[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Photo” _builder_version=”3.16.1″ src=”https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Observer-100918.jpg” sticky=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Bullet List” _builder_version=”3.16.1″ background_color=”#f9f9f9″ border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px” module_alignment=”left”]<\/p>\n
ARTICLES<\/strong><\/p>\n PHOTOGRAPHS<\/strong><\/p>\n RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Events This Week” _builder_version=”3.14″ background_color=”#282828″ background_layout=”light” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px” module_alignment=”left”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”List of Events” _builder_version=”3.16.1″ background_color=”#f9f9f9″ border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px” module_alignment=”left”]<\/p>\n October 10-13<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Recap” _builder_version=”3.16.1″ border_style=”solid” module_alignment=”left”]<\/p>\n by Anne Calder\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The sixth Junior Grand Prix event \u2013 The Ljubljana Cup – was held last weekend in Slovenia. After two teams scratched, the roster was down to 15 couples from 12 countries, with Canada, Russia, and the USA each sending two teams.<\/p>\n Two more teams qualified for the Final \u2013 Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik of the United States and Sofia Shevchenko & Igor Eremenko of Russia The last two will be announced next week after the Armenia Junior Grand Prix.<\/p>\n The top three teams after the rhythm dance finished on the podium. The Americans, Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik were first, followed by the Russians, Sofia Shevchenko & Igor Eremenko, second, and Polina Ivanenko & Daniil Karpov, third.<\/p>\n Rhythm Dance<\/strong><\/p>\n Nguyen & Kolesnik and Shevchenko & Eremenko both earned the same base values for their lifts, twizzles, and step sequences. It was the American\u2019s higher GOEs and their seven of eight key pattern points compared to the Russians hitting only five of theirs that put the USA team first. The Russians did win the component score by .55 points.<\/p>\n Nguyen & Kolesnik\u2019s 65.41 total segment score was a 2018 personal best. At the same time Shevchenko & Eremenko\u2019s segment score of 63.79, was lower than their Cup of Austria score.<\/p>\n Ivanenko & Karpov earned level 4 for their twizzles and curve lift, but struggled with their step sequence (level 1) and completed only three of eight pattern key points. The segment scored 59.78.<\/p>\n Free Dance<\/strong><\/p>\n On Saturday morning, when the free dances began, the Americans led by two-points.. The big question was whether Nguyen and Kolesnik could stand up to the pressure and maintain the lead. They needed a gold medal to guarantee the Final; silver and a high score was second best.<\/p>\n The two Russian teams skated before them and both performances earned personal best scores.<\/p>\n Ivanenko & Karpov scored 91.91 to the Peter Gunn<\/em> soundtrack, while earning level 4 for the combination spin, lifts and both of their twizzles. Their level 2 step sequences lost them points.<\/p>\n Shevchenko & Eremenko skated next and delivered a 97.88 personal best performance to \u201cIntro\u201d by Onuka, \u201cWitchdoctor\u201d by Camo & Krooked, and \u201cLijo\u201d by Alina Orlova. They also earned level 4 for the lifts, twizzles and combination spin. Their GOEs were +2, +3, and +4, but their base value was lower.<\/p>\n Shevchenko & Eremenko knew a second gold medal would guarantee them a trip to Vancouver and the Russian teams had already won four of the five events. They watched closely as the Americans were introduced.<\/p>\n Nguyen & Kolesnik skated to center ice and waited for the first chords of \u201cDemons\u201d and \u201cExperience\u201d to strike. Then the magic began as they seamlessly wove in and out of their elements creating an ethereal image like an artist painting on an empty canvas.<\/p>\n They, too, received +2, +3, and +4 GOEs, but their base values were higher.\u00a0\u00a0 They also scored a level 4 circular step sequence that was rewarded with 10.44 points. The segment scored 100.22. Their 165.63 total gave them the gold medal. The Russians followed with silver and bronze.<\/p>\n Darya Popova & Volodymyr Byelikov of Ukraine remained in fourth place with an 84.66 segment score to Chopin Nocturne<\/em> performed by David Garrett and 141.77 total points.<\/p>\n Ellie Fisher & Simon-Pierre Malette-Paquette (CAN) were fifth with an 84.52 score to selections from Les Miserable. <\/em>The total 141.60 was only .17 behind the Ukrainians. The Canadians competed in two 2017 JGP events. Ljubljana Cup was their 2018 debut.<\/p>\n Alina Efimova & Alexander Petrov (USA) scored 78.72 points for a sixth place free dance to \u201cWho Wants to Live Forever\u201d by the Tenors. The Americans\u2019 JGP debut total was 131.41 and topped their July 2018 Lake Placid International score by almost 14 points.<\/p>\n Again this year, Ice-dance.com will be highlighting programs for each event. This week\u2019s selections include the the rhythm dance of Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik<\/a> (USA) and the free dances of and Alina Efimova & Alexander Petrov<\/a> (USA), Villo Marton & Danyil Semko<\/a> (HUN) and Emily Rose Brown & James Hernandez<\/a> (GBR).\u00a0 All performances from the entire JGP series are available on the ISU JGP Youtube Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n ICE CHATTER<\/strong><\/p>\n The six competitors with the highest points will participate in the JGP Final. Tiebreakers include scores and placements. After the first five JGP events, the top ten points and scores are:<\/p>\n 1. 30 points 320.62\u00a0 Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva & Nikita Nazarov (RUS) 9. 15 points 168.17\u00a0 \u00a0Arina Ushakova & Maxim Nekrasov (RUS) * Team has qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final (bold) <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.16.1″ src=”https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/2018FinlandiaTrophy.jpg” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Recap” _builder_version=”3.16.1″ border_style=”solid” module_alignment=”left”]<\/p>\n by Anne Calder\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The Finlandia Trophy was held in Espoo from October 4-7. The city is part of the greater Helsinki area on the Gulf of Finland that has been hosting the event since 1995. It became part of the original Challenger Series in 2014. Eleven teams competed representing eight countries.<\/p>\n Russians Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin won their third Finlandia Trophy \u2013 2014, 2016, and 2018 \u2013 with the highest Challenger score of the season – 200.78. Olivia Smart & Adrian Diaz representing Spain topped their previous Autumn Classic score by nine points with a 180.07 score and a second 2018 Challenger silver medal. Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac of France slipped into third place in their season international debut with a 176.46 total.<\/p>\n The Rhythm Dance was interrupted a few times to remove confetti that fell from the ceiling onto the ice surface. Skaters also noted a bird sighting.<\/p>\n Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin skated third. The duo opened the segment with sit twizzles that did not have enough ice coverage, and the element was called a level 1. The judges gave them +4 and +5. A level 3 Midline Step Sequence followed that scored 10.67 points.<\/p>\n At that point, a whistle blew, the music stopped and sweepers rushed on the ice to pick up paper debris. After several minutes and a few false starts, the dance resumed.<\/p>\n The Russians finished with level 3 patterns and a curve lift that scored almost all +4 GOEs. The performance scored 79.16 \u2013 the highest Challenger RD score to date.<\/p>\n Olivia Smart & Adrian Diaz representing Spain skated sixth and hit half their key points, but also had a timing issue, so earned only level 1 and 2 for their patterns. The twizzles and lift were level 4. The segment scored a personal best 72.61.<\/p>\n Skating ninth, Canadians Carolane Soucisse & Shane Firus earned level 4 for their solid opening twizzles just before their Tango Romantica was interrupted with more confetti. Their straight-line lift received a level 4, followed by a Midline Step Sequence that gave them almost 10 points.<\/p>\n The total segment scored a personal best 70.79 for third place.<\/p>\n The free dance moved along with no more interruptions.<\/p>\n Stepanova & Bukin danced the Blues to \u201cAm I the One\u201d by Beth Hart and choreographed by Peter Tchernyshev. It scored a 2018 Challenger high 121.62. The spin, twizzles and lifts earned level 4; the footwork received level 3. The component score was 54.60 \u2013 almost 80% were 9 or above.<\/p>\n Smart & Diaz scored a free dance personal best 107.46 to a medley of Beatle songs that included \u201cA Day in the Life\u201d, \u201cSomething\u201d, and \u201cLet it Be\u201d. The spin, lifts and twizzles were level 4.<\/p>\n Lauriault & LeGac were third in the free dance and snagged the bronze medal away from their training mates, Soucisse & Firus who finished fourth. The French team earned level 4 for their spin, lifts and twizzles and scored 107.17 for the Bruno Mars medley.<\/p>\n Anastasia Shpilevaya & Grigory Smirnov were fourth in the free dance and finished fifth over all. The young Russians made their senior debut with a 103.61 dance to \u201cThunder\u201d by Imagine Dragons. They missed the entire 2017-2018 season due to Smirnov\u2019s injury and surgery.<\/p>\n Soucisse & Firus were fifth in the free dance to two Michael Jackson songs covered by Weeknd and scored 101.48. They finished fourth over all with 172.27 and missed a second bronze medal.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Preview” _builder_version=”3.16.1″ border_style=”solid” module_alignment=”left”]<\/p>\n The seventh and final ISU Junior Grand Prix event takes place this week in Armenia.\u00a0 Yerevan, the capital city as well as the cultural and industrial center of the Armenia, will host 15 teams.\u00a0\u00a0In addition to medals, the last two spots for the JGP Final will be determined.\u00a0 So far, Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva & Nikita Nazarov and Sofia Shevchenko & Igor Eremenko of Russia, Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik from the United States, Canada’s Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha have locked up four of the six positions.\u00a0<\/p>\n The medal hunt:\u00a0 <\/strong>A medal of any color will solidify Russia’s Arina Ushakova & Maxim Nekrasov as competitors at the JGP Final and the duo are likely to add a second win to their 2018-19 resume.\u00a0 Both Maria Kazakova & Georgy Reviya of Georgia and Elizaveta Shanaeva & Devid Naryzhnyy of Russia finished second at their respective events.\u00a0\u00a0The battle for silver is likely to be close and will decide who takes the last spot in December’s JGP Final.\u00a0 If it’s Kazakova & Reviya, they would be the first team from Georgia to reach the Final.<\/p>\n Canada’s Ellie Fisher & Simon-Pierre Malette-Paquette are competing in back-to-back events after finishing fifth at last week’s Ljubljana Cup.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
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EVENTS THIS WEEK<\/span><\/h4>\n
\nJGP Armenian Cup<\/a>
\nYerevan, Armenia<\/p>\nA LOOK BACK AT LJUBLJANA CUP<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\nJUNIOR GRAND PRIX STANDINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>2. 28 points 327.47 Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik (USA)
\n<\/strong>3. 28 points 320.37 Sofia Shevchenko & Igor Eremenko (RUS)
\n<\/strong>4. 28 points 320.31 Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha (CAN)
\n<\/strong>5. 24 points 301.08 Polina Ivanenko & Daniil Karpov (RUS)
\n——<\/p>\n
\n11. 13 points 154.17\u00a0 Maria Kazakova & Georgy Reviya (GEO) *
\n12. 13 points 152.21\u00a0 Elizaveta Shanaeva & Devid Naryzhnyy (RUS) *<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>* Team will skate one more JGP event \u2013 Armenia<\/p>\nA LOOK BACK AT FINLANDIA TROPHY<\/span><\/h3>\n
COMING ATTRACTIONS:\u00a0 JUNIOR GRAND PRIX ARMENIAN CUP<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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