2024 Grand Prix de France Pairs Short Program

[Karoltyna]

STOP!

 

[elektra blue]

STOP!

 

[labgoat]

Well its been fun - as soon as the last 4 skaters are posted for the rewatch its off to bed for me.
24 hours since I last slept so see you tomorrow

 

[elektra blue]

time to go for me too. see you tomorrow. love you all

 

[museksk8r]

Le sigh, I am so sad for Filippo and Rebecca! Hope they can rebound and deliver a skate they are proud of in the FS! Congrats to Hase/Volodin and Conti/Macii!

 

[CellarDweller]

see you all tomorrow for the long programs!!!

 

[Ichatdelune]

It's 5 am here in the Korean peninsula, I'm not sure whether the caffeine from my energy drink has fully worn off yet but I want to try to go to sleep before the sun comes up. Thank you all so much for keeping me company, see you tomorrow

 

[Karoltyna]

There's better German music (but also MUCH worse)

My son said his favourita band is Rammstein. He was in preschool. I was summoned by the teacher and for a second wanted to speak to her in German I know German, I've got very german surname

 

[auser]

Loved Mark's comment about the Italian coaches winning for presentation.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

See you tomorrow! Don't know when I'll be here though, am busy in the morning.

 

[Dreamer57]

Miniki was so immaculate and polished! Just needs a bit more speed for them to rival the very best teams.

I love Rebecca and Filippo especially their innovative lift and musicality!! But they almost always have some kind of jump error

Very very difficult in the US. Took Tanith White FOREVER.

I feel this is why the US fed is not fully backing them as they are unlikely to make the 2026 olympics due to the citizenship.

 

[jorge2912]

Was watching from the Coast Vina del Mar and with a coffee and a nice view of the harbor from a terrace,

Alisa & Misha did great the SP, was nice , melodic and elegant I like it.

Camille & Pavel dress very colorful, apple green and is different , fresh and Britney would feel proud of them ..

Lia & Trennt very jazzy SP, trendier and is funny to watch them, I enjoyed it a lot.

Minerva Fabienne & Nikita was classy and nice their SP , looks cleaner technically talking

le due coppie italiane, molto interessanti comparazioni. (Scusi per il mio italiano non piu perfetto / sorry for my Italian no very perfect)

Rebecca e Filippo , a classic music SP, a mistake of Filippo (maybe traced the curve in a more crosswise angle) but was very nice and some creativity but stylish too.

Sara e Nicolo, I love their SP, Piu Italiane style and Carmen interpretation is nice and with some details like the choreography structure and musicality .

 

[bartlebooth]

Was watching from the Coast Vina del Mar and with a coffee and a nice view of the harbor from a terrace,

Alisa & Misha did great the SP, was nice , melodic and elegant I like it.

Camille & Pavel dress very colorful, apple green and is different , fresh and Britney would feel proud of them ..

Lia & Trennt very jazzy SP, trendier and is funny to watch them, I enjoyed it a lot.

Minerva Fabienne & Nikita was classy and nice their SP , looks cleaner technically talking

le due coppie italiane, molto interessanti comparazioni. (Scusi per il mio italiano non piu perfetto / sorry for my Italian no very perfect)

Rebecca e Filippo , a classic music SP, a mistake of Filippo (maybe traced the curve in a more crosswise angle) but was very nice and some creativity but stylish too.

Sara e Nicolo, I love their SP, Piu Italiane style and Carmen interpretation is nice and with some details like the choreography structure and musicality .

Well, a nice location inspired you to write nice things.

Puedes estar orgulloso de tu italiano, @jorge2912. Es mejor que mi español.

 

[jorge2912]

Well, a nice location inspired you to write nice things.

Puedes estar orgulloso de tu italiano, @jorge2912. Es mejor que mi español.

Gracias , Grazie Mile . Thanks you. My dad taught me Italian since years ago (the grandparents of my father are Italian)

Your Spanish is good too.

 

[4everchan]

Lia and Trennt! Where is @4everchan?

I am here now LOL

he's having a social life this year

I was actually working sometimes I do that too

Arguing Having a conversation with an Adam SHF fan on the men's SP thread, I believe

I am not sure I am really arguing anything and I am an Adam fan myself LOL... I still don't understand why I was not allowed to say the SP was bad.. because it was


In any case, now that I have watched the Pairs SP

I find Miniki a bit flavourless right now. Their elements were very good though. I liked Lia in Trennt if you are asking my opinion. I think they are sometimes underrated, especially because their twist is not stellar... but everything else they did was really good. The SBS spins for instance WOW !!!! The timing on those and not just the synchronicity in timing but also with the angles.

Their Step Seq was also very fun. Their Death Spiral, Lia got a very good position. The throw was easy. The lift is still not my favourite but it's secure.

So really, give them a better catch on the twist and they would get much higher points.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Hmm. I love Hase/ Volodin aka Miniki. Conti/ Macii were fairly clean, but they do absolutely nothing for me. I have never liked their skating. They are clearly Italian fed favorites and are always boosted in the scores, especially on PCS. Come on now, 34+ for PCS.

While I thought both Lia/Trennt and Alisa/Misha were slightly nervous and tight in their performances, both have better pairs aesthetics than Conti/ Macii. L&T were given 30+ and A&M only 29+ on PCS. It's a shame that Alisa was slightly forward on the throw landing after managing to decently complete revolutions on the triple toe. They lost at least a point-and-a-half on that element. With a clean skate they would have slightly edged L&T for third place.

The variances in PCS are obviously political in nature, coupled with lack of rep stature. Alisa has such lovely lines, flow, and graceful balletic positions, with Misha providing strong danseur noble capabilities. If Alisa could continue improving in confidence on her jump elements, A&M could make more of an impact. As it stands, they performed well enough at Skate America to win bronze when other teams faltered.

Conti/Macii are obviously going to be held up on PCS all the way to Milan. I see a slight bit of improvement by C/M in their movement, yet they are still rather slow and their overall qualities still lack depth and range. I did not get an authentic Carmen vibe from them. It was just a lot of exaggerated posing. Their skating still has a labored feel. They seem to have shed their previous season's nerves, though, and are back to adequately pulling off their jumps and throws. Their spins and lifts are still average. Sara, as usual, sells this team with her effervescence, while Niccolò continues to present as languidly awkward as always, albeit he gets the job done despite not being the best pairs guy in the world.

Lia & Trennt are a sweet pair. They have a dynamic that makes me smile. I am not sure the tango really suits them, though. They still seem to be exploring who they are and can be as a team. They need to develop more confidence, along with finding material that can really click and enhance who they are together.

Geynish/Chigirev have solid basics, but they are extremely slow and rather stiff in their overall movement quality. The exaggerated arm and hand movements in their sp does absolutely nothing (for me). It does not help add interpretive depth to their skating. They lucked out with a silver at Skate Canada due to their technically well-executed fp, while teams ahead of them made numerous errors.

Ghilardi/ Ambrosini have grown on me a bit. They have been recently able to camouflage their weaknesses with good choreography and pacing. I enjoyed their last season's programs a lot. It did not help their confidence when the Italian fed overlooked their superior efforts last season vs Conti/ Macii. C/M were sent to 2024 Worlds over G/A. One of G/A's best assets are their amazing lifts. They need to skate consistently clean to get better scores and political PCS boost like their compatriots, Conti/ Macii.

 

[RatedPG]

The Germans are so solid. I’m more confident with him than with her. But, she is becoming a powerhouse.

I predict Germany versus Japan for the GP Finals

I like the passion and presentation of both Italian teams. I think this Italian team will be in the fight for bronze medal at the big events.

I love Lia and Trentt. Wish they scored higher. But, I’m happy they made it to the final flight of skaters. Something tells me they will just be off the podium. I’m rooting for them to win a bronze medal tmrw.

 

[Skater Boy]

The pairs only corroborates that this is by far the weakest competition so fair in the first half of the Grand Prix. The performances and programs. Germans deserve to be first. But everyone else was rather so so, mediocre if not kind of perfunctory. I don't understand what is going on in Canada. They are so flat even Deanna this season Lia and Trennt are going backwards. Their ship is sinking. They just don't create excitement; they are not improving techincally. Liked both Italian teams. I think the Italians and US will fiight for the silver and bronze. Sorry Canada you need to do something drastic about your program. I was kind of joking but I think it is time for Michael slipchuk to be shown the door - he is being paid i believe around $200,000 a year which is pretty good for a third class skater. I just was I think the Germans will continue to develop and their confidence and big moves make you think world champion.

 

[4everchan]

The pairs only corroborates that this is by far the weakest competition so fair in the first half of the Grand Prix. The performances and programs. Germans deserve to be first. But everyone else was rather so so, mediocre if not kind of perfunctory. I don't understand what is going on in Canada. They are so flat even Deanna this season Lia and Trennt are going backwards. Their ship is sinking. They just don't create excitement; they are not improving techincally. Liked both Italian teams. I think the Italians and US will fiight for the silver and bronze. Sorry Canada you need to do something drastic about your program. I was kind of joking but I think it is time for Michael slipchuk to be shown the door - he is being paid i believe around $200,000 a year which is pretty good for a third class skater. I just was I think the Germans will continue to develop and their confidence and big moves make you think world champion.

Slipchuk is not paid for his skating prowess but as a sports administrator. Very different animal. Not every first class skater would be able to manage their national team.

I disagree with you that Lia and Trennt are regressing. I think it's the opposite. She's only still 20 years old you know. Canada's pairs program was doing better last year. Many splits and retirements have meant that there are only 3 confirmed international team at the senior level. However, Bombardier Mimar could shake things up. They have improved already tremendously.
If you look at the many pair skaters who have represented Canada in the recent years and are now skating for other countries, it shows that Canadian skaters are looking for opportunities outside the country. The USA are rebuilding their program with two new teams with imported Russian skaters Finally, thinking the pairs program is not doing well in Canada is forgetting about the juniors altogether. We have again two junior teams (last year 3) going to JGPF. Two of our top junior teams haven't competed due to injuries however they haven't split.. just trained and /or competed singles while fixing their injuries.

It gets old to always be dismissive about Canadian skating at every opportunity, when just last week at Skate Canada 2 golds and 1 silver were earned, and even Maddie skated perhaps her best event in years.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

The pairs only corroborates that this is by far the weakest competition so fair in the first half of the Grand Prix. The performances and programs. Germans deserve to be first. But everyone else was rather so so, mediocre if not kind of perfunctory. I don't understand what is going on in Canada. They are so flat even Deanna this season Lia and Trennt are going backwards. Their ship is sinking. They just don't create excitement; they are not improving techincally. Liked both Italian teams. I think the Italians and US will fiight for the silver and bronze. Sorry Canada you need to do something drastic about your program. I was kind of joking but I think it is time for Michael slipchuk to be shown the door - he is being paid i believe around $200,000 a year which is pretty good for a third class skater. I just was I think the Germans will continue to develop and their confidence and big moves make you think world champion.

My goodness. I don't think you have enough information to be commenting on Michael Slipchuk's abilities and expertise, or lack thereof, much less his value to Skate Canada in regard to his salary level!

You're also clearly wrong about silver & bronze (at SkCa) being between the Italians and U.S. teams. Obviously, in the fp the U.S. team took themselves out of the battle for third, as did the Canadians, which allowed the second Italian team to prevail for third, despite their mistakes. So much for predictions.

Nope, Canada does NOT need to do anything 'drastic about their program.' You seem to base your exaggerated commentary on what happens from competition-to-competition, and on which way the wind is blowing at any given moment. I also wonder if you say things in order to provoke, or if you truly believe the doom and gloom you constantly spout about the pairs discipline and particular teams.

In the case of Lia & Trennt, and Deanna, your comments make no sense. What were you expecting exactly? The landscape in pairs is different from two years ago when Lia & Trennt partnered. They are still growing amidst teams who have been together longer and have made significant improvements over two years, along with newer, very competitive partnerships (Metelkina/ Berulava; Geynish/ Chigirev, et al). It's a mixed bag. Pairs is the hardest discipline. I think Lia & Trennt are fine. They are continuing to explore who they are as a team and seeking out different choreographers, styles, music, etc. They are not seen as the top Canadian team, but they clearly desire to be held in high regard, so sometimes they appear to place too much pressure on themselves. Attempting to rise to the top and stay there is always a work-in-progress in figure skating. Deanna & Max will be fine, too. No team can be perfect every time out.

There are teams like Miniki, who have excelled more quickly since they first partnered. I think this is because they both have significant past pairs experience and a classic look together. Dmitry Savin has a good eye. Miniki have also worked extremely hard in the off-season (as most teams do). Minnie & Nikita are clearly more confident and comfortable with each other than they were last season.

Figure skating is a crapshoot altogether. Pairs is the biggest crapshoot. Success involves so many factors, with luck being one of the chief determinants of positive outcomes.