Interview with Richard Gauthier

clairecloutier

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Everyone seems to like interviews with the Russian coaches ... so I thought I'd share this interview I did at Four Continents with Canadian pairs coach Richard Gauthier. In it, Richard gives updates on his teams Moore-Towers/Marinaro and Alexandrovskaya/Windsor, offers his take on the top teams heading into Worlds, and analyzes the effect of recent rules changes.

http://figureskatersonline.com/news...airs-field-for-worlds-analyzes-rules-changes/
 
So he thinks James/Cipres's short program this year is nothing special, but their long is... I agree! I cannot really get into Uninvited.

I don't have strong feelings about Uninvited but I wonder if maybe they could have used more contrast in music choices between the short and the long. Don't think it's a huge deal though.

Great interview.
 
I don't have strong feelings about Uninvited but I wonder if maybe they could have used more contrast in music choices between the short and the long. Don't think it's a huge deal though.

Great interview.

I think the music choice in the long has a lot more impact and punch, and the elements (lifts!) and the choreo stand out more. The short - kind of meh to me.
 
Great interview with Gauthier, Claire! And thanks. He knows whereof he speaks, and he made some excellent observations regarding the state of pairs in light of the recent rules changes. It's too bad that the ISU does not listen to coaches and skaters. As always, a wonderful interview with exellent questions. :)

In regard to James/Cipres, indeed they have risen to the top the hard way, and definitely deserve every good thing. They are exciting to watch, and many teams have been inspired by their example and some have been copying their moves and costumes. Champions lead the way. It reminds me of when Savchenko/ Szolkowy broke the mold and inspired so many teams to work on expressing themselves in new ways. And when Meagan & Eric were winning, teams were inspired by their example to work on upping their tech arsenal, which was M&E's strength. The thing about J/C that's impossible to copy, is their chemistry. Charlie White did wonderful work for both J/C and Denney/Frazier this season. :cheer2:

I think Guillaume Cizeron did an interesting job with J/C's Uninvited sp too, especially for GC being new to choreographing pairs. The sp is a different layout than J/C have been accustomed to, so it has taken awhile for them to get used to it, but I think they've gotten the knack. J/C discuss their sp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfU3qorP__w I like their sp, and I think it goes by quickly too, just like their fp. When the programs end, the audience wants more. I suppose some people don't like the music of Uninvited. But, I've enjoyed all of J/C's programs since their 2016-2017 breakthrough. J/C's 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons' sps were probably more exciting than this season's sp in terms of music, moves and themes. Even their 2016 sp at Worlds (before Zimmerman & crew) was a lot of fun to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlktjmVSz9o Wow, the way Morgan just picks V up into that lift is :swoon: Of course, J/C are even better now than then in many ways https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aZX5flxLRk


Regarding coming back in the fp, I doubt any team would want to use that approach as a strategy. It's always good to be ahead. Of course, it adds to the excitement when an amazing comeback does happen, a la Savchenko/Massot at the 2018 Olympics. Still, that's never a planned strategy. It's just about taking each moment as it comes.

I agree Sui/Han have time to get better by Worlds. It was good for them to compete at 4CC just to see where they're at competitively, so they know what they need to do. They are a unique team as well, with their own brand of magic. I know Sui wills herself to persevere, even through pain. So we'll see what happens. As some fans have commented, S/H's sp is not quite as interesting as their fp. It does look like Sui gained some inspiration from Vanessa's sparkly gold & raspberry sp costume with the bling she's bringing to her fab blue and silver sparkly outfit.

T/M of course have nice lines and are the epitome of traditional Russian aesthetic pairs teams, but to date they have not found the right material. Their fp is okay since it is in their aesthetic wheelhouse, but they still do not bring any intensity and connection to the ice. Finally, they did listen and get a sp more suited to their aesthetic, but it's not spectacular. Boikova/Koslovskii seem primed to pass T/M at some point, since B/K are way more exciting. Despite Koslovskii's chest-beating, which he could stand to calm down a bit, they have huge talent and Moskvina too! :encore:
 
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In regard to Vanessa James skating for so many countries and having different partners, I decided to do some checking for accuracy. I think the reason people think she's skated for so many countries is because she's connected in some way to five countries. However, V has only had three pairs partners, and only two of major significance, representing one country: France. And she skated in singles for two countries, but she's only represented one country nationally and internationally in singles at the junior and senior levels: Great Britain.

Vanessa was born in Canada (her mother is Canadian; her father is Bermudan). She grew up till the age of 10 in Bermuda with her parents and her twin sister, Melyssa. Then the family moved to the U.S. That's when Vanessa and her sister learned to skate, representing the Washington D.C. figure skating club. Vanessa skated singles, but she only competed for the U.S. at the novice and junior level at regionals and sectionals. Then she decided to skate for the UK since her father has British citizenship. Vanessa competed in singles for Great Britain, winning one British championship in singles, and winning a silver medal at British nationals the following season. She also competed one season on the JGP for Britain, and once at Junior Worlds. As a senior, Vanessa won a bronze medal in singles at Cup of Nice for Great Britain. Then Vanessa paired for a short time with Hamish Gaman of Great Britain, but they apparently didn't compete at any major competitions. Vanessa looked for another partner and found James Yannick Bonheur of France. She moved to France, and paired successfully with Bonheur for two seasons. They competed at the 2010 Olympics (14th) and twice at Worlds placing 12th both times. After the Olympics, Bonheur decided to retire.

Vanessa tried out with Maximin Coia, and they planned to train in Germany with Ingo Steuer, but Coia ended his competitive career before their plans came to fruition. Vanessa began looking for another French partner and found Morgan Cipres who had been skating singles. Vanessa & Morgan started training together in September 2010, and began their competitive career the following season. The rest is history.
 
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Thank you for compiling all this! :encore:

Minor correction: Yannick Bonheur.

Ah thanks. I did know that, but I guess I was doing the usual and getting Vanessa's last name mixed up with her male partners' first names. :p :lol: I'll make a correction.

BTW, in a recent interview, Vanessa & Morgan, had also discussed how they went to train with Ingo Steuer for a short time at one point in their partnership, and Ingo actually suggested that Vanessa match with Bruno Massot instead. Whoa! I think V&M have always been just fine as partners, and of course, Bruno was eventually able to invigorate his career and go to the next level with Aliona.
 
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