Recap: 2023 World Junior Championships
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 section (RD/FD). Two ice dance groups headed house with three medals per associate – 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.
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 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 will do higher, however we did a sort of secure program, which is nice,” Mrazkova famous. “We simply wished to do what we had 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 current Junior Grand Prix Ultimate rating by nearly seven factors.
“I’m glad that the laborious 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 glad we acquired our ranges immediately. We did need to beat our private rating.”
Bekker & Hernandez scored a private greatest 68.89 with Flamenco and Tango picks 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 truly a lot enjoyable to skate,” Hernandez mentioned. “We now have 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. Immediately we discovered these moments; we related. We had a good time from starting to finish. We’re glad.”
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 stage 4 as did the closing rotational elevate. The Argentine Tango patterns obtained ranges 1 and a couple of. The Junior Grand Prix Ultimate gold medalists had been nonetheless solely lower than some extent out of podium vary.
’This isn’t a setback,’’ Bashynska mentioned. ’’Maybe it is perhaps a bit of profit for us. It can 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 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 had been stage 4. Each 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 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 had been stage 4; the round and one foot step plus curve elevate earned stage 3. Each the 106.17 section and whole 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 believe we did it higher immediately.”
“We actually really feel glad about what we had immediately. For me, it hasn’t sunk in but,” Quan mentioned. “We felt humorous dancing in entrance of a giant crowd like this.”
Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) scored 101.13 for his or her charming interpretation of “Anna’s Theme” from The Crimson 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.
On the Press Convention, Bashynska applauded all of the medalists plus the British group. “I’m clearly very glad 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 provide all people credit score for a way far all of us got here. It’s been an extended and laborious 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 Combined Zone, Hernandez referenced Bekker’s current sickness and his father’s dying 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 non-public greatest 100.18 section and 169.07 whole 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 Complete (162,59) had been all private greatest scores.
Ice Chips
The rostrum groups will all be transferring as much as the senior ranks subsequent season. They shared their expectations.
- Katerina Mrazkova: “We don’t have any expectations. It’s a totally new class for us.”
Daniel Mrazek: “After all sooner or later we need to be one of the best. We don’t know the way it’s going to be subsequent season, so we’ll work laborious like final 12 months. We are going to attempt to enhance every part – our dangerous sides and our good sides.” - Hannah Lim: “We’re a bit nervous as a result of we now have quite a lot of examples at our faculty (I.AM), and they’re all actually superb senior skaters. I’m glad they’re there so we will look as much as them. I’m nervous, but additionally very excited.”
- Nadiia Bashynska: “We don’t actually have a selection. We now have to maneuver up. We’re very excited and searching ahead to exhibiting a brand new aspect of ourselves, clearly stepping up our sport and dealing laborious.”
- Peter Beaumont: “Final 12 months we had 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 Complete 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