The Dance Hall 13: When You Dance on the Ice and Your Feet Twizzle Twice, That's Amore

[marbri]

I do think it says a lot that Barbara doesn’t have any other top teams. Don’t think they’d have ever made the move but even training with Margalio and getting choreo from Scali would’ve had made a bit of difference in terms of packaging for them.

Yes, they need to look at themselves first and foremost. Put the real focus on where the real problem lies.

 

[litenkyckling]

Yes, they need to look at themselves first and foremost. Put the real focus on where the real problem lies.

Hm I still don’t think that they are the entire problem. The judging was not good. They scored higher with the robots that everyone hated. Their FD here did suit them. The IAM block judging is not good for anyone in the sport - the events here should be worrying for any team not coached by IAM.

 

[Andrea82]

The judges having them 5th in PCS today were Elena Khymzenko (Georgia), Sundeep Pandya (Great Britain) and Laimute Krauziene (Lithuania). Did the same yesterday
Tatiana Yordanova (Bulgaria) had them 4th (Diana and Gleb were the 3rd PCS for her) instead of 5th (as yesterday)
Jezabel Dabouis (France) also had them 4th (tied with Diana and Gleb) today (she ranked them 3rd yesterday in PCS).
Massimo Orlandini (Italy) put them 3rd (behind FB/C and F/G).
Eric Hampton (USA) and André Marc Allain (Canada) had them 2nd in PCS ahead of F/G. Hampton also 2nd overall in the FD.
Albert Saadi (Monaco) tied the PCS of G/F and F/G. Actually he managed to tie them also in TES.

 

[Kateri]

So apparently there was a jewellery robbery at the Louvre today. Which dance team do we think was responsible?

Does anyone have eyes on Vanessa Gusmeroli?

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

So is Canada going to bloc with Italy to make sure both Gui/Fab and Gil/Poi medal?

 

[Bigbird]

Great music choice but their styling doesn't match the music. They should have leaned into grunge and gone with flannel, ripped jeans and messy hair.

In their defence, the skirt is asymmetrical. I mean, just how much can these judges manage?

 

[marbri]

Hm I still don’t think that they are the entire problem. The judging was not good. They scored higher with the robots that everyone hated. Their FD here did suit them. The IAM block judging is not good for anyone in the sport - the events here should be worrying for any team not coached by IAM.

Judging has always been biased. IAM now has a similar situation to 2018. How will the IAM block work in that situation? It's got to be program choice making the difference.

So what about that FD stands out to you as podium worthy at an Olympics? Has to be more than "it suits them" right? No one controls the judges, they only control what they put out there. Even V/M came to that realisation post 2014.

 

[Bigbird]

I do think it says a lot that Barbara doesn’t have any other top teams. Don’t think they’d have ever made the move but even training with Margalio and getting choreo from Scali would’ve had made a bit of difference in terms of packaging for them.

They need an intervention and fast. No school in the world can match the sophistication and prowess of the IAM at the moment. This is not Fusar-Poli's greatest moment. Some retreading is needed here. Their programs this year are forgettable.

 

[Bigbird]

Hm I still don’t think that they are the entire problem. The judging was not good. They scored higher with the robots that everyone hated. Their FD here did suit them. The IAM block judging is not good for anyone in the sport - the events here should be worrying for any team not coached by IAM.

But the Robots program is better than this, IMHO. This is rather bland and open, nothing new. I kept waiting for it to take me somewhere, but no. They needed to give this more thought or use a reliable retread that the judges received well.

 

[Karen-W]

So is Canada going to bloc with Italy to make sure both Gui/Fab and Gil/Poi medal?

So, here are the 13 judges drawn for the Olympic panels -

AUS, CAN, CHN, CZE, ESP, FIN, FRA, GEO, GBR, GER, ITA, KOR, USA

I suppose, if the draw goes PERFECTLY, we could see a CAN-ITA-FIN-CZE-GER bloc working to ensure both GuigFab and GilPoir medal. But, honestly, if FBCiz become a big enough threat to GilPoir and ChoBat, I think it's more likely the USA & GBR also join with those countries to knock FBCiz down, IAM allegiances be damned.

I just love these proclamations, before we've even seen ChoBat or GilPoir's material, that FBCiz are going to be the gold medal favorites by December - all based off a home GP win. Can we at least wait until we see what Vincent reimagined and the modern flamenco look like?

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

I just love these proclamations, before we've even seen ChoBat or GilPoir's material, that FBCiz are going to be the gold medal favorites by December - all based off a home GP win. Can we at least wait until we see what Vincent reimagined and the modern flamenco look like?

But that wouldn't be very FSU of us

 

[Twilight1]

Chock & Bates fell in the standings, they kept their mouth shut, made changes and won gold medals. I wish other teams grasped pettiness, vindictiveness and trash talking doesn't work and hasn't worked to get medals.

 

[angi]

Charelene is indeed reposting all sorts of stuff, including a post that says "if you are not from Montreal, you don't have a chance" (it's one of 6 reposts calling the sport a circus, claiming G/F were robbed, etc). Good luck to them, I guess.

 

[Ice_dance_fan]

Charelene is indeed reposting all sorts of stuff, including a post that says "if you are not from Montreal, you don't have a chance" (it's one of 6 reposts calling the sport a circus, claiming G/F were robbed, etc). Good luck to them, I guess.

I am happy that she is enaught brave to say truth.

 

[clairecloutier]

There's a difference between a press conference and speaking to the media in the mixed zone, which is what I referred to. The current behavior that includes sulking, storming out of the K&C, refusing to speak to the media and reposting shady posts is doing them no favors. They are not the first team to get dumped, and teams came back from this before, but their behavior is digging them deeper

It is rare for athletes to skip the mixed zone. Even after very disappointing performances, almost all will still show up and give comments (unless they are low-level and media does not request comment).
I do feel bad though for Guignard/Fabbri.

 

[MsZem]

Charelene is indeed reposting all sorts of stuff, including a post that says "if you are not from Montreal, you don't have a chance" (it's one of 6 reposts calling the sport a circus, claiming G/F were robbed, etc). Good luck to them, I guess.

I guess she is ready to move on to a job with the Italian Police.

 

[skategal]

So, here are the 13 judges drawn for the Olympic panels -

AUS, CAN, CHN, CZE, ESP, FIN, FRA, GEO, GBR, GER, ITA, KOR, USA

I suppose, if the draw goes PERFECTLY, we could see a CAN-ITA-FIN-CZE-GER bloc working to ensure both GuigFab and GilPoir medal. But, honestly, if FBCiz become a big enough threat to GilPoir and ChoBat, I think it's more likely the USA & GBR also join with those countries to knock FBCiz down, IAM allegiances be damned.

I just love these proclamations, before we've even seen ChoBat or GilPoir's material, that FBCiz are going to be the gold medal favorites by December - all based off a home GP win. Can we at least wait until we see what Vincent reimagined and the modern flamenco look like?

I could for sure see USA-CAN-GBR teaming up. Could even include GEO for Team Bronze votes.

Bring on the CHAOS.

 

[Twilight1]

It is rare for athletes to skip the mixed zone. Even after very disappointing performances, almost all will still show up and give comments (unless they are low-level and media does not request comment).
I do feel bad though for Guignard/Fabbri.

I did. Not anymore. Riding the wave with B&K changed my perspective.

Average Joe doesn't get great jobs if they trash the company and trash their bosses so why should skaters get medals because they didn't get their way?

 

[manhn]

The skating skills of the French are clearly above the other teams but the actual elements? C&B, for one, better get a huge scoring advantage on their lifts. Their twizzles were a bit off and meh.

Honestly, I don’t see how one sees depth in one flowy FD over another flowy FD. I think the insertion of vocals automatically causes people to view it as schmaltzy. The Italians FD is the one I will rewatch and will be a big hit in Italy. That said, their very local anti-IAM actions may help the Canadians.

The Brit’s’ FD is my favourite of theirs. It’s unfortunate the crowd was not receptive to it.

I’m an admitted homer and there may very well be the matter of the impact lessening over time (doubt it) and they must skate well (okay, some doubt), but nothing today matched my emotions when I first saw Vincent.

 

[peibeck]

So apparently there was a jewellery robbery at the Louvre today. Which dance team do we think was responsible?

I didn't hear about this but had to look it up. One would think there would be records linked to driving a bucket truck they used to drive up and break in (assuming it wasn't there already for some reason). And to think they took the jewelry and left the Mona Lisa that is close by. They recovered some crown jewels, I see, but the crown itself was broken.

Anyway, my bet is on Loperava/Brissaud as an "eff you" on this particular weekend.

 

[Karen-W]

I could for sure see USA-CAN-GBR teaming up. Could even include GEO for Team Bronze votes.

Bring on the CHAOS.

Well, the TE dance panel is different -

AUS, CAN, CHN, CZE, ESP, GBR, GEO, GER, KOR

I'm not sure I see any firm bloc there forming - too many competing interests with CAN & GEO battling ITA for bronze.

 

[litenkyckling]

Charelene is indeed reposting all sorts of stuff, including a post that says "if you are not from Montreal, you don't have a chance" (it's one of 6 reposts calling the sport a circus, claiming G/F were robbed, etc). Good luck to them, I guess.

I mean... she's not wrong about that though?

Best of luck to G/P outside of Canada this season.

 

[Marta24]

I mean... she's not wrong about that though?

Best of luck to G/P outside of Canada this season.

They were clever to pick Finland as their 2nd GP. Not as pro IAM as the other choices.

 

[puglover]

I have been a huge fan of Laurence for a long time and today I found her mesmerizing. I love Piper and Paul and respect and enjoy Madison and Evan but they have their work cut out for them. IAM has assembled a group of immensely talented coaching and other specialists and this year they really are a powerhouse. I see huge improvement in the Georgians and Lithuanians for example, and I enjoy most if not all of the material put out by IAM. I have a Scottish heritage and I love that program. Ice dance has become more interesting!

 

[Marta24]

Well, IAM judges certainly did a number on G/F's scores. I'm not convinced this is all IAM's doing though. The bad RD was already discussed, but it's been now three seasons of slowly dumping G/F. Last season's bad FD also didn't help.

I'm already looking at next week's Cup of China and I'm worried about D/LM. The panel is going to be again full with IAM judges and they are now seen as the French #3, who definitely are not going to the Olympics. Let's hope they have two good skates, there isn't much more they can do about this situation.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

While IAM is for sure a powerful political force, there will be tons of other politicking/horse trading going on this season outside of the Marie-Universe. I don't think Gui/Fab's problems are related to IAM. They do seem to be emulating B&K of 1999-2000 - bad program choices, not training with other top teams, not having close competitors at the domestic level and not going outside for better programs and feedback. The current vibes/performance based rules are also not in their favour. They're not a "showy" team - they have lovely skating skills but they have a somewhat limited range and don't have the fabulous "sell" power of a Madison Chock. Anyway, it's going to be quite the season in ice dance this year.

 

[Kateri]

While IAM is for sure a powerful political force, there will be tons of other politicking/horse trading going on this season outside of the Marie-Universe. I don't think Gui/Fab's problems are related to IAM. They do seem to be emulating B&K of 1999-2000 - bad program choices, not training with other top teams, not having close competitors at the domestic level and not going outside for better programs and feedback. The current vibes/performance based rules are also not in their favour. They're not a "showy" team - they have lovely skating skills but they have a somewhat limited range and don't have the fabulous "sell" power of a Madison Chock. Anyway, it's going to be quite the season in ice dance this year.

I do agree with you for a lot of this, but G/F just got a lower skating skills mark then R/A. That's not explicable via anything but IAM politics, surely.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

I do agree with you for a lot of this, but G/F just got a lower skating skills mark then R/A. That's not explicable via anything but IAM politics, surely.

I 100% agree with you there. R/A should NOT be getting 9s or even 8s for skating skills.

 

[peibeck]

As I was finishing up laundry a thought occurred to me. I was wondering if the Shibs looked at these results today and were like, "Oh s**t..." or if they're delusionally thinking "See! The judges are loving comeback skaters!"

 

[Rukia]

I do agree with you for a lot of this, but G/F just got a lower skating skills mark then R/A. That's not explicable via anything but IAM politics, surely.

one more Allison passport = better skating skillz i guess