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Aaron W
08-19-2002, 07:18 PM
Novice Pairs Free Skate:

• Miller & Hess: split 2twist, steps/small jump into 2z, star lift with flip dismounts (3), camel(5)/back upright variation(7), LBI death spiral, layover star lift (2.5), throw 2t, pair spin (he 2 positions), straightline ftwk, 1a half loop turn 2f (or 2t?), throw 2s, RFI death spiral.
• Namiotka & Merritt: split 2twist, sbs 2z turn 2t, throw 2s, camel/sit/back sit (off unison on the sits), star lift with a change of position and a rough set down, RfI death spirla, throw 2loop, standard overhead with a release to one hand (2.5), 2f, pair spin with him pulling out and she continueing to spin and he then returns to the spin. Skated to The Mask of Zorro.
• Krein & Jorgans: lift (2.5?), 2s turns 2f turn 2t, diag ftwk, split 2twist into throw 2loop, pair spin (2 positions - the first rocky), MITF into 2t, sbs 2loop, RFO death spiral (changed hand holds in the middle and then back), camel/sit/back sit(he droopy on the camel), loop press I think (2), throw 2s.
• Thomas & Al-Zubi: standard overhead(1.5), throw 2loop, 2z, nice centered pair spin (he sit - she semi-layback), RFI death spiral, half flip into 2f, split twist, throw 2s(X), half circular ftwk, 1a turn 2t (she ended up doing just a walley), flying camels, over hand to hip lift, death spiral (fell going down into it).
• Butler & Jacobsen: split 2twist, throw 2loop, 1a, camel/upright variation/camel/back camel/back illusion, standard overhead (2.5), split falling leaves into 2loops turn into 2f, pair spin, straightline ftwk, a lift that looked like it might be a back press (not sure though), throw 2s, 2z, spirals, standard overhead, RBI death spiral, pair spin (she semi-layback, he sit).
• Schmidt & Pottenger: nice pair spiral on the flat, great standard overhead lift (2.5), 1a half loop turns 2f, camel/back sit ( a bit off on the back sits at first), straightline ftwk, throw 2loop, pair spin with what seemed like an abrupt and slightly off centered stop (3 positions), RFO to LFI spirals, stag lift with 2 turns and a forward set down that they extended right into forward spirals, split 2twist, split steps to 2z, throw 2s, RfI death spiral. Great extension & line. Nice presented program to I believe the love them from Tchiakovsky's Romeo & Juliet.
• Seitz & Seitz: star lift (3), throw 2loop, split 2twist, pair spin (2 positions), 2f, RFI death spiral, standard overhead lift (2.5), 2z turn 2t, camel/back sit(6/7 - nice unison), straghtline ftwk, throw 2s.
• Eison & Eison: split 2twist, throw 2loop(X - slow entry), flying camels/back sit (good unison on the camels but off on the sits), standard overhead to a star position I believe (3), sbs 2a(she singled and landed on 2 feet), pair spin LBI death spiral, MITF including spirals, standard overhead(2.5), throw 2loop and then steps into sbs 2s and steps into 2loop, a brief slip for her right here but he caught her, RFI death spiral, pair spin (one foot change / 2 positions).

Results:
1)Schmidt & Pottenger (all first place ordinals)
2)Namiotka & Merritt (2, 4, 2, 2, 5)
3)Seitz & Seitz (4, 2, 3, 3, 2)
4)Butler & Jacobsen (3, 3, 4, 4, 4)
5)Miller & Hess
6)Krein & Jorgans
7)Eison & Eison
8)Thomas & Al-Zubi

Junior Pairs Free Skate:

• Varraux & Pelletier: standard overhead (3.5), 2a(he single), throw 2s, split 2twist, 2a(she X and he a single) turns 2f (or 2t?), stars into butterfly back sit, swan lift (2.5), LBO death spiral, throw 2loop, lift, death spiral, pair spin.
• Boxwell & Sears: 2t, split 2twist, standard overhead to one hand (2.5), pair spin (1 foot change - 2 positions), throw 3s(turn out) into 2t (or 2f?), RFI death spiral, sbs spins, star lift (2.5), throw 2a (2ft), MITF split falling leaves into half loop 2s (or 2loop?), lift (shaky), death spiral. Skated to Miss Saigon.
• Harris & Sanders: pair spin, split 2twist, sbs 2a(she walley), 2z turns 2t, death drop into back sit (off unison), standard overhead (3.5), RBO death spiral, back press (2.5), spirals, throw 2s, star lift (3 - smooth), pair spin (2 positions), throw 2loop, 2f, LBI death spiral. They may not have been trying the most difficult elements for the junior level, but they were extremely controled in what they did which I think really helped them out. They were a comfortable team to watch - I never got nervous during the lifts and they just had a nice pace to skating - not rushed excessive at all. I found them enjoyable.
• Howerton & Pottenger: LBI death spiral, standard overhead (great flow), throw 2a (hand down), sbs camel/upright variation/back sit, sbs 3t(she X), split 2twist, big throw 2s, straightline ftwk, 2z turn 2t, star lift (2.5) to one hand, pair spin (2 positions - one change of foot to another 2 positions), 2f, RFI death spiral. They landed the sbs 3toes and the throw 2a both in the warm up. This team is pleasant to watch - good posture, extension, and 'cleanness' to everything they do. Close between them and H&S, but I agreed with the judges. H&P had more difficulty and I felt presented their program with more maturity, but both were great.
• Yount & Marron: split 2twist, 2z turn 2loop, throw 3s (slight hand down), 2f, pair spin, loop press lift with her in a back bend position, LBI death spiral (rough edge), 2a(she X), sbs spins (off), straightline ftwk, throw 2loop, overhead (3), RFI death spiral.
• Uhlig & Loomis: split 2twist, lift (one hand him - 3), throw 3s(X), pair spin (3 positions with one change of foot), 2s turn 2t, stag lift with switch to one hand (3 turns), LBI death spiral, pair spin (1 position), lift (star? - 2.5), flying camel (off unison), throw 2loop, double something (I think a 2f), diag ftwk, RBO death spiral.
• Castile & Okolski: split 3twist (a little tight, but good attempt and she seemed happy with it), almost tripped in lift but he held on to finish it off reasonably well, good sbs 2a, throw 2loop, death drop, back press lift (2), throw 1a, 2f turn 2t, pair spin (2 positions change foot one position), straightline ftwk, sbs camel/sit(?) (on then off), star lift (2? - a bit rough on the set down), RBI death spiral. They skated to a medley of music from the movie Romeo & Juliet (with DiCaprio).
• Gallagher & Coughlin: split 3twist (a hop before for momentum), throw 2s, lift that ended in a carry set-down (3.5), 2a(she under and 2ft), 2z, pair spin (2 positions change foot one position), rough overhead (2.5), RBO death spiral, throw 2loop, an element that left a space for to write down but forgot about after the program finished, back loop press (2), RFI death spiral.
• Klunchoo & Gardner: great opening to their program - very expressive (spanish theme if I remember correctly). RFI death spiral (nice), split 2twist (rough on set down), 2loop, a lift that he fell backwards on resulting in them both crashing to the ice. Thank goodness she was able to avoid falling on his head - he definitely seemed to have taken the worst of the fall. They stopped the program and were allowed to start back up at the lift. standard overhead (2.5), throw 3s(she had the landing but couldn't hold it and fell), sbs camel (great unison & positions), lift (rough at end - not moving much), pair spin (2 positions change of foot one position), throw 2loop, straightline ftwk, split with turns to 2z turn 2t, carry lift. They didn't compete in the short program. I was extremely impressed with their musical expression - especially his. Just after the program started (before the problematic lift), I couldn't help but picture him ice dancing. I'm not sure if he's ever considered it, but his expression of the music is great!
• Rigoulot & Livi: split 2twist (hop before - he scratchy in between), throw 2s, 2z(she X) turn 2t, standard overhead (2.5), pair spiral into solo spin for her into a pair spin (2 positions change foot one position - the final position was a pretty position with her doing a catch foot spin), star lift with a change of position to an upside down split lift (3 turns), throw 2loop, flying camel/back sit, 2f (she single), lift (she upside down behind him - 2 or 2.5), diag ftwk, RFI death spiral.

Results:
1)Howerton & Pottenger (1, 2, 2, 1, 2)
2)Harris & Sanders (2, 1, 3, 2, 1)
3)Boxwell & Sears (3, 6, 1, 5, 3)
4)Uhlig & Loomis (5, 4, 4, 3, 4)
5)Castile & Okolski (4, 3, 5, 4, 5)
6) Varraux & Pelletier (10, 5, 6, 6, 9)
7)Rigoulot & Livi (6, 7, 9, 7, 6)
8)Yount & Marron (7, 8, 7, 9, 8)
9)Kluncho & Gardner (8, 10, 8, 8, 7)
10)Gallagher & Coughlin (9, 9, 9, 10, 10)

Aaron W
08-19-2002, 07:19 PM
Senior Pairs Free Skate:

• Inoue & Baldwin: split 3twist (a bit short or rotation/tight), 3t (he did about 2 & 1/2 turns and then turned the rest on 2 feet on the ice), sbs 2a(off unison but clean), throw 3s, standard overhead (2.5), pairn spin (3 positions), lift (a variation on a hand to hip lift - 3 turns), throw 3loop (X), 2a (she stepped out) turns 2t, splits to death drop back sit, lift (2.5 - looked shaky to me - was some type of star lift variation I think), diag ftwk, lift (needed more ice coverage), RBO death spiral. I think this is the same free skate as last year (costumes are the same).
• Hinzmann & Hartsell: sbs 3t (unison was much better than at Skate Detroit), split 2twist, throw 3s(hand down), standard overhead (2), sbs single salchows (I think) with a turn forward into 1a (were double axels in the practice session and warm up), sbs camels (4 or 5 turns), spirals, throw 2loop, adagio type lift, carry lift that ends in a carry (she's held horizontal to the ice), 2t turn 2t, fall on BI death spiral (yikes - death spirals are her favorite pairs move so this was surprising), pair spin, layover star (3 turns?), ftwk, back Y spiral (her) into a RBO death spiral. Their music includes a section of just drum beats. They just finished the program a couple of weeks ago. As a result, the program didn't quite come together, although their program seemed to hold together better than all of the pairs after them. They seem to have nice control and pace for a new team.
• Evora & Ladwig: sbs 3t(she X), split 3twist, throw 3s (slight hand down), LBI death spiral, standard overhead, 2a(he 2ft?)/2t (he step out), pair spin, small carry into throw 2loop(X - she landed in a split - ouch), platter lift, RFI death spiral, back loop press (3), flying camel(off unison), straightline ftwk, pair spin (2 position change of foot one position). Skated to Star Wars - Phantom Menace (I think). Interesting they did the sbs 3salchows in the short program and the 3toes in the free skate (from the practice sessions - I'd say the salchows are more consistant).
• Don & Hunt: split 2twist, 3t(she hand down)/turns/2f, stand overhead lift (2 with a flip dismount over/under), 2a(she basically waxeled it), flying sit (6), throw 2loop (out of control landing), carry lift choreographed nicely to the music at that point, MITF, RBO death spiral (shaky edge), standard overhead (1.5 - a bit of struggle), straightline ftwk, pair spin (1 position change foot 2 positions). I like the choice of music for them - it's a piano piece that sounds ligth and uplifting - not dramatic. Her general demeanor (mega watt smile) goes well with this (she has a great smile!). They're still a bit wild and unison is at times off, but I really like what I've seen this weekend. It'll be interesting to see how they develope over the next several months heading into Dallas.
• Pibbs & Patrick: split 3twist, sbs 2t, pair spin (2 or 3 positions with one change of foot), throw 3s (2ft), layover star lift (2.5), she tripped and fell near the boards at one end, lift with one turn, popped throw toe loop, she fell after it appeared she and Devin hit their blades together, 1a?, camel/back sit (good unison), star lift (shaky feet him and a collapse catch and struggled set down), 1a turn 2t (or 2f?), RBO death spiral. The program completely fell apart after she fell the first time. You could see on their faces they wanted to just get it done.
• Orscher & Lucash: split 3twist, 3t (he 2ft & X), 2a (he turn out), throw 3loop (delay in the rotation), bit of a stumble by her while just stroking, death drop back sit(6), stumble again by her going into a spiral, 2t turns 2f (he almost didn't check the 2f landing on time), carry lift with what appeared was a wrong set down/exit (either that or they haven't gotten control of the dismount yet), throw 3s, LBO pair spiral directly into back camels as part of a pair spin (I like the entrance from the spiral), ftwk (circular fashion), layover star (2 - rough set down and slow out of it). Despite the two great throw jumps and the split 3twist, the program really didn't hold together. He seemed to be struggling with the lifts, especially at the end and the sbs jump elements obviously were rough.

Results:
1)Inoue & Baldwin (all first place ordinals)
2)Don & Hunt (2, 3, 4, 3, 2)
3)Hinzmann & Hartsell (4, 2, 3, 2, 4)
4)Orscher & Lucash (3, 4, 2, 4, 3)
5)Evora & Ladwig (all fifth place ordinals)
6)Phibbs & Patrick (all sixth place ordinals)

I was fine with the free skate results as I thought it could have gone either way between Don & Hunt and Hinzmann & Hartsell for 2nd.

sk8rdad
08-19-2002, 10:29 PM
Thanks once again to you Aaron for all your work in reporting these events! Sounds like an interesting Sr. prs. comp.

justsk8
08-20-2002, 10:13 AM
USASKATER.COM (http://www.usaskater.com) would like to congratulate it’s skaters on a job well done this past weekend at Indy Challenge.

Karissa Strong and RJ Westfall (http://kr.usaskater.com) for winning the gold medal at the Indy Challenge Competition.

Kristen Mendoza and Joshua Lea (http://kj.usaskater.com) for winning the silver medal
in the Novice CD and the bronze medal in the Novice Freedance at the Indy Challenge competition.

Katie Uhlig and Colin Loomis (http://kc.usaskater.com) for placing 4th in the Junior Pairs Freeskate
and 5th in the Junior Paris Short program (skated up a level, too) at the Indy Challenge competition this past weekend.

USASKATER.COM would also like to wish it’s skaters good luck in their upcoming North American Challenge Skate this coming weekend in Hunstville, Alabama and Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada.

Lisa Dannemiller (http://lisad.usaskater.com) in Junior ladies in Thunder Bay, Ontario
Kristen Mendoza and Joshua Lea (http://kj.usaskater.com) in Novice Dance in Huntsville, Alabama.


Nice Job....

http://www.usaskater.com

prsk8rmum
08-25-2002, 07:04 PM
:? Aaron, Wow great note taking!! You were so right with Phibbs/Patrick just wanting to get done after the bizarre fall on the spiral. This is what happened - When E went down, she felt NO left outside edge at all and when it happened again on the second spiral (same skate edge) a bit later in the program both she and Devin wanted to be very careful.... which is why they chose not to try the double axels ( they have two in the program both at the end)...When we took the skates to be looked at, the man who always sharpens her skates saw a bad "gash" on the left outside edge at the rocker and another one towards the back of the blade. It took a long time to repair. We are assuming this happened as a result of the poor practice ice they had just warmed up on which was full of ice chunks from condensation off the ceiling and no zamming..... It was very dangerous. One senior girl ended up in the hospital on the practice after ours...it was rather scary. We are chalking this one up to experience.

sk8pairsmom
08-26-2002, 04:09 PM
The ice was horrible at this competition. Katie Orscher fell at practice friday and got all scratched up and bruised. It was very soft and rutty. Hard to skate on when you're the last skater of the group too. Your skater wasnt the only one who felt the ice was bad, even after they resurfaced:!: :!:

Aaron W
08-28-2002, 07:10 AM
Thanks for filling us all in on the ice problems and blade problems! Just curious if both surfaces were problematic or if it was just the Olympic rink that the skaters were having some trouble with? It's too bad there were ice problems because everything else seemed quite nice.

Trillian
08-28-2002, 09:45 AM
I'm told the ice was fine last year--I wonder why it was so bad this year... Sorry to hear that the skaters had problems, though. Particularly in a pairs competition, that could be really dangerous.

Jack
08-28-2002, 03:32 PM
Thanks for the reports Aaron!! They were great.

I'm so sorry to hear that Phibbs and Patrick had a rough time, they are one of my favorite teams. They just can't seem to catch a break though. And that really sucks about the ice being so rough, skating with a huge nick in your blades can feel like skating with two left feet sometimes.

Marcy fell on a death spiral? That stinks! I can't wait to see her and Steve skate together. Do you know what the music was that contained the drumming? It wasn't Kodo was it?

Sylvia
08-28-2002, 03:52 PM
Originally posted by Jack
Do you know what the music was that contained the drumming? It wasn't Kodo was it?
According to their official website at
http://www.hinzmannandhartsell.com/programs.htm
their free skate is to music from India -- "Kama Sutra" by Mychael Danna and is choreographed by Marina Zoueva.

Pupiczech
08-30-2002, 12:24 PM
Their coach asked us to change the name of the music to "A Tale of Love", not Kama Sutra but it is the same music Emmanuel Sandhu skated to in 1999, Kama Sutra.

And Steve & Marcy look great together.

prsk8rmum
08-31-2002, 07:48 PM
Aaron, It was the ice downstairs that was sooooooooooo dangerous! The first day the teams skated through 2 inches of water and then went from stalagtites to stalagmites (sp).... ceiling drips to ice mounds.....

IdmaIjan
08-31-2002, 08:48 PM
I heard the ice at Indy Challenge was terrible. The reports I got complained of standing water, mushy ice, and huge ruts. Skaters who were at the dance clinic prior to Indy Challenge said the ice was awful. I wonder if there was a problem with the compressors? You'd think the people running the competition would have been concerned about the safety of the skaters.:roll: I'm afraid I'm cynical enough to think that $$$ is the bottom line.

twiz
09-01-2002, 10:56 AM
I competed there and the ice was so bad.The rink smelled so bad it made me sick, I couldnt get through a run through. It seemed the dance was a secondary thought. They played they same compulsary music for everyone and the music didnt even have an intro.They dont draw a big dance crowd and now I know why.

Pairdad
09-02-2002, 02:29 PM
my understanding from Katie and Garrett was that the ice was not in good shape. This was complicated by the fact that there was no ice make during the pairs event. As I recall the ice was not in great shape last year either. They really should fix this problem because this event does have some importance associated with it.

Aaron W
09-03-2002, 06:37 AM
Thanks to everyone who relayed messages concerning the ice conditions. Hopefully the Indy organizers take note of this and work to improve it for next year. It really seems to be the only complaint about the event, but of course the ice condition is probably the most important factor in any skating event - especially one geared specifically towards the pairs discipline.

As I said, hopefully this can be looked at and taken care of for next year because I would hate to see this event moved elsewhere. This is just a personal thing, but I really like Indianapolis (would love to move there one day), am always looking forward to any trip there, and think the downtown location of the Indiana World Skating Academy makes this event that much more enjoyable (the mall, lots of shopping, lots of places to eat, and it all feels very safe) from a fan's perspective.