Figure Skating

[Thumper]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:07 AM, legaleagle53 said:

That's been a complaint for some time now. It used to be that Ice Dancing had very strict rules to demonstrate that it truly has its roots in ballroom dancing and is a separate discipline from Pairs, but that distinction has started becoming blurred again.

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I do miss the ballroom dance aspect.  But then I (a casual viewer) remember being blown away by Torvill and Dean when they did a more "dramatic" dance.

[MaKaM]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:05 AM, Love said:

When did Ice Dance & Pairs become so similar looking?  I swear I keep expecting some of these couples to break out into jumps.  I know this is the more technical program but to me there doesn't seem to be as much dancing.

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And here I was thinking pairs should edge more dance. I was getting SO TIRED of yet another star lift with legs akimbo in the pairs long. 

[ChicksDigScars]

Man, I need sunglasses to look at Madison Chock's dress. 

[legaleagle53]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:07 AM, Growsonwalls said:

Here's another ice dancer who aged well: Marina Klimova

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Some of the male dancers have aged very well, too. I think Christopher Dean is hotter today than he was when he competed (come to think of it, Jayne's really aged well, too)!

[GeminiDancer]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:14 AM, legaleagle53 said:

Some of the male dancers have aged very well, too. I think Christopher Dean is hotter today than he was when he competed (come to think of it, Jayne's really aged well, too)!

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Hey Daddy....

[MostlyC]

This group, I am all in rooting for the Shibs and Chock/Bates!

[herbz]

The Team Event tech panel would probably deduct Madison for that godawful dress.

[Growsonwalls]

And here's Oksana Grishuk, looking like a soccer mom. She's also aged well:

[scarynikki12]

Ice dance ladies always wear the strangest outfits and Italy is no different.  Half of her dress is missing.

[BitterApple]

Minor gripe, I'm getting tired of hearing "So-and-so was born in Detroit, raised in Kiev and now competes for Venezuela." Are any of these people actually true blue citizens of the countries they represent? Maybe I should throw my hat in the ring and compete for Team Antarctica in 2020.

Edited February 19, 2018 by BitterApple

[scarynikki12]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:18 AM, BitterApple said:

Minor gripe, I'm getting tired of hearing "So-and-so was born in Detroit, raised in Kiev and now competes for Venezuela." Are any of these people actually true blue citizens of the countries they represent? Maybe I should throw my hat in the ring and compete for Team Antarctica in 2020.

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They've never had an athlete at the games before so you'd make history.

[GeminiDancer]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:18 AM, BitterApple said:

Minor gripe, I'm getting tired of hearing "So-and-so was born in Detroit, raise in Kiev and now competes for Venezuela." Are any of these people actually true blue citizens of the countries they represent? Maybe I should throw my hat in the ring and compete for Team Antarctica in 2020.

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I think Chris Reed had to renounce his US citizenship to skate for Japan.

[AshleyN]

I think this Italian woman wins for worst costume.

[MaKaM]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:18 AM, BitterApple said:

Minor gripe, I'm getting tired of hearing "So-and-so was born in Detroit, raise in Kiev and now competes for Venezuela." Are any of these people actually true blue citizens of the countries they represent? Maybe I should throw my hat in the ring and compete for Team Antarctica in 2020.

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Hey you gotta go where you get the support. And at least most have at least one partner with some connection to the country. 

The Italian lady looks like a unicorn. Love it. 

[ChicksDigScars]

Uh oh. The Italian pair is about to get the Babs Death Glare from their coach, Babs herself. 

 

Wow. The Bad Girl of Ice Dance looks like a normal mom. She grew up. 

[irisheyes]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:14 AM, legaleagle53 said:

Some of the male dancers have aged very well, too. I think Christopher Dean is hotter today than he was when he competed (come to think of it, Jayne's really aged well, too)!

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Jayne has aged really well.  He’s always been fabulous looking, but she sometimes looked like her teeth were too big for her mouth. 

[Dots And Stripes]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:21 AM, GeminiDancer said:

I think Chris Reed had to renounce his US citizenship to skate for Japan.

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I think citizenship of the country you represent is a requirement to compete at the Olympics.

[scarynikki12]

I wish Italian guy (Marco?) would lift his leg higher during their Twizzles and spins but, otherwise, that was enjoyable.

[ChicksDigScars]

AHHHH. They're showing it!!! BABS.

 

Poor Maurizio.

[Growsonwalls]

So ... it seems as if all the ice dance teams are either with:

Scary Babs

Marina Zoueva

Igor Shphilband

Dubreil/Lauzon

Except for the Chinese team. They're with good old Hongbo Zhao.

ETA: Tanith reassures us that Scary Babs is actually "so lovely and friendly." 

Edited February 19, 2018 by Growsonwalls

[COESpiral]

I'm seriously loving Piper Gilles's dress.

[GeminiDancer]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:23 AM, Dots And Stripes said:

I think citizenship of the country you represent is a requirement to compete at the Olympics.

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Oh, I know that, but Japan doesn't allow for dual citizenship.

[irisheyes]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:24 AM, COESpiral said:

I'm seriously loving Piper Gilles's dress.

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See, and I thought a peacock threw up on it. ?

[GeminiDancer]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:24 AM, COESpiral said:

I'm seriously loving Piper Gilles's dress.

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Me too...

[greendog78]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:23 AM, Dots And Stripes said:

I think citizenship of the country you represent is a requirement to compete at the Olympics.

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Chris' mother is Japanese so he might have done that anyway.

[COESpiral]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:25 AM, irisheyes said:

See, and I thought a peacock threw up on it. ?

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This is why ice dance is so much fun!  LOL

[AshleyN]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:24 AM, COESpiral said:

I'm seriously loving Piper Gilles's dress.

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Paul's sleeves on the other hand...

[irisheyes]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:18 AM, BitterApple said:

Minor gripe, I'm getting tired of hearing "So-and-so was born in Detroit, raised in Kiev and now competes for Venezuela." Are any of these people actually true blue citizens of the countries they represent? Maybe I should throw my hat in the ring and compete for Team Antarctica in 2020.

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Dick Button has the same question!

 

[Shaynaa]

That Canadian girl's dress...the red sequins!  I think I'm blind now.  Yikes.

[Vera]

I'm not a big fan of Paul's costume change, I don't think the result compliments her outfit well.

[Chaser]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:29 AM, Shaynaa said:

That Canadian girl's dress...the red sequins!  I think I'm blind now.  Yikes.

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It looks like a 90s prom dress.

[MaKaM]

I think country hopping is especially forgivable in pairs and dance because finding a partner you can do well with and put up with can't be easy. 

Hell, I think USA should convince the North Korean pair to defect to the US. 

[BitterApple]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:28 AM, irisheyes said:

Dick Button has the same question!

 

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I agree with him. One of the big things they stress about the Olympics is competing for national pride, so when you have all these athletes citizenship shopping, it kind of makes the whole thing disingenuous. I understand you have to go where you get the funding, but I don't ever recall it being this out of control.

[greendog78]

Isn't country hoping really just a problem in ice dance and pairs? There aren't a lot of cross country skiers skiing for different countries.

Edited February 19, 2018 by greendog78
All contractions aren't the same.

[Dots And Stripes]

I liked the sleeves for the previous guy. It was tacky but that was the fun of it. I liked the self-awareness of it.

[GeminiDancer]

I love Caitlyn's costume, but the beading around the nipples are distracting.

[twoods]

Nice final lift by the Canadians. I recognized the music from Dirty Dancing 2 so enjoyed the dance.

[Chaser]

COME ON SHIBS!!!

[Vera]

Kaitlyn and Andrew got through their twizzles! Love the lift.

[Jeddah]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:35 AM, twoods said:

Nice final lift by the Canadians. I recognized the music from Dirty Dancing 2 so enjoyed the dance.

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 I was thinking about Diego Luna their whole routine.

[MaKaM]

  On 2/19/2018 at 3:33 AM, greendog78 said:

Isn't country hoping really just a problem in ice dance and pairs? There aren't a lot of cross country skiers skiing for different countries.

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Speed skating has a lot of Dutch exports... 

[mtlchick]

I never heard of the Shib Sibs until last week.  Now I want these kids to kick ass, take one or two names and build. 

[Moxie Cat]

So nervous for all our teams now....I think Nathan's SP's traumatized me.

Edited February 19, 2018 by Moxie Cat

[KenyaJ]

Maia and Alex's Twizzles always make me so happy.

[BitterApple]

I really hope the Shibs can take the bronze, I think they're adorable.

[sweeks]

The ShibSibs looked so relaxed tonight. They sometimes seem a little reserved, but they seemed like they had a lot of fun during the short dance.

Edited February 19, 2018 by sweeks

[GeminiDancer]

YAY ShibsSibs! Their twizzle sequence gives me life!

[Growsonwalls]

Shibs rocked that. They're so cute.

[leopardprint]

Can the Shibutanis* get extra points for adorableness?

*yes I know they are elite professional athletes who are adults, but still adorable. 

[twoods]

They killed it! Loved it and seemed like they were having a blast. I hope they don’t get lowballed.