JGP Poland Dance Preview

The Russians dominated the dance event in the junior ranks last season, taking 6 out of the 8 spots in the Junior Grand Prix Final.  Despite winning silver at both their assignments and the Final, Sinitsina and Zhiganshin were left off the Junior Worlds team after their poor performance at nationals.  They'll be looking for redemption here and to position themselves as the top team in the junior ranks.  

One of only two non Russian teams in the Final was Galyeta/Shumski of Ukraine who also took home two medals from their assignments.  They'll be looking for a return to the Final and to move up the ranks at Junior Worlds.

Papadakis and Cizeron of France are another strong team in this field, winning a medal at one of their events last season and just missing the podium in the other.  They'll be hoping for two medals this season and the tough task of breaking into a pared down Final.  

Uzurova and Ali of Kazakhstan will likely not be making a run at the podium here, but they are a team to watch.  They are a fairly young team and have done very well in their assignments and made strides already this season. 

Two other young teams to watch are Parsons/Parsons and Mancini/Brooks from the United States.  They are the national novice gold and silver medalists and are making a jump to the junior ranks and international competition.  While the Russians dominated at the Junior level last season, North American teams at the senior level ran away from the competition.  These young teams are the next generation of American ice dance and will be hoping to find their place.   The Parsons paired up last season and looked remarkably polished for only having one season together and their young age (she is 13 and he is 15).  Mancini and Brooks had a height difference that made some of their holds look awkward, but this should be less of an issue outside of the compulsory dances and as she grows.

My podium predictions:

Gold: Sinitsina/Zhiganshin

Silver: Galyeta/Shumski

Bronze: Papadakis/Cizeron

Bios of the competitors:

Kavaliova/Bieliaiev, BLR: They placed 23rd at Junior Worlds.  They finished 9th at JGP Romania and 11th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Their personal best is 91.94.  She is 17 and he is 18.

Bruser/Lum, CAN: This is their international debut.  She is 13 and he is 16.

Hasegawa/Hasegawa, CAN: They finished 10th at JGP Japan last season.  Their personal best is 95.14.  She is 17 and he is 19.

Konickova/Lang, CZE: They finished 13th at JGP Romania last season.  Their personal best is 59.59.  She is 15 and he is 16.

Baadsgaard Snider/Dubrovski, DEN: This is their first season competing together and their international debut.  She is 19 and he is 21.

Lohmus/Davodov, EST: This is their JGP debut.  She is 14 and he is 17.

Papadakis/Cizeron, FRA: They finished 12th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 4th at JGP France before winning bronze at JGP Austria last season.  Their personal best is 115.56.  She is 16 and he is 16.

Rudchenko/Reggiani, FRA: This is their JGP debut.  She is 16 and he is 20.

Jones/Sharpe, GBR: They finished 12th at JGP Romania and Great Britain last season.  Their personal best is 84.42.  She is 18 and he is 20.

Tessari/Colafato, ITA

Uzurova/Ali, KAZ: They finished 17th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 7th at JGP Latvia.  Their personal best is 101.98.  She is 14 and he is 16.

Pecherkina/Jakushin, LAT: They finished 17th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  They placed 8th at JGP Latvia.  Their personal best is 97.64.  She is 18 and he is 20.

Birgelaite/Starvinskas, LTU

Carroll/Gerber, POL: They finished 22nd at Junior Worlds.  They placed 12th at JGP Latvia.  Their personal best is 90.74.  She is 17 and he is 19.

Kaliszek/Kaliszek, POL: She is 15 and he is 20.

Zajac/Binkowski, POL: They finished 16th at JGP Great Britain and 13th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Their personal best is 83.25.  She is 15 and he is 15.

Sinitsina/Zhiganshin, RUS: They won silver at JGP Austria and Great Britain last season to qualify for the JGPF where they also won silver.  Their personal best is 134.62.  She is 16 and he is 18.

Yankovskaia/Mozgov, RUS

Galyeta/Shumski, UKR: They finished 13th at Junior Worlds.  They won silver at JGP Romania and bronze at JGP Czech Republic last season to qualify for the JGPF where they finished 7th.

Mancini/Brooks, USA: This is their international debut.  She is 15 and he is 17.

Parsons/Parsons, USA: This is their international debut.  She is 13 and he is 15.

Broadmoor Open

The Broadmoor Open runs June 22nd-25th in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Competitors in the International Skating Pool and a few other competitors of note include:

Senior Men
Alexander Johnson
SP Score: 20, 29.4 48.4 Music: O mio babbino caro


Senior Men SP Only
Joshua Farris
Score: 34.82, 31.05 64.87 Music: Clair de Lune
3A, 3F+3T, 3Lz

Max Aaron
Score: 32.22 29.7 61.92 Music: Tango medley of Oblivion by Piazzolla & Mr. & Mrs. Smith 
4S, 3A, 3Lz+2T



Senior Ladies
Lauren Dinh
SP Score:  43.70
McKinzie Daniels
SP Score: 40.36
Angela Wang
SP Score: 53.14


Senior Ladies SP Only
Melissa Bulanhagui
Score: 17.5 20.2 37.7
3A attempt, Popped lutz, 2a.
 
Junior Men
Timothy Dolensky
SP Score: 52.05 
3Lo+3Lo turnout, 3Lz, 2A


David Wang
SP score: 49.70
2A, 3F+2T, 3Lz


Junior Ladies
Hannah Miller
SP Score: 45.60 Music: Danse Macabre
3F+1T, 3Lz, 2A
FS score:  87.76 Music: Masquerade Waltz
2A, 3F, 3Lo, 3S+2T+2Lo, 3T+2T, 3S, 3T+'tano 2T
Barbie Long (not on ISP, finished 2nd in novice last season)
SP Score: 50.44 Music: Swan Lake
3Lz, 3F+2T, 2A
FS score: 93.13 Music: 42nd Street
3Lz+2T+2Lo, 3F+2A seq., 3Lo, 3F, 3S, 1Lz, 2A+3T fall.
Mariah Bell (not on ISP, finished 3rd in novice last season)
SP Score: 44.76 Music: Mack & Mabel
2A, 2Lz, 3F+2T
FS Score: 84.73
2A+2A seq., 3F, 3Lz, 3S, 3T, 3F, 3T

Junior Pairs SP
Madeline Aaron/Max Settlage
SP Score: 40.24
Haven Denney/Brandon Frazier (not on ISP, but new junior team)
SP Score: 43.29
Kylie Duarte/Colin Grafton
SP Score: 46.55 Music: Meditation from Thais
Britney Simpson/Matt Blackmer (not on ISP, but new junior team, she competed on Sr Grand Prix)
SP Score: 39.16
Olivia Oltmanns/Josh Santillan
SP Score: 40.13

Junior Dance SD & FD
Jessica Mancini/Tyler Brooks

For a full list of competitors, see http://unseenskaters.wordpress.com/

US Nationals: Novice Recap

Mens:

Nathan Chen was able to defend his title and did so in grand fashion, winning by nearly 36 points.  Though only 11 years old, he outshone the field with his stellar performance skills and incredible jumps and spins.  He has already said that he'll be competing as a junior next season and his coach says he can do triple axels on the floor.  His jump arsenal is already impressive with a double axel-double loop-double loop and six triples in his free skate.  If he can stay with the sport (he also plays piano and does gymnastics) and survive growth spurts that throw off jumps he could easily be a top competitor in the senior division nationally and internationally in only a few years.  Luckily for the junior and senior men, he's not eligible for the Olympics until 2018.

Jordan Moeller and Nix Phengsy were separated by only .37 points to take home the silver and bronze respectively.  Moeller won intermediate gold and Phengsy silver last season and are quickly climbing the ranks.  They both had impressive elements and a few errors but overall had solid performances for an impressive level of competition for the novice level.

Ladies:

The Midwestern ladies swept the podium at nationals.  Hannah Miller skated an impressive free skate to move up from 3rd to win gold.  She has a grace on the ice far beyond her 14 years and zips through her programs with great jumps and elegant spins.  She also has a ton of personality on the ice and is enjoyable to watch.  She hit four triples in her free skate.

Barbie Long won silver with perhaps the most technically demanding free skate including a double axel-triple toe (an element that many senior ladies don't execute).  While she has great jumps, she could improve on her performance skills her spins and her transitions but she is still young and has plenty of time to develop these skills.

Mariah Bell is a bundle of cuteness and skated a flawless short program to lead going into the free skate.  She will need to up her technical ante as she only had two triples in her free skate if she wants to keep pace with Miller and Long.  All of these girls have very ambitious goals and I can't wait to see them on the Junior Grand Prix.

Pairs:

Aaron and Settlage won the Pairs title by over 14 points despite Madeline's 102 degree fever.  They've only been together six months but have the most difficult elements and look the most secure and polished in the field.  They were the only one to successfully land a throw triple and unlike other teams, their throws had height to them.  At 16 and 18 their ages are also compatible for international competition and they have a good number of years of junior eligibility ahead of them.  I think they could really make a splash on the Junior Grand Prix next season and if they stay together they could be the next big US Pairs team.

Liu and Perini won the silver.  She is just 11 years old and he's 17.  Right now their height difference is a little awkward but it does give them the advantage in completing difficult elements that other teams don't execute.  He doesn't really throw her in the throw jumps currently, but I'd love to seem them execute these when they're more secure because he could really toss her.  I'm not sure what their future plans are as she's too young to compete internationally and he only has 4 years of junior level eligibility left.

Goldberg and Dolkiewicz have already been together for three years.  They skated a fun free program to win the bronze medal.  At 14 and 18 they are another team that is close enough in age to have options for international assignments and has several years in front of them to develop and reach the top ranks of the senior level.

Dance:

The Parsons siblings have only been skating together since this season.  At 13 and 15 they were able to claim the novice dance title.  They have some very interesting elements, great flexibility, secure lifts and a nice presence on the ice.  They plan to move up to juniors and are looking forward to international assignments.  With a deep ice dance field, this team is just young enough to be ready to take over the reigns when some of the current top dance teams are ready to retire.  They were also one of the youngest teams in the field and have a lot of time to really develop on top of the good technical basics they already have.

I like the intensity and performance quality of silver medal winners Mancini and Brooks but they have a height difference that makes many of their holds look extremely awkward and distorts many of their frames. 

Hawayek and Bramante were one of my favorite teams in the event and I think they have a great look on the ice from their costumes to their movement and performance quality.  She needs to work on not over performing and making the movements cleaner but I think there is definite potential with this team and they took home the bronze medal.

All three of these teams have only begun skating together this season, so it will be interesting to see how they develop their partnerships and increase their connection with each other in the future.

U.S. Nationals: Novice Free Dance

1. Jeandell/Dodge: 31.37 TES + 20.31 PCS = 51.68
1. They executed a Level 3 Twizzle, Level 4 Rotational Lift, Level 2 Diagonal Step Sequence, Level 4 Dance Spin, Level 4 Combination Lift and Level 4 Straight Line Lift with only one negative GOE.
2. DeMaria/Miller: 22.35 TES + 18.30 PCS = 40.65
1. They executed Level 3 Twizzles, Level 4 Curve Lift, Level 4 Rotational Lift, Level 1 Circular Step Sequence, a Combination Lift with level 2 and 4 elements, and received no credit for their dance spin.  They had two positive GOEs.
3. Howe/Farmer: 31.10 TES + 22.06 PCS = 53.16
1. They executed a Level 4 Straight Line Lift, Level 4 Twizzles, Level 1 Circular Step Sequence, Level 4 Combination Lift, Level 3 Dance Spin and Level 4 Rotational Lift with all positive GOEs.
4. Deissroth/Mueller: 27.46 TES + 18.27 PCS = 45.73
1. They executed a Level 4 Straight Line Lift, Level 4 Rotational Lift, Level 1 Circular Step Sequence, Level 3 Twizzles, Level 3 Dance Spin and Level 4 Combination Lift with two positive GOEs.
5. Moore/Klaber: 26.17 TES + 24.21 PCS = 48.38
1. They executed Level 3 Twizzles, Level 1 Circular Step Sequence, Level 4 Rotational Lift, Level 4 Dance Spin, Level 4 and Level 2 Combination Lift and Level 1 Curve Lift with only two negative GOEs.
6. Oi/Jahnke: 33.76 TES + 23.99 PCS = 57.75
1. They executed Level 4 Twizzles, Level 4 Curve Lift, Level 4 Straight Line Lift, Level 2 Circular Step Sequence, Level 4 Serpentine Lift, and Level 4 Dance Spin with only one negative GOE. 
7. Grant/Skala: 30.65 TES + 23.43 PCS = 54.08
1. They executed a Level 4 Combination Lift, Level 3 Twizzles, Level 2 Circular Step Sequence, Level 3 Dance Spin, Level 4 Curve Lift and Level 4 Rotational Lift with only one negative GOE.
8. Schmucker/Munday: 33.90 TES + 24.86 PCS = 58.76
1. They executed Level 3 Twizzles, Level 4 Combination Lift, Level 4 Dance Spin, Level 3 Circular Step Sequence, Level 4 Curve Lift and Level 4 Rotational Lift with no negative GOEs.
9. Hawayek/Bramante: 33.26 TES + 25.50 PCS = 58.76
1. They executed a Level 4 Rotational Lift, Level 3 Circular Step Sequence, Level 2 Dance Spin, Level 4 Combination Lift, Level 4 Twizzles, and Level 4 Straight Line Lift with only one negative GOE.
10. Parsons/Parsons: 32.03 TES + 28.43 PCS = 60.46
1. They executed a Level 4 Combination Lift, Level 2 Straight Line Lift, Level 2 Circular Step Sequence, Level 4 Dance Spin, Level 1 Twizzles and Level 4 Rotational Lift with all positive GOEs.
11. Mancini/Brooks: 35.00 TES + 26.51 PCS -1.00 = 60.51
1. They executed a Level 3 Circular Step Sequence, Level 4 Rotational Lift, Level 4 Dance Spin, Level 3 Twizzles, Level 4 Straight Line Lift and Level 4 Combination Lift with only one negative GOE.  They received a deduction for an extended lift.
12. Pogrebinsky/Gudis: 33.43 TES + 25.33 PCS = 58.76
1. They executed Level 4 Twizzles, a Level 2 and 4 Combination Lift, Level 4 Dance Spin, Level 2 Circular Step Sequence, Level 4 Rotational Lift and Level 4 Straight Line Lift with all positive GOEs.

Top 5 Final Scores:

1. Parsons/Parsons: 112.82
2. Mancini/Brooks: 109.19
3. Hawayek/Bramante: 106.64
4. Pogrebinsky/Gudis: 105.92
5. Oi/Jahnke: 102.16

U.S. Nationals: Novice Compulsory Dance: Paso Doble

1. Grant/Skala: 15.21 TES + 14.38 PCS = 20.71 Total 40.30
1. I'd like to see them attack this a little bit more and I'd like to see something from them facially
2. I'd like to see them have more power through their legs as well and make all the movements a little bigger
3. They have a good connection with each other and good timing
2. DeMaria/Miller: 13.34 TES + 13.08 PCS = 18.49 Total 38.01 and into 2nd place
1. I love their costumes and the attack they have entering the ice and that they're in character before the program starts
2. Their body movements nicely convey the paso feeling but her face looks a little tentative
3. Their upper body carriage is exquisite
4. They have some nice timing with each other and with the music
5. She has some nice faces at the end
3. Schmucker/Munday: 15.04 TES + 15.02 PCS = 21.04 Total: 42.41 and into 1st place
1. They have great attack and facials at the top of their program
2. They have some nice speed through the pattern dance
3. I'd like to see them keep their facials up through the whole program
4. It looks like there was a slight bobble in the middle but it didn't throw them off the steps
5. They turned on the facials again at the end through the choreography
4. Moore/Klaber: 16.78 TES + 16.42 PCS = 23.24 Total: 45.98 and into 1st place
1. I love her use of arms at the beginning of the program
2. Their movements through the pattern dance are very crisp but I'd like to see her straighten through her knees a little more
3. They've lost some of their attack and seem slow getting into their ending pose
5. Jeandell/Dodge: 14.20 TES + 13.62 PCS = 19.47 Total: 37.68 and into 5th place
1. I appreciate that they're trying something different for costumes but the hot pink is a little much
2. She seems a little tentative through the opening section
3. Their arm accents seem to be a little off the music
4. Bobble into the ending pose
6. Hawayek/Bramante: 17.44 TES + 16.54 PCS = 23.79 Total: 47.88 and into 1st place 
1. She's really a performer but I'd like to see her work on some of her arm positions especially in the beginning pose
2. Her dress is a nice color and flows really well on the ice
3. She has tons of facials at the end
7. Howe/Farmer: 13.85 TES + 14.53 PCS = 19.87 Total: 39.86 and into 5th place
1. They have some nice speed through the Pattern Dance
2. Some of her arm accents seem off the music
3. Some nice choreography at the end including a split lift into the ending pose
8. Parsons/Parsons: 20.44 TES + 18.65 PCS = 27.36 Total: 52.36 and into 1st place
1. At 13 and 15 they are probably the youngest team in this event
2. Her skirt has great movement when she skates and turns
3. They have very crisp leg movements and great timing
4. I like her head carriage throughout the Pattern Dance
5. I think this team could have a bright future considering how young they are, but I'd like them to work on their performance quality
6. Great rotational lift at the end with her in a catch foot position and nice speed
9. Mancini/Brooks: 17.58 TES + 17.43 PCS = 24.51 Total: 48.68 and into 2nd place
1. I can't decide if I like her arm fabric or not
2. This is an interesting team because she is so much shorter than him--she barely comes up to his shoulder and I think this leads to some awkward arm holds from them where neither of their arms appear to be in the right position
3. They kind of slip out of their final position
10. Oi/Jahnke: 16.69 TES + 15.98 PCS = 22.87 Total: 44.41 and into 5th place
1. I really want her to stretch her legs through all these positions
2. She looks like she's looking down through a lot of this program
3. Interesting ending pose but she has a hard time getting out of it
11. Pogrebinsky/Gudis: 18.07 TES + 16.48 PCS = 24.19 Total: 47.15 and into 4th place
1. She's only 12 years old and he's 15 so this team has a lot of time in front of them to develop and climb the ranks
2. Some of these movements off the top look a little stiff and awkward
3. I'd like to see her look up and really perform
4. They have a great rotational lift at the end that ends in their ending pose
12. Deissroth/Mueller: 12.55 TES + 12.69 PCS = 17.67 Total: 36.22 and into 12th place
1. Her costume looks like it belongs to a Firebird program
2. They have nice use of their arms and upper body
3. They have some nice choreography and really hit and hold their ending pose

U.S. Nationals: Novice Compulsory Dance: Blues

1. Howe/Farmer: 14.12 TES + 14.44 PCS = 19.99
1. I really like the look of this team and they have great lines and make nice use of their long limbs by stretching through all of their movements
2. I think her dress is really elegant and is a nice color on her
3. They have good control over all their edge changes
4. The ending pose was a little awkward, but other than that it was nicely skated
2. Parsons/Parsons: 18.14 TES + 17.57 PCS = 25.00 and into 1st place
1. This team lacks some of the maturity of the first team but they also look younger.  The teams today range in age from 10 to 22.
2. I'd like to really see her stretch through her knee more in all these leg lifts
3. They have good speed and flow and good edge control on the ice
4. I really like his leg positions and his upper body carriage
3. Mancini/Brooks: 17.93 TES + 16.60 PCS = 24.17 and into 2nd place
1. I really like her dress and the way it moves when she skates.  It also is the most bluesy of the costumes we've seen so far
2. This team has great speed but I'd like to see her really straighten through her knees on all these leg lifts
3. This team gets really deep into their edges
4. Oi/Jahnke: 15.46 TES + 15.31 PCS = 21.54 and into 3rd place
1. This is one of the older teams in this field
2. They get great extension on their leg lifts and have great control over their positions
5. Pogrebinsky/Gudis: 16.73 TES + 16.07 PCS = 22.96 and into 3rd place 
1. I like how much she's using her arms in in the into to this dance but I'd like it to be more natural and not be so stiff and placed
2. They have great extension and control through all these leg lifts
3. There are a few places where she needs more extension through her knee and their legs are at different heights
4. Nice rotational lift at the end of their program
6. Deissroth/Mueller: 13.47 TES + 13.03 PCS = 18.55 and into 6th place
1. I'm not a fan of his pairs-esque costume
2. She really needs to straighten her knees through all of these leg lifts
3. They both look very tall but they're not really pushing through these steps and covering the ice surface they could and some of their moves are very small
4. She really throws in the personality here at the end of the program into their ending pose
7. Grant/Skala: 14.34 TES + 13.65 PCS = 19.59 and into 6th place
1. Good extension and control of their lifting leg
2. They have nice use of their arms even within the dance holds
3. There are spots when their legs are not the same height in the leg lifts
4. Nice rotational lift at the end of the program but I'd like to see them hold their ending pose a beat longer
8. DeMaria/Miller: 14.10 TES + 13.78 PCS = 19.52 and into 7th place
1. I'd like to see her have more of a real smile than the fake stage smile here at the top of the program
2. They have some nice use of their arms
3. They both have nice upper body carriage
4. Nice rotational lift at the end of their program and a good exit out of it
5. I like that they were one of the few teams to actually take bows at the end of their program
9. Schmucker/Munday: 15.34 TES + 15.19 PCS = 21.37 and into 5th place
1. It's nice to see one of the guys really getting into the performance
2. They both have nice height in their extensions but sometimes her leg gets above his
10. Moore/Klaber: 16.37 TES + 16.11 PCS = 22.74 and into 4th place
1. I like the way her dress moves on the ice but the pastel pink and orange colors don't really say blues to me
2. I love the way they skate with their whole body in the introduction to this dance
3. I'd like to see her stretch through her knees more in the extensions
4. I'd like to see them really push through some of these steps to cover more of the ice surface and get a little more speed and power
11. Jeandell/Dodge: 12.63 TES + 13.38 PCS = 18.21 and into 11th place
1. I'd like to see him work on his hands because he has a claw position in his beginning pose
2. They both were really into this program in the introduction to the pattern dance
3. They have great height on these leg lifts and nice control
4. I like the way they're using their arms in the holds
5. They have some height matching and timing issues through some of these leg lifts
6. She takes a stumble but he's able to pull her back into the program and they get right back into it
7. They can't sustain their ending pose and come right out of it
12. Hawayek/Bramante: 17.66 TES + 16.76 PCS = 24.09 and into 3rd place
1. I'm kind of in love with her costume and think the cut and color really suit her
2. For being one of the younger girls here, she skates with a lot of maturity
3. They have great control and extension through their leg lifts