Vanessa James | Morgan Cipres

[Orm Irian]

Haven't seen this posted anywhere here: they did a new exhibition number for Worlds (retiring MJ was probably tactful at this point), in which Vanessa's Earned It frock got another outing. I hadn't heard the song before, but I like it.

 

[Spun Silver]

That's so beautiful. They don't exactly have a two-as-one quality - they have a two-as-a-couple quality, intimate, tender and powerful at the same time. I've loved them for a while but this season they reached the mountaintop.

 

[cholla]

I hadn't heard the song before, but I like it.

"Somebody you Loved" by Lewis Capaldi. It's a huge hit in Europe. I like it too

 

[Orm Irian]

"Somebody you Loved" by Lewis Capaldi. It's a huge hit in Europe. I like it too

Capaldi as in Peter Capaldi? AKA the Twelfth Doctor? Or is the name just a coincidence...

 

[cholla]

Capaldi as in Peter Capaldi? AKA the Twelfth Doctor? Or is the name just a coincidence...

I read somewhere that they are vaguely related, like Peter being a great grandcousin of Lewis' father. But they met for the first time when Peter attended one of Lewis' gigs last year. Our planet is really small !

 

[Orm Irian]

I read somewhere that they are vaguely related, like Peter being a great grandcousin of Lewis' father. But they met for the first time when Peter attended one of Lewis' gigs last year. Our planet is really small !

That's actually really cool. Thanks for the info!

 

[Mad for Skating]

I love their new EX! Smart move, and as always, Vanessa looks stunning. I wasn’t a big fan of their MJ anyways, this is better.

 

[aftershocks]

Haven't seen this posted anywhere here: they did a new exhibition number for Worlds (retiring MJ was probably tactful at this point), in which Vanessa's Earned It frock got another outing. I hadn't heard the song before, but I like it.

The video has now been removed. I think I saw it previously before it was taken down.

I recently ran across this early career performance (2013 TEB) by V&M:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsiQrfihiXM

It's always fun looking back. I especially like the opening moves that are somewhat reminiscent of Earned It! They've always been good. Just a couple of hiccoughs: a throw jump which was so high V had trouble controlling the landing; and then perhaps some over-excitement caused V's slight slip going into footwork. But yeah, V&M forever!

Here's a version of the exhibition that works for me with the 'removed' notification suddenly disappearing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJUYX-BG3rk

Another very lovely tribute video. It's so well put together!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEI-S3z4EgQ

 

[aftershocks]

Vanessa traveled to Bermuda recently apparently to attend her grandfather's funeral. My condolences to Vanessa and her family.

While Vanessa was back in her father's homeland, where she has many admirers and family members, she gave an interview to IslandStats (apparently a sports-related news outlet in Bermuda). As always, Vanessa was refreshingly candid, charming, and full of grace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwz2rgcbQrQ

Thanks so much to Vanessa for sharing her heart and her talent. You are a beautiful trailblazer!
It's cool hearing that Vanessa felt her transition to skating for France was helped by having a partner of color like herself, Yannick Bonheur. I recall anew how good they were together and the impact they made at Worlds in 2009 and the Olympics in 2010.

Congrats to Vanessa & Morgan on a groundbreaking season, with some icing-on-the-cake at WTT! Kudos to you and your coaches and choreographers.
Vanessa: "Keep believing in yourself and your dreams." Yes Vanessa, you & Morgan are two of the most beautiful people on the ice. Shine on!

Flashback: I love this circa 2014 exhibition number by Vee & Momo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k363kOZjQ70 So much sass

 

[Mad for Skating]

Vanessa traveled to Bermuda recently apparently to attend her grandfather's funeral. My condolences to Vanessa and her family.

While Vanessa was back in her father's homeland, where she has many admirers and family members, she gave an interview to IslandStats (apparently a sports-related news outlet in Bermuda). As always, Vanessa was refreshingly candid, charming, and full of grace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwz2rgcbQrQ

Thanks so much to Vanessa for sharing her heart and her talent. You are a beautiful trailblazer!
It's cool hearing that Vanessa felt her transition to skating for France was helped by having a partner of color like herself, Yannick Bonheur. I recall anew how good they were together and the impact they made at Worlds in 2009 and the Olympics in 2010.

Congrats to Vanessa & Morgan on a groundbreaking season, with some icing-on-the-cake at WTT! Kudos to you and your coaches and choreographers.
Vanessa: "Keep believing in yourself and your dreams." Yes Vanessa, you & Morgan are two of the most beautiful people on the ice. Shine on!

Flashback: I love this circa 2014 exhibition number by Vee & Momo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k363kOZjQ70 So much sass

She is such an angel, I find myself loving her more and more as I continue to learn about her. Sending her big hugs over her grandfather

 

[aftershocks]

She is such an angel, I find myself loving her more and more as I continue to learn about her. Sending her big hugs over her grandfather

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw3x0TDgtdT/

 

[Sylvia]

‘Setbacks’ not a problem for France’s James and Cipres by Tatjana Flade (May 7, 2019): https://www.goldenskate.com/2019/05/setbacks-not-a-problem-for-frances-james-and-cipres/

 

[Japanfan]

I would so love for J/C to win a world title!

 

[Spun Silver]

Same!!

 

[Sylvia]

NEWS FLASH! Vanessa has signed up for CBC's "Battle of the Blades" TV reality show competition this fall: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...lades-skating-show.105536/page-3#post-5591980

Article: https://www.ifsmagazine.com/vanessa-james-ready-for-battle/
Excerpt:

“So I talked a little bit with John Zimmerman and Silvia Fontana, the federation and Morgan. We all thought it was a great timeline because it is really just at the beginning of the season — it will clash with something like Skate America but we can ask for Grand Prix events later in the season. Hopefully, we can do NHK and Internationaux de France, but our main focus next season will be Europeans and Worlds.
...
They will attend a “Battle of the Blades” camp in July where the CBC production crew along with Bezic will figure out the pairings.

ETA link to Vanessa's IG post today: https://www.instagram.com/p/ByDx-DlHMI3/

 

[skatfan]

Wow, didn’t expect that!

 

[liv]

I was wondering who the skaters might be this time. She will be a great addition and it will be a great experience for them both. I look forward to seeing how it goes.

 

[justtojoke]

So unexpected! Grab every opportunity Vanessa, I can't wait to watch!!!

 

[aftershocks]

https://www.ifsmagazine.com/vanessa-james-ready-for-battle/

After reading the article, J/C branching out to include this new adventure with the upcoming competitive season makes sense, particularly since they see it as helping with their skating and their partnership, and not conflicting. NHK and Int. de France should be workable for a late GP schedule. They do seem very intent as well on making Europeans and Worlds their main focus for next season. Aside from the Olympics, they've now already won every major event they've entered except Worlds, so let's go V&M, give it everything you've got! And have fun with the new BotB relaunch.

Plus, J/C have competed at the Olympics together twice, and Vee a third time with Yannick Bonheur.

Vanessa:
“You know I like to have fun and things like that … I said something to Morgan about it all depending on when we get eliminated — it could be anywhere from three to seven weeks — and Morgan was like, ‘if I am your coach you are not going to eliminated. You are going to win.’ I was like ‘OK, that’s my partner.’ He will be a great coach.”

 

[Mad for Skating]

This is exciting! I do wonder how they will balance competition with the show, but it’ll be fun to watch.

 

[aftershocks]

Julie Wie strikes again with some very lovely and poignant James/Cipres montages!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAU8o_nmIsw I Won't Let You Go
This comment by a Youtube poster is so true:
"At the end when Morgan kissed Vanessa's shoulder, that is how a man who adores a woman kisses. Not sexual, just pure love."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47AGijhhZY Parachute
"I don't need a parachute, baby if I got you, I don't need a parachute, you're gonna catch me..."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoOKQyJhRG-/ A sweet post by Morgan, from September 2018
I think 'Mouche' means 'Fly' in French

 

[aftershocks]

Cross-posting from Davis/White thread:

So I wondered if Charlie might be working with any of Zueva's teams now that she is based in Florida and he is there working with some of the pairs team, then this popped up on my Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bys9Ru0jzw8/

Everybody and their brother secretly and not-so-secretly wish to work with Charlie White after he helped James/Cipres and Denney/Frazier accomplish great performances last season! John Kerr should be another go-to pairs choreographer IMO. I even noticed at WTT this season how much Zabiako/Enbert are trying to emulate James/Cipres' skating style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZnWFHvsAr4 J/C Euros performance with excellent Eurosport commentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8GtylL81bM J/C World championships fp without commentary

Below are the only detailed comments I've heard Charlie express about working with James/Cipes (thanks to @clairecloutier)

"First of all, James & Cipres and their coaches, John Zimmerman and Silvia Fontana, were super-prepared, and had great entrances to their elements, and ideas that they wanted to play with. It makes such a difference to come into an atmosphere like that, where a team knows what they need to accomplish. So, from a creative aspect, first and foremost, they’re just so beautiful. (Smiles) And that’s such an advantage. So I wanted that to be okay to be what was focused on.

I didn’t want to over-embellish anything, for two reasons. One, because they’re so beautiful, that just having them simply look at one another, it emotionally connects everyone in the audience to either their connection or their faces. On the other hand, because they have so much speed, and their elements are so powerful and amazing just by themselves, that I wanted them to feel most comfortable and energetic to complete those elements.

I think the main thing I wanted them to address in their skating, and we worked it into the program, was just making sure that everything was in sync. So, the cleanliness that I think the choreography brought to their power was just a great match. They worked super-hard and built off what we created and went with it. I don’t feel comfortable taking much of the credit. I think they really earned all of the compliments."

 

[aftershocks]

J/C perform a group exhibition to Gypsy Nocturne for All That Skate with Papadakis/Cizeron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh-NKzLshko (the music)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNaYQKfPj7I All That Skate performance (segues into a performance by Yu Na Kim)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Byd7dKwHmY5/ Vanessa & Morgan in a performance pose

Beautiful fan art of Yu Na and Vanessa:

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Fabian Bourzat created new choreo for MJ exhibition for J/C:

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[aftershocks]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACYihOfXumo J/C's Say Something

Youtube comment on the above performance:
"... the way their bodies move [together], it seems like their souls [have] a strong attachment."

 

[vanillashake]

I would so love for J/C to win a world title!

I think their best shot was definitely last year. You never know though. Savchenko & Massot not returning means it is still competitive, and Sui & Han are injury prone. I dont think they will ever have a better shot than last year, but that might be good for them. I dont think they like being the favorites.

 

[aftershocks]

I think their best shot was definitely last year. You never know though. Savchenko & Massot not returning means it is still competitive, and Sui & Han are injury prone. I dont think they will ever have a better shot than last year, but that might be good for them. I dont think they like being the favorites.

Come on now. Are you trying to push my buttons?

That's a lot of assumptions, but well, none of us fans are perfect. And certainly skaters and athletes aren't always perfect either. But athletes often come closer to perfection than the rest of us sitting on our backsides on the sidelines.

Vané & Momo can accomplish anything they d*mn well please. In fact, they were very good from the beginning of their partnership, but just needed to smooth out the rough edges, and continue to get the difficult elements under their belts, along with experience. And then it was about having to continue to prove themselves again and again, and to develop full confidence in themselves and in each other. And then it was about having to prove themselves to the skating community all over again and again. It was also about finding the right music and choreo to make an impact. They have always had their supporters, coaches and mentors who believe in them, and finally, everything came together with a big bang in Florida with Zimmerman, Fontana, Barrett, Kerr, et al. J/C f'ing Earned It slam dunkin' The Sounds of Silence, and breaking the sound barrier and the glass ceiling too! The rest is history.

J/C have been stellar in both programs from 2016 - 2017 season onwards! It don't matter what naysayers think. They have shaken up the pairs discipline in a good way, and then some. Little credit have J/C received for how wonderful they have been and for how much their compadres and competitors have been trying to emulate their style, moves, and costumes. But not being given full credit has unfortunately tended to be par for the course throughout J/C's career.

Make no mistake: J/C have made history, and they've set the pairs discipline on fire. They won every competition they entered last season, except Worlds. IMHO, some of the judges were apparently determined to essentially put the scoring margin out-of-reach by over-rewarding J/C's rivals in the sp before J/C even got on the ice to warm-up.

I don't think it's a matter of J/C not liking to be favorites. I wouldn't say that. They may not have been used to being favorites, ever. But they certainly aced being favorites last year in every competition they won (their stat line would read something like 7 to 1). At 2019 Worlds, let's be honest, although J/C came in as the winningest team that season, the judges definitely were not viewing them as the pairs favorites. We got that message loud and clear in the sp overscores for T/M and S/H.

I'm tired to death of the rote putdown that J/C "don't have good skating skills." Name all the pairs skaters who have exquisite skating skills please. And then name those who have what Vané & Momo were born with and express together with their magic chemistry on ice. Extremely short lists...

I'm also bored and fed up with the notion that last season was J/C's 'best shot to win Worlds?' Why is that the case for J/C precisely and exclusively, pray tell? Because of the retirements and because a couple of Chinese teams weren't present?? Or because you think their 'shots' are limited? To be honest, last season some of the judges seemed to be trying to find other teams to reward against J/C at some of their comps. But J/C were simply too good. They were the best, and it showed. They were certainly better than a couple of teams who landed in front of them at Worlds in the overall standings. They showed that fact in the fp, but they failed to show how good they are in the sp for a variety of reasons. They are human and they faltered slightly and somewhat gut-wrenchingly in the sp, what with the pressure, the judges' sp scores for their rivals, and the warm-up collision. But I'm completely proud of J/C for a stellar, exciting season, and for a long career of special, unforgettable moments.

I pull for Vané & Momo to enjoy every moment of this upcoming season, including their working fun time on Battle of the Blades. And I thank them for being so boss, and for their badass grace, hotness, determination, self-belief and fight! I don't care what the judges and the gnarly naysayers and putdown-meisters think. It's what's in the hearts of the lionhearted* that counts! Can I get a witness?!!! *That goes for so many athletes, many of them pairs skaters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v8Q9sva0ZY Earned It! 2017 Euros sp
I'd like to know what the German commentators are sayin' -- sounds complimentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh_5iYpvXJQ The Sounds of Silence 2017 Euros fp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O72bm7Dq8b8 same fp - I wonder what TAT was sayin'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks1-8ZoDNBI Say Something fp SC 2017-18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhROT4m9SCw Say Something fp IDF 2017-18 No way they should not have won gold over T/M; judges scoring them 2nd kept them out of the GPF that season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgeXghIjU3M Make It Rain sp IDF 2017-18 -- an underrated program, well choreographed with difficulty that J/C make look easy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rqA-r02T-g Uninvited sp SC 2018-19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZnWFHvsAr4 Wicked Game fp GPF 2018-19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u09pLTv3m4 Wicked Game fp SC 2018-19 without commentary; so beautifully skated -- sharp visuals

And thanks so much to Julie Wie for her brilliance in putting all the J/C montages together. This one says it all, and then some!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwx97nREJH8 The Story

Superbly and poignantly edited:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw63rpKMVe0 You Are Loved Josh Groban
"Don't give up, it's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy, I - I will lift it for you...
Don't give up, it's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside, I - I'll be there to find you
Don't give up, because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you, I - I will shine to guide you!
... You are looooved ..."

 

[vanillashake]

It was their best chance IMO since they arent exactly young, they have stated many times there is no way they continue until 2022 (they might change their mind but they even said they would have retired if they won worlds this year), and they had such an incredible season leading into worlds which would be hard to duplicate that level of momentum leading into the big event again. That plus Sui & Han came into worlds having missed the whole season basically, and Tarasova & Morozov were having a mediocre year, and Savchenko & Massot were away. Basically all the stars were aligned for them.

 

[aftershocks]

Vanessa has been to three Olympics and Morgan has been to two, so yes, they probably will not be continuing eligibly through 2022. Even after 2018, they contemplated retiring, but lucky for lovers of pairs figure skating, they decided to return. They've had great programs every season since their groundbreaking breakthrough performances at Euros in 2017.

They have both had long careers. Vanessa is older than Morgan, but neither are exactly as ancient as for example, Hao Zhang is and Plushy was when he kept coming back. Athletes who remain hungry and in shape are staying around in a number of sports these days.

In any case, I cheer V&M on and I hope they have a satisfying season, and that when they decide it's time to retire, it will be on their own terms.

That plus Sui & Han came into worlds having missed the whole season basically, and Tarasova & Morozov were having a mediocre year, and Savchenko & Massot were away. Basically all the stars were aligned for them.

Sui/Han have missed several half seasons in a row due to injury and rehab. They still managed to win Worlds in 2017, and in 2019 by strength of fierce will, along with talent and desire.

However, typically by the way you phrase your comments, you appear to feel that James/Cipres are not as good as S/M, T/M and S/H. In some aspects, J/C are actually better than those teams, whether you want to believe it or not. No team is perfect. Every team has their strengths and weaknesses. I'm completely tired of this rote desire on the part of many to not give James/Cipres credit where credit is due. To win championships, one has to beat fellow competitors. And the point is, they have done just that.

All things being equal on an even and fair playing field, it is certainly possible for J/C to beat all three teams you have named. In fact, J/C scored higher than S/M in one segment at 2016 Skate Canada. J/C have also previously beaten both Duhamel/Radford (2017 Autumn Classic) and Tarasova/Morosov (2017 IDF, despite the judges gifting T/M with the win; 2018 GPF; 2019 Euros; 2018 Euros sp). Currently, both D/R and S/M are not competing.

Again Sui/Han have been experiencing injury setbacks for awhile, so we'll see long term how they will fare if they come back for a full season, or if they try again to be ready and strong enough for part of the competitive season.

I have to laugh when you say T/M were having a 'mediocre' season, when you argued recently in a different thread that T/M are not a quality team anyway since in your view, they have had trouble winning Worlds and Olympics. So, is it 'mediocre' just this season, or every season when T/M fail to live up to their talent?

Or do you make an effort to describe T/M as having a 'mediocre' season simply because they were beaten at GPF and Euros by James/Cipres?

 

[Simone411]

Vanessa has been to three Olympics and Morgan has been to two, so yes, they probably will not be continuing eligibly through 2022. Even after 2018, they contemplated retiring, but lucky for lovers of pairs figure skating, they decided to return. They've had great programs every season since their groundbreaking breakthrough performances at Euros in 2017.

The one thing I've learned over the years is to never assume anything in regards to a skater retiring. I've seen it too many times where they contemplate on retiring, even say they're retiring, and then change their minds when it becomes an Olympic year. Therefore, if Vanessa and Morgan make the decision to compete in 2022, it wouldn't surprise me at all.

 

[vanillashake]

T&M did not have clean skates in any of their competitions, except sort of at worlds. While I dont think they are amazing and the kind of team who would ever be Russian #1 in their glory days, they atleast are usually consistent and have lots of clean competitions. They didnt even have many clean shorts which are usually easy for them to produce. And they werent only losing to James & Cipres, but even losing to a team like Peng & Jin at the GPF which is basically an up and coming non elite team.

Anyway I can tell you like to argue so I wont bother more. I like James & Cipres but the reality is if you started a poll if they missed their best ever shot to win worlds in 2019 probably over 90% vote yes, so I guess most agree with me and not with you. That doesnt mean there is no possible shot, but their absolute best one has already sailed most likely, but I wish them the best in their quest.