by Anne Calder | Photographs by Robin Ritoss
The 2023 World Junior Determine Skating Championships protocols at the moment are recorded within the ISU historical past books. The WinSport Occasion Centre in Calgary, Alberta Canada hosted the forty seventh competitors, February 27 – March 5.
The Rhythm Dance roster started with 30 groups representing 22 international locations. On the finish of the session, twenty groups superior to the Free Dance.
Prior to every Press Convention, small medals had been awarded by the Referee to the highest three groups in every phase (RD/FD). Two ice dance groups headed dwelling 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 enjoying of the gold medalists’ nationwide anthem.
Historical past was made on the 2023 occasion when CZE and KOR medaled for the primary time on the World Junior Championships.
Rhythm Dance
Mrazkova & Mrazek had been the one group to earn an ideal (YYYY / YYYY) for his or her eight Argentine Tango key factors. The rotational raise and his twizzle additionally earned degree 4. Dancing Tango to “A Evaristo” and Paso Doble to “Espana Cani”, the siblings earned a 71.19 rating, falling wanting their private greatest by a skinny .68 factors.
“We all know that we are able to do higher, however we did a form of protected program, which is sweet,” Mrazkova famous. “We simply needed to do what we had been working towards and to take pleasure in this system, and that’s it.”
Lim & Quan danced a fast-paced Milonga to “Primavera Portena”. The twizzles, second Argentine Tango sample, rotational raise and each midline step sequences earned degree 4. The private greatest 71.08 rating topped their current Junior Grand Prix Last rating by virtually seven factors.
“I’m completely satisfied that the arduous work we put into our technical elements – for example the step sequence [both level 4] and sample dance – paid off,” Quan mentioned. ”We’re actually completely satisfied we acquired our ranges right this moment. We did wish to beat our private rating.”
Bekker & Hernandez scored a private greatest 68.89 with Flamenco and Tango picks by Roni Benise. The duo earned degree 4 for the rotational raise, second Argentine Tango sample, her midline step and his twizzle,
“For such an intense program, it’s truly a lot enjoyable to skate,” Hernandez mentioned. “We now have these little moments scattered via the place we catch every others’ eyes – sure it’s intense – however we get power from one another in these moments. At present we discovered these moments; we linked. We had a good time from starting to finish. We’re completely satisfied.”
Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) had been fourth. Their Spanish Waltz efficiency to “Espana” and the “Tango Grande” from The Nice Gatsby obtained a private greatest 68.00 rating. The opening midline sequence footwork and twizzles earned degree 4 as did the closing rotational raise. The Argentine Tango patterns obtained ranges 1 and a couple of. The Junior Grand Prix Last gold medalists had been nonetheless solely lower than some extent out of podium vary.
’This isn’t a setback,’’ Bashynska mentioned. ’’Maybe it is likely to be a little bit profit for us. It is going to put much less strain 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 greatest 65.81 for his or her Tango efficiency to Gringo Nr.1 by Tango for 3, organized by Hugo Chouinard. The twizzles, straight line raise and second Argentine Tango sample had been degree 4. Each midline step sequences had been degree 3.
Free Dance
The panel of judges was launched. The order and a few people had been totally different from the Rhythm Dance. The primary group of athletes was introduced. The groups competed in reverse order of their Rhythm Dance standing.
Mrazkova & Mrazek danced a strong efficiency to “Surrounded” and “The Coronary heart of a King” from The Man within the Iron Masks soundtrack and earned the primary Junior World title and medal for the Czech Republic. The twizzles, rotational raise and dance spin had been degree 4; the round and one foot step plus curve raise earned degree 3. Each the 106.17 phase and complete 177.36 had been private greatest scores.
“The rhythm dance for us was not so nice as a result of we had been nervous; we had been scared to do a mistake,” Mrazek mentioned. “We tried to be extra chilled within the free dance, and I feel we did it higher right this moment.”
“We actually really feel completely satisfied about what we had right this moment. For me, it hasn’t sunk in but,” Quan mentioned. “We felt humorous dancing in entrance of an enormous crowd like this.”
Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) scored 101.13 for his or her fascinating interpretation of “Anna’s Theme” from The Pink Violin by John Corigliano and Elegie: O doux Printemps d’autrefois by Jules Massenet. Their lifts, dance spin and her twizzle had been degree 4; the diagonal step and his twizzle earned degree 3. The Canadian Junior Champions slipped into third place by a .06 margin and took dwelling their second consecutive Junior World bronze medal.
On the Press Convention, Bashynska applauded all of the medalists plus the British group. “I’m clearly very completely satisfied to finish up on the rostrum, and I’m very pleased with ourselves and of everyone else right here. Additionally to Phebe and James [who narrowly finished fourth behind the Canadians and off the podium]. It’s solely proper to provide everyone credit score for a way far all of us got here. It’s been a protracted and arduous season for all of us.”
Bekker & Hernandez (GBR) danced a dramatic presentation of Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons that earned degree 4 twizzles, lifts, and dance spin. On the Combined Zone, Hernandez referenced Bekker’s current sickness and his father’s dying two weeks in the past. He famous that beneath the circumstances, they had been extremely pleased with what they had been in a position to do. The private greatest 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 degree 4. The USA Junior Champions’ Rhythm Dance (64.01), Free Dance (98.58) and Whole (162,59) had been all private greatest scores.
Ice Chips
The rostrum groups will all be shifting as much as the senior ranks subsequent season. They shared their expectations.
- Katerina Mrazkova: “We don’t have any expectations. It’s a very new class for us.”
Daniel Mrazek: “In fact sooner or later we wish to be the most effective. We don’t know the way it’s going to be subsequent season, so we are going to work arduous like final yr. We’ll attempt to enhance every thing – our dangerous sides and our good sides.” - Hannah Lim: “We’re a bit nervous as a result of we’ve a whole lot of examples at our faculty (I.AM), and they’re all actually wonderful senior skaters. I’m glad they’re there so we are able to look as much as them. I’m nervous, but in addition very excited.”
- Nadiia Bashynska: “We don’t actually have a selection. We now have to maneuver up. We’re very excited and looking out ahead to displaying a brand new aspect of ourselves, clearly stepping up our recreation and dealing arduous.”
- Peter Beaumont: “Final yr we had been form of debating about it, however I’m glad that we stayed junior one other yr. Now it feels proper for us to maneuver up. I’m wanting ahead to a little bit of Samba and ‘80s’ (music for senior RD) subsequent yr.”
Choreographic Factor Highest Whole Scores:
- Choreographic Character Step Sequence: Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA) – 3.95
- Choreographic Sliding Motion: Nadiia Bashynska & Peter Beaumont (CAN) – 3.83
World Junior Championship Medalists Teaching 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 Metropolis, Taiwan. The allotments per nation:
3 – Canada, Czech Republic, United States
2 – Cyprus, France, Nice Britain, Korea
1 – All different ISU international locations