Are you kidding me with the "Scott is out of shape" discussion? The guy is at the top of his game, go look at videos his trainer post to see just how much in shape he is. This is just the way his body is build and look at him during their EX - he looks hot.
Here's the explanation about the deduction for H/D. :) The deduction was for a time violation, not the choreo violation. In ice dance, if any of the 9 judges or the referee think that a couple's program violates the rules relating to costume (e.g. Too much flesh) choreography (there's a pile of ways to violate this rule) or music (tempo/speed), they can put into the computer that they think they violated the rules. If there is a majority among the 9 judges and referee, they will enforce the deduction, and show who voted to deduct. However, if there is not a majority, they will not deduct, however, they will note how many people wished to deduct.
Jonathan whipping out the books was funny. Your commentator impressions were spot on- Ryan didn't seem very aware that jump URs are a thing. And it's nice to hear reasonable thoughts on James/Cipres- they're great, but some people are blind to their flaws now. The lift they end with is impressive but doesn't totally look right. I agree about the costumes-- we need a happy medium between practice wear & silver spacesuits. I'm surprised you're that high on Peng/Jin (she's another one who can't do 2A), but it's nice to hear appreciation for the actual "pair" part of pairs beyond the solo jumps, even though they had some level issues here. Their SP is more effective than the Butterfly Lovers LP. Ashley got a little lucky here- a 122 free isn't exactly strong- but I wasn't as "over" Moulin Rouge as I thought I'd be, despite the absurdity of bringing it back again. There are a lot of facial expressions and arm gestures, but it really is a good program for her. I'd still like her to skate to Smash though lol.
Canadian here. Patrick needs to get his shit together if he wants to be able to help Canada win team gold. He's always been weirdly narcissistic, ie. boasting about how he doesn't need sports psych, his artistry is unparalleled, how he's not impressed with the men's field etc etc. He just looks uninspired and defeated and needs an epiphany or something. There's nothing worse than watching wasted talent because of laziness
No matter what anyone (or you guys, for that matter, haha) says, I always look forward to the recaps! "He can't learn German, I can't learn his last name." nailed it.
I don't know if you know tennis very well, but Karen Chen reminds me of Ana Ivanovic. Last year was like Ana's 2008....a nice purple patch that delivered her a big title. This year is starting to be like Ana's 2009....expectations are on her to defend and suddenly, we aren't the same anymore.
To be fair, I think the Shoma hate only comes from the most hardcore Hanyu fans (ie: the women who follow Yuzu as a celebrity and not as an athlete). Shoma has the advantage that he's much more accessible to the fans, given that he performed in, to my count, no fewer than 5 different ice shows in Japan during the off season (all with multiple performances, of course), and he's also more accessible to the media, since Yuzu limits his exposure so much. Shoma will be the go-to star at some point... although it's unclear when, since it now looks like Yuzu won't retire after this season as previously thought.
I would love to see Ashley do a LP to Memory from Cats. At this point in her career I feel like it is something she could connect with emotionally and it has that impactful moment at the end. As for the SP, I think she would do well with Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend from Moulin Rouge. It's showy and fun which is what she's good at. I'm a huge fan of Ashley but I have to admit I'm not excited about either of her programs because they are so tired.
SHADE! Just kidding, I know you don't mean it like that... But it cracks me up to imagine saying, "I think you really fit the character of Grizabella, Ashley!"
NihonB Haha! No t no shade but I feel like a lot of people see Ashley as the Grizabella of figure skating anyway so she might as well embrace the character and prove them wrong. So many people tell her to retire because her "time has passed", I'm glad she hasn't though because she's my personal favorite skater.
Yes, the conversation can *occasionally* get a little too pointed. But I generally love all the behind-the-scenes revelations about the skaters and coaches, so keep it coming guys!
Tessa Virtue - tentative? Tentative? Good God. There is no female ice dancer who is as expressive as this athlete. There is no closeness to Gaby (or anyone else). Tessa is in a class by herself. And she is served by the best male ice dancer.
Richard Murray During the actual skating, she held back slightly during the execution of the step sequences. It was shown by the level 3s they received.
They got a level 3 in the circular step sequence because she had a tiny bobble, I disagree and think she wasn't holding back and I'm sure this will build more and more intensiveness during the season. And no offense to Cizeron but he has nothing on Scott - no other male ice dancer perform with the commitment Scott does, have a better skating skills or shows his partner better than Scott does. Scott is the epitome of what a male ice dancer should be like, and he has been like this for the longest time.
@christian margenic You are not worth my answer with your cursing and delusional comments. I hope @TheSkatingLesson will block you from his pages as you do not know how to communicate with human beings it seems. Oh and you calling me hysterical? talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Disgusting.
Ashley is still getting high components for the free, so I guess her strategy is paying off. I've been on tes watch with her since last year. I think the only time she has recently hit above 59 in tes in the long (international) was world team trophy, which is half a fake event anyways. Even Zijun Li out scored her in tes there in the long. It seems wrong that in the scheme of things, Ashley has a good shot of making the final, but fair is fair I guess. Marin did not get high enough component marks in the short or long, but she also had level issues in the short, which has been an ongoing issue for her so far this season (though she hit her levels in the long). Hamada's comments about her training commitment were also interesting. I hope she can regroup for next week, sounds like she's a bit injured now too.
After watching Lubov and Dylan in practices and even in the gala practice today it looked like they werent on the same page and seemed to be arguing a bit. It makes me wonder if things aren't really going well for them and if they are just sticking it out until the Olympics. I would love to see Jeffrey Buttle choreograph for Jason Brown. I think that would really push him outside his comfort zone. I agree about Tessa being tentative...it was also interesting watching her in the gala practice today as while everyone was being friendly and joking with one another, she was always off to the side of to the back of the group and seemed deep in thought. Scott looked super lean and fit in person so it must be the cut of his pants/tv adds 10 lbs theory?!
I just watch "Gordeeva/Grinkov Documentary 'My Sergei (1998)'" all because of Jonathan and his book parade. Thank Goodness only one of the books come with a youtube documentary.
Can someone post a time-stamped chapter of various skater discussions? A lot of times it's so hard to sit down and devote nearly two hours to these talks.
Thank you. While I appreciate Dave and Jonathan's opinions, there's far too much chit chat. If they stayed on topic and kept the presentation a bit more professional, they could do a great wrap up on the entire event in 60 minutes or less.
I love your idea and I hope they think about doing that. For me, sometimes there are topics I'm not really interested in and I just want to get right to what I want to hear about. For instance, ice dancing is my least favorite of the disciplines, so I usually skip over those parts. Or if I'm in a hurry and don't have time to listen to the whole video but I really want to hear their thoughts on one particular skater, it would be nice to be able to jump right to that part.
Chen's program is Slow Dancing in the Big City soundtrack. Little known 70s movie soundtrack by Tom Conti. A few skaters in Japan have used it over the years, most notably Yuka Sato experimented with it for 1994 Olympic year, ditching it after so-so performance at Piruetten in 1993. Chen's rendition is anything but musical. The choreo could be set to any music, sadly.
OMG, you mentioned Carol-Angela Orchard!!! Way back when, I was a rhythmic gymnast at the same club that she was a coach for on the artistic gymnastics side (Sport Seneca) and I remember her pretty much always sounding like that.
also (to Jonathan's implication that this was still an improvement over Karen's grand prixs last year), Karen scored lower here than she did at both of her Grand Prix events last year. But I still think she'll get it together by Nationals.
those books cracked me up :D After watching Kaetlyn's trashy exhibition to "I don't care I love it", i think she should scrap the Swan lake and really go with that program for Olympic gold. That would be so iconic. In other news apparently Marin has a hip problem and Hamada wanted to withdraw her here and Shoma has an ankle injury. I will go drink bleach now
At ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pF_e48pD-Rg.html, the deduction H/D received in the SD was for time violation as their SD exceeded the allotted time maximum. The 1 out of 10 (9 judges + referee) call for a deduction for choreography violation was not taken because you need a majority of judges plus the referee to agree for that deduction take place. Meaning if 5 more judges or 4 more plus the ref agreed with that one judge and pushed the button, then H/D would have received a 2.00 point deduction total counting the time violation. The number of judges that pushed for a deduction still shows up in the protocols even if that deduction ultimately did not happen.
In the case of the girls.... why are they still picking Swan Lake?? ... Having the opportunity to choose a music to make your own statement …. The space for interpretation gets narrow and difficult specially when this piece has such a history in skating. Not quite sure is a good choice unless you have the type to make it justice!!!!
They pick it because it's easy music to skate to (just like some of the other typical warhorses)... Do a little flapping of the arms like a swan, and the music will carry you. There were 3 Swan Lakes in this competition alone and I was already sick of it from previous years. I think Kaetlyn Osmond is tremendous though, so I'll forgive her for it.
Can you imagine showing up and another girl is doing Swan Lake AND has a nearly-identical costume?! Gosh, I think I'd just repeatedly fling myself dramatically onto the ice if that happened...
Actually, that happened!!!!!...... if you see Osmond and Pogorilaya´s concept for their costumes is almost the same. Black Swan it self works in the paper, but it results very difficult to deliver the character and the interpretation successfully. It was awkward to see their performances one after another in the competition.
If Mariah Bell had been here at Skate Canada with the score she had last week she would have bumped Ashley out of that bronze medal spot. Not sure why Karen Chen's dress looks so similar to Gracie Golds from 2014.
Love your content guys, and have loved it for a long time! However, I would love to see a little more structure to your discussions and potentially give some discussion time to the lower placed skaters from smaller nations. Since its the Grand Prix and there aren't that many competitors, say, compared to Worlds/4CC/Euros, it'd be cool to see what you think of them too :)
Totally agree with you guys on Maria Sotskova and her wannabe-Tano-arm-jump thing she's trying this season. She moves across the ice nicely and is a solid jumper, but the half-raised hand next to her temple on every single jump makes her performances nearly unbearable for me to watch. Please stop it. I do hope they stop giving extra points for that, because it's the lousiest attempt at gaining extra points that I can think of. Maybe they can just stop giving extra points for it or only give a bonus on it once so people are free to do it if they please, but won't half-ass it and spam it to squeeze as many points out of the judges as possible. Call me old fashioned, but watching a bunch of teen girls skate like robots with their floppy arm dangling on top of their heads or their hand placed haphazardly next to their head while jumping is just not appealing in the least bit to me. *end rant*
Although I don't look for reasons to pick on looks, I'm with you that Pogo's body has changed, much like how Gracie's did when she checked out after Boston. I think it's more that than being out of the program although that could be it. I was most shocked at Zimmerman in the K&C after J/C LP. Was it the light or did his skin look really pasty and his hair was super unhealthy looking. He looked 20 years older and kinda frightening for a guy who has always been so handsome.
Ongoing lutz combo issues aside, don't think we could have expected a lot from Karen here. Putting together a new LP, even if it was relatively simple and choreographed herself, in 2 or 3 weeks has to be a source of discomfort and disruption. And she's also skating under more pressure this season. Compare it to Courtney who nobody expects anything out of. Among US ladies, Ashley is most comfortable in the "leading lady" role. That ladies event was pretty dicey beyond the top 2 though. But enjoyable nonetheless.
Adding to the funny Canadian city names - my friend went to Newfoundland and found a place called 'Dildo'. Of course she took a trip there. But omg, every time someone said 'Regina'. We were dying!
LOL re Regina but how silly. Regina means "queen" in latin and is a commonly used word in the justice systems of both Canada and the UK. But ya, the "Dildo" one I have no explanation for. LOL
Dave is wrong about Shoma's popularity @1:26:00, he is THE next star after Yuzu. Japanese media do know Shoma creates good rivalry against Yuzu. Plus, he's more constant that Yuzu. And SNS too, so many Japanese figure skating fans put fan arts of him. It's just that Dave couldn't find them yet.
Are they in English? If so, I don't think they're Japanese fans. I know many of Japanese Yuzu fans since I'm Japanese, and I found them not being good at understanding English. Very few of them can write back to you in English. Remember Yuzu attracts many Chinese/Asian fans who are generally better in using English. You see how Shoma is big in Japan. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tBjWBH0mNYI.html
I think Japanese fans are generally more mild compare to other Asian fans. And they do have a broad love to figure skating, most of they don't particularly anti other skaters. But in China, literally every single yuzu fan is hard core anti shoma.... And those are like 99% of people who watching figure skating in China.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I don't dislike Chinese Yuzu fans though, they're quite nice if you talk them in person, but China is big, some are really worse even when watching a competition or exhibition in terms of manner.
Jason's short is sort of a perfect example of what I feared when they started allowing music with lyrics. It's just too much. You also bring up a great point that if you have not seen Hamilton or aren't familiar with it, it becomes even more confusing of a train wreck.
I have to respectfully disagree -- I have not always been a fan of jason's skating, but this SP really wowed me. I was never bored and it seemed fresh and new and he clearly enjoyed it.
Yeah, there are songs where it doesn't matter if you don't understand the content, or even the language, but this music doesn't seem like that. I'd like to find out what someone who doesn't understand much English and/or knows no American history thinks about it, though.
I think it's a mistake for Chan not to go to the NHK event. He needs to compete and get into the mental game. Maybe he needs to go back to a program that worked well for him and compete it.He has to focus on each and every program, not the OGM and then just maybe he will be golden (if other skaters implode at the Olympics with the pressure).
Steve D Haha. Not the liveliest bunch of commentators. One time a family member overheard me watching an event with their commentary and he said "it's a little tight....it was a little tight....just a liiiiiitle tight -- what the hell, is everything 'TIGHT' to this guy?? What the hell is tight?!"
I used to enjoy TSL, but I feel like so many of the topics become negative and the solution to one bad skate is always " they should change coaches" or "change the program"
Your accusation of Anna Pogorilaya faking the dramatic falls is just ridiculous and pathetic. She's not like you who like to use other people's pain to gain attention on yourself. And your theory about her change of body, are you implying she's doping??? Ridiculous! I was among the audience, and when she fell on that spin right in front of me (I was at the second row opposite to where the judges sat near the K&C, just to give you more perspective), I literally heard her scream, and it hurt like hell and the audience really felt for it. I thought she would not get up, but she did and finished her program courageously.
I like Osmond but that swan lake is so aaaah I’m so f*ing over it! And yeah she cannot he consistent. Megan and her partner don’t have a inch of artistry in their body athletic yeah but that’s it! They cannot win the gold for god sake! I reapect them but is not FS!
