The Dance Hall 10: The Saitama Samba 2022-2023

[azcalder]

I feel the skate gods took my prediction that there would be some surprises a tad too seriously.

Better here than at Worlds.

(Though I think it can be safely said that the Euros RD event kicked the 4CC one but good).

Espoo, Finland elevation 46' - Colorado Springs, Colorado elevation 6000'. Did you watch the skaters after their very athletic programs? Several could barely make it to the Kiss and Cry.

 

[BlueRidge]

I see no reason to think Gilles & Poirier won't be at Worlds. It was understandable given Piper's health situation that they would need to pass on 4CC, but nothing about that indicates they won't be ready for Worlds.

And I see no reason to think the podium will be other than GilPo, Chock&Bates, and Guignard & Fabbri. I suppose there's a small chance Fear & Gibson with a stunning performance could edge G&F but I don't think its likely.

I don't see Fournier-Beaudry & Sorenson making the podium, but with that gorgeous FD they are top 5. Honestly, I had a small hope early in the season that Marjorie & Zach would pass them, but FB&S clearly didn't have that in mind. They have really taken their skating to another level this season. Its quite impressive.

 

[skategal]

I think 4CCs shows that FB/S can get the marks from the judges if they skate well.

I agree that they won’t medal without mistakes from the “top 3” but if any of them makes a mistake a medal is FB/S’s for the taking.

 

[Dobre]

That's not at all clear either.

 

[BlueRidge]

I'm worried they won't be there but I don't think Hawayek & Baker can be counted out of the Top 5 if they are there.

 

[trainingdogs82]

I'm worried they won't be there but I don't think Hawayek & Baker can be counted out of the Top 5 if they are there.

I don't see them being scored over either Fournier Beaudry & Sorensen or Fear & Gibson if both teams skate well. Even less likely now with lost training time. As I mentioned before FB & S are mistake prone so mistakes by them that drop them wouldn't be any huge surprise, but it would take mistakes from them to finish behind H & B at this point.

I think the goal is to set Laurence and Nick up to be a clear 4th place going in to worlds so that, if Piper and Paul can’t go or are in bad shape, it’s them who floats onto the podium, not F/G. Setting up a medal for Canada regardless of what happens with G/P.

I agree with this. I see Laurence and Nick now being solidly slotted in 4th if they skate well, and if Piper and Paul either can't go or aren't in shape to skate that well, they would now automatically move into the top 3. I think that is Skate Canada's plan anyway.

 

[BlueRidge]

If H&B don't make it to worlds, who moves up to 6th? The Finns?

 

[Dobre]

If H&B don't make it to worlds, who moves up to 6th? The Finns?

Unclear. The Finns have the most momentum, but all of their strong finishes happened at home this season. Green & Parsons and Reed & Ambrulevicius would have a real shot in neutral territory, I think.

 

[BlueRidge]

Unclear. The Finns have the most momentum, but all of their strong finishes happened at home this season. Green & Parsons and Reed & Ambrulevicius would have a real shot in neutral territory, I think.

I guess that makes sense.

I love Green & Parsons but it makes me gnash my teeth that they could get that high when Marjorie & Zach don't have the chance.

 

[trainingdogs82]

I would guess the Finns, but I agree it being key they are probably benefitting from a lot of home court advantage so far this year, and worlds is neutral territory.

 

[Ena Grins]

I guess that makes sense.

I love Green & Parsons but it makes me gnash my teeth that they could get that high when Marjorie & Zach don't have the chance.

I was going to reply about Lajoie/Lagha's ability to beat those teams because it took me several minutes to remember they won't be at Worlds. My brain still cannot contemplate that (1) Canada only has two spots with their current depth and (2) that their programs won't be seen at Worlds.

 

[skategal]

It is a gut punch that LaLa won’t be at Worlds.

 

[yurokis40]

Where is the dancing in chock and bates fd all I see a series of acrobatic tricks 95% done by chock, I guess its lets screw canada again at worlds the minute the usfs and judges heard about piper surgery the politicking went into overdrive pathetic.

 

[trainingdogs82]

Where is the dancing in chock and bates fd all I see a series of acrobatic tricks 95% done by chock, I guess its lets screw canada again at worlds the minute the usfs and judges heard about piper surgery the politicking went into overdrive pathetic.

Personally I think Guignard & Fabbri are clearly better than both teams this year, but the judges don't seem to care per usual. JMO

 

[On My Own]

Where is the dancing in chock and bates fd all I see a series of acrobatic tricks 95% done by chock, I guess its lets screw canada again at worlds the minute the usfs and judges heard about piper surgery the politicking went into overdrive pathetic.

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[yurokis40]

The USFS checks have now cleared Hurth and Dostani bank accounts from the colorado office it takes 2 to 5 business days.

 

[her grace]

I guess that makes sense.

I love Green & Parsons but it makes me gnash my teeth that they could get that high when Marjorie & Zach don't have the chance.

L/L have had a lot of chances while G/P sat at home due to the depth above them. Until we have a system based on season-best score rather than country allotment, there will always be deserving teams staying at home while Worlds take place.

 

[Wyliefan]

The USFS checks have now cleared Hurth and Dostani bank accounts from the colorado office it takes 2 to 5 business days.

You do realize we just had a weekend, right? Weekends are not business days.

 

[yurokis40]

You do realize we just had a weekend, right? Weekends are not business days.

pretty sure they got sent before the beggining of the event to make sure they did not bounce.

 

[BlueRidge]

don't feed the troll

 

[Karen-W]

I can't see Turkkila/Versluis slotting in at 6th if HawBak aren't at Worlds. I'd put hard money on Lopareva/Brissaud getting that push.

 

[BlueRidge]

I can't see Turkkila/Versluis slotting in at 6th if HawBak aren't at Worlds. I'd put hard money on Lopareva/Brissaud getting that push.

I suppose Allison has the same old problem that she doesn't have a strong federation backing her.

 

[Wyliefan]

don't feed the troll

I know, I know. I just couldn't help myself.

 

[PRlady]

I can't see Turkkila/Versluis slotting in at 6th if HawBak aren't at Worlds. I'd put hard money on Lopareva/Brissaud getting that push.

Their material isn’t as good this year as last year but that doesn’t seem to be hurting C/B. I don’t think Euros are predictive for Worlds.

 

[Karen-W]

I suppose Allison has the same old problem that she doesn't have a strong federation backing her.

Their material isn’t as good this year as last year but that doesn’t seem to be hurting C/B. I don’t think Euros are predictive for Worlds.

Oh, I did forget about ReedAmbru. Which tells you what I think of their material. I suppose they could beat TurkVer, and while they don't have a large fed backing them, they do at least have the power of IAM behind them.

I don't think GreenP are in the conversation for 6th at all, especially if we're talking about weak material this year as a reason why LopBri won't make that leap in the absence of HawBak. I think GreenP will be lucky to finish 9th.

 

[BlueRidge]

I think GrePar will make the top 10 if H&B aren't there, but I agree about 9th is likely.

I am going to hold out hope until its dashed that Taschlers can make top 10.

 

[Karen-W]

I think GrePar will make the top 10 if H&B aren't there, but I agree about 9th is likely.

I am going to hold out hope until its dashed that Taschlers can make top 10.

That's what will be interesting to see, since the Taschlers and GreenP aren't from dance schools with any political weight, who wins out. Even more interesting if CarPon are there also, who comes out on top and who is just out of the top 10.

 

[Andora]

It is a gut punch that LaLa won’t be at Worlds.

Now that their season is (in theory) over, I remain so impressed with how they approached this year. They stayed sharp, they took on material not natural to them (and, imho, nailed it by mid-season), and set themselves up brilliantly should either older/injury prone team ahead of them pull out of worlds. It's one thing to make the most out of a potentially "dead" year internationally. It's definitely the time to try new things, push yourself, etc. I didn't expect they would do it so brilliantly. Here we are a month out from worlds, and they'll be part of the -- sorry, conversation throughout the dance threads. Good job, kids.

 

[Wyliefan]

Season's bests for the teams in the 6th-10th conversation, just because I was curious and looked them up. There's a clear frontrunner and a clear fifth, but the middle is fairly tight.

Turkkila/Versluis: 198.21
Reed/Ambrulevicius: 195.67
Green/Parsons: 194.19
Lopareva/Brissaud: 192.85
Taschlers: 188.34

And I'll throw in Carreira/Ponomarenko just in case they end up going: 191.31.

 

[Marta24]

That's what will be interesting to see, since the Taschlers and GreenP aren't from dance schools with any political weight, who wins out. Even more interesting if CarPon are there also, who comes out on top and who is just out of the top 10.

Another factor that may weigh in is that the US won't have a judge on the panel, while CZE, LTU, FIN and FRA will.

I cannot wait for the ice dance competition at Worlds. It's going to be so exciting!