2025 NHK Trophy Free Dance PBP - Hmmm for the Weekend

[peibeck]

Oh dear, these two aren't going to help Japan in the team event.

 

[deegee]

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.

this is a fabulous dance team, though

 

[thvu]

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.

As cringe as the hawk sound is in this program, it makes that dance lift more musically relevant than anything going on in that Turandot FD.

 

[Lilia A]

Their real job for the Olympic TE is to not be last in the RD. They'll be last in the FD anyway, barring epic disaster for any of the other teams in the FS/FD round.

 

[tony]

Their real job for the Olympic TE is to not be last in the RD. They'll be last in the FD anyway, barring epic disaster for any of the other teams in the FS/FD round.

Poland would potentially be in there at this point, so probably not last. But Japan knew they weren't getting ahead of USA, CAN, FRA, ITA, GBR, GEO and most likely KOR anyways (clarifying: going into this season). It's not going to change any medal trajectory.

 

[Matryeshka]

I thought F/A's dance itself was nice. It's the packaging that's the problem. I also think skating to one song generally doesn't work in ice dance.

Not sure how I feel about this trend of reusing old programs, especially in dance. I could understand it if you're from a smaller federation and it's a money issue, but I don't think that's the case with Yoshida/Morita.

 

[Karen-W]

Their real job for the Olympic TE is to not be last in the RD. They'll be last in the FD anyway, barring epic disaster for any of the other teams in the FS/FD round.

The only way they aren't last in the RD is if Poland gets to send a quota team too (if FRA picks up the UZB pairs spot in the individual event then there will be 2 quota spots available for Poland's dance team in the TE). Either way, they're likely earning 2 points in the RD for Team Japan in the TE.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Go Bennifer!

 

[Karen-W]

Poland would potentially be in there at this point, so probably not last. But Japan knew they weren't getting ahead of USA, CAN, FRA, ITA, GBR, GEO and most likely KOR anyways. It's not going to change any medal trajectory.

Japan has bigger things to worry about if Sui/Han continue on their current trajectory because I don't see them not winning the TE SP; and right now, none of their men are winning the SP.

 

[tony]

Big fan of this program but they look much rougher this week.

 

[Karen-W]

You know, the way things have gone for these first four teams, the Shibs should be very scared this ice is not their friend tonight.

 

[Allen]

Say what you will about the Finn's program, but everything else has been rather mundane

 

[skatingguy]

Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan
Rank after RD: 7
Coach: Rostislav Sinicyn, Natalia Karamysheva
Music: La Maza, Ameksa

One Foot Turns W:3 M:3 (W:2 M:3 after review)
Stationary Lift 4
Serpentine Step Sequence W:1 M:2 - Jennifer with a stumble
Dance Spin 4
Choreo Spinning Movement
Synchronized Twizzles W:4 M:4
Choreo Character Step Sequence
Choreo Assisted Jump/Lifting Movement
Curve Lift 4 + Rotational Lift 4

Not quite as sharp as last weekend.

107.81 = 1st Place
177.54 = 1st Place

 

[her grace]

JVR/S

It’s like an actual dance form, give them all the points, some off-balance moments in serpentine steps, good unison on twizzles, fully-realized concept

 

[myhoneyhoney]

Oh I enjoyed that!!!

 

[ilovesalchows]

Love the German team’s lifts.

 

[tony]

So the positives again this week: that last minute is some of the best choreography in the era of Ch elements IMO. The ChSt flows naturally from other choreography, the assisted jumps are wonderful, and the combination lift, which is always one of their highlights, is a perfect way to end. The CH mark should be SO high but it won't.

 

[peibeck]

The Germans last minute of this program is the only part that's super sharp.

Ben's angry vag shirt is so distracting.

 

[Lilia A]

The only way they aren't last in the RD is if Poland gets to send a quota team too (if FRA picks up the UZB pairs spot in the individual event then there will be 2 quota spots available for Poland's dance team in the TE). Either way, they're likely earning 2 points in the RD for Team Japan in the TE.

Is China doing the TE? I don't think they need a disaster from W/L to beat them. They're not beating the teams Tony listed even if those teams have a disaster (it'd have to be an epic "worst skate of my life / 0A" type disaster). Either way, if they can only focus on one program for TE purposes, they should focus on the RD.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Looking at their hobbies on their ISU bios, next year Jennifer and Benjamin need to a program about her jumping out of planes, riding her motorbike and waxing her classic cars while he sits in the woods and bird watches.

 

[my little pony]

the germans are gonna have to go to IAM to get the scores they deserve arent they?

 

[Jay42]

Ben's angry vag shirt is so distracting.

You're not wrong but it still manages to be better than most of his shirts so I almost forgive it its weirdness

 

[Allen]

the germans are gonna have to go to IAM to get the scores they deserve arent they?

Correct.

 

[Karen-W]

Is China doing the TE? I don't think they need a disaster from W/L to beat them. They're not beating the teams Tony listed even if those teams have a disaster (it'd have to be an epic "worst skate of my life / 0A" type disaster). Either way, if they can only focus on one program for TE purposes, they should focus on the RD.

China will be doing the TE - they've qualified an entry in all 4 disciplines. Normally, I'd agree with you but I think YoMori have hurt themselves with not qualifying for the individual ID event and going back to this old FD.

 

[myhoneyhoney]

The poker on her head is distracting

 

[Wyliefan]

I can't figure out what's going on with that flat bun of Maia's.

 

[Colonel Green]

See, when Alex was yelling at Maia he was just trying to fix her.

 

[mtnskater]

Maya….what happened to your tiffing? Hair looks like an American gymnast’s sloppy, messy bun. A NO for ice dance.

 

[Allen]

Maya….what happened to your tiffing? Hair looks like an American gymnast’s sloppy, messy bun. A NO for ice dance.

I agree, but at the same time, I'm just glad they are here.

 

[marbri]

Fabbri/Ayer skated this program better ......