Figure Skating

[Tippi]

Apparently Alysa got dinged at her two GPs for underrotations, and received low GOE for her elements.   I guess her team is thinking a shake up is in order.  I've also read rumors that this is her last season as a skater. 

[emmawoodhouse]

Looks like H/B are going to Rostelecom. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWmHdswIemg/?utm_medium=copy_link

[honeywest]

Hanyu has withdrawn from Rostelecom with an injured ankle.

[emmawoodhouse]

Finally caught Shcherbakova's new short. It's an improvement. 

[Jeddah]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CWlR4o4luq9/?utm_medium=copy_link

The Olympics posted this adorable video of Jason Brown as a kid on Instagram. He has definitely grown artistically!

Edited November 23, 2021 by Jeddah

[ChicksDigScars]

On 11/22/2021 at 12:34 AM, emmawoodhouse said:

Johnny talked all over the Russians at SkAm. I could barely hear their horrible music. 

Well, of course! How else does he get to perfectly over pronounce every Russian name that's ever skated? Even the new Russian ladies performances is a reason to name drop the classics, like Evgenia Medvedeva.  And I swear he gets a tingle up the leg every time he gets to properly pronounce Eteri Tutberidze.

[Lady Whistleup]

The Olympic YT channel is airing a documentary about the Montreal ice dance groups.

First episode dropped today:

The atmosphere there right now must be as intense as the Sambo club.

Papadakis and Cizeron still seem so bummed about their Pyeonchang experience.

[annzeepark914]

19 minutes ago, Lady Whistleup said:

The Olympic YT channel is airing a documentary about the Montreal ice dance groups.

First episode dropped today:

The atmosphere there right now must be as intense as the Sambo club.

Papadakis and Cizeron still seem so bummed about their Pyeonchang experience.

This was good. Thanks for posting. Nice to see C/B socializing with the team from Canada, saying that they'll always be friends. Interesting to hear M Hubbell say they expect to win the O's. Well, maybe if Papadakis has another costume malfunction...

[anniebird]

On 11/19/2021 at 10:36 AM, honeywest said:

 

Paul Poirier needs to shave that porn-star mustache.

I came here to see if anyone else was bothered by this. I'm a figure skating aficionado but not the expert so many of you are and I'm curious -- does something like that ever get factored into the scores? 

[HartofDixie]

Results link for Rostelecom Cup.

http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/gprus2021/

Edited November 25, 2021 by HartofDixie

[Rootbeer]

16 hours ago, anniebird said:

I came here to see if anyone else was bothered by this. I'm a figure skating aficionado but not the expert so many of you are and I'm curious -- does something like that ever get factored into the scores? 

The judges would never admit to it. but, like in other parts of life, looks count.  So, yeah, I think that a judge who doesn't like the pornstache is going to perhaps go a bit harder on him.  There is a lot more art than science in the scoring.

[Jeddah]

6 hours ago, Rootbeer said:

The judges would never admit to it. but, like in other parts of life, looks count.  So, yeah, I think that a judge who doesn't like the pornstache is going to perhaps go a bit harder on him.  There is a lot more art than science in the scoring.

I always wondered if Charlie White thought his blonde curls helped their scores because it seemed like he cut them as soon as he stopped competing.

[annzeepark914]

48 minutes ago, Jeddah said:

I always wondered if Charlie White thought his blonde curls helped their scores because it seemed like he cut them as soon as he stopped competing.

It certainly was fun watching Charlie fly around the rink, his blonde curls bobbing right along.

[Rootbeer]

2 hours ago, Jeddah said:

I always wondered if Charlie White thought his blonde curls helped their scores because it seemed like he cut them as soon as he stopped competing.

Most dance couples try to create a 'look' for the team and I think it is quite possible that Charlie's blond curls contrasted against Meryl's sleek dark locks was part of the package.

[Jillibean]

11 hours ago, Rootbeer said:

Most dance couples try to create a 'look' for the team and I think it is quite possible that Charlie's blond curls contrasted against Meryl's sleek dark locks was part of the package.

And apparently Meryl is naturally light haired and Charlie isn't. I think their look was pretty clearly designed by Marina, his blonde curls contrasting with her dark hair. I think how quickly he changed it when he was done showed that it was more a part of his costume than his identity. Meryl, on the other hand, has stuck with her dark hair (which is a good idea; it suits her). They also were very careful not to speak about their real life relationships while they were competing, as though they felt it would hurt their chemistry as an on-ice couple, and then right after their gold medal Charlie became extremely open about Tanith to the great anger and dismay of the "Merlie" shippers. It's interesting (and maybe at times a bit frightening) how much goes into the image part. 

I think of some of the gorgeous programs Marina created for them and am honestly surprised that no one seems to want to use her over Montreal, which is so crowded. I know it's the new hotspot and trendy and there's a political aspect to it, but I don't think I can be convinced that there wouldn't be some advantage to working with a coach who really wants you specifically to win as opposed to having to be impartial because they're working with almost every single team that has the potential to win. 

[Lady Whistleup]

3 hours ago, Jillibean said:

I think of some of the gorgeous programs Marina created for them and am honestly surprised that no one seems to want to use her over Montreal, which is so crowded. I know it's the new hotspot and trendy and there's a political aspect to it, but I don't think I can be convinced that there wouldn't be some advantage to working with a coach who really wants you specifically to win as opposed to having to be impartial because they're working with almost every single team that has the potential to win. 

Marina lost a lot of her cache when she broke up with Shpilband. He was the technician and there were always rumors Marina didn't actually know much about the "how" of skating.

[annzeepark914]

I've always really liked Meryl & Charlie as a team but never thought of them being a "couple". Weren't they criticized early on that they never conveyed a "connection" the way that V/M did? 

Re: good choreographers...is it Pasquale Camerlengo who coaches & choreographs? I *think* he's the one whose programs are so unique & beautiful.

Edited November 26, 2021 by annzeepark914

[Lady Whistleup]

5 minutes ago, annzeepark914 said:

I've always really liked Meryl & Charlie as a team but never thought of them being a "couple". Weren't they criticized early on that they never conveyed a "connection" the way that V/M did? 

Re: good choreographers...is it Pasquale Caserlengo who coaches & choreographs? I *think* he's the one whose programs are so unique & beautiful.

I think they were criticized that their programs were difficult but that they didn't have the smooth edges that are considered so important in ice dancing.

I have heard commentators make some comments (directly or indirectly) about Guillaume being gay so P&C not being convincing as a "romantic" couple. Which is nonsense, but ...

[NUguy514]

11 minutes ago, Lady Whistleup said:

I have heard commentators make some comments (directly or indirectly) about Guillaume being gay so P&C not being convincing as a "romantic" couple. Which is nonsense, but ...

But what?

[Lady Whistleup]

2 minutes ago, NUguy514 said:

But what?

I've just heard it talked about enough that it's something they've probably had to work on -- how to avoid the "oh there's no romance" prejudice.

[honeywest]

Zoueva is coaching Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi.

Takahashi’s “Blues for Klook” was the only performance to that music that I ever liked, and it was choreographed by Camerlengo.

Edited November 26, 2021 by honeywest

[Domenicholas]

1 hour ago, Lady Whistleup said:

I have heard commentators make some comments (directly or indirectly) about Guillaume being gay so P&C not being convincing as a "romantic" couple. Which is nonsense, but ...

You know, stuff like this actually makes me hope that Jason Brown makes it to the Grand Prix Final over at least one of the Russian men so the Russian press can have a group conniption about how a gay man with barely a quad beat one of their own (and I actually Kolyada's skating).

[annzeepark914]

8 minutes ago, Domenicholas said:

You know, stuff like this actually makes me hope that Jason Brown makes it to the Grand Prix Final over at least one of the Russian men so the Russian press can have a group conniption about how a gay man with barely a quad beat one of their own (and I actually Kolyada's skating).

Yeah!!  Go Jason!!  🤞 🍀 

[honeywest]

33 minutes ago, Domenicholas said:

You know, stuff like this actually makes me hope that Jason Brown makes it to the Grand Prix Final over at least one of the Russian men so the Russian press can have a group conniption about how a gay man with barely a quad beat one of their own (and I actually Kolyada's skating).

Kolyada and Semenenko are in fourth and seventh place after the Rostelecom short, so it’s not impossible. . . .

[emmawoodhouse]

2 hours ago, honeywest said:

Kolyada and Semenenko are in fourth and seventh place after the Rostelecom short, so it’s not impossible. . . .

But the men's standings are tiiiiight between 3-8. Any of them could pull up to a podium. Well, maybe not Camden who has never put two clean programs together.

[Lady Whistleup]

Here's Kamila's short program from today.

 

[annzeepark914]

Too bad her coach is The Barracuda. 

[Lady Whistleup]

1 hour ago, annzeepark914 said:

Too bad her coach is The Barracuda. 

I really like her skating though. Think she's a lovely skater.

[KittenPokerCheater]

She is a lovely skater.  I think she may be better than Zagitova.

But I am cynical enough to wonder how long it will be until Kamila is injured.  Probably not this season, but I expect it in the next year or so, unless she retires.

[ShellsandCheese]

3 hours ago, Lady Whistleup said:

Here's Kamila's short program from today.

 

I like her too. She’s a fabulous young skater. One thing I do appreciate about all these young Russian’s is their speed and clean lines. I feel bad for Anna Shcherbakova though, she was pretty much anointed the one to beat and one to watch - was finally old enough for Sr. Worlds just this year and she’s already being eclipsed by Kamila Valieva. 

 

[healthnut]

Twitter handle @mad4skating posted a long thread today on past abuse by Nikita Katsalapov. It’s worth reading. 

[specialj67]

On the one hand, what Valieva achieved in that free skate at Rostelecom Cup was amazing and impressive. On the other hand, the program itself—the choreography and its complete disconnection from the music (which is also blech)—is hot water trash. 

[justmehere]

I had hoped with a 3rd place finish in the short program that Mariah Bell would make the podium. A couple of issues prevented that, but I think both her programs are lovely, and she's still my favorite of the women. (If you're going to repeat a program, her Hallelujah is a good one.)

I loved Hawayek and Baker's self-choreographed free skate last season. And I love their new one, too. It was soft and flowy without being the least bit saccharin or fake looking. Just beautiful, and I do not understand why they don't get higher scores. I guess they haven't really competed this season, so hopefully they will improve, but it seems to be a pattern. Are they really not that good technically?

[honeywest]

I don’t understand the lack of appreciation for Hawayek and Baker either.

[Lady Whistleup]

1 hour ago, specialj67 said:

On the one hand, what Valieva achieved in that free skate at Rostelecom Cup was amazing and impressive. On the other hand, the program itself—the choreography and its complete disconnection from the music (which is also blech)—is hot water trash. 

It's part of the Eteri brand that in a skater's first year as a senior, she's dumped with hot water trash programs. It's like you have to work your way up to picking your own music and having input on choreo.

I decided I'm okay with Valieva winning OGM. She's pretty special, crappy Bolero program aside. Her triple axel kind of reminds me of Hanyu's with that slow exit out.

[honeywest]

4 minutes ago, Lady Whistleup said:

 

I decided I'm okay with Valieva winning OGM. She's pretty special, crappy Bolero program aside. Her triple axel kind of reminds me of Hanyu's with that slow exit out.

Better Valieva or Shcherbakova than Trusova.

[HartofDixie]

1st two episodes of On Edge on Olympic Channel. This series is following some of the dance teams training in Montreal.

 

[Lady Whistleup]

So ... figure skating twitter is a strange, creepy place. I just read a twitter thread that was very disturbing:

Damn. Do they know they are being this judgmental over girls who are like, 15-17?

[honeywest]

Jason made the GPF!

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2021/11/27/grand-prix-final-figure-skating-qualifiers-field-list/

[healthnut]

The qualifiers for the Grand Prix Final in two weeks.

Men
Q1. Yuma Kagiyama JPN - 30 (ITA 15, FRA 15)
Q2. Shoma Uno JPN - 28 (USA 13, JPN 15)
Q3. Vincent Zhou USA - 28 (USA 15, JPN 13)
Q4. Nathan Chen USA - 26 (USA 11, CAN 15)
Q5. Mikhail Kolyada RUS - 26 (ITA 13, RUS 13)
Q6. Jason Brown USA - 24 (CAN 13, FRA 11)

Dance
Q1. Papadakis/Cizeron FRA - 30 (ITA 15, FRA 15)
Q2. Sinitsina/Katsalapov RUS - 30 (JPN 15, RUS 15)
Q3. Hubbell/Donohue USA - 28 (USA 15, ITA 13)
Q4. Gilles/Poirier CAN - 28 (CAN 15, FRA 13)
Q5. Chock/Bates USA - 26 (USA 13, JPN 13)
Q6. Guignard/Fabbri ITA - 26 (CAN 13, RUS 13)

Pairs
Q1. Mishina/Galliamov RUS - 30 (JPN 15, RUS 15)
Q2. Sui/Han CHN - 30 (CAN 15, ITA 15)
Q3. Tarasova/Morozov RUS - 28 (USA 15, JPN 13)
Q4. Boikova/Kozlovskii RUS - 26 (USA 11, FRA 15)
Q5. Pavliuchenko/Khodykin RUS - 26 (CAN 13, RUS 13)
Q6. Miura/Kihara JPN - 24 (USA 13, JPN 11)

Women
Q1. Kamila Valieva RUS - 30 (CAN 15, RUS 15)
Q2. Anna Shcherbakova RUS - 30 (ITA 15, FRA 15)
Q3. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva RUS - 26 (CAN 13, RUS 13)
Q4. Kaori Sakamoto JPN - 24 (USA 9, JPN 15)
Q5. Maiia Khromykh RUS - 24 (ITA 13, RUS 11)
Q6. Alena Kostornaia RUS - 24 (CAN 11, FRA 13)

[KittenPokerCheater]

I'm sad the ladies GPF in almost ALL Russian.  Obviously, they all deserve to be there, but it almost makes me feel like I'm watching some version of Russian Nationals.

[Domenicholas]

37 minutes ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

I'm sad the ladies GPF in almost ALL Russian.  Obviously, they all deserve to be there, but it almost makes me feel like I'm watching some version of Russian Nationals.

We almost had an ALL Russian ladies GPF, but Sasha and Daria had to drop out due to injury. Now I'm rooting for Kaori to pull an upset and get on the podium.

[Domenicholas]

One thing I've been thinking about: with the practice of replacing Russian female wonderkids every two years, will we even remember any of them in ten, twenty years time. People still talk about Yuna Kim, Mao Asada, Carolina Kostner, Michelle Kwan, etc., but how many people bring up Yulia, or Evgenia, or even Olympic champion Alina? I feel that Russia will get a legacy of female champions, but those champions won't become legendary themselves. I like Kamila Valieva due to her athleticism and artistry, but I can't get attached to her because in two years the next Russian wonderkid is going to force her out.

[Tippi]

That was a breathtaking performance by Valieva.  Definitely worthy of Olympic gold.

Will someone in the know clue me in as to how Eteri is producing all these prodigies?  These 85 pound girls are outjumping the ladies in all the other countries, and also the men?  Nathan would be hard pressed to beat Valieva.  What is the training regimen that is yielding these results? 

 

[KittenPokerCheater]

53 minutes ago, Tippi said:

What is the training regimen that is yielding these results? 

From what I have heard/read, it punishing ice time/training, little to eat or drink, PEDs (allegedly) and a dose of fear.  It sounds like a never ending bootcamp to me. 

[ShellsandCheese]

3 hours ago, KittenPokerCheater said:

From what I have heard/read, it punishing ice time/training, little to eat or drink, PEDs (allegedly) and a dose of fear.  It sounds like a never ending bootcamp to me. 

I haven’t heard anything about PEDs. She gets them young and they have a brutal training regime; also explains why they struggle with jumps once they gain some inches or some lbs

Also, I don’t think it’s a Russian thing - so much as it is a figure skating thing. I swear something was lost with the sport with the scoring changes and truth be told I’m hard pressed to remember or find hardly any skaters memorable post 2006ish……truth be told with the exception of Yuna Kim I can’t remember a single women’s Olympic Gold medalist. Ditto pairs (with the exception of TotM), and Mens. 

[Lady Whistleup]

The pandemic was actually good for Eteri's girls. The extended time off meant they all went on a growth spurt (Maiia is nearly 5'7"! and Kamila is 5'3"), all went through some version of puberty, and the sky didn't fall and they mostly kept their jumps. I hope Eteri can learn from this moving forward.

[Avaleigh]

Did anyone see Gracie's most recent short program? Not bad. Not bad at all.

https://youtu.be/UtUoM0wI57Y

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by Avaleigh

[anniebird]

I don't understand so much about this Rostelecom Cup - I'm used to the signs all around the arena but is there always crap all over the ice too? And the Kiss and Cry area looks like a gas station convenience store with the ice cream bars and all the signs in back of them. They're not all like this are they?

[annzeepark914]

On 11/27/2021 at 6:35 PM, honeywest said:

I don’t understand the lack of appreciation for Hawayek and Baker either.

Well, I'm no ice dance expert, but I know that I don't enjoy watching them. They come across as very nice people so I don't like saying anything critical. But they look...unbalanced? I'm not sure what the right word is, but that unbalanced look is distracting for me as I watch them skate their programs.