2025 NHK Trophy Free Dance PBP - Hmmm for the Weekend

[tony]

I am a cheerleader of types for this team but I just can't with the non-descript programs. The choreography in the last minute looked rough, he had an ever so slight issue getting her up into a lift, and then it looked like they just flailed around toward the end.

 

[her grace]

Fabbri/Ayer

Interested to see if they do better with this piece than their Canadian junior counterparts who also use this song for their FD.

Soft knees and I liked the clarity in the midline steps, smooth, nice curve to curve lift, feels like something is missing in presentation—maybe more expression from him or speed from both

 

[Tak]

Especially coming after the Finns - I just find this boring. It doesn't help that I don't like the song that much. IMO they're trying too hard to make themselves into LaLa. Or maybe the coaches are. I think that's one of the things wrong with Ice Dance right now - too many lookalike teams. I prefer teams that are different and do their own thing. O/P really sparkle . They stand out. I'll remember them. This will just fade.

 

[Ka3sha]

oh I thought Tony was just being a hater but this looks like maternity wear on Paul

Between yesterday and today, I kinda feel that he might have stolen all Katsalapov's shirts..

 

[mtnskater]

Major wedgie

 

[my little pony]

that was bland, they even made purple bland

 

[I Luv Bulldogs]

Turn the damn light off so we don’t have to see Paul’s baggy outfit. I liked FabAye when they first hit senior but they are getting pretty generic at IAM.

I rather see his baggy shirt than her wedgie!

 

[Karen-W]

Alicia mooning us with a major wedgie was the most memorable thing about this program.

It's about the only part of the program that caught my eye, tbh. Even Bandit knew I wasn't interested in this program and decided she didn't need attention after all.

 

[Allen]

Poor Paul, his shirt makes him look preggo

If they are going to go this boring, at least give me a thirst trap moment with his shirt!

Alicia mooning us with a major wedgie was the most memorable thing about this program.

That was something. I was expecting to get my gross out moment from the Taschlers

 

[Braulio]

Preggo look doesn't help him make him look chunky not funky and out of shape

 

[Allen]

I am a cheerleader of types for this team but I just can't with the non-descript programs. The choreography in the last minute looked rough, he had an ever so slight issue getting her up into a lift, and then it looked like they just flailed around toward the end.

I think we know which type

 

[tony]

Canadians same skating skills as O/P.

 

[Ka3sha]

I knwo that coming after the finns that was boring, but come on, they can skate, can use their knees and glide...
and they get the same SS score as the Finns, it's just crazy

 

[thvu]

The Finns' PCS is so inflated.

 

[my little pony]

for about 30 seconds I thought I was watching a pairs program

 

[Allen]

The Finns' PCS is so inflated.

At least I'll remember that program.

 

[Colonel Green]

Good news for Alicia and Paul, they won't be last.

 

[Jay42]

That lift exit had me almost

 

[beckab81]

Disaster skate for the Japanese .

 

[Allen]

for about 30 seconds I thought I was watching a pairs program

I wouldn't be opposed to a split triple twist at this point.

 

[Lilia A]

Oh man, not going well for Team Utamasa.

 

[tony]

She went WAY onto her left side in the one-foot turn and put her foot down. Lift mess at the end, since it was a combo straight line and rotational, GOE applied to both and that's the risk of them being together. Disaster start.

I don't remember this program well enough to have any opinion about bringing it back, but I remember @thvu hated their Turandot construction pretty much start to finish so it only can go up. But not today.

 

[PRlady]

Well right now this team looks like such a weak point for Japan in the TE. Given Japanese skating skills, it is so puzzling why they don’t have fabulous dance teams.

 

[Karen-W]

I'm not sure it was a good idea to switch to their old FD at this point in the season. Lots of issues and this program just isn't as interesting on them the second time around.

 

[skatingguy]

Utana Yoshida/Masaya Morita
Rank after RD: 8
Coach: C. Reed, S. Moir, M. Hubbel, A.Diaz
Music: Rise of the Phoenix, X-X, Riseof the Phoenix

One Foot Turns W:1 M:3 - Utana's free foot touched down
Synchronized Twizzles W:4 M:4
Straight Line Lift 4 (3 after review) + Rotational Lift 3 - both skaters with hands down on the exit of the 2nd lift, called double fall
Dance Spin 4
Circular Step Sequence W:2 M:3
Stationary Lift 3
Choreo Character Step Sequence
Choreo Dance Lift
Choreo Sliding Movement

Great skating quality, but lacking in control again today. Their lifts have some good qualities but the positions are awkward looking.

-2.00 = Falls
85.67 = 3rd Place
155.28 = 3rd Place

 

[tony]

Well right now this team looks like such a weak point for Japan in the TE. Given Japanese skating skills, it is so puzzling why they don’t have fabulous dance teams.

They were only ever going to get 5th in the FD anyways and not much of an improvement in the RD. It's another K/K situation but they will get their Olympic medal all the same

 

[her grace]

Yoshida/Morita

A lot of mistakes on elements, should drop

 

[Karen-W]

I don't remember this program well enough to have any opinion about bringing it back, but I remember @thvu hated their Turandot construction pretty much start to finish so it only can go up. But not today.

I remember it enough to think that it showed off their potential, but I think they've grown beyond it, so going back to it wasn't a great decision, IMO.

 

[Aceon6]

Not much rise in that phoenix. I like them, but this was not good.

 

[skatingguy]

Well right now this team looks like such a weak point for Japan in the TE. Given Japanese skating skills, it is so puzzling why they don’t have fabulous dance teams.

Limits on ice time, and high level coaching.