Replay Lounge 2025 GP de France

[Anna K.]

I used to lament in the Baltic skaters' thread that Latvian public television doesn't pay any attention to figure skating in its weekly sports special.
Finally, it happened. The sport of figure skating got whopping 30 seconds of LTV screen time. How do you think what caused this unprecedented interest?

Behold:
Deanna Stellato-Dudek did a backflip! LTV informed me that this was the first time in sports history when a pairs' skater did a backflip in a competition.
By the way, is it really?

 

[throw_triple_flip]

I adore Fear and Gibson, but would really like to see them do something different. Everything is always "fun, cheeky, or safe." I want to see them take some risks!!

Though i would love to see them try something thematically darker/more dramatic (or maybe classical even), perhaps that's something better left til after the olympic season.

 

[el henry]

I used to lament in the Baltic skaters' thread that Latvian public television doesn't pay any attention to figure skating in its weekly sports special.
Finally, it happened. The sport of figure skating got whopping 30 seconds of LTV screen time. How do you think what caused this unprecedented interest?

Behold:
Deanna Stellato-Dudek did a backflip! LTV informed me that this was the first time in sports history when a pairs' skater did a backflip in a competition.
By the way, is it really?

Deanna is the first pairs skater to do a backflip in competition. They did one in their earlier Challengers, so technically it's been done before.

 

[Weathergal]

I loved watching Adam flying around the ice, expertly and efficiently slaying those jumps with greater control and confidence than we've seen since his injury struggles. His fp performance was so exciting and delightful, especially in his home country. Adam is so adorable. Chris Howarth had said after Ilia's sp that Adam should check out how Ilia does not draw his picking leg back too far on the lutz, which helps to ensure more precise landings. I wonder if Adam heard about that advice and made those adjustments on his lutz in the fp.

I can't imagine that Adam could have made that type of technical adjustment that quickly or would want to do so in the middle of a competition, but who knows?

Egadze has definitely improved. And I have heard others say what a sweet person he is, which allows me to warm up to his skating as he tries to bring out more of his personality to enhance his jump expertise.

Agreed about Egadze and with @gsk8 's post mentioning his improvement this season. I think working with a choreographer other than
Gleikhengauz is helping. I think Benoit's style is a good fit for Egadze and props to whoever made that call.

I do not see a scenario in this sport where Ilia Malinin will be reducing his quads in programs. Especially not with the numbers values of quads and technical requirements of the men's field, as currently constituted. In any case, Malinin has been smart about pulling back on performing the quad-axel.

Yep. I think he and his team do well with strategy overall.

It would be nice if the ISU branched out more into developing artistic-focused competitions where everyone is allowed to express their creativity rather than the usual over-focus on technical requirements, including having to spin a certain number of revolutions with strict changes-of-position. IMO, there needs to be more freedom of expression in free programs, rather than the cookie-cutter requirements that tend to make program layouts predictable, and often disconnected to the music.

Yes, free the free program!

 

[gsk8]

Though i would love to see them try something thematically darker/more dramatic (or maybe classical even), perhaps that's something better left til after the olympic season.

Agree. Definitely wouldn't want to change mid-season! But that's what I was thinking "dark and dramatic." They have skills, so I just question why every season seems kind of the same along their style. Almost expected? They've been together for nearly 10 years and have a good connection. It's just a matter of exploring.

 

[4everchan]

I think it would have been very special for Deanna to skate to a cover sung by her brother, especially going to the Olympics with this. But Carmina Burana is a great fit for them. It has a similar drive and intensity as Oxygène did, at least that's how I feel about it.

I really agree that Carmina is like Oxygène. And I love their LP. These programs are my favourite set of programs they have done. Of course, with new programs, and upgrades like the backflip which I am slightly better with now that it's better integrated in the program and a big deal new Sequence for them with the second 2a, they will need a bit more time. I cannot wait to see how they do at Skate Canada. I think they will build up and peak at the right moment. Will it be enough ? Pairs is a very competitive field right now and anything can happen. The jump sequence can earn almost 0 points or 10. It's a huge deal.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I adore Fear and Gibson, but would really like to see them do something different. Everything is always "fun, cheeky, or safe." I want to see them take some risks!!

This is my issue with them too. Would love to see them challenging themselves by doing something that's out of their comfort zone.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I really agree that Carmina is like Oxygène. And I love their LP. These programs are my favourite set of programs they have done. Of course, with new programs, and upgrades like the backflip which I am slightly better with now that it's better integrated in the program and a big deal new Sequence for them with the second 2a, they will need a bit more time. I cannot wait to see how they do at Skate Canada. I think they will build up and peak at the right moment. Will it be enough ? Pairs is a very competitive field right now and anything can happen. The jump sequence can earn almost 0 points or 10. It's a huge deal.

I hope they will have a better free at SCI. She really was not happy with how they did it at John Nicks and in France, and I hope they can show the world next week how good it really is.
I agree that pairs is very competitive and I think this is the discipline that will be most exciting to watch in Milan since there are so many teams that could medal.

 

[Mathman]

I used to lament in the Baltic skaters' thread that Latvian public television doesn't pay any attention to figure skating in its weekly sports special.
Finally, it happened. The sport of figure skating got whopping 30 seconds of LTV screen time. How do you think what caused this unprecedented interest?

Behold:
Deanna Stellato-Dudek did a backflip! LTV informed me that this was the first time in sports history when a pairs' skater did a backflip in a competition.

Well, see, there you go. Being the first to do something -- that's news. Being the twenty-ninth, not so much.

Now I am looking forward to the first ice dance backflip -- in hold.

 

[elbkup]

Though i would love to see them try something thematically darker/more dramatic (or maybe classical even), perhaps that's something better left til after the olympic season.

Love the FD program.. agree about leaving aesthetic changes for later. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I really agree that Carmina is like Oxygène. And I love their LP. These programs are my favourite set of programs they have done.

What I like about their programs is that they - at least to me - show different sides of them. Carmina Burana is very intense and passionate and fierce, and Poeta is also passionate but in a softer way. Don't know how else to say it but I hope you understand what I mean.

 

[Tutto]

Deanna is the first pairs skater to do a backflip in competition. They did one in their earlier Challengers, so technically it's been done before.

Actually I read a comment somewhere that she is not the first. Trying hard to remember where to I read it and who was the skater in question and will report back!

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Actually I read a comment somewhere that she is not the first. Trying hard to remember where to I read it and who was the skater in question and will report back!

It was a Chinese team if I remember correctly. But they never did it at a GP event.

 

[Tutto]

Adam doing so well in his FS to my favourite Tirol Concerto by Philip Glass nearly broke me - too much happiness could be bad for you too, you know
Could anyone direct me to a no commentary video please?
I don't want to be a bad person but I pray Chris is removed somehow somewhere anywhere far away from my ears... I just cannot take his commentary anymore.
As someone in other thread said he is a king of platitudes. As to his little phrases ... I will scream if/when I hear 'that was a cracker ' one more time.
Regardless of my personal opinion, do we not deserve a variety of commentators? A different perspective on skating?

 

[Tutto]

It was a Chinese team if I remember correctly. But they never did it at a GP event.

Ok, thanks! Maybe Deanna is not aware of that, otherwise her claim is not strictly speaking valid. But hey any PR...

 

[4everchan]

Ok, thanks! Maybe Deanna is not aware of that, otherwise her claim is not strictly speaking valid. But hey any PR...

I think the Chinese team never competed internationally with the backflip. I think that's the kicker. I remember the post was made by @Jumping_Bean so maybe that information can be confirmed or not.

 

[Joekaz]

Nakai was brilliant she totally deserves her score of 78, but the judges did her a huge disservice by missing the blatant wrong edge on Sakamoto's 3Lz which would have knocked another 30% off that element, and then they missed the clear underrotation on her 3T. So if we score it properly (just look at the slow motion replays if you are doubting me) it's 72.50 instead of 76.20, and knock off some of that PCS ever so slightly for having major problems with 2/3 jump elements then let's say it is 71.50. So Nakai should have a comfortable 6.5 point lead at a minimum over Sakamoto rather than just 1.80.

All that hard work from Nakai was seemingly for nothing.

And even with Levito they missed all the landings on the q again (3T had 225 degree prerotation and could have been < as well). Every single jump element had a short landing. It was a good performance from Levito though. Still, it needs to be judged accurately.

What I don't understand is that Sakamoto has had the most blatant wrong edge on a lutz of anyone in the world for years, yet they always miss it? How does that happen?

Don't the judges have meetings after the event? Surely this is brought up over and over, and if it's not brought up (or brought up and the tech panel continue to deceive the other skaters and the audience by calling it incorrectly), then what is the motivation for doing so?

And what's the big deal with giving her a wrong edge. Her score goes from 76.20 to 75.01. It's better for Sakamoto or Levito, people don't start questioning the credibility or impartiality of the officials and the sport, and importantly it's better for all the other skaters especially someone like Nakai.

Maybe this is why this sport has little mainstream credibility and popularity. People just give up out of frustration why invest time in watching when the officials are so brazen and feel so emboldened that they will ignore what is happening on the screen in front of them in slow motion.

In any other sport fans would be angry, the commissioner would be demanding an explanation, officials would be suspended, there would be an investigation into links with gambling/organised crime/corruption.

This would be like in Tennis if Roger Federer was always allowed to keep the point if the ball was out by 5mm even with Hawk Eye replays, but every other player punished if the ball is out even 1mm (or some players punished even if the ball is clearly inside the court on replay).

Or it's like watching wrestling as a child, where the ref always has his back turned when they hit them with a steel chair or brass knuckles. That's what the 'jump was in the wrong corner of the rink' excuse is the equivalent of.

Hopefully Nakai has a big skate and none of this makes a difference to the final result.

I agree with alot of what you say. It never seems to change. And it is far more pervasive than just Sakamoto or the things you mention. For example, the whole idea of what is acceptable form for a lutz or flip has been twisted out of existence, at least on the womens side, to pretend like the sport has advanced and most women can now legitimately do 3/3 combos. Since that isnt actually true, the certain razor thin margins on landings and extreme amounts of prerotation allowed give endless opportunities for score manipulation. Skating is the ultimate "there is something rotten in Denmark" sport. Lol

 

[frompolandwithlove]

Regtordless of my personal opinion, do we not deserve a variety of commentators? A different perspective on skating?

I usually don't mind Chris or Ted or Mark, but nothing would make me happier than having Belinda Noonan as a GP commentator. Or Worlds. Or Europeans. Or anything really. Just let me hear her thoughts for a change.

As for the event, highlights for me are:
- Adam and his traditional redemption arc in FS - the relief I felt, when he safely landed his first three jump passes in the free, has made the program that much more enjoyable and memorable for me (I'm starting to wonder if he is truly one of my favorite skaters or if I am just addicted to the rollercoaster of emotions he is giving us)
- Lukas! I enjoyed both of his programs, he is a solid skater and I like that he usually has a clear concept in mind, which makes his programs intentional, with integrity
- Japanese ladies - Rion's free may be my favorite at the end of the season, Ami did amazingly well, Kaori is still a queen for me
- Nika Egadze and his short to georgian waltz - that was really interesting to see him skate with emotions, like for once he connected with the music. That was not on my bingo list.

Shame about Kao, I hope he and his team can figure out what went wrong and do something to bounce back from it.

I'm also very VERY disappointed to see that we, in fact, did not get rid of that new introduction. I know i'm probably in the minority here, but I hate it so much, I find it awkward on so mamy levels and highly unnecessary. I was hoping it was just a thing of last year, because they wanted to test it before Boston worlds and then it will just disappear, but I guess it's here to stay (and i'm very grumpy about it)

I also hated Chris drooling over Ilia (nothing wrong with being a fanboy, just don't force me to participate please and thank you) and questionable camera-work (I really didn't need to see so many kids or people eating, talking, filming or chilling on the audience, I wanted to watch skaters warning up).

Not much controversy or bad vibes from this event, so that's a good start of GP Series.

 

[gsk8]

I usually don't mind Chris or Ted or Mark, but nothing would make me happier than having Belinda Noonan as a GP commentator.

Especially for pairs! She's good!

 

[Skating91]

Are you sure about this?

Skating Scores: Latest Figure Skating Results, Scores, Rankings & Statistics

The best resource for Figure Skating scores and stats on the web.

skatingscores.com

I would partake in some light research here.

You are correct, but I was always liked Nakai's skating watching her in JGPs and it felt like if she can just make that 3A stable and consistent she will achieve great results. She is 17, basically 150cm (you see her on the podium she is way smaller than Rion and Kaori who are both tiny sub 160cm), so I think there's a good chance she's going to not have huge growth spurts and carry these jumps through the remainder of the season.

She's in a great position. Honestly, I'd put her ahead of Glenn right now.