2012 World Figure Skating Championships Short Dance Review

Firs of all I've got to say that this was one hell of a competition. There were disapointments, there were under-scoring, there was a fight and you could feel the intensity from here.

To start with the champions Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, What a temptation between them. I think I haven't seen them this much strong and good for maybe 1,5 year. This SD was fast and flawless. From the beginning till the end you could feel the energy in your marrows. All of the transitions were polished and there was a magnificent intensity during the whole program. I will be analysing in details when I compare them with Davis & White. But overall it was breathtaking.
As for the Meryl Davis & Charlie White, I love this program. I think its amazingly structured and both of them were looking so spontaneous like they were coming from the street and someone invited them over and they were improvising the whole choreography, incredible speed in transitons always blowing my mind and they did their best.

Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat; The words are never enough about how I get excited during this program. That fever that glow that rhapsody that enthusiasm is simply magical. This was their best at performing this program. The beginning of the program was so well done with the speed and turns you could see in the rhumba sequence that they could have been better. Fabian had a little stumble on the second part of the twizzle but they handled it well, then comes the fantastic part, the last 45 seconds, impeccably done.
As for the Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje my sentimental favorites are progressing so well I can't believe it how fast they do it anymore. They are more passionate and don't afraid to look or touch each other, this has taken the program into the next level. Their opening movements had weaving footwork and intricacy. Their speed level was spectacular. They have amazing content, transitions and difficult positioning ( thanks to Bourne) which they accomplished with strenght. In the Rhumba pattern their edges were so deep, very good.
Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov were below their average performance. Transit
ions were not well done and something happened I can't point it out about their speed. Overall it was a great performance. I loved seeing them as the number one Russian couple on ice that's for sure. But I believe Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte should've ranked higher than them. Their SD was sensational. They make me feel the passion and romance. The softness betweet the turns & transitions is immense. Amazing synchronization between the two was hypnotizing. They haven't stumbled even once. Hands down it was their best performance and they deserved to be ranled 5th.
About Shibutani's, I don't know what happened there. They certainly have been under-scored, not much but a bit. In terms of technique they are not behind neither the Italians nor the Russians. While examining their scores it is obvious that rhumba pattern was the main reason behind it and this element was certainly considered as a below the average for the judges, especially the first one. I believe they were not that good on the pattern either.
Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue are so in love. I love how they quickly started a relationship and this reflects their dancing makes it delicious to watch them and how they sink into each other makes all the movements more delightful. This couple is fast and they were certainly fast enough to impress the judges either.
Ekaterina Bobrova & Dimitri Soloviev, with their poor skating skills, unsynchronized movements, Ekaterina Bobrova's hunch backed annoying posture, untight execution of footwork well, it was ok for me them being 9th. A shame on that fall but looking at their scores you can clearly see that it's not all about that fall.
My newbies Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland did the best they could. What a shame her blade slipped out of her hand during the first part of the twizzles but one way or another I enjoy watching this program.

European Championships 2012 - Recap

We all knew that this battle was going to end with the victory of the French. But I shall remunerate Bobrova and Soloviev for their FD performance either. I thought for a sec that they were going to win because ther FD was nowhere around I've expected from them. After being in first place after that SD which they didn't deserve at all with this strong, clean FD program I've told my mom "See that, they might win. I cannot believe this" But this time jury was fair. The whole ranking in the FD was as it should've been so I'm pleased.

Short Dance

You could say, among the top 6 or even 7. Bobrova and Soloviev were the worst. With their poor skating skills, unsynchronized movements, Ekaterina Bobrova's hunch backed annoying posture and irritating choreography that SD was far away from being the best. But somehow they've managed to be the first. I know that the the French lost timing a bit in the beginning of the program but they've managed to chatch it up before the lift and they were making deeper edges in the GPF so I can understand how their score was lower than the GPF. But other than that two facts, they were full of energy and they were fast with no mistakes. They showed us how great skating skills they have as always. Looking at Riazanova and Tkachenko I find them technically impeccable. I wish that they would just seem a bit effortless. Regarding to what they accomplish I'm not saying that they look like amatures but if they can manage
 to look confident and include some theatrical looks, they might even be considered as the best couple from Russia. Because they are. They just need time to convince public about it. Coming up to Penny Coomes and Nicholas Buckland. You know how I love this couples demeanor and their vibe and how much I'm into this SD. I love Aguilera's El beso del final and all of the movements just melts in this song. What a shame that they've missed it in the twizzles. It was going to be excuisite. They were fast in the step sequence and transitions were great in the mirror steps because 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 with this much talent. All of their lifts are containing speed and innovation. When the music needs a lift, they give us the lift and their speed level is significantly adding values into their performance. So they deserved to be 4th. Tobias and Stagniunias are not in my favorite list and they need a way go. Unsynchronization on the twizzles and poor skating skills gives them away. I bet they are going to be so much better with team Canton but not there yet. As for the Italians, They 
had a trouble but at least should've been ranked above Coomes and Buckland. If they would have been magical just like in the GP they would have been 3rd. They weren't expecting all these series of sync loss and tripping. Was their worst performance but even performing their worst, they always seem fascinating and enchanting. Love their chemistry. Ilinykh and Katsalapov on the other hand were remarkable. Great speed with transitions made with amazing edges. Hands down it was their greatest performance. Them and the italians ranked below so many couples because their movements base values are very low. Cappellini / Lanotte were 25 and Ilınykh / Katsalapov were 24.5 compard to other couples high base values this is the reason they got behind. French could've pass on but their base value was lower than Russian either. So this
 is very important. I say this every year. They should not let anyone cross them with their higher base values because when GOW is added to it no matter how great points you have from the Jury you might get behind when it multiplies with base values. Carron and Jones, they are my sentimental favorites! I love this program. And they handled it amazingly. Beginning movements were so cute and well done. Just a bit loss of synchronization on the step seq. but thats all. Even Bobrova and Soloviev tripped there. But they were ranked first. So how come Carron and Jones presents a tremendous program and becomes 8th. This is not the first injustice they experience this season. It happened before in the GP. They were solid and this program is polished beautifuly. Their lifts were hard to accomplish and its transitions were real quick They made deep edges in the pattern sequences. What did they want from them? Last but not leas Zhiganshina and Gazsi wore the same outfits again, which has nothing to do with latin but hands down it was their greatest performance this season. I love this couples deep edges. They were the only ones to accomplish step sequence with deep edges and quick transitions. They never unsynchronized. The main problem with Guignard and Fabbri; either she's taller and bigger or he is too small because they look a bit awkward. I love when women looks tiny near men in ice dancing and the opposite always bothers me. They are a self-improving couple and they were ok. I believe they see Virtue and Moir as idols because usage of their extremities (espesially Charlene's) look alike them. I'm not saying this as a bad thing I think its cute and not annoying at all they look lovely. In years to come we might see them in top 10.

Condemning the jury

Please wake me up.... wake me up.. A bad dream about the Russians performing as bad as always as being first on the short dance. Oh no.. I'm not talking about Ilinykh and Katsalapov. They were amazing as always. I'm not talkin about Riazanova & Tkachenko either beause they were flowing and beautiful.Way better than Bobrova and Soloviev. Elena and Nikita should have been ranked above Bobrova and Soloviev. Please.. Are they really serious?. I condemn the jury. Can't believe it. How come Pechalat and Bourzat not ranked as first? What is going on here? I'm actually asking this really.. not kidding. How can you look at the Russians and cannot say "Jury made them a favor" This is the most innocent answer that you can give in a situation like this. Pechalat and Boutzat were the best. I'm not going to even criticize their program. We all have seen it. This is about Bobrova & Soloviev ranked 1st. It happened before with their poor skating skills, unsynchronized movements, Ekaterina Bobrova's hunch backed annoying posture and irritating choreography. Do they really think we are stupid? Guess what we are NOT! Did they really think that we would see this and say "Well they were ok, I guess they deserved to be 1st... I'm not an expert anyways... Jury is". Well clearly they are not. Becouse the whole top 6 were way better than Bobrova and Soloviev.

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.

European Championships Short Dance Overview

It was obvious. As I've said before, Pechalat & Bourzat we're great. I said so much about this Short dance in my last post so I will not again. It was "Absolutely french"
As we come to Bobrova & Soloviev, this was their best short dance performance that I've seen in this season. That's for sure. They started with fluidity and the twizzle part was technicaly good. They stand like champions, which I think is a great way to be in front of the jury. Stance of a person is the greatest power that changes other peoples thoughts, attitudes and behaviors towards him and Jury sees self confidence. There was one minor disharmony after the part lady leans stands back they take the position to outside hold, fastly to combo spin and outside hold again while she removes her right leg back he removes his left leg foward. This is the hardest part in the patters sequence. But I found them succesfull. They deserve to be on the 2nd spot
Ilnykh & Katsalapov were fast and furious. They never slowed down, technically great cheorographed by Zhulin. Everything just fitted. They got up there and just did it. I noticed that they were highly concantrated, which led them to success.
They are only 0.02 points in front of  Riazanova & Thachenko whom were wonderfully elegant. There was a great harmony in that performance. Creativity lies inside the classic moves which gives you hope for the future of the Ice Dance. I always expect these little moves from coaches. I think its what Ice Dancing is all about. Kerr's, they were amazing. I just wanted to scream it was wonderful. To be honest, I wasn't sure about them before the championships begun but they absolutely rocked. I hope they finish it with a silver.
Their speed was wonderful. The linking footwork sequences almost perfect and loved their spins. One of the highest marked components of their presentation was timing.The highest was "Performance" with 7.89 which should be 8.50 at least. But when do we all agree with jury? :) Good Work Sinead & John.
Faiella & Scalli. Loss of balance as usual.. but they wraped up nicely so I think they should'nt be placed 9th. So my prediction is that after the FD, nothing will change and their positions will remain the same.