2022 U.S. Nationals: Senior Free Dance

[Mauvedreamer]

Not usually a H and D fan but I think this FD works beautifully for them. Usually they're so technically powerful it overwhelms . They managed to create a lovely lyrical flow and it was beautiful. I love Parsons and Green really interesting and I like the innovative choreography. I hope they continue to experiment with different dance styles and the tension back and forth. The juxtaposition of their movements was very interesting.

 

[Wafflecakes]

Love watching the medalists place their medals on each other. Zack is so gallant to kneel so Madison can place his. Love that they include pewter medalists.

Meh I still find the whole pewter medalist thing insulting.

Congrats on 4th! Everyone knows your medal is a joke, that you get no Olympic/worlds spot for getting it, and no one will it remember next week. But lets exploit you anyways!

Like.... just stop.

 

[TontoK]

I would have had them 9th. So, the judges didn't send as strong of message as I would have... that was mehh

A few years ago, I thought they'd be serious challengers to H/B for the third Olympic spot, but they seem to have stagnated.

She has better presence than she once did, but he has lost some of the pizazz that made him so compelling.

 

[Hyena]

Oh, man. I just realized Christina and Anthony finished 7th in the free and 7th overall.

On another thread, someone was talking about the judges sending someone a message.

No... THIS is the judges sending a message.

When the score came up THAT low compared to the other teams, I thought they must have lost an element but I don't think they did. Looking at the protocols, they were really hurt by the GOE on their twizzles, and there's a > by their stationary lift - I assume that was the extended lift they got a deduction for? They were also really held down on PCS compared to the top 4 teams.

 

[BravesSkateFan]

I'm so happy for Madi & Evan!! Their programs are much stronger than Madi & Zach's IMO plus I just like them way better as people, so I'm so glad they won.

I feel the exact opposite on both counts.

 

[labgoat]

Meh I still find the whole pewter medalist thing insulting.

Congrats on 4th! Everyone knows your medal is a joke, that you get no Olympic/worlds spot for getting it, and no one will it remember next week. But lets exploit you anyways!

Like.... just stop.

I disagree. You get a small medal cause you are the alternate usually and are asked to keep training and to encourage you for next year.

 

[auser]

Alas, I didn't but hopefully someone will post it to YouTube for the usual 17 minutes before it gets obliterated.

On the other hand, I am THRILLED THRILLED THRILLED that they should be on their way to the Olympics, having been a major H/B fan since their junior days.

And I'm looking forward to a healthy rivalry between them and Green/Parsons next quad. Seriously, I smell Big Rivalry brewing up there.

If you still have a VPN with Canadian servers, European servers, maybe Asian but not Japan, and not India... the Olympic Channel should work for you and posts replays:

2022 Figure Skating Toyota US Championships - Nashville, USA

Watch live the 2022 Figure Skating Toyota US Championships - Nashville, USA and follow the American Figure Skating elite competing for the national crown!

olympics.com

 

[GGFan]

Thoughts from the arena: (1) after watching the other disciplines it's really nice to see all of the deep edges in dance. I loved watching all of the one foot step sequences during the warmups, (2) differences in ice coverage become readily apparent when you're close to one of the corners and you never see a team come to your side. On TV I would have never noticed this, (3) several not great music choices here.

Memorable performances (by skating order):

(1) Bratti/Sommerville and Wolfkostin/Chen were very close in the standings in both programs and I see some good qualities in both teams. Depending on what they do over the next couple years we'll see.

(2) Hawayek and Baker: What a difference a great vehicle makes! This was the classiest program of the evening in my opinion. Not as creative as some others but everything was top notch. They can do simple, beautiful skating with gorgeous lines really well. That's a fantastic program for them. They're still not the fastest but everything was polished. Well-deserved Olympic spot.

(3) Hubbell and Donohue: They took a much calmer approach to the warmup today and that might have helped them. They seemed more settled. Still not my favorite choice of music but they have MOMENTS. Several lifts just leave you gasping and the way that they cover the ice on their one foot is mind boggling. They got the biggest, most sustained ovation of the night. I think their program sang more than earlier this season and they rightly won the free.

(4) Green and Parsons: The most creative, avant grade program of the bunch. I find it amazing that they're able to pull it off with all of the requirements in this system. It is a very satisfying program intellectually but it's not one that makes you fall in love with it and it doesn't bring you to your feet. I love that they have a unique voice and I can't wait to see them this next quad. I hope they bring back some of the love for equally sized skaters. I miss that.

(5) Chock and Bates: Their rhythm dance sings but this did not. It's creative and mind you they have amazing moments that make you cheer but the program doesn't hit the spot. I would recommend that they make some changes to the last third especially but what do I know? Their lead from the short rightly kept them in first but I think they deserve better.

Congrats to all of the teams. They did not disappoint.

 

[LadyB]

I'll watch the pairs VC as well, but I say already good night as it is about time to hit the pillow for me (3.26 am). Thanks for a great time, folks!

 

[Amei]

Meh I still find the whole pewter medalist thing insulting.

Congrats on 4th! Everyone knows your medal is a joke, that you get no Olympic/worlds spot for getting it, and no one will it remember next week. But lets exploit you anyways!

Like.... just stop.

Not always been true, the ladies 2014 Pewter medalist went to the Olympics instead of the bronze medalist.

 

[TontoK]

Hey @GGFan what was your in-person impression of Christina and Anthony?

It wasn't great on the TV, but sometimes it's a different story in person.

 

[lavender]

Hubbell and Donohue long is beautiful but I love that C/B won. Chock and Bates have my 2nd favorite rhythm dance program of the whole season. Hawayek and Baker have my 2nd fav free dances of the season for me so I'm so glad they got 3rd.

 

[Wafflecakes]

Nationals determines a lot of things other than Olympic spots, including funding for next season. I mean..if Nathan Chen fell on every jump tomorrow do you leave him off the team? Not to mention that in this case 1-3 are getting spots.

That is why I said it should be used for potential medalists.

However, if they 20th team in the world screws up at nationals should they really go over the 24th team just because they had a better season?

I feel like that is where we are heading right now. None of the top teams in ANY discipline really had any threat of not making the OG. H/D, C/B, K/F, C/L, Nathan, Vincent, Jason, Mariah, Alysa, Karen..... not a one realistically was going to get stopped from going to the Olympics short of an implosion. The only question was 3rd in dance... which is kind if irrelevant since they won't get a spot in the team final.

Once again. What even is the point of nationals then? (though not an issue this year since everyone seems to be skating well)

It removes the tension, makes the event boring, and I think damages the sport because nothing is at stake. I feel like there needs to be a middle ground where nationals actually matters, but they reserve the right to take people in special circumstances (which I think should be reserved for world medalists).

 

[slider11]

Happy with all the performances and particularly H/B rising to a beautiful FD that was magical. I get that Chock and Bates have superb technical skills that are accentuated in this FD but I don't see the International judges so entranced. I actually think H/D has a better chance for a podium finish. But the team should be C/B, H/D and H/B. Green and Parsons have a solid future and an important role as alternates.

 

[Mathman]

In ice dance, where the very top teams rarely make an actual ]mistake. Chock and Bates' two-and-ahalf point lead in the Rhythm Dance just could not be overcome. H&D do seem to be valued, consistently, a point ahead of C&B in the free dance. But that eye-popping snake thing always gives C&B a chance to step out in front.

 

[kmw227]

Not always been true, the ladies 2014 Pewter medalist went to the Olympics instead of the bronze medalist.

And the men's pewter medalist went instead of the silver medalist in 2018!

 

[ramurphy2005]

A few years ago, I thought they'd be serious challengers to H/B for the third Olympic spot, but they seem to have stagnated.

She has better presence than she once did, but he has lost some of the pizazz that made him so compelling.

She still doesn't have US citizenship, so 2022 was never on the table for them.

 

[BravesSkateFan]

Not always been true, the ladies 2014 Pewter medalist went to the Olympics instead of the bronze medalist.

And for the men in 2018

 

[Wafflecakes]

I disagree. You get a small medal cause you are the alternate usually and are asked to keep training and to encourage you for next year.

By that logic why not a medal for 5th and 6th? There are three alternates after all.

Lets just put everyone on the podium and give them a medal to "encourage" them for next year!

 

[CoyoteChris]

Thoughts from the arena: (1) after watching the other disciplines it's really nice to see all of the deep edges in dance. I loved watching all of the one foot step sequences during the warmups, (2) differences in ice coverage become readily apparent when you're close to one of the corners and you never see a team come to your side. On TV I would have never noticed this, (3) several not great music choices here.

Memorable performances (by skating order):

(1) Bratti/Sommerville and Wolfkostin/Chen were very close in the standings in both programs and I see some good qualities in both teams. Depending on what they do over the next couple years we'll see.

(2) Hawayek and Baker: What a difference a great vehicle makes! This was the classiest program of the evening in my opinion. Not as creative as some others but everything was top notch. They can do simple, beautiful skating with gorgeous lines really well. That's a fantastic program for them. They're still not the fastest but everything was polished. Well-deserved Olympic spot.

(3) Hubbell and Donohue: They took a much calmer approach to the warmup today and that might have helped them. They seemed more settled. Still not my favorite choice of music but they have MOMENTS. Several lifts just leave you gasping and the way that they cover the ice on their one foot is mind boggling. They got the biggest, most sustained ovation of the night. I think their program sang more than earlier this season and they rightly won the free.

(4) Green and Parsons: The most creative, avant grade program of the bunch. I find it amazing that they're able to pull it off with all of the requirements in this system. It is a very satisfying program intellectually but it's not one that makes you fall in love with it and it doesn't bring you to your feet. I love that they have a unique voice and I can't wait to see them this next quad. I hope they bring back some of the love for equally sized skaters. I miss that.

(5) Chock and Bates: Their rhythm dance sings but this did not. It's creative and mind you they have amazing moments that make you cheer but the program doesn't hit the spot. I would recommend that they make some changes to the last third especially but what do I know? Their lead from the short rightly kept them in first but I think they deserve better.

Congrats to all of the teams. They did not disappoint.

I agree with Chock and Bates program.....anyway it didnt speak to me...but they are soooooo close in every respect in both the two dances with H/D I am glad I dont have to be a judge. I keep seeing that first H/D lift and saying, "How do they do that!"