Skate Chautauqua 2002 - a belated review
Jocelyn
Skate Chautauqua 2002 - Jamestown, NY, August 16-19
I didn't write down results since they are posted here:
http://www.skatechautauqua.com/results0.htm , but I will make a few comments on
the skaters' performances. I am awaiting "approval" on @cforums and will post
this there upon receipt.
Junior Ladies
If I were an elite skater, I would want to skate like Ashley Lovasik. She won
the Junior Ladies SP then scratched (sniff) from the LP - even though she was
at the open practice after the SP doing great 2a, 3t, 3s, and some good 3flips.
She's a powerful skater with great jump technique and has definitely improved
since I last saw her at Easterns in Nov 2001 - possibly a bit of a weight loss.
Anna Peng is unfortunately still very hit-and-miss with everything 2a and up.
When she does land the jumps, they're huge and great. Her LP is Madame
Butterfly and is choreographed to highlight what she does well. However,
without consistent jumps I doubt she will make Nationals. I also appreciated
her fuss-less costumes, especially in contrast to the bead-and-rhinestone
overload that some of the girls are fond of.
Mattina Alonge was quite consistent but only does through 3sal. I'm not a huge
fan of her style but I can't deny that she's got some good jumps.
Kristine Rudman is a powerhouse jumper with a huge 2a and 3sal - stylistically
think of Stephanie Roth.
Novice Ladies
I got my first look at Kelly O'Grady this weekend. She still looks like a
10-year-old dressing up in her older sister's makeup (about 5lb worth) and
programs. Her SP was clean, much stronger than her LP, with 2a (really funky
bad technique), 3sal-2toe, and 2lutz. Her triples have that Sarah Hughes
cheated element going on - usually 1/4 or less, but sometimes a clear 1/2
cheat. She has some nice moves but really looks like she'd tip over or break
in half if I fanned her with my hand. Despite the fragile look she skated to
some kind of patriotic bombastic Sousa music for the SP and Phantom of the
Opera LP. Not making any dietary assumptions, she looks underfed and gaunt,
and I think it hurts her skating - her LP was a mini-disaster for her level.
That said, she was landing (both cheated) 3sal-3toe combinations in practice.
Kimmie Meissner is a revelation - gorgeous flowing edges, solid jumps (2a,
3sal, 3toe but nothing higher), and good spins. Completely charmed the rather
large audience (the publicity chair did a good job getting people to go despite
the $5 ticket fee). Class of the field.
Breanne Scully had a great LP too, very cheated 3loop being her hardest jump
but executing some very nice doubles including a 2a. Her flow is excellent and
she keeps up the speed through the program. The choreography is also top-notch
which definitely helped her cause.
Senior Ladies
This event sorely missed the likes of scratched competitors Sara Wheat
(fractured tailbone), Julia Glovack, and Dirke O'Brien Baker. We were left
with Trina Robinson, who had lovely presentation but couldn't muster clean 2a
or 3toe, Jenny Cocker from SCWNY who has a great 2a but has zero expression,
and Rhiannon Kallis who skated to muzak. I was disappointed.
Intermediate Ladies
I also caught the Intermediate Ladies SP and FS, in between which Lisa Ervin's
student Taylor Firth must have injured herself because her SP was great, and
the FS was terrible - even had trouble with 2sal. She won both her Initial
rounds. I skate with her and she's a very, very consistent jumper in practice
and doesn't get nervous so I'm betting on an injury or illness. I was very
proud of the other girl I skate with, Marlana Cole who skated clean and placed
4th. I found out later on that Taylor felt like she was going to faint all day
before her FS.
Juvenile Ladies
Margot Haglund was the class of the field. Great jumps through a cheated 2a.
I was somewhat disappointed that the adorable AmberLynn Walczyk was placed so
high (5th) considering that all of her jumps above 2sal were cheated and rather
small... Courtney Wetterich is a beautiful skater and fantastic spinner who I
picked to either win or place 2nd, but had an off night and fell several times.
In other news, local National champion Robbie Dierking competed in Junior Men
and placed 2nd in the freeskate (of 3). I didn't see the event but I do know
that he took a bit of time off this summer which might have affected his
performance. I've never heard of the skater who won. I think Carol Heiss has
stopped bringing the large majority of her Winterhurst contingent, which is too
bad.
I have lots of pics of the above events, but am developing them slowly since
it's expensive. They'll be up eventually.
Jocelyn