I am thrilled W&P won the GPF; however as we discovered last year, the only competition than matters is WORLD'S, everything leading up to it, only provides momentum and some key jockeying for position and much whining by fans and Feds, during the upcoming home stretch. This season it seems W&P actually have a good dose of momentum! They are skating like Champs and so far, stronger, faster, and more beautiful each time out. However, Canada will not have a Dance judge in Boston, it will likely be much, much tougher for them to secure victory or even podium on American soil as I think the long knives are likely being sharpened as I type this.
Internationally, the Shib sibs, and Chock & Bates are essentially tied in terms of their FD's hovering tween 105 -106, but GPF had them separated by just 0.10, while the SD is bit stronger for C&B, but still the scores are very, very close with 69.11 VS 71.64. The judges are hedging their bets showing they are perhaps more open now to a changing of the guard, so who comes out on top at USA Nationals, will likely also determine which USA team will be in contention to podium in Boston. I tend to think that nationals result will also help determine who earns Marina's full support, ex., if the Shibs actually become USA#1, then it will be very interesting to see which 2, of her current top 3 teams Marina will be most furiously politicking for, to podium in Boston. It seems judges are determined to have a Euro team on the Dance podium in Boston if at all possible, but whether France's P&C will return in top form, or not, is still a big mystery! Thus far, from the way things have been shaping up with the mark's this season, I feel Italy has been acting as the main Euro place holder so far. Considering how many miscues the Italians had at GPF and they still wound up on the podium seems to support my theory. Russia has many good teams, but so far due to inconsistency, injury, partner swapping, or other issues, no one Russian team has really separated itself from the pack internationally, enough to be a top 3 world contender yet. But you know Russia will have a team on the Olympic podium if history is anything to swear by. I think the 2 Russian teams selected for Worlds will still be knocking at the door for a top 6 finish in Boston. That is, unless something miraculous happens to up the ante by time Euro's roll around. S&K, B&S and I&Z are essentially within a point or 2 of each other, with S&K so far in the lead by a hair. B&S did not help themselves very much at GPF. Will Russia's S&K be ready to step it up by Euro's? Or will it still be Italy's C&L on the podium should France's P&C, or Russia #1 still not be ready to contend? Will USA's Shibs be on the podium in Boston, or bridesmaids again?
My question is will Marina's Russian team enter the fray at Euro's, if they manage to beat B&S and I&Z at their National's to become #1 since that result will really throw the cat amongst the pigeons! Will Marina be playing the long haul game for Olympics, or going for the easy Podium medal at Worlds, so which of her teams will likely become cannon fodder by worlds? Whee, will W&P finally catch a break and dance their way to the top, or will Cdn hearts break yet again? Anyone remember the bad old days when dance was the most predictable Event?
and 1.11 total GOE, I imagine they would get +3 from all judges if they would be in sync.
. So same number of judges and one more extra for P/C if we count the crazy judge that give +3 in P/C case think Shibs and P/C deserve +2, more than 50% of the judges think both teams had equal quality.
- I am not happy at all. Even though their Elvis SD was far from perfect at Finlandia, it was one of my favorite SDs of the season. But maybe this SD was too difficult, and Kaitlyn and Andrew/their coaches felt that they were not comfortable with it and couldn't skate it at the desired level? Still, they had so little time to change it. I fear they are going to lose to Bobrova/Soloviev at least in the SD at Skate Canada. That could have happened with the Elvis SD too, of course.
