2013 Skate America: Short Dance Recap

What else is there to say about Davis & White (USA)? If I'm speechless, you know it's real and it's deep. This piece was really about Charlie for me. My eye went to him and Meryl was kind of there in the background. Is it just me or is his extension improving along with his performance quality? Love, love, loved it. I could have just as easily been watching the Grand Prix Final as the first major event of the season...they are in that good of shape. Short Dance Total: 75.70

Cappellini & Lanotte (ITA) put the DANCE in Ice Dance. I'm OBSESSED with this choreography! This is a perfect example of skating a full piece from beginning to end. They really told a complete story. I'm partial to a good show tune, but regardless, they are on my radar for the Olympic podium. Short Dance Total: 69.88

Shibutani & Shibutani (USA) rose to the occasion and brought it tonight. Alex is really catching my eye this year, but I want her to step it up and pull focus. I'm loving this piece and the fact that they didn't pick the most obvious Michael Buble pieces. Marina does it again, the woman can do no wrong. This piece has potential and they are going places with it. Short Dance Total: 61.26

Hubbell & Donohue (USA) just don't totally have it for me. I'm not sure why, but they are just a little B-team for me. Zach is awesome, but Madison doesn't do so much for me. She's a little cash for clunkers. He is all over my radar, and for his sake, I hope she can amp up the excitement. Short Dance Total: 60.71

I had no strong feelings about Zlobina & Sitnikov (AZE) tonight. They do have a nice flow and smoothness to their work, but the choreography and themes of the program did nothing much for me. Short Dance Total: 54.53

Reed & Reed (JPN) were just meh for me. Twizzle issue aside, the whole piece just looked too calculated and not nearly dancy enough. They were too stiff and the ending just felt out of control for me. It felt like it was about to unravel at any moment...a little Roughtown USA. Short Dance Total: 54.28

Carron & Jones (FRA) had me with their musical selection, and they're delightful to look at, but the program didn't build or really go anywhere. They are charming and the piece has potential if they can build up the excitement throughout the season. Short Dance Total: 54.10

Tobias & Stagniunas (LTU) have a great look and this was a cute program, but she needs to amp up the vavavoom. That, or they need to do A Chorus Line because she's obviously Val. His posture seemed a little clunky today, as did that rotational lift. I hope they clean that up. Short Dance Total: 53.17

2011 Rostelecom Cup: Ice Dance Preview

The 6th and final Grand Prix of the season is always bittersweet for me. It's arguably some of the best skating of the season, but then again it's the last time we get to see most of these skaters before Worlds, unless they make the Final. It's also the one event that I won't be able to watch in its entirety because it happens to fall on Thanksgiving weekend here in the States. Ice Dance is shaping up to be a nice event in Russia, as 5 of the 8 teams have medaled in their previous Grand Prix events including two Gold medalists. The dancers skate their short Friday November 25th at 12:20 p.m. EST and their free Saturday November 26th at 12:25 p.m.

Reigning World Champions Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA) have this title wrapped up, and as I've been saying all season, they won't face a challenge until they meet Virtue & Moir at the Final. They'll look to make technical adjustments from Skate America and up their performance quality in preparation for meeting their rivals in 2 weeks. Any color medal here will put them into the Grand Prix Final. Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS) are skating at home and that, coupled with the incredibly high (too high in my opinion) scores they received winning Cup of China puts them in good stead to grab Silver. Their programs are very dramatic, which clearly appealed to the judges in China, and I suspect they'll have a similar effect on home ice. Any color medal here will put them into the Grand Prix Final. Kaitilyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN) are stronger than the Russians in my opinion, but they can't seem to get out of their own way and skate perfectly. But if this is anything like last season, they'll peak at Worlds, which ultimately matters most. Because this is their 3rd event, they've already qualified for the Grand Prix Final, that is unless Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA) or Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU) win this event, which won't happen. Both the French & Lithuanian teams won Bronze at their first event and though they are each fine teams, they medaled in relatively weak fields and neither team is much of a podium threat. Each team needs a win to make the Grand Prix Final. The one team that has an outside chance of upsetting the top 3 is Ekaterina Riazanova & Ilia Tkachenko (RUS) though they had a weak start finishing 5th at Skate Canada. For some reason, the judges didn't take to their programs in Canada, but I trust they've made adjustments in the 3 weeks between events and will finish strong at home in Russia.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Davis & White (USA)
2) Bobrova & Soloviev (RUS)
3) Weaver & Poje (CAN)


Competitive History:


Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)-1st at 2011 Cup of China, 6th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 4th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 2nd 2010 Cup of China; PB: 163.52 at 2011 Cup of China


Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA)-3rd at 2011 Cup of China, 12th 2011 Worlds, 9th 2011 Europeans, 4th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 NRW Trophy, 5th 2010 Skate Canada, 1st 2010 Coup de Nice, 1st 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 140.86 at 2011 Worlds

Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)-1st at 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 NHK Trophy; PB: 185.27 at 2011 Worlds 


Ekaterina Pushhkash & Jonathan Guerreiro (RUS)-6th at 2011 Skate Canada, 2nd 2011 World Juniors, 4th 2010 JGP Final, 1st 2010 JGP Czech, 2nd 2010 JGP Japan; PB: 136.80 at 2010 JGP Czech


Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)-7th at 2011 NHK Trophy, 4th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 13th 2011 Worlds, 2nd Asian Winter Games, 7th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 133.33 at 2011 Worlds

Ekaterina Riazanova & Ilia Tkachenko (RUS)-5th at 2011 Skate Canada, 6th 2011 Europeans, 2nd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 5th 2010 Skate America, 3rd 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 146.79 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard 


Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU)-3rd at 2011 Skate America, 5th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 14th 2011 Worlds, 12th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 NRW Trophy, 11th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 131.01 at 2011 Worlds


Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)-2nd at 2011 NHK Trophy, 2nd at 2011 Skate Canada, 5th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Four Continents, 4th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 4th 2010 Skate America, 2nd 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 160.32 at 2011 Worlds 

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Free Dance

1) Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copely (USA)
     Music: Austin Powers

• They were let down by their short, they want a strong free to make up for it
• Charlotte needs to be styled differently, the long ponytail is very junior-ish
• This is a great program to push their presentation skills, similar to Cabaret  from Chock/Zuerlein last season
• Solid twizzle sets
• Great straight line lift, keeping the character of the program
• This looks like a different team than I saw out there yesterday, much more confident-looking
• I love the rise and fall of the rotational lift
• They look pleased with that skate
• Does Austin Powers translate to China?

FD Score: 37.65 (TES) + 31.70 (PCS) = 69.35
Total Score: 40.26 (SD) + 69.35 (FD) = 109.61

2) Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles
     Music: Stairway to Heaven

• I love Stairway but not this version
• Oh hello there Samuelson toe point, I've missed you
• That dress is 100 times more flattering on her than her short dance dress
• They're really lacking in speed, but they're so new together
• Great lift positions, we'll be looking for more seamless transitions as they get more time together
• Really strong curve lift, amazing strength needed form both of them for that
• I like the program as a whole, but I hate the singer 

FD Score: 34.05 (TES) + 32.05 (PCS) - 3.00 (DED) = 63.10
Total Score: 43.64 (SD) + 63.10 (FD) = 106.74

3) Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)
     Music: Libertango

• She looks like Cathy Reed
• This is quickly becoming the new "Carmen" in the cannon of overused figure skating music
• I appreciate their aggressive approach to the piece
• That rotational split lift is interesting but she really needs to point the feet
• I like that legs over the head entry into the curve lift, that is different
• The fog is back!
• Technically it was fine, but their performance and lack of chemistry left me feeling cold

FD Score: 38.34 (TES) +36.70  (PCS) = 75.04
Total Score: 45.07 (SD) + 75.04 (FD) = 120.11

4) Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
     Music: Howl's Moving Castle

• Slightly mismatched free leg in the twizzles
• This is really slow
• Straight line lift-very labored position changes, barely hits the final one
• Really lost speed in the spin
• I'm not understanding the story of the piece, perhaps it is something cultural?
• That lift with the woman on her stomach over the man's shoulder is quickly becoming overdone
• Really ran out of gas at the end

FD Score: 33.57 (TES) + 33.66 (PCS) - (DED) = 67.23
Total Score: 48.36 (SD) + 67.23 (FD) = 115.59

5) Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA)
     Music: Jazz Night

• He is such a cutie, I just love it
• They remind me a lot of Tobias & Stagniunas
• Really slow twizzles
• He is the star of this team, must be a theme in French ice dancing
• That curve lift was fairly simple
• I really liked that rotational lift with him in a low position and her in a plank, innovative]
• She has nice upper body carriage
• Really fast spin and they keep that speed going in the position changes
• She gets her legs a bit tangled in the drop splits
• I feel like their losing the finesse right here at the end, it's gotten a little wild and out of control
• Needs some attention to detail, but really nice skate overall

FD Score: 38.19 (TES) +40.37  (PCS) = 78.56
Total Score: 52.41 (SD) + 78.56 (FD) = 130.97

6) Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland (GBR)
     Music: Viva Elvis Medley

• Belbin & Agosto did a great Elvis program as youngsters
• Those twizzles were all kinds of off, speed and positions were off
• Really quick in the position changes in the rotational lift, a little sloppy
• Nicholas Buckland is such a diva, he's the star of this team as well
• This program is really speedy but it is sloppy, where is the finesse?
• I don't like his costume, it looks like Ricky Dornbush's western free skate
• He lifts her like it is nothing, he'd be a really good pairs partner
• I don't know if it's the sound system or what but, this arrangement sounds horrendous on my end
• Oh wow, really hard fall from both of them right at the end out of a lift
• That program was messy, didnt' tell a story, did nothing for me overall

FD Score: 39.92 (TES) +39.58 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 76.50
Total Score: 53.89 (SD) + 76.50 (FD) = 130.39

7) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)
     Music: Glenn Miller Medley

• Maia is beginning to look like an ice diva out there!
• That is how you do a drop split
• I think Maia has grown a little taller this season!
• Great twizzle set as always
• Really great speed and footwork
• They pay close attention to every detail
• Their body positions and carriage have improved as well
• Maia does indeed have the vest red dress of the season thus far
• They have nice edge quality, could go even deeper
• Great rotational lift, same on they've done in the past
• Nice crisp ending pose, finished exactly on the beat and with one another
• If they don't win Gold, I hope they at least win the free

FD Score: 43.14 (TES) + 48.47 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 90.61
Total Score: 57.79 (SD) + 90.61 (FD) = 148.40

8) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)
     Music: Walpurgis Night

• Poor guy, he can't even see on that lift with her dress over his head
• Why are these costumes necessary?
• Good twizzle set
• She always looks hunched over at the waist, must be a good ab workout
• Her costume is just so distracting, the gloves don't help at all
• This program is fine, but nothing that exciting
• This looks like Russian ice dance of the 1990s
• I can barely stand to watch her pitch forward like that
• Doesn't she can skate into her knees without destroying her whole body  line
• Very awkward final lift, she gets stuck between his legs in he position changes

FD Score: 45.95 (TES) + 51.84 (PCS) = 97.79
Total Score: 65.73 (SD) + 97.79 (FD) = 163.52

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Short Dance LIVE BLOG

3:24 I'm anxiously awaiting the Live feed, let's hope icenetwork gets it together soon!
3:29 Emily and Todd look very cute, it's great to see Emily back on competition ice!
3:31 We have some wild and crazy costumes from Yu & Wang, where are the maracas?
3:31 I love Charlotte Lichtman's dress, Dean is in solid black as were all the other Zouva & Shpilband-coached me in the short dance
3:34 It seems Igor has traveled with the teams this weekend and Marina is at home

1) Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles
   Music: Samba, Mambo, Samba

• I don't know how I feel about these costumes, I'd love to see at least a little color or sparkle
• Really nice positions on that straight line lift
• Fabulous toe point and straight leg lines from Emily as used to
• The leg lines are a little broken in the Rhumba sequence, the unison needs work
• Really slow twizzles, some unison issues
• This step sequence looks quite labored to me, they seem to be perhaps under conditioned?

SD Score: 22.51 (TES) + 21.13 (PCS) = 43.64

2) Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
   Music: Cha Cha, Mambo, Rhumba

• Nice twizzle sequences
• I'm going to have nightmares about these costumes
• Good speed and attack going into this Rhumba sequence
• They're improved from last season which is great to see
• Very good unison on the circular not-touching step sequence, but the speed could increase for my taste
• Slight stumble by her right before the end but she held on

SD Score: 27.58 (TES) + 21.78 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 48.36

 3) Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copely (USA)
   Music: Mambo No. 5, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps

• I love these guys, they're so sassy
• This is a perfect example of Zoueva/Shpilband catering to each team's needs and making them stand out in what they do
• Nice smooth entrance into the 1st Rhumba sequence, good smooth edgework
• Good twizzle work, I appreciate how close together they are
• Charlotte is a little stiff in her upper body today, I'd like to see her relax a little more out there
• Slight stumble by Dean in the circular not-touching step sequence, that will effect the level 
• These guys look just a little bit nervous, understandable for their first Senior Grand Prix but it's been a solid debut thus far
• They look solid, nothing junior-ish about this program

SD Score: 18.79 (TES) + 21.47 (PCS) = 40.26

 4) Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland (GBR)
   Music: El Bess del Findl, Let's Get Loud

• They could stand to point their feet harder and really stretch through the free leg in the Rhumba sequences
• And here's our second "Let's Get Loud" of the day; how many more should I expect? I like the small detail work in the circular step sequence from the hand and head gestures to the shimmies
• Very odd ending pose, I couldn't tell if she fell or if that was the choreography

SD Score: 28.85 (TES) + 25.04  (PCS) = 53.89

5) Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)
   Music: Mambo, Rhumba, Samba

• These costumes are killing me, my eyes!
• She bails a little early on the first twizzle set
• Her free arm is really stiff on this 1st Rhumba set, but their speed is nice
• I missed what happened, but it looked like a botched lift or something going into the circular step sequence
• Nice hydroblade move, I appreciate that people are still doing those, though this one wasn't the best I've seen by any means
• I think they're running out of steam here at the end
• Dramatic final position upside down
• That lift will receive zero points

SD Score: 21.73 (TES) + 23.34 (PCS) = 45.07

 6) Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA)
   Music: Mambo, Rhumba, Mambo

• Slight unison issue in twizzles, but decent speed
• She has a very nice free arm in the 1st Rhumba sequence, expressive and free-flowing
• Something about this program isn't really doing much for me, it's just not dynamic enough, a little flat thus far
• It begins to pick up a little more with the 2nd piece of music
• They're losing a little control in the step sequence, it's getting a bit wild
• I like they're energy, but they need more polish

SD Score: 25.35 (TES) + 27.06 (PCS) = 52.41

 7) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)
   Music: Samba, Rhumba, Samba

• They have never looked like stars to me, I wonder how long they can honestly hold onto the top spot in Russia?
• Botched exit form the 1st twizzle set
• I love me some theatrics, but she is way over the top in her facial expressions, even for me!
• Their speed is good, but she is flailing out of control
• This program is very 1990s Russian ice dance

SD Score: 32.50 (TES) + 33.23 (PCS) = 65.73

 8) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)
   Music: Batuca, Skip to the Bip, Jazz Machine

• I like Maia's new dress, much more mature than the old blue dress
• They look like a senior team
• Very quick footwork, precision is key
• That move where Alex flips her around with one arm has improved so much since Finlandia
• Perfectly matched leg line in Rhumba sequence 1
• Nobody twizzles like them, and they do the optional 3rd set
• They pay attention to everything, down to finger and head placements
• Very smooth and even speed throughout
• Maia looks much more mature this season, she is just carrying herself differently this season than at the start of 2010
• This is such a clean program, what a debut for the beginning of the season

SD Score: 27.71 (TES) + 30.08 (PCS) = 57.79

2011 Cup of China: Ice Dance Preview

The short dance will be the kick off event this weekend at Cup of China, at 3:30 a.m. EST on Friday November 4th. The free dance is at 2:30 a.m. EST on Saturday November 5th. Two of these teams were top 6 at 2011 Worlds, but the rest are more Intermediate-level teams, new teams, or teams rising from the Junior ranks.

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA) are the favorites to win this event, their first major competition after winning Bronze at Worlds. I've seen their new programs and love them, though many argue their new free skate is too similar to that of last season. They certainly have an identity now and their coaches, Zoueva & Shpilband know how to show off what they do well. This is their first major event as the favorites so we'll see how they handle the pressure...my guess is they pass with flying colors. Their win is not as cut and dry though as that of those of their training mates Davis/White & Virtue/Moir, as Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS) are in the mix as well. They had a solid 2010 GP winning a Gold, a Silver, and placing 4th at the Final. However, they struggled with programs that didn't suit them and only placed 6th at Worlds. They do not have the technical proficiency of the Shibutanis, but they could potential beat them in the components mark if they can find their identity as a couple and put out programs that show of their stronger suits. Reigning Junior World Bronze medalists Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copely (USA) have the change to play spoiler for a medal. They were competitive all last season and have always had a very "senior look" so the transition shouldn't be too difficult. If they avoid major mistakes I can see them on the podium. Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA) have finished 12th at the past two World Championships and it seems they need to make a major change if they want to jump up in the rankings, but they're a nice enough team and pleasant to watch. China isn't known for ice dancing, but Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN) had a respectable 2010-2011 season and may start to make a name for themselves. Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles (USA) are a new team and this will be the first we see of them. Look for long lines and an elegant, lyrical style, even if all the technical elements aren't there quite yet.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Shibutani/Shibutani (USA)
2) Bobrova/Soloviev (RUS)
3) Lichtman/Copely (USA)


Competitive History:


Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)-6th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 4th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 2nd 2010 Cup of China; PB: 161.14 at 2011 Europeans


Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA)-12th 2011 Worlds, 9th 2011 Europeans, 4th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 NRW Trophy, 5th 2010 Skate Canada, 1st 2010 Coup de Nice, 1st 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 140.86 at 2011 Worlds


Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland (GBR)-16th 2011 Worlds, 14th 2011 Europeans, 8th 2010 Skate America, 8th 2010 NHK Trophy, 3rd 2010 Coup de Nice, 4th 2010 O Nepala; PB: 126.29 at 2011 Worlds 

Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)-17th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Asian Winter Games, 5th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 5th 2010 Cup of China; 130.29 at 2011 Four Continents

Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copely (USA)-3rd 2011 World Juniors, 5th 2010 JGP Final, 3rd 20110 JGP Germany, 1st 2010 JGP Austria; PB: 133.36 at 2011 World Juniors

Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles (USA)-International debut

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)-2nd 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 3rd 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 3rd 2010 NHK Trophy, 5th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 163.79 at 2011 Worlds

Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)-7th 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2011 Asian Winter Games, 8th 2010 Cup of China, 10th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 125.75 at 2011 Four Continents