Monday, April 13, 2009

Back to Cali (Review): Four Dance Lessons Learned in Spite of it All

Imagine, for the duration of this post, that there were no controversies in the judging/scoring of ice dancing. Yes, you can imagine at the same time that democracy is flawless, and educators are paid what they’re worth and then some…

Then return to my dance judging fantasy-land as you study the final standings at Worlds for
2009 , 2008 , and 2007 (the years since the last Olympic season). What might they teach us at face value? Well…

1) Compulsories can make the difference between going home with a medal, and going home empty-handed. A lot of fans (myself included) were stunned to see USA’s Davis/White on the short end of a virtual tie with Canada’s Virtue/Moir, especially when they’d actually beaten V/M in the free dance (by mere hundredths of a point, but a win’s still a win). But if you look at the event segment by segment, you find that the biggest discrepancy between them was actually in compulsories… where V/M’s 39.37 was more of a tie with Belbin/Agosto (39.65), and D/W’s 37.73 was actually more in line with Khoklova/Novitski (37.34).

2) The point totals don’t automatically shoot higher every year. Over in the Ladies Final, the big question was “Can Yu-Na Kim break 200 points?”… something that had not previously been achieved in the new system. But while the 200 point mark was surpassed by ice dancers as early as 2005 (the first year the CoP system was used at Worlds), the top score from year to year has fluctuated wildly since than. In fact, the best overall score at this year’s competition (Domnina/Shabalin’s 206.30) would have only been good enough in ’05 for… 6th place!

3) An off and/or injured year doesn’t mean you have to re-earn your place in the line upon returning. Belbin/Agosto took an infamous tumble at compulsories last year, and didn’t seem to be bouncing back with any gusto (pun intended) this season… until Worlds, that is, where they came as close as they ever have to winning the title. Domnina/Shabalin have struggled with Shabalin’s knee injuries for years, to the point where they had to withdraw from Worlds altogether in ‘08… and we all know what happened with them. So for anyone worrying that Delobel/Schoenfelder might have a tough time of it next season, perhaps those fears can be put to rest a little early.

4) (Speaking of tough times…) It can be just as cold and cruel out there on the ice for dancing as it is any other discipline. Italy’s Faiella/Scali finished 9th back in 2007, and 5th in ’08… but rather than continue or at least maintain their ascent, they suffered a fall in the OD this year and finished the season back down in 8th. And while their problems were pretty plain to see, those of Russia's Khoklova/Novitski were more mystifying: after claiming bronze last year and doing quite well for themselves in earlier season events (including a win over Dom/Shab), they could do no better than 5th in any one event here and ended up 6th overall. Hmmm...

And for what it’s worth:


I predicted Khok/Novot for gold… they finished 6th
I predicted Domnina/Shabalin for silver… they won gold
I predicted Davis/White for bronze… they finished 4th

1 out of 3 for the podium; no correct placements


Since I mentioned everyone in the Top 6 except Pechalat/Bourzat, here they are as the
Clip of the Day with their whimsical, circus-inspired FD (which has really grown on me, I must admit).

ISU Team Trophy coming up later this week! (What the heck is that?! Stay tuned and we'll find out together.)

8 comments:

Aaron said...

Excellent point on Delobel and Schoenfelder, I don't think they'll have issues at all.

That compulsory danc ecan be the killer. When Virtue and Moir slightly tanked in the OD, it was only their CD score that kept them in the running. And then losing again in the free skate but having just enough left from the CD...wow.

For the record, I really like the 'Great Gig' program (for the record...I liked Delobel and Schoenfelder's too!)...but Davis and White's S&D was just magical.

Kelli Lawrence said...

Was the "Great Gig" the Pink Floyd music used by both? I'm more fond of the V/M program, but that might be thanks in part to the fact they segue into "Money" near the end. I'm weary of hearing that one lady's voice wail through the PF track... almost makes me want to watch with the "mute" button in hand :-)

Aaron said...

Hahahaha...the wailing women...that be 'the Gig."

For some reason I'm partial to it...

Sharon said...

Hey Kelli,
I guess I got lucky predicting the medals at 4CC, but I wimped out on predicting Worlds. Why? Because I knew deep down that the politics would be out in full force. Have to say, I was a little surprised at the results for some (K/N and F/S just didn't have the mojo, did they?) and I simply don't get Dom/Shabs winning the title with that kind of skating. Needless to say, I was aching for D/W (my faves)...they worked so hard all season and stayed injury-free, racking up the medals...only to miss the podium by .04!! This IJS is heartbreaking at times. And I was disappointed for B/A...just not sure what is in store for them next year. I think anything can happen at the competitions throughout the season but as far as Worlds and Olympics is always the same old song.

Kelli Lawrence said...

It's really too bad that anything short of a gold medal might seem like a defeat for B/A... even if they're the only ones from the Olympic podium class of '06 still going strong. I'll never get my hopes very high, but I hope they (and D/W, of course) will prevail as best they can... even if it means doing their best and getting the "they wuz robbed" treatment!

Laura said...

It is too bad that it will seem a failure for B/A to not win next year, but Tanith has essentially said as much in interviews and I guess I get it. I just don't know if it's going to happen for them...especially with Delobel and Schoenfelder coming back and continued losses to Domnina and Shabalin. And Virtue and Moir messed up in the OD at worlds, otherwise I think they might have finished higher than B/A...who can't count on that happening at the Olympics. and where does this leave Davis and White?

Kelli Lawrence said...

Oy! Obviously more awards are going to be needed beyond gold, silver and bronze...

I propose gift cards for Red Lobster in lieu of the traditional 4th place zippo. Who's with me??

:-D

Aaron said...

Kelli, I'm with you. Maybe Smucker's can give through in a lifetime's worth of Jelly? Free Pass to Disney World? Something!