Top five but I can’t decide the order
Deanna and Nate SP
Kaori FP
Jun SP
Marie-Jade and Romain FD
Harris and Chan SP
Fixed it!I know what you mean, and I started watching Queen Deanna when she resumed skating with Nate. Alas, no more.
Not really alas, I think she is in a better partnership now.
My thoughts on Skate AmericaHere’s some perspective from someone who was there live!
First—the event was spectacularly well run (except for the consistent hassles with electronic tickets and wi-if) so I have only the highest praise for USFS, SCOB, and the many awesome volunteers. The woman who managed the line for the ladies’ bathroom on Saturday, in particular, is a treasure who deserves to be paid double!
Pairs—Stellato/Deschamps rule, the others drool. Two absolutely fabulous programs, wonderful execution, they had the entire audience in the palm of their hand. i hope Skate Canada knows just what a gift they have been given in these two and gives them their full support!
Men—Junhwan Cha might be the most charismatic skater I’ve ever seen in my life. If you love skating and have never seen Junhwan live, you MUST. You can thank me later!
Dance—Of course the highlight for me was Muramoto/Takahashi. Though their technical dance skills are not of the very highest level, they have two spectacularly well choreographed/constructed programs, and they certainly have improved. I loathe POTO programs but theirs—if they are ever able to overcome their technical challenges—is awesome. It makes full use of Daisuke’s gifts for drama and performance, which is really saying something. The POTO costumes are also gorgeous and perfect, both of them.
Ladies—Kaori is the best woman jumper I have ever seen live—and this includes Russian ladies like Valieva, Tuktamysheva, etc. I would say that watching her is like watching Nathan Chen. Powerful and completely effortless-looking at the same time, fast and high, soft beautiful landings, complete consistency.
And a special shout-out to Amber Glenn, I’ve seen her live many, many times, but I’ve never seen her skate as well as she did here. As her free continued you could see her gaining strength and confidence, something I never thought I would say. i think even she never knew she had it in her. Well done Amber!