What performances should I watch?

[Serious Business]

As the title says, I have some catching up to do, and I'd like your help! Please recommend to me particular performances that you think I should watch. It can be because that particular performance was beautiful, technically superior, a star-is-born moment, or because it's a gamechanger in some way. It can even be for negative reasons! Like you can't believe this particularly awful performance still got a massive score and won, and what's wrong with those awful judges, etc. Also, I really enjoy (and oft times, prefer) exhibition numbers. Please recommend any good ones from galas. And as someone who was really excited by the inclusion of hip hop as a rhythm option in junior ice dance this season, dare I ask if any team actually put together a credible hip hop number? Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[Mrs. P]

As the title says, I have some catching up to do, and I'd like your help! Please recommend to me particular performances that you think I should watch. It can be because that particular performance was beautiful, technically superior, a star-is-born moment, or because it's a gamechanger in some way. It can even be for negative reasons! Like you can't believe this particularly awful performance still got a massive score and won, and what's wrong with those awful judges, etc. Also, I really enjoy (and oft times, prefer) exhibition numbers. Please recommend any good ones from galas. And as someone who was really excited by the inclusion of hip hop as a rhythm option in junior ice dance this season, dare I ask if any team actually put together a credible hip hop number? Thanks for any help you can give!

I actually like Rachel and Michael Parsons' SD, which helped them win a medal at JGP Croatia. The hip-hop segments are to Justin Timberlake and Madonna's "4 Minutes" It still needed a bit of polish when they skated to this in October, but I think it will be great come Nationals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QcfmxstWyE

Hannah Miller has been a delight to watch at the junior level. I was quite skeptical of her because everyone made a big deal about her small jumps. Yes her jumps are small and who knows what will happen to them if her body changes any further, but I enjoy her style right now, I think she has a musicality you don't see very often in the junior level and I love how she uses her whole body to express different parts of the music. The judges agree too because she was second despite not having a 3-3 in either program. She says she is working on them, so it will be something to see if she gets em together.
Here's her short from JGPF, which is what people called a "perky tango" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBgrauI-4cQ Her long has this more intense build, but she actually utilizes a different expression to skate to it well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq-3QYxXT2Q

The other junior standout is Stepanova/Bukin, who are practically old pros after three years on the JGP circuit. And,quite frankly. they show it. They won the JGPF by a LANDSLIDE. The SD is well skated and they really performed their hearts out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDkJ91GXSZI I found it interesting they decided to skate to Bolero, but quite frankly, they were quite impressive and I wasn't even thinking about T&D: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHqqbj9X8FY
We'll see how they transition to seniors, but I think they will do well. Their programs are well-choreographed, they are ooozing in musicality and given the improvement they had between last season and this season, it's clear their work ethic is pretty awesome too.

I'll talk more later, but here's a couple of programs for you to start with.

 

[Tonichelle]

Any and all of Ashley Wagner's skates, including the one that she injured herself on...

 

[LRK]

From the GPF I would certainly rec

Daisuke's SP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdQlLYAC4Jc

Javi's FP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzXSoydQL-U

I'll think of others later, when I have more time - unless others post them in the interim.

 

[R.D.]

For women:

Gao at SA
Osmond at SC
Wagner at TEB
Suzuki at NHK
Yuna Kim last weekend

 

[Bea]

Yuzuru Hanyu posted a new world record for the SP at Skate America and then again at NHK. I think they are worth watching.
Akiko Suzuki's FS is great in my opinion and she performed it really well at NHK. A lot of people think she should have won the event with that performance.
As a gala performance I probably would recommend Pechalat and Bourzat's exhibition number, maybe from TEB.

 

[Buttercup]

As the title says, I have some catching up to do, and I'd like your help! Please recommend to me particular performances that you think I should watch. It can be because that particular performance was beautiful, technically superior, a star-is-born moment, or because it's a gamechanger in some way. It can even be for negative reasons! Like you can't believe this particularly awful performance still got a massive score and won, and what's wrong with those awful judges, etc. Also, I really enjoy (and oft times, prefer) exhibition numbers. Please recommend any good ones from galas. And as someone who was really excited by the inclusion of hip hop as a rhythm option in junior ice dance this season, dare I ask if any team actually put together a credible hip hop number? Thanks for any help you can give!

I'm sad to report that you haven't missed much. Don't let the very high scores fool you; there have been lots of boring paint by numbers programs and messy skates rewarded. If you're curious about just how much politikking power is behind V/T, check out their Rostelecom or GPF LPs.

That said, there have been some good performances and programs:

Daisuke Takahashi's Primavera Porteña EX is wonderful, why he doesn't let Miyamoto choreograph more of his competitive programs is a mystery.

Akiko Suzuki's LP at NHK was excellent.

I really enjoyed C/L's and P/B's SDs - I used the TEB performances as it was the first time I saw C/L's.

Some conditional recs: I'm not a fan of his and still say Jeffrey Buttle would have done it better, but Patrick Chan's SP is quite good and I'm pleased that he's no longer with Nichol. I'm kind of fond of Kozuka's SP as well, though this may be because I like him so much, and I'm also partial to Joubert's new LP, but he hasn't performed it well so far so I don't recommend looking for it. K/S have good programs but seem to have lost their federation's favor, and with the hideous costumes replaces, S/S's SP isn't bad.

Maybe Carolina Kostner's programs will prove more interesting. I'm looking forward to her season debut this weekend.

 

[dorispulaski]

All of the JGP programs from everybody can be seen on the ISU's youtube channel:

ISUJGP2011, so everything from the youngsters is easy to find. All the JGPF videos are on there, as well as videos from the season.

Unfortunately, the recording quality is not that great, except for the JGPF. All 3 of the top JGPF girls will probably be seen again. Mrs. P has already talked about Hannah Miller, but Radionova ran away with everything all year, and Pogorilaya showed outstanding courage and a cool head for competition.

A brand new couple to Dance Juniors are the Wheaton Academy teammates of the Parsons, McNamara & Carpenter, who did a great hiphop zombie routine to Roisin Murphy & Flipron. They are very young
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj1aXkNixkY

A brand new team that may challenge Aldridge & Eaton for the Junior dance title in the US is Kaitlyn Hawayek and Jean Luc Baker. Considering they only got together in June, they are amazing. Their SD from JGP Chemnitz, where they placed second to Stepanova & Bukin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MT6hVbmAV4

Another little youngster that I expect to see over time is little Ivett Toth of Hungary. She is just over the age of eligibility for Juniors, like 13. The ice was just horrible at JGP Sencila-Bled (and that fog is...fog. All the girls had troubles with soft ice and fog so thick you could hardly see the skaters. Here's Ivett's SP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsfqKsVMS6s

Yuzuru Hanyu's EX at Skate America was really great live (I hope that comes out in the video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJVwT-nd1xA

I got a great kick out of Davis & White's Giselle SD at Skate America-polka ballet on ice, something I never expected from them. (If you have IN, watch it there, if you can get a copy of the Canadian coverage, that was the best version, but it is not on youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPZTL_zBg4o

You should definitely watch Virtue & Moir's modern Carmen at the GPF. Everybody is still talking about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTIYowCzhVA

For me, the best version of Davis & White's Notre Dame FD was at NHK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARqjSQmzagY

Madison Chock & Evan Bates are doing Dr Zhivago this year
They won Nebelhorn with it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm3r2utNDbc

Capellini & Lanotte's Carmen at the GPF was a more traditional one that V&M's but showed a lot of improvement. They are really coming into their own this year; Igor's been good for them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFO-tTUgb1I

Bobrova & Soloviev are having a breakout season; too bad they faltered a bit at the GPF.
Their fd from Cup of China, where they finished second to P&B. They beat Weaver & Poje in both their GP events to qualify for the GPF.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3RTp30WKTU

Javier Fernandez has beaten Patrick Chan, not once but twice (overall at Skate Canada, and in the LP at the GPF). His outstanding LP at the GPF:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPd29Omdug

 

[LRK]

From TEB:

Liza's FP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdvmJFTcdl8

Ashley's FP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TqAUEqlfXo

Brian's EX:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO5j--WnOeY

Sadly I have a terrible memory, and after that things get extremely fuzzy for me - who did what where. But luckily there are people on this forum, with not only better memories than mine (that isn't saying much!), but excellent ones.

Also, sadly, I must agree with Buttercup that the season so far has been a mixed bag, with some competitions not really living up to expectation, especially, for me (as its my favourite discipline), the men. But still, there's been some good stuff too.

 

[FSGMT]

Suzuki's NHK FS (deserved the gold medal), Mao's GPF FS (finally she's back!), Ashley's wonderful programs, Yu-Na's stellar comeback, Davis-White SD, B/S FD (finally something new!), I/K FD (the WORST this season, in my opinion ), Chan FS (artistically, still the best), Fernandez GPF FS (the best technically), V/T CoR FS (the biggest scandal, their PCS), P/T FS (the best this season!)

 

[merleice]

Takahiko Kozuka's Sounds of Silence EX at SA--One of the best EX programmes this season, quite sad that he didn't perform it at CoR .

Li Zijun's SP at NHK--She's not had as much success as other young skaters such as Liza Tuk or Julia Lipnitskaia this season but definitely one to watch in the future, with lovely jumps and expression

 

[skatel80]

Speaking of ladies at thhe JGPF, check out Angela Wang, she didnt have a great skate in the short but her long was awesome her jump technique is so technically perfect and her basic skating is very smooth, here is her long from the JGPF....enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_BwNmS3dMY

 

[Lunna]

Yuzuru Hanyu's EX at Skate America was really great live (I hope that comes out in the video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJVwT-nd1xA

I prefer his EX from NHK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHzTL9AZp5g
Also check out his SP - he was flying
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGb7gXGlSY0
Dai's EX is simply amazing this year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZyrumAs9-g


Also I can recommend a couple of programs which you'll hardly have a chance to see next year
I love Stolbova/Klimov FS (it's fun and not some typical lyrical stuff as usual in pairs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UzKNnl0O_E
Also I like Machida's SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-STbJWsHzi0

Oh, and check out Kiira Korpi's FS at CoR when she was hitting jump by jump I was like... wow, girl, you still can do it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBswXM2vW_E

 

[lakeside]

Yuzuru Hanyu posted a new world record for the SP at Skate America and then again at NHK. I think they are worth watching.
Akiko Suzuki's FS is great in my opinion and she performed it really well at NHK. A lot of people think she should have won the event with that performance.

Yuzuru Hanyu's EX at Skate America was really great live (I hope that comes out in the video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJVwT-nd1xA

I got a great kick out of Davis & White's Giselle SD at Skate America-polka ballet on ice, something I never expected from them. (If you have IN, watch it there, if you can get a copy of the Canadian coverage, that was the best version, but it is not on youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPZTL_zBg4o

ITA. D/W has the best SD and Yuzru has the best EX of the season. I also think Akiko should have won NHK with that wonderful performance. :agree:

Some conditional recs: I'm not a fan of his and still say Jeffrey Buttle would have done it better, but Patrick Chan's SP is quite good and I'm pleased that he's no longer with Nichol.

Thank you for recommending this. I know not everyone is a fan of Patrick, but this program is worth watching. He is trying hard to improve his artistry. Here’s his SP at Rostelecom Cup.

 

[seniorita]

Kovtun from Junior GPF, Hanyu and Kozu Sp from SA, The Carmen's in Ice Dance from SC. Mao's Lp from GPF.

 

[icedinn]

Christina Gao sp from skate america.
The best ladies sp this season imo.

 

[OS]

As the title says, I have some catching up to do, and I'd like your help! Please recommend to me particular performances that you think I should watch. It can be because that particular performance was beautiful, technically superior, a star-is-born moment, or because it's a gamechanger in some way. It can even be for negative reasons! Like you can't believe this particularly awful performance still got a massive score and won, and what's wrong with those awful judges, etc. Also, I really enjoy (and oft times, prefer) exhibition numbers. Please recommend any good ones from galas. And as someone who was really excited by the inclusion of hip hop as a rhythm option in junior ice dance this season, dare I ask if any team actually put together a credible hip hop number? Thanks for any help you can give!

View ladies at NHK and let me know your thoughts.

The most exciting program for me this season is Virtue and Moir's Carmen, but it seems polorizing on the figure skating world (some judges/fan are just infuriating not able to see masterworks)

The most exciting comeback: Yuna Kim at NRW Trophy Dortmund same weekend as GPF. Watch everyone else at GPF at Sochi Olympic rink then watch her at a B competition with 300 seats. Oh the irony.

Most sensational record breaking performance: Hanyu broke SP score twice, is the program worth the hype? Or was more down to the performer worth the hype. I put down the latter by far.

 

[Bluebonnet]

I'd recommend Ross Miner's LP at NHK which he has earned 161.96 and put him on the podium:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkA_UF9TxTM

He has successfully jumped a 4S.

 

[Aesthetics]

View ladies at NHK and let me know your thoughts.

The most exciting program for me this season is Virtue and Moir's Carmen, but it seems polorizing on the figure skating world (some judges/fan are just infuriating not able to see masterworks)

Most sensational record breaking performance: Hanyu broke SP score twice, is the program worth the hype? Or was more down to the performer worth the hype. I put down the latter by far.

When I saw NHK live, I thought Akiko should win.

I also like V/M’s Carmen, as well as B/S’s FD. I see their links are posted on the first page, so check those out. I hope to see them live someday.

Now Hanyu’s FS is also growing on me-again it’s probably more due to Hanyu the performer than the program itself. To me his FS at GPF was the skate of the night and he should win GPF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DzUd_RF6Jk
I read that he was very sick at the GPF but fought through his FS, that reminds me of how he fought through his FS in Nice with the ankle sprain. And I was shocked that he could improve so much in 2 weeks time from NHK and that he maintained fast speed throughout the FS and did not slow down in the last minute of the program.

 

[skateluvr]

Kira's SP from GP final or anytime this season-so stunning.