Gold on Gold: Lajoie & Lagha Cheer thread!

[BlueRidge]

(note I said CHEER thread )

Great start to the season for Majorie & Zach with two Challenger wins. I love their programs. Looking forward to seeing what they will do throughout the season.

 

[yurokis40]

First time they break 120 in the fed although the French judge hurth up to her old tricks again.

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Agreed! I was disappointed and worried for them this season with only 2 spots at Worlds but they didn’t let that demotivate them or get in the way and came out full force. Definitely in contention for a Worlds spot. Can’t wait to see the Dance battle for Worlds spots live at Nationals!

 

[BlueRidge]

Its going to be a royal battle! But that means they will be pushed to be better and better! I love these two programs for them. I envy anyone who is going in person to Canadians!

 

[chantilly]

Ugh I totally forgot we only have two spots.

 

[Bigbird]

Good on them. Wonderful dances especially that FD. I was never their favorite fan but if they continue to improve like this. Wow. Thank you I.AM for the spectacular choreography.

 

[firstflight]

As recently as last season, I would spite-watch their programs, mostly out of annoyance they kept that Rio FD. I’ve completely changed my mind about them with their programs this season. Cha Cha Slide just works for who they are. I can’t picture the “criss cross” fitting another team as well, for example. And I agree with others: I love the choreography for the FD. While other similar style FD’s this season seem to never end, this one left me wishing it could keep going.

 

[barbarafan]

First time they break 120 in the fed although the French judge hurth up to her old tricks again.

For sure. But they did well in spite of her.

 

[Colonel Green]

They had to wait a while for their senior medal (especially since they would have won bronze at their second ever senior event if Finlandia that year had hadn't a particularly strict panel on character step proximity to the boards), but two gold in a couple of weeks. They're set up well for their Grand Prix events now.

I like both the new programs, though in a lot of ways I think their 2018/19 set has yet to be surpassed; they had two of my very favourite programs of the year, including one of the only tangos I didn't get exhausted with.

 

[BlueRidge]

Cheers for a great start on the Grand Prix with a bronze at Skate Canada for Majorie & Zachary.

I thought they skated the Free Dance beautifully here and perhaps if the scoring was tougher than at the Challenger's it means they've improved as they only lost a point off their score at Budapest Trophy.

Looking forward to seeing how they do at their next GP!

 

[~tapdancer~]

Loved their FD at Skate Canada. Happy for the bronze medal!

 

[princeton123]

These two have improved so much since I last saw them. I feel like what separates them from the rest of the young field is their hunger. You can almost feel how much they want it. That translates into real fearlessness on the ice - you can just tell they’re attacking everything at 120% with no tentativeness.

They need to fix Zach’s makeup situation though. He was looking extremely strange and doll-like today.

 

[BlueRidge]

I feel like what separates them from the rest of the young field is their hunger. You can almost feel how much they want it. That translates into real fearlessness on the ice - you can just tell they’re attacking everything at 120% with no tentativeness.

I think you've nailed why I find them so engaging! It is just amazing to watch them skate with such commitment.

 

[VGThuy]

These two have improved so much since I last saw them. I feel like what separates them from the rest of the young field is their hunger. You can almost feel how much they want it. That translates into real fearlessness on the ice - you can just tell they’re attacking everything at 120% with no tentativeness.

They need to fix Zach’s makeup situation though. He was looking extremely strange and doll-like today.

I think you've nailed why I find them so engaging! It is just amazing to watch them skate with such commitment.

I think this is what has attracted to me to them too. You can feel how much they want it and it translates out there on the ice. They’re very engaged.

 

[yurokis40]

The best free dance in sheffield the audience was left spellbound and kudos to Marjorie for the level 4 in the one step sequence.

 

[BlueRidge]

Congratulations to Marjorie & Zachary on the bronze at 4CC and even more for their superb performance in the Free Dance.

I guess this is the end of the season for them. It is too bad there is no spot at Worlds for them as they would clearly be in the top 10.

 

[almiranara]

Not bad ending the season with first ever ISU senior championship medal ? i still hope they get sent to WTT though :')

 

[BlueRidge]

I love this interview that @clairecloutier did with Marjorie and Zach!

Lajoie/Lagha: "Worlds is the piece that is missing to have had the perfect season" - A divine sport

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha have had a breakout season in 2022-23. But when the rhythm dance starts next week at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, they will unfortunately be missing from the roster. It’s their misfortune that Canada has only two ice dance spots at Worlds this...

adivinesport.com

They sound really in tune with each other.

This part cracked me up:

Lajoie: For the short [rhythm dance], we struggled. We always struggle to choose our music, because it’s always a big decision. You keep the music for a year. And–

Lagha: –And I’m difficult. [Lajoie laughs.]

Lajoie: But that’s good. It’s good to be picky and to make sure it’s a good decision. For the short, Marie [-France Dubreuil] came with the idea [“Cha Cha Slide”]. And I think Zak and Romain [Hagenauer] were like, Hmm, we’re not sure.

Lagha: I didn’t like it.

Lajoie: I loved it! I was really happy. But he and Romain were like, ehhh. So we kept looking.

Zach says he wants to do Michael Jackson for next seasons RD. Please god no. Luckily he says he doesn't think Romain will go for it.

 

[almiranara]

interview with AnythingGOE after GP Sheffield and 4CC https://anythinggoe.com/cha-cha-sliding/

 

[Sylvia]

Awwww (6 throwback photos to commemorate her partner's 24th birthday): https://www.instagram.com/p/CrDsvmzr0Gd/

 

[yurokis40]

The next big thing in canadian ice dance medal for them at worlds as early as next year in there hometown.

 

[BlueRidge]

Silver!! Congratulations to Marjorie and Zachary for their beautiful skating at Skate America!

 

[manhn]

There is a speed and solidity than I don’t see with any other team these days. I was very impressed with them.

 

[Sylvia]

Cross-posting here from the Canadian Ice Dance news thread... here's Beverley Smith's article on Marjorie and Zach after they won the silver at Skate America (Oct. 23):

Lajoie and Lagha: Coming up Roses - Bev Smith Writes

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha could have been devastated by missing out on competing at the world championships last season. They were Canada’s No. 3 team and Canada had only two spots for dancers at the event. Was it difficult to face that music and watch others do what you wanted so much...

bevsmithwrites.com

 

[Colonel Green]

Babies’ first Grand Prix segment win.

 

[almiranara]

Babies’ first Grand Prix segment win.

first of many, hopefully ?

 

[coralline]

COC fancam

MJ RD
https://video.weibo.com/show?fid=1034:4966574751416341

Rose FD
https://video.weibo.com/show?fid=1034:4966932248461385

 

[~tapdancer~]

They were wonderful at COC. Loved their reaction in K&C for their scores. They are rising evermore and I am here for it. I really like their RD and FD this season, they are on point! By the time Olympics roll around, I think they will be Canada #1, I am just not sure that G/P and F-B/S will still be competing until 2026 but I could be wrong.

 

[Cachoo]

There is a speed and solidity than I don’t see with any other team these days. I was very impressed with them.

Is this the team B. Agosto was talking about as future world champions at Skate America?

 

[Colonel Green]

Is this the team B. Agosto was talking about as future world champions at Skate America?

Yes.

As I said over in the Canadian dance thread, I think a realistic aim for the team this season is to push up to Canada #2, which would involve defending their silver medal at nationals and their 4CC bronze. It's hard to know yet whether their Cup of China scores are an outlier in the short term, but if they aren't, passing Fournier Beaudry & Sorensen is doable.