I can only post the first two flights for now... the final 2 will be posted in the AM. Please let me know what you want me to add/delete/clarify. Thanks!
Joel Watson (NZL) “Paparazzi” by Brian Tyler (Trains in Deleware)
3T-2T—fall on a 3S—change foot spin with weak positions—easy circular steps—2A—combination spin with weak positions—straightline steps with a fall—flying sit spin without the ‘sit’. Tech: 16.77; Components: 16.47; Deductions: -2.00; Total: 31.24.
Michael Weiss (USA) “Semiramide Overture” and “La Donna e Mobile”
3T-3T to start—circular footwork that was mostly mechanic—3A (Fallout)—flying sit—2L which landed forwad; at this point in the program it seemed like Mike gave up—strightline steps that, again, seemed overly mechanical—sit spin—traveling camels into combo spin. This was by far the worst I have ever seen Michael skate. It’s a shame really that he came here to skate like this. I would have rather seen Ryan Jahnke give it his all in his hometown than that. Technical: 27.11; Components: 31.78; Total: 58.89.
Bradley Santer (AUS) “Blues for Klook” by E. Louis
Begins with a fall on the first half of a 3F-3T combo—no footwork into a 3L—nice flying sit—good circular steps (so why none before the jump?)—2A—sit spin—straightline steps—combo spin to close. Overall, I really like his attack. My partner like is assets…Technical: 19.98; Components: 23.64; Deductions –1.00; Total: 42.62.
Xiadong Ma (CHN) Music by Mrvica
4T-2T (HUGE!)—3A—sit spin—circular steps—3L—straightline steps—weak combination spin—sit spin to close. If you are bored with his report, then perhaps you will understand how I felt during his performance. Ugh! Technical: 33.70; Components: 26.16; Total: 59.86.
Tristan Thode (NZL) “Harlem Nocture” by Haegan
3T-2T—3R (Hand down)—combination spin that was interpretive of the music—straightline steps—step out of a 2A—sit spin (YUM!)—circular steps—nice flying camel—weak choreography that consisted mostly of crossovers. Technical: 17.95; Components: 18.11; Total: 36.06.
Nicholas Young (CAN) “Revolutionary Etude” by Chopin
Nice 3F-3T—popped axel—circular steps with a hand down and a break in choreography—skidded landing on a 3L—combination spin with an ugly fall out—flying sit—straightline steps (seemed beat at this point)—sit spin to close. Technical: 26.33; Components: 27.25; Total: 53.58.
Gareth Echardt (RSA) “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica
3L-2t; sit spin—popped flip—flying sit spin—popped axel—out of control circular steps—straightline steps (SLOW!)—combination spin to close. Technical: 16.34; Components: 17.26; Total: 33.60.
“Bobby” Oda (JPN) “Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart
Odd face to start—3a (nice)—3L-3T—beautiful sit spin—3F—flying sit spin—cute circular steps—comination spin to close. This boy is World Class! Wow! I don’t think that he translates well on tv, but in person he is very charming and amazing. Look out if he gets a quad! Technical: 41.90; Components: 35.39; Total: 77.29.
Jianling Wu (CHN) “Shehearazade” by Rimski-Korsakov
3F-3T—3A—combination spin—circular steps—sit spin—3L—straightline steps—flying sit spin to close. This young man wore a pale lavender and pale yellow costume from hell. It reminded me of what sherbet should not be. Ugh! And his skating with exception to the jumps, is very poor… hunched back and doesn’t get a lot of use out of his blade. Technical: 34.27; Components: 26.39; Total: 60.76.
Michael Novales (PHI) “Warsaw Concerto” by Addinsel
3F (fall)—3S-3R that was BEAUTIFUL and fully rotated!—flying sit—circular footwork—2A—sit spin, straightline steps that were spiffy—combination spin to close. Michael used to skate for the US, and may have tried to qualify through Coasts to get to Nationals this year, but I can’t remember. His skating has improved so much since I saw him last, and I am glad that he is getting to skate internationals! Technical: 24.85; Components: 20.61; Deductions: -1.00; Total: 44.46.
Scott Smith (USA) “Freedom” by Michael W. Smith
Begins with a step out of the 3A—4S-3T!!!—3R with hand down (I want to slap Mark Mitchell for keeping this in his SP for the 3rd year in a row when he misses it so much!)—straightline steps—flying sit—sit spin with changes of edge and position—circular steps. Very sloppy performance for Scott, though his component skating has improved dramatically this year. Technical: 34.59; Components: 27.25; Total: 61.84.
Matt Savoie (USA) “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber
Dramatic flying sit spin to start—delayed 3A (WOW!)—3F-3T; circular steps that were interpreted so beautifully and with such command—3L-sit spin—straightline steps that were choreographed perfectly to the music—combination spin—ends with a beautiful hydroblade move. This is the best that I have seen Matt skate since 2002, and I think that there was more freedom in he expression tonight. Matt took the audience on a journey, and we were all willing travelers. Great set up for the Olypmics. Definitely a dark horse for the top 6 in Turino if he skates like this! Technical: 40.60; Components: 35.04; Total: 75.64
Standings to this point:
1. Oda
2. Savoie
3. Smith
4. Wu
5. Ma
6. Weiss
7. Young
8. Novales
9. Santer
10. Thode
11. Echardt
12. Watson
This is the end of the first two flights of skaters. I will continue with the other 12 in the morning. I’ve been up since 3:30, and want to get some sleep so that I can be fresh for the competition tomorrow. Goodnight from the Springs!
Joel Watson (NZL) “Paparazzi” by Brian Tyler (Trains in Deleware)
3T-2T—fall on a 3S—change foot spin with weak positions—easy circular steps—2A—combination spin with weak positions—straightline steps with a fall—flying sit spin without the ‘sit’. Tech: 16.77; Components: 16.47; Deductions: -2.00; Total: 31.24.
Michael Weiss (USA) “Semiramide Overture” and “La Donna e Mobile”
3T-3T to start—circular footwork that was mostly mechanic—3A (Fallout)—flying sit—2L which landed forwad; at this point in the program it seemed like Mike gave up—strightline steps that, again, seemed overly mechanical—sit spin—traveling camels into combo spin. This was by far the worst I have ever seen Michael skate. It’s a shame really that he came here to skate like this. I would have rather seen Ryan Jahnke give it his all in his hometown than that. Technical: 27.11; Components: 31.78; Total: 58.89.
Bradley Santer (AUS) “Blues for Klook” by E. Louis
Begins with a fall on the first half of a 3F-3T combo—no footwork into a 3L—nice flying sit—good circular steps (so why none before the jump?)—2A—sit spin—straightline steps—combo spin to close. Overall, I really like his attack. My partner like is assets…Technical: 19.98; Components: 23.64; Deductions –1.00; Total: 42.62.
Xiadong Ma (CHN) Music by Mrvica
4T-2T (HUGE!)—3A—sit spin—circular steps—3L—straightline steps—weak combination spin—sit spin to close. If you are bored with his report, then perhaps you will understand how I felt during his performance. Ugh! Technical: 33.70; Components: 26.16; Total: 59.86.
Tristan Thode (NZL) “Harlem Nocture” by Haegan
3T-2T—3R (Hand down)—combination spin that was interpretive of the music—straightline steps—step out of a 2A—sit spin (YUM!)—circular steps—nice flying camel—weak choreography that consisted mostly of crossovers. Technical: 17.95; Components: 18.11; Total: 36.06.
Nicholas Young (CAN) “Revolutionary Etude” by Chopin
Nice 3F-3T—popped axel—circular steps with a hand down and a break in choreography—skidded landing on a 3L—combination spin with an ugly fall out—flying sit—straightline steps (seemed beat at this point)—sit spin to close. Technical: 26.33; Components: 27.25; Total: 53.58.
Gareth Echardt (RSA) “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica
3L-2t; sit spin—popped flip—flying sit spin—popped axel—out of control circular steps—straightline steps (SLOW!)—combination spin to close. Technical: 16.34; Components: 17.26; Total: 33.60.
“Bobby” Oda (JPN) “Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart
Odd face to start—3a (nice)—3L-3T—beautiful sit spin—3F—flying sit spin—cute circular steps—comination spin to close. This boy is World Class! Wow! I don’t think that he translates well on tv, but in person he is very charming and amazing. Look out if he gets a quad! Technical: 41.90; Components: 35.39; Total: 77.29.
Jianling Wu (CHN) “Shehearazade” by Rimski-Korsakov
3F-3T—3A—combination spin—circular steps—sit spin—3L—straightline steps—flying sit spin to close. This young man wore a pale lavender and pale yellow costume from hell. It reminded me of what sherbet should not be. Ugh! And his skating with exception to the jumps, is very poor… hunched back and doesn’t get a lot of use out of his blade. Technical: 34.27; Components: 26.39; Total: 60.76.
Michael Novales (PHI) “Warsaw Concerto” by Addinsel
3F (fall)—3S-3R that was BEAUTIFUL and fully rotated!—flying sit—circular footwork—2A—sit spin, straightline steps that were spiffy—combination spin to close. Michael used to skate for the US, and may have tried to qualify through Coasts to get to Nationals this year, but I can’t remember. His skating has improved so much since I saw him last, and I am glad that he is getting to skate internationals! Technical: 24.85; Components: 20.61; Deductions: -1.00; Total: 44.46.
Scott Smith (USA) “Freedom” by Michael W. Smith
Begins with a step out of the 3A—4S-3T!!!—3R with hand down (I want to slap Mark Mitchell for keeping this in his SP for the 3rd year in a row when he misses it so much!)—straightline steps—flying sit—sit spin with changes of edge and position—circular steps. Very sloppy performance for Scott, though his component skating has improved dramatically this year. Technical: 34.59; Components: 27.25; Total: 61.84.
Matt Savoie (USA) “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber
Dramatic flying sit spin to start—delayed 3A (WOW!)—3F-3T; circular steps that were interpreted so beautifully and with such command—3L-sit spin—straightline steps that were choreographed perfectly to the music—combination spin—ends with a beautiful hydroblade move. This is the best that I have seen Matt skate since 2002, and I think that there was more freedom in he expression tonight. Matt took the audience on a journey, and we were all willing travelers. Great set up for the Olypmics. Definitely a dark horse for the top 6 in Turino if he skates like this! Technical: 40.60; Components: 35.04; Total: 75.64
Standings to this point:
1. Oda
2. Savoie
3. Smith
4. Wu
5. Ma
6. Weiss
7. Young
8. Novales
9. Santer
10. Thode
11. Echardt
12. Watson
This is the end of the first two flights of skaters. I will continue with the other 12 in the morning. I’ve been up since 3:30, and want to get some sleep so that I can be fresh for the competition tomorrow. Goodnight from the Springs!