2023 Grand Prix Final - Junior Ice Dance Free Dance

[airgelaal]

This is also the first time I’ve seen this program GOE for twizzles are very generous.

 

[skatingguy]

Leah Neset (18)/Artem Markelov (20)
Coach: Elena Dostatni
Music: Anytime Anywhere, Cry

 

[Karen-W]

New costumes for NesMark since the JGP. I like these much better!

 

[her grace]

N/M effortless glide and dynamic movement. Confident performance

 

[skatingguy]

Leah Neset (18)/Artem Markelov (20)
Coach: Elena Dostatni
Music: Anytime Anywhere, Cry

SyTwW4+SyTwM4
CiStW3+CiStM3
Curve Lift 4 + Rotational Lift 4
OFTW3+OFTM3
Dance Spin 4
Choreo Character Step Sequence
Choreo Slide Move

This is the only team in the event that feels like a senior team. I don't know where they will slot into the US senior ranking, but it's probably a good thing for some of the current senior teams that they have another year of junior eligibility.

104.61 = 1st Place
177.09 = 1st Place

 

[skatfan]

Gosh I didn’t look at the schedule and just caught the US couple. Loved it!

 

[victorskid]

The FD results:

​

1​	Leah NESET / Artem MARKELOV	USA	104.61​	56.17​		48.44​	8.11​	8.07​	8.04​	0.00​	#6​
2​	Elizabeth TKACHENKO / Alexei KILIAKOV	ISR	100.64​	53.92​		46.72​	7.86​	7.82​	7.68​	0.00​	#5​
3​	Darya GRIMM / Michail SAVITSKIY	GER	92.92​	48.42​		44.50​	7.46​	7.43​	7.36​	0.00​	#4​
4​	Celina FRADJI / Jean-Hans FOURNEAUX	FRA	91.82​	47.68​		44.14​	7.46​	7.32​	7.29​	0.00​	#3​
5​	Yahli PEDERSEN / Jeffrey CHEN	USA	90.27​	47.77​		42.50​	7.21​	7.11​	6.93​	0.00​	#1​
6​	Mariia PINCHUK / Mykyta POGORIELOV	UKR	87.03​	45.81​		41.22​	6.86​	6.89​	6.86​	0.00​	#2​

Overall results:

​

1	Leah NESET / Artem MARKELOV	USA	177.09	1	1
2	Elizabeth TKACHENKO / Alexei KILIAKOV	ISR	168.78	2	2
3	Darya GRIMM / Michail SAVITSKIY	GER	159.41	3	3
4	Celina FRADJI / Jean-Hans FOURNEAUX	FRA	153.42	4	4
5	Mariia PINCHUK / Mykyta POGORIELOV	UKR	147.23	5	6
6	Yahli PEDERSEN / Jeffrey CHEN	USA	144.57	6	5

Protocols: http://www.isuresults.com/results/s...OR----FNL-000100--_JudgesDetailsperSkater.pdf

 

[airgelaal]

To be honest, I have no idea what all the American dance teams will be doing next season.

 

[her grace]

No, and you know better. You watched the JGPs. You saw their falls. They were also competing in the two weakest fields on the JGP after the injury WDs of Kudryavtseva/Karankevich, Hauer/Starr (both Istanbul) and Carhart/Horovyi (Budapest). Their total score today is in the same range as they scored at their JGPs with falls in the FD at both.

It’s not just that they faced weaker fields. Their FD scores were suspiciously high for how they actually skated, especially at their first JGP where there were spacing issues throughout, not just the fall. But hey, they made it here, and had their best FD of the season so kudos to them.

 

[Gris]

G/S - Most complex program, nice flow, not sure they have the intensity to match Carmen yet but overall I like this a lot.

T/K - They skated well but I continue to find this dance (and Alexei’s “muscular” costume) confusing. Not sure they should score that much better than G/S.

N/M - Most mature and confident presentation in this field. Well done!

 

[Karen-W]

To be honest, I have no idea what all the American dance teams will be doing next season.

Several junior teams age up...

Bland/Sperry - will get buried in the US senior ranks and be lucky to make Nats.
Carhart/Horovyi - also age out, apparently rumors are floating about a country switch, but no idea where they'd go (Ukraine?). They lost a lot of momentum being injured this fall so it's hard to say where they would slot in on the senior level domestically.
Pedersen/Chen - they need to start laying down some clean competitions, otherwise they'll find themselves stuck in the mid-tier of US senior teams, hoping to make top 10 and get a GP assignment but likely on the Challenger circuit.

The following all have one more season of junior eligibility:

Cui/Eckert
Hauer/Starr
Mullen/Mullen
Neset/Markelov
Peal/Peal

 

[airgelaal]

Several junior teams age up...

I meant in seniors. I think that the N/M will also be there next season

 

[Karen-W]

I meant in seniors. I think that the N/M will also be there next season

Hard to say. I think they probably will too, especially if they win Jr Worlds. They'll be competitive with teams like Bratti/Somerville, Pate/Bye, Wolfkostin/Tsarevski, and Flores/Desyatov, I'd think and likely help push McNamara/Spiridonov out of the top 10 (if that doesn't happen this season already).

 

[Karen-W]

Watching the medal ceremony (at the end of the Jr Men's FS) and Elizabeth Tkachenko started to put her hand on her heart when "The Star-Spangled Banner" began to play. Lmao! She quickly dropped her hand but funny nonetheless.

 

[airgelaal]

I'm confused

Mariia Pinchuk / Mykyla Pogorielov
This was their last junior competition. Only Senior competitions from now on, they will prepare for Europeans now.

https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1733359086883008550

No JWC?

 

[Wyliefan]

Leah needs to go back to both her old costumes immediately. Her new ones wash her out.

 

[Colonel Green]

Pedersen/Chen - they finally get through this program without errors (because they moved the fall to the RD). This music edit uses a few lesser known selections, which is nice for a familiar property. Yahli is probably going to get dropped like a hot potato in the off-season unless something big changes, though.

Pinchuk/Pogorielov - one hesitates to be too critical given the context, but they visibly have less technical skill than any of the other teams here. I like the choreographic transition between the two songs.

Fradji/Fourneaux - too bad about the lift mistake. This program has some interesting choreographic moves and variations on often rote elements (e.g., dance spin).

Grimm/Savitskiy - easily my favourite team at this event. They must be a bit frustrated after that surprise fifth at 2022 Junior Worlds that they keep getting passed by other teams, though this year they've at least made it onto the podium. Weirdo Carmen feels like something one of the French junior teams should have been doing.

Tkachenko/Kiliakov - the free program definitely has more personality than their RD. If anyone has a chance at challenging Neset/Markelov with the judges, seems like it's them. Butwe'll see how they do.

Neset/Markelov - as I've said, I don't particularly feel anything from these two, but they're good, and definitely in the driver's seat for this season (and have been from the jump).

 

[Jammers]

Watching the medal ceremony (at the end of the Jr Men's FS) and Elizabeth Tkachenko started to put her hand on her heart when "The Star-Spangled Banner" began to play. Lmao! She quickly dropped her hand but funny nonetheless.

Why was she doing that? isn't she representing Israel? Is she another transplanted american representing another country?

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

Why was she doing that? isn't she representing Israel? Is she another transplanted american representing another country?

yes

 

[PRlady]

Is either of them Jewish? Can’t tell by name but it would seem one has to be.

 

[Karen-W]

Why was she doing that? isn't she representing Israel? Is she another transplanted american representing another country?

Yup. In fact they both are and used to represent the US. They made the switch after 2021 US Nationals.

http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00108071.htm

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I should have learned my lesson years ago about getting excited for junior teams, but dang, Neset/Markalov have that special something that has me so pumped for their future together. They could really make a splash on the senior scene when they make the move.

 

[Wyliefan]

I keep reminding myself that they'll have to climb the ranks just like any other team. But man, they're so good, I can't help thinking they may climb a little faster than most!

 

[PRlady]

I keep reminding myself that they'll have to climb the ranks just like any other team. But man, they're so good, I can't help thinking they may climb a little faster than most!

Yeah I agree about that, but after Nguyen/Kolesnik I’m trying to stay calm.

 

[her grace]

With juniors, I try to stay in the moment and enjoy them now.

Like Nguyen/Kolesnik never made it as a team in seniors, but they were still special to watch as juniors.

 

[Jammers]

Can't quite understand why Neset/Markelov are skating as Juniors again at Nationals they have nothing to gain with another Junior Title they are already Senior ready as the JGPF has shown.

 

[jlai]

Ice dancers don't skate up at nationals in general as it is hard to prepare both senior and Jr programs

 

[Colonel Green]

Can't quite understand why Neset/Markelov are skating as Juniors again at Nationals they have nothing to gain with another Junior Title they are already Senior ready as the JGPF has shown.

They'd have to spend time training a whole different senior RD. Not worth it.

 

[PRlady]

I rewatched that FD. They are amazingly well-matched, I really couldn’t say who’s the better dancer. It’s wonderful to see a team that seems made for each other.

 

[jlai]

I keep reminding myself that they'll have to climb the ranks just like any other team. But man, they're so good, I can't help thinking they may climb a little faster than most!

I am still bumped about the Greens.