Skate America Free Dance Results

Free Dance

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	112.53	53.92		58.61	9.71	9.68	9.82	9.82	9.89	0.00	#8
2	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	98.61	47.00		51.61	8.57	8.39	8.64	8.79	8.79	0.00	#7
3	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	93.21	47.00		47.21	7.86	7.75	7.93	7.96	7.93	1.00	#6
4	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	92.27	44.21		48.06	8.00	7.79	8.11	8.21	8.11	0.00	#5
5	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN	81.85	41.58		40.27	6.82	6.46	6.82	6.79	6.82	0.00	#3
6	Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES	FRA	81.60	40.90		40.70	6.82	6.54	6.86	7.00	6.86	0.00	#2
7	Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS	LTU	81.50	40.27		41.23	6.89	6.68	6.89	7.04	7.00	0.00	#1
8	Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV	AZE	79.23	37.93		41.30	7.00	6.75	6.89	6.96	6.89	0.00	#4

Total

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	188.23	1	1
2	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	168.49	2	2
3	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	154.47	3	3
4	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	152.98	4	4
5	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN	136.13	6	5
6	Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES	FRA	135.70	7	6
7	Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS	LTU	134.67	8	7
8	Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV	AZE	133.76	5	8

Skate America Short Dance

Group 1

Reed/Reed, JPN: 28.85 TES + 25.43 PCS = 54.28 and into 1st place

• A little off on their twizzles toward the end of the sequences
• Not a lot of flow and a bit choppy in the opening part of the Finnstep they seem to really be concentrating through the changes of hold and are very cautious with their arm changes
• Great unison through the non touching step sequence but her arms were a bit floppy in places and she could have stronger arm positions
• Rotational haircutter lift with her up on his shoulder
• Overall just a little stiff and choppy

Tobias/Stagniunas, LTU: 25.85 TES + 27.32 PCS = 53.17 and into 2nd place

• Twizzles very choppy but decent unison
• Choppy on the Finnstep and the changes of hold don't all look very secure; nice big pattern close to the boards though
• I'd like to see her channel Marilyn a bit more as she seems too over the top smiley for this program
• A loss of unison at the end of their non touching step sequence
• Upside down split lift--interesting variation but she needs more stretch through her positions
• Fun program but they seemed to be racing to keep up with it the whole time

Hubbell/Donohue, USA: 30.79 TES + 29.92 PCS = 60.71 and into 1st place

• Much smoother through the Finnstep, a little more secure in their changes of hold and more extension through their free legs
• Nice entry to their twizzles with good changes of position and transitions between the sets
• Great lift with a nice flip into his arms before the exit
• Nice deep edges on their non touching step sequence and good unison 
• Nice transitional move with her lifting him in a spin into their ending pose

Carron/Jones, FRA: 26.36 TES + 27.74 PCS = 54.10 and into 3rd place

• Nice edges in their non touching step sequence; a little close to the boards; some of their arms are not in unison and a few of the turns are bobbly
• Cartwheel up to a spread eagle lift with her upside down and balancing on his shoulder
• Very far apart on the twizzles, slow and big unison problems
• She's a bit stiff in the Finnstep hold and the whole sequence seems a bit slow

Group 2

Zlobina/Sitnikov, AZE: 26.43 TES + 28.10 PCS = 54.53 and into 2nd place

• Love the speed, flow and playfulness in the opening to this program
• Nice stretch through their free leg and overall good unison throughout the non touching step sequence; a few places where the arms were a little off
• Really slowing through the twizzles and they seem a bit unsteady
• Very playful take on the Finnstep, secure in the holds, nice speed and flow and strettch through the free legs
• Flip around to a rotational lift wrapped around his neck

Shibuani/Shibutani, USA: 30.30 TES + 30.96 PCS = 61.26 and into 1st place

• Nice unison through their twizzles and good distance between them
• The use of her hands throughout their transitions is to die for
• Good ease through the position changes in the Finnstep, nice fast footwork and good extension through their free leg with matching leg heights
• Nice edges and use of their music throughout the non touching step sequence; great unison 
• Nice one arm lift from behind--very unique

Cappellini/Lanotte, ITA: 36.50 TES + 33.38 PCS = 69.88

• Super nitpicky but if you're going to wear a white satin top there can't be a stain on your back
• Nice unison on their twizzles but they drop their smiles during their twizzles, pick it back up in between and then drop them again a little thing that can effect their PCS
• Great bouncy feel in the right places in the Finnstep with good flow and edges in the rest
• Nice one foot section in their midstep sequence and it's really evident here how nicely matched they are as partners as he has exception posture and performance as well
• Great split lift with her arched back over her leg
• Really nice program with great energy, flow and choreography throughout

Davis/White, USA: 37.43 TES + 38.27 PCS = 75.70 and into 1st place

• So much speed through their opening sequence
• Great flow and edge control in their non touching sequence with perfect unison
• Excellent twizzles with good distance between them, speed and unison
• Nice touches added to the Finnstep to carry the character of the program through
• Great ease in the changes of holds and really nice flow across the ice in the Finnstep--they truly make it look easy
• Nice split rotational lift into a falling leaf lift

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	75.70	37.43		38.27	9.50	9.36	9.64	9.57	9.71	0.00	#8
2	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	69.88	36.50		33.38	8.25	8.04	8.43	8.39	8.54	0.00	#7
3	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	61.26	30.30		30.96	7.89	7.64	7.71	7.82	7.64	0.00	#6
4	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	60.71	30.79		29.92	7.54	7.29	7.54	7.46	7.54	0.00	#3
5	Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV	AZE	54.53	26.43		28.10	7.14	6.82	7.07	7.14	6.96	0.00	#5
6	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN	54.28	28.85		25.43	6.39	6.11	6.36	6.50	6.39	0.00	#1
7	Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES	FRA	54.10	26.36		27.74	6.96	6.64	6.93	7.14	6.96	0.00	#4
8	Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS	LTU	53.17	25.85		27.32	6.79	6.54	6.93	6.96	6.89	0.00	#2

Skate America Dance Preview

If there's one sure thing at this event it is that Davis and White will claim the gold medal.  The duo won every event they entered last season and are competing for their 4th consecutive Skate America gold medal.  They've also won the last four Grand Prix Finals.  Their Scheherezade free skate is very nuanced with lots of attention to detail along with some mindblowing lifts that had the crowd on their feet at the US International Figure Skating Classic.  They set a very good early season score at that event and look to break some of their own records this season.

Cappellini and Lanotte almost pulled off a major upset at Skate Canada last season and kept rolling from there.  They won the bronze medal at Europeans and finished just off the podium in 4th place at Worlds.  They are definitely in contention for a medal at the Olympics but should still be well behind Davis and White here.

The Shibutanis showed such promise in their freshman season winning medals at both of their Grand Prix events and winning the bronze medal at Worlds however they haven't been able to replicate those results.  Plagued with injuries and illnesses along with some lackluster choreography, they even dropped to 3rd place at US Nationals last season.  They withdrew from the US International Figure Skating Classic earlier this season due to a neck injury to Alex and are fighting an uphill battle to regain their place as the 2nd best US Ice Dancing team.  Regardless of their performances here, their twizzles are not to be missed and are some of the best in the world.

Hubbell and Donohue had a strong but disappointing season last year.  After finishing just off the podium at both their Grand Prix outings, they placed 4th at US Nationals and were left off the Worlds team in their sophomore season.  They've vowed to fight for an Olympics spot and started off their season with a come from behind win at Nebelhorn Trophy.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Davis/White
Silver: Cappellini/Lanotte
Bronze: Shibutani/Shibutani

Bios of the competitors:
Zlobina/Sitnikov, AZE: They placed 16th at Worlds and 7th at Europeans.  They finished 6th at Skate Canada and 5th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 144.83.  She is 24 and he is 27.

Carron/Jones, FRA: They placed 12th at Worlds and 10th at Europeans.  They finished 7th at Skate Canada and 8th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 145.98.  She is 27 and he is 25.

Cappellini/Lanotte, ITA: They placed 4th at Worlds and are the reigning European Bronze Medalists.  They won silver at Skate Canada and at Trophee Eric Bompard last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they finished 4th.  Their personal best is 168.04.  She is 26 and he is 28.

Reed/Reed, JPN: They placed 20th at Worlds and finished 7th at Four Continents.  They finished 5th at NHK Trophy last season.  Their personal best is 141.75.  She is 26 and he is 24.

Tobias/Stagniunas, LTU: They placed 15th at Worlds.  Their personal best is 141.64.  She is 22 and he is 28.

Davis/White, USA: They are the reigning World Champions and Four Continents Champions.   They won gold at Skate America and gold at NHK Trophy last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they won gold.  They are the 2010 Olympic Silver Medalists, 2011 World Champions, 2010 and 2012 World Silver Medalists, 2009 and 2011 Four Continents Champions, 2008 and 2012 Four Continents Silver Medalists, and 2006 World Junior Bronze Medalists.  Their personal best is 189.56.  She is 26 and he is 25.

Hubbell/Donohue, USA: They placed 5th at Skate Canada and 4th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 147.11.  She is 22 and he is 22.

Shibutani/Shibutani, USA: They placed 8th at Worlds and 4th at Four Continents.  They finished 4th at Rostelecom Cup and won bronze at NHK Trophy last season.  They are the 2011 World Bronze Medalists, 2011 Four Continents Silver Medalists and 2009 World Junior Silver Medalists.  Their personal best is 163.79.  She is 19 and he is 22.  

US International Figure Skating Classic Free Dance

Telegina/Japaridze, GEO: 34.53 TES + 33.02 PCS = 67.55 Total: 109.70

• Curve lift with her wrapped around his waist while he is in a spread eagle
• A little off on their unison in the first step sequence and not a lot of interesting variations in hold
• Twizzles slightly off and they seem to be a little choppy
• Rotational lift 
• Flip up into a handstand lift with him in a spread eagle 
• Lots of ice spray on the edge changes in their 2nd step sequence indicating they might not be clean
• Slow dance spin but good flexibility from her
• I feel like the tango/Latin elements of their program are placed here and there and it doesn't really come across coherently through the whole program
• Rotational lift with her in a haircutter

Aronow/Brubaker, USA: 28.57 TES + 33.73 PCS = 62.30 Total: 100.31 and into 2nd place

• Nice lift with three good changes of position
• Curve lift with him in a backwards hydroblade and her holding her body parallel to the ice
• Nice flow through their step sequence with a bit more intricate changes of hold
• They are far apart on their twizzles and seem to be off by a rotation on the 1st two sets
• Nice backwards rotational lift with her in a twisted split position
• Great extension and flexibility from her in the dance spin
• Nice stretched free leg and good deep knees through their 2nd step sequence but they seem to have gotten lost at the end of the pattern
• A bit of trouble in the flip up to their closing lift

Bernardi/Mior, ITA: 35.29 TES + 30.69 PCS -1.00 = 64.98  Total: 106.13 and into 2nd place

• I'm not sure I get the theme they were going for here...he looks like an orchestra conductor but seemed to be a puppet who came to life
• Good unison on the twizzles through all three sets
• Rotational lift with her wrapped around his neck and one position change
• They are a bit choppy in places and don't always seem to have a good speed and flow across the ice
• Decent positions in their dance spin but they could use some more speed and flexibility
• Pretty good matching let height on their step sequence and good unison 
• Kick into a split lift transitioning into a rotational lift but she could use more stretch behind her knees in the split position
• Interesting lift with him in a lunge and her balancing on his leg and a position change
• Ended just after their music

Maekawa/Maekawa, MEX: 28.87 TES + 27.81 PCS = 56.68 Total: 92.26 and into 4th place

• Split rotational lift but she could have more flexibility and stretch through the position--it also seemed rather bouncy but it was in time with the music so that might have been a choice
• Basic holds in their step sequence and not fully stretched through their free leg positions
• Twizzles a bit slow and a bobble on the 2nd set from her as they were too close
• Not very deep in their edges in the 2nd step sequence and not a lot of use in her free arm
• Straight line lift with him in a squat
• Slow curve lift with her kicking over his head
• She could have more stretch through her free leg and he could have more flexibility through his positions in the dance spin but speed is maintained throughout
• Haircutter rotational lift wrapped around his neck

Tobias/Stagniunas, LTU: 37.36 TES + 37.55 PCS -2.00 = 72.91 Total: 121.08 and into 1st place

• A little bobble from him on the 1st set of twizzles, good speed but unison is off
• Nice speed and flow through the 1st step sequence with nice changes of hold and good use of her free arm
• Rotational lift with her wrapped up around his head
• Nice stretch from her through the dance spin with interesting arm positions in the layback and a good exit out of the spin
• Nice hydroblade lift with her in a haircutter resting on his leg
• A little bit of a lack of unison and varying leg heights in their 2nd step sequence in places
• Arabesque lift with her standing on his leg and him balancing on one leg

Cannuscio/McManus, USA: 34.86 TES + 37.41 PCS -1.00  = 71.27  Total: 119.34 and into 2nd place

• Nice speed and flow through their 1st step sequence with lots of changes of hold and good use of her free arm
• Interesting rotational lift with two changes of position
• Nice stretch through their free leg and decent matching leg lines in the 2nd step sequence 
• Nice changes of position for her with him in a spread eagle
• One arm rotational lift with her in a catchfoot position
• Great character to this program and they don't drop it during their elements
• He bails on the 1st set of twizzles and they only do 2 sets so that will really hurt their level
• Could use a bit more speed on the dance spin but nice positions
• Upside down hair cutter lift for her with him in a spread eagle
• Nice final arabesque lift 

Kriengkrairut/Giuletti-Schmitt, USA: 42.83 TES + 40.62 PCS -2.00 =81.45 Total: 134.48 and into 1st place

• Nice unison and matching leg lines in their 1st step sequence, I like how both of them make use of their free arm and have an ease in the change of hold
• A little off on the unison of their twizzles but pretty good
• She has great lines on the ice
• Twist up into a rotational hair cut lift
• Nice entry into their dance spin with great positions from both of them with nice stretched out positions 
• Great backwards shoot the duck lift with her in an overextended split position arching back
• Cartwheel up to a nice attitude position and then wrapping around his neck in the rotational lift
• This team is such a joy to watch and have a great ease on the ice in addition to making some beautiful pictures
• A bit of a bobble getting into their 2nd sequence but it wasn't on an element so it won't effect the levels
• Rotational lift with him holding her by the foot with a change of position in the middle

Reed/Rogov, ISR: 35.56 TES + 32.70 PCS = 68.26 Total: 113.49 and into 4th place

• They could use more stretch through their free leg in the 1st step sequence but their leg lines match well
• Step up into an arched position with him in a spread eagle, transition into the rotational lift is slow
• I'm not sure this program really works for them because they don't seem to really be committing to the characters or the choreography and embracing the playfulness of the music
• Good twizzles
• Twist up into a rotational lift with her in a haircutter position
• Slow on the dance spin and a bit choppy in the change of direction
• A bit on top of their blades in the 2nd step sequence and they could work on having deeper edges
• Awkward flip up into a lift with her standing on his leg

Plutowska/Gerber, POL: 35.47 TES + 32.86 PCS = 68.33  Total: 114.48 and into 4th place

• Flip up into a straight line lift with nice position changes for her and nice speed through the rotational portion
• They could have better matching leg lines in the 1st step sequence and she bobbled a turn and put a foot down and had to get back into it
• He seemed a bit wild on the twizzles but they hung on
• Nice curve lift with him in a spread eagle and her hanging upside down
• Nice extension from her in the dance spin but a little bit slow
• One arm rotational lift with an up and down motion
• She has such elegance on the ice with great posture and lines
• Nice use of the free arm and changes in hold in the 2nd step sequence 
• Rotational lift changing directions in the middle

Zlobina/Sitnikov, AZE: 38.80 TES + 39.79 PCS = 78.59 Total: 132.34 and into 2nd place

• Nice lunge position from him with her leaning back over the ice in their 1st lift
• He struggled to hang on to his 2nd set of twizzles but they had good unison
• Good speed through their step sequence but a few places that were a bit choppy and they could use their eges more
• Rotational lift with one arm in a catchfoot position for her
• She could stretch more through the sit position in their dance spin but good speed throughout
• Nice lasso entry into a one foot curve lift with a change of position
• Good unison and flow through their 2nd step sequence
• Rotational lift in a haircutter position

Weaver/Poje, CAN: 49.33 TES + 50.05 PCS = 99.38 Total: 161.99 and into 1st place

• Nice passion and tango feel at the top of their program
• Nice changes of hold and unison in their first step sequence with good edges and they keep the performance up the whole time
• Nice arched position for her in the first position in the dance spin but extremely slow
• Difficult one arm rotational lift with him picking her up from the ice
• Cartwheen up to a straight line lift with two changes of position
• Curve lift with her balanced out parallel to the ice
• A little slow on the twizzles but good unison
• Rotational lift with her in a haircutter but he is holding her foot and her arms are wrapped around his neck

Orford/Williams, CAN: 41.67 TES + 42.29 PCS -1.00 = 82.96 Total: 137.60 and into 2nd place

• Loss of balance on the first lift--he was skating backwards on one leg and flipped her up over his head but they got out of it gracefully
• Nice positions, speed and a good exit out of their dance spin
• Twizzles were a little choppy and they could have been closer together
• Great extension and lines through their step sequence with good speed and flow; also nice unison and matching leg lines
• Flip up into a rotational lift with great speed and a nice exit from her
• Good speed and unison through their 2nd step sequence but a bit choppy in places
• One arm rotational lift
• Cool toss lift into a straight line lift with him in a squad 
• I think this program will flow a bit better once they really get it later in the season but at times they seem to be fighting to keep up with the music

Coomes/Buckland, GBR: 38.32 TES + 42.12 PCS -1.00 = 79.44  Total: 133.41 and into 4th place

• He falls at the top of the program in a transition movement
• Cool press lift from an upside down position into a nice rotational lift
• Good ease in their position changes in the 1st step sequence
• Twizzles a bit choppy and really off on their unison
• They have some interesting lifts with very unique entries and exits but they still seem a bit messy
• Good positions in speed in their dance spin but a bit choppy on the change of direction
• One arm up and down rotational lift with her legs in a half split
• Cartwheel up into a couple flips

Davis/White, USA: 53.17 TES + 57.85 PCS -1.00 = 110.02 Total: 183.69 and into 1st place

• Very good slide across the ice up into their first lift and extremely difficult
• Nice leg lines and unison in the 1st step sequence with ease in their changes of holds and really good edge changes
• Press up nto a handstand balancing on his shoulder into a split rotational lift
• Nice positions in their dance spin with a good entrance from a spiral and a lift exit
• Very close and good speed on their first set of twizzles but a bit slower on their second set
• Solid second step sequence and they really flew across the ice
• Rotational lift
• Stag lift with her balancing on just his shoulders

Place	Start No.	Name	Short Dance		Free Dance		Total Score
			Place	Score	Place	Score
1	14	Meryl Davis Charlie White, USA	1	73.67	1	110.02	183.69
2	11	Kaitlyn Weaver Andrew Poje, CAN	2	62.61	2	99.38	161.99
3	12	Nicole Orford Thomas Williams, CAN	3	54.64	3	82.96	137.60
4	7	Lynn Kriengkrairut Logan Giulietti-Schmitt, USA	6	53.03	4	81.45	134.48
5	13	Penny Coomes Nicholas Buckland, GBR	4	53.97	5	79.44	133.41
6	10	Juliya Zlobina Aleksei Sitnikov, AZE	5	53.75	6	78.59	132.34
7	5	Isabella Tobias Stagniunas Deividas, LTU	7	48.17	7	72.91	121.08
8	6	Anastasia Cannuscio Colin McManus, USA	8	48.07	8	71.27	119.34
9	9	Justyna Polutowska Peter Gerber, POL	9	46.15	9	68.33	114.48
10	8	Allison Reed Vasili Rogov, ISR	10	45.23	10	68.26	113.49
11	1	Angelina Telegina Otar Japaridze, GEO	11	42.15	11	67.55	109.70
12	3	Federica Bernardi Christopher Mior, ITA	12	41.15	12	64.98	106.13
13	2	Alissandra Aronow Collin Brubaker, USA	13	38.01	13	62.30	100.31
14	4	Pilar Maekawa Leonardo Maekawa, MEX	14	35.58	14	56.68	92.26