2010 Olympics Ice Dancing Discussion *Spoilers* [Archive]

Skittl1321

02-19-2010, 08:31 PM

This doesn't really belong in the on ice forum, so I thought I'd share it here.

I've been trying to get my husband to take a few skating lessons to learn to do the Dutch Waltz, because I'll never find a partner.

Compulsory dance came on and he looked at me and said "you want me to do THIS? No way- you're insane"

I took it as a compliment that he apparently thinks I could even do that- guess he doesn't understand that "levels" of skating (my jumps barely leave the ice vs Yuna travels 25 feet) also apply to compulsory dance.

sk8ergalgal

02-19-2010, 11:22 PM

So an interesting night to say the least. I know its nowhere near finished yet in this competition but I feel that the Russians were over scored in the compulsory. Can someone please explain to me as to why they got such a high score?? I have looked at the GOE's for all skaters..

Justine_R

02-19-2010, 11:34 PM

I agree with sk8ergal. Totally unfair. Virtue & Moir should be sitting in first place. Their CD was far better. I have looked at all the GOE's too but I just can't figure it out.

Has anyone noticed that it seems only the RUSSIANS get overscored....ever??

sk8ergalgal

02-19-2010, 11:55 PM

Yup. Always seems to be the Russians.. I think that the Russians should be way down there.. past Tanith and Ben even.. I also felt that last's years world championships to be scored very oddly.. The Russians and Tanith/Ben should not have been 1,2. Tessa/Scott and Meryl/Charlie are truly stronger teams.

Does anyone know if this will be the Russians last Olympics?? I have heard that Tanith/Ben are retiring after this season.

MQSeries

02-20-2010, 02:39 AM

Maxim has knee problems. I doubt he'll continue after this year.

let`s talk

02-20-2010, 04:15 AM

caffn8me

02-20-2010, 06:39 AM

[The Russians and Tanith/Ben should not have been 1,2. Tessa/Scott and Meryl/Charlie are truly stronger teams. From your perspective, yes, but the Olympics aren't judged from your perspective. I'm sure the Russian fans didn't feel that their team was overmarked or a weaker team because they are looking at it from a Russian perspective.

There may simply be stylistic differences between the way one country interprets a dance and another does. That means that to some, one will look "better" than the other but it may not be at all.

I know the Olympics are a time to support our own countries but they are also a time for fairness and impartiality in the judging. Let's not forget that.

Sarah

sk8ergalgal

02-20-2010, 08:33 AM

Sorry for not using their names.. It was late and I didn't know how to spell them so I just didn't take the chance of someone correcting me on the error I would have made because I am so bad with names.

Like of course the Russians were pleased.. I'm just saying I don't see the difference in scores and I know it must look completely different in person than on tv as its hard to judge speed from a television.

Xiaoxue

02-20-2010, 10:39 AM

What I liked about Domnina/Shabalin's skate is their tango kicks. They actually kicked their feet throughout the dance and made it look like they were skating a tango as opposed to a waltz.

I would think that doing those kicks is more tiring on the athletes, and if Domnina/Shabalin were still able to keep up their speed and precision, then higher marks should go to them.

Maybe other teams were skating a softer tango?

I would love to read more commentary on the technical aspects of the CD. I thought the commentary by CTV was a bit lacking. A lot of "I feel..." and "I like..." and not enough dissection of the actual steps.

let`s talk

02-20-2010, 10:45 AM

Not kicks only. The move of her head, fast and sharp, right like in Tango. Plus a sexy catch of music. If you saw her alive, you know the difference. She is taller than other female skaters and has the longest legs ever in ice-dancing. A real ballroom dancer on the ice.

Tessa`s dress of red color today was very depressing.

Skittl1321

02-20-2010, 10:46 AM

I'm a bit confused as to what is expected for emotion in the Tango Romantica. I mean that Romantica seems to me that it is a softer expression required, a romantic feeling, rather than the typical tango passion.

Tanith for example looked like she was ready to attack her partner, like tango often does, while Meryl seemed too cheery. Neither seemed just right though. In the same was Dom (whose first name I don't know and full last name I can't spell) was less fierce then Tanith, but still had the regular Tango passion- what is the Romantica supposed to change?

sk8ergalgal

02-20-2010, 04:02 PM

I think its kinda cool to think that those were the last time a compulsory dance will be skated at the olympic games and that the Canadians were the last ones to skate on home ice.

icedancer2

02-20-2010, 04:40 PM

Not cool AT ALL that the compulsories are being dropped from the Olympic Competition!!!

I would agree though that there are different styles of ice-dance (some would say Russian, British and North American - others may break it down even more or lump some of the styles in with each other) and so judges are clearly looking at different things - I even notice that with judges from one part of the US and another - we look at different things depending on our training and interest (although Moves are judged by both Singles and Dance judges, the way we look at them is completely different and then different again if a judge has Figures experience/training).

So we shall see what happens from here. I myself am hoping for a North American sweep of the podium (not that I'm Jingoistic or anything, I just really like the American and Canadian teams the best!!!)

I did feel kind of bad about where Delabelle and Schoenfelter placed (French team, former World Champions) because I have always liked them and enjoyed their dance very much....

phoenix

02-20-2010, 04:59 PM

icedancer2

02-20-2010, 05:13 PM

Actually I thought the judging was good. 1-2 spots could probably have gone either way but I liked the Russians expression of the dance better. I've studied this dance (ie, skated it in lessons), & I thought they looked the strongest & handled the difficult sections overall w/ the most ease while keeping the expression without losing any of the technical aspect of the skating. This dance leaves a LOT to interpretation.

btw, it is a travesty that CD's are being dropped.

I didn't mention it in my post above, but I like Dom/Shab Cd also - and thought the judging was fine (have not looked at protocols) - I don't know this dance exactly although realize I probably should start to learn these Internationals even if I can't do them so that I will one day be able to judge them (crap, more dance lessons in my future...)

phoenix

02-20-2010, 05:18 PM

Yes, I'm sorry, but if you haven't either studied the dance, and/or actually skated it yourself, there's no way someone with untrained eyes can tell who's doing it the most correctly. All the "they were robbed" people don't necessarily know what they're talking about. Don't mean to offend here, but there are a lot of things going on in this CD that you have no idea about. Even certain steps are treated slightly differently by different teams. The way the lady does the last twizzle, the partner hold in several places. The depth of edges achieved in the spot where the lady does a x-behind to outside edge/change to back inside edge into the twizzle--that section especially varies widely from team to team. IMO, the Russians & the Canadians both did that section brilliantly.

For many teams, the timing & crispness gets slightly muddy when they hit some of those difficult spots.

Hint--when watching ice dance CDs, you should watch the feet--it's all about the feet. Most people watch the topline & are just judging the upper body expression.

phoenix

02-20-2010, 06:51 PM

I don't know this dance exactly although realize I probably should start to learn these Internationals even if I can't do them so that I will one day be able to judge them (crap, more dance lessons in my future...)

OT--what level are you working on? I'm in the middle of pre-gold & you can definitely learn & play w/ some of the internationals if you're in that range. I can do the rhumba almost up to speed, & Tango Romantica slowly, but it's really fun & actually has helped w/ some of the test dances I'm working on too. Once you can do those Rhumba choctaws, the Killian suddenly doesn't seem so bad! :lol: You should go for it!

icedancer2

02-20-2010, 08:11 PM

OT--what level are you working on? I'm in the middle of pre-gold & you can definitely learn & play w/ some of the internationals if you're in that range. I can do the rhumba almost up to speed, & Tango Romantica slowly, but it's really fun & actually has helped w/ some of the test dances I'm working on too. Once you can do those Rhumba choctaws, the Killian suddenly doesn't seem so bad! :lol: You should go for it!

Oh, Thanks - I have been working on my Pre-Golds/Golds for over 15 years now but with the way I am skating now (bad knee, lots of injuries, getting older, etc.) I can hardly do any of the dances on my own anymore and so have not wanted to venture into learning those Internationals at all! I think most of the coaches in my area would think I was CRAZY for even wanting to try, LOL - with the way I am skating these days... BUT I know those dances inside and out (and the ones below them) - just like you understand the TR...

BUT as a Silver Dance test judge working towards my Gold appointment it would be good for me to learn these dances (and Senior Moves) so that I might also judge Internationals - this will take a lot of work but it might be fun to learn them - thanks for the encouragement!

MQSeries

02-21-2010, 10:05 PM

Awww I feel bad for Belbin and Agosto so far. It's unlikely they're going to win.

phoenix

02-21-2010, 10:24 PM

NDsk8

02-21-2010, 11:08 PM

Me too. I think they have an unfortunate choice for their OD music--just not as relatable/clear to the spectator.....the program & skating just doesn't have the same impact as some of their competitors. I think their FD is better, but how much better, don't know. Probably not enough to get them gold.

D/W, on the other hand, have 2 masterpieces for their OD & FD this year, IMO.

I couldn't help but feel the same way for B&A. It looks like their change of coach did not serve them well. They clearly skated very well, but the music and even the costumes were not as concise enough to make the impact of either D&W or M&V;s programs. If either of those teams win a gold, and it looks to be between the 2 of them, they should step down off the podium and share their medals with their choreographer, who richly deserves it.

And how weird was the Russian dance? I couldn't relate to that either. While I'm a big D&W fan, M&V really did deserve their marks tonight.
ND

Isk8NYC

02-22-2010, 12:00 AM

I still hate the pseudo-aboriginal bodysuits and thought the russian woman's facial expressions were stupid, to say the least. "Wheee! I'm getting pulled by my hair!" NBC showed them sitting in the K&C wearing the Four Nations gift blankets. I took one look at her face -- she had to be thinking "This is so lame." Nancy Kerrigan and Mickey Mouse all over again...

I also hated the Daisy Duke outfit one dancer wore for the hoedown dance. That was insulting to country ladies, IMO, but I'm a little sensitive today because of events that I won't go into on the board. The Daughters of the Confederacy should have criticized that team's costume. He was perfect; she looked like a $10 hooker.

Awww I feel bad for Belbin and Agosto so far. It's unlikely they're going to win.
After the Splatfest of 2006, I've learned to never count your medals before they're won.

I didn't enjoy B&A's original dance at all, although I loved the costumes. I just felt like the music and the dancing was frantic and busy. The twizzles were great, though.

I'm still rooting for D&W over the current leaders. We loved their OD and can't wait to see the Free Dance.

Justine_R

02-22-2010, 12:59 AM

Loved M/V, absolutley fantastic. They had everyone mezmorized.

It's going to be tight between D/W and M/V but im so proud that its all North America. Go USA and CANADA! May the best team win :)

RachelSk8er

02-22-2010, 08:05 AM

I also hated the Daisy Duke outfit one dancer wore for the hoedown dance. That was insulting to country ladies, IMO, but I'm a little sensitive today because of events that I won't go into on the board. The Daughters of the Confederacy should have criticized that team's costume. He was perfect; she looked like a $10 hooker.

I don't get what offensive or wrong with it? What was she supposed to wear, jeans? Have you ever tried to skate and move in tight women's jeans? I've been to country bars Nashville and seen women dressed like that. Go to any country music concert and you'll see jeans or cutoffs and plaid shirts. Jessica Simpson basically wore the same thing in the Dukes of Hazzard remake a few years ago. I thought they looked better than the other team that did a country program, their outfits were way too costumey with his crappy looking fake chaps and that lasso on her fluffy skirt.

Isk8NYC

02-22-2010, 08:35 AM

Jessica Simpson played Daisy Duke in the Dukes of Hazzard movie, hence my reference. Women's groups, especially those in the south, were offended by her costume and role in that movie.

You're supporting my point: There are tramps in every bar who dress like that, and many of them are "$10 hookers" lol. The ladies who actually dance Country/Western don't dress like tramps.

Why not jeans? That's what he was wearing under his chaps. The snowboard team had on ski pants that looked like jeans - it's called "costuming." I'm sure it wasn't denim, but it looked like it - what would be wrong with her wearing faux jeans or at least having the skirt cover her a**?

As for the other team - their costumes weren't great, I agree, but they didn't stereotype country women as trampy.

Skittl1321

02-22-2010, 09:33 AM

I also hated the Daisy Duke outfit one dancer wore for the hoedown dance. That was insulting to country ladies, IMO, but I'm a little sensitive today because of events that I won't go into on the board. The Daughters of the Confederacy should have criticized that team's costume. He was perfect; she looked like a $10 hooker.

While trashy, I thought she would have fit in just perfectly at some of the dancehalls I frequented in Texas. Doing the same style dance they proported to be doing. Those aren't the country-western competitors, who bling themselves up more like Emily Samulsen (what the French woman, whose name I don't know, was wearing- I have no idea)- but the people who do the dance as part of their culture, yep, they really do dress like that. Not all of them, but many many do. The 'folk' tradition of two-step, for example can be considered a "mating dance"- and for some reason the girls who dress like that get asked to dance a lot more than the ones more modestly dressed- unless the girl in full coverage really knows her stuff.

coppertop1

02-22-2010, 12:19 PM

It's great to see North American teams battling for gold instead of Europe, that would never happen in the old system. Congrats to Virtue/Moir and Davis/White, both great teams and have great dances.

As far as the costumes, I think this is at this level you should dress with some taste and tact instead of in some trashy outfits. But to me the worst was the Russians, it looked like they were skating with loin clothes! I don't blame the Austrial Aboriginals for being offended, it was way too stereotypical and not really appropriate.

Schmeck

02-22-2010, 01:10 PM

or at least having the skirt cover her a**?

Since when has skating had a cover-the @ss rule? What about the 'look at my crotch' spiral (very nasty, but gets a high element score), or ladies' skirts that flip up when they are doing back-crossovers, etc? Or how about illusion fabric in a Vcut that goes down below the navel?

I see figure skating as a very athletic sport (hey, don't go watching bobsled if you don't want to see private parts!) and like gymnastics, the line of the entire body has to be visible. Maybe the poufy skirted skaters were trying to hide something?

Isk8NYC

02-22-2010, 01:14 PM

RachelSk8er

02-22-2010, 01:39 PM

I hate the crotch shots, too, but alas, they're worth lots of points and brings guys to the events, right? ;)

My objection to her uncovered butt is that the costume was supposed to reflect American Culture. Yeah, on 9th avenue and 36th street. I used it as a talking point to discuss proper attire with my kiddies, who hate to give up their outgrown favorite clothing.

Her short shorts covered just as much as a freestyle length skating skirt. Or the shorts runners wear in the Summer Olympics. Or a gymnast's leotard. Or a bathing suit. Not to mention that she had tights on, it's not like her bare a** was hanging out.

MQSeries

02-22-2010, 02:10 PM

I don't see how Igo Spilband and Marina Zuova could possibly give equal attention to both V&M and D&W. My hunch is that they already had it in their mind whom they want to win. If you were in D&W position wouldn't you wonder why Igor and Marinia gave D&W a flamenco OD and Mahler FD? If you were in V&M position wouldn't you wonder why Igor and Marina gave D&W the Bollywood OD and POTO FD?

What are the chances that the Russians will finish off the podium completely? I think 1 and 2 will be between D&W and V&M. I just hope that B&A can grab a medal in their last Olympics, but I don't know about that. C'mon Linichuk, starts your politiking for the Americans ;).

Skittl1321

02-22-2010, 02:25 PM

I think both D/W and V/M knew what position they were in coming into the season- and if they had a problem with the situation one of them would have switched coaches. With the jealousy and politics that go into ice dancing, they would have to be comfortable with the situation to have stayed in it.

Both of them have done wonderfully with the dances given to them all season long, and honestly, it doesn't appear to me off the bat that their coaches are playing favorites. If they were one would have had a good season and the other stellar, not both stellar.

I do kind of think D/W won the grand prix final as a consolation to them that they won't be winning the olympics, but if I were them, I'd be pretty darn happy with the silver. But I still think it could go either way. The hometown favorite will have to really mess up to lose it. As much as I hate "the crowd loved it- and there is no mark for that" complaints from the announcers, there is a mark for that, and there is no way V/M aren't going to get high PCS if they skate clean with the roaring from the crowd. I've never heard an ice dance crowd so excited.

Isk8NYC

02-22-2010, 02:26 PM

Her short shorts covered just as much as a freestyle length skating skirt. Or the shorts runners wear in the Summer Olympics. Or a gymnast's leotard. Or a bathing suit. Not to mention that she had tights on, it's not like her bare a** was hanging out.
I don't care what athletes are wearing - my point is that this woman's costume didn't work for me. It was a stereotype based on a cheesy movie.

NDsk8

02-23-2010, 01:00 AM

Even though I really believed Davis and White would somehow pull it out, I cannot argue that Moir & Virtue did not deserve the win. I wish both could have been given gold, I think they both deserved it. But alas, it is structured so that only one can, and I'm OK with the winners. I must say it is the best I've seen M&V skate all season, and the free dance was much more impressive than before - was it changed a bit? It didn't even look to be the same one.

My heart goes out to Belbin & Agusto. They are beautiful skaters, in the very top eschelon, imo. It is too bad that their music and choreography held them back. I think it could have been a clean sweep for N. America if they had better music and choreography. They certainly are capable of skating with the very best in the world.

The Russians? I have to say that they skated better than they did all year too, but it was a forgettable program. But I'll be remembering D&W's 2 programs and M&V's 2 programs for a very long time. They are memorable in the way that Oksana B's swan number is, or Torville & Dean's Bolero.

Ice dance was a good competition.
SD

Isk8NYC

02-23-2010, 06:48 AM

Not that it affected the outcome, but why did D&W get a 1.0 deduction?

I'm satisfied with the outcome. Once again, B&A skated a program that, to me, looked frenetic and less difficult than the other top teams. They were settling. Sounds like they're only going to tour. I think I read that they've signed with SOI.

Then again, anything could happen in four years.

Really didn't like the Russians' dance at all, but I guess the theme was something to do with being in prison? He certainly looked like an escaped con with his hair in face 3/4 of the time. The costumes looked ghostly and ghastly. Still, they skated well.

I'm a non-fan of "Phantom" but I enjoyed D&W's performance a lot.

Alexa

02-23-2010, 07:22 AM

I haven't seen any of it yet since it is on too late at night....I have taped it and will watch tonight. But based on what I read, I am not surprised by the outcome. It does seem that for a while B&A have had problems choosing programs that highlight their skills best, and I have always been a bit bothered by the frenetic nature of their ice dancing. I think they are a great couple, and are a top team, but I think toning it all down a bit would have been to their benefit.

That is great about D/W doing so well!

RachelSk8er

02-23-2010, 07:27 AM

Not that it affected the outcome, but why did D&W get a 1.0 deduction?

I'm going to guess they may have been in their first lift too long. I thought that was the case watching it at least. (ETA: Ice Network confirmed this.)

Outcome was exactly what I thought it would be when I first saw these programs during the Grand Prix season.

It was sad that this will be Schoenfelder/Delobel's last time competing, I've always really enjoyed their skating, they have such gorgeous edge quality and knee bend. Can't believe she had a baby only 5 months ago. Wasn't my favorite program of theirs but a nice way to go. (I actually loved their OD.)

Even though I really believed Davis and White would somehow pull it out, I cannot argue that Moir & Virtue did not deserve the win. I wish both could have been given gold, I think they both deserved it. But alas, it is structured so that only one can, and I'm OK with the winners. I must say it is the best I've seen M&V skate all season, and the free dance was much more impressive than before - was it changed a bit? It didn't even look to be the same one.

I noticed a few changes from last time I saw it. The exit from the one lift was changed, it was really cool before (she essentially did an axel off of his thigh and landed on the ice, which they may have been deducted for).

kayskate

02-23-2010, 07:30 AM

I loved the ice dancing I saw last night. V&M probably skated the most beautiful ice dance I have ever seen. It was absolutely exquisite. Congrats on the win. I also enjoyed the Phantom routine by D&W. The leap into the lunge was fantastic.

I was surprised the Russian team came in 3rd b/c of the costume holding moves they did. I suppose it is not currently against the rules, but may be nx season. I just cannot imagine a judge would see suspending a partner by a rope as a comparable level of difficulty to holding or balancing the partner by her body. I'm not a judge, but form where I sit as a long time skater and fan, I question the difficulty.

IMO, the dance spins are becoming more like pairs spins. I saw plenty of camel positions. Any other thoughts on this? Are there rules governing dance spins to differentiate them from pairs? V&M had a dance spin in which her foot or calf was poised on his leg. That looked much less like pairs and more innovative as dance.

Kay

RachelSk8er

02-23-2010, 07:35 AM

IMO, the dance spins are becoming more like pairs spins. I saw plenty of camel positions. Any other thoughts on this? Are there rules governing dance spins to differentiate them from pairs? V&M had a dance spin in which her foot or calf was poised on his leg. That looked much less like pairs and more innovative as dance.

I'm not a fan of these new dance spins (except the one at the end of Virtue/Moir's program). Dance spins used to be something you went into, did a few revs, and that was it. A lot of the ones they were doing last night were really cool, I actually thought most of the dance spins were far better than what the pairs skaters were doing and the excessive blade grabbing didn't bother me quite as much as it did in pairs. Maybe the pairs skaters could learn a thing or two (having less height disparity in dance helps make them less awkward-looking). But that's just not ice dancing.

ETA: People at work are already annoying me this morning trying to discuss the dance event with me when they have no clue what they're talking about or don't even know what they were watching. "Hey did you watch the pairs last night!?" Um, no, pairs was last week. (Remember? I explained the difference last month during US Nationals when you asked me the same question?) "Hey, don't you do that ice dancing thing? Why didn't you try out for the Olympics?" Do we need to go into that conversation yet again? I guarantee tomorrow they'll be asking me where Michelle Kwan is.

Artemis

02-23-2010, 11:29 AM

I'm utterly exhausted this morning. I was about 90% confident that Tessa & Scott would pull it off, but I kept thinking back to Marie-France & Patrice in Torino, and Patrick this year, and wondered if Tessa and Scott would be able to keep their focus. But I shouldn't have worried. Their skate was simply magical. Perfect. If we stil had the old scoring system, it would be 6.0 across the board.

Being right in the thick of things when it happened was also incredible for me. A great moment like that is made much richer when it's shared with others. The Canadian skating world has been so sad lately because of the tragic death of Joannie's mother, so to have such an emotional high makes it all the sweeter. (And don't tell the hockey folks, but a figure skating gold is worth 10 men's hockey golds IMO.)

I'm so happy for Meryl & Charlie too. They could not have skated their programs any better, and their silver is well-deserved. And to see four best friends share the top two spots on the podium was fabulous.

But best of all, it was a victory for the sport of ice dance. The story was not about the judging, it was about the skating. Finally.

And what a wonderful new trend to set! Please, let us now see the end to those "conceptual" programs, and focus on what the sport should be -- dance.

Isk8NYC

02-23-2010, 11:36 AM

I checked out all of the volunteers on camera, Artemis, wondering if one of them was you, lol. Hope you had a good seat.

RachelSk8er

02-23-2010, 12:09 PM

I'm so happy for Meryl & Charlie too. They could not have skated their programs any better, and their silver is well-deserved. And to see four best friends share the top two spots on the podium was fabulous.

I think the fact that they are all friends and train together under the same coaches is the best part. With both teams still being pretty young, I'm sure they'll be around much longer and continue to push each other as well as the sport of ice dancing. It was such a nice change to see two teams at the top of the podium happy for each other after the past few days of Evgeni's trash talking and bashing that followed Evan's win in the men's event. And the other young Canadian team looked like they have a ton of potential, as do Samuelson/Bates and some of the other US teams. I think we're set up for North American teams to be at the top of the sport for quite some time.

Query

02-23-2010, 12:39 PM

Just finished watching the Ice Dance performances.

Spectacular!

I particularly love the Original Dance flamenco of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Exciting costumes, exciting choreography, exciting performance, extraordinary close body positions throughout.

Some people will always view Ice Dance as a dummied down Pairs. But this performance shows a fabulous drama, all perfectly suggesting the story of a bullfight, in comparison to which Pairs and Freestyle skating, and all the other Olympic events, are a mere collection of difficult technical tricks.

It was every bit on par with what the finest dance movies have to offer.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White's Original Dance was also interesting to watch. She in particular had an excellent costume and fun choreography.

The various intriguing costumes of Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin certainly drew attention and controversy.

Of course I still look forward to the women's Freestyle skating event, and, as I pointed out here (http://skatingforums.com/showthread.php?t=30670), Johnny Weir's combined on-ice and off-ice performance are a very interesting combination of complex multi-layered symbolism. I am not concerned that he won no medal, because I lack the knowledge necessary to fully understand the rules and judging system by which skating is scored, as I'm sure most spectators do. But it is pleasing that Virtue and Moir won Gold.

Virtue and Moir's Original Dance will undoubtedly stand as the most visually interesting and worthwhile event of this Olympics.

Artemis

02-23-2010, 03:29 PM

So I wonder if Tessa & Scott will stay on. I hope they do -- they're still young, and they're so good for the sport. And the way the two top teams push each other ... well the mind boggles for the future of ice dance.

But I also wouln't blame them one bit if they did decide to stop competing. After you've won Olympic gold in your home country, what can possibly top that?

RachelSk8er

02-23-2010, 03:52 PM

But I also wouln't blame them one bit if they did decide to stop competing. After you've won Olympic gold in your home country, what can possibly top that?

Doing it again 4 years later in the country that dominated the top of the podium until you came along!

Artemis

02-23-2010, 05:00 PM

More Russian sour grapes: Domnina & Shabalin think they had the best skate of the night. And Federica Faiella thinks that "They [Virtue and Moir] are not real dancers. They are very technical and don’t really ‘dance’ on the ice."

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Canadian+dancers+victory+under+fire+from+Russian+I talian+teams/2602342/story.html

:roll:

The "European style" vs. "North American style" debate continues.

MQSeries

02-23-2010, 05:13 PM

One can interpret the following quotes from the Russians in two different ways:

“We skated the best performance and we have a bronze medal,” said Maxim Shabalin, who skates with Oksana Domnina.

“What can you do? We did everything we could.”

Perhaps they're simply saying that they skated the best performance *FOR THEM* and that there was nothing more that they could've done. I don't know if you can automatically say that they claim to have skated the best performance of the night.

The comments from the Italians about V&M not being "real dancers" suprised me. I thought they would have more tact than that.

----

OT: The podium base is kind of fugly. Cheap looking. I'm also not crazy about the design of the medals for this Games. It looked like someone accidentally left the medals near a heater and they got bent out of shape, LOL. I like the Torino's dougnut medals much, much better.

RachelSk8er

02-23-2010, 06:30 PM

Artemis

02-23-2010, 06:37 PM

OT: The podium base is kind of fugly. Cheap looking. I'm also not crazy about the design of the medals for this Games. It looked like someone accidentally left the medals near a heater and they got bent out of shape, LOL. I like the Torino's dougnut medals much, much better.

I have no idea what "fugly" means, but when you see the podiums in person they're not at all cheap looking, they're beautiful. It probably doesn't come across as well on TV though. As for the medals, the wavyness is supposed to represent undulating hills and water. I think they're beautiful, real works of art. The Torino ones weren't bad, and I thought the "donut" shape was neat just because it was different, but the Vancouver medals are stunning IMO. And I love that each one is unique.