Standard disclaimer: Below you'll find my latest skating event review. At events I am concentrating on photography and take no notes, so this review is from memory. As a result there may be some errors, but I'm trying my best! I am also largely a mens fan, so they'll often be the most detailed parts. This review may be posted to other lists so long as this disclaimer is included and you let me know where you sent it. Questions/comments can be sent to me at hoo@hooloovoo.com
Short Programs
Todd Eldredge - "Jumpin Jack & ??" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
I finally got to see that, err, "striking" costume he used for "NY, NY" a while back - namely the black pants, black shirt with silver sparkles and the bright silver and black checkerboard vest. Wow it blinding. Not really sure it goes with the program, but hopefully we'll have a new costume soon. This selection of music is one I think will be wonderful a little later on, but for the first time out with it Todd seemed a little tentative with some of the choreography. The circular footwork is I think some of the most complex I've ever seen from Todd. It's not quite up to Yagudin, but it's a big improvement for Todd. The word from practice was that Todd was having some jump problems and so reworked the SP to an 'old-style' one with 3axel-3toe (squeeked out the toe), 3lutz (out of better footwork than in the past as well) and 2axel. Spins were of course right on, though there was a small bobble in the change of the camel-change-camel. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this program develops!
Steven Cousins - "She On You Crazy Diamond"
Poor Steven seemed to have some demons in the SP as the jumps were just not there. Found out later that he didn't even practice on Friday and had been suffering some back spasms. He fell on the 3axel, doubled the 3flip but landed the 2axel. He seemed to be concentrating an awful lot on the program and so that famous Cousins-charisma just wasn't quite there. But in the grand scheme of things i just don't care - I love watching him skate :) Costume was black pants and form fitting black t-shirt that had sort of a 'shine' to it.
Alexi Yagudin - "Winter"
OMG! When skated clean this program is just breathtaking. I honestly cannot imagine anyone else's program beating this one this season if Alexi is clean. "Winter" has always been a favorite music selection of mine and Tarasova has really outdone herself in choreographing this one. Alexi has also added black gloves to the program so the 'bare-tree' motif is more complete. Also new are a few sections where he scoops up some ice-snow and tosses it - very effective! Combo was 4toe-3toe, 3axel and 3lutz. Of course the footwork was stunning, especially the straight line steps! It was *the* highlight of the short programs.
Ilia Kulik - "??" (70s music, possibly from Shaft)
Whenever I watch Ilia, I am constantly amazed as to how effortless his jumps seem to be - just light as a feather. He tried for the quad, but turned it into a 3toe (I think 2 footed as well). Did land an effortless 3axel and a nice 3flip. Nice footwork, but from my angle he didn't appear to close the circle. Costume was black pants and a 70s type print top in blue/teal/white - a good look for him.
Interpretive Free
Todd Eldredge - "1492"
Todd pulled out "1492" for this one and it was a very good, but not great performance. He went for the quad but tripled it (or possibly this was a 3flip - it was coming at me and very close to the boards so I wasn't able to see the take off at all), followed with a nice solo 3axel, then 3axel-2toe and a 3lutz that was very iffy, but landed. The rolling on the ice section is gone from this version and I believe there were other choreography changes as well, but the program was still wonderful to watch - this music really suits Todd!
Steven Cousins - "Belfast Child"
Ahhhh this just made me night! I simply adore this program from Steven (one of my favorite programs of all time by anyone) and this time was no exception. New costume was black pants and a teal button down shirt - very simple and incredibly striking. He combated his jump programs to land a great 3flip, 2axel, and the sequence of russian, 3toe, russian, 3toe. Got a beauty of a standing ovation - and deservedly so - the whole program was breathtaking from beginning to end. This was *the* highlight of the IFs
Alexi Yagudin - "Man In The Iron Mask"
Interesting costume, not sure I like it, but it definitely fits the music. It's an all black long-sleeve body suit with a metallic orange 'mask' that wraps around his chest along with some more orange on the sleeves. Jumps were a 3axel, 3axel-2toe, quad and I think the last was a 3flip. Some nice footwork, but it looked like a Gladiator rehash, but otherwise was quick and fast. I think I feel the same away about this as Gladiator - it will make an excellent LP, but as an IF it just comes across as a watered down LP and not a good IF. I'd much rather have seen him do "Requim" for his IF.
Ilia Kulik - "RubberBand Man"
Ilia is fast turning into a Gary Beacom look-alike, although with better jumps. The program reminded me a lot of "Rockit" and I was wondering if Christopher Dean was involved in it. The problem I had with the program is that it seemed to have all these interesting moves, but they were done sloppily (unlike say Beacom who does interesting movements, but done well). For example - he ha a great cantalever (sp?), but his exit from it was wobbly and sloppy. Same with the jumps (though the 3axel in this program came from nowhere - no idea how he's able to do that!). I'm also not terribly fond of the music choice. But aside from that, the program highlighted Ilia's rubber-band ability to bend around and had some interesting moves in it. Costume was black pants, white shirt with red suspenders. Jumps were only a 3axel and 3toe.
Mens comment: Now I'm not one to usually gripe about the judging, but I have to wonder how Ilia beat Steven in the IF. *hmpf* is all I have to say.
