The Dance Hall 5: Ice Dance Fans 2017-2018

[Anyasnake]

@cocotaffy I agree with pretty much everything that you said. Despite thinking H/D should have won the FD here too, the more I see C/B's FD, the more I think it suits them very well which is great for them, because you want a program to grow and that's exactly what's happening. A lot of people had reserve in the beginning, but it actually works and I hope now that they'll go entirely mistake-free in Korea to peak their FD here. They need to adress their SD issues though, a lot of levels were missing. But it turns out, the SD works for me too. Kudos C/B.
Shallow (or not so much) moment from me : did both C&B loose weight ? The more I see them, the more I find them slim... this is a legit concern. Training, stress, taking care of your body and weight and Olympic year might hit them a little too much ? Maddie is a vegan too I think, is her diet well-balanced ?

H/D PCS were noticeably higher than the others (at this level 57 vs 58 makes the difference) I think that was well-judged on the performance. That was something.

It was hard seeing Shibs and C/B after the scores though, Alex and Maddie were angry - rightfully so. Shibs had a big SD lead and C/B won the FD. Even H/D who won cannot (and won't) take that for granted because it sends a message that a podium spot for Olys is marked with an American flag on it (3x chances is huge) and everybody can make it.

I think this whole situation though is almost "better" for Ice Dancing and has been for a while : it is judged on the performance and not necessarily on reputation. It makes it a bit more unpredictable but in a right way.

Now on to Canadian nationals ! (I want to see if they can beat Italian nationals inflation ).

 

[PashaFan]

I know Nationals is a cheer leading exercise but how were there such incredibly high free dance scores ?. No where near what they were getting in the Grand Prix events.
Right result though. Very happy for H/D.

 

[Anyasnake]

I know Nationals is a cheer leading exercise but how were there such incredibly high free dance scores ?. No where near what they were getting in the Grand Prix events.
Right result though. Very happy for H/D.

Nationals. It's always like that. Why are people still surprised ? What matters are the placements.

 

[Bigbird]

@cocotaffy I agree with pretty much everything that you said. Despite thinking H/D should have won the FD here too, the more I see C/B's FD, the more I think it suits them very well which is great for them, because you want a program to grow and that's exactly what's happening. A lot of people had reserve in the beginning, but it actually works and I hope now that they'll go entirely mistake-free in Korea to peak their FD here. They need to adress their SD issues though, a lot of levels were missing. But it turns out, the SD works for me too. Kudos C/B.
Shallow (or not so much) moment from me : did both C&B loose weight ? The more I see them, the more I find them slim... this is a legit concern. Training, stress, taking care of your body and weight and Olympic year might hit them a little too much ? Maddie is a vegan too I think, is her diet well-balanced ?

H/D PCS were noticeably higher than the others (at this level 57 vs 58 makes the difference) I think that was well-judged on the performance. That was something.

It was hard seeing Shibs and C/B after the scores though, Alex and Maddie were angry - rightfully so. Shibs had a big SD lead and C/B won the FD. Even H/D who won cannot (and won't) take that for granted because it sends a message that a podium spot for Olys is marked with an American flag on it (3x chances is huge) and everybody can make it.

I think this whole situation though is almost "better" for Ice Dancing and has been for a while : it is judged on the performance and not necessarily on reputation. It makes it a bit more unpredictable but in a right way.

Now on to Canadian nationals ! (I want to see if they can beat Italian nationals inflation ).

This. Italian cooking at their finest I tell ya.

 

[PashaFan]

Nationals. It's always like that. Why are people still surprised ? What matters are the placements.

I'm not surprised just not impressed.

 

[Anyasnake]

This. Italian cooking at their finest I tell ya.

Well they do have one of the finest cuisine in the world so ...

 

[mysticchic]

I know Nationals is a cheer leading exercise but how were there such incredibly high free dance scores ?. No where near what they were getting in the Grand Prix events.
Right result though. Very happy for H/D.

I think we all knew the scores were going to be high when H&B got 114. That was insane

 

[Bigbird]

I think we all knew the scores were going to be high when H&B got 114. That was insane

The height of insanity, but hey it's an Olympic year!!

 

[barbarafan]

I think we all knew the scores were going to be high when H&B got 114. That was insane

I thought they skated brilliantly.

 

[kittysk8ts]

I thought they skated brilliantly.

Me too. Love H/B!

 

[Anyasnake]

I thought they skated brilliantly.

Understatement !
I sometimes wish they were skating for the UK or else. You need worlds and 4CC experience to improve, and they could be very high ranked if they had that. US has just too many good ice dance teams.

 

[barbarafan]

Understatement !
I sometimes wish they were skating for the UK or else. You need worlds and 4CC experience to improve, and they could be very high ranked if they had that. US has just too many good ice dance teams.

Can't see any reason they won't be chosen for 4cc's....Oh wait...my bad...I forgot about the selection committee (I think they may have ret'd to the home)

 

[Anyasnake]

Can't see any reason they won't be chosen for 4cc's....Oh wait...my bad...I forgot about the selection committee (I think they may have ret'd to the home)

They have been chosen for 4CC this year, but I'm talking about every year, since ice dancers don't miss competition since programs need showing :/ They went in 2015 too IIRC.

 

[ninalovesskating]

I find it extremely ridiculous that C/B scored the best free dance of the night. H/D, S/S, H/B were FAR BETTER. Yes, I would have placed H/B over C/B.

Talk about redemption... H/B and H/D! I loved the whole thing with them. Major congrats to H/D. About time they won that title.

 

[Anyasnake]

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/951287905514938368
Update : the judge at Golden Spin has been removed as an ISU official. Nothing about changing the results though, I'm guessing they'll stay the same.

 

[supergirl573]

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/951287905514938368
Update : the judge at Golden Spin has been removed as an ISU official. Nothing about changing the results though, I'm guessing they'll stay the same.

Isn't that judge the reason that H/K are going to the Olympics and not S/D or something?

 

[Anyasnake]

Isn't that judge the reason that H/K are going to the Olympics and not S/D or something?

It's the judge that gave high marks to every Zhulin Teams and lowballed a couple of teams that could get on their way. And since S/D lost qualification by 0.95 points... but I don't think it'll change anything for Spain.

 

[barbarafan]

It's the judge that gave high marks to every Zhulin Teams and lowballed a couple of teams that could get on their way. And since S/D lost qualification by 0.95 points... but I don't think it'll change anything for Spain.

Apparently the Turkish judge is being investigated as well.

 

[VGThuy]

Practice video of V/M:

https://youtu.be/oJtYpXOSYvw

What do you guys think of the reworked second half?

 

[Anyasnake]

Practice video of V/M:

https://youtu.be/oJtYpXOSYvw

What do you guys think of the reworked second half?

On first half and both step sequences it feels way less stuffed, I prefer it !
2nd half : I don't know about the music, I honestly did prefer the prince lift with the music before, and it's a very... North American ending I actually did like the previous way of dying better, here it really is out of nowhere.
But I want to see the whole FD to really make a complete opinion of this. AT least Step sequences are reworked.
And you VGT ?

 

[VGThuy]

I preferred the previous choreography/ending/music edit but I get why they chose to end the program this way now. It's more Olympic.

 

[Anyasnake]

I preferred the previous choreography/ending/music edit but I get why they chose to end the program this way now. It's more Olympic.

The previous ending was more refined I think. But I can definitely understand the "more Olympic" ending choice after all it's a musical film.

 

[thvu]

I think they should have said to hell with the comparisons, and end the program with The Show Must Go On.

 

[VGThuy]

But then it wouldn't be a Marie-France Dubreuil program if they did that.

 

[Anyasnake]

But then it wouldn't be a Marie-France Dubreuil program if they did that.

Actually L/LG (FRA) are skating to Queen this year And they are a Montreal team !

 

[thvu]

But then it wouldn't be a Marie-France Dubreuil program if they did that.

I think that’s part of the problem. Marie France seems to like to end programs on softer, warmer moods and feelings. I don’t think Moulin Rouge is a type of program that can work that way, especially when they’re going for dramatic by opening with Roxanne. It’s the blending of the two visions, I think, that has caused the incohesiveness. It would be a better idea to go with one vision or the other. I think they should have gone all in on the dramatic and not try to end romantically, leaning 100% into OTT tragedy.

 

[Anyasnake]

I think that’s part of the problem. Marie France seems to like to end programs on softer, warmer moods and feelings.

Actually, it was a 3-people work : Marie-France, David Wilson and Sam Chouinard.

 

[thvu]

Actually, it was a 3-people work : Marie-France, David Wilson and Sam Chouinard.

Thank you! I forgot about that.

Maybe that’s part of the problem as well!

 

[Anyasnake]

Thank you! I forgot about that.

Maybe that’s part of the problem as well!

Well Sam Chouinard has done some pretty good work with the Montreal Team, and Marie-France definitely knows how to give P/C and H/D their FDs. But then didn't David Wilson did Prince too ? I'd put my trust in him if so.
Or maybe the FD was overthought, and the music choice not enough.
But we'll see when we'll have it entirely

 

[sap5]

I think the FD is much more cohesive now.

I also like the contrast between the two moods. All of one or the other I think wouldn't be as interesting.