Replay Lounge 2025-26 Grand Prix Final

[throw_triple_flip]

With the ice dance, I was honestly more wowed by the concept of the programs in the juniors- the Tarzan free from the French team is my favourite free of the season. And the goddess breaking out of a statue idea from the winners just screams bonkers old school 90s ice dance style to me (highlighted by the Klimova style costume)- but with a modern twist.

Though the Scottish free made me smile and I loved the classical music with modern dance approach to Romeo and Juliet (and I like the ending where they go all ragdoll when they "die"). And Vincent is beautiful (though I think the choreo lift at the end looks a tad clumsy and I think that might have cost them a little GOE and therefore a medal)..

 

[4everchan]

Congrats to Malinin for succeeding to land all the quads in the same program.

 

[throw_triple_flip]

I think the liklihood of seeing Grassl's "the pope is DEAD" free skate at the Olympics has increased dramatically. That program is ridiculously camp (the costume reveal makes me chuckle) but he executed it really well. I just wonder if it may cause a bit of controversy at home in Italy.

 

[throw_triple_flip]

Finally watched the pairs. What a fascinating competition. All of these teams have their strength and flaws. With Sui/Han thrown in the Olympics should be awesome.

I never thought I would say this but Conti/Macii were the most impressive to me. They had the moment of both segments. I have always had mixed feelings about them but they skated with their hearts and it stood out to me.

Great to see the Germans come back like they did. I think they're the most refined in several ways but they also do the easiest programs.

Miura/Kihara had tons of speed and flow as always. Their lifts cover more ground. However, they are not always refined in terms of extension/lines, etc and they made mistakes. I think that should have been enough to keep them from winning but it's a subjective sport.

I hope to see Deanna and Max peak at the Olympics. The Hungarians have beautiful skating skills but I don't like their music or choreo in either program. The Georgians I have mixed feelings about. I love their twist, jumps, and throws but their lifts and that death spiral are ugly. They need to do some work on refining him. Because of this if everyone goes clean I'm always going to put the others before the Georgians.

Without the mistake in the short, I think Germans would have run away with the victory here.

I am looking forward to Olympic Pairs the most out of all the disciplines. It feels wide open at this point.

 

[TontoK]

The unsung hero of the men's long is Shun Sato.

He is literally on the ice doing his final prep when Ilia's score is announced. He calmly takes his opening pose and then skates like that.

He did everything he could. Nerves of steel. Huge respect.

 

[lariko]

The unsung hero of the men's long is Shun Sato.

He is literally on the ice doing his final prep when Ilia's score is announced. He calmly takes his opening pose and then skates like that.

He did everything he could. Nerves of steel. Huge respect.

He did brilliantly.

 

[rabidline]

The unsung hero of the men's long is Shun Sato.

He is literally on the ice doing his final prep when Ilia's score is announced. He calmly takes his opening pose and then skates like that.

He did everything he could. Nerves of steel. Huge respect.

This season has been an ongoing argument from Shun for an individual Olympic medal and this competition is another convincing statement.

 

[frompolandwithlove]

The unsung hero of the men's long is Shun Sato.

He is literally on the ice doing his final prep when Ilia's score is announced. He calmly takes his opening pose and then skates like that.

He did everything he could. Nerves of steel. Huge respect.

I imagine him thinking "well, the first place is already taken gonna go try for any other available medal". If there was reasonable chance of winning, now that would be something to test one's own nerves.

 

[yfan1]

Whatever's giving him confidence, I'm happy for him. I am not exactly a fan of his skating, but feel he's being underrated by the judges, simply for being "Japan Number 2".

 

[noskates]

Great men's event. Do not like Grassl but he sure put it out there. I still think Yuma has the most personality of any of the top men but just didn't have it today. Sato's skating doesn't do anything for me although I can appreciate it. And poor Adam - what is happening with him. Is he still feeling the effects of his injury? But Ilia! OMG. That was an epic skate. And not for a minute do I think the placements in this competition were politically oriented. You naysayers have to find something else to natter about!

 

[rabidline]

Whatever's giving him confidence, I'm happy for him. I am not exactly a fan of his skating, but feel he's being underrated by the judges, simply for being "Japan Number 2".

Got some good advice and great support and really has been running the show from there.

 

[sisinka]

I would like to ask @ladyjane whether another ISU control is planned?

Because some interesting things happened again.

I would pick these two:
I was surprised with deduction and level reduction for Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik in Rhythm dance.


1. LEVEL REDUCTION in Non Touching Step Sequence

Level reduction for both dancers was probably thanks to hand in hand hold. Technical panel took the moment as the part of the sequence.

Both Jackie Wong on Twitter and Czech commentator Mr. Langer mentioned that it had to be thanks to hold at the end of Step Sequence.
(With our former Czech judge complaining that it was obvious it was after the element).

What is the definition of END of Step Sequence? I didn't find any.
Is it the last movement in direction of longitudinal axis? The last movement close to the board?
The last difficult turn (not this case, I believe)?

Take a look at other couples - and the moment when they went into hand in hand hold:
- Emilea & Vadym - rocker with Right Backward Outside edge going to flat edge - that flat edge was THE MOMENT OF TOUCH
- Alison & Saulius - being quite far from board going into back cross-overs
- Laurence & Guillaume - two-footed Backward Outside edge was THE MOMENT, doing back cross-overs after this
- Madison & Evan - spread eagle with turn, than going into front & back cross-overs being THE MOMENT OF TOUCH



In my opinion not even one couple was for level reduction.

But IF Emilea & Vadym's hold timing was called wrong by Technical panel, then I think that situation of Laurence & Guillaume, maybe even Alison & Saulius was the same. Why they stayed without level reduction?


2. TWO POINTS DEDUCTION

Based on Jackie Wong's Twitter 2 point deduction was for Assisted Jump - Emilea doing single axel in the beginning.

And once again there are imperfections in rules.

DEFINITION OF ILLEGAL ELEMENT:
"Jumps of more than one (1) revolution except Jump Entry and/or Jump Exit."

1. Is "Jump" the same as "Assisted Jump"?
2. Revolution - around horizontal OR vertical axis OR counting both at the same jump?
For example Raspberry Twist.
And also because for example Emilea & Vadym are doing two Assisted Jumps in Choreographic Step Character Sequence.

Take a look at Rhythm dance with Assisted single axel and Assisted Jumps during Choreographic Steps in Free Dance.

In Free Dance first Assisted Jump in front of judges had Emilea doing one revolution in horizontal axis and a half revolution in vertical axis.
The second Assisted jump right after had one and quarter vertical axis revolution and probably half revolution in horizontal axis.

The second Assisted Jump in Choreographic Step Sequence (looking at Emilea's skate's and body position in take off and landing) was illegal anyway.



It doesn't give much sense to have different opinions from different Technical panels. Or from the same Technical panel.
Would it be possible to unit it somehow?

 

[TontoK]

I imagine him thinking "well, the first place is already taken gonna go try for any other available medal". If there was reasonable chance of winning, now that would be something to test one's own nerves.

I imaging him thinking, "here I am at the most important event of the season so far. I've worked hard to position myself as a solid pick for my country's Olympic team, and maybe even a real Olympic podium threat. And now I have to skate on home ice after a record-breaking performance that has the crowd all hyped up. I've got to keep it together."

I'd think that's a big test of nerves... and he passed it in a way that might lock him in for a Team Event spot.

 

[frompolandwithlove]

I imaging him thinking, "here I am at the most important event of the season so far. I've worked hard to position myself as a solid pick for my country's Olympic team, and maybe even a real Olympic podium threat. And now I have to skate on home ice after a record-breaking performance that has the crowd all hyped up. I've got to keep it together."

Yeah, maybe. Either way, his improvement this season is tremendous, he consistently produces solid skates with light and airy jumps, so he definitely deserves all the attention. Nationals in Japan will be one hell of an event.

 

[Arigato]

people wre blaming russians for overscoring but what american federation is doing if not the same now?
americans with their lousy, laughable program

Sorry, not sorry.

 

[gsk8]

Congrats to Malinin for succeeding to land all the quads in the same program.

The first in history! It was brilliant! He topped his personal best and record FS score by nearly 10 points with this skate.

 

[4everchan]

The first in history! It was brilliant! He topped his personal best and record FS score by nearly 10 points with this skate.

Indeed. He's been trying it last year too but this time, all the jumps were nicely done. Huge achievement that may be not matched for decades

 

[sisinka]

Congratulations to men with top 3 Free Programs. They showed great qualities - level of concentration, fighting spirit till the end.
Overall all 6 men have qualities. If clean Olympics will have really high level with more medals contenders.

Last few years I have a soft spot for Piper & Paul. There is depth and soul in their Free Programs. I don't agree with lack of extension in case of Piper while skating (that is story of another dancer, not hers).
The choreographer does great for them with so many nuances during the dance. I would prefer more skating closer to each other and more close dance holds.
They are capable of showing different kind of programs - it was Tango, Bond movie, Wuthering Height, Annie Lennox, Vincent - and you believe them all of this.

Curved Lift in the beginning of the Free Program of Madison & Evan is very effective using the skirt. They keep improving.

Laurence & Guillaume had sort of bad luck with fall thanks to skirt. They also have depth in Free Skate.

Emilea & Vadym improved a lot in past 2 years. Her switching from singles to ice dance in 2022 and showing that much improvement in such a short time, that is admirable.

 

[withwings]

It was a joke relating to him taking part in 4cc which is not happening, same with him finishing 8th.

I read it as you meant and I am and am not surprised about wrong interpretation of your post at all. How we read the posts is sort of... Rorschach test; one can be so full of one's own that cannot get, is not able or even willing to understand what someone else is saying and explanations are not of any help or needed.

 

[gsk8]

I love Tadao Kusaka. I just want to take him home and feed him and share a blanket while watching a good funny movie.