FOURNIER BEAUDRY / SOERENSEN (CAN) | Ice Dance Free Dance | GP Final 2023 | #GPFigure

So from one brilliant Canadian ice dance team to another, Laurence Fournier-Baudry and Nicolai Sorensen. The concept for this free dance, the Notre-Dame de Paris, suggested to them even before the end of last season by their coach Marie-France Debreu. Even more speed than Marjorie and Zachary through the one foot turns. Difficult transitions between the first and second twizzles and safely done today. Such passion right to the end of the free dance for Laurence Fournier-Baudry and Nicolai Sorensen. The Canadian team on a mission to prove that they are worthy medalists here. That was their goal. They weren't shy about discussing their desire to push onto the podium at the Grand Prix final. They will have been bitterly disappointed with the mistakes made in the rhythm dance. A solid free dance here. That said, the technical panel are reviewing currently the elements and for a team of this caliber, a stationary lift getting just a level three is a surprise to them. Twizzles coming in at level two for Nicolai and on the diagonal step sequence a level two for Nicolai also as opposed to the level three for Marjorie and Zachary. And so when they get their feedback, they will be surprised and perhaps a little bit disappointed to see the technical panel not overjoyed with some of the edge set as the coach of the year, Patrice Lauzon, greets them off the ice and this, like Marjorie and Zachary, the music is a nod towards that World Championships as we see the team happily embracing all the passion that the music requires. Here, a chance to look back at the twizzles and perhaps reason as to why a level two assigned to Nicolai. But the musical of Notre-Dame de Paris is based on, or chosen because the famous Montreal lyricist Luc Plamondon just set the Canadiens that went before them, all of them very conscious of the World Championships in March and their desire to have the optimal outing in their home training base as well. Some of that forward cross there, not the length of stroke that we may see from others. That said, the speed at the start of the program was impressive, it's the one foot turns. The passion, not just from Laurence, but also Nicolai, that final choreographic lift. So Marjorie and Zachary in the judges' component scores were mid to high eights. Laurence and Nicolai, high eights to low nines. We're with you guys, five teams from IM, hope you're doing well today everybody. Amazing, how wonderful of Nicolai, acknowledging his training mates also from the Ice Academy of Montreal competing in Zagreb. What a testament to them as humans and also the training base and support that is fostered and created at that venue. He's thinking not just of himself but of those that I'm sure he inspires with his partner Laurence in training. Gifts abundant from the fans here for all the competitors. We saw Marjorie and Zachary following four or five points adrift of their season's best. The season's best for Laurence and Nicolai is 124.17. Laurence obviously disengaged from the result of playing with the cuddly toys. Nicolai acknowledging the wait in time that they have to endure now is down to the reviews by the technical panel as they assess the levels assigned to the nine elements that they delivered in the free dance. 120.75, the team is not overjoyed. We'll find out the reasons behind that score when they see the levels given. Into first place, two points.