2013 Skate America - Free Dance Report | Golden Skate

2013 Skate America - Free Dance Report

Joined
Jan 22, 2004
2013 Skate America
Ice Dance – Free Dance

Detailed Classification
Judges Scores
Final Result


Links to other Reports:
Ice Dance – Short Dance
Ladies – Short Program
Ladies - Free Skating
Men – Short Program
Men – Free Skating
Pairs – Short Program
Pairs – Free Skating

Disclaimer: The GOE values listed next to the elements are ones I would award if I was a judge and they’re intended to give you a general impression of how each element was executed. I try to describe each of the elements but there's not always time to be as detailed as I would like and a numbers can sometimes say a thousand words.

I am generally very nitpicky, try to pay a lot of attention to detail and attempt to notice various errors that judges might have missed. I realise that I’m being very harsh but I try my best to apply the same high standard to all of the skaters.

Any questions, comments, criticisms and discussion are all very welcome.

1. Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS /LTU/
James Bond Theme
Skyfall by Adele (from Skyfall - James Bond soundtrack)

steps into twizzles: catch and arm above(good) into clockwise arms folded(a little off-synch and choppy) [-1]
diagonal step sequence [0]
rotational lift with changes of position [1] – fast and quite sharp
pair spin [1] – quite well extended positions and quite fast rotation speed
hydroblade catchfoot curve lift [1]
circular step sequence [0]
changing positions through take-off into one foot straight line lift into split rotational lift [0]
choreographic rotational lift [1]

Choreography was quite generic with the program not being much more than stroking into technical elements. This kind of understated music and program could work for a team with strong basics but I think that for those two, it’s a big miss as their biggest forte is Tobias’s perky, over the top expression (which wasn’t appropriate here so we didn’t see it). It just didn’t make enough of a statement.

2. Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES /FRA/
Swan Lake by Peter I. Tchaikovski (modern arrangement)

transitions into pair combination spin [1] – quite good rotation speed
swung around entry into one foot straight line lift [1]
diagonal step sequence [0]
twizzles: three sets [0]
transitions into stationary spin lift [1]
circular step sequence [0]
catchfoot rotational lift going up and down [1]
spread eagle curve lift [1]
choreographic lift [1]

This was both better skated and choreographed than their short dance. A lot of connecting movements (including directly into elements) and a lot of drama throughout. A busy program, well presented. It had a clear concept (a contemporary version of Swan Lake), which was consistently delivered.

Strong lifts. Twizzles and step sequences were not as sharp as you’d expect from an elite level team, however.

3. REED Cathy / REED Chris /JPN/
Ona Hei (from Shogun II - Total War soundtrack) by Jeff van Dyck
Bitter Sweet Water (from Hell Girl Mitsuganae soundtrack) by Hiromi Mizutani
Good Death (from Shogun II - Total War soundtrack) by Jeff van Dyck
Ona Hei (from Shogun II - Total War soundtrack) by Jeff van Dyck

twizzles: arm above and catch(fast but entry a little off synch) into clockwise arms folded into moving arms [1] – fast rotation, sharp
diagonal step sequence [0]
spread eagle curve lift with changes of position [0] – throwing her around like a sack of potatoes
one arm rotational lift going up and down [1]
circular step sequence [0]
spread eagle to changes of position on take-off into one foot straight line lift [1]
pair spin [0] – could use a little more speed
catchfoot rotational lift [1]
choreographic rotational lift [0]

Good attack throughout. Strong and confident movement. The choreography was quite busy but lacked variation (light and shade in general is something that this program could have used).

They really got their mojo back this season.

P.S. The ridiculous cheap Halloween costumes were wonderfully understated. OH LOOK I AM A SAMURAI! Yes, we get it. And what was Galit Chait wearing? (Answer: An oversized ivory sweater with green stars, looking very much like an unwanted Christmas present. Burn it, Galit!)

4. Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV /AZE/
Pina (soundtrack)

kneeling straight line lift with her standing on him [1] – impressive, well extended positions, the entry was a little laboured however
twizzles: arm above and catch into clockwise arms folded(he was a little off balance) into arms bent [-1] – he needed to do an extra step between first and second sets
circular step sequence [0]
catchfoot reverse rotational lift with a change of position [1]
pair combination spin [-1] – slow and off-centred after change of foot
one foot curve lift with change of position [1]
diagonal step sequence [1] – good speed, quite sharp footwork
ungainly choreographic lift [-1]

Under Shpilband’s tutelage, they seemed to have lost a lot of their quirkiness. The choreography had a few nice touches but it wasn’t very original or creative (and it was exactly the same problem in the Short Dance). Maybe the idea is to make them look more ‘mature’ but in the process they’re losing their biggest strength and what made them stand out from the crowd.

They seemed quite fast, however, and the program flowed well with elements blending into one another without jarring stops.

5. Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE /USA/
Nocturne into Bohemian Rhapsody by Lucia Micarelli

rotational lift with changes of position [2] – strong, well extended positions
one foot curve lift [1] – interesting entry, secure throughout
transitions into pair change combination spin [0] – well extended positions but slow clockwise rotation after the change of foot
spread eagle straight line lift with changes of position [1]
diagonal step sequence [1]
jump into twizzles: arm above and folded (a little off-synch) into clockwise catch [0] – decent rotation speed but a long gap between the two sets
spread eagle curve lift with her standing on his boot [0]
subtle choreographic lift [1]

Quite smooth movements, decent flow and interesting choreographic touches, in character of the music, throughout. Sharp on most of the elements.

A new personal best for them.

6. Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI /USA/
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' by Michael Jackson
Ben by Walter Scharf
Thriller by Michael Jackson

he fell on a backward crossover, doing opening choreography (after it looked really sharp at the start)
spread eagle straight line lift with her in charlotte position [1]
diagonal step sequence [1] – quite deep edges
twizzles: arm above and catch into arms extended clockwise into arms folded [2] – short, unexpected entry and good rotation speed
spread eagle curve lift with changes of position into catchfoot rotational lift [0] – the changes of position in the first half were quite laboured
circular step sequence [1] – good flow
pair spin [1] – good positions, rotation speed not bad
rotational lift with changes of position [2] – fast and quite effortless
spread eagle choreographic lift with changes of position [0]

Some fun posing at the start of each of the Michael Jackson tracks but not much happening in between the elements apart from that. The longato piece in the middle seemed like it was taken out of a different program altogether. A very bizarre mix.

Technical elements were strong but it’s yet another program which looked quite ‘juniorish’. They finally need to do a Miley Cyrus.

7. Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE /ITA/
Overture from Barber of Seville by G. Rossini

steps into twizzles: arm folded and catch into clockwise arms bent into moving arms [2] – fast, solid and really well synchronized
circular step sequence [1] – good flow
spread eagle straight line lift with changes of position into catchfoot rotational lift [1] – really strong and well extended at the start but a little sluggish changing into rotational lift
split rotational lift [2] – good extensions, very fast rotation
pair change combination spin [0] – could use more speed, quite a long ‘traditional’ entry
spread eagle curve lift with change of position [0]
diagonal step sequence [1]
rotational choreographic lift [0]

The program was skated really well and most of the technical elements were very strong but the choreography was quite open, with a lot of it skated in open holds or apart and it lacked highlights.

Whilst their short dance showed them push themselves and pull out all the stops, it looked like it was back to their comfort zone for the free.

8. Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE /USA/
Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov

pull-through into curve lift with changes of position [2] – effortless entry
circular step sequence [2] – sharp, well accentuated footwork
spread eagle straight line lift with her upside down into split rotational lift [1]
change combination spin [2] – good positions and rotation speed, interesting entry and exit
jump into twizzles: arm above and catch into clockwise arms behind [2] – very fast and sharp on the first set but slower on the second
diagonal step sequence [1] – timing seemed off (the music was really racing at this point)
rotational lift with changes of position [2] – quite effortless
choreographic spread eagle curve lift with swung around dismount [2]

Just like in the short dance: incredible technical elements, confident movement and the whole program skated without any hesitation. The choreography lacked creativity and originality and didn’t push the envelope in any way, however. A very safe program in that regard.
 
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