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.

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