2025 Skate Canada Rhythm Dance PBP - I'm Too Spooky

[Kateri]

Didn’t love any of the performances today. Piper & Paul have a good concept, but I hate their lift. This season is really going to be a rough one.

Can't wait for the Olympics, when figure skating gets totally embarrassed in front of all the casual viewers!

 

[tony]

No, I disagree. There was something off about her twizzles too in real time and I saw it too. It just didn't feel like her blade was very deep in the ice or secure on either of the twizzles, but it was especially so on the second twizzle like you noted.

She's always a little on the toe, but she didn't biff them as you said. Anyways, just checked the protocol and it was L4 in the end.

L/L probably lost close to 6 points on their ChRSt, and also got very lukewarm GOE for some other stuff.

 

[Rukia]

No, I disagree. There was something off about her twizzles too in real time and I saw it too. It just didn't feel like her blade was very deep in the ice or secure on either of the twizzles, but it was especially so on the second twizzle like you noted.

To me is just looked like she was being super cautious. A blade in a twizzle is never going to be deep in the ice. You are literally rocking back and forth on the very middle part of the blade. In real time I thought it was ok but just didn't look like she felt secure.

 

[clairecloutier]

This belongs in a different closed-off forum probably, but having talked with a few recently retired skaters about the decades dances after discussing on Youtube, they told me Weaver is very in favor of them and defends it to no end

It was Kaitlyn who did the whole presentation about 90s dance styles at the ID tech comm meeting at Worlds, so I’m not surprised she’s invested in it. (Whether a member of the committee should be commentating events is kind of a question, but ).

It is discouraging to feel you gave your best, yes maybe with a little mistake but still not even close to a 70 plus

Without looking back at every competition they’ve done, I think that may well be the lowest RD score Bratti/Somerville have ever gotten internationally. They were in the high 60s at the very first international comps they did back in 2021, and their personal best is 75+, so yeah I’m sure getting 63 here was a blow.

They’re coming off a recent injury. That said, this Vogue program really isn't working at all, so I sure hope they can make some changes. I question the MIDA team’s judgment putting them on the ice with this packaging.

Kind of a weird event, with the odd character step mistakes from L/L, and C/P looked kind of off as well. Reed/Ambrulevicius were definitely the highlight. Not a bad first outing for Piper/Paul.

 

[PRlady]

Just to note that Z/K scored 80 and change last week. Both C/P and LaLa had errors but still those are lukewarm scores.

 

[marbri]

Piper's twizzles were bumped up to L4.

 

[Debbie S]

Comparing protocols from today and last week...C/B did score higher in PCS than Gil/P (yes, I know the judging panels were different ). The 1-point score difference is on TES, mostly on the higher GOEs G/P got on the choreo step and pattern step (on which Madi stumbled at the end), also both Piper and Paul got L3 on midline whereas C/B got 2 and 3.

Yes, I know, different callers and judging panels. We really won't know how the top teams stack up until the GPF.

 

[Matryeshka]

Judges starting to mark C/P as USA number 3 or 4 if the Shibutanis show up decently and can get the USA 2 tag

I wouldn't read too much into this one outing. I think C/P got the scores they earned. It's not a great program, and they didn't skate their not-great program great. Third is a fair place for them for what they put on the ice in this competition at this time of the year. I think though it does say that ice dance 2 and 3 are not as much of a lock as we thought they were at Worlds last year.

I don't think the Shib situation is at all comparable to what's going on in France. I don't think the USFS has any reason or incentive to just give a placement to the Shibs unless they earn it. They have no standing, haven't skated at all in this quad, and I don't think a bronze medal in 2018 is going to give them much clout. There's nothing in it for the USFS to politick for this team that would be a one-and-done for the season. The only way I think they'd get the nod is if they truly have superior programs that could help get gold in the team trophy. Otherwise, I think the Shibutanis coming back is at best a curiosity. Not everything is a conspiracy--sometimes a score is just a score.

 

[victorskid]

I haven't read the thread as I was enjoying the event in my family room as if I was in the arena, but it seemed obvious that this panel of judges was being "stingy":

Referee	Mr. John MILLIER	ISU
Technical Controller	Ms. Leanna CARON	ISU
Technical Specialist	Mr. Benjamin BLUM	ISU
Technical Specialist	Ms. Svetlana GUERREIRO	ISU
Judge No.1	Ms. Chihee RHEE	KOR
Judge No.2	Ms. Elizabeth RYAN	AUS
Judge No.3	Ms. Pauliina Kaarina VICKHOLM	FIN
Judge No.4	Ms. Yulia LEVSHUNOVA	GEO
Judge No.5	Mr. Richard KOSINA	CZE
Judge No.6	Ms. Claudia STAHNKE	GER
Judge No.7	Ms. Elyse MATSUMOTO	USA
Judge No.8	Ms. Laimute KRAUZIENE	LTU
Judge No.9	Ms. Leslie KEEN	CAN
Data Operator	Mr. Christopher Richard STOKES	ISU
Replay Operator	Mr. Cenap Mengü TUNCAY	ISU

 

[MacMadame]

I don't think the Shib situation is at all comparable to what's going on in France. I don't think the USFS has any reason or incentive to just give a placement to the Shibs unless they earn it. They have no standing, haven't skated at all in this quad, and I don't think a bronze medal in 2018 is going to give them much clout. There's nothing in it for the USFS to politick for this team that would be a one-and-done for the season. The only way I think they'd get the nod is if they truly have superior programs that could help get gold in the team trophy. Otherwise, I think the Shibutanis coming back is at best a curiosity. Not everything is a conspiracy--sometimes a score is just a score.

This 1000%!!

 

[her grace]

I was behind the whole event so a few general impressions

N/M look so much better skating to pop hits than skaters who are 35. There’s something very incongruous about 30-somethings skating to teenager music.

mrazkovi’s non-music is awful. AI music should be banned, especially if it’s supposed to be music from a particular decade.


R/A look like adults skating to an adult song.

G/P were okay and this vehicle looks like it will work for them.

Overall,
The RD has ceased to be a technical program nor is it a rhythm dance. Sad.

 

[marbri]

Just to note that Z/K scored 80 and change last week. Both C/P and LaLa had errors but still those are lukewarm scores.

Their PCS is all within .47 of each other in order of LaLa, Z/K and C/P.

I do think we are getting some clear groups so far but will see that better after we see how some of the FDs here get scored.

 

[sk8nlizard]

oops you did not know me in the 90s

I am not a huge G/P fan, but as soon as I saw her hair, I was like…I did the exact same thing in the mid-late 90s as a preteen/early teenager.

 

[skatingguy]

Rhythm Dance Protocols

 

[LilJen]

Have there been any L4s for the pattern steps yet? It’s been mostly L2 and L1 even for the top teams, with a few L3s.

 

[jlai]

Just to note that Z/K scored 80 and change last week. Both C/P and LaLa had errors but still those are lukewarm scores.

Or perhaps those with citizenship got a boost

 

[Belsornia]

Have there been any L4s for the pattern steps yet? It’s been mostly L2 and L1 even for the top teams, with a few L3s.

None so far, not even at a B event.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

The Australian judge gave Bratti/Somerville 5.5 for Skating Skills. Excuse me?

 

[Bunny Hop]

Didn't like either of the programs for my two favourite up and coming (or perhaps 'present and waiting their turn') teams - Lajoie/Lagha and Carreira/Ponomarenko. I'm blaming the '90s theme.

Do you think anyone would notice if Scott just got out on the ice and skated with Christina?

Appreciated that Gilles/Poirier somehow still managed to incorporate some traditional dance holds into their program, but there were a lot of cross-overs and time on two feet.

 

[Dobre]

First, I want to talk about the exit for Christina & Anthony's RD lift. Why? It's ugly. Fix it please. The rest of the lift is great. Why flip her back up there with that bent leg drooping down, leaving a negative impression. (I assume they need an interesting exit, but not this). Otherwise, the program looks sharper and smoother than at Nebelhorn. Good.

Mrazkova & Mrazek and Lim & Quan's RDs also looking stronger than on the CS series. Some of that is probably the better sound and cameras on the GP, but M&M really attacked and L&Q's dance is smooth and mature. I especially like the choreo in the opening number. It shows off how well matched they are as a team, and they frankly look more mature here than in their classical numbers. Anyway this makes 2 RDs I get to add to the 2 senior RDs that I already like.

One of which is Reed & Ambrulevicius's I'm Too Sexy number. I'm so glad to see them getting the marks for it because it shows off their maturity and their humor. It feels all of one piece, and they look more and more at home in it. (I liked it from the beginning, but the edit they made to the music after the summer Quebec event was wisely done).

 

[skatingguy]

Disobeying Will Smith -5 goe

He slaps.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I just re-watch the rhythm dance. I have to say Piper and Paul they have my favorite rhythm dance of the season.

 

[Karen-W]

I just re-watch the rhythm dance. I have to say Piper and Paul they have my favorite rhythm dance of the season.

You would. That doesn't mean it's any better than any of the rest of the terrible RDs this season.

 

[nuge]

Has anyone seen Stepanova Bukin's RD?

 

[MacMadame]

Overall,
The RD has ceased to be a technical program nor is it a rhythm dance. Sad.

They need to go back to making the short be ballroom/rhythm based and then the FD can be anything because it is a 'free" dance, but ballroom is discouraged in favor of those dramatic/character/story-based programs that are audience-friendly.

The ISU is so afraid of in-hold dances because they've decided that they aren't audience-friendly but there are plenty of popular programs that are based on that kind of dancing that are popular among a wide range of audiences. Having the theme be Waltz or Polka is not the same as subjecting the audience to 100 Yankee Polkas to the same 5 songs.

ETA but I'd avoid Polka in particular as it's very hard to do on ice. But there are plenty of others that are audience-friendly and work well on ice.

 

[skatingguy]

Has anyone seen Stepanova Bukin's RD?

No, can't say that I have. What's the connection to Skate Canada, or we just talking rhythm dances in general?

 

[viennese]

I still can't believe LajLag went with a Jock Jams/sports-themed RD... Also, too many music cuts. And then they screwed up the choreo step seq here at the end - which is terrible even without the mistake. Yikes.

Everything about this program says: Junior Exhibition. It is so far below their skating level, I just don't feel it.