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 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Free Dance Commentary

1) Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)

     Music: Chale Chalo, Mon Amour

• Very courageous for them to get up and skate after that horrible warm-up accident
• I like idea of the opening sequence of poses, but it was a little labored
• Good strong twizzle sequence from them
• They seem to have stagnated, I'm not really sure what's going on with their training
• I don't like these costumes at all, but I get where they're going with them
• The whole thing seems a little slow to me, which may be partly due to that nasty fall in warm-up
• I like the rotational lift, but the exit was a bit rough
• Chris is absolutely wincing in pain after that horrible crash in warm-up

FD Score: 38.36 (TES) + 36.50 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 73.86

Total Score: 49.36 (SD) + 73.86 (FD) = 123.22

2) Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA)

     Music: Walking in the Sand

• They have a very long and choreographed entrance which I like
• I like the simplicity of the costumes and that keyhole cut on the front of her dress
• That split position straight line lift is fantastic, showing great control
• She exits the 1st twizzle one rotation before he does
• I like this music and it's bluesy undertones
• His rise and fall on the rotational lift is exquisite
• They have a very nice look together with her exotic features and his "All-American" quality
• They are very clean in their entrances and exits to lifts with smooth transitions between positions
• She has a beautiful arch in her back on the inverted camel dance spin
• What a lovely program, a completely program I must add
• This has a lot of growing room and should be fantastic by US Nationals

FD Score: 39.29 (TES) + 36.29 (PCS) = 75.58

Total Score: 50.81 (SD) + 75.58 (FD) = 126.39

3) Lorenza Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi (ITA)

     Music: Tosca

• That's a very overdone opening pose
• These costumes look very tacky to me, they attempt to look "period" but end up looking cheap
• They start out with the dance spin which is unusual
• She really needs to point her feet
• Something about her looks very frail to me
• I like the entrance into the twizzles, I hardly saw them coming
• Twizzles have gotten much more intricate with IJS
• Something about this program looks very old fashioned to me, it seems like a program that we would've seen in 2002
• Her costume bodice is too short in the bottom, enough said
• That ending was so tacky, that should've been a deduction as programs are supposed to be "uplifting" in nature

FD Score: 39.72 (TES) + 39.20 (PCS) = 78.92

Total Score: 54.37 (SD) + 78.92 (FD) = 133.29

4) Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)

     Music: Romeo & Juliet 

• Is this voice track new for this competition?
• I know  they've adjusted their music several times because it was thought not to have the necessary "dance beat"
• This whole piece seems a little slow to me
• She shows nice flexibility in the dance spin
• That approach to the straight line lift looks like they are going into a pairs split twist
• I like dramatic programs, but again, this seems very 2002 to me
• I don't find this piece to be uplifting either
• They are really picking up speed as they go along, almost to the point of being out of control in the final section
• I love the ending, but you aren't supposed to "die" in ice dance under the new rules

FD Score: 39.28 (TES) + 41.15 (PCS) = 80.43

Total Score: 55.69 (SD) + 80.43 (FD) = 136.12

5) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)

     Music: Chattanooga Choo Choo, In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade

• They are are just precious, and Maia is looking more like a diva every day, she commands more attention each and every competition where Alex used to be the focal point
• This program is find for this season as they're still young, but they need to branch into new styles next season
• The kids were born twizzling and they fit perfectly with In The Mood
• I love this dress on her, I hope they stay with this one
• Fantastic transitions on the first lift!
• Different spin positions from what we usually see, which is refreshing
• While I do love them, I find the middle section of this program boring, it just drags a little fo rme
• I LOVE Alex's sweater vest
• I hate to say it, but parts of this program still look junior-ish to me
• I like that we finish up with In the Mood again, it's very cyclical
• Great final pose on that last beat
• They are so happy with themselves as they should be

FD Score: 45.84 (TES) + 46.99 (PCS) = 92.83

Total Score: 59.02 (SD) + 92.83 (FD) = 151.85

6) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)

     Music: Je Suis Malade

• This is a gorgeous, simple program, and by simple I mean no unnecessary frills or embellishments
• They look so great together, probably moreso than any team out there
• That dance spin is fantastic
• I'm glad they went with a more obscure piece of music after Moulin Rouge last season
• They have very even speed throughout the program
• Great use of the arms in the twizzles
• This is a very emotional program, and its genuine, which is great to see
• I love that slightly wild quality they have about them, they are a little rougher around the edges than Davis/White or Virtue/Moir but I feel that their emotion is more genuine

FD Score: 44.30 (TES) + 48.39 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 91.69

Total Score: 60.07 (SD) + 91.69 (FD) = 151.76

7) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)

     Music: Ave Maria

• I love their look, they're gorgeous
• They could be one of my favorite teams and one of the best in the world if they could stay out of their own way and avoid the simple errors
• This team and Weaver & Poje have the best chemistry of any of the top dance teams in the world today
• She always comes out aggressive and ready to perform while Nikita tends to look more nervous and reserved
• Slight slip from him there, caught too deep of an edge
• He exits the 1st twizzle too early, though it's harder to pick out because they twizzle facing away from one another
• Such excellent performers, I just love the genuineness of their emotion
• This piece has very nice speed 
• They have a few bobbles here and there, mostly Nikita, but I really like the program and I can see it being amazing by Worlds

FD Score: 40.35 (TES) + 47.30 (PCS) = 87.65

Total Score: 61.83 (SD) + 87.65 (FD) = 149.48

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	151.85	3	1
2	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	151.76	2	2
3	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	149.48	1	3
4	Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI	GER	136.12	4	4
5	Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Simone VATURI	ITA	133.29	5	5
6	Lynn KRIENGKRAIRUT / Logan GIULIETTI-SCHMITT	USA	126.39	6	6
7	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN	123.22	8	7
WD	Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAM	CAN		7

Pl.   Name Nation TSS = TES + PCS + SS TR PE CC IT Ded. - StN. 1 Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI USA 92.83 45.84 46.99 7.86 7.64 8.00 7.86 7.93 0.00 #6 2 Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE CAN 91.69 44.30 48.39 7.93 7.82 8.29 8.25 8.25 1.00 #7 3 Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV RUS 87.65 40.35 47.30 7.89 7.68 7.89 8.07 8.04 0.00 #8 4 Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI GER 80.43 39.28 41.15 6.96 6.54 7.00 7.00 7.00 0.00 #5 5 Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Simone VATURI ITA 78.92 39.72 39.20 6.50 6.29 6.71 6.64 6.71 0.00 #4 6 Lynn KRIENGKRAIRUT / Logan GIULIETTI-SCHMITT USA 75.58 39.29 36.29 6.07 5.75 6.07 6.36 6.21 0.00 #3 7 Cathy REED / Chris REED JPN 73.86 38.36 36.50 6.18 5.86 6.04 6.29 6.18 1.00 #1 WD Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAM CAN #2

2011 NHK Trophy: Ice Dance Preview

The Ice Dance event at NHK trophy is sure to be an exciting one as one of these teams will win their first Grand Prix Gold! Three of these teams have won medals before, but never a Gold and it's shaping up to be a dog fight for the top of the podium between these three teams-Canadians, Americans, and Russians-which happen to be the super powers in ice dance currently. These nations won the first three ice dance titles of the 2011 Grand Prix Season and whoever takes the title here will tip the scale in their country's favor. Both events technically take place on Friday November 11th with the short at 12:55 a.m. EST and the free at 10:00 p.m. EST.

After much thought, I really like Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN) to win this event, though not by a huge margin. They have the highest score of the season of all the teams competing, and that was from Skate Canada where they made errors in the free skate. They have a very fiery, passionate short dance juxtaposed with an elegant, romantic free dance which I consider a winning combination for them at this event. Many thought Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA) to be under-marked at Cup of China for how clean and technically proficient they were, but that, especially in ice dance, is how the cookie crumbles. Their scores in both phases were lower than those of the Canadians at their event. It is my opinion that they are being marked lower in the short dance because they are a sibling team and cannot explore the relationships that others have in this segment. Their free is where they can shine, though some judges may hold it against them that they're doing a piece in the realm of last season's free dance. Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS) are one of the most passionate and intense teams on the scene these days and though I admire them for that, they tend to get messy and make major mistakes in high-pressure competitions. They should medal easily unless they make several big mistakes, but they'll need to go error-free to challenge for Gold. Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA) are coming off of a win at Ice Challenge last weekend and they have great style, but their scores aren't at the level of the above mentioned teams, unless of course major errors are committed. Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN) are a favorite team of mine, though their programs haven't been well received this season, which judges demonstrated at Skate America by awarding lower program components scores. Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER) started the season off well, medaling at two Senior B events, though their free dance needs a lot of work before they'll contend for major medals.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Weaver & Poje (CAN)
2) Shibutani & Shibutani (USA)
3) Ilinykh & Katsalapov (RUS)


Competitive History:


Lorena Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi (ITA)-2nd 2011 O Nepela, 16th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Winter Universiade, 2nd 2010 Coup de Nice; PB: 115.32 at 2011 Europeans


Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)-7th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 4th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 154.50 at 2011 Worlds

Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA)-1st at 2011 Ice Challenge, 6th 2010 Skate America, 6th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 138.07 at 2011 Ice Challenge


Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)-8th at2011 Skate America, 4th 2010 Skate Canada, 2nd 2010 World Juniors; PB: 138.16 at 2011 Skate Canada


Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)-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


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


Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)-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


Nelli Zhinganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)-4th at 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 O Nepela, 2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 11th 2011 Worlds, 7th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Bavarian Open, 1st 2010 P Roman, 2nd 2010 NRW Trophy, 3rd 2010 O Nepala, 4th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy, 6th 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 140.95 at 2011 Worlds

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Free Dance

1) Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)
     Music: Chale Chalo, Mon Amour

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 49.36 (SD) + (FD) =

2) Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)
     Music: Tonight

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 39.26 (SD) + (FD) =

3) Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA)
     Music: Walking in the Sand

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 50.81 (SD) + (FD) =

4) Lorenza Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi (ITA)
     Music: Tosca

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 54.37 (SD) + (FD) =

5) Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)
     Music: Romeo & Juliet 

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 55.69 (SD) + (FD) =

6) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)
     Music: Chattanooga Choo Choo, In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 59.02 (SD) + (FD) =

7) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)
     Music: Je Suis Malade

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 60.07 (SD) + (FD) =

8) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)
     Music: Ave Maria

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 61.83 (SD) + (FD) =