2025 NHK Trophy Pairs Free Skate

[Tutto]

N/M are really a terrific up and coming team and I look forward to what their future has in store.
P/S skated beautifully! I cannot say enough about their immense improvements this season. IMO, their FS is better than C/M’s FS and to me they are skating stronger than S/H right now. I would love to see this team win this event! Here’s hoping!

I think the pecking order right now is:
1. M/K (though they are not my favorites; there’s no denying they are the judges’ favorites)
2. H/V (my favorites)
3. M/B
4. S-D/D (sentimentally, I would love for them to medal at the Olympics)
5. C/M
6. P/S (I believe if this team continues on their path of improvement and consistently deliver clean skates and let’s say, they beat C/M at Europeans, then they can beat the Italians at the Olympics)

I think the pecking order right now is:
1. M/K (though they are not my favorites; there’s no denying they are the judges’ favorites)
2. H/V (my favorites)
3. M/B
4. S-D/D (sentimentally, I would love for them to medal at the Olympics)
5. C/M
6. P/S (I believe if this team continues on their path of improvement and consistently deliver clean skates and let’s say, they beat C/M at Europeans, then they can beat the Italians at the Olympics)

Agree on 1 - 2. C/ M will not get bronze only if they have some sort of a disaster.

 

[lariko]

We'll just have to go skate by skate, competition by competition and see how they build up. SD/D had a wonderful FS in Canada.

 

[museksk8r]

Agree on 1 - 2. C/ M will not get bronze only if they have some sort of a disaster.

I really hope the judging won’t be biased simply because the championship is in Italy, especially when there are pairs who potentially are much better than C/M. Why even hold the Olympics if the results are predetermined like that.

 

[Miya88]

I really hope the judging won’t be biased simply because the championship is in Italy, especially when there are pairs who potentially are much better than C/M. Why even hold the Olympics if the results are predetermined like that.

It is already biased having constantly Japaneses on first place, doesn't matter if they have URs, messed up jumps etc etc. I would understand if they had choreography, beautiful skating, skating skills, edges, lines , but they don't unfortunately . They are just fast, ok, very nice but this is not speed skating. They have no choreo, artistry whatsoever.
My favorites are germans, too. Worlds showed that they have no chance at Olympics. Their short is amazing this year

 

[lariko]

The Japanese have this kind of wild-eyed amok state when they skate. It has a grab when they are clean. Personally, live, H/V free was what got my heart, the way Hase portrayed connection and she's just so graceful, and Volodin just projects sturdy. But, yeah, SD/D skated an awesome free in Saskatoon. The question is, is it their best free of the season?

 

[Miya88]

I wouldn't say that Volodin just projects sturdy. He is the best male pair skater now. I wouldn't have expected this 2 years ago. He improved a lot.

 

[mikeko666]

It is already biased having constantly Japaneses on first place, doesn't matter if they have URs, messed up jumps etc etc. I would understand if they had choreography, beautiful skating, skating skills, edges, lines , but they don't unfortunately . They are just fast, ok, very nice but this is not speed skating. They have no choreo, artistry whatsoever.
My favorites are germans, too. Worlds showed that they have no chance at Olympics. Their short is amazing this year

Maintaining speed while exciting a difficult element is a very important skating skill in figure skating.

 

[Miya88]

Maintaining speed while exciting a difficult element is a very important skating skill in figure skating.

Of course, but it is their only "skill" in which they are better than others. Not to mention that they their short stature makes it easier for them to maintain speed.
In the same time they are messing the jumps almost every competition(maybe not falls, but URs and messy landings) and as a reward they receive high components. I repeat I would understand if the judges turned a blind eye to this because they skate beautifully on the ice but well their programs are very blind

 

[mikeko666]

Of course, but it is their only "skill" in which they are better than others. Not to mention that they their short stature makes it easier for them to maintain speed.
In the same time they are messing the jumps almost every competition(maybe not falls, but URs and messy landings) and as a reward they receive high components. I repeat I would understand if the judges turned a blind eye to this because they skate beautifully on the ice but well their programs are very blind

You talk as if it's easy to maintain speed throughout the performance. Watching at the rink is very different form watching on screen. Figure skating is a sport, not a beauty pagent. Speed affects everything, from rink coverage to quality of elements.
BTW, Miura and Kihara have the best edge work. They can draw beautiful curves without sacrifiying speed.

 

[Miya88]

You talk as if it's easy to maintain speed throughout the performance. Watching at the rink is very different form watching on screen. Figure skating is a sport, not a beauty pagent. Speed affects everything, from rink coverage to quality of elements.
BTW, Miura and Kihara have the best edge work. They can draw beautiful curves without sacrifiying speed.

I didnt say it is easy, I said it is easier for them.
If they make some steps while having those edges I would appreciate that. They are doing practically the same programs all over again,every year, so they mastered it

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

The Japanese have this kind of wild-eyed amok state when they skate. It has a grab when they are clean. Personally, live, H/V free was what got my heart, the way Hase portrayed connection and she's just so graceful, and Volodin just projects sturdy. But, yeah, SD/D skated an awesome free in Saskatoon. The question is, is it their best free of the season?

I can see Deanna and Max scoring above their PB if they can get the silly mistakes out. Their free skate is at this point the highest scoring one of the season so far.
Edit: GP season that is.

 

[lariko]

I can see Deanna and Max scoring above their PB if they can get the silly mistakes out. Their free skate is at this point the highest scoring one of the season so far.

It sure deserved it! They truly had a great evening.

 

[Miya88]

I can see Deanna and Max scoring above their PB if they can get the silly mistakes out. Their free skate is at this point the highest scoring one of the season so far.
Edit: GP season that is.

yes, they did great but the event took place in Canada...so let's wait on GPF in Japan
They deservedly won the whole thing and the free but I think still the germans are having too low PCS in the short( maybe because they wanted to keep them close to Canadians, I hope)

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

yes, they did great but the event took place in Canada...so let's wait on GPF in Japan

True, but I think if they had not made that twist mistake in France they would have gotten a similar score there. The twist itself cost them points of course, and it influenced their whole performance.
But we'll never know of course. Just saying they're on the right track. Their SP score in France was not too far off their personal best too.

 

[Violet Sky]

123.58 FS and 187.40 overall for C/H, keeping them in good stead for an Olympic spot. For perspective, L/B scored 116.10 FS and 181.60 overall and S/N scored 117.18 FS and 179.25 overall at the Ice Challenge this weekend.

I thought C/H had more speed and outskated E/M tonight, but E/M finish ahead.

E/M I hear are doing a waiver for citizenship which takes time so I don’t know if that is achievable in 99 days till the Olympics. IMO, if E/M are unable to go, Ellie and Danny are probably a good solid for Olympics - since they did pretty well in Canada; the Ice Challenger this weekend was quite a showdown of the US pairs with Chelsey & Ryan winning over S/N; IMO, they should do Golden Spin, or if possible another Challenger before U.S. Nationals as it will be close based on body of work and placing.