What's Happening in U.S. Regionals and Sectionals?

Flying Camel, there are a few skaters in the competitions posted on the webcast who have been to nationals previously, but Yebin Mok may be the most well known. She skated a lovely LP at Southwest Pacific. Alas, only single and double jumps and she finished 8th.

flying camel said:

Are any of you guys familiar with the skaters being shown on the WebCast? Is anyone worth watching?

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Yes--in Southwest Pacific Juniors, Mirai Nagasu and Laney Diggs; in Southwest Pacific Novices, Ellie Kawamura and Carolyn Ann Alba. These ladies all got high scores and are favorites for Pacific Sectionals in their respective Divisions.

Mathman said:

I don't think so. I believe that Amber last competed in 2004, when she won the bronze at the U.S. Collegiate championships (Alissa was first).

After that, chronic foot injuries sidelined her singles career. For a time she considered switching to dance, but I never heard that she formed a partnership. There is no biography for her on either the USFS site or the ISU site, and her and Alissa's former web site that they used to have together is now a porn site. (Guess I'll have to remove it from "My Favorites." )

I believe that she remains active in the Detroit Skating Club, however. Last year she won the "Congeniality Trophy" at their awards ceremony.

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Thanks for the info MM i thought i might have heard mummerings about her doing dance and wondered what happened.

Ant

All 3 Regional Championship webcasts for the Eastern Section (South Atlantics, North Atlantics, New Englands) are now up for a limited free preview viewing period that may end sometime this month: http://web.icenetwork.com/index.jsp

All 3 U.S. Sectional Championships take place this week (competition runs Thursday-Saturday in all 3 locations). This is the final qualifier for 2007 U.S. Nationals in Spokane, Washington.

PACIFIC COASTS:
Location: Olympic View Training Center in Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Host club site: http://www.seattleskatingclub.org/Sectionals/MainPage2.html
USFS' event site: http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=34624

EASTERNS:
Location: The Cooler in Alpharetta, Georgia
Host club site: http://www.xcelventures.com/afsc/2007 ESEC/default.htm
USFS' event site: http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=36057
Starting orders are up:
http://www.usfigureskating.org/even...00607/sectionals-e/startingorders-eastern.htm

MIDWESTERNS:
Location: Pelham Civic Complex in Pelham, Alabama
Host club site: http://www.bhamfsc.com/sectionals.htm
(click on "Competitor Groups" link for skater roster)
USFS' event site: http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=34741
Mids rink and ticket info: http://www.pelhamciviccomplex.com/Default.asp?ID=417&action=view&nid=735

Thanks Sylvia for the update and links.

Go Rohene!!!!

Thanks Sylvia - I presume there is no way of catching these on TV?

Joesitz said:

Thanks Sylvia - I presume there is no way of catching these on TV?

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Nope. Sorry Joe.

I watched some regional flights from internet. some skaters could jump and skate better if the programs are not so over packed. In-betweens can bring you a lot of points, but too much does not mean better. Without enough jumps, the programs just do not look like a freestyle skating programs

This is really nice - thanks, Sylvia. I only had time to watch a few - hope I can squeeze some more in while it's available. I like Curran Oi!

After work and running an errand and a ton of traffic, I made it to Pacific Sectionals for the last two Jr. Dance teams in the first flight and all of the second of the waltz CD, and then for all eight competitors in the latin.

In the Jr. Latin, in the last flight, all four of the women's costumes were beautiful. One of the men was a bit too sparkly for my taste, but it still was okay. None in the first flight were bad, they just weren't as uniformly lovely as in the second group. I can't say the same for all four of the Senior dance teams. One team was scary.

I don't know who any of the competitors are. The announcements over the loudspeaker, especially for the juniors, sounded like:

%##(*(*(%#*(*%(#*(*#(*%#( Texas (*(*#(%*#(%*(#*% ing Club #($%*#($*#(*$#(*% Washington @$(*@($*@$ please welcome #($%*#(%*#(*%#(*

I only realized there was a book on my way out.

There was a Jr. named Rachel whose partner is a superb skater. (Not that she's chopped liver, but his carriage, projection, leg line, and rhythm were super.) There were a number of really nice Jr. men. In the seniors the woman in the last team to skate had Navka-like toe point and turnout.

When I was in the Ladies' between Jr. CD's and Sr. CD, one women commented, "Well I guess now we'll see some good skating." I preferred the Jrs, myself. They weren't as fast, but there are some terrific skaters in the mix who move quite naturally. There was a local pair, who got a big ovation from the several hundred people at the rink. (There's only seating on one side, so the crowd didn't look sparse, and the many of the competitors from the other events are in the audience supporting them. I saw a LOT of blue eye shadow.)

Hopefully on Saturday, I'll know who is who.

2ndmark said:

Flying Camel, there are a few skaters in the competitions posted on the webcast who have been to nationals previously, but Yebin Mok may be the most well known. She skated a lovely LP at Southwest Pacific. Alas, only single and double jumps and she finished 8th.

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So sad that Yebin is in a slump. She is one of my favorite skaters. I have a Yebin pin on my jacket. She has one of the best layback spins in history.

Yebin Mok, did she place 5th or 6th at Nationals a few years ago? Where do I know that name from?

hockeyfan228 said:

I don't know who any of the competitors are. The announcements over the loudspeaker, especially for the juniors, sounded like:

%##(*(*(%#*(*%(#*(*#(*%#( Texas (*(*#(%*#(%*(#*% ing Club #($%*#($*#(*$#(*% Washington @$(*@($*@$ please welcome #($%*#(%*#(*%#(*

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This is a little OT, but spread the word because those crappie announcers bug me too.

It is sad that a majority of people put in those positions still don't realize or are never told MOST microphones are made to speak over and modulated for the frequency to "pick up your voice," not forced into it. The mics you see people talking / singing straight into (bombarding them with waves, and not being able to escape with out bouncing off a wave in on the way out...hope that makes sense) are set up specifically for that and were likely a result of so many "singers" lip-syncing their routines the newbees thought that is how you do it. In modulation and the Spit / wind guard - that was the original intent of the foam - has also now been adjusted to absorb the frequencies on the way out. For example look at the mics they use in recording studios, held away from the singer, notice the shape (The receiver is flat toward the base and the "part with holes" is giving the impression to the singer that is where to sing toword, above the receiver, and the only thing they put in front of it is pantyhose because it does not stop or disrupt sound but does protect it from spit - they are worth well over 3000 in a nice studio - some 30,000.

For example I used to work with 2 Developmentally disabled people who both thought when they talked on the phone or microphone, they had to shove it up against their mouths - no one could understand them (exspet "yah and by" and they were constantly told to hold the phone away from their mouth. I even took one to the airport to give an example of what he sounded like. I worked and worked with them but the second guy clued me in when we were watching a singer lip-syncing, "see Sean, LOOK.."

Try explaining that to someone with a Developmental disability - "you see the wave frequencies that come out of your mouth are picked up by the microphone as they pass over it. If you hold your mouth over the top of it those waves bounce off of each other and become distorted." The first time I said anything close to that I got the "Sick of you Liar, sick sick of you, go on liar!!!!!!"

Anyhoo, sometimes is has to do with background noise on the "stage" or in the "booth" not wanting that to get picked up so they set the mic so low that you have to "stick it in your mouth." - they bought the wrong kind of mic then. Yet that defeats the whole point, can't understand them so what is the point of having them talk.

CU and Denver metro are a good example of sporting events that are announced correctly a majority of the time. For they learned from the man Alan Cass, just as I received the info from as well.

Sorry about the rant, but I hope some one keeps spreading the word.


BOT,

flying camel said:

Are any of you guys familiar with the skaters being shown on the WebCast? Is anyone worth watching?

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IMO any skater at any event is "worth" "watching." I wonder if it is meant as "worth seeing to learn from?"

I'm no audio expert, but I think a lot of the problem understanding announcements at events like these stems from 1) poor sound systems in local rinks -- these aren't big arenas made for professional performances, they're usually hosting local hockey games, public sessions, and figure skating practices; 2) the skaters' friends cheering during the announcements rather than waiting until after the names have been announced

gkelly said:

I'm no audio expert, but I think a lot of the problem understanding announcements at events like these stems from..

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:agree:

It compounds the issue. Another factor is enunciation, announcers don't move their mouths enough, slightly exaggerate the mouth movements. Looks silly, but who is watching them.

Any "PA" system is initially meant for vocal use, it is also a issue when the balances and equalizer adjustments are made and not taking into consideration the "full house" changing those levels.

All of these factors make it bad, but if the first was addressed then it would not be. Not saying I am an expert but have talked with them. Use of the Mic is the first issue. And have heard the difference when it alone is addressed.

I do agree on the fans needing to hold off until the name has be fully announced for sure.!!!!! :agree: Besides, Shizuka never would have heard me shout "Go Shi-Chan" if I would have been yelling with the rest of the audience.

The music comes across wonderfully, except when there are lyrics. So it's not the announcers.

I was able to drop in on Senior OD last night on my way to dinner. (It was supposed to be Senior Men's SP according to the schedule, but they have been running early, and I only got to see the last part of Dennis Phan's program, which was quite well skated.)

Costumes were much better than the Senior CD costumes. I didn't really love the programs, but for part of their OD, the woman named Charlotte projected a real, diva-esque quality, and she has a number of fans among the younger skaters.

The couple from Seattle got a deafening reception as they appeared, but the crowd was a bit disappointed at their skate, which got a bit bogged down on the footwork.

EASTERN (complete) in order of finish

Senior Men
Derrick DELMORE, Jordan MILLER, Craig RATTERREE, Shaun ROGERS

Senior Ladies
Kylie GLEASON, Taylor FIRTH, Michelle BOULOS, Megan WILLIAMS-STEWART

Senior Pairs
EVORA / LADWIG, KATZ / LYNCH, JORDAN / ELEFANTE

Senior Dance
MIOSI / PONOMAREV, SLATTERY / LEE, ELLIMAN / SEREBRENIK

Junior Men
Adam RIPPON, Daniel RAAD, Schuyler ELDRIDGE, Q Kelvin VU

Junior Ladies
Sherry BARNES, Michaelee SCARINCIO, Blake ROSENTHAL, Brittney RIZO

Junior Pairs
BYRNE / BARTHOLOMAY, SHELTON / SHELTON, OKAMOTO / BERNING, SYME / PFOH, SCHLEICHER / SCHLEICHER

Junior Dance
BOSLEY / CORONA, TOMARCHIO / SINCHAK, COHEN / ROBERTS, SIEGEL / MILLER

Novice Men
Armin MAHBANOOZADEH, Alexander AIKEN, Scott DYER, Alexander ZAHRADNICEK (a South Atlantic sweep!)

Novice Ladies
Kristine MUSADEMBA, Ksenia MAKAROVA, Masha LEONOV, Emily YOUNG

Novice Pairs
LEE / TOTH, TANOVICH / CHAU, YANKOWSKAS / COHEN, CASTELLI / SHNAPIR

Novice Dance
BAILEY / HERRING, CANNUSCIO / LORELLO, CANNUSCIO / COPELY, DEUTCH / LORELLO

PACIFIC SECTIONALS (complete), in order of finish:

Senior Men
Michael VILLAREAL, Daisuke MURAKAMI, Dennis PHAN, Nick LAROCHE

Senior Ladies
Danielle KAHLE, Erin REED, Becky HUGHES, Margaret WANG
except for Kahle, all first time at Senior Nationals


Senior Pairs
SHARMA / BURGESS, TROMBLEY / IBARRA, BERIAU / MERRITT, SY / DAVIS (the first 3 are new pairings)

Senior Dance
WHETSTONE / OBZANSKY, MALLORY / HOLDBURG, MAXWELL / TRAXLER, CYDERS / YOUNG

Junior Men
Princeton KWONG, Doug RAZZANO, Ricky DORNBUSH, Andrew GONZALEZ

Junior Ladies
Mirai NAGASU, Victoria RACKOHN, Chrissy HUGHES, Kelcie LEE

Junior Pairs
BUTLER / JACOBSEN, GUILLEN / CURZON, BROWN / MILLER, DAVIS / HATFIELD, SALES / NGUYEN

Junior Dance
KRIENGKRAIRUT / GIULETTI-SCHMITT, WINGLE / DEVEREAUX, OSWALD / WITHROW, PERINO / AVILA

Novice Men
Keegan MESSING, Max AARON, Grisha FOURNIER, Will MICHAEL

Novice Ladies
Victoria HECHT, Carolyn Ann ALBA, Ellie KAWAMURA, Molly AARON

Novice Pairs
NAHM/ NAHM, BAUTISTA / HOPSON, VOLLMER / SPARKS, HERITAGE / SULLIVAN

Novice Dance
CHOCK / ZUERLEIN, MATSUMOTO / SKILLINGTON, OLSON / MAYS, WOLF / AINSWORTH

Thanks Chuckum - I will be particularly glad to see the following and think there could be upsetting applecarts;

Evora/Ludwig in Senior Pairs

Adam Rippon (ya gotta see this guy. He's androgenous and much like Johnny Weir) in Junior Men.

Kristine Musadema in Novice Ladies

There are others I've heard about but not seen. And that Novice Dance, with those Canuscios and Lorellos. It should be a good US Nats with surprises in2007.

Joe