Sears Open - Interpretive Free Results

[adrianchew]

Ladies Results...

1- Sasha Cohen
2- Jennifer Robinson
3- Viktoria Volchkova
4- Angela Nikodinov
5- Jennifer Kirk

Sasha had 1 mistake on a jump and definitely skated her new program - music is Romeo & Juliet (Nino Rota).

[adrianchew]

Pairs Results...

1- Sale & Pelletier
2- Sato & Dungjen
3- Laviriere & Faustino

[haribobo]

Ho hum. Thanks for the results, Adrian. Great win for Sasha. Viktoria must have had a rough skate to end up behind JRo...or else JRo skated amazingly well. :p Nice to see Angela at least competing again, even if she's not at her best....you gotta start somewhere. Major bummer of a result for Jenny, but this is a really high quality field overall. Now we have to hear how they skated...

[adrianchew]

1. Alexei
2. Todd
3. Jeff
4. Takeshi

Sasha had 2 6.0s for presentation, not much jump content but overall the feeling I get listening to info coming it - its like her most beautiful, breathtaking program she's ever done. Tech 5.8 Pres 5.9-6.0.

Rod Black on CTV I believe had this to say... "many people think she's the best in the world. I think she's the best ever!".

Aleksei had like 3 6.0s for presentation. TT must be in heaven today.

[Tigger]

Adrian....It was beyond breathtaking. I had chills running down my backside. And this is w/out the jumps....Oh my!!! I think Debbi Wilkes said it best.....She *was* Juliet. She was too. Sasha was gorgeous. Oh and not to give Sasha an excuse, but it wasn't a fall so much as it looked like her pick skidded out from under her on the takeoff of the jump. Not only that, but going into it, a baby was crying *very* audibly and it might have thrown Sasha a little bit. Not to give her an excuse, but maybe an explaination. :)

[jcspkbfan]

(sorry! double post!)

[jcspkbfan]

Actually, I think Rod's exact quote was "I think Sasha could be one of the best ever!" but I think it's still safe to say he and Debbi really loved her program. ;)

Other highlights of tonight's broadcast for me were:

...Getting to see Kurt's second exhibition :lol!:
...All three pairs interpretive programs
...Todd's interpretive program--Wow! I think Todd did more footwork in this number than in most of his previous programs put together...but I suppose he has to keep up with Kurt and Alexei on SOI somehow! I wonder if either one of them has given him lessons??
...Jeff Buttle's second program--part of me wishes he had skated this season's LP so we could see it skated halfway cleanly (but hopefully we'll get that opportunity next month!), but this performance proves he's still "got it!"
...hardly anybody getting chacked (except for poor Jenny Kirk :()

BTW, it looks like Alexei won't be going to Worlds this year after all; he told Dave Randorf he was in pain after his interpretive program and didn't think he'd be healthy enough in time (plus, I don't think he would have been able to take that much time off from SOI anyway!) He didn't rule out coming back in 2004, though, and mentioned he missed competing against Plushenko.

[nits]

Unfortunately, I missed it. When I turned on CTV it was just ending and they were interviewing Jennifer R. Sounds like I missed a great program by Sasha! I hope they air this on ABC soon.

[Tigger]

It won't be broadcast on ABC nits. You'll have to tune into TNT to see it. I don't know the dates, sorry. I'm sure that someone here will know them and will happily post them for you though. Sasha's program was amazingly beautiful. One of *the* highlights of the evening.

Oh and that last lift of Jamie and David's....WOW!! It just went on and on and on and on....The strength needed to pull that thing off. Blew me away!!

[Wayne_j]

It's airing in the US on TNT December 14.

[cygnus]

I must say, I liked Jennifer R's one foot-Axel into a triple Sal. It's good to see skaters doing innovative things with jumps and combos, beyond the usual toe-or loop on the end.

[Mayra]

Wow! It sounds like Sasha's program is amazing! Can't wait to see this next week!


I wonder if Sasha plans to use this for the International Figure skating challenge next week. With Irina there and Sarah making her post injury debut, I think this is shaping up to be a great event!

8-)

[HeatherC]

LOL, I came here first this time to find out the info from this competition!! Glad to hear that all three pairs skated wonderfully and even more happy that Jamie & Dave won! What program did they skate if I may ask?! And to hear that Todd did well too as well as Alexei and Jen R. was nice to hear. Can't wait to see this on TNT!! :D

[fsfan]

Can anyone tell us what:

S&P had in their program? (Did they do any 3 Toes?)

Jen Robinson landed?

If L&F landed their SBS Jumps?


Thanks!
fsfan

[Twizzler]

Originally posted by cygnus
I must say, I liked Jennifer R's one foot-Axel into a triple Sal. It's good to see skaters doing innovative things with jumps and combos, beyond the usual toe-or loop on the end.

Actually, Jill Trenary did one foot axel-3 salchows in her long programs.

[coco]

Originally posted by Twizzler
Actually, Jill Trenary did one foot axel-3 salchows in her long programs.

and it's been way too long since I've seen it!! I love this combo!

Can you imagine...one foot axel, 3sal, 3 loop? how cool would that look?

[bcskater]

didnt get to see any of the television broadcasting of sears open :(, does anyone know if someone will be posting a clip of any of the programs, like they did for campbells and skate america for example? :) thanks

[Reen]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by fsfan
[B]Can anyone tell us what:

S&P had in their program? (Did they do any 3 Toes?)

S&P landed a throw 3sal, 3twist

Jen Robinson landed?

3 lutz, 2 axel , 1foot axel into a 3sal

If L&F landed their SBS Jumps?

no jumps by any pairs in the IF


Reen

[jcspkbfan]

bcskater, if you're lucky enough to get the WSN network, they'll be rebroadcasting Canadian Open on Dec. 9 between 9 p.m.-12 a.m. EST, Dec. 10 at 3-6 p.m. EST and 9 a.m.-12 a.m. EST, and on Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.-6 p.m. EST. Hope you'll be able to catch it then!

[Spinner]

Originally posted by Twizzler
Actually, Jill Trenary did one foot axel-3 salchows in her long programs.

And fyi...Nicole Bobek had one during her '95-'96 season. She landed a beauty in the warmups before her LP at worlds, but fell during the competition. I've always liked this jump combo, too bad more people don't try it.

[trixie]

I skated to this music and it is always emotional for me but this left me at a loss for words. The look on her face before she began, the prayer hands right at the camera, one could not breathe until Juliet took her last breath. Debbie did indeed say it right..she is Juliet. This needs to be a long program.

Too bad everyone wasn't silent during the entire skate...Rod Black had to inject his opinion all over the middle section. I could almost hear Debbie wanting to tell him to be quiet.

If you have not yet seen it, you are in for a rare treat.

[Lee]

Tig...baby wasn't THAT audible where we were (close to center ice)...looked like Sasha let her shoulders go. It seems when she does that (relaxing too much?) the jump goes -- I noticed that with the jumps she missed at SC too. Other than that, it was a very strong program.
She should do very well with this as her freeskate program, if that's what she's going with for the rest of the season.

Todd was wonderful last night -- that was probably the best I've seen him skate in a good couple years (no worrying about a quad perhaps?)...absolutely LOVED the footwork at the end of the program!!!

It was obvious Alexei was performing with pain/trepidation...but he did very, very well -- he *owns* Canadian audiences right now. If he's able to keep it up, he's got every possibility of following in the steps of Scotty and Kurt. Definitely a showman!

All three pairs were great to watch and those new lifts of Jamie and David's were AWESOME! David's obviously been working the weights! :) I was completely drawn in by Yuka and Jason's program -- I found them mesmerizing. And Jaz and Lenny's program was just a lot of fun -- he looks like SUCH a ham!

My biggest 'beef' about the interpretive programs is that most of them aren't 'interpretive' in the strict sense of the word -- they're just exhibition programs. IMO, Jennifer Robinson's program was the closest to being a real 'interpretive' program. And the men, surprisingly enough, I felt were better in the 'interpretive' department overall than the women (I felt Takeshi's was the 'weakest' that way). Jenny and Angela are lovely skaters, but their programs were basic GFB-type (generic female ballad) -- classic 'lady' skating. I want to see some real artistic 'stretch' here -- try something off the wall and innovative.

My nitpicking aside, it really was a wonderful 2 days of skating. I do have it on tape so I can watch the commentary once (and then never watch it again, 'cuz that's what I do). I got to meet sulin, which was great, got to see some good programs, got to see some skaters live whom I hadn't seen live before...life is good! :)

[fsfan]

Thanks for the info Reen!!!

[Chris_E]

Can anyone give any details on Angela's programs? Music, jumps...?

Chris

[Lee]

Angela fell on lutzes both days -- after landing beauties in the warmups. I love her skating, and adore the position she gets on her layback. I have no idea what her music was -- can't remember, and didn't take notes. But the interp was definitely in the category of the classic 'lady' exhibition program type.

[nits]

I think the skaters are used to the fans screaming during their performances , so the baby probably didn't have that much of an effect on Sasha's performance. If it did, Sasha better learn to block these things out!!

[memememe76]

Angela's music was "Afternoon of the Fawn", which Janet Lynn made famous (at least that's what Debbi Wilkes said, since I've never had the fortune of ever see Janet Lynn skate). It looked like Angela's new LP.

Also, could Angela get a new short program? It's at least 3 years old!

[TRAxel]

I guess with the loss of her coach, illness and her bad shoulder she should have a brand new short program. Maybe she just hasn't had the chance to worry about that. I commend her for even continuing to skate after losing someone so close and so special to her. There is a difference in Angela, since her coach passed away she has pretty much gone back to the skater she used to be, no expression on her face :( I feel sorry for her.

[Greek Chic]

Thanks for the information Adrian. I am glad to see that Jennifer was able to pull up a notch in the interpretive. She is a great skater, with great potential IMO. I am really glad for Sasha. Can't wait to see the Romeo and Juliet program at the GPF.

[haribobo]

Well I'd hope too many people don't judge Angela (or any skater really) from this one competition and say she's regressed. I'd have to think that her performances later in the season will be more indicative of the progress she's made with Frank since coming back from injury. Some people have been able to come back from an injury and skate like it never happened, but I've always gotten the feeling that Angela is sort of like me and can't help being affected by things...anyway...

I do believe that Angela is using her short program from 2 years ago as a fitting tribute to Elena Tcherkasskaia and to popularize the wonderful choreography that Elena gave to her. I have no official word on this, but I'd bet this is the reason, rather than that she's just lazy or something along those lines.

[nits]

I wish Angela only the best. She has alot of time between now and Nationals. I hope she makes the podium.

[Polish]

Originally posted by Lee
Tig...baby wasn't THAT audible where we were (close to center ice)...looked like Sasha let her shoulders go.



Well it was very audible on the TV. :P

[Patty]

Originally posted by memememe76
Angela's music was "Afternoon of the Fawn", which Janet Lynn made famous (at least that's what Debbi Wilkes said, since I've never had the fortune of ever see Janet Lynn skate). It looked like Angela's new LP.

It was reported in the summer or early fall at Golden Skate and MKF that
this is her new LP from Nichols.

[Patty]

Originally posted by Polish
Well it was very audible on the TV. :P
Probably the baby was close to the mic. Whether Sasha heard depends on how close she was to the baby. Baby cries do seem to usually project loud and far.

[roogu]

Also, could Angela get a new short program? It's at least 3 years old! [/B]

Well, Angela skated to that short in the 2000-2001 season ... she had a lot of success with it.

Last year, she skated a different short program. So the program is only really 2 years old, going it's 3rd year in terms of time frame ... but this is only the 2nd season that she's skated to it. It's a beautiful program though ..... at least it is when everything is done like at worlds that year.

[tollerfan]

I was really really impressed with Todd's interpretive program. Where has this footwork been all these years (it was wonderful to see)! I've always enjoyed Todd's skating, but this was a totally new Todd! I could not believe my eyes!

I also loved S&P's interpretive skate (the lifts were just beyond belief). The lift where Jamie ends up doing a free handstand on David's arm is amazing! I loved this program...I think they said it was choreographed by Sandra Bezic. Somebody asked whether they did side by side triples...they did them in the tech. program, no problem.

I was also very impressed by Yuka and Jason...a wonderful program! I think I heard Debbie or Rod saying that they could skate amateur they're getting so good. I agree. They certainly look lovely on the ice and know how to interpret music!

And Jennifer's second program was wonderful...she deserved to be placed second overall. She interpreted the music beautifully. Yes, Victoria has wonderful jumps, but I just find the rest of her skating very mechanical, and I really dislike her layback spins (same old same old stuff).

OMG, Jeff! I hadn't seen the short program pants LOL. Ugaboo...but if you like them, that's what matters. Not many could get away with that and still look as cute as a button LOL!

Alexei...what can I say (sigh). He's still my favourite male amateur skater today. I could watch Memorial 100 times without tiring of it!

And Sasha...what to say about you? I'm more impressed every time I watch you skate!

I guess what I'd like to say about the coverage of the Sears open is that we had a total of five hours of wonderful skating. I could barely believe that we saw all the skaters in the tech program, and most in the interpretive. I wish we could have that sort of coverage for the grand prix events. Sadly, I've had to watch all of the grand prix events on American tv, and I've only been able to see the ladies and men, none of the pairs or ice dance. Just on principle I am not going to watch what little and very BELATED coverage CTV chooses to give us in late Dec. or early Jan. It's an insult! Too little, too late! I never thought I'd have to say that the Canadian coverage of the grand prix is worse than the American coverage LOL. But it is. I can't image what is going to be shown in the time allotted for it. (Well, I guess that's my vent for today
;) )

[trixie]

It's Faun, not Fawn, and if you watch a tape of Janet skating to this circa 1971-72 you will see, I think, an eerie similarity in the first minute of Angela's program to the Lynn one. If anyone is interested, or does not have a tape of Janet, I can describe the parts to which I am referring.

P.S. I wonder if people will be talking about the Sasha "Romeo and Juliet" program in thirty years ? Very possible.

[star_gazer11]

Am I the only one who didn't like Jennifer Robinson's dress for the interpretive? It was pink and it had cutouts - enough said. I liked the program overall, though.

Sasha's Romeo & Juliet was really good, and I loved the orchid lift that S&P did as well.

[erin_m]

Nope, I didn't really like Jen's outfit either...it didn't seem to fit her properly (but her skating was great!)

[jcspkbfan]

Did anyone else notice Jennifer Robinson's interpretive program outfit looked exactly like the outfit Christine Hough wore during the 1995/96 SOI Beatles finale?? I wonder if it is indeed the same dress...which would explain why it might not fit Jennifer properly.

I know SOI group number costumes have been reused a lot for group numbers performed in other IMG shows, but I think this is the first time I've ever seen a SOI group number costume worn during a solo number!

[Tigger]

Sorry....Said something that I need to check on first. Sorry again!!

[Biffer1997]

Does anyone know if TNT will re-broadcast? I was at work and only saw the men from Buttle to the end? Thanks:P

[pilgrimsoul]

Loved Sasha's program. Even without the flip, it was mesmerizing. Count me among those who are hoping she converts this into a second long program. This program is a great vehicle for her to demonstrate the greater depth in her expression on the ice.

Alexei had me in tears! While watching him skate, this rush of emotion came over me because I could just see in his eyes how much he loves to compete and how much he'll miss it when he can't do it anymore. His longing to keep competing is palpable, and you can tell he's not taking one moment he has left on the ice for granted. His program appeared to me a heartfelt offering to the audience. I felt that on one level, I was watching a montage of all of Alexei's classic programs as he performed his signature moves, one by one, each evoking a different sparkling memory of his peerless body of work. On another level I saw this program as a metaphor for his struggle to continue skating. Alexei's triumph at this event, along with these perceptions, caused a very emotional reaction in me. He's probably the all-around best male skater ever to take the ice. He is such an original, with dazzling execution, a defining style and a passion for skating that makes it a thrill to watch him perform and a joy to see him win. As far as I am concerned, there are not enough 6.0s in the world to quantify the quality of Alexei's art. It will truly be a sad day for the sport when he hangs up his skates.

[Sparklensk8]

I thought this was a great competition. Boy, is Jennifer Robinson stepping up to the plate, or what?!?!?!?!

[quarkiki2]

I caught some of this, but not all of it. I missed Angela and Jenny Kirk.

I loved Todd's program. And Alexi's. I thought Jennifer Robinson did a good job with her music, though I wished for just a tad more energy from her.

And Sasha -- well, aside from the fact that the music "A Time for Us" always makes me cry, even as a 12-year-old in ballet class BEFORE I knew it was Romeo and Juliet, I think she is doing a much better job connecting her elements. Honestly, I think the Rach music is a bit too big for her and found this to be a better match, though I think a "stop and start" footwork section will muck it up if she turns it into another LP. My personal opinion is that the music is so strong that it brings out the best in anyone who uses it -- I know that I danced way beyond my 12-year-old abilities when dancing to it, there's just something about the longing in it that touches people's souls. It is a good piece for Sasha to learn how to connect emotionally to her music, actually, I recommend it to anyone who wants to dance around the house for a bit, LOL! I'm not saying that her performance wasn't wonderful (it was!) or that the music is easy to interpret, but I think it's just hard to miss with this music.

[viennese]

The interpretive free skates were, overall, mesmerizing.

Angela N's Afternoon of a Faun is beautiful, and it is a shame she wasn't as relaxed on the jumps as she has been.

Sasha Cohen's "Juliet" is the prettiest thing she's ever done. For the first time, I'm enjoying all her unique/highlight moves as part of a coherent whole -- not seeing her do them as Big Drama moments amid a good program. Every element flowed into the next, and she held every move -- spirals, Ina Bauers - for a long time.

Jennifer Robinson's 1960s program was well done. The dress was right in character, but it appeared to be too loose around the middle.

Viktoria's program didn't have much to do with the music, but it's cool to see her relax and smile and not just go rocketing into her jumps. (Well, she can't help that -- she jumps so huge.)

Sale/Pelletier's free handstand lift was amazing. I almost started laughing when I heard the Journey song start up, but the way they skated, it completely redeemed it.