Pechalat/Bourzat switch to Shpilband for Olympic season

 

The French Figure skating Federation has announced today that double European Champions Pechalat/Bourzat will be coached by Igor Shpilband for the upcoming Olympic season. The French ice dance team stated that they want to give themselves an impulse in order to compete at the Olympics at their best. Nathalie and Fabian will remain in Detroit, where they were previously coached by Carmelengo's team, now under the guidance of Igor Shpilband.

 

source: https://www.facebook.com/sportsdeglace

Up close: Finnstep

As the Finnstep is the pattern dance of the Olympic season for the short dance, I thought it was my duty to study it. From what we saw from these past seasons, the level dancers receive for their pattern sequence is what defines the ranking of the short dances. And with the introduction of the key points, steps and turns that needs to be executed in perfect timing, even a flat edge can bring you down. 

The Finnstep is a quickstep dance invented by Finnish dancers Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko. They performed it for the first time during 1995 European Championships as a part of their Original Dance.

Later, it turned into a Compulsory dance, but was used only twice: during 2009 European Championships (they were held in Finland, indeed) and 2009 Four Continents Championships.

Here is a list of youtube video links of those Compulsory dances performed by skaters actually competing (and scores they had received):

1.Virtue/Moir 36.40

2.Davis/White 35.23

3.Pechalat/Bourzat 34.38

4.Cappellini/Lanotte 32.58

5.Weaver/Poje 30.62

For all other team this dance will need to be learnt for the first time (except for fews, like Evan Bates or Paul Poirier who performed it with other partners).

For better understanding the structure of the pattern and where key points (that will determine the level of the sequence) I have made the video that appears below (check out my youtube channel!) that shows the sequences performed by Meryl Davis and Charlie White from 2009 Four Continents. 

The pattern is split into two sections that need to be performed one right after the other. The first sequence is a promenade and covers the hole lenght of the rink. The second section is more complex with few Chocktaws and twizzles and a lot of edge changes.

SEQUENCE 1, KEY POINT 1 (XB-RF, XB-LF, LFO Tw1 1/2)

The first key point of the first sequence consist in a right foot cross behind and a left foot cross behind (steps 1 and 4*) and one and a half twizzle by the lady only (step 12*). The cross behind steps are not consequential but divided by a couple of hops that set the character of the dance. The twizzle must be a left forward outside edge.

SEQUENCE 1, KEY POINT 2 LADY (XB-LBO, XF-RBI, Tw1 1/2-RFO)

The second key point is composed by a left backward outside Cross behind and a right backward Cross forward (step 20*). Then, there is one and a half twizzle (step 21*) that must conclude with a right forward outside edge. This key point is performed by the lady only.

SEQUENCE 1, KEY POINT 3 MAN (XB-LFI, RFO/Sw3 RBI, Tw1 RBI)

The last key point of the first sequence refers to the man. He must do a left forward inside cross behind, then starting from a right forward outside edge do a swing three turn finishing on the right backward inside edge (step 20*). He then does a twizzle that ends with a right backward inside edge (step 21*).

SEQUENCE 2, KEY POINT 1 LADY (LFO Sw-ClCho, RBI/RBO, Tw1 1/2, RFI slide)

This key point is performed by the lady. She has a left forward outside close chocktaw into a right backward inside to outside edge (step 32*). She the goes into a twizzle (step 33*) that must finish with a right forward inside edge in order to stop for the stationary steps.

SEQUENCE 2, KEY POINT 2 MAN (LFO Sw-ClCho, RBI OpMo, LFI,RFI, Tw1, RFI slide)

This key point is performed by the man. He does the same swing Chocktaw (step 32*) as the lady, but then does a right backward inside into a left forward inside open Mohawk, a twizzle (step 33c*) and the right forward inside edge slide as the lady.

SEQUENCE 2, KEY POINT 3 (LFI XB-ClCho, RBO3-RFI Tw1 1/2)

The last key point is a sequence performed simultanously by the skaters. It starts with a left forward inside cross behind close Chocktaw (step 65*), continues with a three turn from a right backward outside to a right forward inside edge, and finishes with a twizzle (step 66*).

World Team Trophy 2013 entries

Tokyo, 11th-14th April 2013



CANADA
Gabrielle Daleman, Kaetlyn Osmond
Patrick Chan, Kevin Reynolds
Duhamel/Radford
Weaver/Poje

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Gracie Gold, Ashley Wagner
Max Aaron, Jeremy Abbott
Castelli/Shnapir
Chock/Bates

JAPAN
Mao Asada, Akiko Suzuki
Daisuke Takahashi, Takahito Mura
Reed/Reed
no pair will attend the competition

RUSSIA
Adelina Sotnikova, Elizaveta Tuktamisheva
Konstantin Menshov, Maxim Kovtun
Volosozhar/Trankov
Monko/Khaliavin

FRANCE
Lenaelle Gilleron-Gorry, Mae Berenice Meite
Brian Joubert, Ponsart
James/Cipres
Carron/Jones

CHINA
Zijun Lin, Kexin Zhang
Nan Song (withdrew due to injury), Han Yan
Peng/Zhang
Yu/Wang

Volosozhar Trankov mesmerize at pre-Olympic Worlds, Canada gets its first medal in Ontario

Volosozhar/Trankov had a perfect and brilliant free skate that owed them their first world title. They nailed everything from start to finish and a fall by Maxim after a throw jump didn't affect their performance at all. 149.87

 

It looked like Savchenko/Szolkowy were about to give up a provisional lead to Duhamel/Radford as Aliona doubled all they side by side jumps and Robin fell on one but after nailing a super throw triple flip at the beginning of the program, they nailed for the first time in their career a throw triple axel just few seconds before the finish. 132.09

Duhamel/Radford received the whole support of the crowd during their free skate. They alternated greatly executed elements with struggles but at the end it was a clean performance. They started off with a great triple twist and triple lutz side by side. They held on their last lift and the throws weren't as long as they usually are but clean. 130.95

 

Moore-Towers/Moscovitch delivered a stunning performance nailing all of their elements with great quality. Kirsten just slightly two footed a throw triple salchow, but anything else was perfect. The highlights of their program were a gorgeous triple toe-triple toe sequence and a throw triple loop at the end of the program right on the music phrase. The home crowd was, again, leaping of joy after they have finished. 130.25

 

An amazing artistry is what has always described Pang/Tong's skating and they gave a superb performance with a great choreography full of elegant details. They weren't that clean technically as they did a single axel-double axel sequence and a step out to the throw triple salchow, but they were appreciated for their components and got 130.69.

Worlds 2013 random pratice reports

I am trying here to collect some practice reports from twitter, FSU and other sources. I can't test the truth of these news.

LADIES
Akiko Suzuki had a great session with a clean sp runthrough
Murakami fell on 3t of a 3t-3t of her short program
Osmond had jumping issues with random falls
Carolina Kostner didn't do much jumps, just singles even in the runthrough
Ashley Wagner is in London but her luggage is missing with her skates
Gracie Gold had a great session UPDATE she did 3lz-3t and 3f with arms up, then 3lo and 2a-3t
Valentina Marchei landed a good 2a-3t
Yuna Kim had few stumbles today, but looked strong overall

video of yesterday's runthrough by Yuna 

MEN

Chan apparently had a great clean short program. UPDATE and an almost perfect free skate except for the second quad

Daisuke Takahashi fell on quad toe but did others as well as triple axels UPDATE he is still struggling with the quad but other triples look fine

Fernandez struggled with his jumps

Joubert looked solid

UPDATE Yuzuru Hanyu fell on 4t did just 2s. Other triples were good

Max Aaron had troubles with jumps, while Ross Miner had a good fs

PAIRS

Solid showing by both Savchenko/Szolkowy and Volosozhar/Trankov

Vera Bazarova missed some side by side jumps

Sui/Han were struggling with jumps

DANCE

Pechalat/Bourzat were fine (Fabian fell on a twizzle though)

Anna Cappellini collided with another couple during practice. She left the ice for some time and then came back skating for a while. (photo http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05qS3cw13d2qR/1600x.jpg ). According to Tatjana Flade, Luca Lanotte says she's ok

UPDATE Weaver Poje's sd runtrough http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upEtVXDc3Dc

World Championships 2013: Dance preview

A NEVER ENDING RIVALRY

The one between Virtue/Moir and Davis/White is probably the greatest rivalry in figure skating history and everytime a competition is behind the corner, picking one of the two teams is quite impossible.

Meryl and Charlie will attend worlds as the unbeated couple of the season, as they took the gold at both grand prix final and four continents over their team mates. The reason why they have been such tough competitors this seaso is that they are alway very consistant from a technical perspective and as they are  artistically judged the same as Virtue/Moir at the end it all comes down to elements' levels.

Tessa and Scott have been struggling with their free dance. Although it could be considered one of the most innovative Carmen in figure skating's history this program hasn't been performed to its fullest potential by the Canadian couple. Their passionate and dramatic interpretation alone won't lift them to the top of the podium, but I am sure that they will give 200 % of themselves in front of the home crowd and if they hit all their levels, a third world title is theirs.

CHALLENGE FROM EUROPE

The European teams, after decades of dominance in the discipline, have been fighting with North Americans for medals in the last year, but now the gap is slightly redemensioned. 

Bobrova/Soloviev are having their best season ever winning their first European titles after two silver medals. Their switch to Zhulin was the smartest move that this couple could have done after a disappointing result at last year's worlds (they finished seventh) as he gave a new fresh style to them. In somebody's opinion, the Russian champions would be the favourites for the bronze medal, but their compatriots Ilinykh/Katsalapov are just behind.

I really can't recall hating a figure skating program as much as Ilinykh/Katsalapov's free dance to "Ghost". There is nothing particularly interesting about the choreography and the music cut is just embarassing in my opinion. However, Elene and Nikita are the most talented dancers coming from Europe in a long time and that is why I think they will do great things in London. They have amazing skating skills and a deep edge control, and considering that they always improve as the season goes on, I think they will be ready for a medal contention at Worlds.

OUT FOR INJURY

Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje started off the season struggling with their programs and, after missing the grand prix final, they have reworked the free dance, but they skipped Nationals and Four Continents because Kaitlyn broke her left ankle and couldn't practice for a month. They have fully recovered now and aim to do well at home worlds, but I am afraid their stop will influence their performances as well.

Something similar happened to Pechalat/Bourzat, defending bronze medalists, as Fabian caused an injury that left them out of European Championships. Their free dance is a very demanding one and they could be not in top form as the other teams.

PODIUM PICKS

Gold: Virtue/Moir (CAN)

Silver: Davis/White (USA)

Bronze: Ilinykh/Katsalapov (RUS)

World Championships 2013: Ladies preview

WORLD CHAMPIONS LOOKING FOR PRE-OLYMPIC TEST

The ladies event at Worlds is one of the most exciting of the last years. There is not an established leadership among the ladies, so that everything can really happen.
It was back in 2008 when the all current favourites for a podium finish medaled at a World Championship and for many this is going to happen this year too.

Mao Asada won her first world title at that event, which she repeated at 2010 Worlds, but since then she has never finished on the podium again. She has had a couple of troubled seasons where she tried to rework her jumping technique and only from this year she has been quite consistant. Her skating at Four Continents proved that she can definetly be a contender in London and maybe get a third world title. She will have very risky program, the short with an opening triple axel and possibly a triple flip-triple loop which she tried at Four Continents' free skate and the long program planned to be filled with eight triples. There is no doubt that with this kind of content she would surpass everyone else, anyway it will be very difficult for her to nail all of her jumps. In such a stiff competition, she will need to do a clean short program for winning.

Figure skating has been missing Yuna Kim in this two years and now that she is back to the world stage, world's eyes and expectations will be on her. She is an amazing skater and a solid performer, and I think there is no doubt she will be on the podium, but it will take her some nerves for competing internationally after such a long time.

The defending champion Carolina Kostner debuted later in the season too, but even if she hasn't competed against a world wide field she has had few opportunities for testing her programs. In the last years she adopted the "go clean" strategy and it has worked very well for her. She is going for a simpler short program than her rivals, as she plans a triple toe-triple toe and a triple loop so that, even with the enormous potential her well skated performance could bring her (that short earned 72 points at Challenge cup and 64 at European Championships with a fall on the combo), I doubt she will rank first after the first segment of the competition. Her free skate is much riskier as she attempts a triple lutz and a triple flip-triple toe. If she skates clean she will be challenging for gold.

DEFENDING MEDALISTS

Akiko Suzuki and Alena Leonova, defending medalists from last year, shouldn't be counted out in this event. Akiko Suzuki is having a great skating moment now and her programs are just delightful. She had some off competitions in late December, early January but she looked strong and confident at Four Continents.

Alena Leonova has struggled a lot in finding her place among all the newbies finally age elegible. She didn't compete at European Championships, but she had a nice showing at Russian Cup where she earned a world spot.

 RUSSIA vs USA

And finally, here they are. Adelina Sotnikova and Elizaveta Tuktamisheva are definetely senior now and they won't spoil any occasion for doing well. They are both very strong in their own way, Adelina with great skating skills and a natural joy for skating, Liza with monstrous jumps and a fighting charactere. I would expect Elizaveta rank the best of the two, but Adelina showed a unknown consistency at European Championships so that it will all come down to who skates cleaner.

Gracie Gold is the US response to the Russian babies. She has everything she needs to become a star, but she needs to grow up and experience competitions. And that is the main reason why the American expectations will be for Ashley Wagner. 

In November Ashley looked the girl who would have been the next world champion as she was terrificly consistant and mature. Anyway, her skating performances at Grand Prix Final and Nationals (and the progress of others) redimensioned the feeling on her. She is planning to do a triple flip-triple toe in the short program, which she hasn't tried all season and that could equally lift her to the podium or bury her (as it somehow happened last year). She has a great fierce and personality that will help her with the fight for a medal finish.

FOR THE HOME CROWD

Kaetlyn Osmond is the fresh new face that skate Canada was looking for. She astonished anyone this year by winning Nebelhorn Trophy (ahead of Sotnikova), Skate Canada international and Canadian Nationals. The home crowd will surely support this amazing and joyful skater aiming to regain two spots for the 2014 Olympics.

PODIUM PICKS

Gold: Yuna Kim (KOR)

Silver: Mao Asada (JPN)

Bronze: Carolina Kostner (ITA)

my preview video