{"id":30409,"date":"2023-03-06T23:24:32","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T04:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/?p=30409"},"modified":"2023-03-07T18:05:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T23:05:19","slug":"recap-2023-world-junior-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/recap-2023-world-junior-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Recap: 2023 World Junior Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Anne Calder | Photos by Robin Ritoss<\/em><\/p>\n

The 2023 World Junior Figure Skating Championships protocols are now recorded in the ISU history books. The WinSport Event Centre in Calgary, Alberta Canada hosted the 47th competition, February 27 – March 5.<\/p>\n

The Rhythm Dance roster began with 30 teams representing 22 countries. At the end of the session, twenty teams advanced to the Free Dance.<\/p>\n

Prior to each Press Conference, small medals were awarded by the Referee to the top three teams in each segment (RD\/FD). Two ice dance teams headed home with three medals per partner – CZE and KOR.\u00a0A medal ceremony was also held on the ice at the conclusion of the competition followed by the playing of the gold medalists\u2019 national anthem.<\/p>\n

History was made at the 2023 event when CZE and KOR medaled for the first time at the World Junior Championships.<\/p>\n

Rhythm Dance<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"At the end of the Rhythm Dance, the final group for the Free Dance was posted: Katerina Mrazkova & Daniel Mrazek (CZE), Hannah Lim & Ye Quan (KOR), Phebe Bekker & James Hernandez (GBR), Nadiia Bashynska & Peter Beaumont (CAN) and Celina Fradji & Jean-Hans Fourneaux (FRA).<\/p>\n

Mrazkova & Mrazek were the only team to earn a perfect (YYYY \/ YYYY) for their eight Argentine Tango key points. The rotational lift and his twizzle also earned level 4. Dancing Tango to \u201cA Evaristo\u201d and Paso Doble to \u201cEspana Cani\u201d,\u00a0 <\/span>the siblings earned a 71.19 score, falling short of their personal best by a thin .68 points.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that we can do better, but we did a kind of safe program, which is good,\u201d Mrazkova noted. \u201cWe just wanted to do what we were practicing and to enjoy the program, and that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lim & Quan danced a fast-paced Milonga to \u201cPrimavera Portena\u201d. The twizzles, second Argentine Tango pattern, rotational lift\u00a0 <\/span>and both midline step sequences earned level 4. The personal best 71.08 score topped their recent Junior Grand Prix Final score by almost seven points.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m happy that the hard work we put into our technical parts – for instance the step sequence [both level 4] and pattern dance – paid off,\u201d Quan said. \u201dWe are really happy we got our levels today. We did want to beat our personal score.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bekker & Hernandez scored a personal best 68.89 with Flamenco and Tango selections by Roni Benise. The duo earned level 4 for the rotational lift, second Argentine Tango pattern, her midline step and his twizzle,<\/p>\n

\u201cFor such an intense program, it\u2019s actually so much fun to skate,\u201d Hernandez said.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe have these little moments scattered through where we catch each others\u2019 eyes – yes it\u2019s intense – but we get energy from each other in those moments. Today we found those moments; we connected. We had a great time from beginning to end. We\u2019re happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) were fourth. Their Spanish Waltz performance to \u201cEspana\u201d and the \u201cTango Grande\u201d from The Great Gatsby <\/i>received a personal best 68.00 score. The opening midline sequence footwork and twizzles earned level 4 as did the closing rotational lift. The Argentine Tango patterns received levels 1 and 2. The Junior Grand Prix Final gold medalists were still only less than a point out of podium range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2019<\/span>This isn\u2019<\/span>t a setback,\u2019\u2019 <\/span>Bashynska said. \u2019\u2019<\/span>Perhaps it might be a little benefit for us. It will put less pressure on us for the free dance which is our stronger performance. We plan to come back tomorrow (Saturday).\u2019\u2019<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fradji & Fourneaux (FRA) scored a personal best 65.81 for their Tango performance to Gringo Nr.1 by Tango for 3, arranged by Hugo Chouinard. The twizzles, straight line lift and second Argentine Tango pattern were level 4. Both midline step sequences were level 3.<\/p>\n

Free Dance<\/strong><\/p>\n

The panel of judges was introduced. The order and some individuals were different from the Rhythm Dance. The first group of athletes was announced. The teams competed in reverse order of their Rhythm Dance standing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mrazkova & Mrazek \u00a0danced a powerful performance to \u201cSurrounded\u201d and \u201cThe Heart of a King\u201d from The Man in the Iron Mask <\/i>soundtrack and earned the first Junior World title and medal for the Czech Republic. The twizzles, rotational lift and dance spin were level 4; the circular and one foot step plus curve lift earned level 3. Both the 106.17 segment and total 177.36 were personal best scores.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe rhythm dance for us was not so great because we were nervous; we were scared to do a mistake,\u201d Mrazek said. \u201cWe tried to be more chilled in the free dance, and I think we did it better today.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Lim & Quan\u00a0 earned the first Korean ice dance medal at Junior Worlds with a haunting interpretation of Danse Macabre – <\/i>Dance of Death. <\/i>The lifts, dance spin and her twizzle earned level 4. The other elements were level 3. The 103.31 segment and 174.39 total were personal best scores.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe really feel happy about what we had today. For me, it hasn\u2019t sunk in yet,\u201d Quan said. \u201cWe felt funny dancing in front of a big crowd like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) scored 101.13 for their captivating interpretation of\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnna\u2019s Theme\u201d from The Red Violin<\/i> by John Corigliano and Elegie: O doux Printemps d\u2019autrefois by Jules Massenet. Their lifts, dance spin and her twizzle were level 4; the diagonal step and his twizzle earned level 3. The Canadian Junior Champions slipped into third place by a .06 margin and took home their second consecutive Junior World bronze medal.<\/p>\n

At the Press Conference, Bashynska applauded all the medalists plus the British team. \u201cI\u2019m obviously very happy to end up on the podium, and I\u2019m very proud of ourselves and of everybody else here. Also to Phebe and James [who narrowly finished fourth behind the Canadians and off the podium]. It\u2019s only right to give everybody credit for how far we all came. It\u2019s been a long and hard season for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bekker & Hernandez (GBR) danced a dramatic presentation of Vivaldi\u2019s Four Seasons <\/i>that earned level 4 twizzles, lifts, and dance spin. At the Mixed Zone, Hernandez referenced Bekker\u2019s recent illness and his father\u2019s death two weeks ago. He noted that under the circumstances, they were incredibly proud of what they were able to do. The personal best 100.18 segment and 169.07 total scores guaranteed the British Junior Champions fourth place.<\/p>\n

Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA) vaulted from seventh to fifth with an exhilarating and powerful dance to Pirates of Caribbean. <\/i>The twizzles, dance spin, and lifts earned level 4. The USA Junior Champions\u2019 Rhythm Dance (64.01), Free Dance (98.58) and Total (162,59) were all personal best scores.<\/p>\n

Ice Chips<\/strong><\/p>\n

The podium teams will all be moving up to the senior ranks next season. They shared their expectations.<\/p>\n