2011 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Pairs Free Skate

Here we are with the senior pairs in their free skate. We are starting at about 10:50 EST with the first two groups of three, we'll then cut to ice dance and come back live on NBC for the final groups in pairs and dance. **denotes my picks in USFSA Fantasy Skating

1) Erika Smith & Nathan Bartholomay

   Music: Alexander

• That was a nice cartwheel move at the beginning
• Solid lifts
• Nice throws, they are really putting on a nice showing here
• That group 5 star lift was really stellar, especially with the music
• This music is very nice for them, and I like the choreography as well
• FS Score: 47.00 (TES) + 41.99 (PCS) = 88.99
• 43.60 (SP) + 88.99 (FS) = 132.59

2) Chloe Katz & Joseph Lynch

   Music: Music from Henry V

• That was a bit of a rough catch on the split twist
• Their speed is very nice
• I like that their costumes go together but don't match
• Wow she took a tough fall onto her stomach on the 1st throw, hits boards
• That is unfortunate for her, they were really flying
• She doubles her side by side triple toe loop, he is clean
• Group 5 lasso into hand-to-hip lift with him actually skating crossovers under her
• She holds onto a beautiful triple throw lift
• She shows some nice flexibility
• Their lifts are nicely placed on the hilights in the music
• FS Score: 52.35 (TES) + 42.37 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 93.62
• 46.38 (SP) + 93.62 (FS) = 140.00

3) Lisa Moore & Justin Gaumond

   Music: No, No, Nanette

• I loved them in the short skating to Singin in the Rain
• They have a nice jazzy, whimsical quality about them
• Throw double loop was clean, and she landed safely
• SBS double toe-double toe
• I like Peter Carruthers, am not a fan of the "creative" death spiral where the lady grabs the foot going in
• She was so tilted in the air on that last throw and just crumbled
• FS Score: 43.63 (TES) + 38.51 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 81.14
• 46.44 (SP) + 81.14 (FS) = 127.58

4) Gretchen Donlan & Andrew Speroff

   Music: Stairway to Heaven 

• Nice strong catch on the triple twist, good flow out
• She hung onto that SBS triple landing for sure
• I like the upside down entrance into the press lifts, they shift to a hand to hip with Andrew skating underneath of her
• I though she had that double axle, but she lost her footing
• Gorgeous flowing landing on her throw
• Nice low death spiral position
• They put up some great lifts, especially with difficult entrances
• Their second throw is equally strong
• This is a very nice program, conceptually and choreographically
• They should go solidly into first here
• Andrew is so strong for her and really shows her off nicely
• Gretchen could use some ballet to teach her to stretch out her legs and point her feet
• Coach Sheryl was in tears!
• FS Score: 51.29 (TES) + 46.34 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 96.63
• 48.62 (SP) + 96.63 (FS) = 145.25

5) Becky Bereswill & Trevor Young

   Music: Chicago

• I hope they use actual Fosse movements 
• Her dress is incredible
• They have some nice speed
• Good solid double axel-double toe
• I really love the choreography in this piece
• Opting for a split double twist
• I really like this team and I hope they place high enough to get some senior Grand Prix assignments
• She has learned quickly to process the lifts and throws 
• Becky really eeks out the landing on that throw triple loop, she was so tilted and still pulled it out
• That reverse overhead is so difficult and they hit it like it's nothing
• He lifts her so elegantly and makes her look so light
• This is such an entertaining program and she they've really chose the best selections form Chicago
• Mistake at the end, he loses the pivot on the death spiral and and almost loses her
• FS Score: 47.11 (TES) + 42.84 (PCS) -1.00 (DED)= 88.94
• 48.77 (SP) + 88.94 (FS) = 137.71

6) Molly Aaron & Daniyel Cohen **

    Music: Malaguena

• They are on my fantasy team so I'm pulling for them
• I like that they took a moment to really get into character before beginning
• She puts her hand down on the first throw, but it had a lot of height
• Molly takes a hard fall on the opening jump
• They hit some nice unique positions in their overhead lifts
• Not the best skate they have every done, they won't be too happy about that one
• FS Score: 49.40 (TES) + 43.39 (PCS) -3.00 (DED) = 85.59
• 47.24 (SP) + 85.59 (FS) = 136.83

7) Lindsay Davis & Themisthocles Leftheris

   Music: 

• Missed skate due to late NBC coverage
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 97.18
• 51.07 (SP) + 97.18 (FS) = 148.25

8) Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin

    Music: Mona Lisa Overdrive/The Mission

• Missed skate due to late NBC coverage
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 96.97
•  54.29(SP) + 96.97 (FS) = 151.26

9) Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir

   Music: Avatar

• Missed skate due to late NBC coverage
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 100.44
• 51.48 (SP) + 100.44 (FS) = 151.92

10) Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett

     Music: Rhapsody in Blue

• We now have Tom Hammond, Sandra Bezic, and Scott Hamilton as the live commentators, such an upgrade, though I do love Peter Carruthers
• Caydee is so sassy, and Jeremy has worked so hard to live up to her performance levels
• Nice clean catch on the triple twist
• Side by side triple toes, beautifully landed, good work Caydee, such a fighter
• Nice throw triple lutz on a huge musical crescendo
• Jeremy steps out of the first double axel in the sequence but the second set is clean
• This middle section in center ice is gorgeous
• Just beautiful  choreography by David Wilson
• Great spin sequence, great unicson
• Nice position by Caydee in the lasso lift
• Nice strong landing by Caydee in the second throw triple
• Great hand to hip lift
• This is wonderful music for them and they use it beautifully
• That's a nice position by Caydee in that death spiral
• They have such great speed and exuberance in this ending section
• They get such nice lift positions, especially with Jeremy on just one foot
• Great pair spin here at the end, wonderful camel positions
• FS Score: 59.36 (TES) +58.34  (PCS) = 117.70
• 57.79 (SP) + 117.70 (FS) = 175.49

11) Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker **

     Music: The Addam's Family

• Marybeth is ready to light it up
• I like their look together
• Not a clean catch, but huge height on the split triple twist
• Nice Triple-double combo
• Oh wow something happened there and they both tripped over each other
• Wonderful recovery into a lasso lift
• I wanted this so much for them
• She recovered so well and landed that lift like a champ
• Nice spiral sequence from both of them
• She gets a great low death spiral position
• They have a really nice look on the ice and performance quality
• They need to work a bit on their side by side jumps, especially the timing, but that will come with time
• She eeks out that throw like a fighter
• They have some phenomenal lifts, what a great pair partner he is
• This little tango moment is so fun
• I love the spin sequence on the traditional Addams Family music
• They stay in perfect unison in the spins until the very last position change
• What a performer she is
• I am so impressed by how fast she has learned all of these elements, what a little champ she is
• I hope they stay together because they have so much potential
• FS Score: 44,16 (TES) + 52.29 (PCS) -2.00 (DED)= 105.45
• 58.10 (SP) + 105.45 (FS) = 163.55

12) Caitlin Yankowskas & John Coughlin **

     Music: Ave Maria

• Alright lets light it up guys, you've got this
• This opening pose is to die for
• I'm crying already, can't contain my emotion
• Opening double axels are crisp and clean
• Gorgeous split triple twist
• Not the most beautiful, but Caitlin lands that throw like the fighter she is
• Great three jump series, so in sync
• Everything looks so effortless, they are just letting it happen and not forcing it or muscling it
• Great death spiral and fantastic spin sequence, spins get a little out of sync at the end
• Caitlin really does look like an angel
• I love the way she seems to float in that spiral sequence
• Gorgeous throw triple, she lands it like it is nothing at all
• Their lifts are effortless because he is just so strong for her and she has such incredible positions
• That ending pose is phenomenal 
• FS Score: 61.97 (TES) + 62.18 (PCS) = 124.15
• 64.30 (SP) + 124.15 (FS) = 188.45

13) Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig

     Music: Nessun Dorma

• This should be another big number if they can skate perfectly
• These costumes are gorgeous
• Their triple twist has such quick rotation
• Great Side by side triple toes on a huge musical crescendo
• This music and choreography are fantastic for them
• That was  very strong throw triple lutz
• Now when we get into the more lyrical part of the program is where they really shine
• Slight unison loss at the end of their spins
• Fantastic spiral sequence
• Side double axles, they both fight for each jump, possibly two-footed and/or step out
• Those side by side camels are such an interesting position for spins
• Their lifts are phenomenal and they perform them in the back half of the program to gain a lot of points on them
• Throw triple loop was huge, Amanda has to put her hands down to control it
• That one hand to hip lift onto one foot is just stellar, especially on these musical crescendos
• Not perfect, but a very very nice skate for them indeed
• Exit from the last lift was a little clunky but I think they did enough to stay in second, in my opinion
• FS Score: 62.09 (TES) + 60.26 (PCS) = 122.35
• 62.87 (SP) + 122.35 (FS) = 185.22