Current season is well underway, what are your favorite programs, costumes and surprises thus far?

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I think the thread topic sums it up rather well. With October approaching what have you seen so far that stands out as far as skaters, costumes, competitions, and surprises?

For me, color me happy .. who would’ve thought US women would be going like this? This has just been amazing. I’ve already counted 10 US women that really are all chasing three spots for worlds.

I’m not on the crazy bus about worrying for Isabeau like so many others are, it doesn’t seem like an International panel of judges are either. I’ve watched her short and her free program over and over even more than Amber and I have to say I like them both now and I like both costumes. I don’t have any reservations about her skating.

Speaking of Amber, I love her short program dress, and her free program dress, I’m in love with the Janet Jackson short. I think it has amazing choreography, and her speed is so impressive. The triple axles are a dream. As I do like the free program dress I think the music and program will still need to grow on me just a little bit more, but I know that it will.

I love love love Hase and volodin. Although like last season, I hope they r not peaking in September and October and November.

And speaking of more surprises how about Patrick Blackwell and Jacob Sanchez and Lucas Broussard. Looking so impressive.

I’m on pins and needles waiting for what Bradie is going to do and then still Alysa and Lindsay and other US women.

Was very excited for Frangi to get the silver medal at Nebelhorn.

And then I am just absolutely loving Zingas and Kolesnik.

And just like last season, I’m loving the junior Italian dance team of Noemi and Lafornara, the American.

Still so many other skaters and teams to make their debut… chock & Bates, Bec & Guar, Daniel Grassl and Matteo Rizzo, Loena and Nina, Boyang, Piper and Paul

 

[Karen-W]

Ahem... You neglect to mention the stunning programs from Carreira/Ponomarenko? Are you trying to dead yourself to me?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Ahem... You neglect to mention the stunning programs from Carreira/Ponomarenko? Are you trying to dead yourself to me?

Lol. What I have to say… I think I would have to put in unpopular opinions.




So they are clear stand outs to you and others. Who else and what else?

 

[her grace]

Some junior highlights:

Zhender/Seiber have a great Barbie-themed RD. Ignore the sound quality and Love the Barbie!

The U.S.'s new balletic ice dance team with amazing posture and extension Aboian/Veselukhin

A young upstart from Finland Venla Sinisalo with some innovative interpretation and good jumps

 

[Frau Muller]

Dance:

Zingas/Kolesnikov with better programs this year.

Aboian/Veselukhin new classical faves…the Fratianne vibe in her RD dress…and the classical FD.

Grimm/Savitskyi continue as faves. Up to seniors soon. Enough of the coaching crap.

Pairs: slim pickings here

Hase/Volodin A#1 by a mile

Men:

Ilia, despite his music, but he does it well

Sota Yamamoto - my big tall handsome Japanese man! Especially the FP with the mighty choral end! Keep building on Nebelhorn…

Deniss’ Vasiljevs - both programs, esp Bayadere…but fix the diaper costume!

Women: Until I see Pinzarrone’s Swan Lake…

Amber: TWO excellent programs and appropriate costumes…both are dresses…last year’s SP onesie was good for fixing cars.

Sarah Everhardt - again, two great programs but I especially love her Firebird FP. Go, Reston coaching team!

Hana Yoshida’s gorgeous choral SP…I’ve rewatched it ten times.

Isabeau’s lyrical Liebestraume FP (everything beside the jumps!) and my favorite dress so far - the green dress straight out of a Jerome Robbins ballet! The ugly golf-ball “pearls” ruin the SP for me.

Among jrs, I love the elder Kim sister (Yuseong Kim) who won the Ankara JGP…programs (the martial arts FP with red dress) and dresses/hair accessories unlike anyone else.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Loena’s emo, sad cover of Cher is just not her… I don’t think.

This song by Cher is actually very upbeat and a song to get up and reboot yourself. I think she should go to the actual version by Cher. That seems like it would be right up her alley and on brand with who she is as a skater. Thoughts?

Fantastic dress.

 

[Bigbird]

Dance:
The RDs by the IAM group are encouraging, notably, Fabbri and Ayer, and Smart and Dieck. This group always understands the RD Assignment. I also like the FD of Smart and Dieck. The Mrazkov Brother and Sister Team have an effective Beatles RD. I'm also liking the material and skills of Lat/Caf from France, but something is in the French blood, they have style, inclusive of the Junior Teams. On re-watching the programs of Zingas and Kolnesik, they've also caught my eye. The programs of Carr and Pom are good but they're out of shape, hence not showing them off well, it's almost tempting to think their programs last year were better, I will need to look at them later in the year. The newly formed team of Kag/Nek are showing signs of greatness, pity they are banned from international competition.

Men: Ilia M, great all-around artistry, skill and challenging material, that surprises.
Women: Adelia Petrosyan.
Pairs: It's too early to say.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

The newly formed team of Kag/Nek are showing signs of greatness, pity they are banned from international competition.

Wait, who? And what….

 

[Sylvia]

Wait, who? And what….

Russian figure skating news in 2024

She had guts. I never thought the Russian girls had "artistry", so I looked forward to Trusova simply to see her going all-out. I'd never rewatch her performances, but it was nice in terms of skating being a competitive sport. And it was kind of ridiculous to see people saying she never had...

www.fsuniverse.net

 

[Vagabond]

The newly formed team of Kag/Nek are showing signs of greatness, pity they are banned from international competition.

The fact that they are banned from international competition is a good thing.

The pity is that Russia is waging war on Ukraine.

 

[Bigbird]

The fact that they are banned from international competition is a good thing.

The pity is that Russia is waging war on Ukraine.

This is true. But to be fair, other countries are committing similar atrocities but still able to compete. The real reason Russia is out of competition, IMHO, is its penchant for doping. So, if they could find a way to isolate the clean athletes from the riffraff, it would be interesting to see how they match up with their peers.

 

[DreamSkates]

This is true. But to be fair, other countries are committing similar atrocities but still able to compete. The real reason Russia is out of competition, IMHO, is its penchant for doping. So, if they could find a way to isolate the clean athletes from the riffraff, it would be interesting to see how they match up with their peers.

In my opinion, the difference is that Russian troops marched into Ukraine, several years after agreeing they were an independent country. Ukraine did not attack Russia. The other countries in question had already been in battles..

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Alysa looks really good and her skating has matured.

did anybody watch Tayside programs this weekend?

I love how Jacob Sanchez is all smiles and energy on the ice.

 

[firstflight]

On the surprise side, Turkkila/Versluis would not have been the ones I would have expected to have a program where she is helicoptering her legs wide apart pointed upward at the audience. The amount of times both of her feet lift off the ice, aside from the lift elements, is remarkable in this FD. I am enjoying this departure from their norm.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Turkkila/Versluis' FD and Orihara/Pirinen's and the Browns' RD's are my standouts. I lot of the Arribert/Piton programs rock as well. I also like Guignard/Fabbri's robot FD.

In Women's, I really love Mei Okada's FS.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Turkkila/Versluis' FD

Trying to find a video of this

 

[Sylvia]

did anybody watch Tayside programs this weekend?

The paid livestream didn't happen.

I love how Jacob Sanchez is all smiles and energy on the ice.

Jacob's k&c rcactions/expressions are fun, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydzAtRxJFkc&t=318s (after his Ljubljana SP)

Trying to find a video of this

Posted in the Kiss & Cry section.

 

[zigzig]

French babies Village People program.

 

[Sylvia]

French babies Village People program.

Fradji/Fourneaux's RD? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNY1p0k0sVs

 

[Bigbird]

In my opinion, the difference is that Russian troops marched into Ukraine, several years after agreeing they were an independent country. Ukraine did not attack Russia. The other countries in question had already been in battles..

I'll not argue, let's just agree to disagree...

 

[zigzig]

Fradji/Fourneaux's RD? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNY1p0k0sVs

Yes!

 

[firstflight]

Trying to find a video of this

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[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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They weren’t. Thank you

HOLY MOLY that was brillz!!!!

And to me this is what ice dancing is, I actually saw the dance in that dance.

This is also a really good example when touching the boards actually works, and not just doing it for show.

Can we please see them on the European podium this year and the Grand Prix final? That would be amazingggggg.

Wow, it was like Versluis was dancing that just for me.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Wow. I really like the concepts of the free dance for both finnish teams. Very innovative.

I do kind of wish though they had used top hats if allowed and then done my favorite favorite campy song from a chorus line. It’s the song that I usually watch that movie for. Lol..but I understand why they did not do it.

 

[kwanette]

Women: Yuna Aoki..sp and FS..She is my kind of skater and Misha Ge knocked it out of the park w both..
Men: Kazuki Tomono sp,

Muanapoto
by TSHEGUE (Kudos to Shae..and to Kazuki for picking this music..
FS: Jun "Loco"..another great one by Shae..

Dance: Finns, 2.0 RD..A Chorus Line FD: Zingas and Kolesnik , yes, I actually like a Benoit program
Pairs: I need to wait..

 

[PRlady]

CarPon both dances, they have really come a long way and that’s the best Carmen in forever.

Zing/Kol, Flor/Des and Lop/Bri FDs.

Hana Yoshida, can’t remember if it was SP or FD but she breaks the Japanese mold. Loved loved loved Aliza Liu’s SP and FO has potential.

Kagiyama’s SP.

Costumes: Yo Takagi’s periwinkle dress and Thorngren’s silver and blue dress.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Thorngren’s silver and blue dress.

That was silver and blue? It looks black to me.

I like both of her short program dresses .. the green last year, and the purple/red/violet this year

 

[DreamSkates]

I'll not argue, let's just agree to disagree...

Back to the topic of skating...

 

[jenny12]

Both the SP and FP of Yuma Kagiyama. Both really show off his qualities so well.

I also love the free programs of Carreira and Ponomarenko, Zingas and Kolesnik and Flores and Desyatov. The Americans have really brought it this year with their free programs, IMO!

 

[Rackon]

So far my favorite program is Zingas and Kolesnik’s free dance - love nearly everything about it. Never thought I’d be saying that about a Benoit program but here we are. It really shows them off at their best.