Junior Pairs - Free Skating

[HCOSurfer]

Is it just me, or is there something eerily similar about Yu/Jin's opening choreography and Castile/Okolski's opening choreography back in 2007?

C/O:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bAgZ4L504Q

Maybe I'm just going crazy

[Mao88]

Videos - Pairs Long Program (Updated - Top 8)

1. Wenjing SUI & Cong HAN (CHN)

2. Xiaoyu YU & Yang JIN (CHN)

3. Vasilisa DAVANKOVA & Andrei DEPUTAT (RUS)

4. Haven DENNEY & Brandon FRAZIER (USA)

5. Margaret PURDY & Michael MARINARO (CAN)

6. Ekaterina PETAIKINA & Maxim KURDYUKOV (RUS)

7. Katherine BOBAK & Ian BEHARRY (CAN)

8. Kylie DUARTE & Colin GRAFTON (USA)

[skateflower]

Is it just me, or is there something eerily similar about Yu/Jin's opening choreography and Castile/Okolski's opening choreography back in 2007?

C/O:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bAgZ4L504Q

Maybe I'm just going crazy

That's what happens when you have the same choreographer doing the same piece of music. Lazy?

[Art&Sport]

Interesting... after seeing their short and long (seeing this pair for the first time), Davankova/Deputat do not seem to skate in a strictly Russian style. They have the line, technique and extension, but their skating seems more dynamic/ athletic, and extroverted than the lyrical, balletic style the Russians are known for -- (more like the athletic flair of the Chinese, and the charismatic, athletic NA style of skating).

Re Sui/Han -- an amazing season, but why are they so highly regarded? They did not skate well at Jr. Worlds (at least not in the fp). They do have wonderful tricks performed with flair and brio. I suppose the judges feel that makes up for or masks their weaknesses of immaturity and lack of line and stretch. I think their sp and fp were put together extremely well along with the choice of music and costumes -- especially their Western-themed sp has been a crowd-pleaser all season long.

Seems like the long season caught up with Bobak/Beharry and Simpson/Blackmer.

[bekalc]

Interesting... after seeing their short and long (seeing this pair for the first time), Davankova/Deputat do not seem to skate in a strictly Russian style. They have the line, technique and extension, but their skating seems more dynamic/ athletic, and extroverted than the lyrical, balletic style the Russians are known for -- (more like the athletic flair of the Chinese, and the charismatic, athletic NA style of skating).

Because Artur Dmitriev and his partners weren't extroverted? Rodnina was balletic? And I think Trankov is very extroverted too. I think your pigeon holing a lot of the Russian pairs.

[sky_fly20]

Because Artur Dmitriev and his partners weren't extroverted? Rodnina was balletic? And I think Trankov is very extroverted too. I think your pigeon holing a lot of the Russian pairs.

Volosozhar/Trankov and Stolbova/Klimov are definitely not balletic, also I am seeing a bit of Mishkutionok/Dimitriev in Davankova/Deputat maybe because Andrei and Vasilisa are using the trademark spin of Artur and Natalia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQszb...ailpage#t=258s

[sky_fly20]

Press Conference of winners SUI/HAN , YU/JIN and DAVANKOVA/DEPUTAT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnXF-umLZN4

Awarding Ceremony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbWlQ...szI4fpDoIZpyGs

[sky_fly20]

better quality videos

Vasilisa DAVANKOVA - Andrei DEPUTAT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVR6928FVpk

Katherine BOBAK - Ian BEHARRY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgcSmw_89DM

Kamila GAINETDINOVA - Ivan BICH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xsVyn1xdZI

Meiyi LI - Bo JIANG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhho-K_l0r4

Margaret PURDY - Michael MARINARO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9n11I-Cli8

Hayleigh BELL - Alistair SYLVESTER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwpZD0RKNcY

Julia LAVRENTIEVA - Yuri RUDIK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2_wzn57mLw

Magdalena KLATKA - Radoslaw CHRUSCINSKI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe41JtQyshU

[Nadine]

I watched the videos of the top 4 the other day, and honestly none of them impressed me that much, not even my fav international pair couple ~ Sui & Han ~ whom were lacking their usual sparkle imho. Not only that, I'm starting to notice how they & the other Chinese pair team don't hold their positions, nor stretch out their moves, no pointed toes, things like that (reminiscent of Julia Lipinskaya).

Still, Sui & Han were the obvious clear winners, as it should be, with their magnificent 4twist & 4Sthrow!

That said, the young Russian couple were way better than the Chinese pair teams' when it came to line, extension, but still no cigar when in comparison to America's Gretchen Donlan & Andrew Speroff. Jmho.

As for Denney & Frazier, they're ones to watch out for right now. If they're this good already, I can only imagine what they will be like next year in Seniors! Caydee Denney honestly has competition from her baby sis & partner. It honestly makes me worried for Donlan & Speroff; they need the sbs jumps. PCS can only take you so far...we shall see...we shall see. *crossing my fingers for D&S*

[Art&Sport]

Volosozhar/Trankov and Stolbova/Klimov are definitely not balletic, also I am seeing a bit of Mishkutionok/Dimitriev in Davankova/Deputat maybe because Andrei and Vasilisa are using the trademark spin of Artur and Natalia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQszb...ailpage#t=258s

Yes bekalc and sky_fly20, I agree that not all the Russian pairs are balletic, nor do they all have similar skating styles. Yet, to me there is a similarity that maybe has to do with the Russian tradition, the culture, the personality. I think the differences and similarities seen with recent pairs from many countries may have more to do with the global melting pot that skating has become. There are definitely a lot of influences and impacts. To me Volosozhar/ Trankov are different from Savchenko/ Szolkowy, yet V/T have patterned themselves in some ways after S/S. I even read that one of V/T coaches had them practicing their stroking in the manner of S/S in order to improve that aspect of their skating. Certainly Tatiana learned a great deal from S/S training style when she and her partner Stanislav Morozov were coached by Ingo Steuer with S/S as their training mates.

Of course Rodnina was more athletic than balletic, but still the Russian technique and temperament was evident in her skating. The Protopopovs and Gordeeva/ Grinkov exemplify the Russian balletic tradition. Dimitriev and Mishketunok finally jelled in an amazing way at their Olympics -- Moskvina worked her magic and Dimitriev was a force of nature, and he brought his partner along with him -- Mishk. rose to the occasion b/c she was not ever a skater who showed much passion or emotion.

I don't think Davankova/ Deputat are at all like Mish/Dimitriev. To me, D/D seem to take the best of the Russian tradition -- line, technique, stretch, musicality and combine that with the new age of skating. I think D/D exhibit various influences seen in the best skaters from the past 10 years, including Berezhn/Sikharulidze; Sale/Pelletier; Shen/ Zhao; and Savchenko/ Szolkowy -- and with a dash of Gordeeva/ Grinkov thrown into the mix. That is how I see D/D -- who are most certainly IMO very different from Illuschink/Masuraidze. To me, I/M as well as Bazarova/ Larionov are from the strict Russian style of skating, while D/D are a breath of fresh air, with much more excitement and potential.

ETA: However, I see from Russian Nats that even Bazarova/ Larionov are infusing their skating with more energy and interesting moves -- again I think incorporating movement ideas and approach from the best in the business: Savchenko/ Szolkowy with also some of the energy and excitement of the Chinese, combined with the inimitable Russian flair (which IMO is based on a strict Russian technique). For me what a number of Russian pairs over the years have lacked is visible passion and excitement (Totm/Marinin & to some extent Berezhnaya too --altho' her partner Sikharulidze made up for it). Of course Dimitriev also displayed passion (and made up for what Mishketunok lacked). To me, D/D seem to have that visible passion and excitement along with excellent technique and budding artistry. At Russian Nats, B/L certainly looked much more alive and energetic than they have previously displayed in their choreography. I suppose V/T and B/L along with K/S will be the more favored Russian pairs over the next couple of year -- unless B/L or K/S eventually lose out to D/D for Sochi Olympics.

[sky_fly20]

well I think the most balletic classical Russian pair atm, is Matiusheva/Rogonov
also Bazarova/Larionov , Bazarova's lines are definitely the finesse russian style

D/D are very promising, I didn't get that from I/M and they weren't really good, they were in the juniors at the right time with little competition and they were not that lucky transitioning to seniors to add that Lubov can't land most her jumps now, with that said, Davankova is only 13 years old. I hope she survives puberty because I can see them getting a top spot in the Russian pairs field in the future with their amazing talent once the veterans retire.

[bigdeal]

I have a rather different opinion,
All the top 3 pairs were great!
Compaire to their age they are much better than ANY of the existing senior pairs in the same age.
A lots of talent included and they are all in professional hand, whom they know how to get out the best of their ability.

Sui/Han has the obvious tricks nobody ever had together with a certain charm. We used to say before"Yes, but they cannot skate". It is not true anymore, they CAN.

Yu/Jin, I've never seen them before. They are a GREAT WOWWWW!. Breathtaking. They have the usual Chinese acrobaticism PLUS a classical, airy touch with great lines.
If they improve like this I can see the next dominant great pair of China in them.

Davankova/Deputat showed a lots of talent, emotions, class and good technique. They will be capable to reach anything if someone take care of them in the best way.


Think about ANY big senior competition between the place 5-10. I think that any of these 3 pairs are better than the usual one's in there !!

[silverlake22]

Looking at podium pictures...how small is Cong Han? Yu looks close to his height, if she is really only 4'11" (she looks much taller than that to me, but she could be this height) Han must be not 5'7" but like 5'4", maybe less. If Sui grows at all she will need a new partner, already the way he carries her (like a sack of potatoes!) is distracting. They are super talented but idk if they will last together. I think Yu/Jin have more long term potential, they have a nice classical style and such clean elements.

[age20]

I think Yu/Jin have more long term potential, they have a nice classical style and such clean elements.

nod

[sky_fly20]

Looking at podium pictures...how small is Cong Han? Yu looks close to his height, if she is really only 4'11" (she looks much taller than that to me, but she could be this height) Han must be not 5'7" but like 5'4", maybe less. If Sui grows at all she will need a new partner, already the way he carries her (like a sack of potatoes!) is distracting. They are super talented but idk if they will last together. I think Yu/Jin have more long term potential, they have a nice classical style and such clean elements.

If the age controversy is true, Sui is still 14 years old and puberty still has a room
and if she grows taller , it could be the end of their quad tricks, he is too short for a male pair skater . so if that happens Yu/Jin has long term potential