Notes of German Nationals 2006

Part 3

by Frederike Hylla
Photos © Bernhard Schwall*

*photos of junior skaters are from this year Nationals, the others from last year. Courtesy of www.gymfan.de

Norman KECK opened the Men Short Program with a clean program and nice spins then Philipp TISCHENDORF from Berlin followed. While his program wasn’t as clean as the first one – he had a step out on his double axel – he delivered an impressive program. He really felt the music and had fun choreography which made those 2:40 minutes enjoyable to watch. Julian BÄßLER and Marcel Kotzian were not able to match this performance although the latter had a well balanced and clean program as well.

Steffen HÖRMANN who is also a Junior Pairs Skater – the only one Germany has in this discipline – had a very front-loaded program and fell during his combination, so he wasn’t a thread to Tischendorf, as weren’t Frederik PAULS and Tobias BAYER. Both delivered clean programs but nothing stood out until Peter LIEBERS closed the second warm up group. He skated to something Asian and not only had he great interpretation but his jumps were spot on. Unfortunately he fell during transitions, still the overall performance was great and he managed to claim a solid first.

Martin LIEBERS BER

Costume: blue shirt with silver arrows, black pants

He started out with a triple lutz-double loop combination but stumbled at the second jump. His triple flip was clean and he followed with a centered spin as well as a well executed step sequence out of which he did a double axel. Another spin led into his second step sequence before he finished his program with a third spin.

Apart from the mistake at the beginning his program was clean and he had nice transitions. The choreography worked well with the mucis but his movements were to soft for the upbeat rhythm which unfortunately made him look bored.

Marks: TES : 27.60
PCS : 30.50
TSS : 58.10
Rank: 4

Clemens BRUMMER BER

Costume: beige-brown pants and lighter shirt

His opening moves led into a double lutz-triple toe combination right into his serpentine step sequence which was followed by a clean triple flip. A fast spin was up next, then he did a clean double axel and continued into another spin. An in-caracter second step sequence was nicely done right before his final spin.

While his jumps were not as impressive as they were with some other skaters, he really had some unique artistry. He was in caracter from start to finish and had fun choreography. His movements fitted every beat of the music, he had interesting elements and did something different which really set him apart from the other skaters.

Marks: TES : 26.60
PCS : 31.30
TSS : 57.90
Rank: 5

Stefan LINDEMANN THR Costume: black shirt and pants with colored fabric here and there His opening combination consisted of a triple flip-triple toe before he went into a huge triple axel but had a rough landing and stepped out of it. He continued with a fast spin and followed it up with his circular step sequence as well as a clean triple lutz. Transition led into another spin out of which he did an energetic step sequence before he wrapped up his program with his last spin.

His program had nice flow and energy which he was able to maintain throughout the end. His steps and spins were fast, he had nice transitions as well as interesting choreography.

Marks: TES : 38.00
PCS : 36.05
TSS : 74.05
Rank: 1

Silvio SMALUN BAY

Costume: black pants and shirt with bronze colored fabric over it

His opening moves led right into a clean triple axel but he stepped out of his first triple jump of his combination and abandoned the second jump. A fall on his triple lutz followed then he delivered a clean step sequence into a fast but travelling spin before going into his second step sequence. He finished his program up with the remaining two spins which also were not well centered.

While his transitions were nice, he did nothing special choreography wise and more or less did what was required. The mistakes took away from the program and overall it was not an impressive performance. Marks: TES : 28.74 PCS : 33.10 TSS : 60.84 Rank: 2

Jamal OTHMAN SUI (invited)

Costume: black pants and beige shirt

Music: My Sweet and Tender Beast

First up was a triple flip on which he fell before he executed a not completely clean triple lutz to double toe combination. Transitions were followed by two nice and fast spins which were continued by a smooth step sequence. Only a single axel was up next before he did his circular step sequence and his final spin.

His jumps were totally off but he didn’t let it show and kept going until the end. His transitions were nice and the program was well interpreted, still his arm movements seemed kind of out of control at times.

Marks: TES : 20.80
PCS : 30.05
TSS : 49.85
Rank: 7

General Comment:

There were a lot of clean programs but only few really stood out. Most executed the required elements and while there were transitions the skaters did not really connect to the music.

It was nice to see the Berlin skaters finishing on places 3-6 and it was especially nice to see Clemens Brummer as high placed as he was because he had the best chorepgraphy out there.

The Berlin Novice Synchro Team Chili on Ice opened the Gala with a cute program. They didn’t have as much steps but they already have nice pictures and were well in sync which made this program quite enjoyable to watch.

Excerpts of the annual Snow White on Ice Christmas show were next. The pieces were nicely choreographed and gave a hint on how cute the whole performance must be.

Katja Gromann from the Junior ladies B category followed and did her short program to "Pirates of the Carribean". She already had nice flow – much better than some of the senior ladies – and did a double salchow to double toe combination. Next up were Maylin Hausch and Steffen Hörnlein who are the only Junior Pair for the moment and did a program which looked like their short program. They had some difficulties with their lift as well as side by side spins, but they were fast across the ice and seem to have potential. She has nice extensions during her spirals and he will definitely have a better chance to succeed in Pairs than in singles.

The Junior Men Gold Medalist Daniel Dotzauer did a program to "Space Taxi" and while he looked more like he belonged into the Novice category, his skating didn’t. He had fast and centered spins and did a double salchow-double toe-double loop combination. The feeling for the music is still missing but he already did a well in transmitting the music into movements.

The bavarian Synchro Team Magic Diamonds followed to a military theme which seemed to be their short porgram. Despite the music being a little bit of a weird choice, they had nice choreography, clean pcitures which included a very cool line and interesting elements.

The other ladies Junior Champion from the Junior A category Nicole Scheck took the ice next. She still looked juniorish in her movements and the bluesy music didn’t suit her too well. Her double loop was clean and her extension was amazing but the program as a whole was rather empty. The Junior Dance Team of Tanjo Kolbe and Paul Boll wrapped up the Junior category with their original dance. He fell after their twizzle sequence but they kept going like nothing happened and delivered a fun program. The choreography was nice but when the music changed to the slower rhythm they unfortunately lost their flow. Nevertheless she is a secure skater and they are a team to watch.

Eva-Maria Fitze and Rico Rex were announced to be retiring after the season therefore skated to the very first short program they ever did in their infamous black costumes. Again they had troubles at their side by side spins but their single jumps as well as the throw were clean.

Following was Marietheres Huonker who performed a Tango. She had a nice costume with black sequence over light pink fabric and while she didn’t have much happening with her feet and was doing more with her arms, the program had a certain attack to it. She did a double combination but concentrated more on spins and a step sequence which were both nicely done.

Nailya Zhiganshina and Alexander Gaszi also did their Original Dance. It has nice transitions which really suit the music but their elements were too low for it while their arms were moving faster. It makes the dance appear rushed and insecure, still they have nice choreographical ideas.

Another short program was done by Martin Liebers. It was much better than during competition and he actually was in the music. The energy was there and all of his jumps worked fine.

Closing the first half was the synchro team Skating Mystery who again had an entertaining program. They were a little slow getting into their pictures at the beginning but they had great elements and some surprising ideas which made the program fun to watch. Unfortunately there was a fall near the end and the skater had to be helped of the ice by a team mate. They didn’t announced what had happened but it looked like she did something to her arm/shoulder.

The second half was opened by Carolina Gülke and André Kaden before it lead into a group number of male skaters which ended with an Elvis Presley Medley to which the Berlin skaters Clemens Brummer, Martin and Peter Liebers and Philipp Tischendorf skated. It was really entertaining and the four boys did a great job with their choreography and getting the audience going. It really looked like they had fun out there. Christiane Berger followed with a Blues. Her jumps were not as well, since she only did doubles but it was a very smooth program with again nice spins and spirals. She connected to the music and was able to relate to the audience very well.

Wearing their Free Dance costumes Judith Haunstetter and Arne Hönlein presented a fun program to "Hit the road Jack". They didn’t have as much energy as they did during their free dance and at some points they seemed insecure, nevertheless the choreography was nice and they did some great moves.

Next up was Silvio Smalun who skated to "Once upon a time in Mexico". He did a very difficult step sequence but fell on one of his jumps. While the choreography was good, he wasn’t really into it and did not at all portray the passion necessary for a Spanish themed program.

Again a short program was shown by Rebecca Handke and Daniel Wende although they were wearing different costumes. They only did a double toe but the program was smooth without any mistakes and they had nice spins and lifts.

The United Angels synchro team took the ice as the last second place finnishers. They did a classical program and had nice costumes but their choreography wasn’t as special as the one from Skating Mystery. Originality was missing and while elements and pictures were clean, there was nothing which caught your attention.

A probably relieved to have won despite her mistakes Anette Dytrt took the ice next. She skated to a ballad and did a double axel with a step out and a clean triple loop as well as a nice spiral sequence. It was a nice, soft exhibition program which really suited her style.

Doing their last seasons free dance to "The last Mowhikan" Christina and William Beier followed. The steps were not as polished as this seasons free dance and it does not have as many transitions but it was done with more energy and flow. Christina actually managed to smile a few times and the program was more enjoyable than I had remembered it to be.

Stefan Lindemann had a new exhibition program to "The Jailhouse Rock" which was very entertaining. He did a triple axel as well as a triple toe and a music fitting step sequence. He was able to keep up the energy throughout the entire program and seemed to be having lot’s of fun out there. Having received her citizenship just the day before Aliona Savchenko just like her partner Robin Szolkowy looked like she had celebrated the night before. They skated to a number by the group Out Cast with only a double jump and she stepped out of the throw double axel but the audience loved them nevertheless. Their elements were not as fluid but they kept the energy going and even were asked for an encore.

Closing the Gala was multiple National Champion Team Berlin 1 skating to their short program. They were even faster on the ice than the synchro teams before and easily got into clean pictures. They had a nice choreography with fun elements and got a lot of in between applause. They as well were asked for an encore and did the beginning of their short program again.

Overall I have the impression that Germany has quite some skaters with potential, it's the technical side which is missing especially with the ladies. Two years ago the field was deeper at least during the short program. I remember being impressed by how many good ladies we have, this time it was more the artistry I recognized with some of them but I was less stunned in general.
What I really could see and compare was the fact how the New Judging System changed the programs in singles/pairs skating and in dance. While in singles/pairs it was more obvious than before when a skater did only crossovers between elements and most had steps added, it was just as obvious that the dancers were losing flow and expression due to difficulty.
Still, the Junior Dance field has quite some potential dancers and I hope that those couples continue to imrpove in a positive way and will be able to develop what they have.

For more of these excellent photos (and bigger versions) visit: www.gymfan.de

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