- Joined
- Jan 31, 2019
Yeah, they can go out for drinks and talk to P/S about that
2025 Skate America Pairs Free Skate
- Thread starter dorispulaski
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2018
Don't. Give. Them. Ideas.
Someone online also pointed out they hadn't even ironed the flags for the ceremony,
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I'm speaking from experience, not predicting.
Actually, the French medals would have been better if they had just been shaped like a rooster; they were a rooster plus embellishments to match the competition logo. I'm talking this year for the French.
The Skate America Texas ones were when SA was in Texas. Texas shaped waffles at the hotel - a pleasing if puzzling curiosity; Texas shaped medals - tacky.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
Agreed. Pavlova/Savchenko don't have my favourite programs or have the best taste level —but they go out and do their thing, they work hard, fight for strong execution, and yet are not rewarded enough for it because Hungary isn't a major country by any means. Hoping they can spoil the podium at the Olympics with a PB skate but the judges need to be open to giving them their dues.
Like the Canadians I have much respect for athletes who show up and execute the elements (even if their artistry or programs are a bit lacklustre) rather than rely on reputation and shady judging (which of course is not the skaters' fault either).
I am okay with the podium. But I strongly agree that the Georgians were given way too high components marks for a performance that was so flawed. And that big pause in the middle with arm gestures is contrived and a big, let's catch our breath moment. At first I thought one of them was hurt and they were ready to give up.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2019
Their artistry is coming through stronger as their elements are more secure and they gain experience. That's normal progression. Anyway, I was pleased with their programs this year and cheer for them to keep gaining. No, Hungary is not the foremost skating nation, so they will have to keep going.
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2006
Tacky is very on brand for the USA right now.
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
R squared the world champs were solid here and have room to grow. They clearly outclased, out teched th rest. BUT I still think this team has fallen very short of expectations. They shouldbe dominating this quadrennia and become a Sui and Han or B/S; GG almost type A or at least like Totina and Mairinin o r Vol/Trankov who were consistent teams with good ampliltude on their tech and very polished. The medallists other than gold well was not exactly a tour de force. The Georgians were way over marked Good on Canada despite lacking pcs and artistry - still they mahybe deserved more cmopared to the hapless Georgians in the fs. That was not good. The Americans none of the teams and thehy had 3 with motives to do wel did not seize the day. Neither did Germany. Not a good competiton in pairs but that is sort of reflective of all of SA. Butkudos to the top team who look like Olyhmpic contenders with sold performances in both programs.
Jackie Wong tweeted that the long pause in the middle of their program was due to them being so far ahead of their music, because of the failed lift and jumping error. They literally had time to kill so they stood and posed. (I also thought they were injured/getting ready to tap out!)
I'm sure Laurin/Ethier are over the moon about winning a medal here....pretty sure nobody predicted that. That said, they have shown tremendous improvement this season in their PCS, in my opinion, but the judges haven't yet given them the recognition for their increased sophistication and attention to detail. They've really come a long way in just a year in smoothing out their rough edges, but they haven't seen the improvement in their scores yet. Reputation and all that.
The Georgians, on the other hand benefitted hugely from reputation scoring in what was really a mess of a program.
Her makeup and costume looked like a million bucks. That was the extent of my admiration for their performance today.
Well, that may be a slight exaggeration, but come on now, judges. What were you watching? The fall was unfortunate. The complete miss on the lift was catastrophic and took a huge chunk of time to get back into the program. Then they quite literally stood around (he didn't even lift his arms or anything) for an eternity. HOW can that be 7.5-8s in presentation, and 7.75-8.5s in composition? Both of those should have been hugely impacted by their actual performance, which was just one of those ones a team wants to forget.
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2006
I can forgive the performance of Emily and Spencer; they actually overperformed for how exhausted they must have been skating 2 GP events back to back and getting over the time difference/jet lag from Japan. Bravo to them for claiming 3rd in the FS here! Their GP season is over now and only K/O and E/M (who don’t have citizenship) have scored better than them looking at the scoring averages among American pairs so far. We’ll have to wait and see how K/O and E/M score at Finlandia Trophy next week when they go head to head.
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- Joined
- Feb 19, 2010
I think this was a huge step up choreographically from anything I've ever seen from them! It was really beautiful and they were a lot of really new moves that they are clearly experimenting with which is really nice to see. Love the ending. Absolutely beautiful. Never seen anything like that to end what what feeling that is program. This is definitely the best program they have ever come up with. It is a tad bit empty in some sections but the efforts to develop and demonstrate a better connection throughout have reaped dividends. I totally felt the connection. Man. I can't believe how much I enjoyed that program!3. Kelly Ann LAURIN & Loucas ETHIER CAN
FS: "Say Something" by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera; "The Turmoil of Love" (original arrangement) by Karl Hugo; choreo by David Wilson, Sandra Bezic
3Tw2
3S
2A<+(hand, turn from Kelly Ann)+1A+2A+SEQ
5ALi4
3LoTh
4Li4
5RLi4
3STh
BoDs2
PCoSp4
ChSq1
SP: 61.29 (6th)
FS: 121.58 (1st)
TOT: 182.87 (1st)
yayyyyy that's a PB for them in the free and overall by 4 points! A really good way to end their GP season!
This was a really strong skate from Kelly Ann and Loucas, their lifts looked very confident and they landed all of their jumping elements and throws. They've got lots of nice performance moments and are working to add in some more transitions. Their next big step will be improving their speed, they're definitely a lot slower than the top teams here, which will transition into improved GOEs. Kelly Ann has strapping on her left knee, hopefully she's okay. If she's injured, she didn't show it whatsoever in the program.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2010
Yeah, good for her to make most of the jumps. That lift was pretty scary, he was rotating so fast, and that Dismount was sketchy but it was initially given a positive glee..... I personally think that the ending finishes all wrong - to abruptly, which might work with a dramatic piece, but I think this one cries for a different ending4. Emily CHAN & Spencer Akira HOWE USA
FS: "Unchained Melody" (Dance) (from "Ghost - The Musical"); "The Love Inside" (from "Ghost - The Musical"); "Unchained Melody" performed by Marc Martel; choreo by Olga Ganicheva
3S+2A+SEQ
3T< (Emily URs)
3Tw4
3LoTh (hand down, forwards)
5RLi4
3FTh (fall)
BoDs2
PCoSp3
5ALi2 (Spencer had too much energy, almost lost the lift but held on)
ChSq1
3Li4
SP: 61.51 (5th)
FS: 118.51 (2nd)
TOT: 180.02 (2nd)
This program is really gorgeous and Emily and Spencer have such quality, and they actually landed their SBS jumps! They weren't fully around but that's huge for this team, as the rest of their elements are really strong and it's usually the SBS that hold them back. Unfortunately, neither of the throws were cleanly done and they almost lost the axel lift, but this was still a good skate for them.
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
I was expecting more from the three American teams. Yes, it was hard for anyone skating back to back GP with Spencer and Emily though on the other hand they were lucky to get two Grand Prix. The Georgians stil bother me pc wise as I think they were off on the music too but in the end it is what it is. I am happy for this Canadian team befcause they won a medal and there is a huge chance they will not be going to the olympics due to Canada bombing at worlds last year so this might be their bright light. I do note that we do not see aultra C elements like a quad twist, quad throw or even individual triple lutzes Considering in 2018 we have seen these elements it feels we are going backwards as they also are not really growing artistically. We have no B/S or GG type teams. We do not have the great consistency of say a Totmaina and Marinin or Vol. and Trankov or Rodina and Zaitzev or even somethingspecial artisitcally like Urmanov and his artners.
Russians. They are not ethnic Hungarians
