Saturday, December 11, 2010

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Ladies Free Skate

1) Rachael Flatt (USA)
   Music: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue by Rodgers & Wild
  • I am really pulling for her to skate a nice free and move up after a flawed short
  • She has nothing at all to lose here, so she just needs to go all out
  • Nice double axel-triple toe combination to start out
  • I feel like she is going to bring it
  • That was a tough fall for Rachael on the 3L, cannot remember the last time I saw her fall
  • Nice clean triple flip
  • That right leg was swinging really wide on the 3L entrance
  • The planned triple flip looked doubled, she also eliminated the combination
  • I believe that triple loop was singled
  • She tacked her combination onto that triple salchow
  • Nothing has really looked "right" with her at this competition; Rachael Flatt just doesn't make technical errors 
  • Who is making her smile for photos in the Kiss & Cry when I'm sure she'd rather crawl under the bench
  • FS Score: 36.47 (TES) + 46.91 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 82.38
  • 45.19 (SP) + 82.38 (FS) = 127.57

2) Miki Ando (Japan)
   Music: Piano Concerto in A minor by Grieg
  • Miki literally looks scared to death, thats not good
  • Triple lutz-double loop clean, but really high wrap on the leg
  • The Ando jumping machine is back in action with a good triple loop
  • Not a fan of her positions at all, but this camel is actually fairly nice
  • She should not to the front leg catch position because, in my opinion, Sasha Cohen is the standard so don't do it if you can't live up
  • Double axel-double toe is just text book
  • Triple lutz is landed a little low but clean, same with triple salchow and triple toe
  • Double axel-double loop-double loop looked like an endless series of jumps to me
  • Notice how I'm only commenting on jumps? That is because there is nothing else of interest in this program for me
  • She is seriously traveling on that final combination spin
  • Well Ando did what she does well, a clean long packed with technical content
  • Girl just threw it down and that will be the standard for the next four ladies
  • FS Score: 64.64 (TES) + 58.06 (PCS) = 122.70
  • 50.45 (SP) + 122.70 (FS) = 173.15
3) Akiko Suzuki (Japan)
   Music: Fiddler on the Roof by Bock & Harnick
  • Akiko has been my favorite skater of the ladies this season and I'd love to see her win here
  • Opening triple lutz may have been two-footed
  • Double axel, triple toe was clean
  • Nice triple loop
  • I love every moment of her program and her connecting steps are just as interesting as her jumps
  • I was so lost in watching her perform that I forget to comment on the past few jumps, she may have doubled a planned triple back there
  • There is something about her arms on her camel that I just am obsessed with, so powerful and strong
  • This footwork sequence is phenomenal and is such an amazing end to the program
  • This choreography really does Fiddler justice which I really appreciate
  • I think Bock  & Harnick would be proud of her musical interpretation 
  • FS Score: 58.18 (TES) + 57.28 (PCS) = 115.46
  • 58.26 (SP) + 115.46 (FS) = 173.72
 4) Kanako Murakami (Japan)
   Music: The Mask of Zorro by James Horner
  • The costume makes me want to vomit, but the opening triple-triple is great
  • Triple lutz is solid, little jumping bean looks like she is on
  • She is so youthful in her short, but very mature here
  • Completely popped the triple flip, probably a lack of concentration
  • Her layback can use work, but the hair cutter into the Bielmann are strong
  • Triple flip-double toe, cool as a cucumber
  • She reminds me a lot of Mirai Nagasu, like in a big way
  • Triple loop and double axel are both nice and clean
  • Three jump combination and she just keeps going and going and going
  • Nice fast spins to end and she is thrilled with that performance as she should be 
  • FS Score: 59.98 (TES) + 57.14 (PCS) = 117.12
  • 61.47 (SP) + 117.12 (FS) = 178.59
 5) Carolina Kostner (Italy)
   Music: L'Apres-Midi d'un Faun by Debussy
  • Not a Carolina fan, but I'm going to try to be objective
  • Those opening poses fit the piece well, very Nijinski
  • Triple toe and double axels are solid
  • Those long legs look great in spins when she rally stretches out and points her foot
  • I want so badly for the nude mesh on her costume to be closer to her skin tone
  • she seems to have no speed in certain sections
  • She pops a triple loop, but then the triple loop-double toe is clean
  • She looks like she has no energy out there and is really fizzling out in the end
  • I've said it before and I'll say it now, that music is so subtle and nuanced that you need a true performer to make it interesting, and that is not Carolina
  • FS Score: 55.56 (TES) + 60.91 (PCS) = 116.47
  • 62.13 (SP) + 116.47 (FS) = 178.60
 6) Alissa Czisny (USA)
   Music: Selections from Winter & Spring by George Winston
  • Nice triple lutz-double toe
  • And a nice triple flip-double toe
  • Just stay calm girl, land your jumps, and you will win this thing
  • Such a gorgeous "complete packages" that she gives us
  • Triple toe done, 4 jumps yet to go
  • Can you imagine Alissa and Stephane Lambiel doing side-by-side spins?
  • Triple loop clean into a gorgeous spiral
  • Good triple flip and a step out of an otherwise clean double axel
  • Great triple toe and we are done with jumps!
  • Combination spin is exquisite leading into some wonderfully intricate footwork
  • So Alissa Czisny just won the grand prix final with two clean programs! 
  • FS Score: 55.68 (TES) + 61.31 (PCS) = 116.99
  • 63.76 (SP) + 116.99 (FS) = 180.75
 Final Results:
1) Alissa Csisny                 180.75
2) Carolina Kostner           178.60
3) Kanako Murakami         178.59
4) Akiko Suzuki                 173.72
5) Miki Ando                      173.15
6) Rachael Flatt                 127.57

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