CD Report

[Anna]

Towler-Green/Poole

Given an average age of the CDs this one must be one of the few which her mother hasn't done beter in her time. Overall it wasn't bad, just a bit scratchy, but the general impression is what it's on the edge of their abilities.

 

[Anna]

Zadorodnuik/Verbillo

A bit tighter than Bek/Zuev, but rather decent overall. I'm not sure why they finished so,far ahead of the teammates.

 

[Tesla]

Zadorodnuik/Verbillo

A bit tighter than Bek/Zuev, but rather decent overall. I'm not sure why they finished so,far ahead of the teammates.

Actually, I don't think they are that far ahead. The scores are just really really close.

 

[Anna]

Gruendberg/Rand

If they are one of the best Juniors (they did make it to jgpf after all), the field must be really weak this year. I know it's one of the hardest CDs, but they really struggled to keep going.

 

[Anna]

Silna/Matsuik AUT

Rather weak overall, I did not expect them to finish so high.

 

[aphrodite_xl]

Gruendberg/Rand

If they are one of the best Juniors (they did make it to jgpf after all), the field must be really weak this year. I know it's one of the hardest CDs, but they really struggled to keep going.

They skated much much better in The Hague, so I think nerves might have had a lot to do with their skating pretty poorly here. It is their first senior competition after all. I expect them to rise after the OD and they have a lovely waltzy FD. Looking forward to seeing that again.

 

[La Rhumba]

Zhiganshina/Gazsi

He was in some sort of military uniform for whatever reason.

The reason being they were portraying a 19th Century Waltz style in a Grand Ballroom where the gentlemen of the time would wear either tails or Military Uniform if they were soldiers, the same for a March rhythm, I found it nice.

Carron/Jost

Much improved compared to last year, but 2nd pattern noticeable worse than the 1st.

I like her alot, lovely personality, but he was a bit too stiff. Eventually she may do better with a more accomplished partner, and they have a 6 year gap anyway.

 

[La Rhumba]

Gruendberg/Rand

If they are one of the best Juniors (they did make it to jgpf after all), the field must be really weak this year. I know it's one of the hardest CDs, but they really struggled to keep going.

I must say I thought they were clearly robbed of a top 15 placement, I was pleasantly surprised, not knowing this couple, of their quality, and they were much better than the British No.2s in 18th, who had very strange timing, and as you say Anna, were on their technical limits for this Dance.

 

[La Rhumba]

I bow to Anna's comments being present rinkside, I am only watching on TV, but ES showed every couple, and it was possible to see the difference in standards.

My impressions were that it was a thoroughly deserved victory by the French - at last they got rewarded for a brilliant skate! :agree:
Dom Shabs were rightfully 2nd and DenStav 3rd, however Faiella & Scali were really overscored in 4th, they had absolutely no Waltz character to their Dance, it was almost staccato rather than liliting, and were scored only on tech IMO.
There was no musicality - for a Waltz, the most Musical of rhythms - I was thinking as they skated, if you turned off the music, you'd never know it was a Waltz they were supposedly dancing.
I found it hard edged and severe rather than soft and lilting, the essence of a Waltz. But what can you do?

Kokhlova & Novitski's dance was good, but I still would've had the Kerr's in 4th, K&N 5th and actually I'd have had the Hungarians ahead of F&S aswell, as Nora & Atilla looked like a new couple this year, and skated a much nicer Waltz IMO than the Italians. It's all very well technically completing all the steps, but the CDs are about interpreting the different rhythms of each Dance, so why F&S got the PCS scores to be 4th is beyond me.

The Kerr's skated a PB of 33.44 and K/N scored a PB of 33.46, so that tells you how close it is, closer than the top 2 infact, so roll on the OD to see who comes out a clear winner between those two couples. Jana K was a gymnast till the age of 13 so all her moves are flexibility based, and the choreography concentrated on her, whereas IMO the Kerr's OD is a real Tango, so we'll see where the Judges go.

The Kerr's skated beautifully, the best I've seen them, interviewed by Gwendal afterwards, Sinead said she'd "never been more relaxed for a CD" and it showed in their performance, which was beautifully smooth and lilting, with excellent timing, and the required speed and large pattern for this extremely difficult dance. I have to say that the Golden Waltz is actually the Kerr's strongest CD in the entire schedule! :agree:
A few of the 11 debutant couples were truly flumaxed!

The Kerr's skated their absolute best, Evgeni Platov looked pleased, they scored a PB, you can't ask anymore than that, and it's up to the Judges to place them fairly. I hope this performance finally knocks on the head the criticisms of their CDs by some people, as anyone who says their CDs aren't up to par is clearly blinkered.

I called the other results straight away, DomShabs overtaking DenStav and DelSchoes going 1st. Actually the best interpretation of a lilting Waltz today was DomShabs, but DelSchoes were better technically and their presentation was superb, so right they were 1st.