Figure Skating 2018, PT. IV

Link to previous thread.

gus can fuck my bussy meat <3333333333

r2 Ashley, please put down the vodka. We joke because we love you, but you need to go to sleep.

This really is one of the ugliest costumes I've seen in a while.

R5 - Agreed. That booger yellow color looks so gross.

The EX of Ryom/Kim at 4CCs Gala. Is the music North Korean pop?

[quote]This really is one of the ugliest costumes I've seen in a while.

Not so fast...

What you don't like green? How about my beaded panties?

So it's official... Carolina wins the Gold in the fashion competition!

Never!

i still don't understand what the fuck those people were thinking! and they won a bronze!!!!!!

r12 And that was after they "toned it down"!

Wow, R11.... I stand corrected!

Jesus, R11, those are some FUGLY costumes! I remember that debacle, and I was shocked they won bronze.

Someone please provide me a link to the program in R11. I know I shouldn't but morbid curiosity.

here you go. enjoy

Yeah, maybe it's not a coincidence that Russian ice dance has been on an international time-out. Australian Aborigines were pretty upset by it.

In contrast, Davis/White's Bollywood dance was a big hit in India. Better costumes, too.

r18 D/W had a knack for a level of taste that was perfect for ice dancing: always something that would be a little gauche if presented by itself, but came across as disarmingly charming in context of ice dancing. Their Bollywood number was so carefully designed - from choreo through costuming - to be a loving homage without being cultural appropriation. Her orange samba number in... 2011? 2012?... was just electric enough and revealing enough to stand out without going full Carolina green monstrosity. Even their Finn Step costumes were pitched just camp enough from formal wear and not so camp as to be ballroom. I think their aesthetic covered up a multitude of skating sins. Normally that sort of thing drives me crazy, but with them I just thought it was smart smart smart.

I almost feel like the V/M v3.0 has been trying to copy the D/W playbook, and just doing it sort of... uncanny valley. I don't really understand why. V/M in their own right are wonderfully talented. Do you think they feel as though they moved the sport forward in 2010 but then it moved past them 2012-2014 and to catch up they've decided to just... take what worked from their rivals?

V/M had not, could not and never would push ice dance forward. They could only push their weight forward along with their tackiness.

R19, It must have been a real mindfuck for V/M with all their natural ability to win gold and then see D/W move ahead of them--and not just by a little, but with that undefeated run-up to the Olympics. Can't remember which one, but V/M were off the ice for a bit because of an injury, D/W saw the opening took it and never looked back. Once that happened, V/M couldn't catch up. V/M may have had more natural ability as skaters--better edges, physically stronger, but D/W were smarter competitors. They optimized their abilities--speed, unison, that willingness to skate to the walls. They didn't try to imitate V/M and be a romantic pair--they went for the boy/girl next door putting on a show vibe--and it worked.

I think V/M want to be the greatest-ice-dancing-couple-of-all-time. With D/W out of the picture, I'm sure they sussed out the situation and figured they could outskate the current competition. But instead of finding their own groove, they went to P/C's coach. They won the WC last year, of course, and they are competitive, but they're not dominant--and I think that does have something to do with their lack of identity as a team.

Funny, Charlie White was saying something about what makes a team stand out are its natural strengths and abilities--he was saying it about Hubbell/Donohue, but it's interesting to consider in regards to V/M who, after all this time, still don't seem to have much definition as a team. And it has everything to do with why they seem to be slipping behind a team, again, that doesn't have all their athletic abilities, but has a much stronger sensibility and artistic identity.

Though they're very different--both D/W and P/C are more musical than V/M. That also makes a difference--the performances evolve more.

It's fun watching this knowing that Wagner still thought she was going to the Olympics. You can see it on her face.

Reminder that Keiji Tanaka is sexy

Adam Rippon: "I feel like I've left my legacy because of all the people skating to tight mesh shirts"

R22, Not sure why Ashley would think that she'd earned a pass to the Olympics over last year's national champion who managed a fourth at Worlds; the woman who'd been shunted aside last time and, oh, the actual winner--but she probably did.

It does make for an interesting Olympic team--they could end up in any order. Tennell's been the most reliable, but only this season. Mirai has the highest potential TES and Chen is the only one with any real artistry.

Keiji is handsome. Like Hanyu he has a unique face, but it's a bit more traditionally attractive and he has a much more masculine body. He looks taller and older than Hanyu even though he's a bit shorter. I wouldn't say he's sexy, but I wouldn't kick him out of bed. He's no peak Joubert or Dai. Hell, he's not even peak Bottom Kevin, but he's a good looking guy.

R26 Wait until I finished teaching him what's erotism

More spangles!!!

johnny and tara have a youtube channel now

I miss the old Johnny...he was always a catty bitch, but he used to seem much more genuine around the time of his reality show and during his rivalry with Evan Lysacek. Now he's such an embarrassing tryhard media personality. His antics w/Tara give me secondhand embarrassment.

Any updates on Hanyu's recovery now that we are only 2 weeks out? He's not my favorite competitor, but I'd hate for him to lose out on a chance to defend his medal. Also - his SP in Sochi was fantastic, but his long program was fairly mediocre, and I'd like to see him get a chance for a clean tournament.

I finally got around to watching PChan's Canadian national's performances. I am not a fan of his free skate (although I do like the knee-slide/lunge move he does during the circular step sequence). And for a man who might have the best body in singles today, it's a really unflattering fit to both his pants and his shirt. Who is the Canadian Vera Wang? Can't he get a decent tailor/sugar mamma?

r5 That is an unflattering outfit, but nothing about that performance makes sense. The outfit makes no sense with the music, the choreography makes no sense with the music, and the program doesn't really match Shoma's strengths. Shoma is at his best when he can bring some level of... 'hokey fake danger' to a program... something that makes blue haired old ladies say 'well that was certainly fun!'. And it's like they tried to build that into the choreography but then lost his original music but had an old cassette of Nessun Dorma in the back room and just played it. The spread eagle into a triple axel is practically his trademark (I realize many people do it, but Shoma does do it really well) and they throw it into this program but it doesn't fit the music and is incongruous.

How hard can it possibly be to put together a program for someone? Why is everyone either recycling, throwing together half baked programs like Shoma, or going trashy-flashy like V/M or Javi's Chaplin? Is P/C Moonlight Sonata the only great new program in an Olympic year?! I don't even think that one is that great, but its leaps and bounds (minus the leaps, because ice dancing) ahead of everyone else just in terms of program construction.

It's never a good sign when a third-rate Cinderella medley (that doesn't even feature Whitney/Brandy) ranks as one of the most not bad programs of the year.

And in the latest Canadian V/M propaganda spot, we have Ted Flett interviewing Shae-Lynn Bourne at Canadian Nationals. Start at about 9:30 for the discussion on how versatility should be rewarded in the score to encourage teams not to do the same FD year after year. Unlike, of course, Tessa and Scott, who always choose new and exciting things to skate because they're leaders and artists.

It's not a bad interview. She's political enough to spread the love around to the top teams. But, on a practical level...how do you judge for versatility? So, V/M are supposed to get more points for being in their 3rd Olympics and being an older team than P/C and others? Isn't versatility covered by the SD where you are given specific dance patterns and tempos?

The Canadians are so funny. They keep talking about versatility and how it is so "important" to undermine P/C who are deemed not versatile because they have a very distinct style but then they have no problem pretending Patrick Chan is a legend and the best thing that ever happened on earth when he has been doing the same FS for the last 8 years.

[ quote] So, V/M are supposed to get more points for being in their 3rd Olympics and being an older team than P/C and others?

Cappellini/Lanotte are in their third Olympics and they are doing the same program on different music since 2005

R31 Japanese Fed said that Hanyu resumed practice on ice during the week of 8-14 January.

The comments on Canadian BS-like interview and C/L make me believe that there do exist people who are not blind when watching these couples skate. Thank you R34 & R35

Official Olympic Game entry list

Men

1 Brendan KERRY

2 Jorik HENDRICKX

3 Patrick CHAN

4 Keegan MESSING

5 Boyang JIN

6 Han YAN

7 Michal BREZINA

8 Javier FERNANDEZ

9 Felipe MONTOYA

10 Chafik BESSEGHIER

11 Moris KVITELASHVILI

12 Paul FENTZ

13 Alexei BYCHENKO

14 Daniel SAMOHIN

15 Matteo RIZZO

16 Yuzuru HANYU

17 Keiji TANAKA

18 Shoma UNO

19 Denis TEN

20 Junhwan CHA

21 Deniss VASILJEVS

22 Julian Zhi Jie YEE

23 Dmitri ALIEV

24 Mikhail KOLYADA

25 Michael Christian MARTINEZ

26 Yaroslav PANIOT

27 Nathan CHEN

28 Adam RIPPON

29 Vincent ZHOU

30 Misha GE

Fernandez, Chan, Ten and Brezina will take part to their third Olympics.

Kerry, Hendrickx, Han, Bychenko, Hanyu, Martinez, Ge are at their second Olympic

19 out of 30 are at their first Games.

LADIES

1 Kailani CRAINE

2 Loena HENDRICKX

3 Isadora WILLIAMS

4 Larkyn AUSTMAN

5 Gabrielle DALEMAN

6 Kaetlyn OSMOND

7 Xiangning LI

8 Emmi PELTONEN

9 Mae Berenice MEITE

10 Nicole SCHOTT

11 Ivett TOTH

12 Carolina KOSTNER

13 Giada RUSSO

14 Satoko MIYAHARA

15 Kaori SAKAMOTO

16 Aiza MAMBEKOVA

17 Elizabet TURSYNBAEVA

18 Dabin CHOI

19 Hanul KIM

20 Diana NIKITINA

21 Evgenia MEDVEDEVA

22 Maria SOTSKOVA

23 Alina ZAGITOVA

24 Alexia PAGANINI

25 Nicole RAJICOVA

26 Anita OESTLUND

27 Anna KHNYCHENKOVA

28 Karen CHEN

29 Mirai NAGASU

30 Bradie TENNELL

Kostner is at her 4th Games.

Nagasu, Meité, Osmond, Daleman, Rajcova, Williams at their second OG

All others are debutant.

I love Mischa Ge. He's a gorgeous skater and cute, too. He also is a wonderful choreographer.

[quote]Kostner is at her 4th Games.

Is that a record in figure skating?

PAIRS

1 Ekaterina ALEXANDROVSKAYA / Harley WINDSOR

2 Miriam ZIEGLER / Severin KIEFER

3 Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD

4 Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Michael MARINARO

5 Julianne SEGUIN / Charlie BILODEAU

6 Cheng PENG / Yang JIN

7 Wenjing SUI / Cong HAN

8 Xiaoyu YU / Hao ZHANG

9 Anna DUSKOVA / Martin BIDAR

10 Vanessa JAMES / Morgan CIPRES

11 Annika HOCKE / Ruben BLOMMAERT

12 Aljona SAVCHENKO / Bruno MASSOT

13 Paige CONNERS / Evgeni KRASNOPOLSKI

14 Nicole DELLA MONICA / Matteo GUARISE

15 Valentina MARCHEI / Ondrej HOTAREK

16 Miu SUZAKI / Ryuichi KIHARA

17 Kyueun KIM / Alex Kang Chan KAM

18 Kristina ASTAKHOVA / Alexei ROGONOV

19 Evgenia TARASOVA / Vladimir MOROZOV

20 Natalia ZABIIAKO / Alexander ENBERT

21 Tae Ok RYOM / Ju Sik KIM

22 Alexa SCIMECA KNIERIM / Chris KNIERIM

Aljona is doing her 5th Olympics.

Zhang is at his 4th edition.

Nicole Della Monica, Vanessa James were already skating at Vancouver 2010 (with different partners). Miriam Ziegler skated at Vancouver in singles and at Sochi in pairs.

Duhamel/Radford, Moore-Towers, Cheng Peng, Morgan Cipres, Ondrej Hotarek, Evgeni Krasnopolski, Matteo Guarise, Valentina Marchei (but first one was in single), Severin Kiefer are at their second OG

Sonja Henie competed at 4 Olympics and won 3 straight Golds.

ICE DANCE

1 Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER

2 Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR

3 Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE

4 Shiyue WANG / Xinyu LIU

5 Cortney MANSOUROVA / Michal CESKA

6 Sara HURTADO / Kirill KHALIAVIN

7 Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC

8 Gabriella PAPADAKIS / Guillaume CIZERON

9 Penny COOMES / Nicholas BUCKLAND

10 Kavita LORENZ / Joti POLIZOAKIS

11 Adel TANKOVA / Ronald ZILBERBERG

12 Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE

13 Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI

14 Kana MURAMOTO / Chris REED

15 Yura MIN / Alexander GAMELIN

16 Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV

17 Tiffani ZAGORSKI / Jonathan GUERREIRO

18 Natalia KALISZEK / Maksym SPODYRIEV

19 Lucie MYSLIVECKOVA / Lukas CSOLLEY

20 Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR

21 Alexandra NAZAROVA / Maxim NIKITIN

22 Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES

23 Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE

24 Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI

Third OG for Virtue/Moir, Cappellini/Lanotte, Evan Bates, Bobrova/Soloviev, Coomes/Bucland, Chris Reed,

Second OG for Weaver/Poje, Madison Chock, Shibutani/Shibutani, Sara Hurtado, Guignard/Fabbri, Agafonova/Ucar, Paul Poirier

Ah, I knew Henie won 3 but wasn't aware she competed 4 times.

Who is the Misha Ge troll? What did he choreograph that was ever good?

Shen/Zhao went to 4 olympics, Pang/Tong, Aljona, Plushenko, Henie. Who else?

R47 Peyongchang is 5th for Aljona. She was present in Salt Lake City for Ukraine paired with Morozov (who then moved to Volosozhar)

Grandpa Zhang is at 4th. 2006 and 2010 with Zhang, 2014 with Peng, 2018 with Yu.

Interesting to see Scott Hamilton sign the letter of support for Ivan Bukin.

I've always wondered about short, insecure, effeminate Scotty and his testicular cancer and pituitary gland tumors. Now I'm not accusing him of doping towards his 1984 OGM, but really nobody cared about drugs in those golden pro years to follow. Most of the pro skaters were just into the fun white snow, but I do wonder if that dweebly little dwarf might look at Brian Boitano's perfectly sculpted au naturale thighs and went green with envy?

Also find it interesting that he now fights his tumors with prayer and natural foods. A fear of synthetic chemicals? Those late 80s/early 90s steroids and human growth hormones sure were dangerous, as I might attest.

r49 It wouldn't surprise me. I remember being shocked when Sergei Grinkov died that there was a lot of discussion about steroid use in skating. Almost all the reporting on his death mentioned that the coroner did not suspect he had recently taken steroids but that he had been on steroids when he was younger. It still surprises me that one would need steroids in skating (well... as much as one "needs" steroids anywhere) especially in the pre-quad era where an athlete was less worried about muscle recovery. Given how much heavily coded/implied ink was spilled in the Grinkov discussion on steroids, it absolutely wouldn't surprise me if more athletes and particularly ones who have neither of the body types associated with skating singles skating (the sculpted ass Boitano/Chans or the lean jumping bean Hanyu/Weirs). Bridge Troll Hamilton would be up there in my list of guesses. Along with full bodied everywhere Petrenko.

The cases of Carolina K and Kyoko Ina are even more intriguing to me. Both received suspensions for suspicious behavior (refusing a drug test or helping somebody else hide doping) but neither ever had evidence of doping themselves. As much as I loved Kyoko, I don't for a minute believe either has always been clean.

Scott Hamilton is the Suzanne Somers of Figure Skating, and the fact that he should be ignored or outright shunned but is instead treated as a 'media personality' is indicative of several problems of the future of US Skating.

Why would a pairs skater be on steroids? Injuries? Bulking up to lift partner--though Gordeeva was always tiny. Certainly, G&G were skating during a period of heavy doping in other sports.

Hamilton was odd looking when young--if he had some form of pituitary dwarfism, he'd have found it hard to build muscle/strength.

Kostner, other than lying for the boyfriend, doesn't stand out as a possible cheat--she's not a dynamo on ice--it's all about the PCS scores with her, but elite athletes are different than most of us--so I don't rule out anything.

Which makes me wonder what's going on with the Eteri girls . . .

Are these lists the order in which they skate?

no it's by alphabetical order of their countries. they will do a draw by world standings

R51 A 90lb pair girl is still 90lbs and those level 4 lifts are nothing like bench pressing the same weight. I imagine that the increased complexity and difficulty of ice dance lifts makes it likely male ice dancers might want some help too. Not to mention that female dancers can be quite tall--it has not escaped my notice that Stepanova is one of the tallest female ice dancers out there, particularly in comparison to Bukin.

Back in 91 Irina Rodnina told Phil Hersh she knew all about pairs and singles men doping in the Soviet Union. But now she's one of Putin's puppets and saying that the West are just scared of Russia and making up evidence.

Interesting. So, yeah, Grinkov was probably doping and that led to his early death. Sad.

Ice dancing was all about skating skills for a long time, but I agree that the lifts have gotten a lot more challenging.

And, now, I'm really wondering about the Russian girls--they're so dominant and they're churned out so quickly and are so short-lived as competitors.

Meanwhile, the Russian ban is pretty much a joke.

yup, they have to lift these girls.

A comment on GoldenSkate some weeks ago on S/B: "She's also filling out into more womanly curves so Bukin had better start bulking up"

In the documentary on the olympic channel with Mae Berenice Meite, they measured several stuffs and especially at one point her VO2. They were explaining the skaters can be put in the category of middle-distance runners that have to keep the effort for 4 minutes but they also have to perform very explosive feats in term of the jumps. So just like in athletics, doping in skating would be used for stamina. It is even more encouraged now with the bonus on jumps in the second half where stamina is gonna bring a big difference in your scoring.

[quote]Larionov explained to the Russian Figure Skating Federation that he took the pill on the morning of the doping test because of a severe headache, and that the pill was given to him by his father. He further explained that he didn't tell the controller about the pill, because he didn't know the name of it. Furosemide has been prescribed to both the father and grandfather of Larionov, to fight headaches caused by high blood pressure. The skater himself is also suffering from a similar condition and is taking medicine that doesn't contain any prohibited substances. He admitted that he made a mistake by taking the pill without consulting the Russian team doctor. An undisclosed source within the Russian Federation had told the Russian press earlier that Larionov allegedly took the medication to battle weight problems.

Looking back at this old story it's quite suspicious that two different excuses were given. Not to mention that WADA sure went out of their way to travel out to that shithole of Perm, Russia to ~randomly~ drug test a junior skater. .

In doping situations it's quite standard practice for the relatives/significant others of the athlete to have "valid" prescriptions for the drugs, like how that American sprinter Gil Roberts who got away with testing positive for a different diuretic/masking agent with the excuse that he was passionately kissing his girlfriend who was using it for her sinus infection.

The Russian men hardly have any stamina so I very much doubt they are doping. Meanwhile Nathan Chen, Boyang, etc. are cranking out 4 or 5 quads in a FS and nobody thinks that's suspicious?

The Bobrova case also had two explanations. She said that she had been given a shot of something to take by the doctor that was traveling with them at Euros 2016 (the doctor of Mozer team). She took it without asking questions, thinking it was legal (obviously) and then got tested positive. She even kinda accused the doctor of doing that to sabotage her in great Russian drama fashion.

Then when WADA took steps backwards because everyone was failing tests left and right, they came out saying that since they didn't know how long the meldonium lingered in the blood after usage, all those people could be reintegrated because they probably took the meldonium before it was banned (lol) and so Bobrova was like "oh yeah i took it in August and September it must be that that stayed".

As for the Chinese obviously they are charged. It's the same problem than in Russia. All their sport is State sponsored and state controlled. They are paid by the state, their expenses are taken care of by the state. And the goal is to bring back results to assert the power and dominance of the country and glory to the state.

They do what they are told or they are out. If you are given the choice of taking the drug or being out with no resources and nothing else to do and with 300 other people that will be willing to take your place and take the drug, then you take the drug.

R59 Given what Rafael Arutunian has said about his shock at Michelle Kwan refusing to use any performance enhancing drugs (and how would he know unless he offered?), I would be suspicious about any of his athletes that he has not outed as a goody two shoes.

The Chinese are already well-known to falsify ages (not just athletes, plenty of regular citizens do it too if they have the connections). I'm sure everybody has their suspicious about how that ageless beefcake Hao Zhang (who is even older than his official birthdate indicates) keeps on competing. Sui/Han's feats are absolutely superhuman for their relative size, but I think people tend to overlook it both because of the state-sponsored factor and their unquestionably stunning artistry. (In the same sense that other skaters tend to forgive Carolina Kostner's overscoring because her artistry and bladework are so superb)

Yeah, that's a good point about Sui/Han. I'm always surprised when I see him on the podium and how small he is compared to the other pairs guys. I like them a lot as well as Boyang, but I wouldn't be surprised by anything. Hao Zhang still going strong at his advanced age (whatever age he really is, who knows) also gives me some pause.

[quote]Given what Rafael Arutunian has said about his shock at Michelle Kwan refusing to use any performance enhancing drugs (and how would he know unless he offered?), I would be suspicious about any of his athletes that he has not outed as a goody two shoes.

I've never heard about this. That seems like a really odd comment. What was the context?

Han is a real cutie.

Sonja Henie's first appearance at the Olympics was in 1924 and she was 11 years old. She had to interrupt her program several times to go over and ask her coach what to do next. She came in last in a field of 13 skaters. She went on to become Olympic champion in the next three Olympics, winning the gold in 1928, 1932 and 1936.

[QUOTE] Whenever I was talking to Michelle Kwan about [doping], I said, “Michelle, most of the athletes are using that [performance-enhancing drugs], especially whenever they get older.” And she said, “Rafael, my ethics will not allow me to do it. I will never ever allow myself to do anything [performance-enhancing]. That is what all of my life is based on.” That’s the answer of [a] real athlete.

R63 It's from an old TSL interview. The whole thing is a fascinating read. Dave Lease said he heard that Arutunian knew about Russians doping in Sochi. Arutunian insinuated that Slutskaya beat Kwan because of doping. He is purposefully vague in many parts. The way he mentions Kwan suggests that she's the exception, not the rule.

It's possible Kwan influenced Arutunian to stick to the straight and narrow. But even if someone like Nathan Chan couldn't get drugs from Arutunian, he sure could ask Marina Zoueva...

PEOPLE mag's special issue on the WInter Ols Figure Skating had Ashley Wagner on the cover and listed inside as a sure bet for the team. Ha ha.

"Someone was dying, she is still alive" lol iconic

[quote]PEOPLE mag's special issue on the WInter Ols Figure Skating had Ashley Wagner on the cover and listed inside as a sure bet for the team. Ha ha.

She probably assured them herself that even if she placed 10th she'd get one of the spots.

Sort of interesting...this talk of Arutunian and doping...

Does now make me wonder about his students: Ashley, Adam and Nathan.

Both Ashley and Adam were kinda has-beens and lost lambs in skating before they went to Raf. Inconsistent, technically weak, and losing favor with the judges each season they underperformed prior.

After going to Raf, they both suddenly turned a corner and started putting down consistent skates with more solid technical content. Especially Adam. Couldn't land a triple axel to save his life before Raf, but then suddenly became so consistent with it after moving to him.

All due to hard work? Perhaps. But it wouldn't surprise me if they were given a little "help" to increase their stamina, so they could do more run-throughs and stay on the ice longer to practice those inconsistent jumps to perfect them.

Then you have Nathan...landing quads left and right. What's really suspicious to me is how he had hip surgery (typically a career-ending injury) that took him out one season, then he came back the very next landing quads like it was nothing. Talk about a speedy recovery. That can't all be due to just youth.

[Quote] like how that American sprinter Gil Roberts who got away with testing positive for a different diuretic/masking agent with the excuse that he was passionately kissing his girlfriend who was using it for her sinus infection.

Genius excuse. The best since that brainstroke for the Belarussian judge or that IMG Sharapova manager who didn't go to the Bahamas because of his dying marriage hence didn't read the report of newly banned substances beside the swimming pool and didn't know meldonium had been banned.

Closet case Richard Gasquet also used the excuse of the kiss when he tested positive to cocaine. In his case i'm nearly inclined to believe him. He would have taken the suspension over explaining who it was that he kissed (betting on a cocked up gay orgy)

Ashley I doubt, if only because usually athletes who use performance enhancing drugs are training 150% and looking for that extra oomph! Ashley can't even be bothered to spend extra time on her spins or do full run-throughs.

That Instaslut Michael Christian Martinez is another interesting one. He bulked up A LOT for someone whose physique once resembled Hanyu's. Don't think he's trying to gain a skating advantage as he pretty much stopped training between Nebelhorn and getting Majorov's Oly spot. But he might actually be dumb enough not to make the connection between whatever he's using to bulk up at the gym and WADA prohibited list.

R71 An USA Olympic track and field medallist who failed a doping test used as excuse that he took a male enhancement product containing the banned substance.

Oh great. Figure skating needs another scandal.

The official Olympics profiles. Select figure skating. Half of them look criminals

[quote]1 Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER

Looking forward to seeing Poirier's ass.

R75 mmmmmmm Matteo Guarise tho

Julianne Seguin...

Sotskova without make up

[quote]The official Olympics profiles. Select figure skating. Half of them look criminals

Strange, I don't see Ashley's profile?

can I pick some men at Olympic Village?

R78 looks like we've got an escapee from the Mennonite Church!

Tanaka...

Interesting about the doping and Arutunian. So, what about Mirai Nagasu--older skater who *adds* a triple axel? Or Alina Zagitova putting all of her jumps in the second half of the free skate. Nathan's quick recovery--youth or help?

Another quick recovery--Medvedeva from a stress fracture in her foot. Compare that too Polina Edmunds, who's still having issues with her foot from a bone bruise two years ago or Bradie Tennell who was out for a long time with back injuries.

Love Sui/Han--and she is tiny--4'11"--but cheating, as we see it, is culturally quite a bit more acceptable there. It's just seen as a cost of doing business.

Why is there so much Shoma hate at the DL? Is the kid an asshole off the ice? Anyone?

r85 He's weird looking and looks like he smells funny

Okay so no reason. Just as I thought, r86.

In 2017 USADA made 46 anti doping in competitions in Figure Skating and 93 out of competitions test

Maia Shibutani 8 tests

Alex Shibutani 6

Nathan Chen 5

Jason Brown 5

Mariah Bell 5

Mirai Nagasu 5

Zach Donohue 4

Madison Hubbell

Karen Chen 4

Ashley Wagner

Max Aaron 3

Madison Chock 3

Evan Bates 3

Rippon got only 1 test in 2017

R85 I love Shoma. He is cute and his skating is really lovely. Pretty sure he is not an asshole. He just gives the impression of not caring about anyone or anything that's not skating.

by USADA. He probably got tests by WADA

Poor Ross Miner is so ignored that USADA didn't even bother to test him in 2017

How do you know that, r89? Social media?

r89 I also like Shoma, and I don't think he's hideous (but I also don't think he's a looker by any means). I just think he's Nessun Dorma program is an absolute mess and wish it were scrapped entirely.

Michael Martinez however probably is an asshole, and if he thinks that bulking up steroids or no will make him any less ugly inside or out he's very much mistaken.

.......

R91 Mostly from what he says in interviews and talk shows and what other skaters and people say about him. He is quite a good interviewee in the sense that he is quite genuine in his answers.

R92 I agree i'm not a fan of the Nessun Dorma, although i think he didn't a pretty good job at 4CC with it. But tbh none of the free skates are exciting this year between the bad programs and repeated programs that were good but have just lost all their appeal.

They photoshopped Cha's Olympic pic so much that he looks like a plastic child doll

Some of these Olympic pictures will haunt my dreams.

R96 Gosh, the psycho version of Loena is scary

this is Kirstin Moore Towers....

Poor Maia Shibutani--8 tests when Madison Hubbell and Ashley Wagner look to have had none.

Nathan was tested a lot as was Mariah--both Artunian students, so if they're doping, they're doing it well. That said, Nathan is a quad king, but he's not superhuman in how he performs--when he's sick, he changes the routine and he is built to jump--really compact.

R99 Hubbell and Wagner got tested 4 times by USADA. I forgot to type the number next to their name

that's the full list

tMax Aarontt3

tJean-Luc Bakertt1

tNathan Bartholomaytt2

tEvan Batestt3

tMariah Belltt5

tAlex Benoittt1

tJulia Biechlertt1

tJason L Browntt5

tAshley Caintt2

tQuinn Carpentertt1

tChristina Carreiratt1

tMarissa Castellitt2

tKaren Chentt4

tNathan Chentt5

tMadison Chocktt3

tHaven M Denneytt2

tDamian Dodgett1

tTimothy Dolenskytt1

tZachary Donohuett4

tPolina Edmundstt1

tJosh Farristt1

tBrandon Fraziertt2

tAmber Glenntt2

tKaitlin Hawayektt1

tCourtney Hickstt1

tGrant Hochsteintt1

tMadison Hubbelltt4

tBrian Johnsontt1

tJoe Johnsontt1

tTarah Kaynett1

tChris Knierimtt2

tAleksei Krasnozhontt1

tTimothy LeDuctt2

tChelsea Liutt1

tAna Karina Mantatt1

tMirai Nagasutt5

tDaniel O'Sheatt1

tMichael Parsonstt1

tRachel Parsonstt1

tJessica Pfundtt2

tElliana Pogrebinskytt2

tAnthony Ponomarenkott1

tAdam Rippontt1

tJoshua Santillantt2

tAlexa Scimeca Knierimtt1

tAlex H Shibutanitt6

tMaia H Shibutanitt8

tDeanna Stellatott2

tBradie Tennelltt2

tAndrew Torgashevtt1

tMervin Trantt1

tAshley Wagnertt4

tCaroline Zhangtt1

tVincent Zhoutt2

r100 tThank you

when I cut and past from lists it often shows the "t". It's the same when I do it from ISU entry/result lists. Problem is that I can't see them in the text box before sending the reply.

R99 if you're on the podium you would/should be tested. These are in and out of competition tests that you cite, yes? The Shibutanis were on the podium last year more than every other skater you cited. Maia having more tests is due to more out of competition tests evidently. What I don't know is if USADA has athletes complete " whereabouts" info online. Where they are going to be in order to be available for testing. Because in some sports the testers will be showing up whether you are at a conference, your grandmother's , a hotel, home, training facility, etc. you need to be where you said you would be. I can cite somé interesting stories about the whereabouts but they aren't skaters' stories.

I don't know. It would surprise me if Nathan weren't clean. He's injured all the time and his whole training and competing regimen isn't designed for long term success. Actually, it wouldn't surprise me if he had been on meldonium before the ban as it seems like 100% of athletes were using it, but I'd be surprised if he were on anything post-ban. I'd be more suspicious of someone like Evan L who was a good 4 inches taller than his nearest competitor. I get being tall in pairs, but then you aren't really doing much jumping... what maybe two side by side jumps a program? Evan didn't have the build for figure skating yet seemed to have no trouble backloading his program. But who knows, maybe he was clean and the height is why he couldn't do a consistent quad?

On the other hand, I don't trust Carolina at all and think she got off easy when she was clearly obstructing a case of definite doping.

Link to WADA ADAMS info "whereabouts". For example, making yourself available at a hotel. The hotel staff won't tell the tester your room number...so you better answer your cellphone...or update your whereabouts with your room #. No silencing your phone after 6:30 AM or before 10:30 PM (I think that's the night cut off). The hotel staff can't call up to the room & have the athlete get on the phone to speak to the tester. These are unannounced out-of-competition tests.

OMG, R88...the drug testers are total DLers. They also don't understand how the Shibs keep landing on the podium...but know that somehow that evil pygmy Maia is behind it.

And they also can tell that Adam Rippon is a drugged out cumdump...so they're willing to give him some space and not kill his buzz. He won't medal...so why does it matter?

Poor Maia, still . . . no wonder she's got serious bitch-face.

Kostner has the skating while old thing and a federation that doesn't always play straight, so I'm willing to suspect her. Plus, the PCS of skating-while-Kostner is ridiculous.

Hope Nathan Chen's clean--I'd like to appreciate what he's able to do. Plus, it's not that far afield from the Japanese men and the Japanese seem to be pretty clean as a group. I mean, we're not questioning Shoma Uno because, let's face it, the guy's kind of like a frog.

R103 yes they have whereabouts. I think they are obliged by WADA to have them.

The numbers included out of competition tests. They don't include tests conducted on U.S. athletes by other testing entities, if the test session was not requested or initiated by USADA.

Given the numbers for 2018 so far (1 for all skaters), I guess that at Nationals they tested everyone in the international pool.

In Pairs/Dance they only test one member of the couple when they get podium results at ISU Championships (Worlds, Euro, 4 CCs). When Bobrove got the Meldonium test at Euros, Soloviev wasn't tested.

Per ISU guideline:

At the Short Program / Short Dance one selected Skater in each discipline shall be tested. In Pair Skating and Ice Dance either the man or the lady, but not both, shall be tested. After the Free Program / Free Dance, the two best ranked Skaters of the final result in each discipline (Singles, Pair Skating and Ice Dance) shall be tested. One other Skater from the remainder of the Skaters shall be selected in Singles

Pair Skating and Ice Dance. In Pair Skating and Ice Dance either the man or the lady, but not both, shall be tested.

At Grand Prix: Minimum number of Skaters to be selected for Testing: The Testing will be carried out on two selected Skaters in Singles and in Pair Skating after the final free program and in Ice Dance after the final free dance. In Pair Skating and Ice Dance either the man or the lady, but not both, shall be tested

The Boss! SO BUTCH! SO IN CHARGE! RAWR!

Nathan looks pretty good with his new hair cut its a pity the feature him with his old mop. He's also filling out more like Patrick Chan than Hanyu, so he could be rather hot in 3-4 years. Vera must be pissed he's not wearing her Tron! tribute costume monstrosities in the commercial. I wonder how she'll take out her anger.

IOC has just lost lots of Court of Arbritation cases to Russian athletes who were stripped of Sochi medals. I wonder if and how they can now continue with the ban on Stolbova and Bukin

Excuse me, why are we sending the mole people to the Olympics?

Ah, that's nice--I was wondering when some sort of corporate sponsor would kick in--all three of the Ladies had gofundme pages so they could get their families over. Mirai's fans raised enough money on their own. Not sure what's going on with Karen Chen's. Bradie's got a single mother who's a nurse--so that's why she looks so scruffy (and is wearing scrubs).

And, Ashley, dear, you actually have to, you know, win occasionally.

Do you think I am not looking good?

[Quote] IOC has just lost lots of Court of Arbritation cases to Russian athletes who were stripped of Sochi medals. I wonder if and how they can now continue with the ban on Stolbova and Bukin

IOC said that they were inviting only the athletes for which they were sure there was no doping. They even added that the ones non invited like Stolbova or Bukin shouldn't fall under systematic suspicions of doping but that it was just not proven enough that they were not. So basically the ones that fell under the "maybe" umbrella were not invited. I think with that way of justifying it they will be able to keep the invitations as they are.

How embarrassing though for all those overturns. That's really a slap in the face to IOC and WADA and basically a green light for Russia (and others) to just keep doping as much as they want as long as they deny it vehemently enough

Not sure R85, but there also seems to be plenty of V/M hate here...

Hi, Canadian Frau @ R115!

There's a really great discussion going on over at the V/M thread on FSU. People are talking about whether V/M are secretly a couple off the ice because of how amazingly romantic they are. (Surely you've noticed the way Scott looks at Tessa! And how protective he is with her!) Folks are also chiming in on where to find the Whole-Grain Cheerios boxes with Tessa and Scott on the cover. (Some of the girls have concerns because of their gluten intolerance but are going to buy them anyway.)

Anyway, you should pop over there. Think you'd fit right in.

I wonder if “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman will end up in an Olympic routine in competition or, where it is much more likely this year, the exhibition.

[Quote] People are talking about whether V/M are secretly a couple off the ice because of how amazingly romantic they are.

WELL WHAT ABOUT THEIR SECRET CHILD!!!!!!??????

V/M have more of a brother/sister relationship.

How can you say that about toddler Moir's parents?! :((((((((

R116 aka P/C troll, .. you should really look to expand your vocabulary . beyond the words "Canadian frau". And nobody on FSU save for some crazies thinks V/M are a couple.

Well, R121, I was thinking of using the word "cunt"...but it seemed a little early in the morning for that kind of talk. But, hey, it's always Happy Hour somewhere, right?

I take your criticism very seriously and will give it all the effort and energy it deserves. As soon as I find my thesaurus, I will look for varied and artful ways to call V/M worshippers like you "pathetic" and "delusional."

I'll do better...I promise.

R116, is trolling your full-time job? :) You need to work on being more entertaining. "Cunt" and "frau" is just super low brow for a P/C troll. Yes, you should do better.

Presidential Delegation to Attend Winter Olympics

...

Ms. Sarah Hughes, 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist, Ladies Figure Skating

is she a Trumpista?

HEB is the best grocery store and gay friendly

[quote]Ms. Sarah Hughes, 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist, Ladies Figure Skating

Who?

r121 Please don't start shit here. There's no P/C troll and there's no V/M hate either. There are at least 4 regular contributors who agree that V/M have stagnated since 2010 and that their current Free Dance is a lot of flash with no substance and have had really nice conversations here about it. (And its shocking that people here agree about, well, anything other than the hotness of Patrick Chan's ass >>>>> hotness of Patrick Chan's face). You are welcome to agree or disagree, but don't go trolling or trying to start something. Plenty of people here have said nice things about V/M.

There is at least one regular contributor here who hates Shoma, but we sort of just accept that and move on. There is at least one poster here who seems to really dislike Bradie Tennell, but other than the olympic website mugshot dig (which is a bit unfair given that everyone except Morgan Cipres looks pretty bad in them) hasn't really been that obnoxious about it.

People are piling on Ashley, but she has one or two defenders, and even that group can get along! The problem is you. Please leave.

r127 Oh shutup frau, there are many who don't like Virtue/Moir and it has a lot to do with the arrogance.

Ryom and Kim arrived at Olympic Village. I love the North Korean uniform, it is so old fashioned that it's wonderful. At least they don't look like hostesses (I saw a pic of Ukrainian skaters who looked like they were about to send their CVs to an air company).

I'm not sure I've ever seen a bad photo of Morgan Cipres, R127. I would let him... do things to me.

R127 I am the one who posted the Bradie's mug shot and I don't particularly hate her. I don't like her either. I don't care about her skating one way or the other. I don't know enough of her personalty to "hate" her.

tbh her mug shot is not one of the worst. It's not much different than her on ice appearance.

I mean, the Czech pair skater...did they beat him up before taking the picture?

R128, do you know any other words other than "frau"? I wonder how old you are?

R127, who is starting shit here? I didn't call anyone "cunt" or "frau" and let's not pretend people say nice things about V/M here. You are seriously delusional if you think that. I'm trolling because I'm stating the obvious?? Not leaving anywhere, and if you don't like it, you can just put me on ignore. I'm putting you on ignore.

r133 And yet I knew you were a frau because you talk like one, take it to LSA skank.

It's really too bad you were dropped on your head as a baby, R134. Mental illness is sad. Bye.

r132 LOL Who thought these pictures were a good idea.

r130 I never paid him much attention. I always thought his face was a little... basic? A combination of nerdy and trashy? Compared to other men, Guarise has always been so much more obviously attractive and even in his own partnership Vanessa is so beautiful and compelling to watch. But I've definitely come around on Morgan. He also seems like a genuinely fun dude.

Morgan's body is undeniably hot, but I agree with the face comment above. For me, he photographs well from far away, but the more close up you get, the less attractive his face looks to me.

R127 has there really been any Bradie hate on here? I know people have commented that they don't care for her but I don't remember seeing anyone actively hating on her.

Matteo fights his hotness with hideous hideous haircut. Like Trankov or Smirnov before him. Those pair boys have a problem.

What is the status of Poje? Are there gossips about him?

r138 I agree with you. Sorry... I was just trying to break up a catfight with an example (there are clearly people who... don't care much for Bradie, but no there's absolutely not been much Bradie hate, but neither has there really been V/M hate, most everyone who is saying they don't care for V/M have definitely complimented their skills).

It turns out there was no need to break it up as it was just one person engaged in a conversation with himself pretending to start an argument. C'est la vie. If I could delete my comment I would.

Nathan has a commercial out now... will Bradie? The Shibs? have one soon as well? I'm guessing nobody has been calling the Kneirim's agent with copious offers.

A nauseating puff piece on Ashley for Vogue.

[quote]“Every molecule in my body is broken,” she said, recalling the feeling of watching her scores appear on the stadium screens: “Congratulations, this is the most devastating piece of news you’re ever going to read.”

[quote]“There’s no one to pick up the pieces other than me,” she says. “I have to be okay, because that’s my only option.”

Some people have war in their countries, ya know...

r141 How gross. And the worst part about it is, the idea of interviewing someone who has trained for the sole expectation of making the Olympics only to not make it is a wonderful idea. I'm sure, with - well really just anyone else - it would be fascinating to see a person grapple with their own limitations and the disintegration of their drams and just... really the thing non athletes go through on a day to day basis in their own careers as they realize they'll never be CEO/Mark Zuckerberg/Meryl Streep/etc.

And yet they pick the one person THE ONE PERSON who would provide no introspection. They choose the one person who really couldn't provide any context because she's never had to make the Olympics on her own merit when it counted and still doesn't seem to understand why she didn't make it this time.

I used to like Ashley. I thought she was a smart and human and slightly caustic answer to the anodyne and boring Rachel Flatt's of the world. She's pissed that away and then some in spades.

I'm sure they didn't bother to ask Ashley if she could have prevented the heartbreak by not being so damn lazy and actually doing the work.

R140...you shouldn't apologize. I started it @ R116, thinking it was just a queen who wanted to play. My fault.

OK, R139...let's talk Andrew Poje. Here's my take...Kaitlyn/Andrew are, respectively, both older than Tessa/Scott. But, they've been following the same "are they or aren't they?" playbook that seems to go over gangbusters in Canada.

I used to think maybe Kaitlyn/Andrew were dating...but now I don't. He's 30. She's 28. (About to be 31 and 29.) They are not shy about publicity. If they were fucking, we would all know it. It is probably their last Olympics. If they were a couple, they would be milking that to try and get that Bronze medal. There would be the CBC interview about their life together and why they chose to go back to "Je Suis Malade." You think she would remain silent while Chock/Bates announced their relationship and took pictures with their puppies?

So...if they aren't dating...and yet are pretty much pretending to be dating...what does that mean?

(I think he might be gay.)

r144 no worries! its clearly not you who was the problem.

Ice dancing is still so strange to me because unlike a typical... strength,speed, or endurance sport, it doesn't seem like there SHOULD be any reason a team couldn't go from 6th to 1st or 10th to 2nd in the span of a year or two. Once you have the basic skill set down, it's all about how you play the game and arrange a program and innovate. And yet, you look at a team like Weaver/Poje, and you also never once in their whole career think of them as viable Olympic champions even when Tessa and Scott were out. Weaver/Poje have some of the worst transitions in and out of lifts I have ever seen for a top tier skating group - and it seems like they should know that and should easily be able to fix it.

I absolutely love their styling though. I think she sort of splits the difference between a Meryl Davis made up for the Gods in dramatic theatrical makeup and the more typical severe romantic ball room style. They also typically have beautiful costumes. I loved his free dance last year with REAL SUSPENDERS (I hate the proliferation of decorative fake suspenders on men).

I don't think Poje is gay, but nor do I think he's into Weaver. Poje was one of the men in the short-lived "Skate Tough" debacle, and I remember during the last Olympics there were some rumors that he had been quite a ladies man in high school to the point where it was actually a distraction/issue? But he might be! I would never say he has gay face, but he seemingly has gayer face than he did four years ago. I'd love to get Poirier's take on Poje and Moir. He seems like he'd have some good stories to tell and would not hold back after a little tequila.

The place I've seen Bradie-hate is on Golden Skate--before she made a splash there was a lot of whining about how noncompetitive American women were, then when the U.S. finally gets a skater who puts together clean programs with rotated jumps, there's whining how she's not exciting.

What I really think it comes down to is that Bradie was a bit of a nobody who came in and stole the crown from Mirai Nagasu (and her redemption arc) and Ashley Wagner (mega-publicity hound). She hadn't developed her own fanbase and the fans of other skaters were upset.

Thing is, if you were *really* paying attention, it was clear that Bradie, unless she was injured or displayed sudden nerves, would win U.S. Nationals. It was also clear that Ashley had peaked in 2016 and wasn't showing signs of a recovery. Not surprising--she's always had crappy skating skills and she's old for a singles skaters.

It's funny to me how the Olympic PR machine has been in gear for so long that they don't know how *not* to write about has-been Ashley. The three who are going to the Olympics are, I'm sure, too busy training to do much PR. There's probably very little stock footage stuff on Bradie.

Virtue/Moir have been skating together since they were kids--I actually don't see much chemistry between them. Similar to Davis/White, though V/M do romantic better than D/W. I feel like they like each other, but no sense of anything erotic. Weaver/Poje and Hubbell/Donohue have more oomph. So do Sui/Han (who have a brother/sister vibe off ice ) and Morgan/Cipres over in Pairs.

R144 Nice conclusion on Canadian couples if I got you right. Find it a bit annoying to me that couples like this hype up the romantic relationship between them or try hard to act like they are so deeply in love with each other while they have their own companions off the ice (or keep them in secret). And their fans seem to buy it very very very much...

The fact that C/B are dating shocked me at first, they appear to have little chemistry on the ice...

It appears that they now live together, too.

Chock/Bates may be too settled and compatible to have a ton of chemistry on ice--onstage chemistry often has an element of tension--we want to fuck our brains out, but we can't.

Hubbell/Donohue has it--they're not dating, but he also kept kissing her neck and hands after the U.S. Nationals FD--that's not a brother/sister vibe. If I were his girlfriend, I wouldn't be thrilled about seeing that.

Bradie has hard for people to accept because she's not Gracie Gold.

Every time I see P&C's SD I see Ray Walston with a huge grass wig performing "Honey Bun" in the film of 'South Pacific'. Walston wears a huge, long wig of dried grass, pantaloons, skirt, a leaf shaped badge (placed like a sporran) and a bra made of coconut half shells. Papadakis has the same yellow-green 'grass' in her 2-piece costume as Luther Billis's (Walston) over-sized wig. I have looked for a complete version of "Honey Bun" with his "ab/belly dance" with his ship tattoo. The only complete version is in 3D. I watched it - pretty useless. There is video of Part 1 of "Honey Bun". See Walston near the end. Part 1 is a bad transfer with an Asian language in sub-titles. Can't find a part 2 link. All the promised rnh.com links don't work - the video removed at the Rodgers & Hammerstein site. I could not find a decent still image of Walston in costume either. Along the way I watched a great quality clip of "There is Nothing Like a Dame" from the film. Ok , I can't post a link because the url is too long, I guess.

Don't bitch about V/M and P/C

Be positive and learn how to bow after fallowing Alex's example

"r144 no worries! its clearly not you who was the problem" ok just get a room and suck each other off?

Chock/Bates don't have chemistry? Ok.

I used to think Evan Bates was totally fug & couldn't stand C/B, but somehow he's becoming more attractive and since last season I've started to like them together. Not sure I believe their relationship is one for the ages but I think they definitely have more chemistry than, say, WeaPo or some others.

Love that program, R153. So many skaters just pull their exhibition program out of their asses with recycled choreography. That was fun. Such a kickass move when they got rid of the chair.

R154...Chock/Bates have become one of my favorite teams. She has absolute star quality and can sell any kind of program. Unfortunately, it's much harder to find a program that fits him well. He always comes across as so earnest. Would love for them to win a medal in Korea...but hard to see that happening.

But...even though it feels like the other US teams have all the momentum...there's not much between them. They've all been within a point at the GPF and US Nationals (although the Shibs made big errors). But, I think the Shibs' SD has been overscored all season to put them in the Olympics conversation...while H/D and C/B have been pushed down a point or two. Well, that opportunity for the Shibs has passed. They have no shot at all at Gold/Silver. And now they're no longer US Champions. So what happens now? Is that Perez Prado shit still going to get 78 points while H/D and C/B are hangin with the Italians and Bobrova/Soloviev in the 74s?

The Team Event SD will be very interesting.

Evan is attractive, especially with the dimples.

Judas Priest, Carolina, why the fuck is your decrepit ass still skating?

[quote]Matteo fights his hotness with hideous hideous haircut.

This sentence is why I love DL.

Ah, the Mentor Cup is taking place this week. Ice Dance panel as generous as always. Aussie, Bulgarian and Israel teams all got the SD minimum for Worlds today

Mr. Yurij BALKOV from Ukraine s among the judges. He is the one caught at Nagano Olympics telling the finishing order before the competition started

When are they going to announce who will compete for the US in the team competition?

Yuzuru Hanyu will most likely not be competing in the team event as several Japanese newspapers have reported today. Negl, I'm getting kind of nervous for him.

I hope he can at least skate the individual event decently and he won't be another Plushenko style last minute withdrawal

Send off ceremony for China Olympic Team

Zhang doesn't look much younger than Zhao (supposedly he's 11 years younger).

Chinese Figure Skating Association has established last month. Until last year Figure Skating and Speed Skating were under the same Association in China.

Shen of Shen/Zhao has been named as President of the newly created Association. She was the vice-president of the previous Skating Association. Zhao continues as head coach of Chinese figure skating.

It's such a shame Japan couldn't get their act together in Pairs/Dance in the 4 years since Sochi. A healthy Hanyu , Shoma, and Satoko, with halfway decent Dance and Pairs teams would make Japan competitive for a Team Bronze at least.

I also want to know who's skating what for USA team event. Will the Shibutanis get their wicked way and skate twice?

Wouldn't it be crazy if the team event is how Patrick Chan finally gets his claws on OGM?

I agree, R164, but I wouldn't count Japan (or even China) out just yet. It's hard to imagine Russia/Canada not getting Gold/Silver...but I don't think the US is lock for Bronze. The US is so weak in Pairs that they can't put it out of reach. The US is stronger in Dance, but Muramoto/Reed aren't bad...they won't get lower than 5th in the SD.

If Nathan skates both...I think the US will medal. If he doesn't, the Bronze is up for grabs.

And I will be legitimately pissed if they let the Shibs skate both. Not cool.

I think Alexander Gamelin is cute. The music is a mess though???

[quote]I'd love to get Poirier's take on Poje and Moir. He seems like he'd have some good stories to tell and would not hold back after a little tequila.

We don't know much about Poirier's personal life, either.

That's true, R167. Hopefully someone is giving that ass a workout.

R152

Argh, looks like he was an insufferable ham even at that age.

Team Event. The US has a selection process based on ranking. (See link.) Participants for the 4 disciplines are selected. Then, 2 alternates can be selected presumably using the same process based on ranking. The entries are submitted 24 hours in advance of the competition. No swapping out at the last minute. Important to remember: After the Short program only the top five teams advance. The event takes place the day before the Opening Ceremony which requires many hours of standing before and during the Ceremony. Figure skating competition continues during the first week.

So using that ranking, are the Shibs the higher ranked pair despite not being the champions? And if so do they get to choose to skate both programs, in effect, getting their way?

And so who among the top three ladies is the highest ranked? Isn't it Karen Chen?

The Shibs should do the short dance and Chock and Bates the free dance.

This season, Bradie Tennell has the highest international rankings--only one who medalled at a grand prix. Shibs have the highest international rankings in ice dance, but even when they skated it clean at the Grand Prix, their free dance came in behind C/B's and H/D's.

Does her medal at the Grand Prix outweigh Chen's 4th Place at Worlds?

Why do people think a skater would diss or necessarily gossip about a teammate and colleague? Create drama when there is enough on the ice? When federations are paying for your room, etc. These skaters travel, room and socialize together. Even if it is just hanging out in hotel rooms or corridors. I think it was last year, in Helsinki, G&P and others posted photos of the team goofing around at the hotel, fooling around with lifts, for example. Porier's roommate might have been pairs' Charlie Bilodeau. Maia and Gracie are roomies and friends for years according to their IG accounts. I don't think their friendship is made up.

R171 R172 R173 R174 The link may clarify, validate or render some of the questions moot. There is a selection process to pick the representative(s) for the FOUR disciplines. Six athletes. THEN, 2 alternatives. Selecting the disciplines for alternates is important because some or all of athletes will be performing 4 times in one week that includes the Opening Ceremony. After the alternate disciplines are selected then the ranking selection process comes into play. The alternates don't have to be used. ONLY 5 teams advance after the short program. And the advancing process to the medal round is based on rankings of the short performance. Selection is based on the overall ranking of the participants - not individual programs. Certainly there could be strategy deciding whether or not to use alternates. For the US, why assume the ice dance discipline will have an alternate? Nathan Chen could win an individual medal - should he skate 4 times? What about the women?

R176 it was reported after Nationals that USFSA supposedly wanted to use Nathan for both the short and long, Bradie for the Short and Mirai for the long and then use the Shibs for the short and H/D for the long.

The Shibs however have other thoughts. They were campaigning to skate both programs, because they're apparently selfish bastards. If they skated both it would allow for Nathan to only skate one program and save himself up for the Men's competition and some suspected they'd let Rippon skate.

The question was how USFSA would justify letting the Shibs skate both. If they're using the selection criteria linked above, they could technically justify it since The Shibs are internationally ranked higher than H/D.

The other problem that the USFSA was going to face was if they didn't want the Shibs to skate both and Nathan declined to skate both. That would have meant only one Lady would skate and people figured it would be Bradie and Mirai would be out.

So again, if they're using the criteria listed on that page and they use International rankings to decide who skates, what's the order for the ladies?

Chen's 4th place at Worlds outweighs Tennell's 3rd at Skate America.

Rankings would be Chen, Tennell, Nagasu.

I find it hard to believe they'd follow that strict guideline though. I can't imagine them putting Chen in.

So looking at that criteria, if the Shibs are the highest ranked dance pair, they can get their way by choosing to skate both. Awful.

R177 where is it reported? Link? Who says any competitor chooses? If the athlete(s) are offered a choice, then they may choose; maybe might not be a free choice. The federation isn't necessarily going to ask the top choice in each discipline what *they* want to do. And they are not supposed to be canvassing athletes before they make the selection. However, there is nothing wrong with athletes avowing that they are willing and able to skate both programs. That is the appropriate stance - not selfishness - for any team event! MOf course it is - for all team events! I think they should do away with the event.

[quote]Using those rankings, which U.S. Figure Skating does not make public, skaters pick the team event short and long programs, with input from team officials.

[quote]Ice dance was the highest-ranked of the disciplines. The top ice dance couple was Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the world champions who chose to skate both programs.

The incest twins are media whoring themselves all over the networks right before heading to the Olympics, trying to pimp their sponsors out, so they can secure their $$$ from Minute Maid and Ralph Lauren.

The looked a little too smiley, even for them, so my gut tells me they got their demand met to skate both the SD and FD in the Team event.

Tiger Mama-Shib gonna make sure her spawn get an Olympic medal one way or another.

[quote] . The US is so weak in Pairs that they can't put it out of reach.

The Japanese team makes the Knierims look almost good. Fuyuka/Suzuki are getting better but they would have not even qualified for individual event on their own merit. The top Japanese pair (which is still weak) have citizenship issues, so they have to send F/S. They are likely to finish 9 out of 10 even if Germans field second team.

Anyway, Alex Knierim just commented Rippon's latest slutty IG pic

chris_knierimDaaaaaaaaaaaang! 🙅🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🙈 Don’t tell @alexa_knierim I looked. Looking good Adam 👍🏼

What would God say?

* ops, Chris, not Alexa Knierims.

Chen came in third at Nationals and has had a terrible season. Given the games the fed plays, there's no way that Chen would be the sole skater for Ladies. It will be Mirai and Bradie, or just Bradie. Last year's Worlds helped Karen hold an Olympic spot, but she's not reliable enough for the team event.

It would be weird to give the spot to the Shibs, but maybe if they get their medal they'll go away. I used to like them, but they're past their expiration date.

they haven't said how this ranking is done, have they?

Adam's body of work will lead him to skate also the Short Dance and Ladies.

R183 Sorry, it's Suzuki/Kihara. Fuyuka/Suzuki don't even exist!

world standings : Nathan 6th, Adam 12th, Mirai 9th, Karen 14th, Bradie 43rd, Hubbell/Donohue 4th, Shibs 6th, Chock/Bates 7th

2017-2018 seasons rankings : Nathan 10th, Adam 17th, Bradie 26th, Karen 39th, Mirai 48th, Hubbell/Donohue 12th, Shibs 17th, Chock/bates 24th

Obviously US figure skating has some kind of secret rankings too that they will use to select the team event but that's still interesting.

LOL R183...Adam is always trying SO HARD. Honey...the trick is to make it look like your pants just slipped a bit offering us a peek...not that you pulled them halfway down your ass to tell the world you're open for business.

And, I agree that the Japanese Pairs are way worse than the Knierims...but Japan will still only lose 3 points to them...2 points in the SP and 1 point in the FS. The Knierims are going to be 7th out of 10 and then 4th out of 5. The US have the advantage, but if they don't use Nathan for both programs that Bronze medal is in play...especially if China also makes the final.

Adam skating the FS will be 4th (if Italy makes the final) or 5th (if China makes it) and basically wipe out the advantage the US has in Ice Dance. We know what Pairs will be. So then it comes down to Ladies. Can the Japanese women score 3-4 points higher than Bradie/Mirai? Difficult...but definitely possible. And if Sui/Han and Jin Boyang are both on...China is also in the mix.

I'm going to laugh my ass off when they let the Shibs skate both programs...and they don't even win Bronze. And then they're tired and damaged goods and don't win Ice Dance Bronze, either.

[quote].Adam is always trying SO HARD. Honey...the trick is to make it look like your pants just slipped a bit offering us a peek...not that you pulled them halfway down your ass to tell the world you're open for business.

Ha. I love you.

Will Aliona/Massot skate the Team Event? In Sochi she skipped it. It can be crucial because if Germany #2 skate instead of S/M, they will likely be in between Knierims and Japanese.

Their decision to withdraw from Euros may lead to skate the Team Event SP in order not to go into the individual event without a competition in months. However, the withdrawal from Euros was apparently related to some back issues for Massot. So maybe they don't want him to rest him again.

R182 Actually we're not media whores at all. We're totally not pissed that Procter & Gamble didn't find us inspiring enough (like they did that has-been Michelle Kwan and some nobody named Zahra Lari who isn't even an Olympian) for their Love Over Bias campaign celebrating athletes' moms. That's why we released our own video about how happy our childhood was, how much our mom loves us, how she always believes in us, and how we had absolutely no adversity to overcome in our life! Yep, as you can see, we came out of her womb with those winning smiles on our faces!

Does Adam ever post anything but half naked pictures of himself? The shallow gays of Instagram...

Wow, so the Shibs have been creepy ever since childhood.

Agree R190...that is one of the key questions. It definitely helps the Knierims score another point. But it also gives the French and Italians a point and helps them vs. Japan.

Those last 2 slots into the final will likely be decided by only a few points. Japan vs. China vs. France vs. Italy. I have them all estimated in the 23-26 range. So the Pairs now becomes key because...if Savchenko/Massot are out...and if James/Cipres hit their routine...where do you place them? Can they beat the Canadians and snag 3rd? If they do, it becomes a real possibility that the French can make the final (even assuming P/C lose the short to V/M.)

And if the French make the final, they are just as much a threat for that Bronze as Japan/China.

Rizzo, Besseghier, Fentz and Cha can be in any order in SP. It is 3 points difference.

Am I the only one who doesn't like the team event at all? Smaller countries have no chance, it's an extra burden on the skaters, etc. I don't feel like watching some of those programs twice again. Skating has never been a team sport. I don't mind WTT since it's just a fluff event, but these medals are supposed to mean something, and yet it's all so unbalanced that it seems like BS.

If Knierims go clean and Italians don't, they can beat them. At 2017 Worlds, IIRC, there was less only 1 point between Marchei/Hotarek and Knierim/Knierim.

[quote] Does Adam ever post anything but half naked pictures of himself? The shallow gays of Instagram...

yesterday he also posted an IG story about packing (with the help of Ashley) his underwears before leaving for PeyongChang.

The important things in life, R198

I don't mind the team event but it should be programmed AFTER the individual events so it wouldn't influence the results of the individuals, it could give the change for skaters who didn't do well to redeem themselves and it would be all around less stressful.

I enjoy the team factor of it. Gymnastics is not a team sport either and the "small" countries have no chance to medal either yet that team competition is pretty well accepted. It could become the same in figure skating

R191

Well at least we know where they get their blandness from. The whole video comes off so pretentious. "This is us"...yeah, so? You're spoiled rich suburban kids who grew up in Connecticut with ivy league educated parents who gave you everything in life, including all the money and resources to pursue an elite figure skating career. Stop trying to make your story seem so profound or interesting already, because it's not.

You're not interesting skaters, or interesting people, have no interesting backstory...so enough with the pretentious films edited like they're some inspiring Nike commercial.

The only thing weirdly interesting I got from watching that video is how much their mom and dad look like siblings themselves. Anyone find that as creepy and eery as I did?

Talking about important things, I think Mama Shibutani has a bad haircut

r186 Adam's body of work will get the US a Team Bronze medal unless one of Japan's skater's mothers is on the judging panel.

r200 I don't mind the team event but I don't love it either. I also don't like the timing, especially in that you get/have to see a lot of the top routines twice (I didn't need a preview of the V/M D/W showdown at Sochi). I also don't like that it gives individuals from larger countries an advantage of getting "warmed up" before their individual competitions. I don't mind that small countries don't have a shot at the team event, but I like how in gymnastics the qualifying rounds are all done together, so even those without a team have the same opportunity to qualify first time on the floor/ice/whathave you. I also just think the format is kind of boring. The team event in gymnastics works for me because each discipline is short and you need both a depth of field and some great all around skills.

I think the team event would be more exciting if it had a different set up. I agree it should come after the individual disciplines, and I think it should require either new/different and possibly shorter routines or IN ADDITION to having each of mens/womens/pairs/ice dancing skate, there should be a set of six to ten skating skills that each country needs to perform and the country can draw one person to perform each element. Back when I was judging skating a few of the smaller meets had team skills competitions like that (that were also co-ed). It would be boring if it were just a skills element competition, but having the skills in addition to performances would do something to distinguish it from a slog of repetition.

The Mentor Cup In Poland was definitely the event to get all the minimum TES needed for Worlds in Ice Dance this year

Chantelle KERRY / Andrew DODDSt (Australia)

Adel TANKOVA / Ronald ZILBERBERGt (Israel)

Teodora MARKOVA / Simon DAZEt(Bulgaria)

all got it in SD and FD yesterday and today

Markova/Daze managed to go over the minimum even with 2 falls in FD (one on the straight line lift).

Tankova / Zilbernberg are now heading to PyeongChang. For their booked last place.

Ronald's Olympic mugshot reminds us about the importance of make up in Ice Dance.

R203...I definitely agree about the programs. I am OVER seeing these programs again...and again...and again. Especially in the YouTube age where we can all watch our favorite programs a gazillion times. And there are so many people bringing things back from previous years. This is their job. I can't believe they can only do one short...one long...and one exhibition every calendar year.

The problem is that everyone is so invested in the idea that the programs are a work-in-progress. That they need to go to all of these smaller events to be judged...that they need to invite judges to their training camps to get feedback. That judges need time with these programs to be able to appreciate and judge them properly. Bullshit.

If I were running things...you would have one set of programs for the Grand Prix series and then another for 4CC/Europeans/Worlds. In Ice Dance, the Grand Prix would have a different pattern for the SD. So, at least there are two different sets of programs each year. (And since so many people care about "versatility"...each team would be forced to show that every season.) In the Olympics, you could pick either program...but you couldn't perform the same ones in both Team and Individual events.

R200 I too would like to see the team event after the individuals. The suspense of seeing whether any of the 4 individual gold medalists will become double gold medalists could be pretty exciting (to skating fans we already know some cases would be mathematically impossible, but casual Olympics fans pretty much have no idea how the relative countries stack up to each other). I mean, in Sochi did anybody care how Olympic Team Silver Medalist Kevin Reynolds might do in the individual event? But if the team event was after the individuals, it would have been fun anticipating whether Patrick Chan might redeem himself after losing the gold.

R203 Love the idea of a team skills portion, there could be so much discussion over strategy!

R205 Your idea sounds pretty ableist. Some of us have had so many concussions that we can't learn new choreography and have to use the same program for 3 seasons.

[R203] Write to the ISU and IOC about your idea please!!!! Super cool.

So it's seems pretty much confirmed the ShibSibots get to skate both parts. Fuck them. Nathan didn't want to skate twice, and who can blame him? Mirai is my sentimental favorite, but it really makes more sense for Bradie to skate twice. Oh, well. At least Adam will probably be able to say he's won an Olympic medal when all this is over.

Shibutani stans are gently crowing about this victory, although they seem to know in their hearts that H/D and even C/B will do better in the individual competition. Anyone can see H/D were overtaking them, but it's happened recently enough the Shibs still have higher ranking. Even if the Shibs don't make the individual podium, they can basic their way into a Team Bronze.

[quote]Porier's roommate might have been pairs' Charlie Bilodeau.

Yes, that is correct.

At last year's Worlds, Paul Poirier's roommate was Charlie Bilodeau.

Stephen Gogolev at the age of 13 skated in this years Canadian Senior Mens competition. WOW! He's got the jumps now he just need the form. And does he ever have the looks. He will be an Olympic contender in 2022.

TSL is reporting the Shib-bots will skate both dance events.

That's just so wrong.

This move just shows what ruthless cunts they are deep down, and how all their niceness is fake. They could've skated one event, and still won a medal. But no, they had to hog both, so C/B and H/D are shut out of a chance.

Ugh, not looking forward to seeing those selfish assholes ham it up in the Team USA kiss & cry. I wanted to see H/D eyefuck each other.

The Shibs just aren't good enough to get the ice dance all to themselves. I hope they come in behind both H/D and C/B in the individual.

Yay! Another reason to root against the Shibs. Their fans aren't actually being so bad...but they're definitely retreating into their "everyone's against the Shibs" mode. But it's nowhere near as annoying as the pussy juice being spilled because Baz Luhrmann gave Tessa and Scott a shout out.

But, I am telling you guys...if they use Adam, the US is not guaranteed that Bronze. I've been running the math. They are definitely the favorites...but those 3-4 points Adam's going to lose may very well matter. Japan and China are the likeliest 4th/5th spots to make the final (followed very closely by France and Italy.) But, assuming it's Japan/China, I have the US beating both of them for the Bronze by only 1 point. And that's with Nathan getting a 9...and the Shibs getting an 8 and a 9.

But...If Savchenko/Massot skate the short and come in behind Sui/Han...there goes that point advantage. Now they're tied with China. Anything can happen. The reality is that the second round helps teams that are really strong in one or two disciplines...and really weak in others. Even the shittiest skaters still get 6 points. The US can be caught. And that would make me laugh so fucking hard. It would serve the USFSA right for all this bullshit.

r211 Thank you pedo, he's your favorite is he?

[quote]Even if the Shibs don't make the individual podium, they can basic their way into a Team Bronze.

Should the Team event be abolished?

Seems like it's turning into a way for lesser skaters to win Olympic medals.

LOL, R216...careful...you'll wake the "It's not pedophilia if they're teenagers!" troll.

R210 I was confident that it was Charlie but did not want to spend an hour tracking down the photos to verify.

R219, when Paul shaved off his mustache, Charlie popped in to the bathroom to say hello.

Interesting R215. I'm reading a lot of people on Twitter saying if they use Mirai she's the one that will cost them a bronze.

A lot of people are going on about how Bradie should either skate both or Chen should skate the SP with Bradie skating the LP.

Wow, if the U.S. loses the Bronze team, then the USFSA will really be in for it--for pushing Adam into the Team event when he was fourth at Nationals, for pushing in the Shibs for both dances, when they were third in the FD at both Nationals and the Grand Prix.

Then it will all come back to screwing over Ross Miner.

C/B and H/D have way better long program than the SibShibs. It would be a travesty to see the latter skate both programs. I will be laughing when they lose.

[quote]Does Adam ever post anything but half naked pictures of himself?

I wish Adam had showed his full ass like Brian Joubert did.

Check out Mischa Ge's Instagram. He just posted a shirtless pic of his svelte figure in front of the mirror. Lot hotter than Adam's pic.

Some Japanese papers are suggesting that Tanaka would skate the Team Event FS if Japan make the final 5.

James/Cipres have announced they are going back to Sound of Silence as FP. So one more recycle.

To be fair, Sound of Silence is much better program and leaves a stronger impact.

R211...I absolutely wouldn't use Karen Chen, but otherwise don't think it really matters that much. Anything is possible, but I don't see any of the US women beating Russia, Canada, Japan or Carolina Kostner in the SP. So they're 5th. But then there's a huge gap. I mean they'd have to meltdown not to beat Mae-Berenice Meite from France or any of the other ladies.

Same thing with the FP. They're not going to beat Russia and don't seem likely to beat Canada or Japan. Italy probably won't make the final...but any US woman can beat France or China if they make the final. So the US is 4th.

Ladies in the Team Event is really all about Canada vs. Japan...and where Carolina Kostner places in the SP. If Kostner is 2nd, that might be enough to squeak Italy in. If she's 3rd, it's up in the air and depends on how Japan/China/France do. If she's 4th, Italy's probably out. Meanwhile, Japan needs its singles skaters to get as many points as possible to make the final and fight for Bronze. No one is beating the Russians...but if the Japanese ladies can't beat the Canadians, they're out of the medals.

Japan's road to Team Bronze just got harder. The Ladies now really have to bring it. They can't be 4th in the SP.

If Shoma and Jin Boyang can keep Nathan from getting 10 points in the SP, then they're still in it. If they can both beat him, the US in trouble. But, if Nathan wins, hard to see the US losing Bronze.

Blue and purple are the main colour of the skating area as seen during the practices this week. Only the North Koreans used it for practices this week

Some other skaters arrived on Saturday and Sunday. Some teams (Russia, part of Italy, part of France) were in other parts of Korea or Japan for training camps

R231...ugly looking venue with garish colors.

I feel like Olympic arenas should be beautiful and special, it elevates the sense of importance of the event. That rink looks like your run-of-the-mill ice rink with cheap Olympic window dressing tacked on.

I still think Lillehammer 94 Olympics had the best ice venue for figure skating. It looked so clean and beautiful.

Bychenko will be the flag bearer for Israel next Friday

Julian Yee will be the flag bearer for Malaysia (not that they have many to choose from...)

And as we knew, Virtue/Moir are doing it for Canada

In 2014 there were 5 figure skaters as flag bearers (Spain, China, Turkey, Lithuania, Philippines).

Some nations still have to announce it. Maybe they can reach 5 again. Who else can be a contender for the role? I think Misha Ge for Uzbekistan.

The argument some people are making for Chen to skate the SP is that her program is the only one that has any artistry to it. That seems like a weak argument. If they're going to use two skaters for the Ladies don't they have to put Bradie (the only one that's consistent) in the SP if they want a chance of even making it in to the finals?

It's not going to really matter, R234. The US is going to make the final. They have a 3-5 point cushion over Japan/China/France/Italy in the 1st round. Nathan and the Shibs could fall and they would still make the cut. The problem for the US is that they need that 3+ point cushion to win the Bronze medal because Japan/China/France can outscore them in Round 2. If you make it to the final, the team event favors countries that excel in 1-2 disciplines vs. countries that are mediocre across the board.

Japan/China/France all have glaring weakness. For France, it's singles. For China, it's Ladies and Dance. For Japan, it's Pairs and Dance. But, if they make it to the final round, those weaknesses are minimized. The lowest anyone can score is 6 points. But, if you have Papadakis/Cizeron or Sui/Han getting 10s...you can make up a lot of ground...particularly when US men, ladies and pairs are only getting 6s/7s.

The Ladies and Pairs events for the US don't matter. Barring some catastrophe, they're not good enough to move up...but they're too good to move down. Total middlebrow. But, the US needs Nathan and the Shibutanis to deliver. In the 1st Round, Nathan needs to get 1st or 2nd...and the Shibutanis to get 3rd. If they falter, then the US in in trouble.

Annoying as they've become, I think the Shibs will deliver in the first round. There's a big gap between them and the Russian and Italian teams in the short. Nathan's been consistent with his short--it's his long that's been problematic.

Second round--it needs to be Bradie--she has the technical difficulty and consistency.

they have twin dogs. Actually, they set up a IG account for the dogs...

R237 - It's sad when their dogs have more personality than them.

So if the US Ladies are interchangeable in the Team competition, who is going to compete?

Bradie is probably a lock to compete but who gets the second slot? Will it be Chen over Nagasu?

If they are in fact selecting that team based on the criteria linked above, Bradie and Karen rank higher than Mirai, right?

R238 Maia would do anything she could to train the dogs like she and her brother were treated and turn them into dogbots after reading your comment.

Mirai has higher potential base value than Karen. She had a better season and she beat Karen at Nationals. Oh, and she has her redemption arc, so PR favors putting her in.

Karen really bombed it with her headgames this season. That said, I'd rather watch her underrotate her short than watch Mirai two-foot her triple axel. Karen's skating has beauty to it. Mirai skates from jump to jump with zip musicality.

TSL just posted a new video with a preview of the upcoming Games. They went pretty in-depth with the Team competition and they said they had confirmed the Shibs will do both skates and that it is fairly certain that Nathan and Adam will do the Short and Long as well as Bradie and Mirai doing the short and long.

A lot of what has been said in this thread was echoed by Dave Lease and it really does make me wonder if he reads these threads.

Nathan got a pretty flattering promo short commercial after the Superbowl. Maybe it aired during the game itself, but I didn't watch. It ended with "Nathan Chen is the best the U.S. has to offer." Shibs must not like that. They may have manuvered themselves front and center for the team competition, and got themselves a handful of decent sponsers, but ain't nothing inspiring or interesting about them. They're certainly not worthy of a Morgan Freeman Olympic commercial.I hope H/D and C/D skate out for blood in the individual event.

I wonder if Shibs will retire after this season? Maybe they'll gain more mainstream fans after the Olympics and after they've begged and pleaded their way onto Dancing with the Stars, but Meryl and Charlie they are not. They've peaked as a dance team, IMO. ShibSib stans are convinced their duo's constant social media whoring will make them sought after commodities, but they seem like the type to keep competing because they don't know what else to do with themselves. Bradie will be undisputed U.S. Lady #1 for at least a couple of seasons. I hope she develops a personality in that time.

I hope Tessa Hong gets more consistent. That girl is magic on ice compared to Horseteeth Mcgee.

Tessa Hong was a stunning novice/junior, but unfortunately puberty has not been kind to her. Short dumpy legs with a long torso, shades of Caroline Zhang (but with better skating skills and no mule kick). She was already struggling with making the rotations at Nats. And looking at Caroline at the same age-circa 09-Tessa might still have quite a bit of puberty to get through. :(

Brother and sister teams are just stupid in pairs and dance. Oleg Protopopov used to say that in the 60's.

The only brother/sister team I found somewhat entertaining was the Kerrs.

Of course Dave Lease reads here as well as GS and FSU. Most of the things he says are just regurgitated opinions from elsewhere. He's not nearly as clever or connected as his hangers-on want to believe.

The problem isn't that the Shibs are siblings or that they're limited in what kinds of programs they can do. Look at Papadakis/Cizeron. We all know they're not fucking. Even when portraying romance or passion (like Mozart or their Ravensburger Waltz)...they don't portray sex. (Note the snide comments about man/woman dynamics.) And yet they keep winning and setting World Records. They could have done any of their programs this quad if they were brother/sister.

The problem with the Shibs is their complete lack of expressiveness...in personality and movement. There was a thread somewhere a year or two ago where some of their fans (who seemed to be Asian American) were complaining that there was a racial/cultural bias against the Shibutanis. That because they were Asian American they were viewed as hard-working but not artistic. That even the praise for their twizzles was backhanded.

There is some truth to the backhanded part. I think that most commentators do overly praise their twizzles and unison and other technical things...but it's because they actually do find them hard-working, but boring. It's not racial. No one is saying shit like that about Sui/Han. The truth is that Sui Wenjing gives more performance in the first 10 seconds of Turandot than Maia Shibutani has in her entire career.

I, too, am curious what happens to the top American teams after this season. Based on what we've seen this year, the new recruits (except Hawayek/Baker) aren't ready. And no one (not even Chock/Bates) has been kicked to the curb. That FD has kept C/B in the game and seems to be gaining in popularity. H/D are definitely on the rise and are now US #1. In fact, the only people who seem to be on the decline are the Shibutanis. (Who, let's remember, only medalled at last year's Worlds because both H/D and C/B had catastrophic errors.)

I am fascinated to see what those Team SD scores are going to be. That will tell us a lot about the Ice Dance medals.

I was just re-watching the US Ladies FS at Nationals again and at the end of Mirai's skate, one of the commentators, I think it was Tara, said something like:

"Mirai doesn't expect that anyone is just going to hand her anything."

And it sort of sounded like a bitch slap at Ashley.

R250 Tara hates that she once mentored Ashley only for her to turn into a lazy mediocre old who can't even land a clean 3-3.

Yeah, the whole it's-racism thing comes up a little too often, IMO, given that it's no longer 1980. I think Kristi Yamaguchi did face some racism--not in judging, but in the sponsorships she got afterwards. But with Michelle Kwan's dominance, I really don't think the USFSA is trying to ice out Asian-American skaters. I don't think that's what was going on when Ashley got sent over Mirai. Mirai's skating had been in the dumps and she, as well as Ashley, were both beaten by a 15-year-old out of juniors as well as Gracie Gold.

The Shibs should *not* have both spots in the team events, not with a free dance that scores behind those of both the U.S. Champions and C/B. I think, if they stick around, they'll see their placements drop again.

I do admire their precision--the unison they can have is really striking--but they peaked two years ago with the only program they've ever done where they expressed something. When you spend your time trying to recapture the magic, you're done. I'd much rather watch C/B, who are uneven, but at least try new things. I think the reason that the Shibs short is better than their long is that they had to do something different to make a Latin number work. Basically, they have the Ashley Wagner problem, but with better technique.

It's different with P/C--they do have a style--but what they do has evolved. Moonlight Sonata's lovers are much more fraught and complex than the ones in Mozart. "Build a Home" was personal, about them, while last year's was quite abstract (and didn't connect with the audience as well--it had to be explained.) P/C remind me a bit of Torvill and Dean in that it's about weaving a spell with them--think it's why P/C are noticeably much better as the season progresses--all the little connections and bits of eye contact really matter with them in a way it doesn't with, say, Davis/White.

Re: Tessa Hong, Caroline Zhang--it's kind of unfair, but short stumpy legs just don't look good--and I suspect the wrong physique brings down PCS scores more often than one might think.

Meanwhile, I think Bradie Tennell's artistry and overall styling will improve. There are a number of make-up and costuming tweaks that will bring out her looks more. All of that's pretty raw, though someone was shrewd about her program choices--an SP to a very popular Korean movie and then Cinderella for someone coming out of the woodwork and making a splash.

This move by the Shibs shows not only how desperate they are for an Olympic medal, but how spiteful and underhanded they are as well.

They need this Olympic medal so they can attach it to their branding. Honestly, in 2-5 years, no one will remember them as National champs. But you add Olympic medalist to their resume, and suddenly they have a little more cache in terms of offers. It will definitely put them on Dancing with the Stars, and justify their sponsors investment in them.

The fact that they are denying this opportunity to H/D and C/B, shows their true colors in my opinion. It's not enough to win a medal, they want to come out of this Olympics as the only US dance team guaranteed a medal. H/D might still capture an individual medal, but that's not a sure thing.

I mean not defending the Shibs, can't stand those closet assholes but i'm sure they are doing the team event not because they campaigned for it but because Nathan said he didn't want to do both programs. So team USA had one of the substitutions in the men. They are left with one. They want to give Mirai a medal for the story so they can put her in the ultimate #getup video. I think from a skating point of view splitting the dance would have been better. But for the story definitely Mirai.

Panel of judges for Team Event

Ladies : Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Russia

Men: Austria, Canada, China, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, United States

Pairs : Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel

Ice Dance: Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Slovak Republic, Spain, United States, Turkey, Ukraine

So Canada everywhere. Russia only in Ladies. USA with no judge in Ladies and Pairs. Italy with no judges in the team event.

Hmmm, China everywhere as well. Japan only in ice dance.

Technical Panels are the same of the individual events.

LADIES

Technical Controller: Susan LYNCH (AUS)

Technical Specialists: Jae-Eun CHUNG (KOR), Yevgeny MARTYNOV (UKR)

MEN

Technical Controller: Raffaella LOCATELLI (ITA)

Technical Specialists: Konstantin KOSTIN (LAT), Ricardo OLAVARRIETA (MEX)

PAIRS

Technical Controller: Anna SIEROCKA (POL)

Technical Specialists: Simon BRIGGS (GBR), Todd SAND (USA)

DANCE

Technical Controller: Hilary SELBY (GBR)

Technical Specialists: Slavka GRINCOVA (SVK), Tae-Hwa YANG (KOR)

Tae Hwa Yang was an ice dancer....a crap ice dancer...but it's the occasion to drag out this FD....the hairstyle, the colour of his hairs, the costumes...

[quote]I mean not defending the Shibs, can't stand those closet assholes but i'm sure they are doing the team event not because they campaigned for it but because Nathan said he didn't want to do both programs.

Word however was right after Nationals they were going around campaigning to skate both. If the selection criteria posted above is accurate, they would have been offered first choice.

Wow. I've never really paid attention to them... they really are the worst.

I honestly don't understand how their stans can believe that those two are genuinely as earnest and peppy as they try. so. hard. to come across. Are their supporters just completely devoid of cynicism, or sweet little old ladies? Jason Brown, now there's a guy who I believe is genuinely sweet as pie. And he doesn't have to upload 100 'cute' childhood home videos a week or publish a love letter to his mommy on Insta to convince me.

The guys from the Skating Lesson pulled no punches in their Olympic preview: "I think the[Shibs'] FD will suffer more with the judges each time they perform it." And going in for the kill: "Let them have the Team Bronze. That's fine. Let them have it. I think they'll go out for the individual event...and their careers will be over the first week of the Olympics."

I think Canada winning Team Gold, then P/C winning Gold in dance might leave most everyone but the hardcore uber V/M stans happy. Patrick Chan can finally pretend he's better than Hanyu with an OGM and a couple of silvers. Tessa and Scott will end their run as the most decorated Ice Dancers.

I know 2 Russian gals will be on the Ladies podium but I decided I don't mind if Satoko crawls in there with bronze. Bless her little pre-rotated heart, she always gives it 150%. I can respect that. Carolina wouldn't disappoint me either as long as she ditches that glittery celery costume.

Too bad the team event doesn't exclude athletes competing in the individual event. That would give more skaters a chance at the olympics and really encourage depth in field.

R259...ugh, the stupid food puns. God, these two are so fucking fake. They literally went to a grocery store to film themselves holding up a juice box with their pictures on it. Like, seriously? How corny and self-congratulatory can you get?

[quote]Jason Brown, now there's a guy who I believe is genuinely sweet as pie.

Exactly. He can be annoying, but you know he's genuinely nice, because even in defeat he's gracious. He doesn't give sullen whiny bitch face like Alex when he loses. And he's nice to everyone, not just the famous skaters who can boost his connections.

Honestly, I think after losing Nationals, the Shibs decided to put all their eggs into the team event. They want that Olympic medal, come hell or high water, and that's their only realistic chance of getting one.

Once they get it, they'll retire.

What do you freaks have against these happy Asians.

[quote]...ugh, the stupid food puns. God, these two are so fucking fake. They literally went to a grocery store to film themselves holding up a juice box with their pictures on it. Like, seriously? How corny and self-congratulatory can you get?

Not only that. They were trying to act like they were only happy that their parents were on the box. Yeah, right.

Well that juice video could be worse. It could be this 9 minutes of Hell.

First, she uses one of those face masks so she looks like the chick from "Eyes Without a Face." Then she starts applying eyeshadow with her stubby fingers. I could only last 3:30. I need porn to scrub my brain. Or maybe I'll scroll through Guillaume's Instagram.

Stolbova and Bukin have appealed to CAS. Verdict to be known tomorrow

R258 Oh I have no doubt they campaigned and for nasty reasons but I still think he USFSA decision came down more because they didn't want to jeopardize Nathan's chances at a podium in individuals (so splitting the men) and wanted the nice publicity from Mirai's story (splitting the ladies) rather than because the Shibs wanted to do both. When it came to dance, Shibs were 1st ranked so yeah they were asked and since they wanted to do both anyways then it was fitting.

I hope Dave Lease is right and that they get destroyed in the team event. As for the racism towards them that's just a shit excuse. Look at Madison Chock, she is Asian-American and no one ever questioned her ability to emote and her interpretation. Even the poor North-Korean skaters are far more interesting and emotive than the Shib bots

Tutberidze is in fact a man.

Do female skaters have their own makeup teams? Or do they all just do their own makeup?

R269 maybe the top skaters can afford professionals

I think middle ranking skaters are generally doing it by themselves (or by their coach/mothers)

During Euro Free Dance they did a couple of shots at backstage during ice resurfacing and you could see Tiffany Zagorski applying the make up (fard) to Jonathan Guerreiro. I once saw a pic from locker room at last year's Worlds with Cappellini putting the eyeliner on Lanotte. So they do it by themselves.

[quote]What do you freaks have against these happy Asians.

LOL. I don't like them either, but they are so bland and generic that I can't work up any strong feelings at all. Spoiled and fake, I get it, but that's the vast majority of North American skaters for you.

At big competitions likes worlds or any competition that takes place in Japan there is a hair & make-up (and costume repair) service. So skaters can book an appointment before their program to get their make-up done. For the rest pretty sure they do it by themselves. Maybe team Japan has a stylist that travels with them common for the entire team (they are sponsored by Kosé after all) but i don't think even the biggest stars like Mao Asada had a personal stylist. When skating was huge in USA, the ladies actually had a team stylist and all their make-up at least at nationals was done by pros. Not sure now.

R267 I agree with what you wrote re: wanting to make sure Mirai was in so they could have that story. From the report from Dave Lease though, USFSA originally wanted and had intended for Nathan to skate both and split the Dance and Ladies so that they could have a stronger Free Dance and also include Mirai. Despite knowing this, the Shibs apparently were campaigned hard to deny another pair the opportunity. If this is true, I hope it fucks them over. Nevermind, I hope it fucks them over regardless.

Watched The Skating Lesson. Dave's take on the Team Event was interesting, but I disagreed on some things. First, he basically ignored China as a factor...picking instead Italy and Japan to make the final (with Canada, Russia, US). That's absolutely possible. Japan/China/Italy/France are all going to be very close. Within a couple of points of each other. Any two of them could make it. But China has Sui/Han and Jin Boyang. If S/H win the SP and Boyang can snag 3rd (maybe 4th)...China is probably in.

I think people are forgetting about Jin Boyang. He just won 4CC (beating Shoma). The men's event is likely going to be a fucking splat fest. Take the GPF and then add injured Hanyu, nervous Javi and Patrick Chan. It's going to be about who lands their jumps. Boyang does that and has won the last two World Bronzes. It's definitely possible he could win Individual Bronze or help China win Team Bronze.

I'm also not sold on the fact that Canada is the runaway favorite for Gold. V/M win the Ice Dance. Russia wins Ladies. The Canadian women will likely score higher than Bobrova/Soloviev. Advantage Canada. So, now it's down to which country scores higher in Men's and Pairs. Will Patrick Chan score higher than Kolyada? Will Duhamel/Radford score higher than Tarsova/Morozov?

And, what other countries make the final? If I'm Russia and I'm playing politics for Team Gold, Italy in the final doesn't help me. China doesn't help much. I'd want Japan and France in the final. The Japanese ladies are the only shot to knock down the Canadian ladies in Round 2. That's a couple of points. Papadakis/Cizeron are the only ones that can stop V/M. France also has James/Cipres, which are really the only Pairs team you can slot between T/M and D/R to earn Russia a few more points.

Meanwhile, Canada definitely wants Italy and China in the final. It will interesting to see which side wins and how Round 1 is scored. Do Kostner and the Japanese place over Osmond/Daleman in Round 1? Do P/C win the SD like they did at the GPF? Do James/Cipres beat Duhamel/Radford? All of those things are possible and point to Russian Gold.

Sui/Han and Boyang are not doing the team event. Without them, China has less chances to qualify for the free.

I actually think the finalists will be Canada, Russia, USA, Japan and either France or Italy. I also think Japan has a tiny tiny chance at a bronze if their singles really deliver.

Some of the US Skaters are only just now getting to Korea. Competition for the Team portion begins in a few days... shouldn't they have gotten their much earlier?

Really, R275? I hadn't heard that. Damn...that makes things less fun. Without them, China has no chance at all. It will be between Japan/France/Italy. And no Sui/Han helps James/Cipres and France. No Savchenko/Massot would help them, too.

Totally agree about Japan. They have a shot at Bronze and it's all about their singles skaters. Not using Shoma in the FS hurts...so he needs to beat Nathan in the short and then those ladies have to bring it. France making the final would help Japan, too. Japan needs Papadakis/Cizeron, Virtue/Moir and Bobrova/Soloviev to beat the Shibutanis. It will be interesting to see if Dave's right and the Shibs are taken down. That could get Japan that Bronze.

Ugh...this Team Event needs to start already. I'm so sick of doing math.

Who is skating Pairs for China in TE? Grandpa or the leftovers? If Cheng Peng is in her "let's fall at every jump " mood with Yin following her, they can place behind the Italians.

I was just listening to a podcast of Rudy Galindo and he was talking about how he had a husband-wife coach who were terrible to him. He wouldn't name them though. Does anyone know?

R279 Grant Hochstein and Caroline Zhang

I'd go overboard with the Facetune too if I had to share a pic with HOTarek

I can't stand the Shibs at all. The constant self promotion and the utterly bland personalities, compounded with their lifeless programs makes them most unappealing. I hope they go away for good after these Olympics. Their parents have money and are crazy control freaks. It would be really good if they never came back to anything remotely related to skating. They are destined to be 40 year old virgins.

[quote]That's true, [R167]. Hopefully someone is giving that ass a workout.

I would love to get my hands on Poirier's ass, R168.

Yeah, R281...Ondrej Hotarek is so sexy. Seems so fun and smiles all the time. There were some backstage shots on some of the Europeans coverage that showed him doing these pelvic moves in front of the mirror. Love him. Anna C. is one lucky lady.

Matteo Guarise is also hot...but he's like a porn star where he looks awesome naked and weird in clothes. Why is he in an ugly sparkly leotard and a man bun? He's fucking Italian. He was a model. Is national pride going to kick in at some point?

Ice Dance has some hotties like Guillaume...but, hands down, the sexiest men in figure skating are the Pairs men. Unless you're a rice queen and only watch Men's.

[quote]They are destined to be 40 year old virgins.

For some reason I don't think they're virgins at all.

I'd love (and respect them) if they'd skate a "The House of Yes," program!

HeShib was certainly doing the Tinder rounds in Sochi...and posting wholesome selfies with virgin Lolo Jones for the benefits of the tiger parents.

Um, they lost their virginity to each other. That incest ship sailed long ago.

Here's a reenactment of that fateful night in case your interested.

They should skate to this soundtrack.

[quote]Matteo Guarise is also hot...but he's like a porn star where he looks awesome naked and weird in clothes. Why is he in an ugly sparkly leotard and a man bun? He's fucking Italian. He was a model. Is national pride going to kick in at some point?

He was a roller pairs skater first. Roller skaters are like the trashy pro bowlers of figure skating with no class and worse technique. Right, Tara?

And the Italian roller skaters (who are by default the best) are basically Jersey Shore levels of guido and guidette. He's doing great by comparison.

Arutunian said that Rippon will skate the FS in the Team Event.

Rippon is not attempting the quad anymore. He will start with a 2A

Boyang is not in Pyeongchang yet. Yan Han was at practices this morning. So it looks like it will be him for China.

uhm, Papadakis/Cizeron were a no show at practices today. Lauriault/Le Gac did the SD practice.

Are P/C skipping the Team Event?

If they are not doing it, it's Japan and Italy for the final (I assume Kostner will skate the TE given Giada Russo is only leaving Italy for South Korea today)

Virtue/Moir changed their lift to be more "family friendly"? Who gives a damn...that was the only thing I liked about this program! Why does everything have to be watered down and bland for the children? Fuck the children!

R292...Papadakis/Cizeron are officially out of the Team event.

What could have been a thrilling competition is now boring as shit. We have Gold medal favorites in Men's, Pairs and Dance skipping the Team event to get ready for their Individual events. And it's unfortunate, but perfectly understandable. It's one thing when you're Russia/Canada/US and are likely to medal. An Olympic medal is forever and you're seen as a winner.

If P/C skated the SD, there's a good chance they'd lose to V/M. And even if France made the final and P/C won the FD...Canada would win a medal and France would not. V/M would win...and P/C would lose. So I get it, but it sucks. No P/C...no Sui/Han...and a double dose of the Shibutanis. I don't care whether Russia or Canada wins Gold and I no longer think any country can beat the US for Bronze. Now all that's left to enjoy are Ondrej/Matteo/Morgan (the Pairs hotties)...and hoping my voodoo works on Alex Shibutani and he fucks up his twizzles again.

Move this fucking event to the end already! People would be skating with broken legs to try and get a medal.

Kolyada will do the SP for OAR

OK...the French guy, Alain, from GoldenSkate who always has the P/C info has chimed in.

P/C are still in Montreal working on "sensational" new stuff in their programs. They are skipping the Opening Ceremonies and won't fly to Korea until next week.

That's good. I've felt they needed to add some things to really seal the deal and get that Gold. I thought we'd see more changes at Europeans, but it's probably better to debut them at the Olympics. And now, they're in Canada while Virtue/Moir and Hubbell/Donohue are in Korea...so have some peace and freedom from their main competitors.

Hope we get more dynamic endings to both programs...especially the SD. It's very possible that V/M get a World Record SD score in the Team event. Also possible that they finally break 120 in the FD...200+ total...and even the Total Score World Record. P/C are going to need to show the judges a little something extra to make it easy to give them Gold. Probably a good move to ditch the Team and stay in Canada.

So V/M have been doing a program about a prostitute all season and only *now* it's occurring to them that, yeah, it's vulgar. The lift is vulgar, the whole program is vulgar. Duh.

I'm beginning to think the real issue with Virtue/Moir is that they're not that smart.

P/C can't do a whole lot in a week, but this does mean they can tweak some things without V/M and H/D seeing what they're doing (not that they're worried about H/D.)

I'm beginning to fall into the school of thought that the Shib pass into the team event isn't about the Shibs, but Zueva, because judges do not like the Shib free dance--they're not going to beat a clean Hubbell/Donohue--so we are looking at a Gadbois sweep if things continue the way that they have. And it's not good for U.S. ice dance if Canada has the only go-to place for coaching. The fact that the Shibs have all the endorsement deals doesn't hurt either--they've been used as one of the faces of the Olympic games.

Man, Maia's stumble at Nationals really did cost them. The individual bronze is no longer inevitable.

LOL at that family friendly prostitution program. Yeah i'm sure it is gonna be so much classier without the cunniliftus.

Do the eyes automatically close when you lay it down?

R299 that heavy photoshop is really scary. Didn't they realize how bad it looked before submitting that pic?

He is getting less masculine as he grows up

Jorik Hendrickx has officially come out last month.

Did you see this video of Adam with Tyler Oakley?

So who do you think is likely to win gold? (Team, pairs, men's, dance, ladies'?)

Team: Canada, pairs: no clue, men's: Chen, dance: P/C, ladies': some Russian.

I hope Chen does not win. I find his actual skating sorely lacking and unbalanced. I'd rather watch Javi or Yuzuru any day. Even Boyang who is at least entertaining, if similarly unbalanced. For some reason, the US cannot produce a man who can jump quads and have good SS and showmanship the same time.

Anybody but Chen.

I like Nathan Chen's skating--he uses interesting music and has decent musicality. He's not as fluid as some of the other top men, but he has his own style

As for predictions--only thing I'm positive about is that a Russian Lady will win Gold. Hope Sui/Han take it in pairs. I think Papadakis/Cizeron have the edge over Virtue/Moir.

Men's a crap shoot. Hanyu's the best of the lot, but he's been missing in action. I'll root for Nathan Chen, since American figure skating needs the boost, but I'd be happy to see Javier get it as well. Shoma's in the mix and maybe Boyang Jin since his 4 CC win. Patrick Chen no longer seems to stay on his feet

Starting Orders for tomorrow

Junhwan Cha

Paul Fentz

Chafik Besseghier

Yan Han

Matteo Rizzo

Patrick Chan

Alexei Bychenko

Nathan Chen

Mikhail Kolyada

Shoma Uno

PAIRS

KIM Kyueun / KAM Alex Kang Chan

CONNERS Paige / KRASNOPOLSKI Evgeni

SUZAKI Miu / KIHARA Ryuichi

SCIMECA KNIERIM Alexa / KNIERIM Chris

YU Xiaoyu / ZHANG Hao

DELLA MONICA Nicole / GUARISE Matteo

JAMES Vanessa / CIPRES Morgan

DUHAMEL Meagan / RADFORD Eric

SAVCHENKO Aljona / MASSOT Bruno

TARASOVA Evgenia / MOROZOV Vladimir

R300 It is photoshopped but it's also an old pic. He's always been kinda feminine, it's cute. R301 Thought so. Good for him! Hopefully more will come out before the next Olympics. R302 I enjoyed it despite disliking Oakley. As for first out Olympian, I guess they mean American.

The team event starts before the opening ceremony? Weird.

R310 it's like softball and a few.other sports in the Summer Games. Starts before the opening ceremony begins because there's not enough time for all rounds to be completed during the Games.

Takahashi's lips are so kissable.

Shoma has very good tastes between Takahashi, Lambiel and Javier. Better than Hanyu and his obsession with Plushenko (and Weir).

Actual picture of him watching Daisuke's softporn danceshow

How do they make decisions as to which athletes share rooms with one another?

Mirai is sharing a room with one of the Ice Dancers. Not Maia because she and her brother are obviously share a bed.

Also, the housing looks terrible. They're apparently putting athletes in accommodations that aren't even finished yet. Obviously not as bad as Sochi, but still.

I think it's a bit who gets along with who. Meité and Vanessa James are rooming together because they are close friends for example. They also try not to put people who compete against each other in the same rooms as much as possible. So all the single ladies from team USA will team with the ice dancers imo.

I remember there was that story that Machida was rooming with Hanyu in Sochi and actually asked to move and was put with Takahashi instead.

The non finished accommodations are one thing, what's really scary is the gastro outbreak.

I thought the athletes got to decide.

Didn't Kristi and Nancy ask to room together?

It's a smarter strategy to not have those competing against one another sharing a room.

Is Alex going to have to room with Adam???

Adam: Reason #4: It's easier to get yourself on the team when you don't actually earn the spot!

It's telling that they only showed the Shib Twins once..... no personality and absolutely nothing to say.

[quote]The team event starts before the opening ceremony? Weird.

Yeah, I don't like the fact that the Team Event is starting so early.

Some cool graphics in this article...

Is there a thread for tonight’s event coverage?

R321 can probably just be discussed here.

Yeesh...lots of nerves so far

Poor little Nathan Chen

Is tonight streaming anywhere online?

NBC website, app, Hulu TV, YouTube Live, BBC if you have a vpn etc. r325

I told you that Nathan was too young to compete.

How did Patrick get higher marks when he fell worse....oh wait!

Might Japan have a case for bronze now? Not just with Shoma coming first but with the US score being what it is?

Thanks, R326.

What did I miss?

Men's splatfest except for Shoma, and the very useful and good NBC being kind enough to show a fluff piece on Nathan rather than show Bychenko.

So where does Nathan's skate put the US in terms of qualifying?

1) Shoma Uno 103.25

2) Bychenko 88.49 PB

3) Patrick Chan 81.66 (with 2 falls)

4) Nathan Chen 80.61 (one fall, popped not Axel jump into a triple, so invalid element)

5) Matteo Rizzo 77.77

6) Cha 77.70

7) Yan Han 77.10 (two falls)

8) Kolyada 74.36 (2 falls and a pop)

9) Paul Fentz 66.32 (2 falls)

10) Chafik Besseghier 61.06

This is the moment! This is the day, When I send all my doubts and demons On their way! Every endeavor, I have made - ever - Is coming into play, Is here and now - today! This is the moment, This is the time, When the momentum and the moment Are in rhyme! Give me this moment - This precious chance - I'll gather up my past And make some sense at last! This is the moment, When all I've done - All the dreaming, Scheming and screaming, Become one! This is the day - See it sparkle and shine, When all I've lived for Becomes mine! For all these years, I've faced the world alone, And now the time has come To prove to them I've made it on my own! This is the moment - My final test - Destiny beckoned, I never reckoned, Second Best! I won't look down, I must not fall! This is the moment, The sweetest moment of them all! This is the moment! Damn all the odds! This day, or never, I'll sit forever With the gods! When I look back, I will always recall, Moment for moment, This was the moment, The greatest moment Of them all!

* popped into a double for NC. Hence being 0 points

The 2 more points that Rizzo got by beating Cha and Han by 0.something can be crucial for Italy.

Meanwhile, Stolbova and Bukin have lost their appeal to CAS

I hate the team event. It was thrown together just to give Russia another Gold, specifically Plushenko. It dilutes the rest of the competition. I wish they'd do away with it.

Suzuki/Kihara beat Israel and South Korea

That's the best they could actually

So good for Japan

Lots of celebration in the Japanese stand

I agree, r337!

Well, we're not in the Scotty Hamilton as commentator era anymore. To hear the word "abysmal" in a live call of a US skater (so sorry, Nathan) has probably not happened ever, or at least going back to the Dick Button era. And again live, Johnny Weir doubles down on "I've never seen him skate so badly" as a way to agree Chen can come back in individual event.

Our buy Rippon will skate the long for the team event.

For an Asian, Chen is kinda hot, I would do him.

Hot? Not!

God watched down and the Knierims were solid

I hated his music.

There's nothing more tacky than when they cheer themselves with their fists in the air after landing a difficult jump. It's distracting and messes up the routine. Plus, it makes you look stupid when later in the program you screw up. Like the US couple just did.

I liked that the Japanese skaters used the theme from a gay figure skating anime

69.75 for K/K

they can beat the Italians with this score depending on Nicole/Matteo's performance (they need to be clean)

Let's remember Zhang/Zhang's epic Silver splat in Torino

Oh, Yu/Zhang behind the Knierims. Pairs good for USA

America team is in first place now!

Della Monica/Guarise can't beat Knierims with this and they will be between USA and Japan. Japan has done one place better than expected but USA two spots better than expected.

67.72 currently third place for Italy

Why the hell didn't Italy use Marchei/Hotarek? They would be in 1st place with their kickass SP. Why put your weaker team first?

Maybe the pairs teams themselves requested it that way

I don't think it's clear who is the best Italian team among the 2. DM/G won Nationals and M/H had better placement at Euros.

Jesus christ Megan can you look more like a dyke?

Nathan is a hot fucker.

The best part of my day today was watching Patrick fall. Watching him fail is always the best thing about the Winter Olympics. It was tempered by the usual higher than deserved marks though.

I'm really in to Cipres' ass.

James/Cipres 68.49

Behind USA and China

Is anyone watching on nbcolympics having issues with the feed skipping forward and back?

I haven't watched pairs skating in years.... when did they all get so old? Seems like everyone in this last group is in their 30s?

And this Megan chick from Canada.. I know they're World Champions but she seems to have no flow in anything she does.

She has the body of a gymnast.

1) Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov 80.92

2) Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford 76.57

3) Aljona Savchenko/Bruno Massot (fall for Aljona on the throw) 75.36

So Chen has to skate perfect to even medal in the individual basically.

Canada 17 points

USA 14

Russia 13

Japan 13

Israel 11

China 10

Italy 10

Germany 10

South Korea 6

France 6

Meanwhile, Papadakis/Cizeron feeling pretty good about their decision to skip this shit show.

So US finished higher than expected

I guess U.S on track for Bronze in the team event.

Matteo Guarise is hot!

Johnny Weir's ridiculous pompadour looks like a dead skunk sitting on his head. I hope they make him chop it off before he appears on camera again. He's destroying the entire Olympic movement with it.

How sad that former Olympic athlete Johnny Weir is shilling "fat freezing."

[quote]Matteo Guarise is hot!

Have you checked out his naked modelling pics, R368?

Tara and Johnny were praised when they first started out for giving commentary that was easy to understand and tried to explain things to the casual viewer. That approach seems to have gone out the window. Their presentation tonight was jam-packed with technical gobbledy-gook that they spewed a mile a minute. Might as well bring back Scott Hamilton and the other one.

r371 Surprised to learn he was a roller skater, who does that?

So is Yuna the most likely to light the cauldron in a few hours?

Flagbearers from figure skating

Virtue/Moir (Canada)

Bychenko (Israel)

Julian Yee (Malaysia)

Moris Kvitelashvili (Georgia)

I'm guessing Yuna, though there are also some short-track skaters who've won gold for S. Korea, but she's the internationally famous Korean athlete.

Boy, who'd have thought Nathan Chen would flail like that--we're talking Gracie Gold levels-- and the Knierims would save the day with an almost clean skate.

I'm also fine with Canada winning Team Gold. They'll be insufferable, but IMO Russia shouldn't actually be competing in a team event.

Also, shut the fuck up, Tara.

Luckily for Chen, he had the terrible skate in the Team Event rather than in the individual one.

well you don't know that yet

Gotta love the typically shitty NBC coverage. Four fucking channels and they still can't show a whole event. Unless it's that fat brother/sister mixed doubles curling team. They've been doing a good job with the Grand prix series and Europeans/4CC...but if they do the rest of the skating events like this...it's going to fucking suck.

The US is lucky. They could very easily be 3 points behind where they are now. But, nothing has really changed. They avoided total disaster, but are where they were expected to be points-wise. In Bronze medal position, but Japan is within striking distance. How will the Japanese ladies do? They need to place a couple fo spots higher than Bradie. Even then, still hard to see Japan getting Bronze without Shoma in the FS. If it's close, I wonder if they'll rethink and put him in.

And in non-skating news, Bode Miller is looking good. Can we get him to replace Tara and Johnny?

Bode is so cute. A guilty pleasure crush for me. Because I know that he's a douchebag!

I've run into Bode a few times hiking in the White Mountains. He seemed nice enough but not verbose. "How's it going" type thing.

Patrick Chan, of course, has an excuse for his poor performance. At least Nathan Chen is owning his mistakes.

[quote]Chan said the early start threw him off a little. “You have to take that into account,” he said. But Chen, the reigning two-time U.S. men’s champion, gave himself no such out. He said he was prepared to skate well and was disappointed that he let his teammates down. “I need to just recalculate everything in my head and do a better job,” he said.

God, Patrick Chan is so full of himself. He must be such an intolerable bottom.

Vincent almost didn't get to walk in the Opening Ceremonies. He apparently packed up his uniform and sent it off elsewhere.

Sounds like Emanuel Sandhu bit Chan on his neck and turned him into an Entitled Vampire...

Yes, I rolled my eyes when I saw Chan blaming the start time. They announced the schedule ages ago. Maybe his excuse would sound a little less pathetic if he had actually spent all season training and competing ( in which case he surely would have been paying attention to details like the schedule, and getting acclimated much sooner).

[quote]his excuse would sound a little less pathetic if he had actually spent all season training and competing

I completely understand where he's coming from.

Somebody please tell Johnny Weir that he's at a sporting event, not a drag queen Elvis impersonator festival, and that he needs to make his appearance more appropriate.

[quote] not a drag queen Elvis impersonator festival,

And yet this is the most butch he's ever looked!

What is the meaning of a team medal? Figure skating is not a team sport.

Like Tara was any better, R387. She looked like a drag queen Kirsten Dunst from "Interview with the Vampire." (Those lips!) And every time she would turn to Terry Gannon, all I could see was the big vein running down the middle of her forehead.

It was morning in Korea...the first figure skating event (that doesn't even really matter)...the Opening Ceremonies hadn't even happened yet...and Tara and Johnny looked like they were about to turn tricks on some Kazakhstani yacht in International waters. Blood red? How much cheaper and trashier can we go?

Cheaper and trashier? On the way!!

[quote]How much cheaper and trashier can we go?

You had to ask.

I have been critical of Adam Rippon in the past...(he's way thirsty and not my favorite skater)...but his pride in being gay...and his skirmish with VP Mike Pence over gay rights has made me a fan. He is a true Queen. And I am there for him. (But I'm still hoping the Shibutanis fall in the Team event.)

I still can't stand Adam. He probably would have taken the meeting if they told him that he had to prior to giving him that third spot.,, or if Mike would make sure there was air time for him to sing.

Something about him screams inauthentic.

When the Chinese pair were skating they all commented on the guy’s age, 33, and Johnny said, a bit bitterly, “He’s my age but while he’s out there, I’m just wearing sparkly blazers.” Gurl has to stand out somehow!

Patrick Chan's outfit was hot! He looked great! He skated okay.

I thought Tara was ready to hop out onto the ice and do her triple loop-triple loop combination.

Tara hates Ashley. That's enough for me.

[quote]Tara and Johnny looked like they were about to turn tricks on some Kazakhstani yacht in International waters.

LMFAO, r390. You need to be a guest judge on Project Runway!

I thought this was Alex.

[quote]He's destroying the entire Olympic movement with it.

Johnny weir is destroying the Olympic Movement by dressing in a flamy way? Come on.

The same way he dressed four years ago when he was only calling skating live in daytime, while Scotty "no bad words" Hamilton called the tape-delayed prime time coverage. But Johnny and Tara were promoted to first team, and good for NBC for doing that.

I love Bode Miller as a veteran skier and and as someone who has always just been himself, too. I'd hit that in a minute. But shouldn't being able to utter a coherent sentence without fucking up verbs and nouns and tenses, and like whatnot, be part of being a commentator on live sports? Miller, dude, bone up on speaking.

R400

Couldn't be. That skater has too much speed and musicality to be a Shib.

Really, R401? I think Bode has been amazing so far. He is able to actually articulate Alpine Skiing in a way that makes it much more interesting and understandable.

The thing that NBC has so far gotten really right is its choice of athlete/commentators. Bode Miller, Apollo Ohno and Joey Cheek are really good and make their sports exciting. I have my fingers crossed that they'll let Belbin/Agosto do Ice Dance...or all least Terry Gannon and Tanith...but I'm prepared for disappointment.

I want Jonny to comment Ice Dance only to hear what he would say on Polizoakis

Since when did they allow them to skate to vocal music? I don't like it one bit. I don't know whether to focus on the skater or the singer. It turns competitive skating into an Ice Capades show. Dick Buttons needs to protest this travesty.

[quote]“Johnny tried to make me believe that [Polizoakis] couldn’t even qualify for the Olympics. That is not true whatsoever and he is going to the Olympics,”

Why would that break them up?

R406 because they are all mad? Or just becaause it was shitty "journalism"?

R405, here's how NPR reported on the change to allow music with vocals in competition, including this year's Olympics for the first time.

I kind of wonder if there are some old-school judges who would still prefer instrumentals...let the skating speak the words, as it were.

Did the Shibs skip the whole Opening Ceremony or just the group pic with the other US skaters?

Those Shibs.

Ick.

Did Kevin Bottom Bottom show up?

to be fair to the Shibutanis, if they skipped the ceremony, they weren't the only Ice Dance team doing the Team Event who made that choice.

Bobrova/Soloviev, Cappellini/Lanotte and I think the French pair and Muramoto/Reed were also not present.

Team Event Ice Dancer who went to Opening Ceremony are:

Virtue/Moir

Wang/Liu

Lorenz/Polizoakis

Min/Gamelin

Israel couple, whatever their names are

Why would anyone not go to the opening?

LOL, R409...you know they all were talking shit about Maia and Alex.

[quote]Why would anyone not go to the opening?

Depending on when athletes have their competition, several often have to opt out. If your competition is the next day or the following day, it's often too long of an evening, it's too cold, you're walking too much, etc. For example, I know firsthand that they usually make gymnasts skip the opening ceremonies.

Others do it for various other reasons. Didn't Michelle Kwan skip the Opening Ceremonies both times she went?

Good catch though that the Shibs may have skipped walking. I noticed Mirai was doing a live feed and I didn't notice them there in any of her videos. If they didn't walk, Alex should have lent Vincent his clothes. Maybe he did.

Was there something wrong with the ice for the men's event? It's not usual to see that much of a splatfest.

Shibs were there, they were on the Snapchat event for the opening ceremony. Guess nobody else wanted to walk with them

That's interesting R417. Mirai filmed a bunch of stuff from when they left their housing to when they got to the staging area, etc. All the skaters from the US team seemed to be there together (in her videos) and hanging out. The whole team must hate the Shibs.

That's great, r418, that Mirai seems to really be soaking in the Olympic experience. Good for her.

Any "medal favorite" athlete who skips walking the Opening Ceremony and then doesn't perform up to hype / expectations (which happens often) will probably regret missing that part of the Games forever.

Of course, anyone who skips and then wins a medal will wish they walked, too. No one cares about the Closing Ceremony much.

for those who like the "genre", Radford has an IG Story with him, Chan and Marinaro shirtless wearing tights (I think while getting dressed for opening ceremony).

Is Jill Trenary on the team this year?

[quote] Was there something wrong with the ice for the men's event? It's not usual to see that much of a splatfest.

men events have generally been a splat fest all season.

More skaters than I expected walked in the ceremony. Hopefully the next portion of the team won't be such a splatfest. The men were even more of a shitshow than usual.

P/C don't need to be here. They have this wrapped up unless they fall. V/M might be artistic voids, but they're also better skaters. You'd never be able to tell that looking at their respective protocols all season though. P/C are being held up quite a bit on GOE and certain components. Europeans scoring was like French Nationals. V/M's programs may be pretty tacky but they're also far far more choreographically substantive than Moonlight Sonata and that Ed Sheeran racket. Now I've seen that FD at 5 different competitions the spell has worn off a bit and you can see how empty it is- so much side by side skating, absolutely minimal time in hold, all the major transition work is done by Guillaume while he pulls Gabby into place. It's a very cleverly designed program that can't fully mask the deficiencies in her fundamentals. Her terrible extension and inability to hold an edge without support irritate the hell out of me as a former figure skater. But if the judges want to send the message that their aesthetic is the direction they would prefer ice dance to go I don't mind all that much, if only to punish V/M for the hideous lack of imagination in choosing Moulin fucking Rouge as their retirement skate.

EVERYONE is skating to Moulin Rouge. Dreadful music. I don't know why it's so popular with skaters.

[quote]EVERYONE is skating to Moulin Rouge.

Because I'm a trendsetter.. AND an Olympic medalist.

Counted 5 different Moulin Rouge programs at US Nationals. All terrible cuts too. That and Swan Lake need to be banned for a quad. I side-eyed V/M hard when they made their announcement- best ice dancers in the field by some way, and they go for that. Might as well have announced they didn't want gold after all when you've got P/C doing classic lyricism in the other corner.

I was similarly surprised, R427. Moulin Rouge had already overstayed its welcome. It's like when Davis and White skated to Phantom in 2010. Really? You can't come up with anything better than that? It's sad that V/M went with Moulin Rouge this year. Their 2010 Olympic skate to Mahler's Symphony No. 5 is one of my all time favorites. In contrast, I despise their Moulin Rouge skate.

I can recognise the technical mastery and commitment in that FD (their Canadian Nationals performance is near flawless. Nobody else comes close) but there's no way Ewan McGregor's screeching is ever going to move me because I'm too busy reaching for the aspirin. Maybe I need to watch it on mute...

Actually all the FDs this year are a bit of a disappointment for an Olympic year. Moulin Rouge, P/C doing an inferior version of their previous two frees, the Shibs doing an inferior version of their previous two frees. I can't even get through C/B's unwatchable trite mess. H/D's is alright, but there's only so far smoulder can take you. The Latin SD is pretty awful for most of them too. Couldn't they have picked another pattern? It's Tango Romantica for next year's Worlds, that has far more potential for Olympic-worthy programs.

There was also something like -10/-14 degrees last night

For ex only 37 Japanese athletes out of 124 took part to the Opening Ceremony

Skaters I saw

Canada...the full team

Russia...it was announced that no skaters would take part

Italy...I think only Della Monica, Guarise and Giada Russo

Germany....I saw all the weak skaters (second pair, Fentz, the ice dancers)

Israel..everybody

Czech Republic...everybody

Turkish ice dancers

Slovak ice dancers

Polish ice dancers

Chinese ice dancers

Ukraine...everybody

Spain...Hurtado, Khaliavin, Montoya. No Javier

Korea....Min/Gamelin, Kim/Kam

Australia...everybody

Latvia...both Deniss and Diana

My god, that Russian skater Mikhail Kolyada, who did the short program last night, was gorgeous

Javier isn’t even in Korea yet, he and Hanyu are due to arrive on Sunday from Toronto. Sounds like a lot of the top skaters opted for an extra week at their home base.

[quote]Javier isn’t even in Korea yet, he and Hanyu are due to arrive on Sunday from Toronto. Sounds like a lot of the top skaters opted for an extra week at their home base.

That always works out really well.

Do you think it's better to go to an Olympics and bomb terribly or never go to any Olympics? It's one thing to have a bad competition, but to fuck up in front of a world audience & have to replay that for the rest of your life would really suck.

R435 Bomb twice but third time's the charm! You might get even luckier on your fourth!

I think that this is a beautiful opening ceremony so far. Do we not have an official olympics thread?

[quote]Do you think it's better to go to an Olympics and bomb terribly or never go to any Olympics? It's one thing to have a bad competition, but to fuck up in front of a world audience & have to replay that for the rest of your life would really suck.

Go twice and bomb twice but on your second time find some way to make to bring all the attention back to you... and twenty years later you'll get a movie made about you that's worth more than any Olympic medal!

Forgot to sign my post at R438!

Maybe it's because I haven't been following figure skating for awhile, but I really don't see much difference between P/C and V/M. One skates to slow music, one skates to fast music. The only difference I can see is that V/M have a bigger finish at the end, while P/C just sort of fades out.

So how is this going to work, are they always skating at 10:00 AM so big daddy sponsor U.S.A gets to watch it live?

R424 As you probably know not only are P/C not at the Opening Ceremony but they are not even in Korea. You are so right about the lack of content in their programs. Their choreography always includes the ugly butt drop exaggerated plié that Marie France always did. Notice that Gabriela always has to have the overlong dress or if not long, a drapey short costume -even if raffia/straw SD costume - that acts as a "modesty panel" when performing that ugly signature motif. You have pointed out Gabriela's weaker skating skills. I find the cultivated, calculated fragile persona in every FD performance tiresome. Enhanced by the fluffy hair, lots of fabric, downbeat, introspective emo. She is fragile and Guilluame is attentive, protective, strong and smoldering in some style of street/practice clothing. I am not enchanted by this Emperor's New Clothes Charisma. I find it off-putting. For others it is effective and affective. As for V/M the music for both programs was so disheartening. Not only the overdone Moulin Rouge but Stones and Santana? Old, old, stale and so distracting if well-edited. Nevertheless, great, musical choreography, detailed, performed wonderfully, great posture, carriage and drive. Drive, something that is a dance quality they have in spades on the ice.

Funny, you can bitch all you want about the awfulness of skating to Moulin Rouge and Gabriella's limitations as an ice dancer, but the judges aren't letting anyone else get anywhere near them.

I agree with whomever said the free dances are a disappointment this year. The most beautiful free program I saw at Nationals was Hawayek/Baker's, which is A) an old program and B) obviously not going to be seen at the Olympics. I do like Hubbell/Donohue's--it has a lot more impact live than on screen.

After seeing the Opening, I now get why Chock/Bates are skating to "Imagine"--who'd a thunk that that was a big meaningful song in South Korea? Bradie Tennell's short is the other program that's geared to South Korea--which shows a certain amount of chutzpah on her part given her ranking at the start of the season.

Now this is priceless....

The Shib-bots conveniently skip the opening ceremonies to "rest" for the Team event, but totally have the time to get all dressed up and pose in their opening ceremony clothing. So, they can't be bothered to march out in solidarity with their actual teammates, but heaven forbid they miss an opportunity to shamelessly plug their sponsors.

This is why I hate these fake, opportunistic fuckers. Not only are they the most boring, uninspired skaters ever, they are wolves in sheeps clothing. When the cameras are on, they are waving that Team USA flag and flashing those Red, White and Blue Ralph Lauren uniforms--but when it's time to actually be team players...like walking as one with all your teammates, or graciously sharing the Team dance event with one of your teammates...their true colors show.

This incest duo, for their entire careers, have been in it for themselves and themselves alone. Fuck sportsmanship or common decency. Their retirement cannot come soon enough.

forgot the link....

Fake bitches below

Bradie Tennell's also skating tomorrow--and her program includes triples. If she can march, they can march. V/M carried the Canadian flag.

Yeah, not really buying it. For one thing, the athletes had seats.

Actually, don't care that the Shibs didn't march, but the shameless photo op stuff is kind of ugh.

Notice the U.S. still hasn't announced who's skating the LP and FD--sounds like whoever doesn't deliver will be swapped out.

Russia is switching Pairs for the FS. Zabjako/Enbert will skate tomorrow according to Nina Mozer and her poncho

If they also swap Medvedeva and Zagitova, it would mean a double dose of Kolyada's disasters

I wonder if Canada is now prepared to switch only Ladies as they can get Gold.

Start lists for tomorrow

Short Dance

Tankova/Zilberberg

Lorenz/Polizoakis

Min/Gamelin

Wang/Liu

Luariault/Le Gac

Group 2...

Muramato/Reed

Shibutani/Shibutani

Cappellini/Lanotte

Virtue/Moir

Bobrova/Soloviev

LADIES

Group 1

Buchanan

Li

Tennell

Meite

Schott

Group 2

Dabin Choi

Kostner

Miyahara

Osmond

Medvedeva

Pairs no start list yet as they have to know which are the top 5 countries.

Some quotes after the first day of Team Event

Patrick Chan: “In my case I was so thankful I had the support of my teammates on and off the ice. Eric (Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford) had a great skate and I had a so so skate." ........... I suppose Duhamel is happy to be totally ignored and Patrick, "so and so" is being generous for your skate.

female Knierim: "Nathan had a bit of an unfortunate skate" which sounds as a polite way to say "Nathan almost fucked up our chances of an olympic medal"

Shoma: "I watched most of the performances of the other skaters and I knew that there were mistakes. I thought I might do a mistake as well" . Let's all splat together!

Evgenia Tarasova on Russian athletes' failed appeal: "We were preparing for the competition and focused on that. We were not following the news. It is sad, of course." which sounds as "frankly, I couldn't care less of Stolbova's fate"

So are the Russians purposely not seating in their assigned area for the team event? I also noticed the opening ceremony was also very light with Russian athletes. I guess team Putin is protesting being called out for doping.

Kolyada was left alone in the early morning.

But Zabjako and Enbert along with Kolyada showed up in the team box for Pairs.

However, yes, it was still the box less populated by teammates. Thankfully Mozer is big enough to cover half of a bench and they got 100 coaches.

@444 lmao goddamn fucking chill out lmaooooo

There's lots of talk on Russian forums about Kolyada because he was "hysterical" after flopping in the short, and doing a disservice to Russia.

Tat and Zagudin are having none of it and trashed him, spoke about how he never fights for his jumps.

Pogorilaya (bless her) came to Kolyada's defence, saying that she doesn't agree with how people are suddenly turning on him.

Kolyada's skating club is not CSKA, right? Hasn't Tat the reputation to be cheerleading for CSKA (used to Kovtun, now Samarin)?

it's bizarre because at 1st i thought TAT was feuding with Kolyada's coach and that's why she was so critical of him all the time. But she also absolutely adores that girl Konstantinova who has the same coach. So it's really Kolyada himself then.

I think i agree with TAT and Yagudin that he doesn't fight for his jumps. He has the best technique of all the men. Yeah better than Hanyu, better than Fernandez. His jumps are just glorious yet, so many mistakes on them all the time. It's psychological at this point and i don't know if he is seeing a sport psychologist to address that but he really should.

But i also agree with Pogo. It's rich to blame him so much for tanking Russia when he was put to do the short in the team while everyone knows he is not reliable or consistent. It was also a massive strategical mistake to have him try 4Lz here. Especially when everyone before him bombed so bad he should have just gone with 4T 3A and a nice 3Lz3T get those 8 or 9 points and basta. And that was a team strategy mistake, not his fault.

I might bitch about Moulin Rouge and Papadakis' knees, but every other team is still worse, so. The field after Sochi when the top teams left or took time out was bleak. H/D if they go clean should be closer to P/C than they are. They have excellent edge quality, good drive, and if P/C can get away with Level 4s and +3 for their basic lifts, so should they. V/M should be winning this quite easily based on pure skating skills- they've got better technique in pretty much every quantifiable way. P/C getting +3 GOE on their NtMiSt and 10.00s on skating skills and transitions in comparison to them is a bit of a mockery of the IJS. Their superior artistry, if you believe they have superior artistry, shouldn't be enough to make up that gap in skill if you apply the code as written.

R443, I like Hayawek/Baker a lot too. He's going to be particularly good in a few years.

I don't think there is any way V/M can win gold over P/ if they both go clean. It's sort of been predetermined it seems. Judges don't care about rewarding V/M now complex choreography or their skating skills

The only portion V/M might win is the short dance...

The writing has been on the wall since the very first Grand Prix of the season, when P/C scored 6 points higher on their SD than they had 5 months prior, with a more assured performance but all the same technique issues. Maybe even since last Worlds when Scott tripped and P/C won the FD. Once they'd (undeservedly) beaten them in the SD in the GPF, it was 100% done. V/M revamped their whole program in a month to try and turn the tables but it's not going to be enough. P/C are at least nicer to watch than D/W though, who had great impactful programs but who's skippy speed skating made my eyes burn.

P/C are nicer to watch than D/W and Meryl hit some very ugly positions yes, but the latter were at least doing super complicated programs

"When this sort of thing happens, there must be a common denominator,” suggested Chan, a three-time world champion and silver medallist in men’s singles at the Sochi Games four years ago. “You would think everyone at the Olympics is ready to fire. Sometimes you just can’t plan for these sorts of days. I don’t think any of us have ever skated this early or on this type of schedule.”

True, R60. Meryl's positions in the air and Charlie's poor posture are just still burned into my brain. Scheherazade was fun though, can't deny it. The ISU needs to look more closely at what elements deserve Level 4s- a couple of P/C's lifts are being used by juniors as choreographic highlights. Their routines have been designed to hit the maximum levels with the minimum possible effort, an approach I can't exactly condemn, but when you've got other teams doing more complex choreography and executing it better I think that should be reflected in the PCS. The OGM couple in ice dance really shouldn't be doing that many crossovers.

R460, sorry

I would like Nathan Chen to sit on my face.

R461 Some of these skaters sound very entitled to having a schedule that matches their body clock exactly. Other athletes have to deal with the much stronger variables Mother Nature brings--temperature, wind, snow/rain, etc. I can understand a complaint about ice quality, as that has certainly resulted in some major splatfests in days of old. But maybe if Patrick hadn't been so micromanaged in the past (his first surrogate mommy Christy Krall scheduled designated nap times and video gaming times for him) he'd be more adaptable. You didn't see Alexei Bychenko complaining.

[QUOTE]I would like Nathan Chen to sit on my face.

Get your saggy tits back into bed, Vera!

Jesus christ the US girls (except perhaps Mirai) has no fucking personality!

Is Patrick Chan the homophobe from the whole Skate Canada controversy?

I think Nathan Chen is adorable. I love his big mop of hair. But ballet to figure skating and he is straight? Yeah. I guess it could happen.

R456 He's already one of the best ice dancers competing imo

I completely agree R456. He really got Latin this year. Even Cizeron doesn't look completely comfortable in his movement there. I wasn't sure for a few years whether Hawayek was the best physical match for him, but then again neither are Virtue and Moir, but they were both so good they made it work.

I think Baker should change partner, Hawayek looks like she just got plucked from some mall in Ohio.

[quote]"When this sort of thing happens, there must be a common denominator,” suggested Chan, a three-time world champion and silver medallist in men’s singles at the Sochi Games four years ago. “You would think everyone at the Olympics is ready to fire. Sometimes you just can’t plan for these sorts of days. I don’t think any of us have ever skated this early or on this type of schedule.”

Well, yes, you could have planned for it by adapting to the schedule earlier and training harder. And somehow Shoma and Bychenko still skated well. (Also Cha Jun & Matteo, albeit with less difficult content). Everyone at the Olympics is ready to fire? The Sochi splatfest proved otherwise. STFU, Patrick.

Every Olympic athlete should be prepared to compete either early morning or late night because of the demands of live TV in the Western Hemisphere, to be honest. It's a financial concern for the IOC and host countries, like it or not.

Currently there is Ski Jumping medal competition after midnight in Korea, LIVE on TV in the US

Gotta love how all the V/M fans always come for Gabriella...comparing her unfavorably to Tessa and yet never compare Scott and Guillaume. I wonder why that is...

In V/M world, V/M are technically superior in every way and should be way ahead of P/C. In their minds, V/M are better artistic skaters, as well, since P/C perform the same FD every year, and because, you know...Tessa studied ballet. And if someone dares to prefer P/C or criticize V/M's artistry...well, those people are just giving subjective opinions...but, objectively, everyone knows that V/M are wonderful artistic skaters and should score as high as anyone.

V/M fans live in their own reality. They are like Roger Federer fans in tennis. They literally can't comprehend why anyone would prefer another athlete. They don't understand that other people may value and want to reward different things. And so they blame politics and Didier and Marina...or, like R455, they say that the rules need to be changed because V/M not winning is making a mockery of the sport.

This argument that Papadakis/Cizeron do lifts that junior couples do as "transitions" just negates your entire opinion, no matter what you say and if some stuffs that you say are or could be true. It just makes you sound like a moron.

I'll compare Moir to Cizeron. Guillaume has an incredible presence, is a much more natural dancer than Scott and I prefer watching him, but I coach figure skating and Moir, as of right now, is still a better technician. He has better sustained edges and Cizeron doesn't always centre himself correctly. Moir is also a much more traditional dance partner in the sense that his focus is always on presenting Virtue.

I absolutely understand why people would prefer P/C. They're beautiful and artistic. The current rules don't need to be changed- they need to be applied. And IMO, P/C's PCS are often too high and errors not being properly accounted for in the GOE. The SD at Europeans alone was proof of that.

*the current rules should be looked at though. Scoring inflation has gone through the roof for all teams. I know they're expanding the range of GOE next quad, but I don't know how effective that'll be.

r472 Aww I think Hawayek is a cutie. She reminds me just a tiny bit of Tanith sometimes.

[quote]This argument that Papadakis/Cizeron do lifts that junior couples do as "transitions" just negates

Those criticisms have been there since before V/M came back, not sure why you're taking issue with the obvious R476. On top of it P/C do a lot of crossovers.

LOL. Why would someone compare Moir to Cizeron. V and M are equally strong skaters as far as technical skills...not so with P/C. So why would someone single out Moir?

Ahead of Ice Dancer the most important things are

a) the draw for judges seats. Because the one who will have to sit next to Maria Abasova will be at risk of suffering a brain stroke in the middle of the Short Dance

b) all judges must learn by heart the scores they are supposed to give and they don't have to bring the sheet with all predetermined scores to the arena to revise them just before the start

And that's a very low score from the questionable Czech judge, Jim. There's no good explanation for it.

And we've talked about her scores earlier, Dick.

Duhamel/Radford to skate FS in the Team Event.

Uhm, Chan was not at official practices this morning. Messing was....

No chance for Weaver/Poje doing FD? If Osmond does well in the SP (second place), Canada may have the Gold already secured after today without needing V/M twice

Rizzo was attempting a Quad in practices this morning. Lots of falls and 1 two feet landing

I think the Canadian Fed would rather let Virtue and Moir try and build some momentum for the individual by laying down a good FD rather than sub Weaver and Poje even if gold is already secured, and I don't exactly see V/M passing that chance up...

Is Chan really not doing the FS?

Poje spotted on Tinder in Pyeongchang already

Larkyn Austman

A well-photoshopped Gabby Daleman, thought she had a boyfriend as of Canadian Nats.

R484 I think the names of those skating the FS on Monday must be communicated on Sunday afternoon (Korea time). So everything can change

At Saturday's practices there were Rippon, Tanaka, Kolyada, Han, Messing, Samohin and Rizzo

Dick, what do you make of that 5.2 from the East German judge?

The Canadian Federation seems to have just sidelined W/P--they just do not care about the ice dance teams who aren't V/M.

Someone commented about Meryl Davis' "ugly" in-air positions. That one baffles me--she's always looked good to me.

I don't think Moir being a better ice dancer than Cizeron really holds--yes, I'm sure there are things Scott does better in skating--but, overall, Cizeron's ahead--the much greater flexibility and meticulous port-de-bras holds.

But the real advantage that P/C has over V/M is musicality. V/M, after all this time, still don't understand which programs suit them. Even by the fairly low standards of ice-dancing, they are crap actors--and they are skating a FD with a very strong, specific characters and they come up short and, as a viewer, it's really distracting.

It's fine if a skater can't act--but pick a damn program that takes that into account. P/C don't really bother with specific characters, but they do work to create a mood--and you can't dismiss that in a discipline that has the word "dance" in the title.

I've said it before, but, hell, I'll repeat myself--D/W were smarter competitors than V/M--they played to their strengths. They were never going to create a huge emotional skate--but they could make a skate exciting by going for broke in terms of speed and complexity.

V/M got the mix right *for them* with the Mahler--their deep edges, strong adagio quality were played up, their weaknesses played down. The Prince SD last year was good--showed their stellar technique without asking them to play characters.

Does Poje's tinder profile say he was looking for female hookups?

Meryl's positions had a definite ugliness to them. She had the same problem Papadakis has now- lack of extension. It was always really obvious in their signature lift with her in split position. Her knees were always bent and she never even tried to point. It was the skippiness and lack of real glide that bothered me most about D/W's skating though. They were known for speed, but they didn't gain it properly.

Meryl's ugly leg positions Exhibitis A and B:

Go to 2:53-2:55 3:43-3:45

of the linked video

For all of P/C's supposedly greater musicality, they cannot sell Latin....

[quote]Poje [...] tinder

Oh, I forgot gays also use Tinder.

The position of the free leg!

D/W had massive amounts of power and speed. They were spectacular live, especially the speed of their rotational lifts.

They really should have come back this year. Watching V/M & P/C's underwhelming programs, D/W would have smoked them without much effort.

I wished we had a memorable FD this year. They are all so vanilla.

I don't think D/W would've found it that easy at all. V/M skate with greater power than they did in 2014, which was D/W's big advantage over them, and they were always much better at Latin. P/C have been getting huge scores since 2015 and their style now seems to be the favoured one over D/W's athleticism.

It's all quite funny that we're all talking about the transcendant artistry of the French when they're attempting Latin to Ed Sheeran of all people. Weirdly, I think it's Guillaume who's not selling it in the SD this year, he always looks just a bit uncomfortable while Gabi lives it.

I wish you PC vs. VM people would get a room, or a separate thread.

For awhile after the 2014 Olympics, the first thing that came up when you did a Google search on Meryl Davis, was "Meryl Davis, dwarf."

Gracie Gold announced that she will be coaching at some rink in Arizona. I guess she's done with competing. What say you, Gracie Gold troll?

Tech callers are being strict on that Rhumba.

So apparently the Shibs had three yellows?

I've never actually watched many of their programs... but boy are they dull. That's about the nicest thing I can say about them.

Shib Sibs 75.46. 5 points under where they needed to be... and this is their strong program?

I wonder if USFSA is going to regret putting them in.

[quote]Gracie Gold announced that she will be coaching at some rink in Arizona. I guess she's done with competing. What say you, Gracie Gold troll?

There's a Gracie Gold troll?

Are these programs everyone is doing in the team event identical to what they will be doing in their individual events?

the shibs were awful, but I expected as much. I have always thought they were an awful team.

Ha.. do you think the commentator has a biased for V/M?

Virtue and Moir seemed, I don't know, spastic? It just didn't flow well for me. Tanith Belbin was rubbing her clit to V/M. Gag. I thought they seemed frenetic. Shades of Bestemianova and Bukin.

V/M underwhelmed. I haven't enjoyed any of their performances this year, they peaked in 2010 for me.

Yes, R505, there was the Gracie Gold troll who kept insisting that she was coming back to competition better than ever, and would be landing triple axel/triple flip combos. Then there was the person trolling the Gracie Gold troll......

Gracie is landing quad lutz-triple axel combos now that the pressure is off!

I don't get the Gracie Gold hate. I get the Shib sib hate because the are bland, boring, privileged self-promoters who aren't really all that great at skating. But Gold hasn't really said or done much and has had her coup de grace, so to speak.

By the way, the ships live in a modest house in Michigan, not sure where the money is, maybe it's all been spent on skating.

*Shibs

I found Gracie highly overrated as a skater so the US fans' obsession with her drove me nuts. I found her robotic and pageant queen-esque. But I have warmed up to her a little since she isn't skating any more and started showing signs of having an actual personality.

She looks like a different person now...definitely not going to be competing again anytime in the near future.

Wow, she looks like a bonafide suburban frau now.

She was a wondrous jumper in her prime, but had no artistry to speak of.

I was right, D/W would have made quick work of the Ice Dance field. Everyone was getting downgrades left and right.

[quote] Are these programs everyone is doing in the team event identical to what they will be doing in their individual events?

yes. In some cases, outside Dance, it's also identical to the program they did last season, 2 seasons ago

1) Virtue/Moir 80.51

2) Shibutani/Shibutani 75.46

3) Bobrova/Soloviev 74.76

4) Cappellini/Lanotte 72.51

5 ) Muramoto/Reed 62.15

6) Lauriault/Le Gac 57.94

7) Wang/Liu 56.98

8) Lorenz/Polizoakis 56.88

9) Min/Gamelin 51.97

10) Tankova/Zilberberg 44.61

I thought Gracie was pretty good in her prime too, better than the current crop of ladies. I get the whole pageant ice-queen thing, but I thought it was just her way, and not some put-on image - a consequence of her age and maybe personal troubles which she's been open about for a while now - so I couldn't fault her for that. I also thought people liked her to obsessive levels because people are so swayed by a pretty face. Again, not her fault.

Bradie's costume is not flattering

What is the point of having a dance section? At least in singles and pairs you can tell that someone is doing well if they don't fall on their ass - but all the dance programs look the same. And if the judges decide at the beginning of the year who is going to win the worlds/Olympics, there's no reason to even have the competition.

Can someone recap Bradie Tennell? I took the dog out thinking I had a few minutes, then come back and she's got all greens.

R523 taking the dog out was probably more exciting.

Bradie skated a clean, boring, completely uninspired skate. She also seemed slow to me.

She scored about a 69.

That was enough to qualify the US.

R524 nailed it (ya ho!); Bradie looked like she was on 3/4 speed. I'm watching another program and thought I messed up my settings, but no, she really did look like she was in slo-mo. C

Andrea: Bradie... what were you thinking while you were skating?

Bradie: Nothing.

She's as dull as her skating is.

She also said that once she gets on the ice the excitement comes out.

Really? I would have never guessed.

Bradie makes me miss Nicole Bobek.

Nicole Schott is another one who looks like a 45-year-old divorcee. Somehow she's only 21.

Thanks, R527!!! Love you too!!!!

[quote]She was a wondrous jumper in her prime, but had no artistry to speak of.

Thanks!

*Yawn* the ladies so far have been boring, someone needs to start whacking knees or something.

[quote]*Yawn* the ladies so far have been boring, someone needs to start whacking knees or something.

I'll get right on to "possibly hearing something," R531!

Tonya! Queen!!! 😘😘😘

How is it that the Russians were allowed to skate in a team event? The ban/not-ban is ridiculous. They should have kept them all out. State-sponsored doping with no consequences.

Do the Russians not have money to get Medvedev some teeth whitening?

I don't really like the singing during the programs. Can they get the woman to shut up?

When did Kostner become some kind of artistic wonder? Her jumps are usually too wonky to form any kind of impression, and I can't think of a single signature program of hers.

How did the Canadian place above Bradie again?

It's clear that Yevgenia Medvedeva will win the gold in ladies' singles.

Terry Gannon seems like such a nice guy. He handles Tara and Johnny really well. Anyone know much about him?

R538- Osmond gets extra points for looking like she actually has a pulse.

I actually liked the Shibs. I thought they were lots better than those boring Canadians. WTF was that show about?? Those outfits were hideous.

The Rolling Stones?? The Eagles?? Really??

The interview with VM is making me cringe. They seem so....

R542- I think they call that originality. You take the dance rhythm they give you, and if you're creative enough, you find some music that you wouldn't normally associate with that rhythm. You tweak it and come up with something different.

The Shibs were not better than V/M, even though V/M weren't all that great. Come on.

Dope queen Bobrova was soundly beaten by a flawed Shibutanis. All three US teams are going to buried them in the individual, right?

Well the US is trailing Russia by two points. The really need the Russians to fall in the pairs and men if they have any chance at the silver. But then again they have Adam Rippon in the men's event... he's finishing last, isn't he?

Since when is a point difference soundly beaten, R546? Actually nobody seems to understand that result as it should be a much bigger difference

I want Adam to embarrass himself all over the ice with each skate progressively more miserable than the last.

So Bradie was 5th, is that good or bad?

Why was Bradie in the first group? Really bad that she was 1st.

Pairs is about to start

Bradie should have been 2nd to Medvedeva.

I miss Gracie. She had it all. Looks, the name, the talent. The pressure on a new savior for figure skating clearly uprooted her. Nobody was looking for Wagner or another girl with Asian ancestry to do it. If she had won the Ol Gold the world would have been hers. She'll only be 26 for the next Ols so maybe.....

Is the Japanese skater Kihara severely severely cross eyed?

Ryuchi Kihara is cute. The butts on those male skaters. Lord...

So the Italians apparently are full of personality.... which I guess translates to ridiculous choreography in their program?

The Italians wasted the skate of their life on this team event.

They were fantastic!!

Wow!

Someone tell me about this American pair. The husband is a homosexual, right?

The Knierems are basically going to finish 4th here I don't see any other outcome unless they completely fall apart and get beat by the Japanese.

The Italians music was a melody of scores from Fellini films.

[quote]Someone tell me about this American pair. The husband is a homosexual, right?

Well, they are religious, you do the math...

Alexa is trying to SWF Gracie, right?

R556, i didn't want to be a sourpuss but my thoughts exactly. Hopefully they can get that same energy again for their real free skate instead of blowing it for a fourth place finish here.

Sorry, I've been out of the loop for a while. Why did Gracie drop out of the scene? She would have been in her prime now.

R564, anorexia and depression

R564 she was a mental case on the ice and is also battling an eating disorder.

Pairs skating makes me nervous.

what is it about pairs that they are all weak jumpers

Chris obviously chose the wrong color of pants to wear.

Gracie's dad is also on drugs and lost his medical license. That in itself is something to deal with. I feel for the girl.

What was Alexa's illness? I always intrigued by these medical mysteries...

Me too, R567.

And he blew it.....

Chris looks like he's got nice man tits?

[quote]Chris obviously chose the wrong color of pants to wear.

Why do you say that? I thought his ass looked pretty fantastic.

Umm why didn't the US team wear red, white, and blue uniforms?

Because R574 you could barely make out the shape of his ass.

Who are the two men skating for Canada?

Ryuchi Kihara has such a joyous personality in the team box? He seems like he's so much fun of the ice.

[Quote] in the team box?

Why did I put a ? there???? Ha!

The Canadians' skating is so ... Canadian.

Have Will Ferrell and Jon Heder went on yet?

What is it about the see through mesh shirts on the men?

Boring? Yeah.

Eric Radford's ass is exceptionally tight.

He came out well before those other bitches.

US Women singles skating has really fallen a long way since the days of Kwan and Cohen. Remember Rachael Flatt? Now we have the equally slow and boring Bradie Tennell. Is this the best we have?

Meagan calm down gurl

Not loving this Russian program.

[quote]Is this the best we have?

No, but I was robbed of a spot.

Trip!

Ugh, fucking Canadians 🙄🙄

If the Knierems could have turned in a decent program they probably would have beaten the Russians.

[quote]The Canadians' skating is so ... Canadian.

Meaning polite, considerate and law-abiding?

Maybe it's because I don't keep up with skating, but all of these performances look the same.

I thought the team from Italy did better than the Canadians, but Canada is ahead in their group. Italy got all green dots.

Wow, Italy could get the bronze for team.

Meaning schmaltzy and devoid of any personality R592.

R591 they need to conserve their energy for their fifth place finish in the pairs event

[quote]The Canadians' skating is so ... Canadian.

Passive Aggressive and Condescending?

Yes, R593, the Italians rocked. The Canadians were boring as hell.

So were the pair from the team formerly known as Russia.

What are the standings right now? My dvr stopped recording after the Canadian pairs finished.

Canadian = pasty and boring

When is the teams men's long program?

next thread?

So this team event is set in stone at this point. The Italians have already shot their load, they have nothing threatening left.