The Dance Hall 10: The Saitama Samba 2022-2023

[her grace]

Pham/Rogers age out from the American contingent. Otherwise, the US JGP teams could all return, and Epps/Gilman age in.

It will be a tough road to hoe for the Americans to get a full complement of JGP spots since they have to finish in the top 3 countries and CAN, CZE, GER, KOR, GBR (though Neset/Markelov did just beat the British team at the Bavarian Open) and FRA are all formidable. There really should be something between "2 spots in 7 events" for 1st-3rd best countries to "1 spot in 7 events" for 4th-6th best countries.

 

[Karen-W]

Pham/Rogers age out from the American contingent. Otherwise, the US JGP teams could all return, and Epps/Gilman age in.

It will be a tough road to hoe for the Americans to get a full complement of JGP spots since they have to finish in the top 3 countries and CAN, CZE, GER, KOR, GBR (though Neset/Markelov did just beat the British team at the Bavarian Open) and FRA are all formidable. There really should be something between "2 spots in 7 events" for 1st-3rd best countries to "1 spot in 7 events" for 4th-6th best countries.

The results from Bavarian Open are really promising, especially when you take into consideration that Neset is still injured. If (and it's a big if there) they can go clean in both phases of the competition, I suspect they're going to strongly contend for bronze.

Also, even if they do only wind up 4th behind CAN, CZE and KOR, the USA would then be first in line to pick up any additional JGP spots that KOR doesn't use. Given that KOR only had one junior team aside from Lim/Quan compete at their Nats, I'd guess the US is going to wind up with at least 2 spots in 5 of the 7 events next season, possibly all 7, when it's all said and done.

 

[Dobre]

Yeah. With Russia out, mostly in juniors, I think you want to stay ahead of France. I haven't found this year's top junior French team formidable.

 

[Dobre]

Also, I should add, I have no idea where Neset & Markelov will finish. It would certainly help if they do not repeat their RD performance from Nationals.

----

Ilin & Cain age in also, I assume.

 

[Colonel Green]

The US is going to be in tough to hang onto their third dance spot at Junior Worlds this year, which I believe they've had since 2009 running (they lost it in 2007 after Samuelson & Bates had a mishap and had to withdraw, then got it back the following year).

 

[Karen-W]

The US is going to be in tough to hang onto their third dance spot at Junior Worlds this year, which I believe they've had since 2009 running (they lost it in 2007 after Samuelson & Bates had a mishap and had to withdraw, then got it back the following year).

After Nats and Bavarian Open, I think the US will be gone holding onto their 3rd spot, provided Neset/Markelov and Carhart/Horovyi can skate clean in both segments. They're both better than Fradji/Forneaux, IMO. We'll see how Kudryavtseva/Karankevich look next week at Egna Dance Trophy - their RD has been a real weakness for them this season.

As the JGPF demonstrated, there is plenty of room for movement should a team, even ones as good as Bashynska/Beaumont or the Mrazeks, make a mistake. The way I see it, there are around 11 teams in the conversation for top 10 -

BashBeau, Mrazeks, LimQuan, GrimSav, NesMark, BekHern, CarHor, FradForn, KudKar, Simova/Aksenov, and Pinchuk/Pogorielov.

For the US, a 4th & 9th will be enough to secure 3 spots and likely maximize their JGP spots next season. Seems doable to me, but we'll see.

 

[Dobre]

The US is going to be in tough to hang onto their third dance spot at Junior Worlds this year

Yes, it will be quite challenging to earn the third Junior Worlds berth. Not impossible, but quite challenging.

provided Neset/Markelov and Carhart/Horovyi can skate clean in both segments.

If Hauer & Starr defeat Carhart & Horovyi, I will not be remotely surprised.

 

[Karen-W]

Yes, it will be quite challenging to earn the third Junior Worlds berth. Not impossible, but quite challenging.

If Hauer & Starr defeat Carhart & Horovyi, I will not be remotely surprised.

Maybe, maybe not? I don't think they're quite at the same level as Carhart/Horovyi yet, but they do tend to skate cleanly, which is important, lol.

 

[Dobre]

Carhart & Horovyi are not a fast team. They have mature packaging, but I think H&S have better basics. They are less finished.

 

[Andrea82]

The batte for Azeri World spot looks breathtaking.

 

[Gris]

I haven't found this year's top junior French team formidable.

I didn't watch it but Bordet / Gipoulou just won French Junior Nationals over Fradji / Fourneaux.

 

[Karen-W]

I didn't watch it but Bordet / Gipoulou just won French Junior Nationals over Fradji / Fourneaux.

Luckily, France does have two spots for Jr Worlds, so they both will go.

 

[Dobre]

I didn't watch it but Bordet / Gipoulou just won French Junior Nationals over Fradji / Fourneaux.

Ah, well, there you go. Yet another twist that makes this years Junior Worlds unpredictable, particularly in the 4th-10th range, though if Mrazkova/Mrazcek or Lim/Quan have a challenging day, someone could surprise on the podium as well.

 

[Dobre]

Does anyone have thoughts on what will happen with Carreira & Ponomarenko, Muramoto & Takahashi, and Wang & Liu at 4CCs? (I feel like surely we'll get at least one surprise & these seem like the more unpredictable players in the field).

The battle for Azeri World spot looks breathtaking.

Quite often this season, the head-to-heads between the coaches are more interesting than the head-to-heads between the actual teams.

It always feels risky to me skating for Azerbaijan because of course any team can move in there. (Even more true this quadrennium with Russia questionable).

 

[Andrea82]

We have Andrzej Dostatni as technical specialist at 4CCs along with Maria Borounov.
Christine Hurth is the technical controller.

Time to resurrect Dostatni's Sambą at 1990 Euros:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvYRZqW4WgY

 

[VGThuy]

I have to say, there’s an energy and bounciness that older ice dance teams had that modern ice dance teams don’t have. I wonder if it’s due to the IJS emphasis on skating skills and glide.

 

[trainingdogs82]

I have to say, there’s an energy and bounciness that older ice dance teams had that modern ice dance teams don’t have. I wonder if it’s due to the IJS emphasis on skating skills and glide.

I think it is both. The scoring system plays a big part I believe, but also todays teams are just better skaters (collectively, there were some exceptional skaters in top teams past but far fewer than today).

 

[sap5]

I have to say, there’s an energy and bounciness that older ice dance teams had that modern ice dance teams don’t have. I wonder if it’s due to the IJS emphasis on skating skills and glide.

IMO, the switch from judging entire patterns to only key points has done it. The last time the Finnstep appeared, it lacked the bouncy effervescence I loved seeing, because skaters didn't need to focus on that. I do agree that in general, ice dancers are better skaters today, but there isn't enough emphasis on the whole ice dancing package.

 

[BlueRidge]

there isn't enough emphasis on the whole ice dancing package.

 

[Andrea82]

ading the Ephesus Cup junior lineup.

The desperate quest for Senior Worlds TES race is on.
Verhaegh/Van Geffen and new Belgian team Shilling/Baeten came very close at Bavarian Open.
Shilling/Baeten will try again in Egna next week. Jakucs/Galli will also try there.
Verhaegh/Van Geffen are set for Ephesus Cup.

Then I would suppose everybody will do Challenge Cup as last opportunity.

Sassi/Morini, Bjorkli/Koszuta and Zaroian/Grudev arę the other teams with a realistic prospect (all missing RD score). Sassi/Morini are not named in the announcement of Swiss World team (not even with the *TES pending like the Men sub). So I would suppose they aren't trying to get it.

Sassi/Morini (Switzerland), Bjorkli/Koszuta (Norway) and Zaroian/Grudev (Armenia) aren't attempting to get the World minimums.
They aren't entered at Egna or Challenge Cup.

Val/Kazimov are debuting for Spain at Challenge Cup.

 

[Wyliefan]

Someone please translate Dupayage/Nabais's Instagram story and tell me if it says what I think it says!

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[Marta24]

Someone please translate Dupayage/Nabais's Instagram story and tell me if it says what I think it says!

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They list all the teams from Villard de Lans going to Junior Worlds or Worlds. Dupayage/Nabais are going to Worlds

 

[skategal]

Someone please translate Dupayage/Nabais's Instagram story and tell me if it says what I think it says!

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Selections are happening and it's a full cart for Villard de Lans Vercours skating.

Junior Worlds: Louise & Thomas, Celina & Jean Hans, Maya & Mark

Senior Worlds: Marie & Thomas, Loica & Theo

 

[Wyliefan]

Yay!

 

[BlueRidge]

Fantastic!!!

 

[angi]

Unfortunately, it seems Wang/Liu withdrew from 4CC minutes before the RD began, was really looking forward to watching them and they did attend practices. Not sure what's going on there.

 

[firstflight]

Who would have predicted K/K in the lead heading into the final group?

 

[Colonel Green]

Well, the rhythm definitely got several of the teams at 4CC.

 

[Karen-W]

I'm eager to hear about how Canadian teams are always massively underscored at 4CCs whenever it's held in the US after today's RD...

Methinks that Skate Canada is laying the groundwork to ensure they have a team on the podium in Saitama, whether GilPoir are there or not. But, hey, what do I know? I mean, FBSoer did just score a SB.

 

[angi]

Peak cursed event if there ever was one, two falls during the midline, one fall during the twizzles, and another major error on twizzles.

Other thoughts:

• Felt like KoKo deserved a higher score and would have likely gotten it if they were in the second group.
• Chock/Bates scoring 87.67 which is only 0.13 off Gilles/Poirier SB and higher than what they got when they last competed at GPF. If they can push it in the FD and get close to 130 the race at Worlds will be fascinating.
• Even without the mistake, Green/Parsons with level 1 for both the midline and the pattern is alarming.
• Carreira/Ponomarenko had the best skate I've seen from them so far, they should have been closer to Lajoie/Lagha for me (who also did very well) and should have beaten Green/Parsons in PCS too.
• Fournier-Beaudry/Sorensen with the skate of the night for me, that was the best I've ever seen them skate and their score was higher than what Guingard/Fabbri got at Europeans. I wonder if there will be an unexpected fight for world bronze.