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2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships - HighlightsJunior Original Dance and Ladies Long ProgramJanuary 23, 2008
The 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships continued with the Junior Original Dance and Ladies Long Program. Junior Ice Dance (Original Dance)The brother-and-sister team of Madison and Keiffer Hubbell (Ann Arbor FSC) stumbled their way to the top of the standings after the junior Original Dance (OD) on the strength of their Compulsory Dance (CD) score at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Saint Paul today. The team lost crucial training time in the off season due to an injury that Keiffer sustained in training, and it was evident in their German folk polka program. Still, last year's silver medalists were able to hold on to their lead, earning a total of 85.27 points to this point in the competition, but had to settle for third in this phase of the competition.
The Hubbells started out with a bang, scoring well on an inventive level 4 straight-line lift and level 4 twizzles, but things quickly turned on the duo as they started to look clumsy and labored in the middle of their program. Their lack of training time was evident in the midline steps in which Keiffer fell, and the team incurred a mandatory one point deduction. The performance of the day was executed by the young team of Madison Chock (All Year FSC) and Greg Zuerlein (Arctic FSC), who placed fifth in last year's novice competition, but look like serious threats for the gold medal in this competition. Skating to Dark Eyes (Russian folk), the Junior Grand Prix Finalist earned level 4 on every element that they competed, as well as positive Grades of Execution (GOE). Chock, 15, and Zuerlein, 19, showed a confident program highlighted with snappy choreography and a theatrical performance quality that separated them from the rest. Chock and Zuerlein scored 53.03 points in the original dance for a competition total of 82.95 thus far. Standing in third place is last year's pewter medalists, Piper Gilles (Broadmoor SC) and Timothy McKernan (Broadmoor SC), with a total of 81.21 in the competition. Gilles (16) and McKernan (18) performed their Irish folk program with flair, but skated slower than the leaders and only placed fourth in this phase of the competition. The team only earned a level two for their serpentine steps, but capitalized on their program components to score 50.24 points in the OD. In fourth place, after finishing second in the OD, is the other brother-and-sister of Maya Shibutani (SC of New York) and Alex Shibutani (Broadmoor SC). The tiny team skated a Japanese folk dance reminiscent of their heritage in which Maya effectively utilized an authentic fan to accentuate their choreography. Maya (13) and Alex (16) won the gold medal on the novice level last season in Spokane, Wash., but found themselves in seventh place after yesterday's CD. The duo skated with confidence that belied their young ages, and earned a partial standing ovation by the crowd. The team scored 52.32 points for their OD and have earned 79.98 points overall. In fifth place is Pilar Bosley (Peninsula SC) and John Corona (Philadelphia SC & HS) with 78.42 points, and they are followed by Shannon Wingle (Arctic FSC) and Ryan Devereaux (Coyote SC of Arizona) with a total of 76.59 points. Junior Ladies (Long Program)The junior ladies took to center ice as the marquee event in this day at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Saint Paul, Minn. It was a competition that started with ten falls by the first three skaters, but ended in a fight for the right to stand on the podium by five young ladies who all gave inspired performances.
Coming out on top was 16-year-old Alexe Gilles (Broadmoor SC) who overcame a two point deficit after the short program to capture the gold medal. Skating to Vangelis' Oceanic, the Junior Grand Prix finalist opened with a huge triple Lutz-double toe combination that matched the top skaters in the world in height and distance, and followed that with an airy double Axel. "I opened with a triple Lutz-double toe with nice speed," Gilles later gushed. "Everything was just nice and easy." After doubling her attempt at a triple flip, Gilles skated a flawless program in which she landed another triple Lutz and three other triples to easily outscore her competition with a total of 103.54 points. Gilles' competition total of 156.17 points is the highest total recorded at the U.S. Championships in the junior ladies event, and was six points better than her closest competitor. Dressed in an aqua and white flowing dress, Gilles smiled from start to finish in her program, and was still smiling at the press conference over an hour later. "Landing the second Lutz in the second half of the program felt really good," said Gilles. "I tried to hold my focus for the rest of the program. I just tried to stay in the present, so I just kept going from there." Gilles takes home the second junior national championship to the Gilles home, as older brother Todd won the junior dance title with Trina Pratt back in 2005. Gilles' twin sister, Piper, is currently in third place in the junior dance event here, and could bring a third championship home with a great skate. "My brother was a really good junior," said a wide-eyed Gilles. "It feels really good to be a champion as well. My sister is really trying to do it herself." The leader after the short program, 15-year-old Angela Maxwell (Dallas FSC) powered through her program set to music from the soundtrack of Finding Nemo to finish with the silver medal. Last year's novice champion started out well with a clean double Axel, but then struggled with attempts at the triple flip and loop. "It's a great feeling to get second in junior," said an elated Maxwell. After taking time to regroup, Maxwell fought through her program and landed four triple jumps, including her triple toe-triple toe combination to finish with the second highest executed elements score of the evening. "My levels were pretty good," admitted Maxwell, "but I kind of had a few stumbles. But I recovered, so that was good." Winning the bronze medal with a snappy program to the skating standard Malaguena, was Brittney Rizo (SC of Boston). The 16-year-old opened with a light triple loop that earned her positive GOEs, but immediately doubled an intended triple flip. "I did a double flip instead of a triple, but that was okay," Rizo matter-of-factly. "I just really enjoyed being out there with everybody. It was just really awesome." Rizo completed four more triple jumps, including two in combination, and earned a level 4 on all of her spins to finish with a competition total of 149.60. Last year's 12th place finisher in this event credits newfound confidence for her meteoric rise in the standings. "I just wanted to have a good season," explained Rizo. "[My coaches and I] wanted that every time I go out, to have a good skate. So we just kept training and training, and when I finally got here, I just felt so ready." Gilles, Maxwell, and Rizo all intend to compete as seniors next season. Fifteen-year-old Kristine Musademba (Washington FSC) rebounded from a disappointing short program to win the pewter medal with an entertaining program to Duke Ellington's Caravan. Musademba was credited with landing five triple jumps, including a flawed Lutz and a triple flip-double toe combination, that allowed her to edge out 14-year-old Amanda Dobbs (Peninsula SC). Dobbs may have had the skate of her life in this competition, as she completed three easy triple jumps before making a mistake on her final attempt on a triple Salchow. Skating to the music of Spartacus, Dobbs commanded the ice with sure footedness and a finely tuned attention to detail in her choreographer. Dobbs' spiral sequence was particularly stunning as it was timed perfectly to the crescendo in the music, and with positions that take years to learn in ballet class. Dobbs finished second in the freeskate, but because she was so far behind after the short program, she was unable to unseat Musademba from the podium. Competition continues on Wednesday morning with four-time and reigning champions Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto seeing action in the senior CD. The mid-day session's junior men's short program could provide the backdrop for the most dramatic competition of the week, with six young men who could all challenge for the gold medal. And the senior pairs take to the ice in the evening session in an event that any of the entries could win the gold medal with good performances. |
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Madison Hubbell (16) and Keiffer Hubbell (19) lost crucial training time in the off-season due to an injury that Keiffer sustained in
training.
Alexe Gilles (16) of the Broadmoor Skating Club, performs to Oceanic by Vangelis for the Ladies Long Program.