Josef
04-27-2003, 08:27 PM
Just some quick notes for now. I'll have a full, more detailed, review posted tomorrow afternoon at http://www.theskateblade.com
As a whole, this show was a bit disappointing.. it seemed to be missing something and I'm not sure what.
Introductions: Not too much happened of note.. Tot/Mar did a huge throw 3lp, Victor looked a little chunky with the shirt e was wearing.. Michelle had by far the biggest reaction followed up by Elvis and Sasha probably.
Nicole Bobek: Hard fall on a triple toe attempt at the beginning of her program.. It was funny, she took awhile to get up and they were turning the lightning off because they thought she would stop. She kept motioning for them to turn the lights back on! She wasn't done yet..
Punsalan/Swallow: I really love this program.. such a sexy vibe that they create, and they always show such innovation with lifts and themes with their progams. So many of the other pro skaters go out there and do the same thing over and over again.
AP McDonough: Wow! She landed a 3ltz, 3lp, 3flp, and 2ax. Not the best music choice for her, however.
Rudy Galindo: Well, Rudy skated pretty well considering his hip injury--even managed a nice 3toe/2toe and a 2ax. He really got into his program but lacked his usual speed and extension on some elements.
Lang/Tchernyshev: They probably had the biggest audience reaction of all the dance teams. This is definitely meant to be a show number, rather than a competitive one! Awesome lifts and "tension".. very crisp.
Dan Hollander: This is a hilarious program.. and his jumps were looking better than ever--textbook 3toe and 2ax.
Totmianina/Marinin: Did the saxaphone "Your Song" here. Great throws, great speed, and awesome lifts. I think this music fits them a lot better than their Cotton Club program for sure.. that program just wasn't them. They were very nice backstage after the show, as well.
Elena Sokolova: Did her LP.. hit most of her jumps including a 3ltz but spilled on a 3toe. One of my favorite parts was an elegant slide spiral.
Belbin/Agosto: A bit scratchy and not as good of a reaction as you would have expected from a program like this. Nice lifts.
Victor Petrenko: This is such a great program from Victor with the serious tone. Really lets his basic skating skills, which are still very solid, shine through. Thank you Tom Collins for letting him do a non-gimmick program this year!
Philippe Candeloro: Landed a 3ltz, 3toe, fell on a 3lp, singled a 2ax. Got a standing O, of course, although I did not stand. I stand for good skating, not good gimmicks.
Irina Grigorian: Got a great reaction.. Everybody has seen it, but wow.. they still eat it up!
Michael Weiss: Okay, I think I have officially seen too much of Mike. His pants were simply way too low, and he spent half the program with his sequinny blue shirt unbuttoned. Good 3ltz and a clean (1 foot) tornado!
Bourne/Kraatz: Not too enthusiastic of an audience response, although they skated well. I guess it really isn't a "get you up, out of your seat" type of program though.
Irina Slutskaya: Managed a 3lp and a few 2axs. Strange music.. strange program.. She looked to be having fun, though.
Kazakova/Dmitriev: Nice program to "Unforgettable", and kudos to them for doing SBS pairs spins, which they obviously don't have to do anymore.
Besedin/Polischuk: Everybody's seen it already.
Timothy Goebel: This was a fantastic program from Tim. I noticed great strides taken in posture and stroking. Cool spreadeagle changing edge into a 3lp to start the progra. Also landed a 3ltz, 2ax, and stepped out of a 3toe. Good program for him.
Sasha Cohen: Wow! Sasha was spot on this afternoon and this program gave me the chills. Perfect charlotte, great spins and spirals, good 3sal, 2ax, and held onto a 3toe. Fantastic! Get your head together in competition, girl!
Elvis Stojko: Only about a year into a pro career and everything is already starting to look the same. Mouthed the lyrics, slid around on the ice, played the air guitar. Business as usual. Good 2ax and 3toe and nice footwork.. but I want to see something different from Elvis.
Evgeny Plushenko: Either did two or three 3axs. Incredible! Basically the program was a yawner, IMO, however. I think I would have rather seen his Worlds EX.. that looked funny.
Michelle Kwan: Landed all three of her triples. I like this edgy, sexy look on Michelle. Many in the audience stood for her.
Finale: Funky, colorful costumes to some fun latin music. I really enjoy this finale! Really creates an atmosphere of celebration. At the end, streamers were released from the ceiling for a nice, cheap souvenir.
Post-show: Most of the skaters seemed rushed, and had to speed by the line without stopping for anyone. Michelle, Sasha, Tim, Peter, Tatiana & Maxim, Dan, Elvis, Irina S., Victor, and AP all were very gracious with their time and went through the line slowly. All were quite pleasant!
Top 5 Showstoppers: Tim, Sasha, L&T, Michelle, and Victor.
As a whole, this show was a bit disappointing.. it seemed to be missing something and I'm not sure what.
Introductions: Not too much happened of note.. Tot/Mar did a huge throw 3lp, Victor looked a little chunky with the shirt e was wearing.. Michelle had by far the biggest reaction followed up by Elvis and Sasha probably.
Nicole Bobek: Hard fall on a triple toe attempt at the beginning of her program.. It was funny, she took awhile to get up and they were turning the lightning off because they thought she would stop. She kept motioning for them to turn the lights back on! She wasn't done yet..
Punsalan/Swallow: I really love this program.. such a sexy vibe that they create, and they always show such innovation with lifts and themes with their progams. So many of the other pro skaters go out there and do the same thing over and over again.
AP McDonough: Wow! She landed a 3ltz, 3lp, 3flp, and 2ax. Not the best music choice for her, however.
Rudy Galindo: Well, Rudy skated pretty well considering his hip injury--even managed a nice 3toe/2toe and a 2ax. He really got into his program but lacked his usual speed and extension on some elements.
Lang/Tchernyshev: They probably had the biggest audience reaction of all the dance teams. This is definitely meant to be a show number, rather than a competitive one! Awesome lifts and "tension".. very crisp.
Dan Hollander: This is a hilarious program.. and his jumps were looking better than ever--textbook 3toe and 2ax.
Totmianina/Marinin: Did the saxaphone "Your Song" here. Great throws, great speed, and awesome lifts. I think this music fits them a lot better than their Cotton Club program for sure.. that program just wasn't them. They were very nice backstage after the show, as well.
Elena Sokolova: Did her LP.. hit most of her jumps including a 3ltz but spilled on a 3toe. One of my favorite parts was an elegant slide spiral.
Belbin/Agosto: A bit scratchy and not as good of a reaction as you would have expected from a program like this. Nice lifts.
Victor Petrenko: This is such a great program from Victor with the serious tone. Really lets his basic skating skills, which are still very solid, shine through. Thank you Tom Collins for letting him do a non-gimmick program this year!
Philippe Candeloro: Landed a 3ltz, 3toe, fell on a 3lp, singled a 2ax. Got a standing O, of course, although I did not stand. I stand for good skating, not good gimmicks.
Irina Grigorian: Got a great reaction.. Everybody has seen it, but wow.. they still eat it up!
Michael Weiss: Okay, I think I have officially seen too much of Mike. His pants were simply way too low, and he spent half the program with his sequinny blue shirt unbuttoned. Good 3ltz and a clean (1 foot) tornado!
Bourne/Kraatz: Not too enthusiastic of an audience response, although they skated well. I guess it really isn't a "get you up, out of your seat" type of program though.
Irina Slutskaya: Managed a 3lp and a few 2axs. Strange music.. strange program.. She looked to be having fun, though.
Kazakova/Dmitriev: Nice program to "Unforgettable", and kudos to them for doing SBS pairs spins, which they obviously don't have to do anymore.
Besedin/Polischuk: Everybody's seen it already.
Timothy Goebel: This was a fantastic program from Tim. I noticed great strides taken in posture and stroking. Cool spreadeagle changing edge into a 3lp to start the progra. Also landed a 3ltz, 2ax, and stepped out of a 3toe. Good program for him.
Sasha Cohen: Wow! Sasha was spot on this afternoon and this program gave me the chills. Perfect charlotte, great spins and spirals, good 3sal, 2ax, and held onto a 3toe. Fantastic! Get your head together in competition, girl!
Elvis Stojko: Only about a year into a pro career and everything is already starting to look the same. Mouthed the lyrics, slid around on the ice, played the air guitar. Business as usual. Good 2ax and 3toe and nice footwork.. but I want to see something different from Elvis.
Evgeny Plushenko: Either did two or three 3axs. Incredible! Basically the program was a yawner, IMO, however. I think I would have rather seen his Worlds EX.. that looked funny.
Michelle Kwan: Landed all three of her triples. I like this edgy, sexy look on Michelle. Many in the audience stood for her.
Finale: Funky, colorful costumes to some fun latin music. I really enjoy this finale! Really creates an atmosphere of celebration. At the end, streamers were released from the ceiling for a nice, cheap souvenir.
Post-show: Most of the skaters seemed rushed, and had to speed by the line without stopping for anyone. Michelle, Sasha, Tim, Peter, Tatiana & Maxim, Dan, Elvis, Irina S., Victor, and AP all were very gracious with their time and went through the line slowly. All were quite pleasant!
Top 5 Showstoppers: Tim, Sasha, L&T, Michelle, and Victor.