JGP #1 - Riga Cup, Riga LAT - Ice Dance RD & FD

[Karen-W]

Rhythm Dance Starting Order/Results - https://results.isu.org/results/season2425/jgplat2024/SEG007.htm
Rhythm Dance Detailed Time Schedule - https://results.isu.org/results/sea...JUNIOR----QUAL000100--_StartListwithTimes.pdf
Rhythm Dance LiveStream - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap-q-o4790A

StN. Name Nation

Warm-Up Group 1
1 Noemi Maria TALI / Noah LAFORNARA ITA
2 Mimi MARLER DAVIES / Joseph BLACK GBR
3 Eleonore GABET / Maxime EVEQUOZ SUI
4 Caroline MULLEN / Brendan MULLEN USA
5 Arina BELJAJEVA / Frederick MERILO EST

Warm-Up Group 2
6 Hilda TAYLOR / Alexander BUCHHOLDT FIN
7 Sumire YOSHIDA / Ibuki OGAHARA JPN
8 Louise BORDET / Martin CHARDAIN FRA
9 Eva BERNARD / Amedeo BONETTO FRA
10 Sofiia DOVHAL / Wiktor KULESZA POL

Warm-Up Group 3
11 Sofiia REKUNOVA / Denys FEDIANKIN UKR
12 Michelle DEYCH / Ryan HU USA
13 Aurea CINCON-DEBOUT / Earl Jesse CELESTINO CAN
14 Sandrine GAUTHIER / Quentin THIEREN CAN
15 Darya GRIMM / Michail SAVITSKIY GER

 

[Kateri]

And we're off! Let's pray the scoring system delays are fixed, or this is gonna be difficult.

 

[4rkidz]

Italians were good technically but I really liked the young Brits, their presentation skills excellent. Cant believe she is only 13?

 

[Frau Muller]

Here from Germany…caught up on Mullens (US) …now live!

 

[Frau Muller]

Japanese so cute - I can vouch for the right outfits!

 

[Frau Muller]

Y-M-C-A! Where are the arm motions?

 

[Karen-W]

Okay, finally fell asleep about an hour and a half ago and I'm tempted to try and go back to sleep for a couple more hours so that I don't miss any of the Pairs FS but I'm awake now, so I'll give this a bit of a go and see how long I last. I rewound the feed and am starting with the #1 Italians.

Tali/Lafornara - of course they're skating to disco. Her white, sparkly halter-style dress is really pretty though, so I can forgive a lot. Really strong pattern dance sections - very smooth. Twizzles seem a bit out of synch and he looked like he dropped his foot on the 2nd one but she's the one who gets a L3 on the initial call. Finger pointing in place with lots of energy. Not bad at all! Skipping the replay - good score for them!

Marler Davies/Black - saw them for the first time at the British August Qualifier event. Periwinkle blue sequined, short sleeve dress shirt with black bants for him, matching pants & halter style stop with side cutouts for her. Very shiny, lol. No keypoints on either section of the pattern dance but L4 on their twizzles. Good speed and energy for another disco program. I will give bonus points to the first team that doesn't use disco.

Gabet/Evequoz - first time ever seeing one of these new Swiss teams on the JGP circuit. She's in an olive green swing-style dress that has a black collar and belt while he's in solid black with a matching olive green tie. You'd have thought by their costumes that they'd be doing something from the '50s but nope. I don't get this at all and trying to figure out the songs - they're using covers - has distracted me and I didn't pay any attention to their skating - judging by their score, I didn't miss much and I'm not rewinding to validate that assessment because I want to get to the next team.

Mullens - more disco! She's in a shiny fuchsia dress and he's got a teal green short-sleeved dress shirt with black pants and I don't like these costumes together. Did his luggage get lost? Solid start with their midline and then L4 twizzles to Stayin' Alive. Not as many keypoints as the Italians and that's pretty much the difference between 1st & 2nd place thus far.

Beljajeva/Merilo - first time seeing this new Estonian team - apparently they're skating to Grease and I guess she's channeling Slutty Sandy from the end with her black sleeveless unitard that has a wide red, sparkly boatneck collar on the front that drops to a deep v on the back punctuated by a butt bow and matching red gloves. He's in all black so he's clearly Danny. They could be skating to anything for all of the spirit and energy of this music they manage to capture, which is to say none at all. Okay, then but no points simply for not skating to disco if you can't give me anything with it.

FFW through the warmup of the next group.

Taylor/Buchholdt - '60s with Signed, Sealed, Delivered - black for both with sparkly fuchsia accents. They're a really new team and it shows. Give them another year (or maybe 6 months since they very well could be Finland's Jr Worlds representatives) and they have some potential, I think.

Yoshida/Ogahara - they're one of Cathy Reed's teams she's been nurturing for several years but only now junior age-eligible. These costumes are seriously giving off some serious "My grandma's guest room bedspread" vibes. Don't pretend like everyone of a certain age here doesn't know what I'm talking about, lol. They're not too shabby but I'm not enamored of them like I was by Kishimoto/Tamura last season. We'll see how this Baby Japanese team develops over the next few seasons.

Bordet/Chardain - new French team - these costumes are ugly. Bunch of strappy black paired with a really dark olive green for her, same color palette for him with a shirt that's sort of divided into quarters. And, in case you weren't sure based on these weird costumes alone, yes, they're a Karine Arribert team. They're skating to the Rolling Stones but I'm left so cold by this program. #underwhelmed

Bernard/Bonetto - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club and Jumpin' Jack Flash - well, that's a combo. Mustard yellow and black wide plaid pattern for her skirt and one shoulder/sleeve of his shirt, sunshine yellow waist band for her, sunshine yellow collars for both of them, black for her top and the rest of his costume. Karine needs to lay off trying to be edgy for edgy's sake with the costuming of her teams. They screwed up their twizzles too. They don't get bonus points just for not using disco when they give us this weird mishmash that's totally going to get a YT copyright strike because of The Beatles.

Dovhal/Kulesza - their costumes are in the same color range and his shirt screams disco with the wide collar and deep v, her dress not so much. Strong opening pattern dance with all the keypoints, not quite as strong on the second pattern, and then she botched her twizzles big time - huge bobble - L2/L3 on the initial call. That's gonna keep them out of the medal conversation. Did I mention we're getting our first YMCA of the season here? Meh.

And with that, I've caught up and am waiting on the ice resurfacing to finish. Well, it actually looks like it's finished and we're waiting for the last group to be called to the ice but there is literally no one in the arena from the look of this wide shot so I have no idea when we'll see the last group of five teams take the ice.

 

[Frau Muller]

Go, Grimm & Savitsky!!!

 

[Karen-W]

Y-M-C-A! Where are the arm motions?

This was my main thought also during DovKul's program!

 

[Frau Muller]

Ukrainians dancing to my life’s motto: Stayin’ Alive!!!

 

[Karen-W]

Rekunova/Fediankin - A Little Less Conversation and Stayin' Alive - well, that's a combination. Red mesh tops over black for both of them - also a choice. Oh, those twizzles are tragic. Tech tracker is red through both pattern dance sections and their twizzles and I don't have much hope it will go green for this midline - they're really struggling with even skating in hold and far apart on the side-by-side parts. Oh, that straight line lift was sooooo slow and also red. Yikes. You have to wonder what their training conditions are in Ukraine.

 

[Frau Muller]

Younger Americans cute but I prefer the Mullens, who came earlier.

 

[Karen-W]

Deych/Hu - first junior season for them - more disco - those are some BRIGHT purple pants he's got on, her dress is a rose gold lame with a lilac underskirt and stoning on the upper part of the bodice. Good energy but they need to work on matching their leg line. Got all 4 keypoints in the first pattern, then only 1 on the second pattern, lol. TES before it leaves the screen would indicate they're going to go into 3rd with a solid score around 59 - their PCS should be lower than the Mullens.

ETA - nope, they're in 4th with 56.17.

 

[Kateri]

They don't get bonus points just for not using disco when they give us this weird mishmash that's totally going to get a YT copyright strike because of The Beatles.

How muffled can the music be, before the sensors can't detect it as Beatles? Maybe that's why the ISU don't want to put the proper music feed back on the broadcast...

 

[Karen-W]

Cincon-Debout/Celestino - hey, guess what, guys? More disco! This time the Jackson 5! And another fuchsia dress with a halter style neck for the woman. His shirt is also another remnant from your grandma's guest room bedspread. Seriously, I see these IG reels every so often with some chick that remakes Williams-Sonoma table cloths she finds at garage sales into dresses and I swear she'd totally do the same with old bedspreads as long as they aren't moth-eaten. I can't really be bothered with paying attention to this team because this program is just generic disco and it's clear IAM hasn't put much energy into them.

 

[Karen-W]

How muffled can the music be, before the sensors can't detect it as Beatles? Maybe that's why the ISU don't want to put the proper music feed back on the broadcast...

I think it's a rink or bandwidth issue, TBH. Some JGPs the music is fine, other times it's crap. I'm guessing that whatever their technical issues yesterday were that were causing them to take away the tech tracker from the stream are maybe also impacting their ability to have a proper music feed. I guess if I had to choose, maybe I'm okay with the tech tracker as a tradeoff when we're being subjected to endless disco RDs.

 

[Frau Muller]

Look at the guy’s shirt - Lots of polyester out there!

 

[Karen-W]

Gauthier/Thieren - Rolling Stones & David Bowie - so, not disco but straight rock & roll. Black tank top for him and black hot pant shorts with a halter top that has a bunch of gold crystals on it and a really wide belt. This is a look. I'm not a fan of this program at all so far. Eeek, they nearly crashed into each other on the twizzles and each were called L2. Thank you, YT, for the commercial break right as they hit their closing pose. I'm not sure that choosing to go back to junior from senior last season because of the age rule change is going to benefit them in the long run if they don't make the JGPF. We'll see how the rest of the JGP season plays out.

ETA - apparently, one of them is recovering from a concussion. Well, they are an IAM team, so...

 

[Frau Muller]

Gauthier/Thieren - not super sharp but lots of fun. I enjoy the Honky Tonk Women music.

 

[Karen-W]

Grimm/Savitskiy - I can't even describe these costumes. Black with neon green, yellow and pink large circles and some swirly trim. And the back side of her dress is a ruffled skirt. These are something I'd have expected for a Latin RD. This program makes no sense to me at all. And that's not a compliment because it's not voidy at all. Whatever is going on with their coaching situation, I really hope they get it figured out soon. That TES score makes me think they're going to be in 2nd or 3rd - and any of the top 3 teams can take the gold tomorrow.

ETA - yup, 61.97 puts them in 2nd - 1 point behind Tali/Lafornara and less than 1 point ahead of the Mullens.

 

[Frau Muller]

Germans so much fun - not perfect but I love their total look - his height, total lines. Love them!

 

[Karen-W]

Rhythm Dance Standings - https://results.isu.org/results/season2425/jgplat2024/SEG007.htm
Judges Protocols (will eventually be at this link) - https://results.isu.org/results/sea...OR----QUAL000100--_JudgesDetailsperSkater.pdf

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	CO	PR	SK	Ded. -	StN.
1​	Noemi Maria TALI / Noah LAFORNARA	ITA	62.95​	34.73​		28.22​	7.14​	7.14​	6.93​	0.00​	#1​
2​	Darya GRIMM / Michail SAVITSKIY	GER	61.97​	33.22​		28.75​	7.29​	7.21​	7.11​	0.00​	#15​
3​	Caroline MULLEN / Brendan MULLEN	USA	61.06​	34.56​		26.50​	6.71​	6.68​	6.54​	0.00​	#4​
4​	Louise BORDET / Martin CHARDAIN	FRA	57.67​	32.30​		25.37​	6.43​	6.32​	6.32​	0.00​	#8​
5​	Sandrine GAUTHIER / Quentin THIEREN	CAN	56.59​	30.60​		25.99​	6.57​	6.43​	6.54​	0.00​	#14​
6​	Michelle DEYCH / Ryan HU	USA	56.17​	32.10​		24.07​	5.96​	6.07​	6.07​	0.00​	#12​
7​	Aurea CINCON-DEBOUT / Earl Jesse CELESTINO	CAN	55.79​	31.42​		24.37​	6.11​	6.14​	6.07​	0.00​	#13​
8​	Eva BERNARD / Amedeo BONETTO	FRA	53.69​	28.70​		24.99​	6.36​	6.25​	6.18​	0.00​	#9​
9​	Sofiia DOVHAL / Wiktor KULESZA	POL	52.54​	30.03​		22.51​	5.68​	5.64​	5.61​	0.00​	#10​
10​	Sumire YOSHIDA / Ibuki OGAHARA	JPN	50.65​	28.74​		21.91​	5.54​	5.57​	5.36​	0.00​	#7​
11​	Eleonore GABET / Maxime EVEQUOZ	SUI	44.12​	24.47​		19.65​	5.07​	5.00​	4.71​	0.00​	#3​
12​	Hilda TAYLOR / Alexander BUCHHOLDT	FIN	43.07​	24.30​		18.77​	4.75​	4.75​	4.61​	0.00​	#6​
13​	Mimi MARLER DAVIES / Joseph BLACK	GBR	42.81​	22.86​		19.95​	5.11​	5.07​	4.82​	0.00​	#2​
14​	Arina BELJAJEVA / Frederick MERILO	EST	29.90​	15.92​		13.98​	3.61​	3.61​	3.29​	0.00​	#5​
15​	Sofiia REKUNOVA / Denys FEDIANKIN	UKR	25.51​	14.11​		11.40​	3.00​	2.75​	2.82​	0.00​	#11​

 

[jlai]

Gauthier/Thieren - Rolling Stones & David Bowie - so, not disco but straight rock & roll. Black tank top for him and black hot pant shorts with a halter top that has a bunch of gold crystals on it and a really wide belt. This is a look. I'm not a fan of this program at all so far. Eeek, they nearly crashed into each other on the twizzles and each were called L2. Thank you, YT, for the commercial break right as they hit their closing pose. I'm not sure that choosing to go back to junior from senior last season because of the age rule change is going to benefit them in the long run if they don't make the JGPF. We'll see how the rest of the JGP season plays out.

ETA - apparently, one of them is recovering from a concussion. Well, they are an IAM team, so...

I am thinking that perhaps teams that go back to jrs may run into a situation where they need more time, eg W/T with the injury issue

 

[Wyliefan]

Germans wuzrobbed. Even with the tiny lift bobble, they looked so much stronger than the others (silly costumes notwithstanding). Sorry to hear they were sick, along with their coaching issues. Poor babies just can't catch a break.

Most of the other scoring seemed fair to me, except I think Deych/Hu were a bit high. I thought they looked wobbly the whole time.

 

[her grace]

Tali/Lafornara

High levels in pattern, smooth through the steps, out of sync in places, and a little sticky on lift dismount, looked happy and into it during the choreo dance moves

Mullens

Nice soft knees, giving more expression than in the past, felt like they could use more speed at beginning of the program

Yoshida/Ogahara

Baby Japanese, nice flow and glide, needs more precision in the steps

Bordet/Chardain

Nice twizzles, patterns nicely integrated into the program, but not the highest levels, little slip from him in the steps, good performance quality

Bernard/Bonetto

A little stiff in upper body during pattern; twizzle error from him, he just didn’t seem to have his feet under him. Will be fun to see this program with more mileage—a refreshing difference in style from all the disco programs

Deych/Hu

Twizzling close together, level 4 on first pattern dance, good energy, a little more work to do on matching leg line

Cincon-Debout/Celestino

Good level on midline, good lift, think the choreo could use a little more embellishment, felt a bit generic

Gauthier/Thieran

Good performers, Twizzle troubles—collision, strong lift to end

Grimm/Savitskiy

Strong performance, confident. Performing choreo during the pattern steps, stickiness getting out of the rotational lift. Some work to do on strengthening the levels for the technical elements, but great piece of choreography. I am buying what they are selling!

 

[Miezekatze]

Anyone know who the guy in the K&C with Grimm/Savitsky was? I didn't understand what Mark Hanretty said

Looked a bit rough still, but I suppose their season preparation didn't go smooth at all, so hopefully they can work that out.

I can't really see Martin Skotnicky being their main coach though, somehow I can't imaging he spent all his retirement keeping up to date with all the COP rules, at least I wouldn't

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

Tali/Lafornara

They are absolutely amazing, holding fingers for them to get all the support in the world.

 

[Nmsis]

Anyone know who the guy in the K&C with Grimm/Savitsky was? I didn't understand what Mark Hanretty said

That's Neil Brown.
He started to coach in Lyon, his club, before rejoining Maurizio Margaglio in Finland a few years ago.

 

[Karen-W]

FD Starting Order/Results - https://results.isu.org/results/season2425/jgplat2024/SEG008.htm
Detailed Time Schedule - https://results.isu.org/results/sea...JUNIOR----FNL-000100--_StartListwithTimes.pdf
FD LiveStream - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3_077yTCEw

StN. Name Nation Rank Points Warm-Up Group 1 1 Sofiia REKUNOVA / Denys FEDIANKIN UKR 15 25.51 2 Arina BELJAJEVA / Frederick MERILO EST 14 29.90 3 Mimi MARLER DAVIES / Joseph BLACK GBR 13 42.81 4 Hilda TAYLOR / Alexander BUCHHOLDT FIN 12 43.07 5 Eleonore GABET / Maxime EVEQUOZ SUI 11 44.12 Warm-Up Group 2 6 Sumire YOSHIDA / Ibuki OGAHARA JPN 10 50.65 7 Sofiia DOVHAL / Wiktor KULESZA POL 9 52.54 8 Eva BERNARD / Amedeo BONETTO FRA 8 53.69 9 Aurea CINCON-DEBOUT / Earl Jesse CELESTINO CAN 7 55.79 10 Michelle DEYCH / Ryan HU USA 6 56.17 Warm-Up Group 3 11 Sandrine GAUTHIER / Quentin THIEREN CAN 5 56.59 12 Louise BORDET / Martin CHARDAIN FRA 4 57.67 13 Caroline MULLEN / Brendan MULLEN USA 3 61.06 14 Darya GRIMM / Michail SAVITSKIY GER 2 61.97 15 Noemi Maria TALI / Noah LAFORNARA ITA 1 62.95

 

[PRlady]

I watched some of the replay, the top six or so teams.

The Italians finally have a worthy team to succeed Charlene and Marco when they get to retire and make little ice dancers! I didn't notice them much last year but they're quite good.

Why do I get the feeling that the judges are telling the Germans they will never win Junior gold? Each year they get passed by another team. Also, guys, the costumes, it's hard to look worse than your country's senior team but you're really in there trying. It's a shame, they're such an attractive couple.

Both French teams, as always with Arribert, interesting to watch. I forget who complained about the plaid miniskirt but obviously that person wasn't around for Mod London circa 1967, that's what they're going for. She just needs more Mary Quant eyeliner.

Mullens looking good this early in the season.

And the new US team is sort of interesting. I hope he has a growth spurt in him because right now they're the same height and it bothers shallow little me. Which is ridiculous because I was Jean-Luc's biggest fan, but I always thought his size held them back in terms of judging.