2025 Robin Cousins Cup | Aug 21-22

[CaroLiza_fan]

It was worth the wait.

Alex EVANS (USA) was skating to two Whitney Houston songs that I have never seen skated to before. I don't think the second song, "Queen Of The Night" worked. But I would love to see the first one, "Run To You", skated to more often. Because that was beautiful.

And her black dress is gorgeous!

There were a few things that need polishing. But on the whole, the long wait didn't seem to affect her.

She goes into the lead.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Now for back-to-back kids.

First up, it's Marilena.

ALL THE BEST MARILENA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I don't know how to describe the dress Marilena is wearing. It's mainly black, with pinkish white.

Bells and dialogue at the start before the singing kicks in.

Beautiful combination to start with.

Fall on next jump.

Beautiful spin.

Popped next jump.

Next combination jump good.

You can see she's tiring. Perhaps the wait is affecting her more than Alex.

But then she threw in a big jump!

Had to have a wee hop in her penultimate spin.

I fear that she is going to drop positions. She was barely more than ahead of Alex and Victoria after the SP.

Yep, into 2nd position overall.

WELL DONE MARILENA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Now for the second of my kids.

ALL THE BEST ALEKSANDRA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Gorgeous red dress for Aleksandra.

And skating to beautiful music from "Pearl Harbour".

Beautiful combination jump to start with.

Ach, popped her next jump.

And fell on the next jump.

And nearly fell on a spin.

Popped another jump.

And fell on another.

Everything actually went well after that. But, the damage had already been done.

It just wasn't Alika's day.

But, she's taking it on the chin.

I wonder if it was the long wait that was affecting her.

Whether it was or not, that's going to be both of my kids that went back-to-back dropping positions. But, how far will this drop be.

Oh, only to 2nd position. That is a surprise.

Well, that in itself deserves this:

WELL DONE ALEKSANDRA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

A much better skate from Michelle LEE (USA). Hopefully that is the end of the curse that has been hanging over the ice since the previous American.

Loved the song that Michelle was skating to. Not keen on the bronze dress.

She goes into 2nd position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Now for what should be the battle for the Gold Medal.

After what happened with my first two kids, I am extra nervous now.

ALL THE BEST STEFANIA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Creamish-white dress for Stefania.

Camera rolling!

Massive opening combination jump! Wasn't sure if she would land the second part, but she did.

The next jump was beautiful.

I love this choreography!

Beautiful combination jump.

And another!

Beautiful sin as "Singing In The Rain" comes in. Not keen on this version.

Beautiful jump.

Change of tempo. And she is still going for it!

Mmmm. Was that a fall or a choreographic slide? I'm leaning towards fall.

You may well put your hands up in the air in celebration!

She already had a massive lead, so she will definitely go into the lead. But will she win?

What a reaction! She was genuinely shocked!

Whether she wins or not, I am so proud of her.

WELL DONE STEFANIA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Ach, I was enjoying that beautiful instrumental music. The vocals coming in spoiled it.

Good skate from Sarina JOOS (ITA - I nearly wrote CHE ).

I'm trying my best not to be biased, but I did genuinely prefer Stefania's programme.

Sarina wins.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Well, Stefania may not have won, but I am so proud of her for winning the Silver Medal in her very first Senior level competition.



I'm welling up!

What a way to start your Senior level career!

Now I can't wait to see how she gets on in Japan.

WELL DONE STEFANIA!!!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

And now. The end is here. And so we face. The final curtain.

We finish the 2025 Robin Cousins Cup with chaos!

Like yesterday, I am going to be leaving the cacti for food. But, I will pause it and play catch-up afterwards.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Not more music problems!

CHEUNG Chiu Hei (HKG) got a couple of elements into his programme, and the music suddenly stopped. But he carried on, even after the whistle blew, before he realised.

After a while, it started playing again, but it was at the start. So they wound it forward, and started playing it again. Then it stopped again. And when it started playing again, it was back at the start.

It carried on like this for a while. And Chiu Hei was looking lost waiting,

Ah, I think we are trying to go for it again now.

They're playing it from the start, so he has to wait a while to start back in.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Actually, despite the interruption, CHEUNG Chiu Hei (HKG) didn't seem to be affected. Yes, he had a fall, but that was all. Otherwise, he was good.

I forgot to say, he was wearing a black jumpsuit.

Hopefully we won't have any more music dramas.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Tao MACRAE (GBR) was also wearing black, but this had a white X across the front, and white bands on the lower sleeve. I didn't like it.

But I loved the music! A White Stripes medley. And, believe it or not, "7 Nation Army" only appeared towards the end.

I loved that programme!!! That was really good.

There is a big gap in front of him, though, so I think it is going to take mistakes from others for him to climb.

He goes into the lead.

And with that, I am leaving now to eat.

All the best to those still to skate.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

OK, I might get one or two skaters fitted in now, before I have to leave again for about half an hour.

Ken FITTERER (GBR) was skating to really triumphant sounding music from "The Man In The Iron Mask".

Unfortunately, the skate wasn't very triumphant. Three falls, and a pop as well.

The good bits were very good. I particularly loved the bit of sword fighting choreography that he did.

I loved the costume as well.

But, these scores aren't going to be pretty.

He's cringing at the replays.

He went into 3rd and last position.

Don't worry, Ken, I'm sure it'll go better next time.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

What on Earth happened the first jump? He didn't even get off the ground!

The next two jumps weren't great either.

It looks like it's one of those days.

But then he did a lovely combination jump.

The audience were really getting behind him for the rest of the programme, giving encouragement.

The good stuff looked good. But on balance, it was a struggle for him.

Well, at least we can see husband and wife chatting today during the replays. I wonder what Alina is saying about it...

He went into the lead.

Right, time for another break before Group 2.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Forgot to comment about the music played during the Group 1 Warm-Up.

Have to say that I am disappointed with the music in the final Warm-Up of the event. I looked up some lyrics, and apparently it is a song called "I Wish" by Skee-Lo. Suffice to say, it's not my taste at all.

I can imagine skating to music like that.

Oh, hang on. Things have improved infinitely with the second song. Second time today I have heard "Men In Black" by Will Smith.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

And appropriately enough, Lucas FITTERER (GBR) came out wearing a black suit and white shirt!

But much to my surprise, it was a "Phantom Of The Opera" programme!

That was a much better skate than brother Ken had earlier. In fact, it was the best skate we have seen for a while.

He went into the lead.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Samuel MINDRA (USA) was wearing a white top and black trousers. To be honest, not a very exciting costume.

But the programme was beautiful. The instrumental piece in the first half was beautiful. And I really enjoyed the song that followed it.

Apart from the two falls, the skating was as beautiful as the music.

Which is shown by the fact that he went into the lead.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Ach, for goodness sake! The phantom music stopper returned just after Michael XIE (USA) started his programme!

Right, let's see how long a delay we have to get it sorted out this time.

CaroLiza_fan