In Love or Not ? - Chock and Bates

Earlier in this season Madison Chock and Evan Bates announced their teaming up. It is only been a couple of months but don't you think that they are a bit too close for a couple who barely even know each other? You may call it a "should be" "they are acting" or "they are friendly" but I doubt. There are couples whom been dancing for years cant seem to get along that well. This is about attraction. They have an undeniable chemistry. They are always performing eye to eye and keeping their faces so close. They do not miss a chance to be closer at each other and they seem to be a bit shy about it either, so cure. I sometimes catch Evan trying a way to touch Madison while waiting for the points. You know figure skating teams always stand by hand to hand or they hug and they are allowed to stay close because they represent a couple who has known each other for a long lime and it is known to be a common act, Evan uses this opportunity so good :) He can't stand away from her and Madison really feels the passion and sometimes she can't stop closing her eyes when she is so close to him. Those are just my observations. I'm leaving the rest to pictures and videos. If they are falling for each other or even attracted to each other we all would want what's best for them don't we?

Cup of Russia Notes

SD

- I condemn jury. Cannot believe how could they score Carron and Jost the lowest and placed Riazanova and Tkachenko the 4th? All of the Russians sucked in twizzles it was a total disapointment and they were all dancing very apart from each other in all of the footworks (including Bobrova and Soloviev). They were all over the place. At least french gave a clean and polished one.
- Bobrova and Soloviev made some great moves, they were delivering the quality. It seems like this SD is progressing and Ekaterina was looking flawless and sexy. But miss of synchronization was everywhere. Deserved to be 3rd. They've entered  the pattern sequences with a deep edge and speed.
- My sentimental favorites Weaver and Poje should have been ranked higher they were impeccable as always. They have maintained their speed and their energy level was so high. I simply love this program.
- What a shame on that almost fall! Meryl always loses her enthuisiasm because she is a very competitive person but she did a great job by covering it.

Top 3 was predictable

FD
- Meryl and Charlie were better in the SA but they got ther SB. See, thats one of the things I don't like in judging system. When you compare both of their performances this season they were much faster and polished in SA. These times you realize how judges can effect ranking apart from whether a teams accomplishment of a performance fulfills all of the requirements in  terms of every component or not.
- As for the Weaver and Poje, they really need to edit the ending and combine last 2 lifts to make a long one in order to give you the sentiment that seems to be lacking in that straight line lift. It would be legendary if the could just make the straight line lift and end it with that rotational lift to make it a long combination lift then make those amazingly enchanted passionate movements in the last 6 seconds.
I always prefer to see 2 short lifts and a long lift instead of 4 short lifts. In someways they seem to be discontinious and feels like they divide the program.
- In my opinion Bobrova and Soloviev don't even deserve a bit to go to the finals that I can even prefer the British. Capellini and Lanotte or Ilinykh and Katsalapov should have made it to the finals instead of them. Their only luck was to be in a grand prix where no strogh competitor existed. ISU really need to divide and distribute couples to grand prix events more carefully

NHK Trophy FD Overview

Lets start of this event since we were seeing and being able to write about it for the first time, lets start with Iliynikh and Katsalapov' FD; from leading in SD to becoming 3rd overall.. That was expected. But must have been a disappointment for them. They were good but they lacked energy in this program. This choreography is, in some parts over the top brilliant and in some parts a total disaster. Those twizzles, last intricate part of the turn, beautifully tailored little details in movements were choreographed perfectly but in some parts you feel like somebody else took the program and ruined it! For example; after that twisted and sumptuous last part of the turn music goes into its most glamorous part of it but instead of floating on the ice with rough transitions they are standing just right there slowly moving there arms you feel like saying "what the hell are you doing? Just move for God's sake!" those lifts were old fashioned and there is nothing interesting about it all. Overall, it is a confusing choreography they really need to polish it and turn the volume up! I loved Nikita's acting and the feeling he gives to you but for some reason I felt like Elena was stiff and dull which erases all of the great content done perfectly in a second when you see her face trying to concentrate all the time. If they can really edit this program and make it better artistically it will be enchanted. My
sentimental favorites Weaver and Poje were incredible. From the continuity of the speed to fluency of the transitions this performance was breathtaking. You could feel the energy in every movement. There was a lot of passion and sensuality which is giving the program an amazingly strong artistical side advantage. What a shame on that extended lift, they would have won if they didn't get that deduction! Their timing was incredible which is one of the most important things in this free dance, it has so much content, intricacy and speed in it they should manage time in every move they should be very careful with it. I see thir skating skills improving and this program progressing everytime I see them, it makes me really happy. In my opinion the only editing this choreography needs is to move their last rotational lift to the end and make that last straight line lift a long lift (siLi4+RoLi4). It would be glamorous and base values would remain the same. Shibutani's program is still boring to me, I feel like there are only requied elements but not more. They deserved those points but they were so much better in the SD. They were so happy to find out that they won :) But I believe they still look like juniors
no matter how great their skating skills are they lack something. Couples except the top 3 were in a "not there yet" category so with the withdraw from Paul and Islam there was not so much to talk about. I still keep saying "what was that?" to Ziganshina and Gazsi's FD. Kriengkrairut and Giullietti-Schmitt were nowehere near their SD vibe and energy but their straight line lift is mentionably innovative and difficult. Reed's were looking awesome as always in terms of their outfits and styling. And I couldn't watch Alessandrini and Vaturi's Tosca without thinking Belbin and Agosto. So it is very hard for me.

NHK Trophy SD Overview

Lets recap for every contestant in today's SD. Opening with Kriengkrairut and Giullietti-Schmitt (God, what subnames!) I loved this couples energy. They have a tremendous synchronization. Followed by very high base valued twizzles, I've founded a bit slow but very unique. Loved the way they entered the 1st sequence. They have done deep edging and their speed level was very high. So not expecting it. Their step sequence fits the music very well and I think they did a very good job. All they have to do is establish consistency. They can be in the top 3 in the U.S. very easly. They just need to turn up the volume and progress their use of extremities.I adore Alexandra Paul's elegance, I adore her beauty. She looks like a new Tessa Virtue to me and she grows on me everyday. Paul and Islam performed an exquisite program. Even though they've ranked so much higher than skate canada I think that they still didn't get the points they deserved. There were no mistakes in this program. I was solid and polished. I believe judges don't see what I see in this couple. I'll keep saying this. Their step sequence was technically hard with mirror works and they accomplished beautifully. They have amazing skating skills. Mitchell Islam sells Alexandra Paul very good. Their opening movements had weaving footwork and intricacy but they only lack in energy. They do not enter the pattern sequences with edge and speed but they low beautifully so that mustn't be a big point breaking issue in my point of view. They are enchanted in transitions and they are smooth.
Alessandrini and Vatuni we not better than Paul and Islam. To use extremities in such an excessive and theatrical way and make the performance look it is speedy and edgy should not require to be ranked higher. I find Alessandrini's movements quite disturbing and they did nothing but dizz my head. She is over-acting which I hate. I only liked their twizzles. Cathy Reed and Chris Reed did the best they could. Cathy's posture is beautiful and her dress was very sexy. Very good energy in the start but loss of synchronitation both on the twizzles even though it was fast and step sequence. Their choice of music for Rhumba suits pattern sequence very well but they were not edgy and didn't get into the sequences as they should've get. Zhiganshina and Gazsi were much better than SA but I don't find this couple flattering at all even though Nelli has a great posture and great carriage to her body. They were terrible in syncronization but one of the best in Rhumba sequences. They are great in speed and get really deep in the edges. Those outfits don't suit this program at all! Iliynkh and Katsalapov were inarguably the best. What a suprise! They were unbelievable in the opening movements and twizzles. There are rough, intricate moves and they were great in transitions while they carried speed. Edgy and fast entrance in the step sequence was so eye-catchy and they were perfectly synchronized in it. This choreography includes so many content and full of transitions which makes it very
difficult and they success. Usage of the music and its reflections to program is tremendous. They lacked a bit speed towards in the end but other than that it was strong and in terms of technicality one of the most difficult programmes this season. By the way I loved her dress and styling. Shibutani's have amazing skating skills and I've seen this program more polished and smoothed. But no matter how great they are technically they lack something in presentation. They need to be more glowy and focus on their artictical sides. Last but not least lovely Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje are looking so confident this season which gives them an advantage in this program. I always tell this; looking confident and a little bit cocky is always good on the ice. Except for one little defect in the twizzles they were as good as SC but somehow ranked lower. Everything I have said for their SD is still there. Their speed level was impeccible. They have amazing content,  edgy transitions and difficult positioning ( thanks to Bourne) which they accomplish with strenght. Their use of extremities are amazing as usual and they focus on using the free leg more which is adorable. If the didn't had that flaw in twizzled they would probably be ranked 1st.

Cup of China Review

Bobrova and Soloviev are in nowhere a champions should be. They can be considered as the most experienced and technically best for Cup of China but they were ranked higher than they deserve. In the SD they were fast and accomplished the pattern sequence very good but the way Ekaterina Bobrova uses her extremities is excessive and the fact that she leans foward literally all the time is disturbing. She lookes like she is hunched. Their FD was full of content there is no doubt about that but she ruins everything by leaning foward all the time and with her disproportionate posture. It's really distracting. Their ending to the FD was hidious, they were looking so amature it is unbelievable they were ranked higher (8.86) than Shibutani's (8.11) in timing component scores. Shibutani's may be less experienced but their skating skills are superb and in terms of technicality it is undeniable that they were better than the Russians. Especially in the FD. The lifts were full of content and they were extremely difficult. But they gave us a solid performance. Maybe Russians should
have been the 1st anyway but not with this points difference. They were ranked higher than Pechalat and Bourzat which is ubsurd. They won't be this much appreciated neither in the GP final nor in the Worlds. These points may be their seasons best. Shibutani's are the bronze world medalists and in terms of technicality it is obvious that they were so much better and should have been ranked higher than the Russians, Period!Coming to Coomes and Buckland, they are trained by the one and only Evgeny Platov, after the Kerr's retirement I'd never thought a couple would come from GB whith this much talent. They were tremendous in the SD. They've became 3rd. Choreography was wonderful with "El beso del final" one of my favorite songs from Aguilera. I loved the way they started the program, it captures your attention. All of their lifts are containing speed and innovation. When the music needs a lift, they give us the lift! Their transitions are gorgeous right there thanks to Platov. Their speed level is significantly adding values into their performance. Deterioration in synchronization occured in someways but other than that they accomplished a polished performance. There was so much more verve
and attack. Their last lift and transition was choreographed wonderful, wish they would have managed time well. In the FD I felt the energy to my toes. Their first lift was innovative and is one of the greatest lifs of this season but it was extended so it caused them a deduction. I don't know why but I can't take my eyes of them. Her body and extremities, especially the shape of her legs look so alike to Pasha Grishuk. Overall their FD performance was better than Carron and Jones. They would've ranked higher if they didn't fell, what a shame. Carron and Jones SD on the other hand have more sharpness and they were looking nothing but cute with those outfits. I can't help it I love french teams.They didn't have anything interesting but nice and tidy footork and they did a big pattern on the sequences. Lloyd seems so alike to Maxim Staviski, it is clear
that he examples and loves him. He looks amazing I used to couldn't take my eyes of Maxim so Lloyd had the same effect on me. They are very good on synchronization and transitions. They love mirror sequences and I really appreciate it because to transitate it to reverse is a hard work. I love their second lift which they did on their FD last year either. It suited that program much better but it has became their signature lift and for them to use such and innovative and technically hard lift for the second time is clever. Nothing held back in both of their performances and it seems like they can progress throughout the season quickly. Last but not least Emily Samuelson and Todd Gilles were a bit underrated. They had full of difficult content and great amount of technically hard movements and transition. For a couple that only been together for 6 months they were really good. As they get more time together they will progress in speed and transitions. In the SD their
synchronization was great in the circular step sequence, their lift was catchy and they did a very good job. Their FD is choreographed by Dean so it is the right thing not to expect much from this couple at the beginning of the season because Dean's choreo's are technically hard, complicated and mighty! They were accused by illegal elements and extended lifts, sorry but its a Dean choreography and it was a terriffic choreography. Ofcourse they will change those movements but I still hate to see that illegal movement expression for a FD. I'm pretty sure that one illegal movement is one of my favorites when it says "Stairway to heaven" she does this tinkly minkly movement with her arms after the opening. It was a killian hold. I believe Emily Samuelson has great skating skills ( Go toepoint!) and deserves a better partner that can sell her and accomplish every move polished just like she does. But I still think they should've been ranked higher, especially higher than the Chinese.
Cup of China rate;
Judges scoring : -2
Organization :- 3
Performances: -1