Ah, it's January with two more months of winter. Most of the US is a bit sick of winter after record snowfalls, but the snow and cold is all the better to cozy up to winter sports. No, not the football playoffs, way more exciting stuff like ice skating!
Synchro Stuff
Early in the month, the U.S. selected their teams for the Junior World Challenge Cup in Switzerland. There's not an official ISU junior synchro championship yet, so the entrants are not decided at Nationals. The World Junior Team Selection Competition was held in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin with the Skyliners of New York and Team Braemar of Minnesota earning the two spots to represent the U.S. Both teams have several seasons of experience in international competitions.
The international competitive season of synchronized skating kicked off in Germany at the Cup of Berlin. The mighty Finns continued to be mighty at the senior level, with the Rockettes winning the event. They won by nearly 40 points. At the junior level, Finnish teams swept the podium. I'd hate to be behind the Finnish teams at airport security. That's a lot of medal to check.
California Gold and Chicago Jazz represented the U.S. at the senior and junior levels, respectively. Both teams had solid fourth place finishes. For full results check the Cup of Berlin link above.
National Championships
Several countries held their national championships in December. Canada and the U.S. hold their championships in singles, dance and pairs in January. The Canadian champs are wrapping up this weekend.
Missing in action from Canadians are Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. They sat out the first half of the season due to a surgery to help with shin splints on Virtue. They decided they weren't quite ready to compete yet. No word yet on if they will be selected to compete at the world championships.
Cynthia Phaneuf won the ladies event, and the team of Moore-Towers and Moscovitch were crowned the new pairs champs. Patrick Chan is leading after the men's short and planning two quads for today's freeskate. Check out skatebuzz.ca for results, interviews and live streaming and archives of some events.
Other News
Johnny Weir has a book out, Welcome to My World. It's made news as he actually talks about being gay in the book and in promotional interviews. I don't think his sexual preference is really news, but if you have googled figure skating in the past few weeks this has come up. If you're a Weir fan, he may be coming to a bookstore near you. Check his site for book signings and other happenings. I'm debating downloading his book to my Kindle or buying for my collection of skating books. While I think there will be some uber-dishing about the skating world, I think it will be more about Johnny covering all things Weir. It may just be a Kindle title. What do you think?
Showing posts with label California Gold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California Gold. Show all posts
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Cup of Berlin
Good luck to California Gold and Chicago Jazz this weekend at Cup of Berlin. The competition site has a live tracker, which I think I remember was a basic update of the team skating and the score. I think Berlin is 6 hours ahead of the eastern time zone, so noon-ish you might see updates.
IceNetwork press release on Cup of Berlin
Cup of Berlin 2011 site
IceNetwork press release on Cup of Berlin
Cup of Berlin 2011 site
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Porter Synchro Classic
Calling all Synchro Skating fans, the Porter Synchronized Skating Classic is taking place this weekend in Ann Arbor, MI. You can actually watch the event live here for $15 as well as see on-demand content post-event: http://www.ledinvideo.com/stream.html
You can also get event updates on the Hockettes' team blog: hockettes.wordpress.com.
I've been catching up on the action and I'm looking forward to the senior free skate this afternoon. Team Unique from Sweden is competing! Also, it looks like a few of the collegiate teams - Western Michigan and Illinois - are giving seniors a try along with a former masters team, Denver Synchronicity. Major exciting stuff for a synchro fan.
After the short program, the Haydenettes are in the lead, followed by the Crystallettes, Team Unique, Miami Senior Varsity, California Gold, WMU, Denver, Illinois, and finally the Starlights.
Congratulations to my club teams, both the Open Juvenile and Master teams won their events. Go Riverstars!
You can also get event updates on the Hockettes' team blog: hockettes.wordpress.com.
I've been catching up on the action and I'm looking forward to the senior free skate this afternoon. Team Unique from Sweden is competing! Also, it looks like a few of the collegiate teams - Western Michigan and Illinois - are giving seniors a try along with a former masters team, Denver Synchronicity. Major exciting stuff for a synchro fan.
After the short program, the Haydenettes are in the lead, followed by the Crystallettes, Team Unique, Miami Senior Varsity, California Gold, WMU, Denver, Illinois, and finally the Starlights.
Congratulations to my club teams, both the Open Juvenile and Master teams won their events. Go Riverstars!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
US Synchro Senior Short
The gorgeous spring weather inspired me to start spring cleaning. I watched the synchro championships on Icenetwork.com last weekend, but I didn't get into sharing my thoughts. Rainy weekends are much better for blogging! The webcast showed a lot of empty seats in Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, I hope skating fans weren't staying at home waiting for my expert commentary. An exciting event was missed with teams making strong moves to cap off their seasons and be teams to watch next year. The senior event included a spoiler on the path to the World Championships.
Starlights - The party got started with the newest senior team, the Starlights of the Skokie Valley Skating Club in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. I always made a point to watch their freeskate in competitions where they competed as juniors last year. If Oscars were given for skating, the Starlights would have received a costume award. They skated to Enya's Sail Away in various shades of blue and green. As they made their formations, they created this unique sense of ocean waves coming together.
This season they made their international debut as seniors, at the French Cup placing 9th with 147.20 points. It was a bit controversial for a team that had just moved up from juniors to be named as part of Team USA, especially as the ICE'Kateers made the same move and were not selected.
Their short program here was highlighted by quick and seamless transitions from element to element. I particularly liked their triangle intersection that transitioned into a straight line intersection. It was good choreography using the music and positions. 58.59
Western Michigan University - WMU won the Midwestern Sectionals last year and was 2nd this year to Miami Senior Varsity. They competed at the Spring Cup in Milano, finishing 6th with 120.32 points.
I enjoyed their parallel wheel into a 3-spoke wheel. I also enjoyed their transition into their triangle intersection. 54.78
ICE'Kateers - This team hails from the OC. (Always liked the Disney reference in their name, so appropriate for Anaheim). They are the 2nd Pacific Coast team to compete at Nationals at the senior level. I've always wondered why synchro isn't as big there considering how many great singles skaters have come out of California, especially SoCal: Michelle Kwan, Mirai Nagasu, Rachel Flatt, & Debi Thomas to name a few.
They did not compete internationally, but did win the Pacific Coast Sectionals.
They skated a smooth program in in stunning and cool toned, sea green dresses. The highlight of their short skate for me was their moves-in-th-field sequence. Gorgeous spirals to the crescendo of the music into spread eagles and then into 135 spirals. 56.04
Haydenettes - The Haydenettes are coming into this event primed to avenge their 2nd place finish to Miami Senior Varsity last year. Not only did they win all of their domestic events, they skated to above 200 points in all of their competitions. They skated to 3rd at Cup of Berlin with 202.36 points. They won Eastern Sectionals this year after generally having a bye to Nationals due to international competition conflicts.
I don't think their speed translates well on the webcast, but they skated a strong and precise short. I liked their deep blue dresses with the butterfly design across the chest. A program highlight was the block; just beautiful skating with speed and deep edges going in and out of turns. 85.92 blew the field away!
Crystallettes - The Crystallettes of Dearborn, Michigan have been the bridesmaid of Nationals by finishing 3rd five times in a row. They like the Haydenettes have seemed to skate on the attack ready to stake their claim to greatness. They skated to gold at the Cup of Prague, but their final score was much lower than what most top teams win with at 151.16 points.
In Minneapolis, the skated snazzy and fun short to Sammy Davis. They also showed skating is "green" by recycling their freeskate dresses from last year. I really liked this program, even more than the Haydenettes'. There were two highlights for me: their no hold block showed synchro style in their togetherness plus their knee action was smooth and made them look like they were dancing on air. Their spiral sequence was super sweet as well. 73.86
California Gold - The O.G. of Pacific Coast Synchro and the first Pac-team to earn an international medal, used to be thought of as a possible spoiler to the established favorite eastern and midwestern teams at nationals. This year has seemed to be a bit of rebuilding season with a new members skating on the team. They placed 10th at the French Cup with 141.06 points.
Hey Big Spender! Oooh, there's no amount of money that take away that splat. Too bad, they had good choreography and elements. However, I think they looked a bit stiff and some of the lines didn't link up right away after transitioning. I did like their spirals into their circle. 54.02
Miami Senior Varsity - The defending champions have also had a rebuilding season with a new head coach and several new skaters on the senior team. They won a silver at Neuchatel Trophy in Switzerland with 177.18 points. They won Midwestern Sectionals this year after generally having a bye to Nationals due to international competition conflicts.
I love their music choices from various Romeo and Juliet themes. My favorite element is their transition from a 3 spoke wheel to the parallel wheel. They have a nice ending section as they transition from a block into Ina Bauers. The Ina Bauers have good flow from four lines to two. 73.63 which puts them in 3rd behind the Crystallettes! That was close, I would think it's a bit like apples and oranges for the judges on that one. The Crystallettes had an upbeat program while Miami was more dramatic. I think Cyrstallettes program just showed stronger skating skills throughout, but I agree their skates deserved the similar scores.
Evolution - This team from Detroit, Michigan has had an up and down season. At the Porter Classic, their music stopped twice. The crowd cheered them through after the music went out the second time. They then finished sixth at Cup of Berlin with 134.35 points. They finished 3rd at Midwestern Sectionals.
The final team skated to West Story. I liked their sky blue dresses and their flow from the parallel wheel into an intersection. 58.13
Photos by me, 1. Starlights at 2009 Nationals 2. Miami at Fall Exhibition
Complete Senior Short Results:
1 Haydenettes, Hayden Recreation Centre FSC 85.92 50.16 35.76 8.89 8.71 9.07 9.14 8.89 0.00 #4
2 Crystallettes, Dearborn FSC 73.86 43.28 30.58 7.57 7.36 7.79 7.82 7.68 0.00 #5
3 Miami Univ Sr Varsity, Miami University 73.63 43.06 30.57 7.64 7.36 7.79 7.79 7.64 0.00 #7
4 Starlights, Skokie Valley SC 58.59 35.82 23.77 5.89 5.68 6.07 6.07 6.00 1.00 #1
5 Evolution, Detroit SC 58.13 35.19 22.94 5.75 5.54 5.93 5.79 5.68 0.00 #8
6 ICE'Kateers, Glacier Falls FSC 56.04 34.10 21.94 5.32 5.21 5.68 5.75 5.46 0.00 #3
7 Western Michigan University, Western Michigan University SC 54.78 32.41 22.37 5.61 5.25 5.75 5.71 5.64 0.00 #2
8 California Gold, All Year FSC 54.02 31.45 23.57 5.96 5.57 5.89 6.04 6.00 1.00 #6
This season they made their international debut as seniors, at the French Cup placing 9th with 147.20 points. It was a bit controversial for a team that had just moved up from juniors to be named as part of Team USA, especially as the ICE'Kateers made the same move and were not selected.
Their short program here was highlighted by quick and seamless transitions from element to element. I particularly liked their triangle intersection that transitioned into a straight line intersection. It was good choreography using the music and positions. 58.59
Western Michigan University - WMU won the Midwestern Sectionals last year and was 2nd this year to Miami Senior Varsity. They competed at the Spring Cup in Milano, finishing 6th with 120.32 points.
I enjoyed their parallel wheel into a 3-spoke wheel. I also enjoyed their transition into their triangle intersection. 54.78
ICE'Kateers - This team hails from the OC. (Always liked the Disney reference in their name, so appropriate for Anaheim). They are the 2nd Pacific Coast team to compete at Nationals at the senior level. I've always wondered why synchro isn't as big there considering how many great singles skaters have come out of California, especially SoCal: Michelle Kwan, Mirai Nagasu, Rachel Flatt, & Debi Thomas to name a few.
They did not compete internationally, but did win the Pacific Coast Sectionals.
They skated a smooth program in in stunning and cool toned, sea green dresses. The highlight of their short skate for me was their moves-in-th-field sequence. Gorgeous spirals to the crescendo of the music into spread eagles and then into 135 spirals. 56.04
Haydenettes - The Haydenettes are coming into this event primed to avenge their 2nd place finish to Miami Senior Varsity last year. Not only did they win all of their domestic events, they skated to above 200 points in all of their competitions. They skated to 3rd at Cup of Berlin with 202.36 points. They won Eastern Sectionals this year after generally having a bye to Nationals due to international competition conflicts.
I don't think their speed translates well on the webcast, but they skated a strong and precise short. I liked their deep blue dresses with the butterfly design across the chest. A program highlight was the block; just beautiful skating with speed and deep edges going in and out of turns. 85.92 blew the field away!
Crystallettes - The Crystallettes of Dearborn, Michigan have been the bridesmaid of Nationals by finishing 3rd five times in a row. They like the Haydenettes have seemed to skate on the attack ready to stake their claim to greatness. They skated to gold at the Cup of Prague, but their final score was much lower than what most top teams win with at 151.16 points.
In Minneapolis, the skated snazzy and fun short to Sammy Davis. They also showed skating is "green" by recycling their freeskate dresses from last year. I really liked this program, even more than the Haydenettes'. There were two highlights for me: their no hold block showed synchro style in their togetherness plus their knee action was smooth and made them look like they were dancing on air. Their spiral sequence was super sweet as well. 73.86
California Gold - The O.G. of Pacific Coast Synchro and the first Pac-team to earn an international medal, used to be thought of as a possible spoiler to the established favorite eastern and midwestern teams at nationals. This year has seemed to be a bit of rebuilding season with a new members skating on the team. They placed 10th at the French Cup with 141.06 points.
Hey Big Spender! Oooh, there's no amount of money that take away that splat. Too bad, they had good choreography and elements. However, I think they looked a bit stiff and some of the lines didn't link up right away after transitioning. I did like their spirals into their circle. 54.02
Miami Senior Varsity - The defending champions have also had a rebuilding season with a new head coach and several new skaters on the senior team. They won a silver at Neuchatel Trophy in Switzerland with 177.18 points. They won Midwestern Sectionals this year after generally having a bye to Nationals due to international competition conflicts.
Evolution - This team from Detroit, Michigan has had an up and down season. At the Porter Classic, their music stopped twice. The crowd cheered them through after the music went out the second time. They then finished sixth at Cup of Berlin with 134.35 points. They finished 3rd at Midwestern Sectionals.
The final team skated to West Story. I liked their sky blue dresses and their flow from the parallel wheel into an intersection. 58.13
Photos by me, 1. Starlights at 2009 Nationals 2. Miami at Fall Exhibition
Complete Senior Short Results:
1 Haydenettes, Hayden Recreation Centre FSC 85.92 50.16 35.76 8.89 8.71 9.07 9.14 8.89 0.00 #4
2 Crystallettes, Dearborn FSC 73.86 43.28 30.58 7.57 7.36 7.79 7.82 7.68 0.00 #5
3 Miami Univ Sr Varsity, Miami University 73.63 43.06 30.57 7.64 7.36 7.79 7.79 7.64 0.00 #7
4 Starlights, Skokie Valley SC 58.59 35.82 23.77 5.89 5.68 6.07 6.07 6.00 1.00 #1
5 Evolution, Detroit SC 58.13 35.19 22.94 5.75 5.54 5.93 5.79 5.68 0.00 #8
6 ICE'Kateers, Glacier Falls FSC 56.04 34.10 21.94 5.32 5.21 5.68 5.75 5.46 0.00 #3
7 Western Michigan University, Western Michigan University SC 54.78 32.41 22.37 5.61 5.25 5.75 5.71 5.64 0.00 #2
8 California Gold, All Year FSC 54.02 31.45 23.57 5.96 5.57 5.89 6.04 6.00 1.00 #6
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
French Cup 2010
I posted a snippet on the Senior Synchro Sectionals yesterday and pondered why California Gold didn't compete. The reason: The competed at the French Cup in Rouen, France.
California Gold placed 10th in a competitive field that included the reigning world champs: Nexxice of Canada and the also strong Finnish teams: Marigold Ice Unity & Team Unique.
The Starlights made their international senior debut here as well. They placed just ahead of California Gold in 9th.
California Gold placed 10th in a competitive field that included the reigning world champs: Nexxice of Canada and the also strong Finnish teams: Marigold Ice Unity & Team Unique.
The Starlights made their international senior debut here as well. They placed just ahead of California Gold in 9th.
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