Russian Test Skates Day 2: Our Ranking

Early days in Victoria and Nikita’s Free Dance but they’ve got a good foundation to build on there. Their connection is there throughout but a lot of room to grow. (Nikita…fix your damn twizzles we can’t keep going like this.)

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

Taking on Moulin Rouge as an ice dance team carries so much weight and Diana and Gleb have had to work hard to make things completely different to certain legends. They mostly succeed, but the climax maybe needs a bigger move to win over a crowd.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

Dima seems like he’s being hard on himself. For coming back from a recent injury, that was a fine performance. This program can be a real moment for him, it accentuates his regal quality and allows him to be commanding. He can get there, just be patient.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

Samarin’s free isn’t as cohesive as his short but laying down a clean skate after not being able to do a quad at all last season is still so impressive. He got a little tight in the shoulders and his interpretation of the music suffered but you can see the effort.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

Would really like to see Makar’s free at full potential because it got away from him today but there could be something special there.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

#BringBackWhiteCrow

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

That was so fun from Akopova/Rakhmanin! What a great program for them! The twist and throws were incredible.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

Free skate is much better for Sasha and Dima than the short was. They’re still a bit methodical at this stage and little things went wrong, but this feels like it can come together much more easily.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

Really interesting in the free for Mishina and Galliamov. He shines more in the first half and she shines more in the second 😂 Now they’ve gotta find a way to meet in the middle.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

That might be our favourite program Anna has ever had! She really connected to the music and interpreted it well.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

Alena looks technically amazing which in itself is a victory but that free program is irritatingly empty choreographically.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021

God, absolutely love this choice for Nugumanova. She really sells this, the delicate way she moves works with the music so well.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) September 12, 2021