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2008 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships - HighlightsJunior Free Dance, Men's Short Program, Pair's Long Program
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The 2008 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships continued Thursday with the Junior Free Dance, Men's Short Program, Pair's Free Skate, and the Senior Original Dance.
Kharis Ralph and Asher Hill (CO) were the winners in the Junior Ice Dance division, followed by Karen Routhier and Eric Saucke-Lacelle (QC) and Sophie Knippel and Andrew Britten (BC/YT), respectively.
Ralph and Hill placed first in the Free Dance (FD) with their performance to Rainforest - an unusual, yet interesting piece which the team interpreted beautifully. Their routine was highlighted by a very good combination dance spin, nice lifts, and very good diagonal and serpentine footwork. The 2007 novice champion placed first with 69.63 points and overall (145.64 points).
"It's been very stressful," admitted Ralph when asked about there experience here in Vancouver. "My partner Asher has been doing two disciplines and it's very hard for him to keep his energy up. I'm really proud of him."
In addition to winning the Novice title last year, the team also won the Pre-novice title in 2006. "It's very exciting to win for the third time," added Ralph.
Routhier and Saucke-Lacelle also delivered a good performance, placing a close second in the FD (68.87 points) and overall (141.36 points). Their soft and romantic program to My Sweet and Tender Beast told the story well. The team was completely connected with the music and with each other which showed in their big sweeping curves. The highlights of their routine included a very good level 4 curve-combination lift, as well as level 3 circular and diagonal footwork.
"It's been great," said Saucke-Lacelle about his time in Vancouver. "All the hosts have been really nice, and overall it's been a good experience."
Tarrah Harvey and Keith Gagnon (BC/YT), who stood in fifth after the OD, placed third in FD (65.88 points) and fourth overall (132.86 points). The team showed matching lines and positions with excellent speed and flow in their routine to Happy Valley/Portrait, and the their movements reflected the variations of tempo and mood. Their dance was highlighted by two good level 4 lifts and good level 3 circular and diagonal footwork.
Knippel and Britten placed fourth in the FD with 65.53 points, but with a total score of 132.86 points, maintained third overall. The 18-year-olds performed a a technically difficult program, but appeared somewhat cautious and didn't seem to have the 'freedom of movement' or connection to the music Bolero for Strings. Their dance featured four level 4 lifts and good level 3 circular and midline footwork, but they seemed to struggle with their twizzles.
Knippel told the press that it was a lot of fun competing in Vancouver. "It's been a great experience to come here and be able to show our programs that we've worked so hard on."
Anna Stanislavska and Dylan Fieldhouse (EO) placed fifth in the FD (63.13 points) and overall (130.32 points). Although a little slow, the team showed good interpretation of the music to the Bombay Dreams soundtrack. They made some minor errors during the twizzle sequence and midline step sequence, but otherwise gave a clean performance.
Elladj Baldé (QC) nailed his opening triple Axel-triple toeloop combination with a big smile, but then fell on a triple loop. The 17-year-old, who skated with energy and enthusiasm, otherwise delivered a double Axel, two level 4 spins, and good level 2 serpentine and straightline footwork. He earned 55.58 points for a first place finish.
Sébastien Wolfe (QC) opened his fast and entertaining routine with a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, but then stepped out of the landing of a triple loop. The 17-year-old recovered to land a double Axel as well as a very good level 4 change combination spin and level 1 straightline footwork sequence. He placed second with 50.42 points.
Andrei Rogozine (CO) came in third with 49.37 points. The 14-year-old landed all his jumps: a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, triple loop, and double Axel, but struggled with his camel change spin. He otherwise delivered good circular and straightline footwork in his high energy performance to Hava Nagila.
Louis-Philippe Sirois (QC) landed a solid double Axel and triple toeloop, but had a bit of wild leg on the landing of his triple flip in combination with a double toeloop. The 18-year-old also had problems on both of his spins in his otherwise musical performance to Fever, and is currently in fourth place with 48.63 points.
Dave Ferland (QC) is in a close fifth with 48.49 points after his performance to Assassin's Tango. The 18-year-old landed a triple loop, a triple flip-double toeloop combination, and a double Axel, but was a bit slow on his camel spin which resulted in -.20 GOE.
Paul Poirier (CO) is currently in sixth place (46.63 points), followed by Andrew Lum (BC/YT) who earned 46.15 points.
Monica Pisotta and Michael Stewart of Central Ontario won the Junior Pairs title, while Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers (SK) and Christi Anne Steele and Adam Johnson (WO) took second and third, respectively.
Lawrence and Swiegers placed first in the long with 84.16 points, but remained in a very close second overall with a total of 129.07 points. The team opened their routine with a pair combination spin and clean side-by-side double Axels, which set the tone for their routine to music from the Rudy soundtrack. The audience was captivated as each element was completed which included a magnificent and true throw triple Lutz, a very good throw triple loop, and two good lifts.
Although there were a couple of small errors, Lawrence and Swiegers' performance produced the first standing ovation of these championships. The arena was buzzing with excitement and wonder about this team that were virtually unknown until today.
"We knew what we had to do and what we could do and we just wanted to skate our best," Lawrence later told the press. "We trained really hard all year long."
Pisotta and Stewart skated with wonderful line and unison, which flowed to the music as it built to a climax in their Turandot routine. After a good double twist, Pisotta had a bit of wild landing on her last jump of the side-by-side double flip-double toeloops. She also pitched forward on the landing of a triple Salchow, but the throw triple toeloop was executed well.
The team from Central Ontario also produced two good lifts, as well as nice level 3 circular footwork, and placed second in the long with 82.51 points. With a total score of 129.13 points, however, they maintained first place overall to win the gold.
"We really enjoyed the skate and the energy of the crowd," Pisotta said.
Steele and Johnson opened with a good double twist, but both skaters struggled on their two side-by-side jumping elements. Steele also had problems with both of her throw jumps, but the team otherwise showed good interpretation of the flowing music. Every move in their routine to La Vie en Rose was timed beautifully, and they placed third in the long with 75.98 and overall with 120.18 points.
Olivia Jones and Donald Jackson of Quebec placed fourth in the long (71.85 points) and overall (116.04). The team put out an intense performance with excellent interpretation of the music to a Gypsy Passion medley, but they had problems on their double twist and final lift. Jones also feel on a throw triple toeloop and put a hand down on a throw double flip.
Sara Jones and Jeremy Sandor of Quebec placed fifth in the long (69.81 points) and overall (112.98 points). The team skated a fairly clean program with lots of life and energy, but Jones fell on her jump in the side-by-side double Lutz-double toeloops and the pair combination spin didn't quite take off.
The Original Dance (OD) for both Juniors and Seniors for the 2007-08 season is the Folk-Country dance.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir maintained their lead after placing an easy first (65.29 points) in the OD, followed by Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje (55.60 points) and Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno (54.60 points).
Virtue (18) and Moir (20) delivered a technically solid dance in their Russian folk routine to Dark Eye. The current silver medalists skated with effortless speed and abandon, earning a level 4 on all elements except for a level 3 combination dance spin. They also received +2.00 GOEs on their circular step sequence, and no less than +1.00 GOE on all other elements.
"I think it was exactly what we expected and all we could have hoped
for," said Moir, when asked about how they felt about their performance. "We look forward to building on it for Saturday."
Moir also added that the crowed was great. " It was very exciting for
Tessa and I to skate in Vancouver and we hope to be back in a couple of
years."
Weaver (18) and Poje (20) skated with amazing unison and precision, earning a level 4 on all elements except for a dance spin (level 3) as well as positive GOEs on all elements. The reigning bronze medalists, who effectively used a scarf for a prop, displayed excellent timing, speed, flow, and interpretation in their traditional Russian dance to Dorogoj Dlinnoyu. They placed second in the OD and are currently second overall with 88.14 points.
"We've made a lot of changes since the Grand Prix season," Weaver revealed, "and we were happy to come out and perform it for the first time."
Hann-McCurdy (20) and Coreno (23), who placed a placed third in the OD, are in a close third with 87.22 points. The 2006 Junior National champions produced a lighthearted and fun, yet technically difficult dance. The judges awarded them positive GOEs on nearly all elements, which included a very good level 4 circular step sequence.
"The week so far has been awesome," said Hann-McCurdy. "We're in the top three and that was our goal. I think we performed really well tonight and we're happy with that. We're grateful the crowd was on our side and we're really looking forward to Saturday."
Vanessa Crone (17) and Paul Poirier (16) placed fourth in the OD (54.13 points) and are currently fifth overall with 84.35 points. The current Junior national champions earned a level 4 on all elements, which were woven seamlessly into the choreography with close holds and matching lines.
Mylene Girard and Liam Dougherty placed fifth in the OD (52.85 points), but are currently fourth overall with 84.35 points. The team produced an intense and passionate dance in their routine to Tango/Flamenco music in which all elements received positive GOEs.
The event continues with the Junior Ladies Long Program and the Senior Men's Short, Pairs Short, and Ladies Short Programs.
