Cup of China 2023 Free Dance - “Part-time Lifts Just Bring Me Down”

[LeafOnTheWind]

Apparently the feedback from the judges is that the the judges love it, and are encouraging the skaters to do it.

They must need something to keep them awake after all the music choices.

 

[skatingguy]

Green, Caroline/Parsons, Michael
Coach: Charlie White, Tanith White, Greg Zuerlein
Music: Denmark, Wind and Snow

Stationary Lift 4
OFTW3(2 after review)+OFTM3
SyTwW4(3 after review)+SyTwM4
DiStW4(3 after review)+DiStM3
Choreo Assisted Jump
Dance Spin 4
Curve Lift 4 + Curve Lift 4
Choreo Character Step Sequence
Choreo Dance Lift

Okay, so I think this has improved considerably since Skate America. I'm still not 100% sold on the program, but they're definitely finding a better feel for the music, and the movement in this performance. (Edited to add - Caroline's elements were each reviewed done by one level. Ouch)

113.26 = 1st Place
189.33 = 1st Place.

 

[Gris]

Music for the last part is new, isn’t it? Don’t really like this screeching sound.

 

[Bunny Hop]

Green/Parsons - I do appreciate that they are trying something different, and it's technically very good. I don't love it, but do find it interesting.

 

[Milan]

Green & Parsons - too cerebral and introspective.. how on earth do they find the motivation to work with this music each day?!

 

[skatingguy]

Gilles, Piper/Poirier, Paul
Coach: Carol Lane, Juris Razgulajevs, Jon Lane
Music: Wuthering Heights (soundtrack) by R. Sakamoto

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Green/Parsons coming along nicely!

 

[Bunny Hop]

Not a great start for Gilles/Poirier.

 

[FiveRinger]

Green & Parsons - too cerebral and introspective.. how on earth do they find the motivation to work with this music each day?!

This. I am a former musician and I love all kinds of music. But deciding what I was performing to really depended a lot on what I could stand to practice repeatedly everyday and remain motivated. That changes your perspective really quick

 

[Bunny Hop]

Mark: "They make it through the twizzles". Well yes, but only L2 for Piper. They were really off for a team at this level.

Hmmmm. i think I liked this program better at Skate Canada. It was good, and should rightly lead after this, but it's beatable.

 

[Jay42]

They seem really off here. Maybe they should have gone back to Ontario after SC instead of staying in Vancouver.

 

[skatingguy]

Gilles, Piper/Poirier, Paul
Coach: Carol Lane, Juris Razgulajevs, Jon Lane
Music: Wuthering Heights (soundtrack) by R. Sakamoto

OFTW2+OFTM2 (3 after review)
Straight Line Lift 4 + Rotational Lift 4
Choreo Character Step Sequence
SyTwW2(3 after review)+SyTwM4
Dance Spin 4
DiStW3+DiStM2
Curve Lift 4
Choreo Dance Lift
Choreo Hydroblade Move

Levels I thought Paul was made a bit dicey on the first twizzle, but it was Piper that got level 2. We'll see what the calls are after review, but we could be about to see an upset if those levels hold. (Edited to add - levels stayed similar but they did gain one each on the one foot turns, and the twizzles.)

126.79 = 1st Place
207.83 = 1st Place

 

[FiveRinger]

Mark: "They make it through the twizzles". Well yes, but only L2 for Piper. They were really off for a team at this level.

Hmmmm. i think I liked this program better at Skate Canada. It was good, and should rightly lead after this, but it's beatable.

Mark agrees. He's so diplomatic

 

[Gris]

Not really feeling it this time either - I really liked this program 2 weeks ago.

 

[skatingguy]

Lajoie, Marjorie/Lagha, Zachary
Coach: R. Haguenauer, M.-F. Dubreuil, P. Denis
Music: Roses by Jean-Michel Blais

 

[Gris]

Please let this win.

ETA: Ah, no. But I really think they should.

 

[myhoneyhoney]

Wow

 

[leilaofpaper]

Marjorie’s L3 might’ve been enough for them to lose unfortunately. If there’s an expected PCS bump for Piper and Paul.

 

[Bunny Hop]

Lajoie/Lagha - Great use of holds and close skating. They really skated to the music. Held my attention all the way through. Loved it. This is going to be close.

I'd give it to L/L, but I like both Canadian teams so I'm good either way.

 

[skatingguy]

Lajoie, Marjorie/Lagha, Zachary
Coach: R. Haguenauer, M.-F. Dubreuil, P. Denis
Music: Roses by Jean-Michel Blais

Straight Line Lift 4
OFTW3+OFTM3
Choreo Spin Move
SyTwW3+SyTwM4
Dance Spin 4
Choreo Character Step Sequence
Stationary Lift 4
DiStW3+DiStM3
Rotational Lift 4
Choreo Dance Lift

This was a good skate for Lajoie/Lagha, but I don't think it was quite enough to win. A few level issues, particularly her twizzles will probably hold them back. This program is more open, and it gives them the chance to show off their speed, and flow. I really like the way the music builds, and their skating matches the changes in intensity.

124.00 = 2nd Place
206.02 = 2nd Place

 

[Frau Muller]

I’m in total awe of the last three free dances, esp LaLa’s Roses. A true work of art.

Hoorah to Green/Parsons on their bronze medals here! I adore their Denmark FD. It’ll be tough to cheer between them and the Browns for the 3rd US Worlds spot.

 

[Bunny Hop]

Well, they seem happy with second place, so that's good. I think Gilles/Poirier got a bit lucky though.

 

[Jay42]

Well, they seem happy with second place, so that's good. I think Gilles/Poirier got a bit lucky though.

I agree. I'm not mad about it because I love them but Gilles & Poirier were definitely lucky.

 

[Private Citizen]

Booooo, L&L deserved to win! Gilles and Poirier are past their prime, and it shows. SC needs to politick for the future, and L&L are it! G&P will be the third-place Canadian team by the next Olympics, if they're even still around.

 

[victorskid]

It is taking quite a while for the official scores to come up...

The FD results:

1​	Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER	CAN	126.79​	70.37​		56.42​	9.46​	9.43​	9.32​	0.00​	#8​
2​	Marjorie LAJOIE / Zachary LAGHA	CAN	124.00​	69.92​		54.08​	9.00​	9.11​	8.93​	0.00​	#9​
3​	Caroline GREEN / Michael PARSONS	USA	113.26​	62.54​		50.72​	8.54​	8.32​	8.50​	0.00​	#7​
4​	Eva PATE / Logan BYE	USA	111.29​	61.71​		49.58​	8.39​	8.36​	8.04​	0.00​	#6​
5​	Loicia DEMOUGEOT / Theo le MERCIER	FRA	109.92​	61.56​		48.36​	8.14​	8.11​	7.93​	0.00​	#3​
6​	Maria KAZAKOVA / Giorgi REVIA	GEO	108.28​	61.20​		48.08​	8.18​	8.04​	7.82​	1.00​	#4​
7​	Emily BRATTI / Ian SOMERVILLE	USA	108.22​	59.64​		48.58​	8.18​	8.04​	8.07​	0.00​	#5​
8​	Xizi CHEN / Jianing XING	CHN	97.67​	55.31​		42.36​	7.07​	7.18​	6.93​	0.00​	#2​
9​	Shang SHI / Nan WU	CHN	87.06​	48.48​		38.58​	6.54​	6.43​	6.32​	0.00​	#1​

The overall results:

1	Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER	CAN	207.83	2	1
2	Marjorie LAJOIE / Zachary LAGHA	CAN	206.02	1	2
3	Caroline GREEN / Michael PARSONS	USA	189.33	3	3
4	Eva PATE / Logan BYE	USA	184.58	4	4
5	Loicia DEMOUGEOT / Theo le MERCIER	FRA	180.10	7	5
6	Emily BRATTI / Ian SOMERVILLE	USA	179.39	5	7
7	Maria KAZAKOVA / Giorgi REVIA	GEO	178.86	6	6
8	Xizi CHEN / Jianing XING	CHN	159.72	8	8
9	Shang SHI / Nan WU	CHN	138.86	9	9

Protocols link: http://www.isuresults.com/results/s...------FNL-000100--_JudgesDetailsperSkater.pdf

 

[marbri]

It's nice to see Lajoie/Lagha finally getting the respect they deserve.

Gilles/Poirier definitely not as sharp as they were at Skate Canada. But it's also interesting to note that the impression their FD gives is very dependent on how it is filmed. Some of what makes that FD work were filmed from angles that do not work at all. Which again is interesting as I wonder how it is for the audience depending on where they are sat or is this purely an issue for the home viewer depending on the filming.

I also wonder who was calling the womens twizzles in this event.

 

[marbri]

Canadian Nationals is going to be really interesting. Might all come down who controls their nerves the best.

 

[skatingguy]

I would say Clair de Lune, as it's not really in the same league as the others in that regard, but I'm fine for people to disagree on that point.

My definition is generally a piece of music, or pieces of music used by skaters in multiple disciplines over the course of multiple seasons. We had Clair de Lune yesterday in the men's short program so I would count it. I think it's generally escaped the warhorse label because it seems to be a piece of music that has wide appeal without becoming annoying, which is very rare for music in the skating fandom.

 

[4rkidz]

I am good with the result, the artistry of Piper and Paul with that program is breathtaking, I think LALA are technically so good, but not quite seasoned enough yet artistically. Piper and Paul are only getting beaten this season if THEY make errors, not because other teams are better. Not quite over the hill yet.

 

[Wyliefan]

I have one thing to say:

There's been Phantom of the Opera on Ice music all along and we never knew it???

Okay, I have one more thing to say:

As with yesterday, I think the result was fair. Piper and Paul weren't perfect but went all out. (That program works a lot better when Piper doesn't grin her way through it! The emotion was so much stronger today, and it made a difference). Marjorie and Zak were very good, but seemed cautious for about the first two thirds of the program. It looked great when they finally let loose, but they waited way too long to do it. I was pretty sure about halfway through their skate that G/P had it.