JGP #5 - Baku AZE - Sept. 23-26, 2025 - Ice Dance RD & FD

[victorskid]

Start Order/Live results: https://www.isuresults.com/results/season2526/jgpaze2025/SEG005.htm
Detailed time schedule: https://www.isuresults.com/results/...JUNIOR----QUAL000100--_StartListwithTimes.pdf
Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkMDeOy4ffU

Start Order
Warm-Up Group 1
1 Matilde PETRACCHI / Pietro ROTA ITA
2 Xinai DING / Hanchong ZHENG CHN
3 Anna OBRIEN / Drake TONG AZE
4 Eliska ZAKOVA / Filip MENCL CZE
5 Sarah MARCILLY VAZQUEZ / Jolan ENGEL ESP

Ice resurfacing

Warm-Up Group 2
6 Nelly Elisa HEMCKE / Artyom SLADKOV GER
7 Anna MACKENZIE / Wesley LOCKWOOD SWE
8 Ambre PERRIER GIANESINI / Samuel BLANC KLAPERMAN FRA
9 Jane CALHOUN / Mark ZHELTYSHEV USA
10 Claudia AMARO LETESTU / Marco AMARO LETESTU POR

Warm-Up Group 3
11 Leonie WOODTLI / Timon David SUHNER SUI
12 Anaelle KOUEVI / Yann HOMAWOO USA
13 Sofiia BEZNOSIKOVA / Max LELEU BEL
14 Summer HOMICK / Nicholas BUELOW CAN
15 Zoe BIANCHI / Daniel BASILE ITA

 

[victorskid]

A reminder that Baku is 8 hours ahead of EDT.

Rhythm Dance begins at 7 a.m. EDT on Thursday. Free Dance begins at 4 a.m. EDT on Friday.

 

[Karen-W]

A reminder that Baku is 8 hours ahead of EDT.

If only the USFS knew that. They posted a reminder last night on their SM to tune in and said it was starting at 4:30am ET. Uhm, yeah, nope. Try 6:30am ET, lol.

 

[victorskid]

Ted and Mark are talking about how ISU officials (like David Molina and Shawn Rettstatt) have been seeking input regarding possible future changes.

Now the skating begins...

 

[victorskid]

Just when you think they always resurface after the 1st group if there's an odd number of warm-up groups, they change it!

 

[her grace]

PG/BK

Big movement, with neat fleet footwork, achieving high levels on patterns and midline, That's more like it.

 

[her grace]

Calhoun/Zheltyshev

he removes a piece of jewelry from ice before starting, both athletes in pants, skating slowly through patterns, but achieving decent levels, nice attempt at incorporating 90s dance moves (something other than just pointing!). Glad to see her with a new partner (she was formerly with Veselukhin); hope she doesn't have to marry him!

 

[victorskid]

After the first 2 of 3 groups, we have an ice resurfacing.

The RD results so far:
1 Ambre PERRIER GIANESINI / Samuel BLANC KLAPERMAN FRA 65.58 36.90 28.68 7.13 7.31 7.13 0.00 #8
2 Jane CALHOUN / Mark ZHELTYSHEV USA 56.05 31.86 24.19 6.19 6.06 5.94 0.00 #9
3 Nelly Elisa HEMCKE / Artyom SLADKOV GER 52.62 29.91 22.71 5.69 5.75 5.63 0.00 #6
4 Eliska ZAKOVA / Filip MENCL CZE 51.28 29.74 21.54 5.31 5.38 5.50 0.00 #4
5 Xinai DING / Hanchong ZHENG CHN 51.05 29.51 21.54 5.31 5.50 5.38 0.00 #2
6 Sarah MARCILLY VAZQUEZ / Jolan ENGEL ESP 45.83 25.95 20.88 5.19 5.38 5.13 1.00 #5
7 Anna MACKENZIE / Wesley LOCKWOOD SWE 44.57 25.52 19.05 4.75 4.88 4.69 0.00 #7
8 Claudia AMARO LETESTU / Marco AMARO LETESTU POR 42.92 24.62 19.30 5.00 4.88 4.63 1.00 #10
9 Anna OBRIEN / Drake TONG AZE 41.57 23.10 18.47 4.69 4.69 4.50 0.00 #3
10 Matilde PETRACCHI / Pietro ROTA ITA 41.35 21.97 19.38 4.94 4.88 4.75 0.00 #1

 

[Karen-W]

Ted and Mark are talking about how ISU officials (like David Molina and Shawn Rettstatt) have been seeking input regarding possible future changes.

Now the skating begins...

Rettstatt is giving no more than lip service to the athletes or fans wishes/ideas.

 

[her grace]

Kouevi/Homawoo

twizzles mismatched and negative GOE, holding back in interpretation through patterns but got good level on quickstep [ETA and rhumba, too!], I felt like the music overpowered them here and they didn't let go and have the freedom in their movement to sell the performance

ETA: nice TES score and did a good job negotiating the turns and edges with good quality. Now need to add more of the presentation component

 

[her grace]

Beznosikova/Leleu

making their season JGP debut, skating with power and look-at-me quality, quick step did not look particularly sharp and got negative GOE there, they look happy

 

[Colonel Green]

7 of 8 keypoints but almost no GOE. Ah, modern ice dance.

 

[her grace]

Homick/Buelow

weird cuts of Backstreet Boys that has the lyrics repeat during pattern dance, good levels there, good performance through the midline, think they could finish their movements more and improve the carriage for even more impact

 

[her grace]

Bianchi/Basile

flying through the rhumba pattern, got the impression that they were going through the motions of the choreography so some work to do there, rotational lift that moved well across the ice, nice outing for the new team

 

[victorskid]

Final RD results:
1 Ambre PERRIER GIANESINI / Samuel BLANC KLAPERMAN FRA 65.58 36.90 28.68 7.13 7.31 7.13 0.00 #8
2 Zoe BIANCHI / Daniel BASILE ITA 60.75 33.88 26.87 6.63 6.63 6.94 0.00 #15
3 Summer HOMICK / Nicholas BUELOW CAN 58.78 33.09 25.69 6.50 6.50 6.31 0.00 #14
4 Jane CALHOUN / Mark ZHELTYSHEV USA 56.05 31.86 24.19 6.19 6.06 5.94 0.00 #9
5 Sofiia BEZNOSIKOVA / Max LELEU BEL 55.23 30.12 25.11 6.19 6.31 6.38 0.00 #13
6 Nelly Elisa HEMCKE / Artyom SLADKOV GER 52.62 29.91 22.71 5.69 5.75 5.63 0.00 #6
7 Eliska ZAKOVA / Filip MENCL CZE 51.28 29.74 21.54 5.31 5.38 5.50 0.00 #4
8 Anaelle KOUEVI / Yann HOMAWOO USA 51.19 29.81 21.38 5.38 5.38 5.31 0.00 #12
9 Xinai DING / Hanchong ZHENG CHN 51.05 29.51 21.54 5.31 5.50 5.38 0.00 #2
10 Sarah MARCILLY VAZQUEZ / Jolan ENGEL ESP 45.83 25.95 20.88 5.19 5.38 5.13 1.00 #5
11 Anna MACKENZIE / Wesley LOCKWOOD SWE 44.57 25.52 19.05 4.75 4.88 4.69 0.00 #7
12 Leonie WOODTLI / Timon David SUHNER SUI 44.26 24.64 19.62 5.00 4.81 4.94 0.00 #11
13 Claudia AMARO LETESTU / Marco AMARO LETESTU POR 42.92 24.62 19.30 5.00 4.88 4.63 1.00 #10
14 Anna OBRIEN / Drake TONG AZE 41.57 23.10 18.47 4.69 4.69 4.50 0.00 #3
15 Matilde PETRACCHI / Pietro ROTA ITA 41.35 21.97 19.38 4.94 4.88 4.75 0.00 #1


Protocols: https://www.isuresults.com/results/...OR----QUAL000100--_JudgesDetailsperSkater.pdf

Playlist of individual skates: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuiPiC1Hk8eKGkFG0BLypFxeMIEjK39GO

 

[her grace]

Rettstatt is giving no more than lip service to the athletes or fans wishes/ideas.

He’s trying to attract people who are not already fans. It’s abundantly clear that he doesn’t care about what current fans want.

 

[victorskid]

The idea of attracting new fans is a "directive" from the ISU, for all their "products", as part of Vision 2030, I believe.

 

[victorskid]

Free Dance Start Order/live results: https://www.isuresults.com/results/season2526/jgpaze2025/SEG006.htm
Detailed time schedule: https://www.isuresults.com/results/...JUNIOR----FNL-000100--_StartListwithTimes.pdf
Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWnAHrIQ9_Q

Warm-Up Group 1
1 Matilde PETRACCHI / Pietro ROTA ITA 15 41.35
2 Anna OBRIEN / Drake TONG AZE 14 41.57
3 Claudia AMARO LETESTU / Marco AMARO LETESTU POR 13 42.92
4 Leonie WOODTLI / Timon David SUHNER SUI 12 44.26
5 Anna MACKENZIE / Wesley LOCKWOOD SWE 11 44.57

Warm-Up Group 2
6 Sarah MARCILLY VAZQUEZ / Jolan ENGEL ESP 10 45.83
7 Xinai DING / Hanchong ZHENG CHN 9 51.05
8 Anaelle KOUEVI / Yann HOMAWOO USA 8 51.19
9 Eliska ZAKOVA / Filip MENCL CZE 7 51.28
10 Nelly Elisa HEMCKE / Artyom SLADKOV GER 6 52.62

Ice Resurfacing

Warm-Up Group 3
11 Sofiia BEZNOSIKOVA / Max LELEU BEL 5 55.23
12 Jane CALHOUN / Mark ZHELTYSHEV USA 4 56.05
13 Summer HOMICK / Nicholas BUELOW CAN 3 58.78
14 Zoe BIANCHI / Daniel BASILE ITA 2 60.75
15 Ambre PERRIER GIANESINI / Samuel BLANC KLAPERMAN FRA 1 65.58

 

[Spikefan]

Just now watching this. Any backstory on Obrien/Tong and their connection with AZE? I actually enjoyed the program so hope they can improve as they have personality.

 

[skatingguy]

10th Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coeTagkq_OI
Sarah Marcilly Vazquez/Jolan Engel
Age: 16/17
Coach: Antoine Charrier
Music: Let's Get Loud, Waiting for Tonight

Sequential Twizzles W:4 M:4
Rhumba 1st Sec B + kpNNNN
Quickstep 1st Sec B + kpNNNN
Midline Step Sequence W:1 M:1
Rotational Lift 4

Skating is a little rough in the step sequences. Good energy performance.

45.83 = 10th Place

 

[skatingguy]

9th Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ViluzF8QU
Xinal Ding/Hanchong Zheng
Age: 18/20
Coach: Bing Han, Nan Wu, Chongbo Gao
Music: Rhythm is a Dancer, Gonna Make You Sweat

1st Rhumba Sec 2 + kpNNYY
2nd Quickstep Sec 4 + kpYYYY
Sequential Twizzles W:4 M:3 (W:3 M:3 after review) - Hanchong was all over the place on the 2nd twizzle
Midline Step Sequence W:3 M:2
Rotational Lift 4

Technical levels are strong before reviews. Performance had some good 90's energy.

51.05 = 9th Place

 

[skatingguy]

8th Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixacL_MJTXk
Anaelle Kouevi/Hann Homawoo
Age: 14/16
Coach: A. Kiliakov, E. Novak, P. Souquet Bassiege
Music: Compilation Jump and Motownphilly

Sequential Twizzles W:3 M:4 (W:2 M:4 after review) - Anaelle stepped out of the 2nd twizzles
Rhumba 1st Sec 4 + kpYYYY
Quick Step 1st Sec 3 + kpYNYY
Midline Step Sequence W:2 M:3
Curve Lift 4

An improvement on their first event, but still a bit rough in places. It felt like they were chasing the music through much of the midline step sequence.

51.19 = 8th Place

 

[skatingguy]

7th Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFXrkucwXEs
Eliska Zakova/Filip Mencl
Age: 20/19
Coach: Michal Ceska
Music: Backsteet Boys Selection

Rhumba 1st Sec 3 + kpNYYY
Quickstep 1st Sec 2 + kpNNYY
Sequential Twizzles W:4 M:4 - distance
Midline Step Sequence W:2 M:1 (W:2 M:2 after review)
Rotational Lift 4

Quite a bit of separation in the twizzles, and in particular they did not maintain a consistent distance between them, and also a transition later in the program didn't quite work out. Performance was okay, but nothing that was identifiable as 90's or Backstreet Boys.

51.28 = 7th Place

 

[Spikefan]

Juniors do these decade themes better than seniors. Better costumes and more originality. I know they have less to lose and honestly, “dance party” doesn’t take much skill to be enjoyable.

 

[skatingguy]

6th Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l-F4deAgGU
Nelly Elisa Hemcke/Artyom Sladkov
Age: 16/18
Coach: Vitali Schulz, Diana Kist
Music: Gonna Make You Sweat by C&C Music Factory

Rhumba 1st Sec 2 + kpYNYN
Quickstep 1st Sec 3 + kpYNYY
Curve Lift 4
Midline Step Sequence W:2 M:1
Sequential Twizzles W:3 M:4

Which way to the gun show? Not sure about the original club feel of this song, but they brought lots of enthusiasm to their performance.

52.62 = 6th Place

 

[skatingguy]

5th Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3xZfnVmaZ0
Sofiia Beznosikova/Max Leleu
Age: 16/18
Coach: E. Nemtseva, I. Shpilband, P. Camerlengo
Music: Fun for Me, Sing It Back

Midline Step Sequence W:2 M:3
Sequential Twizzles W:4 M:4
Rhumba 1st Sec 1 + kpNYNN
Quickstep 1st Sec 2 + kpNNYY
Rotational Lift 3

Enjoyable skating, and Sofiia has a certain star quality in her performance.

55.23 = 5th Place

 

[skatingguy]

4th Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6fjbwvBszo
Jane Calhoun/Mark Zheltyshev
Age: 16/18
Coach: Elena Dostatni
Music: U Can't Touch This, Ice Ice Baby

Rhumba 1st Sec 3 + kpYNYY
Quickstep 1st Sec 2 + kpNNYY
Sequential Twizzles W:3 M:4 (W:4 M:4 after review)
Stationary Lift 4
Midline Step Sequence W:2 M:2

One of the rules in juniors this season is that the holds in the pattern dances can be changed, and this is one of the few teams to use take advantage of this rule, and do so effectively. The stylization of movement in the midline step sequence was also very good fit for the theme of the program.

56.05 = 4th Place

 

[skatingguy]

3rd Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xL75CgBAb8
Summer Homick/Nicholas Buelow
Age: 18/18
Coach: M. & D. Islam, K. Johnson, J. Callan
Music: Larger Than Life, Everybody

Rhumba 1st Sec 4 + kpYYYY
Quickstep 1st Sec 3 + kpYNYY
Rotational Lift 4
Sequential Twizzles W:3 M:4 (W:2 M:4 after review)
Midline Step Sequence W:2 M:2

Very solid, and stronger levels than there first competition.

58.78 = 3rd Place

 

[skatingguy]

2nd Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy6T8DuehBA
Zoe Bianchi/Daniel Basile
Age: 16/19
Coach: Valter Rizzo, Brunilde Bianchi
Music: Sing It Back, Would You

Rhumba 1st Sec 3 + kpYNYY
Quickstep 1st Sec 2 + kpNYYN
Sequential Twizzles W:4 M:4
Diagonal Step Sequence W:2 M:2
Rotational Lift 4

Ice coverage, and speed across the ice in the elements was appreciably better than many of the earlier teams. This team skates big, and fills space so well with their skating, and performance.

60.75 = 2nd Place

 

[skatingguy]

1st Place - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FNJ2f9T76I
Ambre Perrier Gianesini/Samuel Blanc Klaperman
Age: 18/18
Coach: M. Zazoui, E. Hirai, M. De La Asuncion
Music: Everybody, Larger Than Life

Rhumba 1st Sec 3 + kpYYNY
Quickstep 1st Sec 3 + kpNYYY
Midline Step Sequence W:3 M:3
Sequential Twizzles W:4 M:4
Rotational Lift 4

Quality skating, and a great performance fitting with the theme.

65.58 = 1st Place