Here's to Final NCBA OPEN Predictions!

[TREBLE]

Here is my final opinion and discussion about the OPEN division before Championships this saturday! Remember, these are my own thoughts and opinions so there is no need to heed my words or even take time to read them. How maturely you handle it is up to you... everything is open to discussion though, so come and get started!

After work this morning, during lunch break I started taking a look at all the OPEN class competitors one last time and evaluating them on certain areas. These areas include:

Equipment/Technique
Movement/Dance
Show Design/General Effect
Tricks and Twirls

Here we go... let's get started with:

EQUIPMENT/TECHNIQUE:

[ 1 ] Fairfield/Vallejo
[ 2 ] Golden Valley
[ 3 ] Santa Cruz
[ 4 ] Benicia
[ 5 ] Foothill
[ 6 ] McQueen
[ 7 ] Livermore

Reasoning - Overall Fairfield and Vallejo have the most control of all the equipment on the floor as they can easily manipulate it in the ways and directions they need it to go. Their "weaponry" tosses are quite in controlled, especially the triples and quads. Although both these units may need work on the higher tosses, they seem to be progressing nicely towards that goal. Golden Valley also have a strong mastery over equipment, but at times those triples seem to get quite high as well as those sabre tosses can get a bit rough.

MOVEMENT/DANCE:

[ 1 ] Fairfield
[ 2 ] Vallejo
[ 3 ] Benicia
[ 4 ] Golden Valley
[ 5 ] Santa Cruz
[ 6 ] Foothill
[ 7 ] McQueen
[ 8 ] Livermore

Reasoning - Once again, Fairfield takes the lead in this category. This is because not only do they have a strong dance background behind them, they also do what most units have a problem doing. Finishing the move instead of going through it. You can really see how they present themselves instead of doing some incredible leap then just running or walking away from it. Vallejo is also very strong in movement, however, not all the members take the time to really finish their move. If this happens, they would get the same credit as Fairfield does, if not better. Benicia has awesome dance! Even their footwork is great to look at because it adds such difficulty to the show, but being so pinned down in the middle of the floor makes it harder to really move around at all. As well as there can be some slight timing problems with execution.

SHOW DESIGN/GENERAL EFFECT:

[ 1 ] Vallejo
[ 2 ] Benicia
[ 3 ] Golden Valley
[ 4 ] Fairfield
[ 5 ] Santa Cruz
[ 6 ] Foothill
[ 7 ] McQueen
[ 8 ] Livermore

Reasoning - Vallejo's show this year has gotten intense as the competition went by and after seeing it again at Foothill, I have to say that they definitely have a chance at keeping their CHAMPIONSHIP title. A very interesting idea of using a conductor to control puppet guard members. The difficulty and tricks are nicely placed throughout the show perfectly and everything fits well. There's a strong eye-catching sabre intro, a harsh rifle movement, a soft flag statement with different shades of purple then a chaotic color change to red to end the show. Also, very interesting uniform idea... I give credit to the creator. Benicia has always been great at creating a show about torn lovers and they haven't strayed away from that. Phantom of the Opera was a perfect theme to get this show started and all the ballroom dancing makes the show stronger and more beautiful to watch. At first I had my doubts about the huge white dresses in this show, but they can still execute amazingly in them so credit is gladly given. Golden Valley has a very fast-paced, intense show about the Matrix. A lot of the equipment routines are quite amazing to watch as well as the ending flag statement, which really leaves a mark on the floor.

TRICKS AND TWIRLS:

[ 1 ] Vallejo/Fairfield
[ 2 ] Benicia
[ 3 ] Foothill
[ 4 ] Golden Valley
[ 5 ] Santa Cruz
[ 6 ] Livermore
[ 7 ] McQueen

Reasoning - Not only did I do the placements on the different tricks each unit did during the show, I also placed them according to how well they executed each move. Vallejo and Fairfield are still at the top because when it comes to execution, these two units command strong focus. Fairfield not only have many blade tosses on sabre (which, mind you, are really difficult to do... those tosses hurt like hell), but alot of different angle toss as well as unique horizontal tosses with their rifles. Vallejo still has its many tricks with their usual toss turn-arounds, but have added new ways of catching equipment. This includes a smooth leg extension horizontal rifle toss while their backs are too the ground, a strong frontal flag without catching it with their hands but with their legs, a frontal 45 degree toss as they move through the light purple flags, and finally a horizontal exchange with the red flags with the catching members on their backs and both legs extend up. Benicia also has lot of interesting moves, which not only includes equipment, but dance moves as well. They still have their usual horizontal leg transition and toss turn-arounds, but they also have strong dance as the boys of the guard manipulate the girls into wrapping around the body many times, which requires alot of upper body strength and flexibility. The reason Foothill didn't get a strong placement when it came to this category was because alot of their tricks are very rough, although they are still caught most of the time. Also, I have seen Vallejo do alot of the exchanges before in the past, especially in the street seasons and have strong command of their equipment, so I'm not impressed this time around by these moves. Fairfield has also done alot of these exchanges on the street and of course during their winter shows, for example their 2001 "California" show.

Well that's pretty much all I have to say before Champs arrives. Just a few more days and everyone will gather at the floor once again and for the last time this season. I wish everyone the best of luck everyone and let the final game begin! I will be watching closely one last time...

[guardthepiccolo]

those comments were really helpful and constructive, thanks so much! i wish we were going to championships, i hate prom.