Skate Canada Free Dance Review

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are so delicious, I can eat them in a heartbeat. This program is absolutely wonderful. I wasn't sure about those whitey white outfits at the beginning (reminds Mahler) but with red dress, Tessa is stunning, her movements are noticable and shows every detail. They are progressing everyday. I'm so much more satisfied that Finlandia. It's only been 3 weeks but they are improving! Lifts are much better executed, linking footwork is becoming clear. There is not much to say, I've written my thoughts about the program overall and this couple executed it impeccible. I didn't get bored. So that's a good thing. Tessa lost her strenght a bit at the end, she suffers from her exertional compartment syndrome and I hope that she is feeling fine because the last thing they need is for her pain to increase and to have a surgery right in the middle of the season when they've worked so hard for it. They have some original
movements suits the music and they are performing it elegantly. They came a little bit close during the synchronized twizzles but Scott handled it quickly. Their curve lift (first lift) becomes more impeccible everyday. It is a risky and edgy lift, amazing and  artistically not quite fulfilling the judges needs but its a modern approach to "funny face". They only need to turn up the volume a bit. Coming to Andrew and Kaitlyn, they are dancing to my favorite song of Lara Fabian. Their scattered, melancholic and heart broken appearance really fits and suits the song perfectly and loved their styling. They've started clean.. Their first serpentine footwork sequence was executed well. Their passionate moves like Kaitlyn scrolling down from Andrew's shoulder to his leg is a high end look and representes their style perfectly. There are variety of their signature looks, Kaitlyn very close to ice, Andrew always bending either and sliding in their lifts and movements. So clever and resembles to Bourne and Kraatz. I used to love their signature sliding movements now Weaver and Poje following their footsteps, is just enchanting. Their second section of their turn is remarkable. You can see the way Shae-Lynn used to work her extremities in Kaitlyn. All of their lifts were thriving especially their first rotational lift, an altered version of one of their signature lifts, they changed it a
little bit and it gives a swanky feel to it. Their curve lift was impeccable but there was a missed mark on their second footwork sequence. Kaitlyn did an extra turn on the first part of the twizzles but they have found their harmony immediately. Their straight line lift really needs a different closure to it. There should be a rotational part and should be converted to (SiLi4 + Roli4). It would be tremendous and enourmous to end that lift. It feels like something is missing this way. They don't get to give you the powerful, strong vibe to it. Hope they edit it. But Cappelini and Lanotte has highest scores in the FD. Overall Weaver/Poje got the 2th place but to me, they have equal skatig skills and they both executed strong performances. Cappellini and Lanotte need to connect those transitions between the lifts and the following movements and this program will be phenomenon! Loved their poitive vibe and smiley faces. Their opening motions were elegan, their twizzles were gorgeous. They were flowy and their fluidity was over the top. These guys skating skills inarguably one of the best and it shows in every way! They really gave the feeling of the strada in the footwork sequence gently and polished.

Their curve lift is one of the best lifts we see in this season and as they progress it will be much more beautiful. Anna needs to be much more relaxed especially in the second sequence because this program requires it badly. Their second lift was gorgeous I wish it could've been a bit longer, with just one extra turn maybe.. Music also requires and begs for a showy straight line lift!They need to step up in the game and turn the volume up. Almost every team is creating difficult, strong and over the top straight line lifts. They have the skills, if they can change it and make it something mesmerising while she is standing up on one foot on his leg, this program will reign. Trust me they are silent killers this season. To me their ending movements and posture is artistically one of the best in the ice dancing history! Last but not least my sentimental favorites this year Madison Chock and Evan Bates did a fantastic job in the FD. What a passion and romance. Undeniable chemistry. They are attracted to each other that is so obvious I mean look at this photo;

Skate Canada Short Dance Review

Starting another GP with falls. Madison Chock and Evan Bates fell so bad on ice it is unbelievable how they didn't get injured. That fall costed them 2.00 points of deductions and they finished SD round in 6th place. Their twizzles were a mess. There was no harmony at all and they couldn't put it together till the pattern sequence.They were insecure and movements were intermittent. Then they accomplished the straight line lift perfectly. That lift is edgy and Madison shows velocity in those poses. They have great chemistry and I believe a romance. It shows. They were very dynamic on the pattern sequences and didn't ranked as higher as they've deserved. Even though they fell, I don't agree on that particular -3 point of a judge. If you take a look closely to other points for the element, lowest score is 0. So an -3 is unfair. Ok they fell but they got their deduction they didn't sucked on that linking footwork sequence. Neither Puskash/Guerreiro not Riazanova/Tkachenko were better than Chock and Zuerlein. They are just couples with average skating skills by making excessive movements. And afterwards we finally see a clean program from Capellini/Lanotte. They were not thriving on the first pattern sequence. Some other couples were so much better. But we see fluidity on the twizzles. I always adore their stage presence and elegance. Their samba part is energic and they rocked it. So much fun and charisma in this part of the program. Especially Anna looked like she enjoyed it! I think there were some
part where Weaver and Poje were better and other than that they were equal in terms of skating skills and presentation. Technicality set Weaver and Poje apart. There were some very hard movements in terms of technicality and it showed. I can see clearly that they turned up the volume this time and taken risks. It is unarguable that they prepared well this season. Kaithlyn is a very competitive skater and Andrew is one of the   most talented men on the ice dance. I believe that they will reach the spot they deserve this season. They were impeccible on the pattern sequence in terms of both technicality and presentation. They were so confident and had this cocky attitude I simply loved it. A gorgeous straight line lift, just a Bourne style. It really shows it. I become aware of the fact that Kaitlyn's movements resembles to Bourne. Some of the head turnings and usage of her body is so similar you can tell that she got it from her. This choreography is full of requirements containing a high level of speed and edgy turns. They are great especially with speed but they lacked in good posture, extension of the extremities and rushed every move at the part before twizzles by the way they were great. That leg movement after the first section of the twizzle is adorable. I love this little details. I'ts not always about the big picture
for me. Last but not least the couple of my life. They were simply impeccible. Since I have written my comments about the program components, executed elements and choreography before in my finlandia trophy review I will only tell that they are improving even in the beginning of the season. They have added some new tricky movements that have been needed. They are clever and proactive. They have the advantage of their FD last season that should be used wisely. I'm so glad that they changed the lift. Their rotational lift was a very difficut lift but in terms of presentation I always thought that there was something missing. They almost lost balance because of Tessa's posture but they handled it perfectly. They are true champions. Excited to see the FD's tomorrow.