Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier:
Twizzles Level 4:
…very well done with difficult positions…
Serpentine Steps Level 3:
…some very light edges from Piper, an invisible opening edge in Counter close to the board in front of the judges, no opening edge in Rocker in the middle of the ice, in the last part of the Step Sequence very very light opening edge (if any) in Chocktaw and no second edge in the same turn – this edge was the opening edge for next turn – a Bracket – so another turn not counted…
…in Piper’s case I counted 5 clean turns, but even in those turns some edges were so light that it was so so, strict Technical panel wouldn‘t count her more than 3-4 clean turns…
…Paul and his turns – well, I would count most of them, Bracket in the last part of the steps didn’t look too well as to second edge, but I didn’t see any major problem, but frankly I watched repeatedly his blades and I saw only one deeper edge and all other edges were soo light and not always clearly recognizable…if anybody says that at least Paul is good technician in this couple, please, watch his blades and realise that deep edges are a measure of great technique, not light edges…
…changes of holds – Killian – short Tango – Waltz – short Killian – Foxtrot – Waltz hold…OK.
After SD I had an opinion that a couple is good technically, but after watching their technique in FD – Piper is very poor in both Transition‘s technique and Step Sequences and Paul is very very average technician watching quality of his production of steps. (He was better with Vanessa Crone, but skating with technically weak partner means always a danger that you will slowly loose your skills – in Paul’s case it really happened.)
Watch Hurtado & Diaz – even such couple which is weaker in technique has much deeper and better edges than Piper & Paul. How G&P Skating Skills could get over both H&D and M&K, that is a real nonsense.
How the couple met Level 3 in Serpentine Step Sequences – oh, I forgot, Technical specialist is a Canadian.
Midline Step Sequences Level 3:
…changes of holds – Foxtrot – Killian – Foxtrot – short Waltz - short Tango
…once again many light edges, unsure edges, some almost invisible edges…
…why Level 3, really all “problematic“ edges were done correctly and properly?
For some moment I had an idea that low Levels for Monko & Khaliavin could be caused by some dance hold which was kept for a short time, but visibly Piper & Paul had also very short dance holds and it was counted into change of holds because they got Level 3. So there can’t be a problem.
Number of jumps: 3
Number of hoops plus toe steps: 31 (plus two steps at the end should be two footed change of direction, but in execution of Piper it were another two hoops)
If somebody will continue saying that judges love fast couples, it is completely wrong, because if they did, they wouldn’t be able to give high marks to Piper & Paul, who are rather slower, and getting speed mainly from cross-overs only.
I liked a lot curved lift, it was original and well done. Not positive about opening lift, where lack of elegancy hit the eyes.
Piper’s no knee action in transitions is warning, it puts the overall average technique level of the couple down about another level. She very often doesn’t finish her arm and leg moves, she is way to relaxed and lax sometimes.
Nice choreography which tries to hide lack of high level technique.
The music is light and positive, the couple dances in light and positive mood, it is nice, entertaining, sometimes funny. And figure skating definitely needs such routines which will bring smile on face. But looking at skating quality, there is a long journey in front of the couple.
Just throwing him a little love.
Where is all the difficult holds they do last year? This dance filled with easier holds like side by side holds and hand to hand extended holds :disapp: Last year they showed they can skate close without losing speed... Even ISU added new feature to program component scoring: ''skating close'' this year... Why do opposite of that?
