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Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig
Brooke Castile & Ben Okolski
Shantel Jordan & Jeremy Barrett
Chloe Katz & Joseph Lynch
Katie Uhlig & Michael Modro
Naomi Nari Nam & Themistocles Leftheris
Tiffany Vise & Derek Trent
Willie Traeger & Kostya Emshanov
Janice Mayne & Ethan Burgess
Colette Appel & Lee Harris
Marcy Hinzmann & Aaron Parchem
Katie Orscher & Garrett Lucash
Rena Inoue & John Baldwin
Stephanie Kuban & Laureano Ibarra
Tiffany Scott & Rusty Fein
Yuko Kawaguchi & Devin Patrick
Marisa Sharma & Amir Ganaba
Brittany Vise & Nicholas Kole
Mariel Miller & Rockne Brubaker

No time for notes for everyone on the short program and my camera gave out after Naomi and Themi, so there are not a lot of photos of it either. Basically I thought John and Rena should have had a lower placement for the amount of major elements they lost point on - to my eye they did not have enough "bonus point" form levels and such to justify their mark. And I thought Naomi Nari Nam and Themi should have been placed higher - they basically just had a unison problem on their footwork, which would go to GOE and not really lose them that much. All in all it was a very good competition for US pairs - I think there was only one lift that gave me a startle - a nice evening of skating - although I think we need a shot in the arms for Choreography for all our pairs. There were a few with engaging programs (Naomi and Themi (because them were agressive and fast and have a more rhymic piece), Uhlig and Modro( for great heavy agressive acting to a over-the-top- full orchestra verion of the campy old Batman theme song) and a team that couldn't quite skate up to the level of their choreography, but it was a great program full of inventive entrances and exits and cool positions- Jordan and Barnett -kudos to their team for putting out something so full of "new" stuff) but most of the rest were pretty much just laying out the elements- nice positions on some and most were pleasant enough to watch- but it looks like we have a factory where these programs are being churned out. Choose "1" for a slow, romantic program, "2" for a program to an epic soundtrack and "3" for a program to Latin music. Thanks for calling pairs'r' us....

Free Skate overall - Kudos to John and Rena - that was an amazing skate. Themi and Naomi did a great job too. I just wonder if they had more triple elements if they really would have let them go to the O's - cuz they were soo good. Hinzman and Parchem have never really done it for me - but they got the job done so there you go. I felt bad for Katie and Garret, but it looked like they just couldn't fight through for it. I wasn't crazy about this program I thought their old short was better. Maybe they could have kept the short again and got a new long. Aw well - hindsight. I felt very bad for them. Oh - Tiffany Scot and Rusty Fien looked really good and promising too. I hope they keep at it. There was, overall, a lot of good skating in this event. It was very encouraging to see and mostly enjoyable to watch. There was a heavy emphasis on Firebird - but I would rather see more of that and less Phantom and generic movie soundtrack. Of the movie soundtracks only Uhlig and Modro seem to actually USE the movie theme, not just its music. They are doing Van Helsing and he starts by biting her neck and then she exposes a flash of red on their neck as they skated - very cool. My friend Antoinette said she would have nightmares :).There were a couple of Egypty themes and such - the usual assortment.

Anyone know the story on Devin Patrick and Yuko Kawaguchi? Tarasova is coaching. There is a Japanese coach in the rink as well. They skated at Japanese nationals - and part way through the program she looked liked she was crying and they were talking and he refused to put up one of the hip lifts - so it looked like she got hurt. What is the deal with this team? Multi cultural project?? Is she ok?? Anyone with the scoop -drop me a line. They are pleasant to watch by the way - she has a loveley expressive way about her - they just looked rough around the edges - like they are new. Photos only opf the final few teams.

 

 

Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig
SP - Hotel California - Pair spin was nice - they spun in both directions. He fell on side by side jumps and she put a hand down then fell on the throw. I enjoy their skating and this was a pretty program.
FS - Romeo & Juliet (Prokofiev) - throw 3 loop. he fell on side by side jumps. Nice speed on lift. One hand lift to throw sal (fall). Should shand lift to back press to flip out. sxs spins in both directions. He doubeled the side by side triple toe, then she had trouble on hte 2 toe after it.
Brooke Castile & Ben Okolski
SP - Anticipation - Complex star lift to upside down split. She may have shorted the rotationson the side by side jumps. Interesting kick out on the twist. Little slkow. Sleepy music. Overly long end pose.
FS - William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet - Kick up into twist. she fell on first throw, got the next. sxs axel-toe (she popped). sxs 2sal. he fell on transitions before death spiral - made that messy.
Shantel Jordan & Jeremy Barrett
SP - Stomp - I LOVED this program. Lots of interesting choreography and intricate moves. Great dance lift into the death spiral, cool pike position into flip out of lift. Pair spin had great variations. This team was having a rough time doing all this stuff; but it was great to see so many innovations.
FS - Firebird - Throw 3 toe. sxx jumps. 2 twist. footwork was rough. Interesting stuff before and after death spiral, but not smooth. throw triple? side by side 2axel-2toe. Charlotte into a death spiral. Side by side spins great. Travelling 1 handed detroiter. Upside down hand stand lift.
Chloe Katz & Joseph Lynch
SP-Cirque - Big throw 3 sal. collision on twist. Nice long death spiral.
FS - Firebird - sxs 3 toes. sid by side spins off. Nice lift with one handed change of positions and a flip out. throw 3 sal. another lift that I swear was the same as the first.
Katie Uhlig & Michael Modro
SP-Batman - Side by side spin off and on. I think she two footed the throw. She was very close to the wall in the death spiral (turn out that he didn't get the pick in and they lost the element), but the entrance was a very nicecomplex one with her "flipping" over. footwork was slow.
FS- Van Helsing - he bites her in the beginning and she exposes a bit of red "blood". He fell on side by ide jumps and she fell on the throw sal. She did th throw loop, but it was 2 footed. Then they both landed sxs flips. Seems like the program ran too long and they got a time deduction.
Naomi Nari Nam & Themistocles Leftheris
SP- Xena/Shall We Dance - Awesome clean skate. They are so fast and look so good together. I am very encouraged about this pair.
FS - Peer Gynt -
Tiffany Vise & Derek Trent
SP-Zorro - Nice entrance to death spiral. Swing through legs into star lift. footwork rough.
FS - Program says "Exotic Eastern Oasis" - I recognized "Life Began Again" by Afro-Celt Sound System as one of the pieces. - sxs 3 toe (his was landed poorly). Fall on throw 3 loop. Throw 3 sal. Lot of very cool choreography - lift with summersault dismount.
Willie Traeger & Kostya Emshanov
SP - Bolero (Moulin Rouge) - Footwork way off. I had to look away on lift - very shaky. Pair spin ended really late.
FS- Last Samurai - Their problems continued and they ended very late.
Janice Mayne & Ethan Burgess
SP-Heartbreak Hotel - Nice death spiral. Change position spin - little rough at end. She has a really nice back. Side by side spin off and on. Looked like she may have 2 footed the throw. Nice twist,
FS- Firebird - Throw 3 toe. sxs 3 sal (she 2 footed). fall on 3 loop. sxs axels - she singled it. Then they bvoth did 2? toes. footwoork a bit rough. Last lift came down early.
Colette Appel & Lee Harris
SP- Finished Symphony by ATB - He fell on side by side jumps. Side by side spins very nice. Cool pull spiral into 2 twist. Nice footwork. Death spiral had a complex entry, bu the position was just ok.
FS- Waterworld - Throw 3 sal. sxs 2flip-2loop. great sxs spins. probelm with sxs jumps sequence. she fell on throw toe. weak footwrok. Hitch on exit to one death spiral.
Marcy Hinzmann & Aaron Parchem
SP - The Mission - She fell on side by side jusmps. Side by side spins were beautiful. Pair spin started just ok, then got very good. I know they are very popular, but I just can't get much out of them. I thought he had good checmestry with his last partner, but this pair seems flat to me.
FS - La Esperanza (Once Upon a Time in Mexico) -
Katie Orscher & Garrett Lucash
SP-Egyptian Disco - Footwork was a bit slow and side by side spins were off. Not crazy about this program and really disliked the bullseye effect of her costume.
FS - Samson and Delilah -
Rena Inoue & John Baldwin
SP-Adagio by Albinoni - With him missing the side by side jump and her falling on the throw I was shocked by how hight hey placed. I mean, yeah, they have nice in between elements and decent levels, but really.
FS- Shostakovich -
Stephanie Kuban & Laureano Ibarra
SP- Aranjuez - I missed a bunch of this program due to problems with my camera. The side by side spin was off and on - that was my only note.
FS- Once Upon a Time in Mexico -Throw 3 loop. 2 twist. 2 axel. side by side spins synchronized, but eh. Lift and pair spin were slow. And lifts were pretty simple. Fell on throw 3 sal. Foot work was of and slow. She look terrified. Nice lift with swing off the arm.
Tiffany Scott & Rusty Fein
SP- Cries of Beirut - Hand down on throw. He fell on footwork. Nice lift. I was impressed by this team.
FS - Force of Destiny (Verdi) - sxs 3toe-2toe. he almost fell on twist. She popped/stepped out of throw loop. Nice lift. Throw 3 sal. sxs 2 axel. wierd move where he grabs her waist and slides his feet back and forth on the ice - I am calling it the "where are my blades" lift. Cool spiral with lifty bit.
Yuko Kawaguchi & Devin Patrick
SP - Acceleration Waltz - He landed the side by side jump, then fell. Long hold on catch of the twist. She has nice arms and a pleasant expression,
FS - Classical piece - Violin/Piano - Side by side 3 toes. sxs 2 axels. Throw 3 sal (step out). Rough landings on all jumps. She injured her hip early in the program and she was crying while skating and they left out a lift and ended before the music.
Marisa Sharma & Amir Ganaba
SP- The Incredibles - She put her hand down on the side by side jumps. complex death spiral. One hand lift with change of hand and flip out. Footwork rough. Pair spin was off. May have shorted the revolutions in one position.
FS - Cleopatra - She fell on both side by side jumps and one throw. The other throw was 2 footed. sxs spins off. Pair spin rough. Ended behind music.
Brittany Vise & Nicholas Kole
SP - Zorro - Nice complex catch foot entry to death spiral. He put a hand down on the on sibe by side jumps. Nice lift on a deep curve rather than straight line.
FS - Gettysburg - sxs 3 toe. 2 lifts down early. (he seemed to step very wide - away from himself - in the turns). Side by side spins messy. Hand down on 3 sal.
Mariel Miller & Rockne Brubaker - This team split up a couple of weeks ago. Rockne is here on a coaching credential. Hope he has luck!!

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