The Shibutanis Thread 4: Ready for Paradise

[Rukia]

I swore not to uber anyone so I wouldn't get nervous while watching, but here I am in the group BEFORE the Shibs show up feeling super nervous. Deep breaths people.

 

[Spun Silver]

My house is freezing, I am in the cyclone bomb area or whatever it's called and it's a drafty old house, but no need to turn up the heat yet cos the Shibs are gonna bring it! Go Maia and Alex!

 

[teacakes]

I've been watching dance live but I may just skip the last group for the sake of my nerves tbh.

 

[Rukia]

Fun fact: my fitbit says I'm in a fat burn state because of my heart rate. Thanks Shibsibs!

 

[suki]

Fun fact: my fitbit says I'm in a fat burn state because of my heart rate. Thanks Shibsibs!

I've been watching. My other favorite dance team, Hawayek/Baker, did great, but I don't know if I can handle live Shibs.

 

[suki]

Yes!!!!!!! Shibs nailed it

 

[Rukia]

Whew, I can breath again. AMAZING.

 

[Mrs. P]

Checking in! The Shibs were amazing! And Ocho twizzles and no touch right by my seat! And the costumes look awesome! In person, the dress makes Maia super sleek!!! Love it!!

 

[VGThuy]

So how do we like Maia's dress in motion? I think I really like it. The best thing about this SD skate is that I know they can do even better than that. Not just hitting the rhumba pattern but also taking it just a little notch performance wise. You can tell this is a very pressure-filled national championship. The Shibs have a lot to prove and I hope they prove it on Sunday.

 

[chapis]

I can breath now, I was about of throw up my lunch at work. i cant wait to watch it.

 

[Spun Silver]

Well, they sure proved it today. This was decisive.

 

[suki]

So how do we like Maia's dress in motion? I think I really like it. The best thing about this SD skate is that I know they can do even better than that. Not just hitting the rhumba pattern but also taking it just a little notch performance wise. You can tell this is a very pressure-filled national championship. The Shibs have a lot to prove and I hope they prove it on Sunday.

As far as I'm concerned, the Shibs could skate in barrels, they would still be the best. Great performance! GO SHIBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kultakissu]

Well, they sure proved it today. This was decisive.

Yes, there is absolutely no question about anything now. Not that I personally ever had any, but some weird folks on the ole' internet have been having doubts apparently..

 

[Anyasnake]

Wow, guys I felt like there was a wave of massive nervousness here, even more than in the GP series and GPF !
For US skaters nationals are indeed everything
I think it's safe to say that the Shibs will skate the SD in the team event, I'm not sure that's even debatable.

 

[VGThuy]

Let’s wait till the FD to fully celebrate. I want to jump up for joy as well, but there’s still the FD and Madi and Zach have the perfect vehicle for them while Chock/Bates scored well with theirs at the GPF. I’m really excited about the changes the Shibs made to their program that Tanith brought up.

I have a really excellent feeling about Sunday especially now that the Shibs probably now know for sure that they will be doing the TE at least for the SD.

 

[teacakes]

Random tidbit: Shibs got the exact same technical mark in the short for last year's free at Nationals - 43.64~

I watched this skate on my iPhone screen so am waiting for a nice beautiful HD video before actual 'thoughts'.

 

[Spiralgraph]

Ah, I can stop holding my breath. What verve and excitement. They were fabulous at Skate America, but this SD here surpasses that by a country mile.

 

[MRani]

Couldn’t watch live but I’m very excited that they skated well and are in the lead! I have to admit I was a little nervous even though I knew they were so well prepared. I hope there are videos soon! Can’t wait for Sunday.

 

[suki]

Checking in! The Shibs were amazing! And Ocho twizzles and no touch right by my seat! And the costumes look awesome! In person, the dress makes Maia super sleek!!! Love it!!

I can't wait for your reports. How are Mr. P and Baby P holding up?

 

[kittyjake5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjEhA71B7RM

 

[MRani]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjEhA71B7RM

Yayyyyyy! Thank you!!

That was so good! Every time I watch this program I love it even more. They seemed even faster and sharper than they were SA to me, especially during the no touch step sequence and rotational lift. I think I need to get used to the new costumes, the changes are subtle but they make a difference. Still, when they skate like that they could wear anything and I’d be happy.

 

[gk_891]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjEhA71B7RM

Really nice performance! They really sparkled and their speed and ice coverage looks to have improved.

My only real complaint is I don't like what they do with their free legs during the widestep going into the double choctaw sequence. But that's just me.

A very pleasing performance overall.

 

[chapis]

Wow, that was awesome!!! . And I think they were the only team with standing ovation. The costumes look better than I expected but I still prefer the originals, anyway, I was thinking that maybe they are testing these costume for nationals because they want wear two different costumes for the olympic team event and the olympic individual event. I hope.

They got everything level 4, except the rhumba pattern, H/D got pattern level 3 too. C/B level 4.

Practically the difference was TES, PCS almost the same, though I think the difference in PCS should be wider http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2018/26192/results.html.

Here the video is longer and include interview https://youtu.be/w8VkoyZ-d3o?t=549, and at the end Tanith says that the fd has many changes including music .

 

[gk_891]

Here the video is longer and include interview https://youtu.be/w8VkoyZ-d3o?t=549, and at the end Tanith says that the fd has many changes including music .

Changes? I'm very curious to see their free dance now.

 

[teacakes]

Same here, I've been quite lukewarm on Paradise as a program, it's not a favourite (but ready for that to change).

 

[chapis]

I love the caption in Maia´s picture https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdl4ataBgSd/?taken-by=maiashibutani

¨Felt really good out there today! Crowd was awesome and @alexshibutani and I did our thing! ¨

The: WE DID OUR THING

 

[chapis]

I just found this picture, probably of their practice and it seems the straight line lift is similar to that of GPF https://www.instagram.com/p/BdmwM3eHBds/?taken-by=womensfashionoffers second photo

wow, this picture is fantastic https://www.instagram.com/p/BdlyyXzhIbO/?tagged=maiashibutani

 

[Spun Silver]

They gave it everything in the SD! Their ballroom approach is so sparkly and fun and dandy, and the fun just keeps coming! And I love it that this year they have a huge contrast between their SD and FD. Go slay, Maia and Alex! Keep those crowns and LEAD that Olympic ice dance team to Pyeongchang!

 

[Cachoo]

I think these typel of dances either end to over-the-top fun or steamy sexiness. With the Shibs it is so much fun and done so well. As always, those twizzles! When Tanith said it was her favorite Shib short I had to stop and think if there was another I liked more and I think I might agree with Tanith on this one. It is so well done but a party at the same time. And then Hub and Don steam the rink up (and that is fine too!)

 

[VGThuy]

Shibs' practice today:

https://twitter.com/ritardando16/status/949742254511423488

Part 1 is the main tweet and Part 2 is a tweet underneath. Of course, they don't do the new straightline lift here so we'll see it for the first time in competition. They added a more explicit throwback to "Fix You" before the Twizzles and they added a lot more guitar in the final footwork section to give it more of a melody. The choreography seems mostly the same but we haven't seen the new lift and if the second FW sequence is the same.