn't have the same level of.

Apples and oranges but still fruit. ;)
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It is strange because I loved Mahler back then, that is the performance with which my love for them started. It was magical, I alaways remember it as fairy tale in white. It was perfect for them at their age back in 2010. But although I also like Moonlight sonata I like it because of the music, not because of the skaters. While with Mahler was just opposite I loved it because of the skaters. P/C just do not give me the same vibes, they do not transcend the emotion of the human, too abstract.
 
irena said:
It is strange because I loved Mahler back then, that is the performance with which my love for them started. It was magical, I alaways remember it as fairy tale in white. It was perfect for them at their age back in 2010. But although I also like Moonlight sonata I like it because of the music, not because of the skaters. While with Mahler was just opposite I loved it because of the skaters. P/C just do not give me the same vibes, they do not transcend the emotion of the human, too abstract.
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Interesting.
I love VM...they are the complete package. There is an intensity of feeling which they evoke. This is true even in their exhibitions.
What I like about PC is their ethereal skating.

I understand what you mean, though as my emotions are unchallenged with PC though I had ascribed it to the essential sameness of their various programs. I was spellbound the first time I saw them live in Barrie.
 
I wish they would do a tour. September'ish.

Elvis Stojko did one for a few years but that was after the Tonya/Nancy boon in skating and everyone was interested in it
 
Ohyes said:
I totally feel that if Scott is chosen to be in a molson commericial they will feature his Canadian "heritage moment" as a nod to his Canadian pride. :40beers::rofl:
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Lots of us do love our toque wearing, beer swilling men. When I was a younger woman, one of my criteria was that my boyfriend had to drive a beat up ½ ton truck. Hahahahaha. True story. #classy
 
Tessa and Scott have a very special, natural gift of stoking people's imaginations. I noticed this especially during the Olympics, when essentially so many of the people in my life (none of whom are in the skating world, nor dedicated skating fans) became entranced by their skating, their story, and their personalities. They used words like "obsessed", "fixated", "enthralled", or described seeing their skates and being moved to tears. It's a very unique quality.
 
jl22aries said:
Tessa and Scott have a very special, natural gift of stoking people's imaginations. I noticed this especially during the Olympics, when essentially so many of the people in my life (none of whom are in the skating world, nor dedicated skating fans) became entranced by their skating, their story, and their personalities. They used words like "obsessed", "fixated", "enthralled", or described seeing their skates and being moved to tears. It's a very unique quality.
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Exactly. I'm a teacher and used Tessa and Scott in a "Cultural Studies" lesson on Canada. Based on my experience and my knowledge of Tessa and Scott, they represent Canada and Canadian values perfectly. So my students (about 15 years old) read texts about their life / career, watched interviews and then they also wanted to watch their skate. I showed them the FD from the Olympic games and they were fascinated. The classroom was totally quiet, you could have heard a pin drop and afterwards they bombarded me with questions about them and ice dancing in general. It was such a great experience to see them so fascinated by this sport. My students loved the dancing in skates and were in awe of Tessa and Scott. They couldn't believe that someone could do all this on the ice and make it seem so easy. In the next lesson they asked about the other medalists and after working hard I agreed to at least watch the fd of the silver medalists with them. The reaction was the total opposite. They were bored and started whispering and talking about a minute into PC's fd. They thought the music and skating was boring and that their "tricks" looked lame. However, this was a group of 30 teenagers with no experience in figure skating who just reacted to seeing ice dance for the first time. Luckily, not for the last time. Some of them have started to watch Tessa and Scott videos on youtube. They have read articles and have started following them on social media. Unfortunately we live in Europe, so VM don't profit from having a couple more fans thanks to me ;).
 
Twilight1 said:
Both programs are exceptional but for different reasons. If people liked 2010 V&M they probably quite liked P&C's because both programs were lyrical and soft with deep knee bend and long lines.
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This is not true for me. For some reason, P/C just don't enchant or move me - although I certainly appreciate them and recognize that they and V/M are the best ice dance teams in the world.

But I may change my mind, it's possible. I used to find the Shibs about as exciting as watching paint dry, but their Coldplay made me a fan. I love it when a skater or team demands I pay attention to them and turns me into a fan.


I preferred this FD because it was musical, mature and had incredible choreographical moments and fine touches that their other programs didn't have the same level of.
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I didn't care much for this program all season, but love how V/M performed it as the Olympics. The changes they made to the music/choreography may have factored in to my change of mind.

I did find it a demanding program in that it is intense, and demands that the audience get emotionally involved in it while following the story.

With P/Cs program, one only has to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. V/M Malher was the same, and for that reason it and Valse Tristse are my favorite V/M programs. I'd add their Pink Floyd, but that program was developed to its fullest due to Tessa's injuries that season - such a shame.:(:(
 
Golden1 said:
My students loved the dancing in skates and were in awe of Tessa and Scott. They couldn't believe that someone could do all this on the ice and make it seem so easy. In the next lesson they asked about the other medalists and after working hard I agreed to at least watch the fd of the silver medalists with them. The reaction was the total opposite. They were bored and started whispering and talking about a minute into PC's fd. They thought the music and skating was boring and that their "tricks" looked lame. However, this was a group of 30 teenagers with no experience in figure skating who just reacted to seeing ice dance for the first time.
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The students responses probably say more about them than about P/C. I would think that many or most people would agree that Moonlight Sonata is a lovely piece of music. Maybe it just doesn't draw younger people in and engage them the way that Moulin Rouge does.
 
Twilight1 said:
I always gravitate to emotionally intense freedances. So of course for me it is Carmen that will probably be my favourite program from V&M.
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I enjoy both character-driven and musically-driven or 'pure' ice dances (for lack of better words_. For example, I loved D&S The Piano in 2008 and the character-drive programs of C/L.

But I've always preferred V/M's musically-driven dances. I hated their Funny Face!

Valse Triste remains my favorite program of their's, closely followed by Mahler.
 
Japanfan said:
This is not true for me. For some reason, P/C just don't enchant or move me - although I certainly appreciate them and recognize that they and V/M are the best ice dance teams in the world.
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Have to agree. When PapCiz debuted this style I found it such a breath of fresh air compared to what other teams were doing. I love the music and the feeling of floating but with the similarities in all of PapCiz's free skates since then, I guess I am not finding it easy to see any progress over the last few years whereas I did see progress in VirMoi. I guess I am maybe starting to get a bit bored with it but that is problematic because based on PapCiz SD's I am not seeing a great deal of ability to handle different styles. They are young though so it may still come if they are motivated to work on that aspect.

Japanfan said:
But I may change my mind, it's possible. I used to find the Shibs about as exciting as watching paint dry, but their Coldplay made me a fan. I love it when a skater or team demands I pay attention to them and turns me into a fan.
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Lol - you remind me of how I couldn't stand Dubreuil & Lauzon for the longest time when they were second to Shae-Lynn & Victor. Marie-France had such long hair often in a braid or multi-banded ponytail that she would whip around continually smacking poor Patrice in the face. There was a lot of hair-ography going on, it seemed to me. Anyway I eventually fell totally in love with them and was heart-broken at their Olympic accident and so sad they were never able to become World champions. I was so happy to see them in shows and on Battle of the Blades and more than happy for them with their current coaching success with many teams.
As for the Shibs, I have always enjoyed them and they have really stepped up their game but never quite capture my imagination like some of the other teams. She is just always so perfect that it makes them less relate-able. (I did notice with interest how Maia allowed her hair to be a tiny bit messy this year for the long program in what has to be an attempt to make her look more human.)


Japanfan said:
With P/Cs program, one only has to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. V/M Malher was the same, and for that reason it and Valse Tristse are my favorite V/M programs. I'd add their Pink Floyd, but that program was developed to its fullest due to Tessa's injuries that season - such a shame.:(:(
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Love, love, love Valse Triste, and at the time, the Mahler, though it's no longer at the top of my list. I agree Pink Floyd could have been a real masterpiece if Tessa hadn't been barely skating all year. I initially did not like Umbrellas after the perfection of Valse but by the Worlds had grown to love it immensely and have to put it very near the top of my list. I think that one really opened up my eyes to their potential. I also enjoyed Carmen a lot but was not a major fan of Funny Face, the Latin Free, or the 2014 Oly Free programs, though they skated them exceptionally well. I don't think any of their SD's through 2014 make my favourites list either but I can pretty much say that for any of the dance teams.

As for Vir/Moir's return, they showed such major improvements and such versatility. I'm glad they decided that if they were going to make a come-back they needed to become something more. They hit it out of the park for me with all 4 programs these last 2 years. What a ride.

So though I always liked them, I found some programs much more to my taste - seems I liked the dramatic as well as the very lyrical the most.
 
Skate Talker said:
Have to agree. When PapCiz debuted this style I found it such a breath of fresh air compared to what other teams were doing. I love the music and the feeling of floating but with the similarities in all of PapCiz's free skates since then, I guess I am not finding it easy to see any progress over the last few years whereas I did see progress in VirMoi. I guess I am maybe starting to get a bit bored with it but that is problematic because based on PapCiz SD's I am not seeing a great deal of ability to handle different styles. They are young though so it may still come if they are motivated to work on that aspect.
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P/C apparently prefer to stay within their comfort zone, and probably figure 'if it works, don't fix it'. And at the moment it looks like they will completely dominate the next quad, in which case there may not be anyone pushing them to expand their range.

The desire to explore different genres and styles is part of what makes V/M legends in the sport. They have really pushed the envelope in dance, and I totally believe that their motivation to come back for 2018 was because they felt they had more to discover and offer - just as they said.

In contrast, I think P/C were more motivated by the possibility of winning the gold medal. I'm not judging them negatively for this, as there was probably tremendous pressure on them to win. Yes, there was pressure on V/M too, but they really didn't have anything to prove and would still be legends if they had earned the silver. V/M are more mature than P/C due to being older, and had the benefit growing up of their long time rivalry with D/W.

If there is no one who can contend with P/C in the next next quad, it's going to be a boring number of years for ice dance.
 
I would love a CBC skating special starring Tessa and Scott, similar to Toller's Strawberry Ice or Kurt's Singin' in the Rain or Carmen on Ice or the Duschesnays' The Planets. I think they could do an entire Moulin Rouge on Ice (and have other skaters play the other characters, Kurt could play the Duke for example), but CBC probably cannot afford the music rights.
 
I have to say I have not been a fan of the "short dance" since it's inception. I get the reasons for the change and trying to marry the Compulsory and O.D. together but the first number of years I didn't enjoy many of them. Having been in Samoa for the better part of two years, and seeing very, very little skating, I have been impressed this year. Just one pattern of the compulsories helps me feel it is not just a weird interruption of the program, thrown in but not quite fitting. I think Tessa and Scott have clearly shown their versatility since their return in their choices for the short dance and ability to take us different places with their dancing - Prince and Santana, wow!! I enjoyed many of the short dances this Olympics and felt it did, to a point, demonstrate a team's ability to skate outside of their preferred style. I really hope teams continue to use this as a chance to get out of their box and show another side.
 
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