2025 NHK Trophy Pairs Free Skate

[Skater Boy]

This was not a great skating competition but the competition level was noticeably lower overall in all categories The Italians were the brsst here.. I now feel maybe Deanna and Max are back in the picture. Sui and Han really to me seemed overmarked yet again. Should have been fourth. Now with two thirds will they make the GP final (Germany, Japan, Canada, Italy, Georgia, and???? HOnestly I know they can putl it together but it really seems they are not here for the right reason. I wish they would skate shows and live happily ever after. We don't need to see this praying and crossing our fingers they get the lift up etc. I guess the US could knock ou tthe Chinese.

 

[Andrea82]

This was not a great skating competition but the competition level was noticeably lower overall in all categories The Italians were the brsst here.. I now feel maybe Deanna and Max are back in the picture. Sui and Han really to me seemed overmarked yet again. Should have been fourth. Now with two thirds will they make the GP final (Germany, Japan, Canada, Italy, Georgia, and????

They are already behind the Hungarians (24 points to 22)

 

[Budapest2006]

I think they have Golden Spin left. I hope they can regroup, but it's going to be a pressure cooker.

Given it will be their last chance, and that they haven't consistently come close to the total they need to reach this season, I'm really scared.... Please everyone send their best good vibrations for the Dutch

 

[ajingmarg]

This was not a great skating competition but the competition level was noticeably lower overall in all categories The Italians were the brsst here.. I now feel maybe Deanna and Max are back in the picture. Sui and Han really to me seemed overmarked yet again. Should have been fourth. Now with two thirds will they make the GP final (Germany, Japan, Canada, Italy, Georgia, and???? HOnestly I know they can putl it together but it really seems they are not here for the right reason. I wish they would skate shows and live happily ever after. We don't need to see this praying and crossing our fingers they get the lift up etc. I guess the US could knock ou tthe Chinese.

Why fourth? No they aren't overmarked. SP is great

 

[slider11]

Fair podium, imo. But I really think Sui and Han have a great LP - there is such tension and depth to that piece of music and once S/H gets some more practice time, I think this will be an Olympic podium winner.

 

[lariko]

I really like E/M. I assume they can do worlds, and kinda hope they would be sent there.

 

[lariko]

Nagaoka/Moriguchi look more convincing this season. If they progress next season, they will be a solid next quad pair.

 

[lariko]

I thought P/S SP looked good, but now the free is starting to gain the soul too. It's like they needed a difficult season last year to find what to pursue. Very strong, and she projects lyrical mood better.

 

[discodisco]

They should not though. This program does nothing for me.

Hmmm... I understand if it doesn't do anything for you, because we all have preferences. But PCS is of course not dependent on whether program does anything for us I think there is a ton of intricacy in the Italians programs this year, more so in the short, admittedly. But still, I think this is a good program as well. But then again I'm also a fan of the hungarians and think they have been under marked at times as well.

 

[lariko]

I feel S/H program is really, really, really empty.

 

[discodisco]

that lift was not good. he almost dropped her.

that music is boring. sorry.

I was the biggest sui han fan 4 years ago. not this year. I don't think they should win this. to me, they should end in third place.

I agree, the music doesn't have enough Variety in terms of instrumentation or dynamic change. If it started to get I'm more of a taiko sound or more percussive at the end it might work... as it is, the music is neither here nor there and it's very easy to kind of zone out throughout. I also think that both of the programs are very empty choreographically. Sad - because I used to love them and thought that they had such an amazing connection- but perhaps it's because of the fact that none of the teams throughout this last quad were particularly impressive technically in terms of jumps and throws compared to previous eras, so they worked on expression a bit more...? I'm not sure, but there just isn't the Gap that there used to be and in fact I think a lot of the other teams skate with a lot more passionate connection than the Chinese now

 

[discodisco]

I am so scared for Sui every time they -- sort of -- put up a lift. And the dismounts are so rough, as well.

I am so scared for Sui every time they -- sort of -- put up a lift. And the dismounts are so rough, as well.

They have almost no speed on their Landings, which besides having an impact on gle, is part of the reason the Dismounts are so bumpy- he doesn't have any inertia throughout the lift to help him. Also, their ice coverage is just not very good either

 

[discodisco]

Why fourth? No they aren't overmarked. SP is great

Their programs are okay, but nothing spectacular. There are a lot of empty moments, and the speed and Ice coverage is nothing like it used to be.

 

[museksk8r]

Hmmm... I understand if it doesn't do anything for you, because we all have preferences. But PCS is of course not dependent on whether program does anything for us I think there is a ton of intricacy in the Italians programs this year, more so in the short, admittedly. But still, I think this is a good program as well. But then again I'm also a fan of the hungarians and think they have been under marked at times as well.

I see where you’re coming from. For me, C/M do skate SPs that play to their strengths. I think they need bold and fiery music that creates a mood of excitement. She is so convincing when she portrays Carmen; however, their FS music and presentation is a snoozefest. The lyrical drivel they have chosen for their FS programs over the last few years is not memorable. I have not seen the growth and improvement from C/M this season that I have seen with P/S, M/B, H/V, and S-D/D this season. I feel that all these teams are outskating C/M this season. I’m of the opinion that if all these teams along with M/K skate to their max, then C/M could be looking at a 6th place finish at the Olympics. It’s my personal preference.

 

[lariko]

I see where you’re coming from. For me, C/M do skate SPs that play to their strengths. I think they need bold and fiery music that creates a mood of excitement. She is so convincing when she portrays Carmen; however, their FS music and presentation is a snoozefest. The lyrical drivel they have chosen for their FS programs over the last few years is not memorable. I have not seen the growth and improvement from C/M this season that I have seen with P/S, M/B, H/V, and S-D/D this season. I feel that all these teams are outskating C/M this season. I’m of the opinion that if all these teams along with M/K skate to their max, then C/M could be looking at a 6th place finish at the Olympics. It’s my personal preference.

Providing judging is not bias. P/S imo outskated them here

 

[discodisco]

I see where you’re coming from. For me, C/M do skate SPs that play to their strengths. I think they need bold and fiery music that creates a mood of excitement. She is so convincing when she portrays Carmen; however, their FS music and presentation is a snoozefest. The lyrical drivel they have chosen for their FS programs over the last few years is not memorable. I have not seen the growth and improvement from C/M this season that I have seen with P/S, M/B, H/V, and S-D/D this season. I feel that all these teams are outskating C/M this season. I’m of the opinion that if all these teams along with M/K skate to their max, then C/M could be looking at a 6th place finish at the Olympics. It’s my personal preference.

Interesting. I must admit that I really hate these pseudo pop classical covers, although I do like caruso. But for example, I'd rather a skater would just use the real Cinema Paradiso soundtrack music rather than one of these covers, same with the vocal version of Gabriel's oboe- Nella fantasia. Gross. Ruins the original instrumental version.

I'd be interested to know how you would rank the top teams if they all skate to their potential at the Olympics as much as I'm not the biggest fan of Deanna and max, I do think that they would be near the top because in theory, if they complete their programs according to what they have on paper, I think both of their programs are pretty solid this year. I personally think the Germans are a better team, and many of their elements are done better, and Nikita is a stronger partner than Max I would say, but I don't think their programs are that great this year. I think probably if everyone skated to their potential, the speed of the Japanese put some on a different level, I could see Deanna and Max getting second, the Germans third, the Georgians 4th and maybe the Italians 5th. What do you think?

 

[lariko]

Personally, I feel P/S are stronger than Georgian and Italian teams this year if everyone maxes out. I mean, it was only two events and for all we know P/S actually peaked too early or hit their ceiling already, so it could be all out of the window by the time Olympics comes along. But I am just pleasantly surprised by how well programs were performed this time by P/S.

 

[discodisco]

Personally, I feel P/S are stronger than Georgian and Italian teams this year if everyone maxes out. I mean, it was only two events and for all we know P/S actually peaked too early or hit their ceiling already, so it could be all out of the window by the time Olympics comes along. But I am just pleasantly surprised by how well programs were performed this time by P/S.

Forgive my forgetfulness, but who are p/s again?

 

[lariko]

Forgive my forgetfulness, but who are p/s again?

Pavlova/Svyatchenko.

 

[museksk8r]

I think the pecking order right now is:
1. M/K (though they are not my favorites; there’s no denying they are the judges’ favorites)
2. H/V (my favorites)
3. M/B
4. S-D/D (sentimentally, I would love for them to medal at the Olympics)
5. C/M
6. P/S (I believe if this team continues on their path of improvement and consistently deliver clean skates and let’s say, they beat C/M at Europeans, then they can beat the Italians at the Olympics)