Barbie's Friday Thoughts

Dance:

1. We should have Charlie & Tanith together doing commentary
2. Daniel Eaton has beautiful posture
3. Aldridge and Blackmer have potential once he masters the techniques...they clearly love skating together
4. I am thoroughly impressed by Hawayek & Baker; they truly look like seniors this year and their program was beautifully composed
5. The Shibutanis were 100% precise which I would say is a hallmark of Zoueva's teams, not one limb, one finger, one hair out of place
6. I'm living for all of this ballet today! Happy birthday Balanchine! 
7. Madison Chock is a star as long as you don't look at her feet 
8. The top 2 teams should be reversed and everybody else on twitter agrees...Chock/Bates are more dramatic but the Shibutanis are more precise
9. I completely agree with Charlie White...Hubbell & Donohue's short has the feeling of a free dance with the emotional storytelling
10. One team actually DANCED today and that was Hubbell & Donohue....you don't see the elements, just the movement

Men:

1. Nathan Chen knows how to compete-he did not skate perfectly, but he did not fall apart either
2. Jimmy Ma can rock a sheer top
3. Few skaters are more lyrical than Grant Hochstein-it's a shame that he couldn't go clean
4. Vincent Zhou has some guts-at least with the jumps-the spins and footwork will come and he will compete with Chen before too long
5. Ross Miner made me weep...his program was just so easy to watch and for the first time tonight I didn't feel anxious
6. Sean Rabbit's Samson & Delilah was artistic, energetic, and so fast! 
7. Tim Dolensky has an artist's soul and he showed that tonight
8. Max Aaron make jumping look so easy when he's on with those springy knees and he's developing some performance skills
9. Adam's footwork was the one element that stood out above everything else for me tonight
10. This event was infinitely better than the ladies short...these guys showed up to COMPETE

2016 US Championships: Dance Preview

This Senior Dance event has had me on the edge of my seat for months following the Grand Prix Final. That being said, I have so many question:

1. First and foremost, who will have the most garish costumes and music?
2. Will the judging be fair?
3. Will any of the placements have fans in an uproar?
4. Which free skate will make cry? (eh hem, Shibutanis)
5. Will there be any significant movements from the Short to the Free?
6. Will Chock & Bates be given an unfair bump by the judges because they are International favorites?
7. Which coach will wear the biggest scarf?
8. Will Marina combust if her Shibutanis lose, yet again, to former students Chock & Bates?
9. Will Hubbell and Donohue even be in the gold medal conversation or will there be, as in the past, a clear drop off between 2nd and 3rd?
10. Can Hawayek & Baker step up and challenge for 3rd or will they just fall by the wayside as yet another great junior team?
11. Does Alexandra Aldridge re-enter the conversation with her new pair-turned-dance partner Matthew Blackmer?
12. Will anyone else impress us?
13. What will be trending among skating tweeters after this event? (you know we won’t all be happy)
14. And most importantly, will Ann Jensen and I get our artistry and unicorns?

Who Killed It and Who Fell Off the Combo: The Free Dance

Killed It!: These teams brought the beauty, the excitement, the intrigue

• Papadakis and Cizeron for captivating my attention and leaving me hypnotized 
• Ilinykh as the heavyweight diva of contemporary ice dancing 
• Madison Chock chewing the scenery
• Weaver & Poje leaving it all on the ice 
• The smoothness of the Shibs' skating
• I'm living for Paul & Islam's free skate, that contemporary feel was on point
• Monko & Khaliavin's controlled upside down lift 
• The long, lithe bodies of Stepanove and Bukin, plus the sitting twizzles, oh the abdominal control! 
• The exuberance of Guignard and Fabbri was entertaining at least
• The chemistry of Hubbell and Donohue, plus their rotational lift 
• The quiet fabulousness of Marie-France 
• The ease with which Andria Diaz moves, it's all so effortless
• The joy on Yinyu Liu's face 

Fell Off The Combo: These teams missed the mark

• Ilinykh's twizzle mishap
• Marina's reign at the top
• The Russian obsession with Sarabande 
• Self-indulgent entrances of any kind
• Enough bent legs and lazy feet to last a lifetime
• Hot mess interwoven twizzle patterns 
• Mozart Rock Opera....enough said
• An a la seconde twizzle at 45 degrees......it's 90 or bust! 
• That moment when the Ukranian team destroyed Bach
• Carolina Moscheni's dance team smile during a dark piece

Who Killed It and Who Fell Off the Combo: The Short Dance

Killed It!: These teams brought the beauty, the excitement, the intrigue

• Every blessed thing about Guillaume Cizeron
• If you take off the skates, Cizeron is the only natural dancer in the entire event
• The choreographic specificity of the entire group 5
• Andrew Poje's entire presentation 
• The fire and precision of the Shibutanis
• Madison Chock's perfect bun
• The dramatic build up to group 6
• Paul & Islam's rotational lift 
• Paul Poirier's amazing butt
• Hubbell & Donohue's smoothness 
• Stepanova & Bukin's sit spin twizzled.....that abdominal control! 
• Monko & Khaliavin's matching free leg in the twizzle sequence
• The grace, poise, and carriage of Marie-France 
• The Hurtado and Diaz counterbalance 
• Federica Testa's strapless number 
• Barbara Fusar-Poli 
• Elena Ilinykh's overall diva qualities
• The energy and spunk of Wang and Liu 
• Juri Karakin's hairography 

Fell Off The Combo: These teams missed the mark

• Gabriella Papadakis' detached-looking bun 
• Kaitlyn Weaver's saggy bun
• Marina's political clout
• Anna Cappellini's carriage-simultaneously stiff and wild 
• So many women with sloppy, uneven buns 
• Guignard & Fabri falling on the choreographic spinning movement 
• Gilles & Poirier's overly dramatic entrances and exits
• Piper Gilles' drag queen eye makeup 
• Donohue's damn twizzle
• Elena Ilinykh paired with Ruslan Zhiganshin who looks like little brother
• Kirill Minov's hair.....honey please  
• Any low or intermediate team doing interweaving twizzle patterns 
• Viktoria Kavaliova's "Whatever Lola Wants" gloves
• Smart & Buckland's twizzles
• The Finnish team's twizzles 
• Natalia Kaliszek's hideous dress/croptop getup 
• Bent free legs (multiple offenders) 

SKATE AMERICA 2014: Ice Dance Preview

Ice Dance is my favorite of all the disciplines, but this year we will be without the two teams that ran the table for the past five years. There are about 5 teams that seem poised to be perennial world medalists throughout the next cycle, and one happens to be here at Skate America.

Podium Predictions:
Gold: Chock & Bates (USA)
Silver: Shibutani & Shibutani (USA)
Bronze: Stepanova & Bukin (RUS)

Madison Chock & Evan Bates emerged as the solid number two team in the US last season and just barely missed a world medal. With Davis & White temporarily retired, they are the top team in the US. Madison Chock was anointed by Tara Lipinski as one of the next great divas in ice dance, and we all know Evan Bates has some of the best technique in the sport, so they should have a nice run over the next four year.

Maia & Alex Shibutani are a classic example of what happens when you fall out of favor with ice dance judges. They were the young phenoms in the post-Vancouver season and have been dropping steadily ever since. This year is key for them. I personally think they should've left Marina, but that's neither here nor there. That Michael Jackson program was a hot mess last year, but the Strauss should be a move back toward the classics that helped them start off so strong on the senior circuit four years ago.

Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin are one of those throwback Russian teams. They bring the drama, the pain, and anguish, and the garish costumes. I can only hope she will grow into one of those grand Russian divas who conveniently forgets to take her mood stabilizers. They won junior worlds last year and with the recent split of Ilinykh and Katasalapov, the top Russian spots are up for grabs.

The Rest of the Field:
Orford & Williams (CAN)-5th at 2014 Four Continents, 2nd at 2014 US International Classic, 6th at 2014 Autumn Classic
Paradis & Oullette (CAN)-5th at 2014 Nebelhorn Trophy
Guignard & Fabbri (FRA)-8th at 2014 Europeans, 14th at 2014 Olympics, 2014 at 2014 Worlds, 2nd at 2014 O. Nepela Trophy
Testa & Csolley (SVK)-12th at 2014 Europeans, 23rd at 2014 Worlds, 3rd at 2014 O. Nepela
Cannuscio & McManus (USA)-3rd at 2014 US International Classic, 3rd at 2014 Finlandia Trophy

Cup of China: Free Dance LIVE BLOG

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	169.73	1	1
2	Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV	RUS	159.46	3	2
3	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	158.97	2	3
4	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	149.54	4	4
5	Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI	ITA	137.58	5	6
6	Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN	RUS	137.46	6	5
7	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	121.01	7	7
8	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	106.42	8	8

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	100.58	48.83		52.75	8.71	8.58	8.88	8.92	9.04	1.00	#8
2	Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV	RUS	95.14	44.50		50.64	8.33	8.13	8.58	8.71	8.71	0.00	#6
3	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	93.38	44.25		49.13	8.13	7.96	8.33	8.33	8.38	0.00	#7
4	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	90.28	45.92		44.36	7.25	7.17	7.54	7.58	7.63	0.00	#5
5	Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN	RUS	82.37	41.45		40.92	6.75	6.58	6.92	7.00	7.04	0.00	#3
6	Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI	ITA	82.01	42.42		40.59	6.75	6.58	6.83	6.92	6.88	1.00	#4
7	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	74.25	36.89		37.36	6.21	6.08	6.42	6.33	6.21	0.00	#2
8	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	63.45	31.00		32.45	5.42	5.21	5.46	5.71	5.38	0.00	#1

1) Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
  Music: The House of Dancing Water

• This is definitely last year's program or I'm losing my mind
• They love this fairtytale theme for sure
• They both have wonderfully expressing upper bodies
• I feel like this piece of music pretty much stays in one place all along; it doesn't develop a lot
• That change of position lift was lovely
• It is hard for them to hit an ugly position
• I want to see more in the way of expression to add drama to the piece, it's very emotionally flat
• 31.00 (TES) + 32.45 (PCS) = 61.45
• 42.97 (SD) + 61.45 (FD) = 106.42

2) Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)
  Music: LOVE, At Last, Crazy Love

• I love these costumes
• I like the flow over the ice in this opening sequence, the twizzles fit very will with LOVE
• Great ice coverage on that rotational lift
• This is a very well composed program, the best I've seen from them
• I see Krylova & Camerlengo choreographed this program, that shows
• I basically love everything so far that I've seen in this program, it's very sophisticated
• That was the best I've ever seen from them; the upgrade at choreographer made such a huge difference
• 36.89 (TES) + 37.36 (PCS) = 74.25
• 46.76 (SD) + 74.25 (FD) = 121.01

3) Victoria Sinitsina & Ruslan Zhiganshin (RUS)
  Music: Splagge Iontane

• Very good speed at the beginning, they are definitely comfortable with one another
• They have a good blend of artistry and athleticism
• They hold onto the speed throughout the program
• I am not getting a through line in this program, I want something to carry the drama across the program for me
• This has been a very solid senior debut for them, very nice 
• 41.43 (TES) + 40.92 (PCS) = 82.37
• 55.09 (SD) + 82.37 (FD) = 137.26

4) Charlene Guignard & Marco Fabbri (ITA)
  Music: Four Seasons

• Her dress is divine
• This choreography is ver postmodern; interesting when set to such a classical piece
• That straight line lift was gorgeous
• I wish I'd chosen them for my fantast team, this piece is gorgeous
• Great ice coverage, I could tell that form the overhead shot
• I love pretty much everything about this program
• They are maintaining their speed throughout the program, yet it hasn't gotten frantic
• 42.42 (TES) + 40.59 (PCS) = 82.01
• 55.57 (SD) + 82.01 (FD) = 137.58

5) Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)
  Music: Dr. Zhivago

• I'm so excited to see this piece, it was phenomenal at Nebelhorn
• Normally white costumes look too much but these hav enough contrast that they stand out, especially with her dark hair
• This suits them so well, much better than that elevator music last season
• I feel like I'm in  winter dream when I watch this program
• Igor has really taken advantage if the height difference to design some stunning lifts
• I love that little transitional move in the dance spin, just a little abrupt in the position change today
• Her positions on the curve lifts are great; she looks so elated to be doing this dance 
• For all the hype that this dane has received, it does not disappoint
• Very nice job, they should be so happy with that
• 43.93 (TES) + 44.36 (PCS) = 90.28
• 59.26 (SD) + 90.28 (FD) = 149.54

6) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)
  Music: Man with a Harmonica & Tosca

• They get so deep in the knees that they almost look hunched over; there's a fine line
• The beginning of this program is very subtle, that's a new look for them
• These costumes aren't doing much for me, they are drab
• Her hair is very 1990s ice dance for me
• I am at a loss for words really with this program, I just really can't put my finger on how I feel about it
• 44.50 (TES) + 50.64 (PCS) = 95.14
• 64.32 (SD) + 95.14 (FD) = 159.46

7) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)
  Music: Humanity in Motion

• This piece is so unlike anything else I've ever seen in ice dance
• I would love to know the process of how they took this from a modern dancer and put it onto the ice
• Their upper bodies are so expressive, this is divine
• Slight unison issue on the 1st twizzle set; never got them perfectly back together
• This program is so aesthetically pleasing
• The music builds and the story follows it, his looks like a world medalist program to me, I hope it happens for them this year
• 44.25 (TES) + 49.13 (PCS) = 93.38
• 65.59 (SD) + 93.38 (FD) = 158.97

8) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
  Music: Rolling Stones Medley

• This reminds me of something Lobcheva & Averbukh would've done circa the late 90s
• I'm glad they went for the hippie theme and not an all-black, punky theme
• That curve lift was so cool, very innovative
• The straight line lift too, I love that they hit the positions quickly and then ride them out; their lifts don't take an hour to develop
• I thought this program would be really tacky, but I actually like it a lot
• That was a very abrupt ending, it was like the music just cut off
• 48.83 (TES) + 52.75 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 100.58
• 69.15 (SD) + 100.58 (FD) = 169.73

Cup of China: Short Dance LIVE BLOG

1) Xioyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
   Music: Oh Susanna & Twilight Waltz

• Oh boy, a Chinese team doing a cowboy theme?
• I've always loved her facial expression
• This his very zippy
• He was a little crooked on the twizzle, they could've held them out longer
• They are losing energy in the Tennessee Waltz segment
• Oh boy, Cotton Eye was a surprise
• 20.58 (TES) + 22.39 (PCS) = 42.97

2) Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)
 Music: Quidam

• Her costume is absolutely to die for
• They need to kill this!
• She is perfectly in character, I love it
• Their posture and flow over the ice is gorgeous
• This Cirque piece suits them, she can use all of her flexibility to her advantage
• Nice unison on the twizzles, though the arm positions weren't always matching perfectly
• From what I know thus far of the Yankee polka, they seem to be doing well, the rhythm is there
• I particularly like the teams that have bought into the whimsy of the Yankee Polka
• She is divine
• 30.90 (TES) + 28.36 (PCS) = 59.29

3) Charlene Guignard & Marco Fabbri (ITA)
 Music: Buonglorno a Te & Tritsch Tratsch 

• We are seing such beautiful, light programs in the short, it's a breath of fresh air
• He is very smooth with great upper body carriage, but she seems to flail a lot
• That rotational lift looked a little reckless
• That all looked so frantic to me
• 29.17 (TES) + 26.40 (PCS) = 55.57

4) Victoria Sinitsina & Ruslan Zhiganshin (RUS)
 Music: Tennessee Waltz & Country Polka

• Another Tennessee Waltz? 
• This team is divine, let's see how they translate as seniors
• Very smooth so far
• He looks like a senior man, but she looks like a junior lady; could be the costuming
• I like the mirroring patterns, but they weren't executed quite perfectly
• The choreography in these "country" pieces is offensive to people from the south
• 28.25 (TES) + 26.84 (PCS) = 55.09

5) Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)
  Music: Waltz & Polka

• This is the most understated costuming I've ever seen on them
• They usually score quite well in the short dance so we'll see
• They are never afraid to go to a "costumey place" you'll never see him in all black
• Nice speed off the bat, but synch issues in the twizzles
• I love how expressive they are with their upper bodies
• I don't like the disconnect between the waltz an the polka, it just looks sloppy to me
• His arms are getting so sloppy in this second section of the piece 
• 21.99 (TES) + 24.77 (PCS) = 46.76

6) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)
  Music: Put in a Good Word for the Poor Hussar & The Crew

• This is the best I've ever seen her costumed
• Very fast opening, great use of the musical nuances and intricacies
• Very quick work of the polka, clean crisp steps
• This music is so charming
• You can tell this is their second event, the look so well trained and rehearsed
• That lift seemed terribly out of place for this program
• Very nice program, I think that is my favorite short dance that I've seen
• 31.50 (TES) + 32.82 (PCS) = 64.32

7) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew (CAN)
  Music: The Sound of Music

• Gorgeous musical selection from such a classic-looking team
• I'm missing some of the expression that I've come to love from them
• Okay, they are coming more into the performance here in the 2nd part
• Twizzle synchronization issues, Andrew was a little slower
• That was a wonderful straight line-no touching sequence 
• That was delightful and so enjoyable to watch
• 32.83 (TES) + 32.76 (PCS) = 65.59

8) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
  Music: Gaite Parisienne & Sous le ciel de Paris 

• I just love the costuming
• Very playful, their showmanship is always fantastic
• Very good speed at the beginning, a little frantic in the twizzles
• I have difficulty tracking the skaters when then do the mirroring sequences
• I love the idea of that straight line lift, but it loked very labored
• I love the quickness of the last section, but it is a very abrupt transition from the middle piece of music
• I like this program but it's not at it's best, I can see it being stellar by the end of the season
• 34.00 (TES) + 35.15 (PCS) = 69.15

Cup of China: Ice Dance Preview

Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA) keep reinventing themselves and they finally won their world medal last year. Normally I'd wonder how judges will receive their Rolling Stones free skate, but if they won a world medal with the mummy routine, they can do well with anything. Aside from any major mistakes, look for them to win there though their training partners will be hot on their heels.

Weaver & Poje (CAN) placed 3rd at Skate America behind the Russians, but I personally believe that was a fluke. I find them to be the most enjoyable team to watch with the most genuine passion and chemistry on the ice. One day I know that will pay off and get them a World medal. This could be the year if they set up their training so that they peak at the right time.

Bobrova & Soloviev (RUS) are an old school ice dance team. They go for that unbridled passion and high drama that the judges loved in the 1990s, but for some reason it is working for them. They tend to be hit or miss and their scores vary a lot from event to event depending on the judging panel. The judges' opinions will be the X-factor in this event. These 3 teams should make up the podium, but the specific order is up for grabs.

Chock & Bates (USA) have an outside chance of making the podium depending on the panel and if any of the top teams make mistakes. Their programs last season were awkward and I struggled to get used to them as a team. This year their programs are gorgeous and I think they are ready to make a name for themselves and be that 3rd US team at Worlds. I think that moving to Igor was the best decision they could've made. At least now that have a fighting chance. You know they would've been pushed aside if they would've stayed with Marina as her other top teams all have World and/or Olympic medals.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA)
Silver: Weaver & Poje (CAN)
Bronze: Bobrova & Soloviev (RUS)

The Rest of the Field:
Huang & Zheng (CHN)
Yu & Wang (CHN)
Guignard & Fabbri (ITA)
Sinitsina & Zhiganzhin (RUS)

2012 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Ice Dance Preview

Podium Predictions:
1) Meryl Davis & Charlie White
2) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani
3) Madison Chock & Evan Bates
4) Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue

If there is any doubt in your mind that Davis & White will take the title here, then you are clearly not a figure skating fan. They have not lost a competition since the 2010 Worlds and haven't lost to anyone but Virtue & Moir in several years. It was close, but they edged their Canadian rivals yet again at the recent Grand Prix Final. They have no real competition here, so they'll use Nationals as a tune up for Worlds. This is more of an exhibition for them, a chance to make final improvements and give the fans a great show. It is a pleasure just to watch them skate and compete, even when everybody else is in their rear view mirror.

The real question is how close will Maia & Alex Shibutani get to Davis and White. They have a slim chance of edging them in the technical marks, but they are no where near the presentation level of their training mates. Yes, they won their first Grand Prix gold this season and qualified for the final, but I think they're playing it a little safe. They went in a great direction with the latin short dance, making it fun and energetic, but the free dance is too similar to last season's in my opinion. I'm all for accentuating your strengths, but at the elite level, you need to show the judges that you can perform varying styles. Alex is so classy and reminds me of an old Hollywood star, but Maia is the one who really caught my eye this year. The is much more mature now and she's bringing out the Diva within!

Anyone who watches ice dance knows who will take gold and silver, but bronze is where the real competition is in my opinion. They didn't make a huge splash in their international debut, but I think Chock & Bates will be ready to go in San Jose. There are a lot of things that aren't perfect yet, as they are a new pairing, like holds, unison, leg line, etc, but they're well on their way. Their latin short dance has a fire that I didn't see with either one of them in their previous dance teams. I think this new partnership has to go through it's fair share of growing pains, but I think it will be good in the long run. Neither had the passion or chemistry with their previous partner that they needed to get to the top. I'm not saying this team has chemistry to burn yet either, but I see flashes of it and that's the most important thing. They have a long way to go, but if they avoid errors, they have a good shot at taking bronze and making the world team. They looked unsure of themselves and under-prepared on the Grand Prix, but rest assured, Marina & Igor will have them ready.

Hubbell & Donohue, speaking of chemistry, seem like they were born to dance with each other. Maddy has always been a fiery skater, but she has more of a chance to expand on that now that she's not skating with her brother. The connection is definitely there and they seem to have also taken to each other well in terms of technique. They have great unison for a new team and I suspect they've improved by leaps and bounds since I last saw them in October. They have probably the 2nd best set of coaches in the World in Camerlengo & Krylova and they'll definitely be fighting hard for the 3rd spot on the World team. My only real criticism with them is that their free dance doesn't have the difficulty and excitement factor of some of Zoueva & Shpilband teams.

Competitors:


Cannuscio/Lorello-1st at 2011 Eastern Sectionals (129.80)
Chock/Bates-4th at 2011 Skate Canada (135.10); 5th at 2011 TEB (130.94)
Davis/White-1st at 2011 Cup of Russia (179.06); 1st at 2011 GPF (188.55)
Glastris/Allison-3rd at 2011 Midwestern Sectionals (85.54)
Hoptman/Filchenkov-3rd at 2011 Eastern Sectionals (114.50)
Hubbell/Donohue- 1st at 2011 Midwestern Sectionals (140.96)
Krienkrairut/Giulietti-Schmitt-6th at 2011 NHK Trophy (126.39)
Lichtman /Copely-3rd at 2011 Pacific Sectionals (122.10)
Olson/Cowan-2nd at 2011 Pacific Sectionals (132.67)
Samuelson/Gilles-1st at 2011 Pacific Sectionals (136.86)
Schmucker/Munday-4th at 2011 Pacific Sectionals (110.70)
Shibutani/Shibutani-1st at 2011 NHK Trophy (151.85); 5th at 2011 GPF (160.55)
Wingle/McKernan-2nd at 2011 Midwestern Sectionals (111.43)
Zuber/Herring-4th at 2011 Eastern Sectionals (100.23)

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Free Dance LIVE BLOG

1) Sara Hurtado & Andria Diaz (ESP)

     Music: Tristan and Isolde

• I love her braid but hate the rest of this ensemble
• They are very athletically built skaters
• Nice speed in and out of the curve lift
• This is very 1990s ice dance, very high drama
• Interesting counter-balance move, the exit was very scary though, I thought he was going to tep on her head or hand or something
• He falls on the twizzle
• Interesting twizzle variations
• Kind of sloppy overall

FD Score: 26.71 (TES) + 33.33 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 58.04
Total Score: 45.71 (SD) + 58.04 (FD) = 103.75

2) Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov (RUS)
     Music: Tango

• These are equally heinous costumes, just as in the short
• They start right off with their dance spin
• Everything is very choppy and stiff
• Pretty good twizzle set
• I don't understand these costumes at all
• This whole thing is very messy
• Very slow through the footwork
• I just can't get into this program because nothing is crisp and clean, its all very muddled
• This high drama nonsense is very 1990s Ice Dance

FD Score: 34.71 (TES) + 35.00 (PCS) = 69.72
Total Score: 48.77 (SD) + 69.72 (FD) = 118.48

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

• Slight unison issue in twizzles
• A few awkward transitions the the big lift
• Some of their transitions are a bit strange
• Very slow in the dance spin
• That haircutter lift is very common, lacks creativity
• This program just isn't doing it for me today, there was no spark

FD Score: 38.03 (TES) + 37.95 (PCS) = 75.98
Total Score: 50.71 (SD) + 75.98 (FD) = 126.69

4) Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)
     Music: Prelude in E Minor by Chopin

• This is a very romantic program
• The technique and the connection between them has improved with every event
• She has fantastic upper body carriage as does he
• The height difference bothers me less and less each time I see it
• That lift with Evan in an arabesque is fantastic
• I still don't know if I like this muzak feel in the middle section
• Nice speed
• Same speed in and out of the straight line lift, very good
• They get way too close on the twizzles and Madi sits it down, too bad about that
• I love the speed and positions of the rotational lift
• Her upside down camel position is very nice in the dance spin 
• Aside from the freak twizzle fall, a very nice outing for them
• I'm obsessed with her hair, I have no idea how she gets it like that, its's very Romeo and Juliet

FD Score: 39.29 (TES) + 40.64 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 78.93
Total Score: 52.01 (SD) + 78.93 (FD) = 130.94

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

• She always crosses herself going onto the ice
• They carry very nice speed
• I love how deep they get into the knees
• I'd prefer her hair down and flowing
• I really like the twizzles facing one another, it's nice visually
• Sometimes he looks really unsteady lifting her, but she's so small
• I love the position on that dance spin, but the speed is nearly gone by the end
• The pace is so fast, that they always look a little wild by the end trying to keep up
• I do believe that was better than at NHK though

FD Score: 37.65 (TES) + 44.50 (PCS) = 82.15
Total Score: 58.17 (SD) + 82.15 (FD) = 140.32

6) Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)
     Music: La Strada

• This program was gorgeous at Skate Canada, if they just do it the same way
• This character piece looks lovely on them
• I love that headtap lift, it's very unique
• Very good speed throughout
• That hand in the crotch lift is just awkward all around
• That straight line lift takes so much strength
• Tanith lift, I don't know the man has any idea where he's going when she is right in his face like that
• They'll get very high marks for that skate

FD Score: 42.43 (TES) + 46.71 (PCS) = 89.14
Total Score: 64.62 (SD) + 89.76 (FD) = 153.76

7) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
     Music: The Feeling Begins, Passion, In The Garden

• Very nice opening lift
• I still don't htink that the costuming looks World Class, but I don't know how else you make somebody look like a Mummy
• He is fantastic, I could just watch him all day
• This is a very complete program, it tells a story from beginning to end and they carry the theme throughout
• I don't think you could get more of a contrast from thsi to Virtue & Moir
• All of the music goes together so well, nothing is choppy
• They  have fantastic speed, I think the home crowd is really propelling them and this is a piece that the audience can really get into
• And they end the way they started
• They loved that at home and they should be proud

FD Score: 47.33 (TES) + 50.71 (PCS) = 98.04
Total Score: 66.52 (SD) + 98.04 (FD) = 164.56

8) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)
     Music: Funny Face

• They are the class of the field
• This piece is classic Virtue & Moir
• A little problem with that overhead lift, choppy transitions
• They make this look so easy
• Its so classic old Hollywood
• They take a lot of risk with these lifts
• Very nice, clean program
• They're very happy with that

FD Score: 50.96 (TES) + 55.79 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 105.75
Total Score: 71.18 (SD) + 105.75 (FD) = 176.93

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	176.93	1	1
2	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	164.56	2	2
3	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	153.76	3	3
4	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	140.32	4	4
5	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	130.94	5	5
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	126.69	6	6
7	Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV	RUS	118.48	7	7
8	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	103.75	8	8

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	105.75	50.96		55.79	9.32	9.00	9.43	9.46	9.50	1.00	#8
2	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	98.04	47.33		50.71	8.39	8.11	8.61	8.71	8.71	0.00	#7
3	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	89.14	42.43		46.71	7.75	7.46	7.96	7.93	8.07	0.00	#6
4	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	82.15	37.65		44.50	7.57	7.04	7.61	7.54	7.57	0.00	#5
5	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	78.93	39.29		40.64	6.86	6.54	6.64	7.04	6.93	1.00	#4
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	75.98	38.03		37.95	6.46	6.07	6.43	6.57	6.25	0.00	#3
7	Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV	RUS	69.71	34.71		35.00	6.21	5.46	5.89	5.93	5.86	0.00	#2
8	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	58.04	26.71		33.33	5.68	5.25	5.50	5.93	5.61	2.00	#1

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Short Dance LIVE BLOG

1) Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)
   Music: Chick Chick Boom, Doom Diggy Diggy

• This opening section has smoothed out a lot since they debuted at Finlandia
• Good twizzle set, I'm impressed their timing is so on in their debut season
• Madison's facial expressions are the best
• They are nice and close in the holds
• Their speed has improved drastically
• Their connection to one another is so much stronger than it was earlier in the season
• That straight line lift is fantastic, great position changes
• This music is very well edited, no strange cuts between pieces
• Very specific hand gestures in the step sequence
• Very nice dance from them!

SD Score: 26.15 (TES) + 15.86 (PCS) = 52.01

2) Sara Hurtado & Andria Diaz (ESP)
   Music: Mas Que Nada, Magdalenha

• My eyes, these costumes!
• She does not have large hips, but that costume is doing her no favors in that area
• The headpiece is too much
• The costumes distract from the actual skating
• That straight line counter balance lift was very cool
• I'm having trouble focusing on anything but the costumes
• She goes down to her knees right before the end, he pulls her up
• That was a decent program, but unfortunately I hardly watched the skating

SD Score: 23.28 (TES) + 23.43 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 45.71

3) Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov (RUS)
   Music: Rhumba, ChaCha

• Did she borrow this costume from Alena Leonova?
• I love that twizzle variation
• They have nice speed
• Very flamboyant gestures to match the costumes and the music
• Again, these over the top costumes pull my focus and keep me from paying my full attention to the skating

SD Score: 24.72 (TES) + 24.05 (PCS) = 48.77

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

• This costume is bad too, but I'm almost slightly used to it because I saw it in China
• She was slightly behind on the twizzles
• Nice positions in the lift
• Good speed throughout
• I love a good hydroblade move
• The choreography in the step sequence fits the music quite well
• Love the ending, but is that necessary?

SD Score: 26.43 (TES) + 24.28 (PCS) = 50.71

5) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)
   Music: HipHip ChinChin, Mas Que Nada, Mujer Latina

• I wonder how Virtue & Moir feel about hearing this music when they're not out there skating to it
• They look so nice together 
• She has her stank face on
• I love this opening section
• Their twizzles look better than usual today
• I feel like I want them to be so much better than they actually are
• The pace of this music is almost too fast for them to keep up with it without looking wildly out of control
• Nice rotational lift, but sloppy exit

SD Score: 27.78 (TES) +30.39 (PCS) = 58.17

6) Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)
   Music: Volveras, El Chupacapra

• Not as fast as other teams, but very clean synchronized twizzles
• Very smooth through the rhumba, very clean edge work, oops there's some snow!
• She pulls her face as well as anybody
• I love that even though she is such a diva, he still stands out too

SD Score: 33.78 (TES) + 30.84 (PCS) = 64.62

7) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)
   Music: HipHip Chin Chin, Temptation, Mujer Latina

• This is the real HipHip Chin Chin
• Is this opening section different?
• So much speed going into the 1st rhumba sequence
• Just a hair off from one another on the twizzles
• I wish they'd bring a little more heat
• Scott is totally the star of this team
• Amazing curve lift
• I'd like to see more face from Tessa
• outstanding footwork section
• For some reason I feel like she's not giving 100% today, not sure why I feel that way

SD Score: 34.64 (TES) + 36.54 (PCS) = 71.18

8) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
   Music: Mas Que Nada, Batacuda, Real in Rio

• Huge applause from the home crowd
• I like this short dance a lot because it's different from a lot of the others
• They look a little wobbly on this rhumba sequence
• Fabian's kick over her head was a little rough looking
• Nice shimmy at the end of the twizzles
• I totally forgot about his back walkover
• They are pleased, and to do it at home!

SD Score: 33.43 (TES) + 33.09 (PCS) = 66.52

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	71.18	1
2	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	66.52	2
3	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	64.62	3
4	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	58.17	4
5	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	52.01	5
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	50.71	6
7	Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV	RUS	48.77	7
8	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	45.71	8

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	71.18	34.64		36.54	9.00	8.93	9.18	9.21	9.29	0.00	#7
2	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	66.52	33.43		33.09	8.36	7.89	8.39	8.36	8.32	0.00	#8
3	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	64.62	33.78		30.84	7.54	7.36	7.86	7.79	7.93	0.00	#6
4	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	58.17	27.78		30.39	7.64	7.32	7.64	7.75	7.61	0.00	#5
5	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	52.01	26.15		25.86	6.57	6.11	6.54	6.50	6.54	0.00	#1
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	50.71	26.43		24.28	6.25	5.79	6.04	6.39	5.89	0.00	#4
7	Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV	RUS	48.77	24.72		24.05	6.14	5.82	6.07	6.11	5.93	0.00	#3
8	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP	45.71	23.28		23.43	5.82	5.64	5.89	5.96	5.93	1.00	#2

2011 Trophee Eric Bompard: Ice Dance Preview

Ice Dance is the headlining event at Trophee Eric Bompard as it is the France's best chance of winning a medal. This is a strong field, 4 of the 8 having medaled on the Grand Prix this season thus far. The short dance wraps up the short programs this Friday November 18th at 2:00 p.m. EST and the free is the final event of the competition on Saturday November 19th at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Olympic champs Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) are the clear favorites in this event, hands down. They won't face serious competition until they meet Davis & White at the Grand Prix Final. Their programs this season are nice, but the're safe, while some of the up and coming teams are taking risks. One of the risk-taking teams is Natalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA), the home favorites and likely Silver medalists. Their short dance is very fun, very Carnaval, but their Egyptian-themed free, though technically exquisite, is a bit garish. I commend them for verging into new territory, but their over the top Halloween-looking costumes just aren't World Class. Bronze will be a tight race between two teams that already have Bronze medals from their first Grand Prix of the season, Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA) and Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS). Both teams have great sets of programs, very different in nature, but the Italians have about a 5 point advantage over the Russians when comparing scores from their first events. It's difficult to compare across events sometimes, but the Italians were cleaner overall. Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) were a last minute substitution and though they likely won't medal here, they look to improve their scores and overall performance at each competition with the hope of medaling at US Nationals in January and qualifying for Worlds.

My Podium Predictions:

1) Virtue & Moir (CAN)

2) Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA)

3) Cappellini & Lanotte (ITA)

Competitive History:

Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)-3rd at 2011 Skate Canada, 8th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 5th 2010 NHK Trophy, 2nd 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 154.87 at 2011 Worlds

Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)-4th at 2011 Skate Canada, 3rd 2011 Finlandia Trophy; PB: 136.88 at 2011 Finlandia Trophy

Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov (RUS)-5th 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 1st 2011 Winter Universiade, 2nd 2010 Golden Spin, 4th 2010 Cup of Russia, 6th 2010 Skate Canada, 3rd 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 3rd 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 127.47 at 2010 Rostelecom Cup

Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)-5th at 2011 Cup of China, 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

Sara Hurtado & Andria Diaz (ESP)-7th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 23rd 2011 Worlds, 15th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2011 Bavarian Open, 4th 2011 Winter Universiade, 11th 2010 Golden Spin, 8th 2010 Junior NRW Trophy, 5th 2010 JGP Germany, 10th 2010 JGP England; PB: 120.411 at 2011 World Juniors 

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

Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)-2nd at 2011 Skate America, 4th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Europeans, 2nd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2011 Cup of China, 1st 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 1st 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 167.40 at 2011 Europeans

Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)-1st at 2011 Skate Canada, 1st 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 2nd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2010 Worlds, 1st 2010 Winter Olympics; PB: 181.79 at 2011 Worlds 

2011 Skate Canada: Ice Dance Preview

Saying that this Ice Dance field is crowded is an understatement. 3 of these 8 teams were top 5 at 2011 Worlds and the rest are World Class as well. While Gold is pretty much locked up, we'll see a heated battle for Silver & Bronze as well as the right to place in the top 5. The dancers take the ice for their short dance Friday October 28th at 9:10 pm EST and Sunday October 30th at 12:30 pm for their free dance.

This might as well be an exhibition for Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) because they have no competition. They are in a class of their own and this event on home ice will be their coming out party. They already stomped the field at Finlandia Trophy and won't have a real challenge until the Grand Prix Final, but oh what a joy just to watch them skate. Making their season's debut, Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN) are a medal favorite after ending 2010-2011 with a bang, finishing 5th at Worlds. Training with Pechalat & Bourzat, who have withdrawn from this event, will push them to up their game, and they have the potential to pass them this season, but either way those two should battle all year. Ekaterina Riazanova & Ilia Tkachenko (RUS) spent 2010-2011 as the 3rd team in Russia and didn't make the Worlds team, but now that Russia has 3 slots, their season is wide open. I really like their style and they are a fringe team that could capitalize on a mistake by a top tier team and snag a medal as they did last season on the Grand Prix. Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA) are are a team that needs a lot of individual attention in order to make a leap in the rankings and I fear they won't get that from the overcommitted Morozov. They always put together nice programs and had a good showing at Worlds. They are now a medal threat after the withdrawal of the French. Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) are a new team and though they made a solid debut at Finlandia Trophy, they have a lot of work to do if they hope to make Worlds this season and they won't be as focused on a medal here as they will be on getting feedback from judges and improving their levels and scores. Ekaterina Pushkash & Jonathan Guerreiro (RUS) are making their senior debut after winning Silver at the 2011 Junior Worlds and it will be great to see how they transition their style to the senior ranks. Tarrah Harvey & Keith Gagnon (CAN) are a host pick making their Grand Prix debut.

My Podium Predictions:

1) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)

2) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)

3) Ekaterina Riazanova & Ilia Tkachenko (RUS

Competitive History:

Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)-8th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 5th 2010 NHK Trophy, 2nd 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 153.77 at 2011 Worlds

Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)-3rd 2011 Finlandia Trophy; PB: 136.88 at 2011 Finlandia Trophy

Tarrah Harvey & Keith Gagnon (CAN)-8th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 9th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy, 5th 2008 JGP Belarus

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

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

Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)-1st 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 2nd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2010 Worlds, 1st 2010 Winter Olympics; PB: 181.79 at 2011 Worlds

Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)-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