54th Volvo Open Cup | Jan 16-19

[CaroLiza_fan]

Am I imagining things, or was Amelija SOLDATOVA (LTU)'s FS the first "Dernière Danse" of the week?

Her coach looks very young and very familiar. (Unfortunately, I can't find out anything about the club that Rink Results says Amelija belongs to. I have an idea about who the coach may be, but I don't want to embarrass myself because I am probably wrong).

Didn't notice them doing that before. A message that was posted about Amelija on the YouTube chat appeared in a graphic on the screen. But, because it was all emoticons, the graphic was mostly showing code!

She goes into 2nd in both the FS and overall.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Oh, hark! The song that Google thought Urtė GAILIŪTĖ (LTU) was skating to for her SP yesterday when I did a search using some of the lyrics.

It wasn't "The Impossible Dream" then, but it is now!

Back in November during the Tallinn Trophy, I commented that Melani IVANOVA (EST) had a real mixed bag when she did this FS programme. But that the good stuff was beautiful.

Well, everything about it was beautiful today. The music, the dress, and the skating.

Oh. Maybe not. She seems very disappointed. Trying to hold back tears, in fact.

She goes into 6th in the FS, and 4th overall.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Vassilisa RONDINA (EST) surrised me yesterday with a costume change in the middle of the programme. And she surprised me again today by skipping across the ice at the start of the "Seven Nation Army" section of her programme.

What a strange selection of songs. I didn't know the first, then "Seven Nation Army", then "You Don't Know Me". And they did not go together at all.

She was wearing a "Daddy's Little Monster" outfit.

Fall on the Triple Salchow early on, but otherwise good.

New leader of both the FS and overall.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Marta MULAREKA (LAT) absolutely demolished the field yesterday. And I think she might have done the same today.

She is wearing a beautiful black dress, with black tights and gloves.

At the start, she appeared to be portraying a clockwork person.

She did have a fall on the Triple Loop early on, but everything else looked good.

She looked very confused when the scores were announced.

No need to be confused, Marta! You've won by a country mile!

She won the FS by 21.79 points, and overall by 37.47 points.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

We come back from the resurfacing to a Pre-Chicks C double-bill. Girls followed by boys. But, I am leaving now to eat. Never fear, I will pause the stream and play catch-up after eating.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I'm watching the Pre-Chicks C girls at the moment, and one thing I love about watching the very young skaters is the camaraderie between them, and the way that they always have team-mates sitting with them for getting their scores.

When the fourth girl to skate was getting her scores, we had FIVE wee girls sitting on the sofa (herself and four team-mates). And it was lovely seeing them making hearts with each other and all.

But then something happened that spoiled it for me. Two of them got out mobile phones.

What on Earth are children of that age doing with mobile phones?!

Like, it is bad enough seeing teenagers 10 years older than them with mobile phones. But kids that young?! No!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

A problem I noticed during Skater #8's programe that I hadn't thought of before. Because these skaters are so small, when they come up close to the boards where the camera is situated, the camera can't get them into shot!

Oh. My. Goodness! Skater #8 was given a giant goose cuddly toy. And it is far bigger than she is! Her coach had to carry it to the seats, and then had to rush off because she had another of her skaters on next. So, Skater #8 just had the goose to keep her company for getting her scores.

She went into 3rd position.

Then, when it was Skater #9's turn to get her scors, she had the coach, Skater #8 and the goose for company!

She went into 5th position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Didn't notice them doing that before. A message that was posted about Amelija on the YouTube chat appeared in a graphic on the screen. But, because it was all emoticons, the graphic was mostly showing code!

They've fixed it now. There was a message sent in for Skater #11, and they were able to display the emoticons on it. (As well as the user's thumbnail!)

And she and her team-mates with her were eagerly looking at the screen reading it!

She went into 2nd position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I recognised the last of the Chicks B girls to skate, because she had already appeared frequently supporting team-mates. And the reason she had stood out was because she wears glasses.

And as a glasses wearer myself, I was delighted to see that she was wearing them during her programme.

She clearly has a lot of support, as there were lots of cuddly toys thrown down to her.

She finished in 4th position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Awwww. Skater #13 in Chicks C finished VERY early, more than 10 seconds before the music finished. And she didn't know what to do. She waved her arms about a bit. Then she jumped on the spot. Then she waved her arms a bit more. And then she just stood there.

She went into 12th and penultimate position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

My goodness, the first of the Chicks Axel girls was kept waiting for her scores for a VERY long time. She was sitting there for far longer than she was actually on the ice.

I just want to add, she had a really beautiful costume, with a light blue dress and matching hat. I think it was supposed to be an Air Stewardess' uniform.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

What a fun programme from Skater #6.

She was wearing a red basketball strip with Michael Jordan's famous #23 on the front, and skating to a medley of lively music.

She went into the lead.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I think Skater #7 is going for a record here. We had 7 wee girls sitting on the chairs, but then she went off and brought another wee girl in to make it 8! They are supposed to sit 3 people!

She went into 3rd position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

That was an, er, interesting programme from the final Chicks Axel girl, Skater #12.

She had her hair done up in wild looking pig-tails, and was wearing a dress that was prodominantly green, but had a pink and black section at the top.

The first half of the programme was to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and I thought "Aha! She's portraying the jungle!" But then it changed to the theme from "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly". And I thought "eh?! How do you go from the jungle to the wild west in one programme?!"

It was surreal.

But then when she was sitting waiting for her results with her coach and a couple of team-mates, we saw something very interesting. She had notes written on her hand!

Never seen that before! I wonder if any other skaters do that.

She finished in 6th position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

We saw something else very strange happen when the second of the Pre-Chicks B skaters finished her programme.

There was a rucksack thrown down onto the ice for her. And she went and picked it up. But it must have been heavy, because when she set off to fetch another gift, she immediately toppled over. So she set it down, and went off without it.

When she came off the ice, her coach lifted her up and carried her to the seats.

Actually, I suspect he may be her Dad, because I could see a likeness. And because of the way they were interacting with each other.

She went into 2nd position.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

And now that I have reached the end of the Pre-Chicks B competition, that is the end of the 54th Volvo Open Cup for me. No harm to the skaters taking part, but the Elements competitions are not really a spectator event. So, I am now leaving to eat.

It's been an enjoyable event.

See you on Tuesday for the Ephesus Cup.

CaroLiza_fan