Replay Lounge 2025 GP Finlandia Trophy

[sisinka]

I would like to mention two skaters. Despite them not being on the top, I believe their behaviour worth mentioning.

Andreas Nordeback skated his Free Program with injured hand.
As a doctor I would recommend not to skate at all with such injury. But Andreas is skater, so bleeding wound didn't stop him. He had to be in quite big pain, but he fought for every element executing two 3axel, two spins Level 4 and Step Sequence Level 3.

Based on Andrea's Instagram story he has few stitches.

(I remember Craig Buntin skating with bleeding wound on his hand at Grand Prix Trophee Eric Bompard in 2008, together with Meagan Duhamel - the couple won Bronze medal.)

The second skater to mention is Rion Sumiyoshi.

We quite often see that after bad fall or not clean landing skaters naturally tend to think about failure too much and too long, which negatively affects presentation and overall impression. It was not Rion's case.

She had very painful fall during Short Program's Step Sequence. After such fall the pain is even bigger the next day. Despite this she went for every element triple - triple combination and quad toeloop including. She had falls, which is not very surprising taken into account circumstances.

But what completely stunned me was the way Rion skated between jumping elements in her Free Program. She had strong and powerful presentation (as her music required), not even the third fall influenced her commitment to music or energy given into movements. Skating on high speed till the end. It was admirable.

 

[sisinka]

Grand Prix in Finland brought some TECHNICAL ISSUES as well.

Loena Hendrickx couldn't skate her program at practise, because of technical issues with music.

Diana Davis & Gleb Smolkin had troubles with music as well, the right track was not played (mentioned by Russian user).

Natálie Taschlerova & Filip Taschler were not played the right track for Rhythm dance at practise. The music stuff was repeatedly given the right track, but even during Rhythm dance the track was wrong.



It is sad that these things happen at such big and important competition. It is very stressful situation for the skaters, it may influence performance. Especially if happening during competition, not only at practise.

I have no knowledge how music stuff works these days. Skaters upload music into application based on Filip words.

Who is controlling if all music is uploaded well?
Is that application the same for all competitions, meaning that music of the skaters uploaded at previous competitions is still in application? Or does every competition has its own space?

What is connecting both couples and Loena is the fact that they all changed their programs this season. Dance couples changed part of the Rhythm dance, Loena changed whole Short Program. Probably they all skated old versions at Challengers or Beijing Qualification competition. Could it play some role?
Is it possible that old version of music being probably named with the same title (nation-SP/LP-name) didn't allow to upload new version of music? Or having two files with the same title - the older one was played preferentially?

(Laurence Fournier-Beaudry & Guillaume Cizeron also changed Rhythm Dance, but I think that the previous version was played at Nice only, which is not International competition).

I hope that Skating Federations will ask ISU for explanation and prevention of such situations. When music troubles happened three times during competition, in case of Czech couple repeatedly, their Rhythm dance competition including, I believe it is important to look for the reason.

 

[slider11]

My tailbone hurts in solidarity with Rion. That fall was nasty.
Also, the way Rino is judged is so confusing to me. What else the girl have to do to prove her skating skills?? I guess one could argue that she fell this time, sure, but still. Is she significantly slower than other skaters or something that I can't see on the screen but judges can see live?
I really like Adam, despite his less than ideal jump technique, but I feel like this program is not yet polished. Lots of hand waving and frantic movements. Can't wait to see it in second part of this season.
From the beginning of the season Yuma looks like he finally had this realization "Oh wait, I'm the leading Japanese man now, I better start acting accordingly" and he came out of his shell with newfound confidence, both off ice and on ice. As far as performance goes, it is a significant upgrade. If only he could land his jumps

I have to say out of the most popular trio of commentators (Mark/Chris/Ted), I like Mark the best. He is enthusiastic, but not over the top, he highlights strenghts of every skater, including non-jumping elements, hard footwork, quality transitions, he is good at explaining the bigger picture of current skating field and he fills "empty" moments with facts about skaters' background that help viewers get to know them more and understand their struggles and the weight of their success. I can't tell if he is good with pairs and ice dance, because I don't watch them, but in singles I enjoy his company.

I really liked Mark but felt he was holding back giving a full explanation of why, in particular, the ice dancers were miffed at the scores. I would have really appreciated his full explanantion, not just "tech controller is strict".

 

[rain]

Just watched Vincent again. I'm so in love with it. It was over so fast! I love the changes they've made. This program is so special. Piper and Paul are absolutely brilliant in it. They carry such speed, emotion and assurance. My only small, small quibble is that I still think the choreographic step could use just a little something, I don't even know what. Just a little zing of something more.

It was kind of weird to have the commentator talk with admiration in real time about how different and difficult their one foot step was, then have it called at a low level (which everyone is getting this season, but still).

I think this was a good choice for the Olympic season, especially if they can continue to grow it and do little tweaks. It's already grown tremendously from Skate Canada. This is something I will go back and watch for years to come.

 

[moonvine]

I was so looking forward to this and it didn’t go well over all for almost any skater

 

[moonvine]

As I have had busy autumn, I have not watched much from the beginning. Is it normal today, that judges are not introduced at all? Is it a new normal convention? Not that I would care abot their names but that gives some extra time when queuing to the toilet or for food/coffee when watching at place. The pauses were very short this time. And (old?) ISU tune was not played either when competition began. I have found it before good to hear as a sign "take you seat".

Normally they are introduced. Even at small competitons.

 

[Mathman]

I have no knowledge how music stuff works these days. Skaters upload music into application based on Filip words.

Who is controlling if all music is uploaded well?

I do not understand this at all. Doesn't the skater's coaching team submit the music that they want played? How can some "application" decide, no, we don't e\want to play the music that you submitted, we will play something else instead?

 

[TT_Fin]

Here is an article about the music in Finnish

I don't know if that person is still on the music team, but there is quite well told how it works. If you want I can translate it later, but I think google can do the same job maybe even better - and I would use also it myself to save time, just check some parts.

Not figure skating, but a weird situation from my daily work couple of days ago. I think maybe something like this would happen also with music: I had loaded some documents to a project bank we use. My boss wanted some changes to one of them, I made it and loaded new version. Couple of hours boss came to ask me why I hadn't loaded the updated version. I was quite confused, because I had done it. I checked by my own computer, the right version was there. Boss even signed out from the bank and he still saw the old version. Then he tried by cell phone and saw the right version. He tried another browser and then he saw the right version. I tell this just because this is an example that updated versions may not be updated properly, so people need to check accurately before playing them.

Edit: It may well have been a new person there. The music was very loud this time, too loud IMO. Usually the volume has been quite good.

 

[ladyjane]

Our friends at Anything Goes have published quite an interesting article about the judging, especially the Technical panel, at the ID event. The ISU is going to look into it:

Finlandia Trophy is over; the ice dance controversy is not - Anything GOEs

The ISU will be reviewing the ice dance event from Finlandia Trophy after skaters object to tech panel decisions

anythinggoe.com

 

[DancingCactus]

Good article. I hope the ISU looks into this really hard. But it's the ISU, so I probably shouldn't get my hopes up.

 

[Weathergal]

@NoNameFace Did you read this quote from Golden Skate's interview of Zingas / Kolesnik after GP Finland - posted on Instagram?

On receiving the flower crown

Emilea:
“I was freaking out. She came over to our side this year and I was like: YES. Because I saw other people get them, so I was wondering if I was going to get one, and I’m so happy. It will go to my collection. I have them all hanging on my wall.”

That is so cool - congratulations!

 

[4everchan]

Our friends at Anything Goes have published quite an interesting article about the judging, especially the Technical panel, at the ID event. The ISU is going to look into it:

Finlandia Trophy is over; the ice dance controversy is not - Anything GOEs

The ISU will be reviewing the ice dance event from Finlandia Trophy after skaters object to tech panel decisions

anythinggoe.com

Well, I am hoping that neither of these members of the technical committee will judge the Olympics

It's funny, 3 of the ones I don't like are Selby, Restatt and Molina. I have been "watching" them over the years and I didn't even know they were on that tech committee but already disliked them ..... they play games... all of them, in my opinion of course

So if this article helps to get them out of the Olympics, then, go go go .

 

[TT_Fin]

Well, I did not wrote what Mika said, but he clued something like that. Remeber him being the highest level, and if I remember right, the only one, judge in all disciplines. He was ID referee last time in Olympics.

Skating Finland has made a two-year-contract with Rajupaja, an audio company, and I guess that company was responsible for opening show here. I am not happy with that. I do not know if somebody liked the show but I hated it. IMO it was a miss. I hope they do not do that kind of miss at worlds.

 

[Skating91]

No, they weren’t.

Yes, they were

 

[Mathman]

No, they weren't.

Oh. wait. I mean, yes they were... Here's how we can tell: the second picture has a little sign attached that says cheating the take-off. The fourth has a little sign attached. too: q at minimum. QED.

 

[NoNameFace]

@NoNameFace Did you read this quote from Golden Skate's interview of Zingas / Kolesnik after GP Finland - posted on Instagram?

On receiving the flower crown

Emilea:
“I was freaking out. She came over to our side this year and I was like: YES. Because I saw other people get them, so I was wondering if I was going to get one, and I’m so happy. It will go to my collection. I have them all hanging on my wall.”

That is so cool - congratulations!

Late to reply, but YES! The way her face lights up seeing me with crafty stuff will never gets old to me. And she wore her crown in the fan zone after VC
The event was unexpected surprise to me because I've given the most crafts ever (24 flower crowns, tiara, headband and top hat) and everyone wore everything on Saturday (I was convinced someone will reprimand me to not handle anything through KnC railing, but I was able to give everything I had with me, mind you, Yuka's and Amber's crowns were made completely from scratch on Saturday , proof I can be less lazy than usually)

 

[sisinka]

Late to reply, but YES! The way her face lights up seeing me with crafty stuff will never gets old to me. And she wore her crown in the fan zone after VC
The event was unexpected surprise to me because I've given the most crafts ever (24 flower crowns, tiara, headband and top hat) and everyone wore everything on Saturday (I was convinced someone will reprimand me to not handle anything through KnC railing, but I was able to give everything I had with me, mind you, Yuka's and Amber's crowns were made completely from scratch on Saturday , proof I can be less lazy than usually)

It is so lovely what you do for skaters!

 

[sisinka]

Here is an article about the music in Finnish

I don't know if that person is still on the music team, but there is quite well told how it works. If you want I can translate it later, but I think google can do the same job maybe even better - and I would use also it myself to save time, just check some parts.

Not figure skating, but a weird situation from my daily work couple of days ago. I think maybe something like this would happen also with music: I had loaded some documents to a project bank we use. My boss wanted some changes to one of them, I made it and loaded new version. Couple of hours boss came to ask me why I hadn't loaded the updated version. I was quite confused, because I had done it. I checked by my own computer, the right version was there. Boss even signed out from the bank and he still saw the old version. Then he tried by cell phone and saw the right version. He tried another browser and then he saw the right version. I tell this just because this is an example that updated versions may not be updated properly, so people need to check accurately before playing them.

Edit: It may well have been a new person there. The music was very loud this time, too loud IMO. Usually the volume has been quite good.

Thank you for both article and your own experience.

In past months we adopted new computer system in our hospital and we were dealing with many troubles, with IT workers having a lot of work to correct what was not working.

 

[Mathman]

Our friends at Anything Goes have published quite an interesting article about the judging, especially the Technical panel, at the ID event. The ISU is going to look into it:

Finlandia Trophy is over; the ice dance controversy is not - Anything GOEs

The ISU will be reviewing the ice dance event from Finlandia Trophy after skaters object to tech panel decisions

anythinggoe.com

Does anyone remember the protest at -- was it 2002 Worlds? -- when the Israeli team of Chait and Sakhnovski was placed above Lithuanians Drobiazko and Vanagas? The issue was that Galit Chait's father had just been elected President of the Israeli Skating Federation and was widely believed to have -- um -- considerable influence in ISU circles and friendship with -- um.-- federation heads of certain other countries.

As I recall, the skaters themselves got up a petition about it, but nothing came of it. The petitioners were accused of anti-semitism.

 

[ladyjane]

Does anyone remember the protest at -- was it 2002 Worlds? -- when the Israeli team of Chait and Sakhnovski was placed above Bulgarians Denkova and Stavitski? The issue was that Galit Chait's father had just been elected President of the Israeli Skating Federation and was widely believed to have -- um -- considerable influence in ISU circles and friendship with ... um... the federation heads of certain other countries.

As I recall the skaters themselves got up a petition about it, but nothing came of it.

I remember this very well. But I recall it as being about Drobriazko/Vanagas (representing Lithuania) as part of the controversy and less with Denkova/Stavitsky, but the Israeli certainly were part of it!