SkateyGirl.Com


Notes From 2005 Nationals - Portland, Oregon
Copyright 2005 Ann Jensen - all rights reserved

 

Molly Aaron & Taylor Toth, Coyotes SC of Arizona/Pittsburgh FSC
Lara Shelton & Neill Shelton, SC of Boston/Colonial FSC
Molly Schleicher/Christopher Schleicher, Colonial FSC
Alyssa Murray & Anthony Giunipero, SC of Mt. Lebanon
Lilly Pixley & John Salway, Fort Wayne ISC
Claire Davis & Nathan Miller, Colorado SC/Broadmoor SC
Lisa Moore & Nicholas Girardi, ISC of Fort Collins
Amanda Hrbacek & Trevor Young, Detroit SC
Bianca Butler & Joseph Jacobsen, All Year FSC
Kelsey Syme & John Pfoh, Utah FSC/Rye FSC
Chelsea Roach & Gregory Benton, All Year FSC/Escondido FSC
Kalie Budvarson & Christopher Anders, Inland Northwest FSC

NOTE: Due to Camera's memory failure, there are no Photos of the Free skates. :(

Overall, this is not too promising for the future of US pairs. It is getting harder and harder for the kids to find coaches who know pairs, and there is a lot of......odd technique out there. Maybe the USFS or PSA should consolidate all their pair experts and run a intensive pair seminar? Some of the technique going on is just plain dangerous...and won't work well as the kids try harder tricks. This situation is just snowballing.

Molly Aaron & Taylor Toth, Coyotes SC of Az/Pittsburgh FSC - Photos: Short
SP:Music:Tico Tico (this is what was listed on the book, and is was that style of Latin, but I don't remember it being Tico Tico). Nice fast team. I enjoy Molly as a single skater and she is lovely here too - as is her partner. This was a very enjoyable program. Nice and fast - smooth and strong elements.
FS: Music:Hungarian Dance, Two guitars, Tzigano. 2twist. Side by side 2 axel (she fell). Throw 2 sal. another 2 axel - she fell again. Side by side spin off. It would have been a really close cal betweeen this team and Moore and Girardi if her axel hadn't gone AWOL on her.
Lara Shelton & Neill Shelton, SC of Boston/Colonial FSC - Photos: Short
SP: Music: Strawberry Tango (From all The Pretty Horses). Nice lift - not the same as all the others - like a platter, but her head was tilted (intentionally) towards the ice.She landed the 2 twist without much help from him.Butt up on Death Spiral.
FS: Music:Across the Stars/Duel of the Fates - This is from the new Star Wars movies. They wore purple and black. Side by Side 2 toe. Nice bent leg star, 2 twist nice. Bent leg platter lift. Throw 2 loop. Side by side loop.- she popped, he fell. Throw 2 sal.
Molly Schleicher/Christopher Schleicher, Colonial FSC- Photos: Short
SP: Music: Sing, Sing, Sing (one of three we heard in the Novices SP day).Side by side spins were off and on and off. Their program had a section at the end where they held hands and faced each other and hopped on their toes for a while. Almost looked like they had ended early?
FS:Music: Carousel Waltz. This was a lovely program to wonderful music. They were in Lavender and grey, which was very pretty. 2 Twist. Throw 2 loop. Simple lift. Side by side 2 lutz - he singled. Star lift down early. Side by side 2 loop - he fell. Throw 2 sal. Butt up on death spiral.
Alyssa Murray & Anthony Giunipero, SC of Mt. Lebanon- Photos: Short
SP: Music:The Race (ugh).Nice death spiral ( A lot of the girls in this group went in butt up - if I made a note that it was nice she must not have). Serpentine FW weak. 2 Twist was very sideways.Side by Side Spin OK.
FS: Music: Malaguena (The version from Blast!)They were, of course, in red and black. Started with a death spiral. Side by side 2 flip, step, 2 toe. Star lift. Side by side 2 loop. sloooowwww lift. A throw I missed. Really rough twist. Messy combo spin and ended late in a scary pose.
Lilly Pixley & John Salway, Fort Wayne ISC- Photos: Short
SP:Music: Program lists about 4 pieces of music including Malaguena, but it sounded like one long Techno/Disco thing to me. Side by Side spin off. Twist is a loop jump - no toe assist. Nice speed - especially in the lift. Butt up on Death Spiral.
FS: Music: Listed as Kiss, Bring Me to Life, but we have determined that was their SP music, so the free was too all that Latin stuff listed for the SP. She had a lovely red dress with sparkly roses on the back. Side by Side 2 axel.(she singled). 2 twist. Lift down early. Throw 2 toe. Side by side spins off (he was on a different edge that she was, their positions were not the same). Side by side 2 sal. Rough lift - down before it really got up. Side by side 2 axel (she singled), then he did a toe and she didn't. Throw 2 sal (fall).
Claire Davis & Nathan Miller, Colorado SC/Broadmoor SC- Photos: Short
SP: Music: Moonlight Sonata. A wonderful program - nice team. Very enjoyable. Strong lift and twist, but the side by side spins went off at the change.
FS: Music: Prince of Egypt. Side by side 2 axel. Side by side 2 flip - 2 toe. Side by side spin off. Nice star lift with twist out. Throw 2 loop. I think they did 2 twist, but I didn't make a note.
Lisa Moore & Nicholas Girardi, ISC of Fort Collins- Photos: Short
SP:Music: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes. Lovely program. Nice clean elements and very good expression between the two of them. Lift especially nice.
FS: Music: Camelot. This pair wins the skate to pretty music award. What great choices. Beautiful dark blue and light blue costumes with gold. It was during this skate that my camera problem became evident, so I did not make notes. The program is beautiful. I was told they did side by side flip, but that he put a hand down on it. She missed the entrance to the side by side camel and couldn't recover. so she ...treaded water while he did the spin.
Amanda Hrbacek & Trevor Young, Detroit SC- Photos: Short
SP:Music: La Vie En Rose. Oh this program made me very happy. Lovely transitions and nice smooth skating.They were a little slow compared to some of the others, but all the elements were solid.
FS: Music: Freedom (we are still seeing several programs to this music). Lovely varigated blue costumes. Death spiral. 2 twist. 2flip, tep, 2 toe. Simple lift with rough exit. Throw 2 loop. Another rough lift.side by side jump (she fell). Throw 2 sal. He sort of throws her from too close to his body - if you know what I mean - pulls her in to him so much his left should sort of blocks the throw.
Bianca Butler & Joseph Jacobsen, All Year FSC- Photos: Short
SP:Music: Bond. Looked nervous to me. Off in unison in footwork. Nice death spiral with change of hand.
FS: Music: Spartacus. One element I missed (probably the twist). Side by side 2 axel. Throw 2 sal. One handed lift. Side by side 2 lutz step 2 toe. Don't like either of their programs this year, but no question they are delivering the goods.
Kelsey Syme & John Pfoh, Utah FSC/Rye FSC- Photos: Short
SP: Music:Winter Games. Butt Up on Death Spiral. Lift looked a little rough at the end. I like this team - nice clean athletic look. Good speed.
FS: Music: The Musketeers. Dressed in Green and beige. Nice, but simple lift. 2 twist (He starts the throw while she is by his side. Throw 2 loop (fall). Side by side 1 x - 2 toe (messy). Nice death spiral. Back press - rough and slow and down early. Throw 2 sal. Side by side 2 loop.
Chelsea Roach & Gregory Benton, All Year FSC/Escondido FSC- Photos: Short
SP:Music: On The Waterfront and West Side Story. They looked like they were being a little cautious. She is small, so he may be trying to skate small for her.
FS: Music: Scheherazade. They were in gold and dark blue/purple. 2.75 Twist. Double throw Nice loft with change o positions. side by side 2 flip were off, but they both managed to land. side by side spins off. Updide down stag lift. Throw 2 loop (which means the first was the sal). 1 handed lift. Death spiral with a nice entrance (He sort of pulled her in a spiral and then they just kept going)
Kalie Budvarson & Christopher Anders, Inland Northwest FSC- Photos: Short
SP: Music: The Bongo Song (DJ Mix). I knew when I read the music I was in trouble.At one point she licked her finger and put it on her butt as if to indicate she was sizzlin'. Twist was very low. They had trouble with it in the warm up and fell once.
FS: Music says it is Mission Impossible 2; but they were in red and black and the music sounded like Zorro to me. Single twist. Throw 2 loop. Throw 2 sal. Slow.

Home Links Editorials Past Events Order Photos Send Ann Mail


Last updated: January 11, 2005 5:12 AM