Technical Analysis of Moonlight Sonata
This is a detailed analysis of "Moonlight Sonata" (skated at the Lillehammer Olympics 1994). It gives an inside why G&G won that night.
by Tanya Peker
I broke the report on 2 categories: technical merit and presentation. I'll also talk about artistry, but it's a personal thought and has nothing to do with winning an Olympic Gold medal. It's just what I think about the programs. I promise that the report will not be biased towards G&G (I am a G&G fan if you didn't guess yet), so the paragraph about artistry will be at the end, which wasn't the deciding factor of the competition. I just wanted to say a few words about it, that's all. Anyway, the technical merit includes the difficulty of the elements, the quantity of the elements and how well were those elements executed, or in other words- the quality. Presentation is all about utilisation of the ice surface, edge control, speed, flow, line, how well the elements are put together to make the program look complete and not just running from one move to the other, and most importantly for pairs- unison.I. Technical Merit
a) Side by side jumps:
M&D had planned sbs 3 toe loops, sbs 2 axels-2 toe loops, 2 flips
B&E had planned sbs 2 axels, sbs 2 loops, sbs 2 flips-2 toe loops
G&G had planned sbs 2 axels, sbs 2 axels-2 flips, sbs axel-loop-half loop-2 salchows
Pairs skaters and judges put the least emphasise on sbs jumps (although nowadays it seems the opposite), but the jumps must be performed in unison, and by this I don't mean just the timing of the jumps but the same technique, which is extremely hard to achieve. Just like you and I walk differently, skaters jump, spin and do plain crossovers differently. You may say, "Pairs skaters are coached by the same coach, they ought to do things the same". But I bet they wish it was that easy. For example, both Tara Lipinski and Nicole Bobeck is/was the pupil of Richard Calaghan, but we both agree that their jumping technique is quite different. For pairs skaters one of the hardest things to do is to execute elements evenly. And that's what G&G did better than anyone else. Not only they executed moves at the same time, they did it with the same technique.
In jumps they had the same take-offs, arm positions, positions in the air, and the same landing positions. They didn't come to a complete stop before jumping. They were close to each other while jumping/rotating/landing, unlike other pairs. They didn't look scared. Most pairs have the look, "I wish I land this jumps" instead of "I wish I land it in unison with my partner". When G&G did their sbs 2 axels, it seemed like they didn't try to match each other, but rather did it like only one of them was on the ice. But the jumps were executed in the complete unison. The quality of their jumping was very high. They landed with great back position, unlike B&E who had bent backs. Artur Dmitriev wraps his free leg higher than Natalia Miskutenok, while Natalia has very tight revolution in the air and lands with her free leg close to the ice (a la Tonia Kwiatkowsky), which cost her in the past to two-foot jumps. And that was exactly what she did. Natalia two-footed a 2 axel in the 2 axel-2 toe loop combination. Although it was a slight two-foot, it counted and what it means is that it's like she never tried it. It means that M&D's long program didn't include Natalia's 2 axel. The long program doesn't have deductions, therefore M&D didn't receive any for this mistake, but the base mark for the performance drops down.
Sergei Grinkov had a slight bobble on the landing of the 2 flip in the 2 axel-2 flip combination, but he didn't put his free leg or his hand down, he didn't stepped out of the jump, so the jump received full credit. It wasn't a failure of the jump, it was a less perfect landing. Therefore it receives the full credit (without extra points if the jump was landed magnificently). Artur Dmitriev also had a little weak landing on a 3 toe loop, but it was landed better than Sergei Grinkov's 2 flip. Sergei Grinkov also singled 2 salchow on the jump sequence. So if we count jump mistakes, we would only count Natalia's 2 axel and Sergei's 2 salchow. The failure of the 2 axel is more serious that a mistake on a 2 salchow, therefore the base mark of M&D became lower than the base mark of G&G. A program without a 2 salchow is worth more than without a 2 axel. B&E didn't make any mistakes on jumps, but their difficulty and quality weren't as good as M&D's or G&G's.
b) Side by side spins:
M&D-- grab-foot sit spins into grab-foot spins standing on one leg (the same spins that K&D are now doing)
B&E-- camels into sit spins
G&G-- camels into sit spins
Sbs spins. Another element that is not as important as pair moves, although has to be in perfect unison and done well as all the elements. M&D did the easiest spins: 2.5 rotations on sit spins and then grab-foot spins standing on one leg. They had the same timing and were close to each other. B&E did 4 rotations on forward camels-change foot-backward camels (also 4 rotations)-back sit spins (6 rotations). More difficult than M&D's spins. They don't have very good positions and their spinning was slow. G&G did flying camels (6 rotations)-back sit spins (3 rotations)-single loop in sit position-back sit spins (6 rotations). Near the end of the spins, on 4th rotation of the back sit spin G&G lost their unison but regained on the 6th rotation, so they finished the spins in unison. The loss of unison lasted for a split second. G&G spun very close to each other and their spins were more difficult than other pairs'. They were fast and both skaters had great back positions and pointed toes. In the end of the program G&G also did sbs butterflies in perfect unison and great technique.
c) Pair spin:
M&D did a very creative spin, the Natalia death spin. Artur starts doing camel and Natalia does a grab-foot sit spin. Artur holds Natalia's back and they do 3 rotations. The quality of Artur's camel isn't as good as Sergei's. That's perhaps why M&D didn't do sbs camels often. Artur free leg just hangs in there instead of being turned out at the hip. He doesn't have a good extension. Natalia's back position on the spin also isn't very pretty. Then Artur "lets Natalia go", and she continues the sit spin by herself. Then Artur "takes her back" and they continue to spin as started. The transition wasn't very smooth. After that Artur grabs Natalia leg and they start doing the famous spin. Natalia spins upside down. They do 6 rotations. B&E start with a shadow camel spin (camel spin where one partner is close to another, the man usually holds the lady by the waist, and they spin in the same direction). They do 3 rotations. Then they change to hand-to-hand camels where both skaters face each other, but they in a form of backward (for the lady)-forward (for the man) spiral position. The spin is done very slowly, almost in slow motion. Then they grab each other's foot (Lloyd grabs Izzy's and vice versa) and they continue to spin. They finish with hand-to-waist pair spin. G&G do 3 rotations on face-to-face camels, different from B&E. B&E touched each others by hands, Sergei Grinkov, on the other hand, holds Katia Gordeeva's waist. Then they change into the hand-to-waist pair spin (3 rotations) and finish the spin with the "kiss" spin (2 rotations). The spin is done with great speed and quality. In the hand-to-waist spin Katia had greater arc in the back unlike Isabelle Brasseur. Katia also has straighter free leg.
d) Death spirals:
M&D-- forward inside death spiral
B&E-- back inside death spiral, forward inside death spiral
G&G-- forward inside death spiral, back outside death spiral
There are four death spirals. The most difficult is forward outside death spiral (never seen this one), then comes back outside, then follows forward inside and the easiest back inside death spiral.
M&D had only one death spiral in their program. As said above, it was the forward inside death spiral, the third most difficult one out of four. Miskutenok achieves a good arc in the back and the spiral is close to the ice, but when she enters the spiral her knees are bent and her butt sticks out. As you might have guessed, it's not good. B&E do the easiest death spiral- back inside and the same one as M&D. B&E's spirals are slow and Isabelle's positions are not very good. She also has bent knees when she enters the spiral and she doesn't have a good arc in the back. Their spirals are not as good as M&D's. G&G also do the same spiral as M&D and the second most difficult- back outside. When doing the first spiral Katia's knees aren't bent, her legs are straight and she has a good arch entering the spiral and while doing the spiral. Her back has a good arch in both spirals and they done close to the ice and with great speed.
e) Throws:
M&D-- 3 salchow, 3 toe loop
B&E-- 3 salchow, 3 toe loop
G&G-- 3 salchow, 2 axel
In throws most people (this doesn't include the judges) look at the lady, but the judges look also at the man. First, the mistakes. M&D and G&G didn't have any mistakes on throws, but B&E did. Brasseur touched down on the throw 3 toe loop, and the landing on the throw 3 salchow was weak. B&E didn't get as much height as M&D and G&G. Miskutenok doesn't hold her landing as long as Gordeeva. Holding the edge for so long as Gordeeva did shows great control. G&G had a unique entrance into the throw 2 axel, which made it more difficult than a usual 2 axel. G&G's throws were better than the other pair's because Sergei didn't stop before throwing Katia, but skated at a great speed. Katia had great height and position in the air and her landings were always light. Katia also had greater speed coming out of the throws. M&D used the easier throw method known as the lift-throw where the male lifts the female up into the jump as opposed to the throw-throw which G&G used where the female is thrown as well as lifted, this being more difficult and riskier. Brasseur bent on her landings (a la Elvis) and Artur Dmitriev as well as other male pairs skaters came in a complete stop before throwing their Natalia/partners. CBS did a great comparison between the throws 3 salchows of M&D and G&G and you could see it very clearly.
f) Lifts:
M&D-- 2 lifts and 1 split twist
B&E-- 2 lifts, 1 split twist, 1 lateral twist
G&G-- 3 lifts, 1 split twist
f1) Twists:
M&D's split triple twist is the worst of the three. It's not bad but comparing to B&E and G&G it wasn‘t as good. They didn't achieve the great height that G&G and B&E did. B&E had a great height, but Brasseur like Natalia bumps at her partner instead of Lloyd/Artur catching Isabelle/Natalia first and then putting them on the ice. G&G's split triple twist was the best in the world (it's a fact, not an opinion; earlier in their careers they did a quadruple twist, and with ease, btw). G&G achieved great height, speed and Katia's landing was very light. Sergei catches Katia first and then puts her on the ice. The twist was fast, high, and clean. B&E also did a triple lateral twist where Brasseur was parallel to the ice. Unfortunately, I can't compare it to anyone since none else did it.
f2) Overhead lifts:
M&D had two of the easiest lifts. The first was a simple lasso lift. The lift was done with two hands, and only on the last rotation (3 in all) Artur lets his other hand go. Their second lift was a hip-lift. It was very creative and with unique dismount. B&E had also two lifts: a back toe lift and a hip-star lift. The first one is the star (kA B&E Star) where Lloyd picks Isabelle with one hand and her hands are free. Their second lift was a toe-lift with multiple changes of positions. This lift is particularly difficult because it requires a lot of strength from both partners since the lift done backwards. G&G had three lifts: a lasso lift, a forward toe lift, and a hip-star lift.
Their first lift, the lasso lift, was very complicated although the basics for it are easy, done with one hand. When Sergei picks Katia, he lets go his hand right away, unlike other male skaters who first make sure that the lady is stable. While he's rotating, Katia is also spinning by herself, and they dismount with a twist. Their second lift was a toe lift where Katia bends her free leg while Sergei picks her up. The lift is done very easily and with a light dismount (done with one hand). The last lift is a hip-star lift ( a little bit different from B&E; Isabelle is parallel to the ice, Katia is perpendicular, looking down at the ice, her hands are free, Natalia was holding to Artur to ). Katia had better looking back and leg positions than other ladies. Her back was perfectly arched and her toes were pointed and she had straight legs. Isabelle, on the other hand, had bent legs and hers and Natalia's backs weren't as good as Katia's. Once again Sergei lets his hand go right when he picks Katia. Their lifts done with great speed and Sergei has clean footwork while rotating at great speed. He covered more ice than other male skaters and Katia had light landings on the dismounts.
In general, M&D were weak on pair moves in comparison to G&G. B&E had weak side by side skating. In all, G&G's program was more technically demanding and done with a better quality.
II. Presentation
If you look at the qualities (listed in the second paragraph) that the skaters should have for a great presentation, you see that G&G had them.G&G were by far the fastest of the skaters at the event. People who saw them live have commented on their amazing speed, but unfortunately TV makes it harder to appreciate it. They covered a lot of ice faster than any other pair. M&D weren't slow either, but they were sloppy (at one point Artur stepped out of a footwork sequence and had to run after Natalia to get in unison). B&E were merely slow. M&D relied on their flexibility and a lot of exaggerated arm movements as connecting moves, whereas G&G turn and pivot and use more footwork to connect their elements. While M&D's footwork was difficult, G&G's footwork was also hard and done holding hands which meant if one of them stumbles, both go down. G&G had a great flow. That was one of their trademarks. M&D were rough around the edges, while G&G had great edge control. It was known that you couldn't hear their blades scratch the ice, while M&D had a lot of noise. Dick Button once said that M&D graduated from Riders Hockey school. All in all, G&G had better skating skills that transcended into their presentation.
The following paragraph is my opinion which *is* based on reasonable thinking. (Drums! Drums! Drums! Bam Bam Bam!)
ARTISTRY. Many people expressed their opinions about who had the most artistry, M&D or G&G. If you look at their long programs, each expressed music with as much expression as was needed for a particular music. For example, people've been saying that M&D's Second Piano Concerto was a masterpiece. What they don't realize is that the music was moving too. They expressed the music with deep emotions and their movements. G&G's music was very soft and at times quiet. If they were running and waving their arms like M&D it would've been inappropriate for Moonlight Sonata. It would've been a fake. Each pair had to express the right amount of passion relying on their music. Therefore, M&D might be considered more passionate than G&G, but in reality, they were expressing the mood of the music, which G&G were doing also. Artistry is in the eye of a beholder and that's I guess why the competitions can't be judged on artistry. But each skater "moves" you in a different way, and for some people it was G&G, for the other -M&D. But it had nothing to do with winning the competition.
the G&G corner - Copyright © Su-jan Yip, September 1996 - 2007