Ice dancing - movers, shakers and well, not so sures

[Aussie Willy]

I finally got to see this years worlds care of my Swedish tape trader and would like to start the following ice dancing discussion. So who do people think are the dance teams who will be on the podium or should make big moves in ice dance next season? Or are there dancers who really have stagnated and don't appear to be moving forward.

Well I do think the gold at Worlds next year will be between Denkova/Stavinski and Navka/Kostamarov. I really like both these teams and think it will be a close battle.

As for other teams who I hope will be in the top 5 I would like to see Belbin/Agosto, Winkler/Lohse (hoping they have no injuries) and Faiella/Scali. These teams demonstrate great talent and show the greatest potential of what I saw from Worlds this year.

On the other hand, I feel some of the teams in the top 10 at Worlds are not really moving forward or demonstrating what should make them move forward, even with the top two teams no longer around. I always thought Delobel/Schoenfelder had lots of promise but their programs just don't change. Grushina/Goncharov made great advances in their choreography but lack speed. Chait/Sahknovsky have taken a step backward (it was a sign of desperation that they went back to a two year old program at worlds). I really wonder if Lang/Tchernyshev will be able to carry on considering Naomi's injuries.

And a couple of teams that I would like to mention who were low in the standings but I really liked were Petitin/Jost (from France) and the British team whose names I can't remember (but her first name was Pamela). I just really enjoyed what they had to offer for their OD and FD.

So I would love to get your opinions on what your impressions might be for the forthcoming season.

[icenut84]

Originally posted by Aussie Willy
And a couple of teams that I would like to mention who were low in the standings but I really liked were Petitin/Jost (from France) and the British team whose names I can't remember (but her first name was Pamela). I just really enjoyed what they had to offer for their OD and FD.

The British team were Pamela O'Connor and Jonathan O'Dougherty. They won the last British nationals, although really they're the no.2s, because the reigning champions Marika Humphreys and Vitali Baranov couldn't compete at all this season due to injury. They were 15th in the Olympics. Hopefully they'll be back to full fitness next season.

[Angel01673]

I think a unexpected team will do well next season. But I usually root for the underdogs anyway lol.

I'm really excited to see the battle for gold though. Will it be D&S or N&K? N&K need to have more difficult footwork if they want to beat D&S.
But D&S I feel could skate with more emotion, and could use a bit more stretch.

I also think Winkler and Lohse are a big question mark. On one hand their injuries have been holding them back, they missed out on the GPF, and Worlds, so a lot of teams will have the opportunity to pass them if the judges "forgot" about them. But on the other hand worlds is going to be in Germany in 2004, so it might give them the drive they need, and there is always an advantage to skating at home. If they want to move up they need to add more difficulty, and improve on their basics. They have sort of remained stagnant for a while, but it's hard to move up with so many injuries.

Lang and Tchernyshev are like the runners up next to Winkler and Lohse for the most injured award. They looked good at COI, so I don't think Naomi's ankle is giving them anymore trouble. For them it's about finding the right program, the right music, choreography, and staying healthy if they want to move up. Hopefully they will get the time they need over the summer.

Chait and Sakhnovsky are now working with Tarasova, so they will probably start to move back up, unless politiks get in the way. I just hope they don't do anything too desperate, to move up lol.

Belbin and Agosto need to improve on their CD's and add some polish to their presentation. But they can handle a good amount of difficulty.

I think Grushina and Goncharov are in danger of being passed if they don't improve their speed, and technique. IMO They're kinda boring, and I don't know how well they will do with the swing/jive OD's this season.

Faeilla and Scali are really talented. They just need to imrove their overall polish, and gain some consistencey and they're on the right track.

Delobel and Schonfelder, are capable of a lot technically, but I also find them kinda boring. And they never dance in rythm. They moved up a couple spots this year, but if they don't want to be passed by teams like F&S they need to improve on their presentation.

Dubriel and Lauzon were passed by a couple teams this year, and it's not looking good for them. But this could just be a rebuilding year because they just changed coaches. They just need to find the right choerography, that suits them.

[mikojet]

Hi, I wanted to say that I LOVE Delobel/Shoenfelder! ok, I'm French, but I really love them!
I disagree with you Angel01673 and Aussie Willy, I don't think their programs are always identical, and they're not boring! One of their program made me cry! thay have their own style, their lifts are amazing and very creative!
But I agree with you, Petetin/Jost are great!! I love them too!
I like denkova/Stavyiski too, but not really Faella/Scalli.

Next season, I think Denkova/Stavyiski and Navka/Kostomarov will be at the top of the world dance, but who will be first? time will tell us!

[coppelia]

I always thought Delobel/Schoenfelder had lots of promise but their programs just don't change.

I remember seeing D&S back in '98 for the first time and thinking that they were the future of dance. They're still young and I think they have a chance to break into that final group of dancers at the world level if they improve. I've just been hoping over the last couple seasons for a little bit more from them. There's something missing that the other teams ahead of them, and some close behind them, have. I like the work Margarita and Povilas did with them last season (their free was very good) and I hope they continue to work with them next season.

Dance is definitely in a rebuilding period with retirements last season (A&P, F-P&M, and D&V) and now with L&A and B&K leaving the ameteur ranks. With all the judging issues and general craziness, it's hard to tell where this sport is heading. Luckily, at worlds I saw a couple young teams that show a ton of promise. Certainly Denkova/Stavyiski and Navka/Kostomarov are the early favorites for world champions. I don't know, I've seen such strange things happen in this sport that I could never predict who will win. :D

I hope Belbin and Agosto are spending the summer doing some work on their compulsories. The OD will come naturally for them and I'm sure it will be strong.

Faiella and Scali are set for a good future in this sport. They need to work on their lifts though. Not sure what kind of lift improvement they're capable of. They're just about the same height. Like B&A, I expect a good OD from them.

Kati and Rene are such a question mark. I don't know if they'll ever make it close to podium but they surely are a fun team to watch. What's with Germans and injuries? They are an accident prone team.
:)

[Angel01673]

Originally posted by mikojet
Hi, I wanted to say that I LOVE Delobel/Shoenfelder! ok, I'm French, but I really love them!
I disagree with you Angel01673 and Aussie Willy, I don't think their programs are always identical, and they're not boring! One of their program made me cry! thay have their own style, their lifts are amazing and very creative!
But I agree with you, Petetin/Jost are great!! I love them too!
I like denkova/Stavyiski too, but not really Faella/Scalli.

Next season, I think Denkova/Stavyiski and Navka/Kostomarov will be at the top of the world dance, but who will be first? time will tell us!

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you! I think Delobel&Schonfelder are nice people though, and like I said great technicans :)

[Aussie Willy]

Like Angel didn't mean to offend about Delobel/Schoenfelder too. I first saw them from Junior Worlds in 96 and thought they had great promise. I can understand why you like them so much. They have some amazing lifts and are technically very good skaters. But my feeling is they keep doing very overly dramatic programs and need to change direction with their freedances. I do sit there when watching them and get bored. And I think those types of programs are keeping them back from moving up in the standings. The have seemed to have stayed around 10th spot at worlds the last couple of years. It would be good to see them try something fun. From the French teams I enjoyed Petetin/Jost's FD much more than D&S.

BTW - thanks for all your comments and the healthy discussion. And thanks for correcting any spelling errors I might have made in my initial comments.

Someone mentioned Humphreys/Baranov. I was disappointed not to see them compete at Worlds this year because I really like this team too. But then I would not have got to see O'Connor/O'Dougherty otherwise. It is unfortunate that I enjoyed another couple at the expense of another!:D BTW - thanks for the names.

[mikojet]

I don't really feel offend, it's exam time, I'm really tensed so maybe I overreacted! I think they should change their style, dramatic program is cool but over and over again could deserve them!
I don't know if you have see their "Magician" program, but it's a different program, fun, sad, full of emotions, very creative! Maybe they should work in this way I don't know!