day two of the broadmoor open. today i watched about half of the novice ladies fs and then the novice men’s fs.
ngl. was bored by most of what i saw in the novice girls. it probably didn’t help that there were SO MANY of them (dear god, the number of junior and novice girls at this comp -- SO MANY).
but the novice men’s fs was so good. with the exception of one skater, who just had a bad skate and blah choreography, everyone was in top form and just went out and skated their asses off. it was wonderful. it was better than any of the senior competitions i watched.
i think part of that is that the novice men knew how to sell a program? they would skate unironically to something that’s like “wow, maybe that is not the best choice?” but they believed in it so much that it suddenly became compelling, whereas seniors didn’t always sell themselves like they believed it.
(though, i have to say, good song choices all around for this one, including a cyberpunk routine that had me breathless by the end.)
the other thing is that novice men were bolder and more innovative. they maybe don’t have the same sense of limits that a senior might so they just -- fucking went for it. which is exhilarating to watch.
my little bean did “requiem for a dream”, which i’d see him do a version of for exhibition. it was interesting to see the competitive version, but i about died because i got to see “requiem for a dream” again like akdjlakjfadfjal there is a god. there was not a biellmann (a pity!) which had been been present in the exhibition version. it complimented the music well. he also had a cantilever in the competitive version, which knocked my socks off because it was so good. some cantilevers the skater doesn’t have the core, thigh, and back strength to pull it off and it just looks . . . meh. this was a good cantilever and he just glided right in front of those judges like YEAH I DID THAT.
my only complaint is his choreography. the choreography could be stronger because it’s a shame not to utilize a good skater and good music to the full potential. there wasn’t enough sync between what he was doing and the music. it would mean points if he did.
craftily, this time i sat in the corner near the friends and family, by the kiss and cry. i figure people who attend comps frequently know where to sit to see things best, so i was like “why not?” this also happened to be the area where the skaters were let out and talked with their coaches (which i actually didn’t know!). this was interesting. i got to see all those little interactions i wouldn’t otherwise see.
exhibit a: my bean is “joe” and when it was getting to be his turn, one of his friends said “it’s showtime!” and his coach said “showtime is joetime” and joe was like O_O like he couldn’t really believe it, lol, bless.
he seemed excited to perform today, whereas for the sp he was very nervous.
but he did well! third place! aaaah yiiiiis!
when he got back from the kiss and cry, he did walk by me and i tried to tell him i thought his skating was amazing. but he completely ignored me (and why not, i am just some dude) and went to (who i assume) was his grandmother for a hug. like “did i do well?”.
aaaaaah, bless that little bean. i will look forward hopefully many more years of him in the future.
Sounds like Mirai got hurt at the Broadmoor Open. Clutching her knee after a triple loop. Amber fell on her triple lutz but threw a rippon lutz! Skating to on my own from Les Mis.
Hi all the people who just competed…you obviously know what your program music is, so can you please tell us now?
ETA: Well, Pogrebinsky and Benoit have their music on their website SD: “My Sweet & Tender Beast” by Eugen Doga FD: Variations on Romeo & Juliet: “William Shakespeare’s Romeo+Juliet” by Hooper, Arnstrong, deVries; “Romeo et Juliette: de la Haine a l’Amour” by Gerard Pregurvic
