NACS - Mentor (Saturday)

[Aaron W]

Here is my report on the novice ladies free skate and novice pairs free skate. The novice men and junior pairs report will come tomorrow. Note that I still am not particularly stellar at identifying pair lifts because of all of the variations that can occur, so there are probably some mistakes in there.

Novice Ladies Free Skate:
1)Juliana Cannorozzo (USA): She was wearing a sparkly gold dress and her music was Carmen. Opened with a 2axel, a combination spin of camel/layback/back camel with the knee held/back cross foot. The entire spin had decent positions and the layback was particularly pretty, 3salchow/2toe combination, 2flip/2toe combination, another nice layback with 5 rotations, a 3loop with a 2foot landing, LBO catch foot spiral with ftwk following it into a 2lutz down the diagonal of the rink, ina bauer into a light split jump, 3salchow, straightline ftwk with some hops & small jumps included in it, 2axel, 2flip, and she finished up with a butterfly into a back sit. Nothing really to pick about with this performance. It was a nice solid performance. She attacked the jumps well, the choreography was nice and her execution of it was good, and I felt her stroking was a little quiter than Grenier who got a bit forward on her blades toward the end. Nice job!

2)Marie-Christine Grenier (CAN): She was either wearing a dark navy blue dress or a black dress (I couldn’t quite tell) with a silver pattern across the neck line. A very clean look. Skated to Rondo Cappricioso. Opened with a very nice 3salchow but then fell on her 2axel which looked like a good attempt and surprised me when she fell, 2loop, LBO spiral to a skid stop at the end of the rink into a ½ length straightline steps into a layback with 6 rotations (she had a bit of a wobble on the last rotation), 3salchow/2toe, another 2axel attempt that was landed nicely, circular ftwk, flying camel into back sit (2/5), 2lutz, 2flip, combination spin camel/sit/layback/back sit with all of those positions needing to be held longer (held them for maybe 2 turns at most). She had a very Quebec look to her skating. I don’t mean that in a bad way at all, just that many of the positions she hit, the style/choreography of the program, and even her costume, etc. looked very much like a number of Quebec skaters I’ve seen. Her 3salchows really were nice with good power!

3)Stephanie Dal Porto (USA): She skated to “The Mummy” soundtrack and wore a pastel purple costume. Opened with a 2axel, then a 3salchow. Her next jump was a 3flip that she landed successfully in the warm-up, but landed it with a stiff leg in her program and ended up having to turn out of the landing, flying camel with nice quick turns and centering (5 rotations), a loop jump popped to a single (I think she was attempting a 3loop), spiral, axel that ended up being just 1 turn, combination spin of camel/layback/back sit (nice centering and spinning position on her blade), semi circular ftwk, turns into a 2t, 2z, split jump with a turn into a 2flip, biellmann spin with 3 rotations in the position. She had some nice spins as I noted, as far as the speed and centering are concerned, and the positions were acceptable as well.

4)Kim Caissy (CAN): She wore a blue dress with yellow trim and a yellow hair piece for her bun. Her music was some type of Spanish guitar piece. Opened with a 2axel, 3toe with a lean forward but clean, camel/sit/layback/back sit/back upright with leg held in front combination spin (positions could use a little work to make them more exact), 3z(X), transition to smooth slower guitar piece with a 3salchow that had a lean forward to 2 feet, layback, 2flip with turns into a 2loop (the landing positions on both jumps were particularly strong, but were clean), 3toe with a lean forward and then a turn into a 2toe, flying camel with 4 rotations, straightline steps to end the program. I liked her energy and attack into her jumps.

5)Lauren Hennessy (USA): She was wearing a maroon dress with rhinestone flower pattern on top (I’m just guessing they were rhinestones – I’m a guy so I don’t really know what exactly it was, lol). Skated to “Evita.” 2lutz, 3salchow, 2axel with a lean out of the circle and a landing on the inside edge with not much speed on the landing, flying camel with 5 rotations, 3loop that was possibly a bit under-rotated but on one foot, LFO catch foot spiral/LBO spiral, 2axel with a turn out into a 2toe, layback with 5 rotations, 2flip, partial diagonal steps, 2loop/2loop combo, combination spin of camel/sit (nice low position)/back camel/back illusion/back Galindo/back scratch (the turns in this combination spin were a bit slow).

6)Rebecca Hughes (USA): She was wearing a yellow dress with silver beaded rhinestones. Not sure what the music was, but part of it sounded like it *might* be Tchiakovsky’s Sleeping Beauty. Opened with a 2axel/2toe, flying camel with 8 rotations that had good fast turns, 2lutz/2loop, 3toe with a fall, 2axel with a hand down, back charlotte, layback with 7 rotations, LBO catch foot in front spiral into a 2salchow, a jump I missed, diagonal steps (nice energy), split jump with turns into a 2flip/2toe, combination spin of camel/sit/back camel/back sit/back upright with leg held, walley into 2lutz.

7)Amelie Beland (CAN): She was wearing a white dress with small pink flowers on top and beaded rhinestones about the top. Her music was Por Una Cabeza. Opened with a nice 2axel, forward lunge on both feet, fall on 3salchow, 2lutz with a fall out, layback with 3 rotations, 2loop, split falling leaf, 1axel, 2salchow, flying camel with 6 rotations, 2flip, diagonal steps, 2lutz, combination spin of camel/sit/layback/back camel/back sit/back cross foot. She is a clockwise jumper. She had decent power and push of her blade on the ice for the novice level.

8)Terra Findlay (CAN): She was wearing a sort of periwinkle blue costume with a lighter blue top portion and draped sleeves. Her music was some sort of soft piano music. She opened with a 3lutz attempt that looked like a good attempt but was just slightly short and ended up falling, popped her 2axel into a waltz jump on 2feet, 3toe with a fall, LFO spiral with great extension, split falling leaf, another spiral into an ina bauer in serpentine pattern, layback that started out in the classic position and then transitioned to a dropped leg position (ala Kwan), 3flip that only had 1 ½ rotations and landed on 2feet, flying camel with a transition to a donut spin (8 total rotations in the positions), a salchow that was popped into a single and she then decided to try it again and only got 1 ½ rotations and ended up on 2feet, diagonal steps, combination spin of camel/sit/upright Y-type variation/back sit/back scratch. This was a very unfortunate skate because she looked great in the warm-up. She’s certainly better than what showed up in the actual competition, landing the 3flip, 3toe, and 3salchow in the warm-up and also had a good attempt at the 3lutz as well. I question whether it’s the best idea to open up with such a hard triple as the 3lutz because it can sort of unsettle a skater to begin a program with a mistake. I like her style, choice of music, and the jumps for the most part are there, just not in front of the judges today.

[Aaron W]

Novice Pairs Free Skate:
1)Vlassov & Meekins (USA): They skated to Mission Impossible & Pink Panther. Opened with big “pre-hop” into a split twist that I believe was a triple (I wasn’t looking for a triple, but it certainly looked like it had tight quick turns to be a triple), an Artur Dmietriev type entry into their throw 3salchow (the rotating/turning carry of the partner) with a very solid landing but it looked as if she was sort of already facing forward before taking off, great 1 handed lift, sbs 2lutz (he sort of scratchy landing), sbs 2flip, sbs flying camel (7 rotations and they got off just slightly at the end), RFI death spiral, throw 1axel, standard overhead with a switch to 1 hand that they immediately bailed out of (had trouble with it in the warm-up as well), pair spin with I believe 2 position changes, great diagonal ftwk linked together with their hands instead of just separate ftwk, sbs 1a turn 2t, pair spin with 1 position. Very clean look. They match up well together. Good attack and speed throughout. I thought they were easily 1st and I’m not sure what the Canadian judge saw that I missed, lol.

2)Buttler & Jacobson (USA): Piano Piece, split 2twist, throw 2loop, sbs 2s (he a bit swingy on the landing), sbs flying camel to upright variation position back to forward camels/back camel/back illusions (reasonably good unison considering the difficulty of going from the camel to an upright and then back to a forward camel), standard overhead with 1 hand, 2loops turns 2flips, pair spin with 2 positions, straightline steps, some sort of a toe lift, throw 2salchow, layover star with 1hand and he 2 turns, sbs 2lutz, she in a spiral and he in a spread eagle into a non-overhead carry lift, RFI death spiral, pair spin (1 position). Not sure what the music was. He sort of reminds me of Johnnie Stiegler. They had nice quick movement across the ice. Looked reasonably together.

3)Gendron & Joncas (CAN): Opened with a nice standard overhead lift, throw 2salchow, split 2twist, star lift with a switch to 1 hand with a cartwheel type exit (3 ½ turns), sbs 2flip, pair spin with 2 positions, throw 2loop, sbs 2lutz (he hand down) into sbs 2loops, sbs camel/back sit (5/5), diag ftwk, swan type lift to a star position, RBO death spiral. They skated pretty well, but as I said earlier, not sure what the one Canadian judge saw to put them in 1st place.

4)Valois & Boudreau-Beland (CAN): split 2twist, sbs 2a(she 2ft & under-rotated), platter lift to star position with 3 ½ turns, throw 2salchow, sbs camel/sit/back sit that was off on the unison, spirals & outside spread eagles, LFI death spiral, 4 positions in their pair spin, back press with a back bend layover position from her, throw 2loop, sbs 2flip turn 2loop (she step out), straightline ftwk, lift with an off exit that had about 2 turns. His turning isn’t exactly smooth during the lifts, but reasonably good attempts nonetheless. I wasn’t sure what the music was, but it sounded like it could have been something from John Tesh????


5)Aaron & Curzon (USA): Split 2twist (might have been a 3twist – I wasn’t watching very closely), throw 2loop, sbs 2lutz, step up standard overhead with 1 hand and 2 ½ turns, throw 2salchow, sbs spins camel/back sit (off unison and far apart), straightline steps, sbs 2loop (he X), pair spin (3 positions), he pulling her in a forward spiral and then right up into a platter to 1 handed star lift, single jumps with turns into 2toe (he X), RFI death spiral. Their music was Schindler’s List.


6)Patenaude & Babin (CAN): sbs 2lutz, 2flip, split 2twist that was a bit under-rotated, throw 2salchow, 2 turns on back press, sbs 2axels (she X), platter lift to star with a somewhat shaky sit down (2 or 2 ½ turns), throw 2loop, RFI death spiral from the Sale & Pelletier drag, swan lift, flying camel/back sit (ok unison, but not many turns), straightline ftwk, pair spin with 3 positions not held for very long and they ended late to their music. Their music sounded like a jazz piece.

7)Oakley & Charette (CAN): Music was “Man In the Iron Mask.” Spiral into LFI death spiral, split 2twist, throw 2salchow (not particularly high, but reasonable distance), swan lift to a star psotion with 1 hand I believe, 2lutz, pair spin with 3 positions, hand to hip lift, throw 2loop, toe lasso with 1 ½ turns that was sort of shaky and a quicker set down than planned I think, flying camel (off unison & not parallel positions to the ice), diagonal ftwk, sbs 2flip with turn out by him into sbs 2loops with a fall out by him and possibly a turn out by her??? They were a little shaky … not quite together/ in unison. Need a bit more time to work on that, but it is only summer after all. J

8)Gaumond & Gaumond (USA): Standard overhead with 3 ½ turns and he kind of bumped his head on the entrance as she was going up, throw 2loop, split 2twist that was done on one foot by both, 2flip (she a turn out), pair spin with 4 positions (2/2) throw 2salchow, she pushed by him in a back spiral into outside spread eagles, platter lift to a star position with a X on the set down, sbs 2flip (?) with turns into 2t (he X), sbs flying camel/back sit (off unison), forward pair spiral into ina bauer, RFI death spiral. Not sure what the music was. Decent speed across the ice.

[Aaron W]

Novice Men’s Free Skate:
1)John Coughlin (USA): Music was from “The Mummy.” Opened with a 3loop that he flipped out of, 3lutz/2toe with a turn in between, flying camel had 4 revolutions, 3toe, 2flip, 3lutz, serpentine ftwk that got too close to the boards at one point that he had to pause for a moment, 3salchow, camel/sit/back sit combination spin, 3toe that was not done in combination (therefore against the Zayak rule), 2axel, butterfly into back sit (I believe it was a butterfly, but I looked up from my notes just as he was in the middle of it), forward scratch spin. Had good attack and some crowd interaction as well. The 3loop was hit nicely in the practice session and warm-up. I thought it was a bit of a knock for judge number 4 to be dropping his presentation mark by 0.7 from his technical mark. She still got the placement correct, but his presentation wasn’t that bad. Oh well.

2)Douglas Razzano (USA): 2axel, 3lutz with a hand down into a 1toe, 3salchow, flying camel with 5 revolutions, 3toe/2toe, 2axel with a turn out into a 2toe, camel/sit/back sit combination spin, diagonal ftwk into a 2flip, back skid spiral to forward and then backwards again, straightline steps, walley with a hop into a 2loop outside spread eagle, death drop into a back sit (3), forward scratch. I believe his music was the same as Slutskaya’s from the 2002 Olympic season (I’m drawing a blank on the name though). He had pretty good energy.

3)Laith Al-Zubi (USA): 3lutz with a step out, 3toe/1toe, 2loop, flying camel with 9 ½ revolutions, 3salchow, straightline steps, 2axel with a light scrape of the free foot on the ice when bringing it back for the landing, camel/sit/hop over into back sit, 2axel turn 2flip, split flip, death drop into back sit, back scratch. Again I’m drawing a blank on his music. Sounded like a movie soundtrack though. Lots of speed and the jumps covered a decent distance on the ice.

4)Stephen Carriere (USA): He skated to a sax medley including Heart Break Hotel. 3salchow to open, 3lutz with a fall, flying camel had 3 revolutions, 3toe with a hand down and a turn into a 2toe, 3loop with a fall, camel/sit/back sit variation/back upright variation, 2axel, circ ftwk with good speed and ice coverage, nice 3toe, split turns into a 2flip, death drop into a back sit/back scratch (some traveling). Good energy and speed throughout.

5)Simon Beaudoin (CAN): Same music as Anissina & Peizerat used during the 2002 Olympic season for their free dance. 2axel with a lean out of the circle, 3toe/2toe, a decent death drop into a back sit with 8 revolutions, 3loop with a turn out, outside spread eagle to another outside spread eagle, 2loop, LFO spiral, 3toe with a fall, camel/sit/upright variation/back camel/back upright variation (the forward portion of this spin had some very nice positions), 2lutz with a hand down, straightline ftwk, 3salchow with a fall, 2axel, camel/forward variation position.

6)Jamie Forsythe (CAN): Outside spread eagle right into a 2axel, 3toe with a step out, 3salchow with a fight for the landing, flying camel with about 4 revolutions, 2lutz, spirals, 2axel with a fall, ina bauer, 3loop with a fall, camel spin to a clockwise donut spin to a normal layback, fall on the 3salchow, circ ftwk, 2axel, 2toe ?, and a closing combination spin with many positions (couldn’t write them all down).

7)Kevin Darwish (CAN): 3toe with a fall, 2axel, flying camel with 5 revolutions, 3lutz with a fall, 2salchow, camel/sit/back camel/back sit/back scratch, 2loop, 3toe with no combo, 2axel with a turn into a 2toe (he was leaning out of the circle on the 2axel), 2lutz, 2flip, death drop into back sit (9)/back scratch. Music was sooo familiar, possibly from Cirque du Soleil or a movie soundtrack (one section was just percussion).

8)Jon Nuss (USA): Jesus Christ Superstar, ina bauer into a 1axel, death drop into a back sit with good height and 8 revolutions, 3lutz with full rotation but his feet were still crossed resulting in a fall, 3toe (X), straightline ftwk, spread eagle into a 2axel (X), outside to inside spread eagle, flying camel with 6 revolutions, 3toe with a fall, 2salchow, walley with the arms presented overhead into a 2lutz/1toe, combination spin. Rough skate. He kept working at the jumps though. Good speed into them.

9)Aaron Hatchell (CAN): 3toe, 3salchow with a 2foot landing, fall on the 2axel, 2flip, flying camel to bent leg camel (6), ina bauer into a spread eagle, 3loop with a fall, 3lutz (2foot & about 2 ½ turns), death drop into a back sit that ended up with a fall on the landing, RFO spiral, 3toe with a turn out and no combination, 2axel with a 2foot landing, camel/sit/upright/back sit/back upright variation that finished behind the music. He is a clockwise jumper/spinner.

[Aaron W]

Junior Pairs Free Skate:
1)Findlay & Mattatall (CAN): The music was a tango, possibly the same tango that Liashenko used during the 2002/2003 season. Split 3twist, throw 3salchow with a fall, sbs 3toe with him falling out of the landing and she only a 2toe, star lift with 1 hand with a change of position from her and 2 more turns (had good control throughout), sbs camel/sit/back sit spins in perfect unison, series of spirals, lasso lift with a switch to 1 hand & a one hand set down (about 3 turns), throw 2toe, sbs 2axels with turns into 2toes (or possibly 2flips), pair spin, lift in platter position with 2 turn, a non overhead carry lift, straightline ftwk in tango character, RFI death spiral. Nice lifts and expression of the music. She sort of reminds me of a young Julia Obertas from Russia, at least physically.

2)Uhlig & Loomis (USA): split 3twist, throw 3salchow with a 2foot landing, star lift to 1 hand and 3 turns, 2flip, sbs flying camel that were on until the last concluding revolution (5 revs total), some sort of a back lift with a turn by her up above and he switching to 1 hand, RBI death spiral, pair spin with 3 positions, throw 2loop, circ ftwk, sbs 2toes with turns into another set of sbs 2toes (off unison), standard overhead lift with 3 turns but a bit shaky by him, death spiral. Hug between the two at the end. She seemed particularly happy with the performance. Music was the "Red Dragon."

3)Yount & Marron (USA): lift with 2 ½ turns with 1 hand, split 2twist with not much of catch & set down), sbs 2lutz (she stepped out), back press with her bending backwards and 3 turns total, throw 3salchow (big roar from the crowd and big cheer from their coach), pair spin, sbs 2axel (she might have put her hand down, but they got another big cheer from their coach, lol), star lift to one hand (2 ½ turns), sbs 2salchow, sbs flying camel/back sit (off unison), they started to lean forward bit too much at this point and you could here their toe picks, throw 2loop, LFO pair spiral with them switching sides half way between, RFI death spiral. Not sure what the music was, although it was a very familiar piece. A pretty good skate! I wasn’t sure what to expect because they seemed sort of hit & miss during the practice and warm-up, but in the end it was a decent skate.

4Schmidt & Pottenger (USA): Skated to Carmen. Lift with a stag position and then to 1 hand if my memory is correct and 2 ½ turns total, sbs 2lutz, throw 2axel (2ft with possibly a hand down), straightline ftwk, split 2twist that was a bit shaky on the catch, throw 2loop, sbs camel/back sit, star lift with 2 ½ turns, pair spiral sequence in a circular pattern, RFI death spiral, sbs 2loop, pair spin (3 positions with too much of a re-center), sbs 1axel with turns into a 2flip (he 1flip). They are a clean looking pair with good pair qualities, but lacking any real punch technically. Lifts are well done, but mostly in basic/classic positions. Not much in the way of difficulty on the sbs jumps either. I have always liked this team since I first saw them because I love their line and presentation, but I hope to see more chances taken in the technical department in the future.

5)Rowell & Schumacher (CAN): Their music was from the soundtrack of “ET.” Opened with a twist entry into a platter lift, split 2twist, sbs 2axel with turns into 2toe (landings on both jumps were rough by both of them), camel/back sit (7/8), fall on the throw 3salchow, back press with a 1 hand position variation into a flip over dismount, sbs 2axel (she a 2foot and possibly only a single), throw 2loop, pair spin with 3 positions, standard overhead with 2 turns with a switch to 1 hand and also a 1 hand set down, he outside spread eagle and she doing a RFI death spiral and then when he set his pivot foot into the ice she switched to a RBO death spiral. Their lifts were pretty good! Who is their coach? He looked familiar?

6)Collier & Richardson (CAN): Split 3twist with a crashy landing, sbs 3salchow (she hands down & turn out) with turns into sbs 2toes, standard overhead with a position variation and about 3 turns by him, throw 2loo, LBI death spiral, camel/sit/back sit (good unison), sbs 2axels (she only 2 turns and came out forward), a toe entry lift with a struggle on maintaining control (about 3 turns by him), throw 3salchow (X), back press with a bend backwards by her (2 ½ turns), straightline ftwk, RFI death spiral, pair spin with 3 positions.

7)Sharm & Keen (USA): Split 2twist, sbs 2axels, throw 2salchow, star lift with 2 ½ turns and a switch to 1hand, pair spin, RFI death spiral, sequence of pair spirals, throw 2loop, sbs camel/sit/back sit (off unison), straightline steps, bailed out of their standard overhead lift, off with each other on a sequence of sbs jumps (he a hand down on the 2toe in that sequence), back outside death spiral ended up with a fall on it.


And that's it from the Mentor NACS. I want to give a big thank you to Lesa Lombard for being so kind to me on Saturday, checking in on me during the day to see how I was doing. I really appreciate the kindness! The event seemed nicely run and organized. And they announced during the event that the Cleveland will be hosting the 2005 Eastern Great Lakes Regionals (not sure if it's been decided which Cleveland rink will host it though).

[Francis71]

Aaron - these reports are great - thanks so much. Regarding Rowell and Scumaker you wondered who their coach was and said "he" looked familiar. That is strange because they used to be coached by Kim Handford who had the pair program at Richmond Training Centre (Elvis Stojko arena). This pair is easy to remember because I always think of them as the "Bank of Montreal girl and her partner" Maybe they have switched coaches. Glad to hear that they kept their program from last year (ET) I thought it was quite original (as are their lifts).

Francis

[Bunga]

Rowell and Schumacher are still being coached by Kim Hanford. She recently had a baby and Scott Cornfoot, who works with her, filled in at the last minute in Mentor.

[LilSk8er24]

Thank you so much for the reports!!! :) :)

[~Qtip~]

thanks for the nice accurate reports!