2017 GP #5 TDF Nov 17-19 Grenoble FRA

[chuckiem]

NOTE: Grenoble is in the French Alps, but it is not "at altitude" as it is only about 700 ft. above sea level.

START ORDER LADIES SHORT PROGRAM Fri Nov 17 3:04 pm local time / 9:04 am EST

1 Polina EDMUNDS USA
2 Nicole SCHOTT GER
3 Mae Berenice MEITE FRA
4 Yuna SHIRAIWA JPN
5 Alina ZAGITOVA RUS

6 Laurine LECAVELIER FRA
7 Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA RUS
8 Mai MIHARA JPN
9 Elizabet TURSYNBAEVA KAZ
10 Maria SOTSKOVA RUS
11 Kaetlyn OSMOND CAN

Tech Team

Ref Benini-ITA
TC Betsch-FRA
TS Kubicka-USA
ATS Poetzsch-GER

Judges: ITA CAN FRA RUS CHN POL JPN USA KAZ

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START ORDER SHORT DANCE Fri Nov 11 4:55 pm local time / 10:55 am EST

1 Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Pierre SOUQUET FRA
2 Angelique ABACHKINA / Louis THAURON FRA
3 Natalia KALISZEK / Maksym SPODYRIEV POL
4 Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT USA
5 Alla LOBODA / Pavel DROZD RUS

6 Alexandra STEPANOVA / Ivan BUKIN RUS
7 Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI ITA
8 Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE CAN
9 Gabrielle PAPADAKIS / Guillaume CIZERON FRA
10 Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES USA

Tech Team

Ref Rettstatt-USA
TC Hurth-FRA
TS Bowness-CAN
ATS Fermi-ITA

Judges: GER RUS USA FRA ITA CZE ISR CAN POL

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START ORDER PAIRS SHORT PROGRAM Fri Nov 11 6:35 pm local time / 12:35 pm EST

1 Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI GBR
2 Lola ESBRAT / Andrei NOVOSELOV FRA
3 Cheng PENG / Yang JIN CHN
4 Marissa CASTELLI / Mervin TRAN USA

5 Nicole DELLA MONICA / Matteo GUARISE ITA
6 Liubov ILYUSHECHKINA / Dylan MOSCOVITCH CAN
7 Vanessa JAMES / Morgan CIPRES FRA
8 Evgenia TARASOVA / Vladimir MOROZOV RUS

Tech Team

Ref Walder-SUI
TC Leskinen-FIN
TS Collin-Knoblauch-CAN
ATS Bich-RUS

Judges: ITA ESP CZE FRA CAN RUS CHN GEO UZB

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

START ORDER MEN SHORT PROGRAM Fri Nov 17 8:09 pm local time / 2:09 pm EST

1 Romain PONSART FRA
2 Kevin AYMOZ FRA
3 Denis TEN KAZ
4 Moris KVITELASHVILI GEO
5 Vincent ZHOU USA

6 Misha GE UZB
7 Max AARON USA
8 Alexander SAMARIN RUS
9 Alexei BYCHENKO ISR
10 Javier FERNANDEZ ESP
11 Shoma UNO JPN

Tech Team

Ref Walder-SUI
TC Leskinen-FIN
TS Poetzsch-GER
ATS Kubicka-USA

Judges: ESP FRA ISR JPN USA GEO KAZ RUS UZB

============================================================================

[Maleeva]

I’ll be very interested to see who wins silver between Chock/Bates and Weaver/Poje. I think WP have the better free dance this season, so they are my pick to get silver here.

[chuckiem]

RESULTS LADIES SHORT PROGRAM

1 Kaetlyn OSMOND CAN 69.05 34.35 34.70 8.64 8.39 8.68 8.79 8.89 0.00 11 3f+2t, 3z-hd, 2a
2 Maria SOTSKOVA RUS 67.79 35.26 32.53 8.21 7.89 8.18 8.14 8.25 0.00 10 3z+3t, 3f-so, 2a
3 Yuna SHIRAIWA JPN 66.05 36.42 29.63 7.57 7.21 7.54 7.39 7.32 0.00 4 3z+3t, 2a, 3f
4 Mai MIHARA JPN 64.57 31.93 32.64 8.29 7.82 8.11 8.21 8.36 0.00 8 3z+3t<<, 2a, 3f
5 Alina ZAGITOVA RUS 62.46 32.27 31.19 7.89 7.68 7.57 7.89 7.96 1.00 5 3z<↓, 3f+3lo<, 2a
6 Elizabet TURSYNBAEVA KAZ 62.29 30.89 31.40 7.86 7.64 8.00 7.82 7.93 0.00 9 1z*, 3s+3t, 2a
7 Laurine LECAVELIER FRA 60.68 31.21 29.47 7.36 7.07 7.46 7.36 7.57 0.00 6 3z-+3t<-hd, 3f, 2a
8 Mae Berenice MEITE FRA 58.96 31.85 27.11 6.71 6.46 7.00 6.79 6.93 0.00 3 3f+3t, 3lo+2a
9 Polina EDMUNDS USA 56.31 28.73 27.58 7.00 6.57 6.86 6.96 7.07 0.00 1 3lo+3t<, 3s, 2a
10 Nicole SCHOTT GER 55.54 29.25 27.29 6.86 6.54 6.82 6.89 7.00 1.00 2 3t+3t, 3lo<↓, 2a
11 Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA RUS 53.03 24.91 29.12 7.61 6.96 7.11 7.29 7.43 1.00 7 3a↓, 1z*, 3t+2t


START ORDER LADIES FREE SKATE Sat Nov 18 1:20 pm local time / 7:20 am EST

1 Nicole SCHOTT GER
2 Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA RUS
3 Laurine LECAVELIER FRA
4 Mae Berenice MEITE FRA
5 Polina EDMUNDS USA

6 Mai MIHARA JPN
7 Alina ZAGITOVA RUS
8 Elizabet TURSYNBAEVA KAZ
9 Yuna SHIRAIWA JPN
10 Maria SOTSKOVA RUS
11 Kaetlyn OSMOND CAN

[tennisfan]

I’ll be very interested to see who wins silver between Chock/Bates and Weaver/Poje. I think WP have the better free dance this season, so they are my pick to get silver here.

Andrew decided he didn't want to go to Japan for the Grand Prix Final this season - 5th place after the short dance.

[chuckiem]

RESULTS SHORT DANCE

1 Gabrielle PAPADAKIS / Guillaume CIZERON FRA 81.40 42.46 38.94 9.68 9.57 9.89 9.68 9.86 0.00 9
2 Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES USA 73.55 37.07 36.48 9.07 8.96 9.18 9.18 9.21 0.00 10
3 Alexandra STEPANOVA / Ivan BUKIN RUS 70.02 35.56 34.46 8.57 8.43 8.75 8.61 8.71 0.00 6
4 Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI ITA 69.73 36.24 33.49 8.39 8.21 8.36 8.36 8.54 0.00 7
5 Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE CAN 68.94 32.69 36.25 9.11 8.93 8.93 9.21 9.14 0.00 8
6 Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT USA 60.64 31.26 29.38 7.36 7.21 7.43 7.36 7.36 0.00 4
7 Alla LOBODA / Pavel DROZD RUS 60.43 30.22 30.21 7.61 7.36 7.64 7.54 7.61 0.00 5
8 Angelique ABACHKINA / Louis THAURON FRA 59.81 31.05 28.76 7.14 6.89 7.39 7.21 7.32 0.00 2
9 Natalia KALISZEK / Maksym SPODYRIEV POL 58.58 29.30 29.28 7.32 7.14 7.32 7.39 7.43 0.00 3
10 Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Pierre SOUQUET FRA 54.07 28.53 26.54 6.79 6.50 6.64 6.68 6.57 1.00 1


START ORDER FREE SKATE Sat Nov 18 3:30 pm local time / 9:30 am EST

1 Natalia KALISZEK / Maksym SPODYRIEV POL
2 Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Pierre SOUQUET FRA
3 Alla LOBODA / Pavel DROZD RUS
4 Angelique ABACHKINA / Louis THAURON FRA
5 Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT USA

6 Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI ITA
7 Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE CAN
8 Alexandra STEPANOVA / Ivan BUKIN RUS
9 Gabrielle PAPADAKIS / Guillaume CIZERON FRA
10 Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES USA

[tennisfan]

Twitter thinks the ISU tweets of GP France results are in Indonesian - and offer to translate.

[Trilogy86]

Tough go for W/P in the SD.

He fell during the warm-up and botched the twizzles, while she had costume issues, not just with him getting his skate caught at the start, but I think in general? Anyone else notice this?

[chuckiem]

I don't much like Kaitlin's SD costume---hate those appliqued flowers---and can see how Andrew might step on the flimsy skirt.

[chuckiem]

RESULTS PAIRS SHORT PROGRAM

1 Evgenia TARASOVA / Vladimir MOROZOV RUS 77.84 41.90 36.94 9.32 9.00 9.43 9.29 9.14 1.00 8
2 Vanessa JAMES / Morgan CIPRES FRA 73.18 38.47 34.71 8.64 8.50 8.86 8.75 8.64 0.00 7
3 Nicole DELLA MONICA / Matteo GUARISE ITA 70.65 38.50 32.15 8.00 7.82 8.14 8.11 8.11 0.00 5
4 Liubov ILYUSHECHKINA / Dylan MOSCOVITCH CAN 66.36 34.99 31.37 7.86 7.68 7.86 7.89 7.93 0.00 6
5 Cheng PENG / Yang JIN CHN 62.40 33.17 29.23 7.46 7.18 7.36 7.32 7.21 0.00 3
6 Marissa CASTELLI / Mervin TRAN USA 58.99 29.51 29.48 7.46 7.14 7.32 7.46 7.46 0.00 4
7 Lola ESBRAT / Andrei NOVOSELOV FRA 51.90 26.99 24.91 6.29 6.00 6.14 6.39 6.32 0.00 2
8 Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI GBR 44.59 23.78 22.81 5.82 5.54 5.57 5.82 5.75 2.00 1


START ORDER PAIRS FREE SKATE Sat Nov 18 7 pm local time / 1 pm EST

1 Lola ESBRAT / Andrei NOVOSELOV FRA
2 Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI GBR
3 Marissa CASTELLI / Mervin TRAN USA
4 Cheng PENG / Yang JIN CHN

5 Nicole DELLA MONICA / Matteo GUARISE ITA
6 Liubov ILYUSHECHKINA / Dylan MOSCOVITCH CAN
7 Vanessa JAMES / Morgan CIPRES FRA
8 Evgenia TARASOVA / Vladimir MOROZOV RUS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RESULTS MEN SHORT PROGRAM

1 Javier FERNANDEZ ESP 107.86 60.00 47.86 9.46 9.29 9.79 9.61 9.71 0.00 10 4t+3t, 4s, 3a
2 Shoma UNO JPN 93.92 48.91 46.01 9.29 9.04 9.07 9.32 9.29 1.00 11 4f<↓, 4t+3t, 3a
3 Alexander SAMARIN RUS 91.51 50.98 40.53 8.25 7.79 8.14 8.14 8.21 0.00 8 4z<+3t, 4t, 3a
4 Moris KVITELASHVILI GEO 86.98 48.98 39.00 7.93 7.57 7.75 7.89 7.86 1.00 4 3a, 4s+3t, 4t↓
5 Alexei BYCHENKO ISR 86.79 46.29 40.50 8.04 7.71 8.32 8.18 8.25 0.00 9 3a, 4t, 3z+3t
6 Misha GE UZB 85.41 43.13 42.28 8.36 8.14 8.43 8.64 8.71 0.00 6 3a, 3z+3t, 3f!
7 Denis TEN KAZ 83.70 42.56 42.14 8.46 8.18 8.32 8.57 8.61 1.00 3 4s<↓, 3a, 3f+3t
8 Max AARON USA 78.64 41.54 38.10 7.93 7.32 7.50 7.71 7.64 1.00 7 4t+3t↓, 4s-hd, 3a
9 Kevin AYMOZ FRA 70.00 34.18 35.82 7.25 6.93 7.14 7.18 7.32 0.00 2 3a, 3z+3t, 3lo<<
10 Vincent ZHOU USA 66.12 32.12 36.00 7.46 7.04 7.00 7.29 7.21 2.00 5 4z<↓-nc, 4f<↓, 3a
11 Romain PONSART FRA 63.81 31.56 34.25 7.07 6.57 6.79 6.86 6.96 2.00 1 4t↓-nc, 3a, 3z↓


START ORDER MEN FREE SKATE Sat Nov 18 8:50 pm local time / 2:50 pm EST

1 Vincent ZHOU USA
2 Romain PONSART FRA
3 Denis TEN KAZ
4 Max AARON USA
5 Kevin AYMOZ FRA

6 Moris KVITELASHVILI GEO
7 Alexei BYCHENKO ISR
8 Misha GE UZB
9 Alexander SAMARIN RUS
10 Shoma UNO JPN
11 Javier FERNANDEZ ESP

==============================================================================

[Maleeva]

Poor Polina E. Not sure she will ever be the skater she once was.

[chuckiem]

Polina only started jumping in June after being off the ice for 18 months. It takes time to get the jumps back.

[Jonas]

LADIES SP
Not the greatest event I've ever seen. Only Yuna Shiraiwa and Mae Berenice Meite skated their best.

I concur w/Maleeva re: Polina Edmunds. While she looks better here than she did at Finlandia, I don't think she's going to regain her top form prior to this injury. It's not just the jumping: her stroking just looks more labored to me than it ever has.

Interesting to see how Sotskova and Osmond close out the ladies FS with less than two points separating them!

PAIRS SP
I gotta say Della Monica & Guarise never looked more solid, steady, and just so well put together as a pair than they did here. I think this the first time they've broken 70 in the SP. Very pleasant surprise!

MEN SP
Great to see Javi back and skating so well after his disasterous short program at Cup of China!! Crazy as it sounds, maybe having Brian Orser at rinkside made all the difference. Comparing the performances from here and from CHN: it's like night & day!

I think Max should reconsider bringing back his Matador SP from Kansas City. That style can really suit him. As much as he says he loves this Les Mis program, it's just not working, IMO. His quads didn't make bank today and the rest of the performance just tanked and the PCS showed.

Your thoughts...

[Maleeva]

Even if Javi wins in France, he mathematically cannot qualify for the GPF, correct?

[sms29s66]

Re: Javi and Brian. I had exactly the same thought. Maybe skaters really DO need their coaches rinkside when they compete.

[Virginia]

Watched Ladies and Pairs shorts last night. Ladies first: an underwhelming event, indeed.

Polina did look slow and labored, not the feather-light ballerina of her younger years, and her music choice didn't do her any favors. It was heavy and and dragged her down.

Elizabeta Tuktemysheva also make a poor music selection. She was unable to keep up with the fast pace; looked like she was chasing the music, especially during the last minute of the program. (Loved her dress, though!)

I was pleasantly surprised by Laurine Lecavelier, who I had never seen before. Beautifully choreographed program (Rohene Ward, 'nuff said) and a lot of potential there, I thought. Really enjoyed watching her.

I'm not a fan of the unitard trend among the ladies this year. I don't think they favored either Polina or Mae Berenice. The only skaters where I think they really work are James and Cipres.

Now, pairs. Disagree with the judges here; I'd have given first place to James and Cipres. They bring an electricity to the ice that rare in these days of packaged IJS programs. Castelli and Tran are showing real improvement, I think. And I'm really rooting for Lubov and Dylan this year; for some reason they've really grabbed my attention all of a sudden. (Maybe it's the '80s music they're skating to?) If they could only get their SBS jumps together and skate clean!

By the way, does anybody know if there's a standard point deduction for running into the boards? Mai Mihara almost gave us a Midori Ito moment.

[chuckiem]

RESULTS LADIES FREE SKATE

1 Alina ZAGITOVA RUS 151.34 81.80 69.54 8.57 8.39 8.93 8.71 8.86 0.00 7 3z+3lo, 2a+3t, 3f+2t+2lo, 3z, 3s, 3f, 2a
2 Maria SOTSKOVA RUS 140.99 73.78 67.21 8.46 8.07 8.61 8.43 8.43 0.00 10 3z+3t, 3f, 3lo, 3f+1lo+3s, 3z, 2a+2t, 2a
3 Elizabet TURSYNBAEVA KAZ 138.69 73.21 65.48 8.18 7.82 8.39 8.29 8.25 0.00 8 3lo, 3z, 3f, 3s, 2a+3t+2t, 2a+3t, 3s+2t
4 Kaetlyn OSMOND CAN 137.72 68.42 70.30 8.86 8.57 8.68 8.86 8.96 1.00 11 3f+3t, 2a+3t-to, 3z, 3lo↓, 3f, 3s+2t+2lo, 1a
5 Mai MIHARA JPN 137.55 73.45 64.10 8.14 7.64 8.25 8.00 8.04 0.00 6 3z+3t, 2a, 3f, 2a, 3lo+2t+2lo, 3z+3t, 3s
6 Yuna SHIRAIWA JPN 127.13 64.86 63.27 7.93 7.61 8.04 8.00 7.96 1.00 9 3z+3t, 2a, 3z+3t+2t, 3s, 3f!, 2a+2t, 3lo<↓
7 Nicole SCHOTT GER 116.85 60.12 56.73 7.04 6.89 7.25 7.07 7.21 0.00 1 3f, 3t+3t, 3f+2t, 3s+2t+2lo, 3lo, 2a, 2a
8 Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA RUS 114.62 57.23 58.39 7.61 6.89 7.39 7.29 7.32 1.00 2 3a↓, 2z+2t+2lo, 3f, 3t+2t, 3z, 3lo, 3s^2a
9 Mae Berenice MEITE FRA 112.44 56.09 56.35 7.04 6.68 7.25 7.07 7.18 0.00 4 2a, 3f+3t, 3z+2t, 3lo, 2a+3t, 1z, 3s
10 Polina EDMUNDS USA 101.46 46.77 56.69 7.25 6.82 7.00 7.11 7.25 2.00 5 3z↓, 2a+3t, 2a+1lo+3s, 3f<↓, 3lo<, 3lo<+rep, 3s
11 Laurine LECAVELIER FRA 93.67 39.94 54.73 7.00 6.57 6.71 6.96 6.96 1.00 3 3z+3t<, 3f<<↓, 3s, 2a+3t<, 2a+1lo+2s, 2z, 1lo


FINAL STANDINGS - LADIES

1 - Alina ZAGITOVA RUS 213.80 5 1
2 - Maria SOTSKOVA RUS 208.78 2 2
3 - Kaetlyn OSMOND CAN 206.77 1 4
4 - Mai MIHARA JPN 202.12 4 5
5 - Elizabet TURSYNBAEVA KAZ 200.98 6 3
6 - Yuna SHIRAIWA JPN 193.18 3 6
7 - Nicole SCHOTT GER 172.39 10 7
8 - Mae Berenice MEITE FRA 171.40 8 9
9 - Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA RUS 167.65 11 8
10 - Polina EDMUNDS USA 157.77 9 10
11 - Laurine LECAVELIER FRA 154.35 7 11

GP FINALISTS TO DATE:

30 (15,15) 455.60 Evgenia MEDVEDEVA RUS
30 (15,15) 427.68 Alina ZAGITOVA RUS
26 (15,11) 419.68 Kaetlyn OSMOND CAN
26 (13,13) 428.22 Carolina KOSTNER ITA
26 (13,13) 401.30 Maria SOTSKOVA RUS

On the bubble:
24 (11,13) 419.69 Wakaba HIGUCHI JPN

At Skate America, the only two who have the capability to make the GPF are:
11 210.19 Polina TSURSKAYA RUS
11 183.94 Ashley WAGNER USA

If either Polina or Ashley wins, that one will definitely make the final with 26 points.

If neither Polina nor Ashley wins (no one else can make the final since all others have 7 points or less)
but one of Polina or Ashley finishes 2nd, then there is a tiebreak at 24 points:
If the total points for the SA silver medalist is 419.70 or better, then the SA silver medalists makes the GPF

If not, then Wakaba Higuchi goes to the final.

[chuckiem]

RESULTS FREE DANCE

1 Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES USA 108.30 53.47 54.83 9.07 9.04 9.11 9.18 9.29 0.00 10
2 Gabrielle PAPADAKIS / Guillaume CIZERON FRA 120.58 61.52 59.06 9.75 9.64 9.93 9.89 10.00 0.00 9
3 Alexandra STEPANOVA / Ivan BUKIN RUS 107.22 54.34 52.88 8.75 8.61 8.86 8.89 8.96 0.00 8
4 Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE CAN 108.03 53.19 54.84 9.11 8.93 9.18 9.18 9.29 0.00 7
5 Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI ITA 101.28 52.23 50.05 8.39 8.11 8.39 8.32 8.50 1.00 6
6 Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT USA 93.50 48.49 45.01 7.50 7.25 7.61 7.54 7.61 0.00 5
7 Angelique ABACHKINA / Louis THAURON FRA 95.74 50.20 45.54 7.50 7.36 7.71 7.57 7.82 0.00 4
8 Alla LOBODA / Pavel DROZD RUS 89.19 44.93 44.26 7.32 7.11 7.50 7.46 7.50 0.00 3
9 Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Pierre SOUQUET FRA 80.21 39.69 40.52 6.79 6.50 6.89 6.79 6.79 0.00 2
10 Natalia KALISZEK / Maksym SPODYRIEV POL 89.19 44.93 44.26 7.32 7.11 7.50 7.46 7.50 0.00 1


FINAL STANDINGS ICE DANCE

1 - Gabrielle PAPADAKIS / Guillaume CIZERON FRA 201.98 1 1
2 - Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES USA 181.85 2 2
3 - Alexandra STEPANOVA / Ivan BUKIN RUS 177.24 3 4
4 - Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE CAN 176.97 5 3
5 - Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI ITA 171.01 4 5
6 - Angelique ABACHKINA / Louis THAURON FRA 155.55 8 6
7 - Elliana POGREBINSKY / Alex BENOIT USA 154.14 6 7
8 - Alla LOBODA / Pavel DROZD RUS 149.62 7 8
9 - Natalia KALISZEK / Maksym SPODYRIEV POL 147.77 9 9
10 - Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Pierre SOUQUET FRA 134.28 10 10


GP FINALISTS TO DATE

30 (15,15) 402.41 PAPADAKIS / CIZERON FRA
30 (15,15) 398.50 VIRTUE / MOIR CAN
26 (13,13) 366.35 CHOCK / BATES USA
24 (11,13) 377.78 HUBBELL / DONOHUE USA

ON THE BUBBLE:
24 (13,11) 367.58 BOBROVA / SOLOVIEV RUS

NEXT WEEK AT SKATE AMERICA:

There are 6 teams that could automatically make the final with a WIN:
15 Shibutanis 189.24
11 Cappellini / LaNotte 186.56
09 Sinitsina /Katsalapov, Gilles/Poirier, Hawayek/Baker, Zahorski/Guerriero

There are two teams that could make the final with a second place:
Shibutanis (15+13=28)
Cappellini / Lanotte (11+13=24 + SA total score of 181.03 or higher to break the tie with Bobrova / Soloviev)

Shibutanis could make the final with a podium placement or even a 4th place.

[Maleeva]

Chock and Bates are going in the wrong direction. 3 points lower here than their last GP event. Their free dance is simply not of Olympic caliber. They really need to ditch it after the GP final and start from scratch with a new program for nationals and Four Continents. Also, when did Evan Bates stop being able to do clean Twizzles. That is easily their weakest element, so slow and cautious everytime they do them.

[Maleeva]

Looks like Zagitova now has the highest free program for the ladies this season. Glad to see a challenger to Medvedeva.

[chuckiem]

Chock and Bates are going in the wrong direction. 3 points lower here than their last GP event. Their free dance is simply not of Olympic caliber. They really need to ditch it after the GP final and start from scratch with a new program for nationals and Four Continents. Also, when did Evan Bates stop being able to do clean Twizzles. That is easily their weakest element, so slow and cautious everytime they do them.

I actually like this FD for them --- it's a distinct departure from what they've done before.

You're forgetting Evan's struggles with twizzles the last few seasons, especially last year. That's what caused their huge drop at Worlds 2017. Tall men are at a disadvantage when it comes to twizzling, because once they get off balance, their height makes it much more noticeable.