2025 ISU GPF JUNIOR Free Dance - Do patterns matter?

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

And I thought "Elizarov" announcement was bad. Let's hear it for "Veselukhin".

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

I would define "The legend of Tarzan" as "not the most obvious choice".

 

[tony]

So much speed, so much power, so much immediate proper placement of body and edge. A lot of intricacy within and between the elements, as well. Twizzles were a bit meh compared to everything else they put out but still VERY IMPRESSED!

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

These two are great.

I'm beginning to think I'm partial to French ice dance couples in general.

The program is weird and borderline wtf, but I'm guessing it should hurt someone's feeling with cultural appropriation or some other bs, so I support it.

 

[Bunny Hop]

Perrier-Gianesini/Blanc Klaperman - Lots of two footed skating in choreo step sequence (yeah, I know, doesn't matter) and lots of cross-overs in the rest of it.They did try to tell a story though, which Mark said in the commentary was their aim, so good job on that.

 

[skatingguy]

Ambre Perrier Gianesini/Samuel Blanc Klaperman
Rank after RD: 3
Coach: M. Zazoui, E. Hirai, M. De La Asuncion
Music: The Legend of Tarzan (soundtrack)

Dance Spin 4
Straight Line Lift 4
Choreo Character Step Sequence
One Foot Turns W:2 M:2
Circular Step Sequence W:2 M:1 (W:2 M:2 after review)
Synchronized Twizzles W:4 M:4
Rotational Lift 4
Choreo Dance Lift

Samuel seems to be wearing Adam Siao Him Fa's shirt. Very enjoyable, and engrossing performance. The music is strong, and powerful, and they matched the energy, and tempo very well.

95.93 = 1st Place
158.28 = 1st Place

 

[her grace]

PG/BK

Great extension during dance spin, choreography commits to Tarzan theme in choreo step sequence, got a bit far apart during a few of the one foot turns, nice edge quality, lifts a bit more careful than some of the other teams, nice speed and ice coverage and he was really into the presentation

 

[Kateri]

The program is weird and borderline wtf, but I'm guessing it should hurt someone's feeling with cultural appropriation or some other bs, so I support it.

Appropriating from who, exactly? I thought the whole point of Tarzan is that he's a white British aristocrat.

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

Appropriating from who, exactly? I thought the whole point of Tarzan is that he's a white British aristocrat.

In that case, that's a very bad case of partial tanning.

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

...because you can't have too much Moulin Rouge either.

 

[Kateri]

In that case, that's a very bad case of partial tanning.

I admit, I did question the shirt.

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

PiKos are skating closer together than any other couple, but they also don't really bother to match their movements or lines.

I think I like them, but I'm also a bit underwhelmed.

 

[tony]

I'll say this about all the juniors- much more freedom in their movements, much more requirement on actual dancing than a million choreographic elements that never leave middle ice. Many have much better twizzles than the top team in the world, and when they do have to do the choreographic step, it doesn't look like a high school talent show.

And when all the levels are comparable to the top teams (getting L2 on the one foot and the Diagonal step, for example), it all comes down to massive GOE-- not always warranted-- to separate everyone and that's where my issue with seniors comes in.

 

[tony]

That being said, I found this program a bit ordinary and would absolutely have the French ahead of them.

 

[skatingguy]

Iryna Pidgaina/Artem Koval
Rank after RD: 2
Coach: Galina Churilova
Music: Moulin Rouge the Musical

Rotational Lift 4
One Foot Turns W:2 M:1
Straight Line Lift 4
Choreo Sliding Movement
Dance Spin 3
Diagonal Step Sequence W:1 M:1
Synchronized Twizzles W:4 M:3
Choreo Character Step Sequence

I didn't feel this performance was as sharp as it was earlier in the season. Wonderful skating skills, and use of their long lines, but there were a few moments of hesitation that we don't usually see.

92.79 = 3rd Place
156.22 = 2nd Place

 

[Bunny Hop]

Pidgaina/Koval - Seem a bit slow in comparison to the previous team. Also - Moulin Rouge (though not Roxanne so there's that). Something off on the twizzles, but generally well skated. I'd have the French team ahead.

 

[her grace]

P/K

Effortless speed through one foot turns—higher level for her (2 & 1), level ones on diagonal steps, for a team that has such deep edges in basic skating too bad not getting enough precision in turns, choreography and interpretation looked a little basic

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

Poor kids are really scrapping the bottom of the barrel trying to answer this stupid "how do you feel about the Japanese crowd" question, aren't they?

 

[alj5]

I was a little underwhelmed by the Ukrainian free dance, seemed a little hesitant and not as emotive. Would have the French PG&BK ahead in the free dance.

 

[skatingguy]

The program is weird and borderline wtf, but I'm guessing it should hurt someone's feeling with cultural appropriation or some other bs, so I support it.

It's unlikely that comic book apes are going to be complaining about cultural appropriation.

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

I sense carnivorous mermaids.

Anyone is in for sushi after?

 

[victorskid]

Poor kids are really scrapping the bottom of the barrel trying to answer this stupid "how do you feel about the Japanese crowd" question, aren't they?

We don't see/hear those interviews on the live stream, thankfully

 

[tony]

She just 'gets' it in spades. Always with a little extra flair during and to finish the movements, always properly placed. Knows how to elevate the drama without it looking ridiculous. He gives 90s Russian balletic skater all the way down to the outfit but his twizzle was very much a struggle the entire way through, the first glimpse of anything looking untidy. Keep working with Grishuk girl, you can be every bit as good as she was.

They are really bombing around the ice throughout. Easily the highest PCS and easily the favorites to run away with World Junior gold. And she's 15 and a half.

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

This is a very ambitious program, which I support; but I also have no idea what I'm watching.

I'll give them that, I was so confused the entire time that the program didn't feel like a string of unconnected elements.

 

[Bunny Hop]

Aboian/Veselukhin - Mark said costuming is a tribute to Klimova/Ponomarenko in the intro and it absolutely is. They seem fast. Some nice deep edges from him in particular. Fabulous pesentation.

 

[skatingguy]

Hana Maria Aboian/Daniil Veselukhin
Rank after RD: 1
Coach: Melissa Gregory, Denis Petukhov
Music: Hymn, Salvation for a Proud Nation

Choreo Spinning Movement
Curve Lift 4 + Rotational Lift 4
One Foot Turns W:2 M:1
Synchronized Twizzles W:4 M:4
Dance Spin 2
Diagonal Step Sequence W:2 M:1 (W:2 M:2 after review)
Choreo Dance Lift

Wonderful use of the music, and highlighting the power, and speed throughout. A few moments that were not as comfortable, or crisp as they are capable of.

98.68 = 1st Place
165.45 = 1st Place

 

[tony]

Diagonal step bumped up to level 2 (him)

 

[her grace]

A/V

Program showcases Aboian’s flexibility, speedy, nice lifts, a few reaching for each other moments, but even a little off, they still put on a quality performance

 

[her grace]

Petukhov is overjoyed

 

[victorskid]

Jr Free Dance results:
1 Hana Maria ABOIAN / Daniil VESELUKHIN USA 98.68 52.18 46.50 7.71 7.86 7.68 0.00 #6
2 Ambre PERRIER GIANESINI / Samuel BLANC KLAPERMAN FRA 95.93 51.05 44.88 7.54 7.54 7.36 0.00 #4
3 Layla VEILLON / Alexander BRANDYS CAN 93.03 49.81 43.22 7.32 7.11 7.18 0.00 #1
4 Iryna PIDGAINA / Artem KOVAL UKR 92.79 48.07 44.72 7.46 7.36 7.54 0.00 #5
5 Dania MOUADEN / Theo BIGOT FRA 89.84 48.48 41.36 6.86 7.00 6.82 0.00 #2
6 Jasmine ROBERTSON / Chase ROHNER USA 79.85 45.41 37.44 6.36 6.07 6.29 3.00 #3

Protocols link: https://results.isu.org/results/sea...OR----FNL-000100--_JudgesDetailsperSkater.pdf

Overall results:
1 Hana Maria ABOIAN / Daniil VESELUKHIN USA 165.45 1 1
2 Ambre PERRIER GIANESINI / Samuel BLANC KLAPERMAN FRA 158.28 3 2
3 Iryna PIDGAINA / Artem KOVAL UKR 156.22 2 4
4 Dania MOUADEN / Theo BIGOT FRA 149.74 5 5
5 Layla VEILLON / Alexander BRANDYS CAN 145.73 6 3
6 Jasmine ROBERTSON / Chase ROHNER USA 140.29 4 6