2024 ISU International Adult Competition | Oberstdorf | May 12-17

[CaroLiza_fan]

Right, the first skater, Stefan ULLMANN (DEU), has withdrawn. So, with only two to skate, I'll definitely have time to stay for them and then do what I was planning to do tonight.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Ach, Roland JARQUIO (USA) was doing so well, and then he fell. And even though there was a big cheer of encouragement, you could see it affected affected him. And he fell again.

It wasn't that long ago since we last heard "Sweet Dreams", but Annie and Dave got another outing. But this time, it faded into and orchestral version at the end.

I felt sorry for him.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

It's official. Gold level Men's skaters are just as liable to be cacti as their Senior and Junior counterparts.

On the whole, Olivier JACQUET (FRA) had a better skate, in that he didn't fall on any of his jumps. But he did have a hand down that might be classed as a fall on a sit spin.

He wins.

And that's a wrap for the competitions for today. Podium Ceremonies coming up at the top of the hour, but I'm bailing out now.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Day 3 starts with a triple-bill of Bronze level FS competitions. 22 Class IV ladies; followed by a group of 8 Class III + IV gentlemen; followed by a group of 8 Class I + II gentlemen. The 22 ladies are arranged into two groups of 7; followed by a group of 8.

Livestream for the Bronze IV Ladies FS is now on air.

Here is the link for the livestream:
https://sportdeutschland.tv/deutsche-eislauf-union/isu-adult-fsc-2024-tuesday-may-14th

Here is the Time Schedule:
http://www.deu-event.de/results/adult2024/FSKWSINGLES-ADVNOV--09FNL-000100--_StartListwithTimes.pdf

And here is the live scoring:
http://www.deu-event.de/results/adult2024/SEG043.htm

Hope this helps

ALL THE BEST EVERYBODY!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I just realised something. All three of the antipodean skaters in this competition are in the opening group. #1 was Melanie PURDEY (NZL); #2 was Louise GRAYSON (AUS); and #6 will be Deborah KING (AUS).

I wonder if this was done deliberately, to make for a more friendly time for family back home to watch them.

Very thoughtful of the organisers if it was.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Only 4 skaters in and we have already had two warhorses. "Hallelujah" from #2 Louise GRAYSON (AUS); and Disturbed's "Sound Of Silence" from #4 Eugenia Maurizia NATOLI (ITA).

We were lulled into a false sense of security in the first two days with all the Artistic Free Skate competitions!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

You know, I always think "A Million Dreams" makes a great figure skating programme. But it often gets overlooked compared to two other songs from "The Greatest Showman".

So thank you to Deborah KING (AUS) for using it.

And good to see her team-mates supporting her.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

This cover of Secret Garden's "You Raise Me Up" that Ulrike WALTER (DEU) is skating to is brutal! I've heard many versions of this song over the years, but this is possibly the worst yet!

Despite this, it was actually a good programme. And Ulrike was clearly enjoying herself.

She goes into the lead.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

There were supposed to be four Germans in Group 2. However, the announcer just told us that one of them, #10 Birgit RICHTER (DEU), has withdrawn.

If you thought that was a lot of skaters from one country, wait until you see Group 3. All 6 British skaters in this competition are amongst the 8 skaters that are going in Group 3. We nearly had them all going consecutively, but there is an Austrian going in between the second and third Brits.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

When I saw Dorota PALIMERIS (POL)'s name on the entry list for the Artistic FS the other day, I thought "Mmmmm, her first name is Polish, but that looks like a Greek surname. I wonder if she is married to a Greek gentleman".

And when I saw her, I thought "maybe it is Dorota herself that has Greek heritage. She looks like a Greek / Cypriot lady".

Well, I think that FS has just confirmed that she does have some sort of connection. She was skating to Greek music.

Awwwww. The results area has turned into a mass of red and white! The Polish delegation are all wearing their team uniforms, and some are also wearing red and white flower crowns. And there are flags too!

And she has taken the lead.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

YES!!! Martina VOGS (DEU) was skating to "Music" by John Miles!!!

I was so happy when the Junior and Senior skaters started discovering the song in the past couple of seasons. So, I am delighted that it is also being used by skaters that were actually around when it came out.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

There is something of an irony here. Fiona BROWN (GBR) skating to "Keep Young And Beautiful". When she clearly is one of the younger skaters in this competition!

I had to smile at that.

She goes into 10th position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

"Fields Of Gold" is such a beautiful song, regardless of whether it is Sting's original or Eva Cassidy's cover. Barbara HAUGHTON (GBR) was skating to the latter.

Everything about that programme was beautiful. The music, the sky blue dress, and the skating.

She goes into 13th position.

Barbara will be back tomorrow competing in the Adult Pairs FS with Mark HAUGHTON. I don't know if he is her husband or brother, but I assume he is the guy that was sitting beside her when she was getting her scores there now.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I was already looking forward to seeing the final British skater, because I always get excited when I see skaters with Japanese names.

But I got even more excited when Shihoko OGAWA (GBR) came out dressed as Jack Sparrow!!!

It was so good a likeness that, if it hadn't have been for the fact that she is a pretty Japanese girl, you would not have been able to tell her and Johnny Depp apart if they were standing next to each other!

Needless to say what she was skating to.

She goes into 19th position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

We continue our Bronze level FS triple-bill by moving from the ladies to the gentlemen. A group of 8 Class III + IV gentlemen; followed by a group of 8 Class I + II gentlemen.

Livestream for the Bronze III + IV Men's FS is now on air.

Here is the link for the livestream:
https://sportdeutschland.tv/deutsche-eislauf-union/isu-adult-fsc-2024-tuesday-may-14th

Here is the Time Schedule:
http://www.deu-event.de/results/adult2024/FSKMSINGLES-ADVNOV--04FNL-000100--_StartListwithTimes.pdf

And here is the live scoring:
http://www.deu-event.de/results/adult2024/SEG033.htm

Hope this helps

ALL THE BEST EVERYBODY!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Given that this group contains the oldest of the Bronze gentlemen that are competing here, I was not expecting this competition to start with somebody skating to the Backstreet Boys!

Mind you, when Massimiliano PITTA (CHE) came out wearing black trousers and a black T-shirt with white trim, I would never have guessed that he would be skating to "Backstreet's Back". Given what we have seen so far in this event, you would have at least expected him to be dressed as a zombie, or vampire or something!

He has a lot of support for getting his results.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I think we have a whole family competing here.

Skater #2, John DARNTON (GBR), is another skater that we will be seeing again in the Adult Pairs FS tomorrow. His partner is Karen TAYLOR (GBR), who is also competing in the Silver IV + V Ladies FS on Friday.

HOWEVER, yesterday we saw Gillian DARNTON-TAYLOR (GBR) competing in the first of the Bronze I Ladies FS competitions, where she finished in 11th position.

I can only assume that Gillian is Karen and John's daughter.

Anyway, John was skating to "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. I'm not sure if it is part of his costume or not, but he has a brace on his left wrist.

And the stream died when he was taking his bows.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

The stream is back now, but I missed the whole of the next skater, Heiko KUMKAR (DEU).

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Kazuo OKADA (JPN) started off skating to "I Was Born To Love You" by Freddie Mercury. And I was confused, because he was wearing the yellow jacket that Freddie wore at the Queen concert at Wembley (albeit with Kazuo wearing black trousers rather than the white trousers that Fredie wore).

But then, the music changed into "We Are The Champions" by Queen. And the costume choice mande more sense.

Never seen anybody skating to the first song before. But, it worked really well.

Everything about that programme was brilliant!

He goes into the lead.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Here is what I wrote on Sunday about the skater we just saw:

As soon as I saw Salvatore DAMIANO (ITA), I knew we were going to get an "Aladdin" programme!

Fun programme to "Friend Like Me".

Aha! Alessandra TAGLIABUE (ITA), who started off the day, and some of the tribe that were with her are back again to support Salvatore.

He goes into 2nd position.

CaroLiza_fan

And when he came out today, we also knew what we would be getting. A Spanish programme.

Don't know the song, but I think it might have been the Gipsy Kings. It sounded like them anyway.

CaroLiza_fan