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

[Twilight1]

Yes. But it took 5-6 years to come back. We all know the Italians don’t have that luxury of time.

Nor do they necessarily deserve it. IMVHO their best years have past them by.

 

[Orm Irian]

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

A thing it's worth remembering about this competition is that after their Worlds mishap, R/A very smartly decided not to leave either regaining their standing or qualifying for Beijing remotely to chance and have come out of the gate very trained and super polished - and they didn't let things slide after the Beijing qualifier, either. I think they're about at the pitch we'd normally see them at at Euros right now. They may not have better skating skills in general than G/F or many other teams, but they're showing to advantage right now because their preparation is advanced compared to many and their presentation is already built. And because of that, they skated better overall on the day.

In addition, R/A have improved steadily over the years, as have F/G, and I hate to have to admit it, but G/F's skills have noticeably declined from their peak, which is something they either don't appear to have realised or aren't able to acknowledge. A spare, clean program like their FD when their skills were at their height would have been breathtaking because it would have thrown those skills into the spotlight. Now, it's lovely and it suits them, but it's not made special by their skill - and they still have to build its impact it through repetition and competition, too.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

For me, LFB/GC's free dance goes by so fast - even with rewatching. I can hardly believe it is 4 minutes long. Also, I am barely aware of the technical elements they seem so well incorporated into the overall feel of the program.

I agree when I watched I said to myself wow its over?