What if Pechalat/Bourzat had stayed in?

[blue_idealist]

If Pechalat and Bourzat had stayed in eligible competition after 2014, do you think the rise of Papadakis/Cizeron would have been so fast, or would they have had to 'wait' in around the 4th-6th spots at Worlds until their countymen retired? Would they have been 'allowed' by politics to leave Pechalat/Bourzat in the dust and win gold, or at least battle with them for a podium place? After all, their (P/C's, that is) rise was especially meteoric if you take into account the fact that they were left off the Sochi Olympic team in favour of Pernelle Carron/Lloyd Jones, a fairly average team.

 

[caseyedwards]

Do P/B stay with Spiliband or do they move to Dubreuil like P/C moved to debureuil? It all depends on who is with spiliband or some other coach and who is with dubreuil. If p/c still move to dubreuil than everything is exactly the same for p/c with p/b fighting with c/b s/s h/d for bronze. Or maybe they are like c/l or b/s level.

 

[blue_idealist]

Do P/C stay with Spiliband or do they move to Dubreuil like P/C moved to debureuil? It all depends on who is with spiliband or some other coach and who is with dubreuil. If p/c still move to dubreuil than everything is exactly the same for p/c with p/b fighting with c/b s/s h/d for bronze. Or maybe they are like c/l or b/s level.

It would have been super-interesting if they had both moved to Dubreuil, but I don't think that would've happened. I can't picture P/B doing Dubreuil-style programs. I think they would have stayed with Igor and P/C still would have gone to Dubreuil.

 

[Bigbird]

They would have been frustrated by the system so they were smart to get out when they did.

 

[caseyedwards]

It would have been super-interesting if they had both moved to Dubreuil, but I don't think that would've happened. I can't picture P/B doing Dubreuil-style programs. I think they would have stayed with Igor and P/C still would have gone to Dubreuil.

If you can’t do dubreuil style you are out of contention this quad! So because of inability to do dubreuil style and p/c being allowed to go to dubreuil would indicate a downgrading of French political support for p/b anyway p/b have a season like f/s last season and maybe don’t finish the season.

 

[Anyasnake]

If you can’t do dubreuil style you are out of contention this quad! So because of inability to do dubreuil style and p/c being allowed to go to dubreuil would indicate a downgrading of French political support for p/b anyway p/b have a season like f/s last season and maybe don’t finish the season.

Not at all. The "issue" is that not everybody can do this style, but too many people tried it and it didn't worked out.

 

[caseyedwards]

Not at all. The "issue" is that not everybody can do this style, but too many people tried it and it didn't worked out.

Better to try to do the winning style and fail than to continue with an unpopular style and fail.

 

[VGThuy]

I think this an interesting question because I think no matter what assuming Papadakis/Cizeron developed from 2014-2018 the way they are now, there's no question that P/C would have surpassed Pechelat/Bourzat, assuming P/B were skating on a somewhat similar level as they did in 2014. However back in the 2014-2015 season, I don't know. I think a sizable faction would think P/C should be France no. 1 but not sure if it would have happened due to sentimental reasons and maybe P/B being good enough that season to win a World title. That was the same year Chock/Bates almost won the world title. I think by the 2017-2018 season, had P/B stayed on, they'd be in a similar position as Cappellini/Lanotte are now.

I also wonder what would ice dance look like now if Ilinykh/Katsalapov stayed in and were able to have at least one or two performances that was like their 2014 Olympics one every season. I have no doubt that at least at 2015 Worlds had I/K been able to replicate their 2014 Olympic performances that the judges were ready to give them that world title no matter if others thought P/C deserved it. I do think that 2015-2016 would still have been up for grabs with P/C taking it though and I do think the Shibs would have still pulled off a silver assuming everything else remained the same.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

From memory, .06 points separated first, second, and third at the 2014 World Championships overall. It was that close.

Having attended the free dance press conference, Nathalie seemed quite over it all, and spent most of the time checking her phone. I am guessing that had the couple won gold, they would still have retired. Remember that they had been on the senior scene since 2002.

What I took most from the dance competition, is pointing out to a highly - respected journalist at the time, how much I liked Papadakis and Cizeron, even though I knew very little about their previous results or training background.

Their rise from 13th to 1st a year later is almost unheard of in dance.

 

[a12553]

I'm absolutely sure if P/B stayed in, we shouldn't watch P/C in top. And I'm disappointed, that it's impossible. Nat and Fabian skated well, they did different programs every year (P/C named it "like in dance with stars, but I name it they can make different programs), tryed new elements and were interesting... What a pity that thay didn't stay, eh... I'm not sure what place could they deserve, but I'm sure, it would honest and deserved place.

Good luck to them in theirs another way)

 

[arakwafan2006]

The technical ability of the male and female dancers has elevated immensely. Their concepts were ok and their ambition was good. To me, as charming as they were , they weren’t as good as they thought they were or rather, their version of creativity didn’t always translate as well as it could have as their limitations by way of acting and technical ability was always a little off.

Nathalie is nothing but fun. I enjoy them and enjoyed the times i watched them train at the DSC however , they aren’t as good as the top 5 today

 

[Vagabond]

If Pechalat and Bourzat had stayed in eligible competition after 2014, do you think the rise of Papadakis/Cizeron would have been so fast, or would they have had to 'wait' in around the 4th-6th spots at Worlds until their countymen retired? Would they have been 'allowed' by politics to leave Pechalat/Bourzat in the dust and win gold, or at least battle with them for a podium place?

It would have been Davis & White v. Belbin & Agosto all over again, i.e., P/C 1, P/B 0.

 

[cholla]

I'm not sure what place could they deserve, but I'm sure, it would honest and deserved place

Considering Fabian just turned 37, I'm not sure they'd even be in the top 10 They were very creative but also often misunderstood and they have been robbed many times of what they actually deserved IMHO. There was absolutely no way they could have stayed, they were both totally fed up.

 

[MsZem]

P/B were done in by the skating order in 2014. If they'd skated the FD later in the group, I think their PCS would have been fractionally higher and they'd have won.

If they'd stayed, it would have been really hard for the judges not to go with them as sentimental favorites. I also think the SD in 2014-15 would have suited them. But happily there was an opportunity for P/C to move ahead and be recognized for what they can do - and Nathalie and Fabian have moved on with their lives and careers and seem quite happy with where they are now. Everyone wins!

Happy birthday to both P (34) and B, and to Nathalie's little girl.