2025 Skate America Pairs Free - Slay Something (I'm Giving Up On You)

[Spikefan]

I would do anything for love! Can’t you tell by the heart on my back?

The hearts made me think, “I wish they were skating to Heart and not Meatloaf”.

 

[Karen-W]

HocKun - just watch... they're gonna have a disaster skate and LaurEth are going to wind up with another SkAm bronze. 3tw - good; SBS 3s - and down Annika goes; SBS 2a+1a+1a - decent; first lift - hate her position and clunky exit; throw 3lz - decent; second lift - omg - lift fail; throw 3lo - two-footed landing; last lift - nice - good recovery; BODS - fine; combo spin - I fail to understand why they didn't bury this element in their program; choreo seq - really good until the end where she got a bit sloppy.

Damn. I can't believe I called that before their program even started. This should put them behind both LaurEth and ChanHowe, IMO.

 

[Sally1214]

I really like Annika and Robert but an iconic song like that calls for an iconic performance and, sadly, it just wasn't happening for them today.

 

[Carolla5501]

The nice thing about today is NBC sound mixing is so bad you can barely hear Johnny and Tara and their nonstop chat

 

[MacMadame]

The hearts on the back of their costumes are a bit on the nose but I can't help smiling at them.

 

[peibeck]

Hocke/Kunkle are so sloppy today. The throw 3z was the best thing they did.

 

[Kateri]

I like H/K, but even without the mistakes, they're just grinning and doing the choreo tricks they always do through this fantastic song, and not engaging with it at all.

 

[skatingguy]

Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel
Rank after SP: 3
Coach: Ondrej Hotarek, Luca Dematte, Nolan Seegert
Music: I'd Do Anything for Love by Meatloaf

Triple Twist 4
3Sq - Annika fell
2A+1A+1A+SEQ
Reverse Lasso Lift 3 - Robert's footwork was messy
Throw 3Lz
Axel Lasso Lift* - lift did not go up, no value awarded
Throw 3Lo - two foot landing
Hand-to-Hip Lift 4
Back Outside Death Spiral 2
Pair Combo Spin 4
Choreo Sequence - loss of balance during the final spinning movement

1.00 = Falls
108.30 = 3rd Place
176.56 = 3rd Place

 

[beckab81]

Did you jinx them on purpose?

No, I’ve just seen them blow it a number of times in the past. I wanted them to do well!

 

[Aceon6]

I really like Annika and Robert but an iconic song like that calls for an iconic performance and, sadly, it just wasn't happening for them today.

It’s like they took all the intensity out of the song, cut to the blandest parts, then skated a meh performance. If you’re not going to do THAT, you must do it with authority!

 

[miffy]

I'd welcome you finding someone else to attack, like maybe the mod who made the remark to which I was responding...

So, now even hair is off-limits?

Remember I'm British. We do something wrong and then we get called out and pushed to resign

 

[~tapdancer~]

I seriously despise M/K's sbs jumps. Every time.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Why use Bocelli when Lisa Gerrard's original version of the song is sooooooo much better?

 

[SidelineSkater]

I'd welcome you finding someone else to attack, like maybe the mod who made the remark to which I was responding...

So, now even hair is off-limits?

Always predictable. Always deflecting.

Mods admitted a mistake. Something you will never do.

Your costume comments have been OTT all season and your attacks on other posters have been excessive.

Please be more considerate whether or not skaters read your posts. Other people may have body image or ED issues.

 

[Kasey]

Miura/Kihara actually fighting to win! Good for them!

 

[beckab81]

I love the Gladiator soundtrack, but don’t think this is the best cut. Not getting much in the way of performance today either, they seemed a bit off in a few transitions.

 

[Belsornia]

Miura/Kihara lucky to get that jump sequence called as a sequence. Their speed is exciting and the non-jump elements are great, but her jumps keep getting worse and you could drive the Zamboni between them on the set up.

Also I hate this Italian faux-opera Gladiator.

 

[TAHbKA]

I think the JPN should change the costumes to somethign red and a gold. The rest is great.

 

[Wyliefan]

Glorious!

 

[LilJen]

I love Miura/Kihara. But I am gonna call that ending pose “Behold the Wedgie.”

 

[skatingguy]

Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara
Rank after SP: 2
Coach: Bruno Marcotte, Meagan Duhamel
Music: Gladiator (soundtrack)

Triple Twist 3
3T<+SEQ+A* - Riku stepped out of the toeloop
Axel Lasso Lift 4
Throw 3Lz
Back Outside Death Spiral 3
Pair Combo Spin 4
3S
Reverse Lasso Lift 4
Throw 3Lo
Hand-to-Hip Lift 3 (4 after review)
Choreo Sequence

Pretty solid skate, but the key might be the call on the jump sequence. Riku put her foot down before the double Axels which should invalid them, but we'll see what the technical panel does. (Edit: Yes, the double Axels will not count.)

141.57 = 1st Place
215.99 = 1st Place

 

[Karen-W]

MiuKih - 3tw - decent; SBS 3t+2a+2a - mess of a landing from her on the 3t; first lift - alright; throw 3z - strong; BODS - fine; combo spin - good; SBS 3s - looked good; second lift - fine; throw 3lo - nice; last lift - looked like he was struggling in the corner, but that my just be this rink; choreo seq - fine.

This program is just sort of there. They're leaving the door open, especially when they have mistakes, for other teams to beat them.

 

[slicekw]

Miura looks a little labored this weekend and really mad at the ice today. Got everything done, tho that jump combo was not good. I love when they aren’t struggling, so this was jarring to watch today.

 

[Citlali]

Riku remember how to land jumps

 

[Lizziebeth]

that seemed really subdued from them, especially the first part

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I love the Gladiator soundtrack, but don’t think this is the best cut. Not getting much in the way of performance today either, they seemed a bit off in a few transitions.

I literally didn’t realize it was gladiator…

 

[peibeck]

M/K putting all out there. Their attack is great and engaging, even if it makes them a bit sloppy at times.

 

[Sally1214]

YESSSSS !!!!! I swear I skated every single second of that with Riku and Ryuichi. Yes, Riku did ur again BUT the rest was really good. SO relieved. He's SO tired at the end .... so am I.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

Weight bearing on the other foot, no?

 

[kwanfan1818]

Why use Bocelli when Lisa Gerrard's original version of the song is sooooooo much better?