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.

Moves of 2012 - Pechalat & Bourzat's Egyptian

Pechalat & Bourzat's Egyptian movements are interspersed into this free dance intellegently and right on the spots where it needs to be. This is hard work. The use of their extremities is magnifical and stupendous. Dancing played a vital role in the lives of ancient Egyptians. Even the laborers used to work in rhythmic to the sounds of percussion. So forming the traditional and typical usage of using extremities in a significant way is performing unision symmetrical and dramatic movements. Pechalat and Bourzat integrates these movements in every deep edged transition and change of direction. We are not talking about a few, they are in almost every 5 seconds of this free dance. This makes it internalize
and you taste the essence of this program with Egyptian flavors. This is how you can feel like you are in the theme and when it captures you that's what ice dance is all about. It is choreographed by Kader Belmoktar, she is Egyptian so they wanted to make this right and as it should be. Remember Domnina and Shabalin critisized for offensive aborginal dance which was not their purpose, ofcourse they didn't knew that they were doing something wrong. To execute traditional dances is a bold move. They worked this right and relied on hard work. I always loved Pechalat & Bourzat's innovative approach and to me, they are a synthesis of both modernist and traditionist. Hope to see this routine in its best and see as the 2nd ranked FD of the Worlds.

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.

Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Review

Bobrova & Soloviev:
I love to bash this couple. Because they deserve it. Ekaterina looked awful in the free dance as much as she looked flawless in short dance. But Bobrova and Soloviev are in nowhere a champions should be. 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, its not a bad free dance but she ruins everything by leaning foward all the time and with her disproportionate posture. It is so hard for her to stop this. They are dancing very apart from each other in linking footwork sequences which is a big flaw to me. They were not even sliding on the ice. Lost too much time writing about them. They didn't even deserve to be in the Finals of the Grand Prix
                                                                  Shibutanis:
They 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. Shibutani's have amazing skating skills and this time I've seen this FD more polished and smoothed. They are more glowy and it is obvious that they have worket on their artistical side out of it. Their timing was impeccable and they were calm during the performance. But they still  lack something that does not take them in front of Weaver and Poje. They need a couple of years to settle some things down and figure out their style, because they are capable of everything
Weaver & Poje
Just perfection.. There was fire on stage and Kaitlyn really pushed hersef to the end because usualy she is not very strong in the end of their performances and she usualy looses her strength and power but this time she went all the way. It was adorable when she cried. This program has diversity, power, melancholy and drama. I love to see drama on the ice. Totally Bourne style choreography, they used all the lines in it fulfill fully. They were clean in all of the transitions there was not one moment connected intermittent there is no doubt about that. Especially Andrew blew my mind tonight. I can see that he is improving on usage of his extremities and body language. They were absolutely stunning and all of the lifts especially their rotational lift (second) was as fast as they could be. Well done Kaitlyn and Andrew. I'm so prod of you and how fast you have become an amazing ice dancers.
Pechalat & Bourzat
They were fast and edgy on the Short dance. They have deserved to be the 3rd. But I believe that they should've been ranked 4th for the FD. The short dance, first of all it was full of content. This SD has been choreographed and tailored perfecly for the french. It suits them very well and takes you to another place. What a remarkable performance. From their clothes to little detailes fittet in the small bits of the program it is shiny, positive, hopeful and cozy. I love to see them in funny and refreshing programmes as much as I love to see them in the middle of the innovative and post-modern pieces. Egyptian theme is just mesmerizing. They were enchantedly fascinating and their stage posture is tremendous in this program. I don't need to tell you how amazing Fabian looks and how this theme even makes him more gorgeous. He could possibly the most charming and charismatic ice dancer in the ice dancing history. What a shame
 on that twizzles with loss of synchronization. They've opened very strong an made very deep edges, lift could have been better. I have seen them performing this particular lift, which is their signature lift, so much better than this, even in this program but it was ok. Linking footwork was admirable. See, this was one of their weak sides. Till last year they were never good in linking footworks and step sequences because they used to dance so distant but you can see the improvement. I personally hated the way they changed their straight line lift! Why on earth did they do that? I have seen this lift in almost every program they have performed. Straight line lift in this program was unique and innovative. It used to give you the vibe of the oriental side of it. This is a very big mistake. I loved the deep edges and transitions in this program. They are still adding some minor details in usage of extremities in an Egyptian Way. Their timing was impeccable. Overall, it was well done. Virtue/Moir and Davis/White comparison is coming up in the next few days ... I have decided to make this annual because  my comparison review from the last worlds is the most popular by far of my all posts..

Skate America Short Dance Review

Opening the Grand Prix Season with SA and from the firs day of it here goes expected and unexpected. Davis and White are no doubt going to take gold from this challenge, this is inarguable. It was demanding and captivating  SD performance. They always make a way to show it look effortless yet a hard worked program. It is so important to secure the balance within these two. Most of the ice dancers except Virtue and Moir cannot make it show as it. They always make great performances but when they seem exhausting and painful while making a move I believe jury cuts out points. Because that is not how ice dancing should. You need to make a difference there. Team Canton students are always reaching this success.
Davis and white exhibited a clean program today. Some points I want to touch; they were slower than usual in the twizzles. I believe they went with a different kind of enty to it so they couldn't speed up as usual. They had their own entry to twizzles for many years which makes it so easy for them to reach the speed they need and help them provide the best way. I believe they need to change it to old one or they won't gain the highest score in twizzles because Virtue and Moir and Pechalat/Bourzat are both performing it in 3 sections with and extra. As for  the Pechalat and Bourzat what an intriguing program and what a shame to Bourzat's fall. This can't be happening to them again. If they miss it again in the world because of an incident again I may cry. They always give such a tremendous positive energy and vibe to it.
They deserve to be in a good spot. Their quality of skating progresses in every season. They didn't let the fall effect them. Greatest outfits of the 2011 season in SD. Lovely choice of music, not an expected one so I appreciate their originality and

essence as a team.Zhiganshina and Gazsi on the other hand didn't deserve those higher presentation scores from Hubbell and Donohue whom exhibited an impeccible program in terms of speed, intricate moves and correct vibe of Cha Cha. Latin theme just suited the way of their style. They are true showstoppers. Terrific synchronization and so many great edgework on the program. Their only weak point was base values of their executed elements.
It was very low in comparison to the others it caused them not to gain much points from element scores and they got left behind. They need to make urgent changes in their second step sequence to get higher values. Paul and Islam;
what a shame to a great teamwork. Except of their falls they were flowy and sophisticated on the ice. There were no mistakes in anywhere in the program besides the 3 collapses. The quality of their skating is sensational and they look elegant. They have an undeniable chemistry between them. My God what a shame!

Moves of 2011 - Pechalat & Bourzat's Finale

The last 15 seconds of this program is indefinable. A playful medley of moves set to a Charlie Chaplin theme ends and then girl suddenly goes blind again with a heartfelt, elegant and affecting finale music. You can feel the sadness and then hope and love again. I have never seen a touching finale like this before. The turn in the music and feeling of the dance comes out of nowhere.
 In their 4th time presenting this program, audience still thinks the program is over after Pechalat's hop from the back of Bourzat. But after a second, you hear that sad but in the mean time hopeful music while she seeks for her lover for a moment she loses hope, but tahen a glimpse of a touch with the happy ending.
I find Natalie so succesful in this performance. She acts blindness very well. But the actual move is where she becomes blind again while the music changes she reaches foward

European Championships Overview

I'm going to talk a bit about the FD..It was obvious that Pechalat and Bourzat lead FD and won the Europeans because of their progress and attidude..But Kerr's being 3rd was a big suprise because of Sinead's injury this season. I didnt think that they were going to push this hard. They were floating with speed and balance. They were so pleased with themselves. They seemed to having a good time and most of all they were feeling it. Great tricky cheorography by Platov..
 About Bobrova and Soloviev, great opening in FD a bit disharmony and loss of balance, but especially Ekaterina looks so confident. Altougha little bad luck about her skirt stuck under Dimitri's blades she is always controlled. Elena Ilynkh oh how beautiful she smiles. Whatever she does I like it I don't know why but I think after 5 years. We will be talking about them as champions... Faiella and Scali were technically ready and tried to focus but this caused them not to reflect the feeling of the dance enough.

Overview sentence: "Unpredictable in some aspects but also highly predictable?"

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.

2011 European Championships Preview

   

Well, the European champs have begun in Bern this season. There is definitely no competititon in the air but there can be surprises.First of all the gold medal will go to Pechalat and Bourzat. Since there is no Domnina and Shabalin couple this season they went a step ahead and did a wonderful job. Asiding from the technical qualities, their aspects of presentation is very strong. They are leaving this "french, magnolia, vintage, dusty memories" feeling when they dance. short dance is very romantic, especially the opening part of the music and the harmony between the twizzles is amazing. Natalie prefers to wear red this year which I think is a brilliant choice and she looks so elegant. I hope she doesn't change it like the others do.
They are standing as they feel like they are the champions this season, which makes me look at them differently. In their free dance, the theatratical sad and happines combination with a Charlie Chaplin medley is a full flavor. First lift is technically very difficult. It dissociates from other straight line lifts that we have seen before. He is on one foot but not close to the ground so he can simply loose his balance but he also makes a curve while gliding.But judges scores this season for this particular lift was very disproportionate. They are my favourites in this European Champs.
But Kerr's on the other hand, have lost significant time due to Sinead's injury that included a dislocation. They placed second in the Skate Canada behind Crone&Poirier. Which was a total dissapointment for them but I have hope that they will be strong in the EC's like they always do and be on the podium. Transitions of style and music in the short dance are very good. Speed and fluidity is great. FD was a bit disappointment for me because I felt that they've stayed back. But their transition moves like the creative twizzles they do on opposite directions (mirror) is so great and elegant. Didn't liked the lifts. They are doing the same lifts every year, they need better ones, I don't know why are they doing this but I know that they have great potential otherwise Platov would not be working with them. They always impress me but its definitely a questionmark in this seasons EC's.
About the Faiella & Scali team. Such a bad luck, two falls beacause of the same reason, wrong design of the clothes. He slipped by stepping on her skirt and I said "What again?".It's not about how long the skirt is. You must watch the dance and see the conflicts. Their last season FD was so impressive so we expect the same performance this year. Didn't liked the clothes in both dances. I really think clothes are so important on influence.



Don't think Bobrova & Soloviev are good enough to be on the podium nor the Hungarians. They still need some time to improve their skills.
This season The European Championships is going to be either boring or very exiting thats for sure...