by Anne Calder | Photos by Robin Ritoss
The 2023 World Junior Figure Skating Championships protocols are actually recorded within the ISU historical past books. The WinSport Event Centre in Calgary, Alberta Canada hosted the forty seventh competitors, February 27 – March 5.
The Rhythm Dance roster started with 30 groups representing 22 nations. At the tip of the session, twenty groups superior to the Free Dance.
Prior to every Press Conference, small medals had been awarded by the Referee to the highest three groups in every phase (RD/FD). Two ice dance groups headed house with three medals per companion – CZE and KOR. A medal ceremony was additionally held on the ice on the conclusion of the competitors adopted by the taking part in of the gold medalists’ nationwide anthem.
History was made on the 2023 occasion when CZE and KOR medaled for the primary time on the World Junior Championships.
Rhythm Dance
At the tip of the Rhythm Dance, the ultimate group for the Free Dance was posted: Katerina Mrazkova & Daniel Mrazek (CZE), Hannah Lim & Ye Quan (KOR), Phebe Bekker & James Hernandez (GBR), Nadiia Bashynska & Peter Beaumont (CAN) and Celina Fradji & Jean-Hans Fourneaux (FRA).
Mrazkova & Mrazek had been the one crew to earn an ideal (YYYY / YYYY) for his or her eight Argentine Tango key factors. The rotational carry and his twizzle additionally earned stage 4. Dancing Tango to “A Evaristo” and Paso Doble to “Espana Cani”, the siblings earned a 71.19 rating, falling in need of their private finest by a skinny .68 factors.
“We know that we can do better, but we did a kind of safe program, which is good,” Mrazkova famous. “We just wanted to do what we were practicing and to enjoy the program, and that’s it.”
Lim & Quan danced a fast-paced Milonga to “Primavera Portena”. The twizzles, second Argentine Tango sample, rotational carry and each midline step sequences earned stage 4. The private finest 71.08 rating topped their current Junior Grand Prix Final rating by virtually seven factors.
“I’m happy that the hard work we put into our technical parts – for instance the step sequence [both level 4] and pattern dance – paid off,” Quan stated. ”We are actually glad we obtained our ranges at the moment. We did need to beat our private rating.”
Bekker & Hernandez scored a private finest 68.89 with Flamenco and Tango choices by Roni Benise. The duo earned stage 4 for the rotational carry, second Argentine Tango sample, her midline step and his twizzle,
“For such an intense program, it’s actually so much fun to skate,” Hernandez stated. “We have these little moments scattered through where we catch each others’ eyes – yes it’s intense – but we get energy from each other in those moments. Today we found those moments; we connected. We had a great time from beginning to end. We’re happy.”
Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) had been fourth. Their Spanish Waltz efficiency to “Espana” and the “Tango Grande” from The Great Gatsby acquired a private finest 68.00 rating. The opening midline sequence footwork and twizzles earned stage 4 as did the closing rotational carry. The Argentine Tango patterns acquired ranges 1 and a pair of. The Junior Grand Prix Final gold medalists had been nonetheless solely lower than some extent out of podium vary.
’This isn’t a setback,’’ Bashynska stated. ’’Perhaps it may be a bit of profit for us. It will put much less stress on us for the free dance which is our stronger efficiency. We plan to come back again tomorrow (Saturday).’’
Fradji & Fourneaux (FRA) scored a private finest 65.81 for his or her Tango efficiency to Gringo Nr.1 by Tango for 3, organized by Hugo Chouinard. The twizzles, straight line carry and second Argentine Tango sample had been stage 4. Both midline step sequences had been stage 3.
Free Dance
The panel of judges was launched. The order and a few people had been totally different from the Rhythm Dance. The first group of athletes was introduced. The groups competed in reverse order of their Rhythm Dance standing.
Mrazkova & Mrazek danced a robust efficiency to “Surrounded” and “The Heart of a King” from The Man within the Iron Mask soundtrack and earned the primary Junior World title and medal for the Czech Republic. The twizzles, rotational carry and dance spin had been stage 4; the round and one foot step plus curve carry earned stage 3. Both the 106.17 phase and complete 177.36 had been private finest scores.
“The rhythm dance for us was not so great because we were nervous; we were scared to do a mistake,” Mrazek stated. “We tried to be more chilled in the free dance, and I think we did it better today.”
Lim & Quan earned the primary Korean ice dance medal at Junior Worlds with a haunting interpretation of Danse Macabre – Dance of Death. The lifts, dance spin and her twizzle earned stage 4. The different components had been stage 3. The 103.31 phase and 174.39 complete had been private finest scores.
“We really feel happy about what we had today. For me, it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Quan stated. “We felt funny dancing in front of a big crowd like this.”
Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) scored 101.13 for his or her charming interpretation of “Anna’s Theme” from The Red Violin by John Corigliano and Elegie: O doux Printemps d’autrefois by Jules Massenet. Their lifts, dance spin and her twizzle had been stage 4; the diagonal step and his twizzle earned stage 3. The Canadian Junior Champions slipped into third place by a .06 margin and took house their second consecutive Junior World bronze medal.
At the Press Conference, Bashynska applauded all of the medalists plus the British crew. “I’m obviously very happy to end up on the podium, and I’m very proud of ourselves and of everybody else here. Also to Phebe and James [who narrowly finished fourth behind the Canadians and off the podium]. It’s only right to give everybody credit for how far we all came. It’s been a long and hard season for all of us.”
Bekker & Hernandez (GBR) danced a dramatic presentation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons that earned stage 4 twizzles, lifts, and dance spin. At the Mixed Zone, Hernandez referenced Bekker’s current sickness and his father’s loss of life two weeks in the past. He famous that below the circumstances, they had been extremely happy with what they had been capable of do. The private finest 100.18 phase and 169.07 complete scores assured the British Junior Champions fourth place.
Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA) vaulted from seventh to fifth with an exhilarating and highly effective dance to Pirates of Caribbean. The twizzles, dance spin, and lifts earned stage 4. The USA Junior Champions’ Rhythm Dance (64.01), Free Dance (98.58) and Total (162,59) had been all private finest scores.
Ice Chips
The podium groups will all be shifting as much as the senior ranks subsequent season. They shared their expectations.
- Katerina Mrazkova: “Of course in the future we want to be the best. We don’t know how it’s going to be next season, so we will work hard like last year. We will try to improve everything – our bad sides and our good sides.”
- Daniel Mrazek: “We don’t have any expectations. It’s a completely new category for us.”
- Hannah Lim: “We’re a bit nervous because we have a lot of examples at our school (I.AM), and they are all really amazing senior skaters. I’m glad they’re there so we can look up to them. I’m nervous, but also very excited.”
- Nadiia Bashynska: “We don’t really have a choice. We have to move up. We’re very excited and looking forward to showing a new side of ourselves, obviously stepping up our game and working hard.”
- Peter Beaumont: “Last year we were sort of debating about it, but I’m glad that we stayed junior another year. Now it feels right for us to move up. I’m looking forward to a bit of Samba and ‘80s’ (music for senior RD) next year.”
Choreographic Element Highest Total Scores:
- Choreographic Character Step Sequence: Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA) – 3.95
- Choreographic Sliding Movement: Nadiia Bashynska & Peter Beaumont (CAN) – 3.83
World Junior Championship Medalists Coaching at 2023 World Junior Championships:
- Marie-France Dubreuil & Bruno Yvars (CAN) 1990 (bronze)
- Elena Khaliavina Dostatni & Maxim Shabalin (RUS) 2001 (bronze), 2002 (silver)
- Sylwia Nowak & Sebastian Kolasiński (POL) 1993 (silver), 1994 (gold)
- Tatiana Gladkova & Igor Shpilband (USSR) 1982 (silver), 1983 (gold)
- Anastasia Gorshkova & Ilia Tkachenko (RUS) 2005 (bronze)
The 2024 World Junior Championships shall be held in Taipei City, Taiwan. The allotments per nation:
3 – Canada, Czech Republic, United States
2 – Cyprus, France, Great Britain, Korea
1 – All different ISU nations