Recap: 2023 World Junior Championships
by Anne Calder | Photographs by Robin Ritoss
The 2023 World Junior Determine Skating Championships protocols are actually 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 have been awarded by the Referee to the highest three groups in every section (RD/FD). Two ice dance groups headed house with three medals per accomplice – 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 have been the one crew to earn an ideal (YYYY / YYYY) for his or her eight Argentine Tango key factors. The rotational elevate 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 greatest by a skinny .68 factors.
“We all know that we are able to do higher, however we did a type of protected program, which is sweet,” Mrazkova famous. “We simply needed to do what we have been working towards and to get pleasure from this system, and that’s it.”
Lim & Quan danced a fast-paced Milonga to “Primavera Portena”. The twizzles, second Argentine Tango sample, rotational elevate and each midline step sequences earned stage 4. The non-public greatest 71.08 rating topped their latest Junior Grand Prix Ultimate rating by nearly seven factors.
“I’m joyful that the exhausting work we put into our technical elements – as an example the step sequence [both level 4] and sample dance – paid off,” Quan mentioned. ”We’re actually joyful we bought our ranges at present. We did wish to beat our private rating.”
Bekker & Hernandez scored a private greatest 68.89 with Flamenco and Tango choices by Roni Benise. The duo earned stage 4 for the rotational elevate, second Argentine Tango sample, her midline step and his twizzle,
“For such an intense program, it’s really a lot enjoyable to skate,” Hernandez mentioned. “We’ve these little moments scattered by means of the place we catch every others’ eyes – sure it’s intense – however we get vitality from one another in these moments. In the present day we discovered these moments; we related. We had a good time from starting to finish. We’re joyful.”
Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) have 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 stage 4 as did the closing rotational elevate. The Argentine Tango patterns obtained ranges 1 and a pair of. The Junior Grand Prix Ultimate gold medalists have been nonetheless solely lower than a degree out of podium vary.
’This isn’t a setback,’’ Bashynska mentioned. ’’Maybe it could be a little bit profit for us. It would put much less strain on us for the free dance which is our stronger efficiency. We plan to return 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 elevate and second Argentine Tango sample have been stage 4. Each midline step sequences have been stage 3.
Free Dance
The panel of judges was launched. The order and a few people have been completely 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 elevate and dance spin have been stage 4; the round and one foot step plus curve elevate earned stage 3. Each the 106.17 section and complete 177.36 have been private greatest scores.
“The rhythm dance for us was not so nice as a result of we have been nervous; we have 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 at present.”
“We actually really feel joyful about what we had at present. 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 Purple Violin by John Corigliano and Elegie: O doux Printemps d’autrefois by Jules Massenet. Their lifts, dance spin and her twizzle have 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.
On the Press Convention, Bashynska applauded all of the medalists plus the British crew. “I’m clearly very joyful to finish up on the rostrum, and I’m very happy with ourselves and of all people else right here. Additionally to Phebe and James [who narrowly finished fourth behind the Canadians and off the podium]. It’s solely proper to offer all people credit score for the way far all of us got here. It’s been a protracted and exhausting season for all of us.”
Bekker & Hernandez (GBR) danced a dramatic presentation of Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons that earned stage 4 twizzles, lifts, and dance spin. On the Blended Zone, Hernandez referenced Bekker’s latest sickness and his father’s dying two weeks in the past. He famous that beneath the circumstances, they have been extremely happy with what they have been capable of do. The non-public greatest 100.18 section 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 Whole (162,59) have 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: “After all sooner or later we wish to be one of the best. We don’t know the way it’s going to be subsequent season, so we’ll work exhausting like final 12 months. We are going to attempt to enhance every thing – our unhealthy sides and our good sides.”
- Daniel Mrazek: “We don’t have any expectations. It’s a very new class for us.”
- Hannah Lim: “We’re a bit nervous as a result of we have now lots of examples at our college (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 alternative. We’ve to maneuver up. We’re very excited and searching ahead to exhibiting a brand new facet of ourselves, clearly stepping up our recreation and dealing exhausting.”
- Peter Beaumont: “Final 12 months we have been kind of debating about it, however I’m glad that we stayed junior one other 12 months. Now it feels proper for us to maneuver up. I’m trying ahead to a little bit of Samba and ‘80s’ (music for senior RD) subsequent 12 months.”
Choreographic Component 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 can 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
