TEB Free Dance Virtual Program and Preview: Sat. Nov 27, 2:40 PM EST

[dorispulaski]

Of course, Pechalat and Bourzat will win this competition, as they enter the free dance with a comfortable lead. The most interesting question with respect to their score will be whether their total score on the GP gives them the number one ranking over Davis & White for start order at the Grand Prix Final.

Chock and Zuerlein's bid for the GPF is in jeopardy as they enter the free dance over 2 points behind Riazanova and Tkachenko. However, R&T's Mexico FD is not a particularly interesting one, and they received lower scores for it at Skate America than C&Z did for their Caberet program at Skate Canada. The Russian team showed more speed in the FD, but C&Z's lifts are superior. There is only one lift in the SD, and four in the FD, so look to see the American's technical score be at least equal to the Russians there. The Russians will probably have slightly higher PCS. I'm very excited to see how it turns out.

I am also hoping that Cannuscio & Lorello's FD shows as much improvement as their SD did since Cup of China.

Statistics for previous Free Dances:

Davis & White NHK 98.24/Skate America 93.06
Pechalat & Bourzat Cup of China 95.47
Bobrova & Soloviev Cup of Russia 93.53/Cup of China 89.54
Crone & Poirier Skate Canada 91.47/ Skate America 88.67
Shibutani & Shibutani Skate America 88.35/NHK 83.25
Paul & Islam Skate Canada 87.61
Ilinykh & Katsalapov Cup of Russia 85.65/NHK 78.16
Chock & Zuerlein Skate Canada 84.86
Hoffman & Zavozin Cup of Russia 84.85/Cup of China 78.13
Weaver & Poje Skate America 82.86/NHK 82.88
Faiella & Scali Cup of China 82.31
Riazanova & Tkachenko Skate America 81.62
Carron & Jones Skate Canada 81.60
Huang & Zheng Cup of China 74.90
Ralph & Hill Cup of China 71.41
Cannuscio & Lorello Cup of China 63.94
Turoczi & Major NHK 54.72


Dora Turoczi & Balazs Major HUN
They were last in the SD.
8 Dora TUROCZI / Balazs MAJOR HUN 41.27 23.42 18.85 4.79 4.67 4.54 4.83 4.71 1.00 #1
amd I can't say that I think Be Italian is all that appropriate for such a young looking team.
FD Be Italian by Fergie 10th at NHK 54.72

At NHK every element was negative or 0 in GOE
CuLi2
CoSp3
CiSt1
StaLi4
SlLi4+CuLi4
STw4
DiSt2
Li+TRANS

Base 32.00
TES 30.47
PCS 25.25
Total 54.72

Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng CHN

were shocked to be finishing 7th in the SD, behind 2 teams they had bested at Cup of China. Again, the problem was a relatively low technical score.
7 Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG CHN 49.55 25.50 24.05 6.17 5.79 6.00 6.13 5.96 0.00 #6

FD Singin in the Rain
FD 6th at CoC 74.90
SeSt3
CuLi4
STw4 quite good
SlLi4
RoLi1
MiSt2 weak
CuLi4
Li+TRANS
Li+Trans
Base 36.00
TES 38.14
PCS 36.76
Total 74.90

Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill CANfinished sixth in the SD, behind Cannuscio and Lorello.
For those who wondered, they are wearing the same costumes they wore at Cup of China.
6 Kharis RALPH / Asher HILL CAN 50.50 28.51 21.99 5.58 5.29 5.42 5.58 5.58 0.00 #4

FD Summertime 7th at CoC 71.41
Sp4
DiSt2 weak
RRoli4 (LONG LIFT)
STw4 good
StaLi2
CiSt1
SlLi4
Li+TRANS
Li+TRANS

Base 34.00
TES 36.44
PCS 34.97
Total 71.41

Isabelle Cannuscio & Ian Lorello USA
They showed huge improvement, especially in the technical score, in the short dance vs their performance at Cup of China, finishing fifth.
5 Isabella CANNUSCIO / Ian LORELLO USA 52.19 31.17 21.02 5.29 5.04 5.33 5.25 5.33 0.00 #2

I hope we will see the same improvement in the free dance.
FD West Side Story 10th at CoC 63.94
CoSp4
CuLi4 pretty good
SlLi4
STw4
CiSt2
RoLi4 not so good
DiSt1
RoLi2
Li+TRANS

Base 34.00
FD 34.43
PCS 29.06
Total 63.94


Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones FRA
Finished fourth in the SD, primarily due to a low technical score, only narrowly ahead of Cannuscio & Lorello.
4 Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES FRA 53.36 27.42 25.94 6.50 6.38 6.38 6.67 6.46 0.00 #5
Their FD is a peculair Flamenco set to the Rolling Stones. I don't expect them to move up with this questionable vehicle.

FD Paint it Black and Angie 5th at SC 81.60
StaLi4 very good
CiSt3
CoSp4
CuLi4+RoLi4 very good
STw4
MiSt2
CuLi2

Base 37.00
TES 41.52
PCS 40.08
Total 81.60

Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein USAfinished third in the SD with a very nice performance to Edith Piaf songs. They did not have the speed that Riazanova & Tkachenko did, and so are over 2 points behind them, going into the free dance. However, Chock & Zuerlein's Free Dance to Caberet is the stronger of their two programs, while Riazanova & Tkachenko's Mexico program is the weaker of their two segments. It should be an exciting free dance competition, with a Grand Prix Final berth for Chock & Zuerlein if they prevail.

3 Madison CHOCK / Greg ZUERLEIN USA 58.09 31.41 26.68 6.63 6.46 6.75 6.67 6.79 0.00 #7

FD Caberet: Money & Life is a Caberet 4th in FD at SC 84.86
STw4 very good
CiSt2
Sp4
SlLi4 very good
CuLi4 very good
RoLi4
MiSt3
RoLi4
Li+Trans
Base 38.50
TES 44.27
PCS 40.59
Total 84.86


Ekaterina Riazanova & Ilia Tkachenko RUSThey finished second in the SD with a really lovely waltz to Snowstorm.
2 Ekaterina RIAZANOVA / Ilia TKACHENKO RUS 60.81 32.09 28.72 7.25 7.04 7.21 7.21 7.17 0.00 #3

Although I really like their SD, I can't say the same for their FD.
FD Mexico 5th at Skate America 81.62
DiSt3 quite nice
CuLi4
RRoLi3 Long Lift good
STw4
CoSp2
StaLi4
CiSt2
Total 35.50
TES 40.53
PCS 41.09
Total 81.62




Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat FRA
From SD, 1st Place
1 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT FRA 65.48 33.24 32.24 8.04 7.83 8.04 8.21 8.13 0.00

They worked with a mime on their expression for this Charlie Chaplin program (Chaplin's style was based in mime & vaudeville, so this is an inspired choice).

FD Charlie Chaplin 1st NHK 95.47
CuLi4 really really good
DiSt3 very good
STw3
SiLi4
RoLi4
CiSt4
CoSp4 weakest element, but still good
Li+Trans
Li+Trans
Base 40.50
TES 46.92
PCS 48.55
Total 95.47

 

[herios]

Just checked in the partial results and see Ralph / Hill scored quite low. What the hek did they do?

 

[dorispulaski]

As to R&H, they scored about the same as at CoC. They got called for weak edges on the steps there (her, I suppose)



Warm up Group 1
Dora Turoczi & Balazs Major HUN

FD Be Italian by Fergie 10th at NHK 54.72

At NHK every element was negative or 0 in GOE

I thought this was better.
However, their skating is quite slow.
The twizzles were quite good.
The spin was very slow in the reverse direction.

TES 33.50
PCS 29.26
Total 62.76

Quite an improvement-however whole competition seems to be a bit high scored.

Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng CHN
He's in a button down shirt with sleeves up and a collegiate looking knit
sweater vest and grey pants
She's in a pretty pastel pink dres with lots of trailing rag pieces

FD Singin in the Rain
FD 6th at CoC 74.90

Twizzles 4 quite good 3 sets
RoLift 1 this still didn't work well she hangs up on his neck

Step sequences missing edges weak (tap dance music)
Curved lift was nice

TES 38.08
PCS 35.47
Total 73.55
Not quite as good as CoC


Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill CAN
She's in a pretty white cocktail type dress
He's in an open transparent white shirt with a wife beater T shirt
and chino pants with a belt

FD African themed version of Summertime 7th at CoC 71.41
Spin nice quick change to reverse on the spin
Diagonal Step should be at least lev 2
Reverse Rotational Lift (LONG LIFT) Lev 3 I think nice and light though
Twizzles 4 good
strange shift to African music
Stationary Lift quite nice, I think
Circular Step legline needs a little work
there are some weak edges still in here
Straight Line Lift still a bit awkward but should get the level
Li+TRANS
Li+TRANS

TEB audience is giving them a good reception, I think
Can't say I like the floppy shirt look

TES 36.67
PCS 34.22
Total 70.89
Behind the Chinese


Isabelle Cannuscio & Ian Lorello USA
She's in a bright red skirt with Latin ruffles, spaghetti straps
and short red gloves (not sure why the gloves?)
He's in grey pants and a shiny red shirt
.
FD West Side Story 10th at CoC 63.94
trip in the beginning by him
ComboSpin4 good speed in the spin in both directions
Curved lift had a noticeable bobble
Straight line was good
Twizzles 4 They did Russian one foot twizzles and jumped into them
Circular Step 2
Rotational Lift 4 better than at CoC
Mambo
DiStep they could use better edges
Good energy here at the end
RoLi4 (Better than CoC)
Li+TRANS

Lots of nervous bobbles to start, better at the end
Faster than CoC
Probably behind Ralph & Hill in the FD.
TES 32.92
PCS 32.49
-1
Total 64.41 SB, but
Into 3rd, behind R&H

 

[samba]

Love it, love P/B program!!

 

[dorispulaski]

Warm Up Group 2

Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones FRA
Bolero jackets are gone!!!
black pants with a black diagonal ruffly strip across his red shirt
She has a red turtleneck dress and a Black diagonal ruffle stripe

FD Flamenco skated to Paint it Black and Angie by the stones 5th at SC 81.60
Total 81.60 at Skate Canada
StaLi4 very good maybe a rot. short?
funny flamenco arms
Circular Step 3 still, I think
Spin to Angie pretty good
Curve Lift 4+Rotational Lifti4 very good
He falls hard in the transition
STw4 his a bit lacking (shook up?)
Midline step in hold this seems a bit out of gas slow
Rotational Lift instead of curve lift

Should score better than at Sc, just for getting rid of the silly
bolero jackets
TES 35.92
PCS 28.66
-1
Total 73.58 (OUCH)

Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein
He's the Master of Ceremonies in Purple and eye makeup
Her hair is strange

FD Caberet: Money & Life is a Caberet 4th in FD at SC 84.86
Twizzles OK careful and a little off
Circular step better than Skate Canada
Money make the world go round
Sp4 very good indeed no pocket action
She gets dragged around and I think it is NOT intentional
SlLi4 very good
CuLi4 really nice
RoLi4 in time to music
Life is a Caberet
Midline Step good expression
Rotational lift nice & fast
Li+Trans

Some slipups. Good character throughout.
not sure how it scores, but should stay in third, at least
TES 41.26
PCS 40.13
-1 for her butt hitting the ice
Total 80.39
Into first so they do medal


Ekaterina Riazanova & Ilia Tkachenko RUS
Same outfits as SA
FD Mexico 5th at Skate America 81.62
They should easily take the lead if they skate well

DiSt3 quite nice
CuLi4 kind of rough
Reverse rotational lift Long Lift good
Twizzles good
Spin not so hot; slow and her skirt gets caught in her skate
Stationary lift ok
CiSt2 Lose track of each other a bit in the step and have to
work to get back together
This music does not suggest Mexico but.
Now they just have to finish
Should beat C&Z no trouble.

TES 41.44
PCS 44.54
Total 85.98 SB

Into first (they'll get the silver)


Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat FRA
same outfits as China

FD Charlie Chaplin 1st NHK 95.47

Lot of mime stuff before starting
Holds a bit wide open but steps very smooth
twizzles ok a bit off synch but no big deal
lift a bit ragged

their expression is very nice & good Chaplin character
very nice complex lift started from a kind of cartwheely entry
with many changes of positions
spin her pos a tad weak in 2nd section but the 3 direction has good speed

really very nice and by far the class of the field here, of coruse
not sure if it was better than China (for me not, but pretty close, but watching
on icenetwork doesn't help you judge very well)

TES 46.09
PCS 50.25
Total 96.34 new SB
161.82
And they win the gold

 

[Ituriel]

Thanks Doris, great PBP

I'm in love with the Chaplin's FD. Nathalie & Fabian did a really good job. And they are so close to Davis & White

I like Riazanova & Tkachenko :thumbsup: They could beat Elena & Nikita at Rus Nats... hwell:

 

[dorispulaski]

Yes, I think they could. But not with that rather Mexico program. It just makes no sense, choreographically or musically. In fact if they had called it Portugal rather than Mexico, it would elicit exactly the same response from me.

They are very good skaters and deserve a better FD, I think.

 

[herios]

Yes, I think they could. But not with that rather Mexico program. It just makes no sense, choreographically or musically. In fact if they had called it Portugal rather than Mexico, it would elicit exactly the same response from me.

They are very good skaters and deserve a better FD, I think.

Nice to see teams like Riazanova _Tkacenko who I know they have been formed not a long time ago from different teams and while just jelled yet together, they were behind the top teams. But now 2 1/2 of those teams have retired.
Both B/S and R /T could step up to the plate and make some waves on the international scene rather fast.
I don't think russian federation needs to push agressively I/K forward, as there is enough talent there to grow into Sochi.

 

[dorispulaski]

Yes, I agree with you.

It will be interesting to see what the Russian fed does, though.

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

I didn't (and probably won't) watch the dance, but it'll be interesting to see D/W and P/B head to head. Particularly with levels, as this panel seemed very generous.

 

[zandor]

I read in a russian forum that the Gorshkov, coach of Riazanova/Tkachenko, had chosen a Baroque theme for FD, but it did not like TAT and she "advised" him to change the theme. So, I think he did not have enough time to create a better FD. I like a lot their SD.

 

[dorispulaski]

TAT has a lot to answer for-this FD and the Olympic year dances of Khokhlova & Novitski.

 

[Dodhiyel]

Thanks a lot, Doris.

 

[herios]

I didn't (and probably won't) watch the dance, but it'll be interesting to see D/W and P/B head to head. Particularly with levels, as this panel seemed very generous.

Hm, I am not that sure. Did you find them generous with Carron / Jones, or Chock / Zuerlain ?

yes, they had some errors, but they hit them quite hard I found.

 

[herios]

TAT has a lot to answer for-this FD and the Olympic year dances of Khokhlova & Novitski.

I really start to think that TAT starts to be more a trouble maker than helper. She should move on the sidelines and enjoy life

 

[dorispulaski]

She's a lot thinner now-perhaps she can do so!

BTW, I thought they were easy on Chock Zuerlein-not for mistakes, but for levels on the GW.
I would have gone with Lev 4/Lev3 for them, not Lev4/Lev4, likewise for Cannuscio Lorello.

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

Hm, I am not that sure. Did you find them generous with Carron / Jones, or Chock / Zuerlain ?

yes, they had some errors, but they hit them quite hard I found.

Yes, I thought they were generous across the board.

 

[KKonas]

Was not at all impressed with Riazanova/Tkachenko at Skate America, but they looked much better here (at least on my computer). Too bad Chock & Zuerlien had a fall kin their FD and didn't seem to really attack like R/T. Pechalat & Bourzat look comfortable with this FD routine and performed well, miles better than their initial debut at Nebelhorn. Zoueva bent my ear for a good 5 minutes at Skate America complaining that there were not enough competitions in North America for skaters/dancers to get feedback and competition experience like Europeans do.

 

[oleada]

I have no idea how Ralph/Hill manage to train with that hideous arrangement of Summertime every day. I could barely get through their dance.

Chock/Zuerlein do nothing for me. Incredibly dull and they can't pull off the Cabaret theme. He's awkward, to boot.

Riazanova/Tkachenko are much improved this season. I really enjoyed the speed and commitment to their program, and for a team that hasn't been together very long, they connect well with each other. He's really very musical. Frankly, I thought the difference between them and C/Z should have been bigger. Now onto the bad...her hideous fake tan and the program itself.

Pechalat/Bourzat are IMO the best team so far this season (yes, better than D/W). Would love to see them take the GPF and Worlds! They have an elegance and soul to their skating that D/W do not have.

 

[Apple Pi]

How could one not have soul when skating to Chaplin? P/B's skating is beautiful, but their FD is the typical kind we are used to, so no wonder. D/W's tango is going to need a lot of work but their skating skills are going to grow tremedously if they can get it down. Exactly how to start off this next quad. The ice dance field seems so thin at the top with all the injuries.