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Post by martindn on Feb 17, 2014 21:32:53 GMT
Congratulations to Meryl and Charlie. A wonderful performance that fully deserved the gold. Although I quite liked the Russian couple's "Black Swan" performance too. I'm sure Libby will be pleased. Our UK commentator said that Scheherazade now joins Bolero in the hall of fame.
Martin D
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Post by Richard on Feb 18, 2014 15:08:35 GMT
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Post by martindn on Feb 18, 2014 21:07:27 GMT
Sound's like she should stick to playing the vile inn.  Martin D |
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Post by Libby on Feb 19, 2014 4:55:08 GMT
Congratulations to Meryl and Charlie. A wonderful performance that fully deserved the gold. Although I quite liked the Russian couple's "Black Swan" performance too. I'm sure Libby will be pleased. Our UK commentator said that Scheherazade now joins Bolero in the hall of fame. Martin D I'm glad to know you enjoyed it, too. I certainly did! I started getting chills at the end of their program, during the last 2 lifts. I've seen this program many times throughout the season, but I never get tired of it. And the fact that this was the Olympics, their final, triumphant moment, was just so exciting. This is their last season, and while I'll miss them terribly, they've been skating together a long time, and finally achieved the ultimate goal. I could not be more pleased about this. I've had the opportunity to watch them skate live 3 times, twice in competition, and now I'm set to see them on tour again in May. I hope they continue to join the Stars on Ice cast for a long time. I liked the Russian's program, too. I was a little disappointed that the French pair didn't get on the podium; they've been around for a long time too, and have placed right behind Meryl & Charlie and the Canadians for most international competitions. So I was a little confused as to why they weren't put on the podium. It's their last season, too, so it would have been nice for them to be awarded the bronze medal before they're finished. The Russian team, however, are a fairly new team, though I'm sure they'll continue be successful in the future. You wouldn't have liked their program last year, it was very odd. LOL But they're an attractive couple, and I have a feeling Russia put them together for this reason. The same reason they brought a 3 time Olympic medallist back, Evgeny Plushenko, who now has a spinal implant, instead of their current national champion, just to ensure Russia's success. It didn't work out too well, he had to withdraw. He said he was in pain, and then he couldn't feel his legs! Another team to watch in the future is the other Canadian team of Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje. They have already been one of my favorites for a couple of years, but they're gradually working their way up on the international stage. They only got 7th at the Olympics, but as some of the current best teams retire, they will be likely contenders for a World medal in the future. While Meryl & Charlie have always impressed me with their skill, dedication, and passion for their sport, Kaitlyn & Andrew more often draw me into their programs by their powerful and genuine interpretation and expression of their programs. Kaitlyn is especially passionate, and she never leaves you with any doubt that she truly loves what she's doing. Her joy is always written plainly on her face, and of course that rubs off on her partner, Andrew. They're so cute together. Unfortunately, the US' dominance in ice dancing will most likely come to a close after Meryl & Charlie's retirement. The other 2 couples at the Olympics are nice, but they only got 8th and 9th at the Olympics. At least they're in the top 10, but North America is likely going to take a back seat to the Russians once again. But M & C have not only made history with their World and Olympic gold medals, they've made ice dancing much more popular in the US than it used to be. I read a comment somewhere saying that their daughter now wants to "skate dance" like them now. I hope she gets to try it!  |
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Post by Libby on Feb 19, 2014 5:11:52 GMT
Hello Libby!  That's an incredible performance by Meryl and Charlie, so they should be the hot favourites at Sochi. The music is from 'Scheherazade' by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Richard  Oh, I know Richard. I can name every program they've done since the 2007/2008 season when I became a fan. Except maybe the compulsories, which have thankfully, and wisely, been done away with. LOL They now just put a compulsory section within the short dance (which used to be called the Original dance), which is much more enjoyable. Because while they still all have to perform the exact same steps in the compulsory sequence, they can all do it to different music, which is 100 times more entertaining and enjoyable to sit through (especially if you're at a live competition and get to see everybody). I have been to 3 live international competitions, and the first time, I got to sit through the compulsory dances. They were nice, but the same music gets old after a while. So that's why it's so much better without it. The main reason they got rid of it was to save money; it's one less day of competition, one less set of costumes, one less program to practice, at home and at the events, etc. So, in other words, good riddance to the compulsory dance!  I have to say Charlie was so cute in his ponytail during the Paso Doble one year. But otherwise, blah. LOL I'm so obsessed with ice dancing right now, my mind was fixed on it all night, awake and asleep. LOL I was a little restless anyway because of a cold. Now that we can embed videos (which I totally forgot about before Richard fixed my video for me), and everyone's still excited about skating after the Olympics, maybe I'll start a figure skating thread, and post some of my favorite skating routines. But maybe after the Olympics. The ladies are on tomorrow! |
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Post by Jeff on Feb 19, 2014 10:48:30 GMT
Well, at least you didn't say it was another string to her bow ! (Groan). |
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Post by Jeff on Feb 19, 2014 11:01:53 GMT
Well done to USA for getting gold, although I did like the Canadians Black Swan but their Vancouver 2010 performance was always going to be a hard act to follow. I actually preferred that one to T & D's Bolero which gets a bit repetitive. I always liked Mahler since I saw Dirk Bogarde in "Death in Venice." I wouldn't know a triple salchow from a lutz but who cares when the music is this good ?
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Post by Libby on Feb 19, 2014 21:34:46 GMT
Well done to USA for getting gold, although I did like the Canadians Black Swan but their Vancouver 2010 performance was always going to be a hard act to follow. I actually preferred that one to T & D's Bolero which gets a bit repetitive. I always liked Mahler since I saw Dirk Bogarde in "Death in Venice." I wouldn't know a triple salchow from a lutz but who cares when the music is this good ? Jeff, I'm no expert on differentiating the jumps, either, but you do at least know that there were no salchows, lutzes, axels, toe-loops, etc. in the Canadians, Americans, Russians, or any of the ice dancers' programs? There are twizzles, however, which is the element that ice dancers most often falter on? The Canadians didn't do Swan Lake, that was the Russians, the bronze medallists. The Canadians' program was to another soft piece of music, reminiscent of their last Olympic program, so for me that was a little too similar. And I liked their 2010 program much better. Also, I had no idea what the theme of this year's program was; Tessa's constant change of color dress from competition to competition made it even more confusing. The judges always seem to prefer more classical pieces like what Meryl & Charlie did, too. I find that while I enjoy the graceful routines to lovely music that they've done, I also find it a little dull, a little too sleepy. Sheherazade was much more exciting and captivating. The speed and seeming ease with which they execute all of the difficult elements is definitely to be commended, and I think the judges have extra respect for things like that. I enjoy watching all of the ice dancing, no matter how good they are. |
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Joe
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Supporting Hayley since 2003!
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Post by Joe on Feb 20, 2014 5:36:17 GMT
Hi Libby, I look forward to seeing a Figure Skating thread coming soon! That's cool that you saw Charlie and Meryl skate live...and will again in May! Their Olympic legacy will be treasured by so many aspiring young skaters. The ladies' short program yesterday was unbelievable and a bit unexpected...the top three scores are SO close! I thought Carolina Kostner was so strong throughout..my fav to win. But fingers crossed for Gracie to get a medal |
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Post by Jeff on Feb 20, 2014 12:28:28 GMT
Sorry Libby for the confusion over the "Black Swan". That's what happens when you watch skating routines for 3 hours at a time ! No need for a special skating thread Joe, the medals will be decided tonight and it looks as if Yulia Lipnitskaya won't be on the podium. You could hear a gasp of shock and horror go round the arena when the Russian starlet fell in her short program and is now 5th. Just like in horse racing, being the favourite doesn't mean that you can't fall ! You're only one slip away from losing a medal and getting a bruise ! It's interesting that the two women at the top of the leaderboard missed the team competition last week and so are probably fresher and less emotionally drained. A Youtube video shows Yulia being presented to Mr Putin (not a happy man at present after his beloved ice hockey team were knocked out by Finland last night) and the weight of a nation's expectations are one heck of a burden to heap on the shoulders of a schoolgirl. So the home crowd will be looking to 4 time Russian champion Adelina Sotnikova in 2nd place, a skater almost forgotten with all the hype surrounding Yulia. Yuna Kim has a narrow lead going into tonight but history is against the Korean. I believe no woman has retained their Olympic title since Katherina Witt in 1988 but Libby would know more about that than me. It's sure to be an exciting night. Perhaps they should dance to Paul Simon's "Slip sliding away" ?! Actually with Valentine's Day just gone I've always thought Craig Armstrong's music to Romeo & Juliet's balcony scene would make an ideal track to skate to, or maybe a bit slow Libby ?
I'd better mention the curling. (Yawn!) It's like bowls on ice but GB have made the final. I don't really understand the game but they seem to be tidy people because they are always sweeping up after themselves !! It seems to be a Scottish sport. They interviewed a player but I couldn't make out a word he said (Subtitles please!). Then someone in the crowd started playing bagpipes, either that or they strangled a cat, I'm not sure. But it's interesting that if Scotland becomes independent they'll lose their funding from the British taxpayer so make the most of the final. This might be the last time you see a GB curling team at the Olympics !!
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Post by martindn on Feb 20, 2014 22:35:04 GMT
Yes, GB is a strange name for an Olympic team. Do they really exclude folk from the Orkneys, Shetlands Hebrides and the Isle of Wight and channel islands, not to mention Northern Ireland? Great Britain is simply the largest of the British Isles, so I can't understand why they would want to exclude all the others. The Channel Islands are an interesting case anyway, since they are a part of the British Iles that are not full members of the EU. So are politically more foreign than France and Germany.
Don't understand why iout team isn't called UK, which is a political rather than geographic area.
But anyway, I think we know the result of the women's skating. The BBC commentator seemed to think that Yuna Kim was the best, but I preferred Adelina Sotnikova whose performance was simply sublime to my eyes. It seems the judges agreed with me. I liked Gracie too, I loved her short programme yesterday.
As for the curling, it is a very tactical game Jeff. I can't understand half of what goes on, why particular shots are chosen, what all that sweeping is for, but the rules are basically the same as bowls (apart from the sweeping that is).
Martin D
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Post by Libby on Feb 20, 2014 23:22:16 GMT
Sorry Libby for the confusion over the "Black Swan". That's what happens when you watch skating routines for 3 hours at a time ! No need for a special skating thread Joe, the medals will be decided tonight and it looks as if Yulia Lipnitskaya won't be on the podium. You could hear a gasp of shock and horror go round the arena when the Russian starlet fell in her short program and is now 5th. Just like in horse racing, being the favourite doesn't mean that you can't fall ! You're only one slip away from losing a medal and getting a bruise ! It's interesting that the two women at the top of the leaderboard missed the team competition last week and so are probably fresher and less emotionally drained. A Youtube video shows Yulia being presented to Mr Putin (not a happy man at present after his beloved ice hockey team were knocked out by Finland last night) and the weight of a nation's expectations are one heck of a burden to heap on the shoulders of a schoolgirl. So the home crowd will be looking to 4 time Russian champion Adelina Sotnikova in 2nd place, a skater almost forgotten with all the hype surrounding Yulia. Yuna Kim has a narrow lead going into tonight but history is against the Korean. I believe no woman has retained their Olympic title since Katherina Witt in 1988 but Libby would know more about that than me. It's sure to be an exciting night. Perhaps they should dance to Paul Simon's "Slip sliding away" ?! Actually with Valentine's Day just gone I've always thought Craig Armstrong's music to Romeo & Juliet's balcony scene would make an ideal track to skate to, or maybe a bit slow Libby ? I'd better mention the curling. (Yawn!) It's like bowls on ice but GB have made the final. I don't really understand the game but they seem to be tidy people because they are always sweeping up after themselves !! It seems to be a Scottish sport. They interviewed a player but I couldn't make out a word he said (Subtitles please!). Then someone in the crowd started playing bagpipes, either that or they strangled a cat, I'm not sure. But it's interesting that if Scotland becomes independent they'll lose their funding from the British taxpayer so make the most of the final. This might be the last time you see a GB curling team at the Olympics !! Yes, you're right; during the parade of nations, when UK was walking in, they said that the entire curling team are from Scotland, and that's how I learned where curling was invented. It's also very popular in Canada. I'm the one who volunteered to make the skating thread, because I watch all the skating events I can every season. Yes, they do hold plenty of skating competitions outside the Olympics. I had in mind to share some of Meryl & Charlie's best programs to start out with, since they've just won the Olympics and are suddenly extra popular around the world. I also thought of posting the UK's ice dance team of Coomes & Buckland (I forgot his first name; hers is Penny). Even though they don't often place well internationally, I thought since many of our members here are from the UK, it might be fun for you to see who your team is. I happen to think they're adorable together, and their short dance this year was kind of fun. I even saw them at Skate America in Portland in 2010, doing a Lion King routine. So anyway, the point of a skating thread has nothing to do with trying to stay on topic; skating is completely on topic even when it's done, as long as it pertains to Sochi, I guess? You're right about Katarina Witt, too. She and Sonja Henie are the only women who have ever won gold twice in a row... probably twice at all. As for the men, I think Dick Button of the US won twice, but that was back in the 50s! 1952 was one of those years. I feel sure Yu-na will win, but I would love it if Carolina Kostner won, too. I really love her. She's so beautiful and graceful, and such a sweet person. I also saw her at the 2010 Skate America, and during the medal ceremony, she was looking out at the audience, and somehow I caught her eye, and she smiled and winked at me! It made me feel special! Carolina would be the first Italian woman ever to win an Olympic medal at all, let alone the gold! So, whichever medal she wins, she'll be making history. I thought Carolina was much nicer than Adelina. Adelina is okay, but her programs don't often appeal to me. Habanera was fine, but her program last year was to music from the movie Burlesque, which I found super annoying. Then she did a vocal version of the song in the exhibition (at anther Skate America I attended), which was a little risque. Even her dress in this year's free skate has been a little risque (though she could have something different for tonight, many of them do). The material is a rather sheer dark brown... including the part under the skirt, which one commentator stated was "distracting", and I agree. So obviously I'm not the biggest fan of her work to date. Although I have to admit I've never been a big fan of Russian skaters. Julia has been the only one to really interest me, she's so different. She doesn't have that smug, diva quality that many of them have had. At one time, I liked Victoria Volchkova, but she never was very consistent and rarely won anything. She's long gone now, anyway. I doubt Julia will win this time, but she's only 15. She should continue on till 2018, and then maybe she'll win then. Or if not, she might at least win a world title or 2 in the meantime. Gracie's component (artistic) scores will not be as high as Yu-na, Julia, etc., so she either has to continue to be flawless and/or some others will have to falter in order for her to make it on the podium. If Julia does well in the free skate and others fail, she still has a chance of getting on the podium. It would be nice to have a US lady on the podium for the first time since 2006, but at least so far all 3 US women are in the top 10. That's always a good thing. |
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Post by Libby on Feb 22, 2014 0:49:44 GMT
Well, my favorite Carolina Kostner didn't move up higher than 3rd, but she did a wonderful job anyway. At least all of the medallists did really well, unlike the men! Even the bronze medallists in the pairs had a fall. History was made with the first Russian woman ever winning the gold. I never realized a Russian woman had never won before, though I knew if they had, it would have been a long time ago. I'm still not crazy about Adelina, and her music wasn't my favorite, but she did really well, so she deserved it. But, I still wonder what more Yu-na could have done. I can't help but wonder that her only flaw was not being Russian. The French ice dance team seem to have had that problem too, because they have nearly always been 3rd behind Meryl & Charlie, and if they weren't, it was because one of them fell. They made no mistake this time that anyone could see. I have a feeling if there had been a Russian man competing, he would have been on the podium, too. |
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Post by martindn on Feb 22, 2014 21:14:25 GMT
Oh, it goes on Libby, it goes on. Did you see what happened to our Elise Christie, the speed skater and world champion? She was basically taken out by a Chinese skater so that the other Chinese skater could win. It looked deliberate, seeming to knock her skates from under her. It is the sort of stuff we see in football all the time, a player is through on goal so the last defender brings him down. Yes, the defender will usually be penalised for that, booked or sent off, but if it saves the game it is clearly deemed to be worth it. But it seems in spped skating, if you can take out the world champion so that some one else from your country can win, it is worth it. But in the end, it was a Korean that won, so it didn't work this time. But the UK, not traditionally a winter sport country, was denied a possible medal that would have made this our most successful Winter Olympics ever.
Martin D
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Post by Richard on Feb 23, 2014 8:19:30 GMT
I tried following Team GB's Facebook page for a couple of days, but I soon gave up. My News Feed was totally swamped!  Richard |
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