- Joined
- Feb 14, 2018
I've watched figure skating on and off for the past 5 years or so, but this year was my first time watching all the events carefully from start to finish and I've really enjoyed watching ice dancing for the quality of the skating. However, whereas in men's or ladies' singles and you have elements with scores and I've kind of learned the "eye test" for who has good skating skills or not, when it comes to ice dance I feel as though I'm not watching for the right things. So I wanted to ask a few questions (and follow up with more) as I learn to watch ice dance:
1) I really liked Papadakis and Cizeron after seeing their free skate at the Olympics, and I was watching some other versions of their FS. One of the commentators (don't remember which competition, maybe GPF?) commented that they had this charm and aura that other teams sought to emulate but couldn't. Are there other dancers who have borrowed that style?
2) How are the lifts scored? P/C have a simple curve lift at the beginning of their program that always gets level 4s and top GOEs but it's not very complex or acrobatic compared to other pairs. Why is it they get higher points?
3) Why do so many step sequences get downgraded to level 3s or 4s? I feel like that happens less in the final groups for mens/ladies.
4) What is it about P/C that allowed the British Eurosport commentators to say gold at this last worlds was definitely theirs to lose? I watched the last group in a row and I thought their performance was absolutely amazing, but I don't know if I have the eye for what makes them stand out so clearly above the other teams. For example, I thought Piper/Gilles had a really charming James Bond program and the Chock/Bates Imagine program was pretty boring, so I want to know what I should be watching for in terms of performance.
I'm so sorry to ask so many questions, but I'm just now discovering how great the performances are and I want to learn more. Thanks in advance for answers/discussion!
1) I really liked Papadakis and Cizeron after seeing their free skate at the Olympics, and I was watching some other versions of their FS. One of the commentators (don't remember which competition, maybe GPF?) commented that they had this charm and aura that other teams sought to emulate but couldn't. Are there other dancers who have borrowed that style?
2) How are the lifts scored? P/C have a simple curve lift at the beginning of their program that always gets level 4s and top GOEs but it's not very complex or acrobatic compared to other pairs. Why is it they get higher points?
3) Why do so many step sequences get downgraded to level 3s or 4s? I feel like that happens less in the final groups for mens/ladies.
4) What is it about P/C that allowed the British Eurosport commentators to say gold at this last worlds was definitely theirs to lose? I watched the last group in a row and I thought their performance was absolutely amazing, but I don't know if I have the eye for what makes them stand out so clearly above the other teams. For example, I thought Piper/Gilles had a really charming James Bond program and the Chock/Bates Imagine program was pretty boring, so I want to know what I should be watching for in terms of performance.
I'm so sorry to ask so many questions, but I'm just now discovering how great the performances are and I want to learn more. Thanks in advance for answers/discussion!