Ekaterina RIAZANOVA / Jonathan GUERREIRO RUS WAS robbed big time
I know it's a bit late but i just found the time to post my view on the final as i watched it live.
Overall i was impressed with the level of skating from the top 3-4 junior couples all were reasonably strong and didn't look much weaker in the technical elements then the Seniors.
In first place i would have had Raizanova/ Guerreiro . Not only were they very powerful and dynamic but they were also very expressive. Being a powerful skater is not about doing 10 cross overs and a few toe step and then gliding along the board's in a pretty pose!!
Powerful skating is when a couple can pick up speed out of nowhere and not only with cross overs but with a variety of difficult turns and transitions. That's one of the things I thought put them above the rest. Because both Chock/ Zuerlein and the Shabutani's had a very disturbing amount of cross overs and a lot of skating without the use of dance holds . For this it is difficult to understand were these two couples deserved such high marks for Linking Footwork/Movements, Choreography and even Skating Skills.
However Raizanova / Guerreiro didn't skate perfect some of there lines in step sequences were a bit out of whack and I also thought that there spin could have been faster. They were penalized harshly by the technical panel , they first received a level three straight line lift because the lifted partners pose wasn't held for three seconds and for that same lift they also received a minus 1 deduction for over holding it. After watching it on tape it is evident that the pose was to short, but it was definitely no more that 6 seconds so i can't see were the referee found the deduction. Then the panel down graded there first part of the combo lift because they found that the upside down position wasn't difficult enough , however at all the competitions it was level 4. Step sequences are always questionable so it is difficult to say whether or not it was level 2 or 3 you have to watch it on slow motion. But I thought that there steps were no less recognizable then both of the couples placed ahead of them. But even if they were to have all those levels downgraded for whatever reason, I still think in terms of components and GOE they should still be ahead of both Chock/ Zuerlein and the Hubbels.
On second I would have and the Hubbels. The Hubbels because they skated strong and you felt that they meant business and have strong elements when they perform them well.They didn't make any HUGE error's. But as far as programs and interpretation I think in this program they looked weaker then then Raiznova/ Guerreiro. It is really odd for me to be saying this as I really love the Hubbels. But on the day they didn't do themselves justice. There first set of twizzles was very far apart and wasn't well synchronized , strangely the judges still gave them positive GOE. Their step Sequences have speed but they were very sloppy with their legs and on some turns their edges looked a bit shaky compared to their performance in Cape Town. They also had a Minor error on the spin when in the first position Keifer's leg began to drop and there position therefore wasn't held for long enough so it was downgraded to level 3 , however not many of the judges gave them negative GOE which is difficult to understand as it was a error. Even there program this year looks like a bit of there last years free dance , a bit of Samuelson / Bates free dance from last year and even a bit of Samuelson / Bates free dance this year. Even the Music is from the same artist as Samuelson / Bates , it just has a different tone to it . Either there Coaches really love this artist's music or the coaches have very little creativity or possibly both. I hope that at Nationals and junior world's they will be able to show themselves in a different light.
Third which a huge grad from the top two I would have had Chock / Zuerlein. There program flows when skated well. They have some good and effective lifts especially the Khokhlova / Novitski lift. The step sequences were skated on reasonably bold lobes. However you didn't need to watch it in slow motion to see that there diagonal was no level 4 , There were a few turns missing from both partners Madison didn't have a bracket in the one foot section her entry and exit edges were a bit flat and Greg jumped in both the one foot section on the counter. It was also strange how the technical panel was able to call there first part of the combo lift level 4 as the lifted partner's position is meant to be a change of pose , a change of pose is only considered difficult if the lifted partner fully changes her position not just moves from one side to another , in there case i found that she didn't actually change her pose fully enough. They made a huge error on there set of twizzles, Madison put her foot down on they second set of twizzles. Now according to the rules if there is a stumble with additional support ( hands or feet ) then the GOE MUST be in minus and the twizzles should be downgraded by 2 grades ,only 5 judges gave minus 1 , one judge gave a 0 and four judges gave positive GOE ( plus 1). Did they blink during the twizzles? The technical panel did down grade there last rotation lift I'm not sure why as there are a few reason's either because there was no difficult or creative entry or because he didn't finish the needed rotation's for level 4.
Nevertheless , They did look polished and had the best lines at times and I do think that they have improved allot since the last time I saw them at Lake Placid this year. However many people have been talking about there expression and connection on forums. You can call me what ever you want but expression is not posing on a spot for 35-40 seconds and it's not about grabbing your partner's head and shaking it.
There are programs that are fast and dynamic like Raizanova and Guerreiro's and there are Romantic and tragic programs like Chock and Zuerlien's. I found that Raizanova / Guerreiro showed me their program , I got the message and really enjoyed it . Chock / Zuerlein had a lot of very nice movements in their program as well as nice poses but I don't think they actually felt what they were doing. Were as for example when Virtue / Moir do a Romantic program I actually believe them and sit and enjoy it as i did in the times of Torvil / Dean. I might be being harsh to them but it is unfair to there competitor's that they can make such serious mistakes and only get slightly penalised and if they won't to take such serious programs and try and win competitions with them then they must be able to make you believe in what there showing is true.
