Saturday, April 30, 2011

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Free Dance Live Blog

1) Charlene Guignard & Marco Fabbri (ITA)
 Music: March With Me
  • Who decided that these costumes were necessary?
  • Nice tight twizzles
  • But seriously can we get a deduction for that heinous costume
  • They are practically at  a standstill at some points of this program
  • When in doubt, do a haircutter position in your rotational lift?
  • Slight bobble by Marco on the curve lift
  • Thank god Barbra Fusar-Poli created something tackier than herself
 FD Score: 37.15 (TES) + 33.07 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.22
 Combined Total: 49.80 (SD) + 70.22 (FD) = 120.02


2) Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)
 Music: Singing In The Rain
  • They have a nice light quality, a good lilt to their movements
  • Simple position on the curve lift
  • Not the fastest twizzles, but pretty good unison
  • The straight line lift is like an homage to swing dancing, but position changes and exit could be much smoother
  • I love his sweater vest
  • This techno rap remix in the middle of the piece completely ruins the romantic, Old Hollywood feel
  • Very nice hydroblade move
 FD Score: 36.08 (TES) + 34.76 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.84
 Combined Total: 52.17 (SD) + 70.84 (FD) = 123.01

3) Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland (GBR)
 Music: The Lion King
  • They are carrying great speed right now, let's see if they can maintain it and stay in control
  • Loss of unison in twizzles
  • The lift with him in a low position and her on his upper back is interesting
  • Her upside down balance on his knee is also nice
  • I love this music and they seem to be able to emote with it quite well
  • They have mostly maintained their energy level throughout
  • They have a lot of potential and are now the top team in Great Britain
 FD Score: 38.93 (TES) + 35.61 (PCS) - (DED) = 74.54
 Combined Total: 51.75 (SD) + 74.54 (FD) = 126.29

4) Louise Walden & Owen Edwards (GBR)
 Music: Goodbye Lenin
  • Decent rotational lift
  • I like the tempo of this music
  • That fee leg twizzle was too much for them to maintain
  • That is an interesting dance spin position
  • Some unique counter-balance moves
  • Nice innovation, but lacked polish
 FD Score: 38.28 (TES) + 31.51 (PCS) - (DED) = 69.79
 Combined Total: 46.73 (SD) + 69.79 (FD) = 116.52

5) Allison Reed& Otar Japaridze (GEO)
 Music: The Messiah Will Come Again/Pretty Woman
  • This seems like a piece of music that Lang & Tschernyshev would've skated to
  • That double spread eagle movement was awkward
  • Very slow and out of synch twizzles
  • The age difference between them (16 & 23) is borderline awkward
  • Why is she dressed as Xena warrior princess
  • They have a lot of passion and energy, but lack the control and polish of better teams
 FD Score: 37.15 (TES) + 33.52 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.67
 Combined Total: 49.44 (SD) + 70.67 (FD) = 120.11

6) Siobhan Heekin-Canedy & Alexander Shakalov (UKR)
 Music: La Vie En Rose/Padam Padam/ L'Arrestation/Je Ne Regrette Rien
  • Very elegant, good flow
  • Positions are interesting in the dance spin but they could be more stretched
  • I love Padam, Padam
  • I really want them to pick up some more speed
  • Good unison on twizzles but a little slow
  • They use levels well
  • This is an example of good music editing
  • These costumes are very elegant and they really relate well to one another
  • Could've used more speed on final lift
 FD Score: 40.70 (TES) + 36.69 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 76.39
 Combined Total: 52.31 (SD) + 76.39 (FD) = 128.70

7) Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU)
 Music: Les Miserables
  • Her hair looks a mess, did she brush it?
  • Really fast twizzles like the other Zoueva & Shpilband teams
  • I like the positions in the dance spin
  • I think we could do without the lyrics in this piece
  • The size of their movements is not living up to the power of the vocals
  • These costumes also don't scream Les Miz to me
  • Nice hydroblade move, I like his dramatic arm movements
 FD Score: 39.68 (TES) + 38.17 (PCS) - (DED) = 77.85
 Combined Total: 53.16 (SD) + 77.85 (FD) = 131.01

8) Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)
 Music: Just for a Little While/Aint No Sunshine/Think
  • Nice twizzles
  • Nice improvements since the last time I saw them
  • This music is a little to romantic for a sibling team
  • The "Think" section suits a brother and sister team better in my opinion
  • The rotational lift is nice, but we've all seen that position many times before
  • I enjoy watching Chris more than Cathy because he is more expressive
  • Chris fell  doing a hitch kick in literally the last second of the piece
 FD Score: 41.64 (TES) + 37.83 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 78.47
 Combined Total: 54.86 (SD) + 78.47 (FD) = 133.33

9) Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)
 Music: Liebestraum/Four Seasons
  • Really nice twizzles
  • Good attention to character details
  • I don't love the background noise that is in this arrangement
  • Small stumble by Alexander getting up from a kneel
  • I like that they use true ballet-inspired movements
  • They look very happy with that
 FD Score: 44.13 (TES) + 41.29 (PCS) - (DED) = 85.42
 Combined Total: 55.53 (SD) + 85.42 (FD) = 140.95

10) Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA)
 Music: George Gershwin Medley
  • I love me some Gershwin
  • Some unison issues on the twizzles
  • I love the costumes
  • They are a nice team but they look very young, some more experience will give them a more mature look
  • They almost look like they could be a brother-sister team
 FD Score: 41.55 (TES) + 41.63 (PCS) - (DED) = 83.18
 Combined Total: 57.68 (SD) + 83.18 (FD) = 140.86

11) Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)
 Music: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
  • Great unison in twizzles, they could be faster though
  • Wonderful glide and flow across the ice
  • This elegant music suits them oh so well
  • I love how seamless everything is, it doesn't look like they are doing elements, just a great flow across the ice
  • They've maintained the same speed and tempo throughout the entire piece
  • They lose a lot of speed coming out of the third position of their camel spin
  • That was simply gorgeous, very European
 FD Score: 44.58 (TES) + 44.07 (PCS) - (DED) = 89.65
 Combined Total: 64.12 (SD) + 89.65 (FD) = 153.77

12) Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein (USA)
 Music: Cabaret
  • Nobody pulls their faces like these two!
  • This is my favorite free dance of the season, such theatrics
  • Nice unison and speed in twizzles
  • I love her upside down camel position in the dance spin on "The Money Song"
  • They really start picking up speed during The Money Song
  • Good soft knees
  • Love the straight line lift
  • The curve lift with Greg on one foot is very nice
  • Loving the Liza moment!
  • Great position and speed on rotational lift
  • That's the best I've seen them do that program all year
 FD Score: 46.65 (TES) + 44.74 (PCS) - (DED) = 90.30
 Combined Total: 61.47 (SD) + 90.30 (FD) = 151.86

13) Vanessa Crone & Paul Poirier (CAN)
 Music: Eleanor Rigby
  • I will never understand the appeal of this program
  • He is a good strong partner but she does nothing for me and I don't find them well matched
  • Unison issues on 2nd and 3rd twizzles
  • Curve lift loses a lot of speed
  • He has beautiful posture but her upper body is very stiff and she is wearing her shoulders as earrings
  • She also needs to point her feet more
  • I don't understand why the elaborate opening and closing pose is necessary
 FD Score: 45.69 (TES) + 44.43 (PCS) - (DED) = 90.12
 Combined Total: 61.01 (SD) + 90.12 (FD) = 151.13

14) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)
 Music: Don Quixote
  • She fully embodies this character
  • I'm so happy she is wearing a real tutu
  • Nice curve lift
  • Nikita loses unison in the second set of twizzles, the distance between them increases
  • He could have her higher off the ground in the one-arm rotational lift
  • Was it really necessary for her to stop mid-program and do a heel stretch
  • Awkward moment getting into the lift with her leg behind his head, awkward getting out as well
  • She has gorgeous posture and upper body carriage, she mus have studied a lot of ballet
  • The speed is not consistent in the dance spin
  • The last lift is a very ugly position
  • I've seen them do that program much better, this was not polished today
 FD Score: 42.47 (TES) + 46.52 (PCS) - (DED) = 88.99
 Combined Total: 65.51 (SD) + 88.99 (FD) = 154.50

15) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)
 Music: Moulin Rouge
  • I'm praying to finally see a clean version of this free dance
  • Good unison in the twizzles
  • There are certain transitional moments still look sloppy to me
  • This middle section fits them better because its more lyrical
  • She caught her boot in the haircutter position of the rotational lift, but the exit was awkward
  • Nice cartwheel entrance to the curve lift
  • That horizontal lift must take amazing ab strength on Kaitlyns' part
  • I don't know what it is, but this program still looks so choppy to me
 FD Score: 48.51 (TES) + 46.74 (PCS) - (DED) = 95.25
 Combined Total: 65.07 (SD) + 95.25 (FD) = 160.32

16) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
 Music: Charlie Chaplin Medley
  • Just an exquisite free skate
  • So true to character
  • It is just perfection, and they don't seem to be working, its all so natural
  • Every detail is just perfection
  • They have an ease out there that the top american and Canadian teams don't have
  • Wow they both took a fall out of nowhere
  • That opened the door for the Shibutanis to come from behind in 4th
  • I don't believe the fall was on an element so I doubt it will cost them much
  • I just can't believe that, after such an amazing season
  • I just feel terribly for them
 FD Score: 43.00 (TES) + 51.57 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 92.57
 Combined Total: 70.97 (SD) + 92.57 (FD) = 163.54

17) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)
 Music: Melody of the White Nights
  • Slight unison issues, she does an extra rotation on the 3rd set
  • Very awkward entrance to first lift
  • I don't like this program at all
  • The is very little drama and the costumes are very dull
  • This is not a perfect skate, a few stumbles and bobbles here and there
  • They did not capitalize on the mistake by the French team
 FD Score: 45.78 (TES) + 48.56 (PCS) - (DED) = 94.35
 Combined Total: 65.88 (SD) + 94.35 (FD) = 160.23

18) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)
 Music: Smile/Just Face The Music and Dance
  • Such amazing speed and flow across the ice
  • The lifts are looking very good today
  • All I want is for them to go clean
  • The quicker part is where they really shine
  • Their twizzles are the best in the world
  • Can't wait to see what the judges will do
  • The two point deduction to the French for the fall takes away their lead from the short dance
  • Shibutanis should get a higher technical score, but judges could hold the French up on PCS if they want
 FD Score: 48.14 (TES) + 48.77 (PCS) - (DED) = 96.91
 Combined Total: 66.88 (SD) + 96.91 (FD) = 163.79

19) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)
 Music: Temptation/Mujer Latina

  • This fast footwork and th hip action at the top is phenomenal
  • I can't wait until we get to see the who piece
  • Wonderful twizzles
  • I love that little moment when she pushes Scott
  • That change of position lift was phenomenal
  • The upside down straight line lift is equally great
  • This dance was so worth waiting for 
  • These two just look so great together, they were born to dance with each other
  • The eye contact is amazing
  • I saw no visible mistakes; they look as though they've been competing all season
  • Wow, that was electrifying
 FD Score: 51.21 (TES) + 56.29 (PCS) - (DED) = 107.50
 Combined Total: 74.29 (SD) + 107.50 (FD) = 181.79

20) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)
 Music: Il Postino/Payadora/Recuerdo

  • They need absolute perfection, they can't withstand even a small mistake
  • Amazing speed
  • Incredible twizzles with phenomenal unison & speed
  • I could see Igor in the background getting very excited after the twizzles
  • They are attacking this every bit as hard as they possibly can
  • Great dance spin with almost no speed lost in position changes
  • I love the backward entrance rotational lift, slightly clunky exit
  • I love how close and intricate the holds are
  • Signature Tanith Belbin lift at the end
  • They did that as well as they possibly could've
  • If you are the judges, how do you make that decision
 FD Score: 53.78 (TES) + 57.73 (PCS) - (DED) = 111.51
 Combined Total: 73.76 (SD) + 111.51 (FD) = 185.27

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Free Skate Live Blog

1) Irina Movchan (UKR)
  Music: Verano Portento
  • I've not seen this skater before, she is gorgeous
  • She seems  very young and inexperienced
  • I wish we could see more passion and intensity in her performance
  • She kind of looks like she is just in practice right now
  • Popped a double axel to a single
  • She seems to be running out of steam
  • In her combination spin, it doesn't seem she is holding each position long enough to achieve top levels
  FS Score: 39.87 (TES) + 37.90 (PCS) - (DED) = 77.47
  Total Score: 45.68 (SP) + 77.47 (FS) = 123.15


2) Elena Glebova (EST)
  Music: Cappricio Espagno
  • She had a lot of highs and lows in the warm-up
  • She is a very sassy skater, especially in her Sex and the City short program
  • Decent opening 3z
  • Fall on 3lo
  • Good double axel, singles the combination jump
  • Another shaky 2a
  • "shaky" is a good word for this program, she doesn't look confident in her landings
  • Even her spins look wobbly and she is traveling
  • I admire her effort and her flair in the choreography between elements
  • Elena isn't thrilled with that overall
  FS Score: 38.29 (TES) + 41.21 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 78.50
  Total Score: 46.28 (SP) + 78.50 (FS) = 124.78

3) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
  Music: The Drummer/Sad Romance/ August Rhapsody
  • The Helgesson sisters are coached by their mother; Joshi had the better short program here
  • Popped her opening jump, not a good way to make up ground after a poor short
  • Hand down on 3F, adds two doubles to make a series
  • Nice strong 3lo to recover
  • This is a gorgeous musical selection and it suits her style very well
  • I'd love to see more freedom in this footwork sequence, she is concentrating so hard
  • That spiral could use a lot more stretch
  • Good 3T
  • Another strong 3lz, but hardly any speed coming out to get into the 2T
  • I love this August's Rhapsody section, she seems to be hitting her stride here
  • She saved a lot of jumps for the second half so she'll get extra credit
  FS Score: 49.94 (TES) + 47.18 (PCS) - (DED) = 97.12
  Total Score: 45.40 (SP) + 97.12 (FS) = 142.52

4) Juulia Turkkila (FIN)
  Music: Don Quixote
  • I have Juulia on my fantasy team so I'm pulling for a great skate
  • Good opening double axel
  • I'd like to see her pick up the speed
  • Nice 3lo-3T combination
  • A solid 3s-3t combination
  • The speed isn't great, but so far a clean skate
  • She has nice posture and the look of a ballerina on the ice
  • She is only 16 so this is a good youthful musical selection for her
  • Good double axel
  • She is replacing the injured Laura Lepisto at worlds and she is doing a fine job
  • It is great to see that Finland is building a talented ladies field
  • She is fizzling off toward the end, needs to keep her energy up
  • That crossed leg sit spin position was really interesting
  • The crowd is getting behind her in this footwork
  • Great clean skate overall, she is very pleased!
  FS Score: 46.91 (TES) + 44.07 (PCS) - (DED) = 90.98
  Total Score: 45.70 (SP) + 90.98 (FS) = 136.68

5) Bingwa Geng (CHN) 
  Music: Red Violin
  • Bingwa has been up and down all season so I'm hoping for a solid skate from her
  • Yuna Kim is her idol so it must be quite an experience for her to skate in the same competition
  • A fall on the opening 3z
  • Good strong 3T
  • Nice 2A to recover
  • Let's hope she's found her stride now
  • Two solid 3-2 combinations with only slightly shaky landings
  • It's good to see her finally finding her stride
  • I wish she could pick up some more speed
  • She is really trying to use her entire body for expression in this footwork
  • She is concentration so hard and that shows on her face; I'd like more of a performance
  • Her 2a covers a decent amount of ice
  • Slow camel spin, but it picks up speed when she hits the donut position
  FS Score: 50.93 (TES) + 42.96 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 92.89
  Total Score: 47.89 (SP) + 92.89 (FS) = 140.78

6) Jenna McCorkell (GBR) 
  Music: Voice of Violins/Allegro from Music for Strings
  • Jenna has been up and down all season but she looked good in warm-up
  • She is  married to Kevin Van Der Perren
  • She is taller for a skater and can build good speed with those long lets
  • Awkward 3Z, but solid 3F to follow
  • Hands down and turn out of 3T
  • None of her landings are really happening correctly for her today
  • She doesn't seem to be working to interpret this music, all she is doing is smiling
  • She looks exhausted by the end of this footwork and her limbs are flailing
  • She is not happy with that performance at all
  FS Score: 33.55 (TES) + 42.22 (PCS) - (DED) = 75.77
  Total Score: 45.99 (SP) + 75.77 (FS) = 121.76

7) Cheltzie Lee (AUS) 
  Music: Yentl
  • Is she going to channel Barbra?
  • She took it easy in the warm-up, which is understandable for skating first
  • She is very expressive, particularly with her upper body, straight from the top
  • Good 3f-3t-2t from the beginning
  • Bails out and two-foots the 3z
  • Could use more speed in that sit spin
  • She is really focused; she'll need more reckless abandon to channel Barbra
  • Good 3T
  • She looks very unsure in all of her jump landings
  • Step out of 3S-2T
  • She needs to stretch in her neck and drop her shoulders
  • Needs much more stretch in spiral
  • 2a is the very las movement of the program, hand down
  FS Score: 42.85 (TES) + 42.60 (PCS) - (DED) = 85.45
  Total Score: 48.20 (SP) + 85.45 (FS) = 133.65

8) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO) 
  Music: Phantom of the Opera
  • Nice solid 3z-2t to open
  • She has good speed and flow across the ice
  • Strong 3z
  • She is so hit or miss because right now she looks strong
  • I clearly spoke to soon because she fell on the 3F
  • I hate Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • 2a into a 3 jump series
  • 4 of her jumping passes are out of the way in the first minute
  • She is very expressive with her face and arms
  • She needs to shake out her hands before she skates so they don't clench up like claws
  • Good strong solo 2a
  • I adore this costume
  • The Masquerade music is a good choice for the foot sequence
  • She is definitely showing that she is a fighter with this program
  • There is nothing tentative about her skating and she attacks everything
  FS Score: 54.66 (TES) + 50.97 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 104.63
  Total Score: 51.61 (SP) + 104.63 (FS) = 156.24

9) Amelie Lacoste (CAN) 
  Music: Sheherazade
  • I hate how she stays still for those opening notes, they are so dynamic and are dying for movement
  • 2 strong 2a's with a stumble on one
  • Popped open the 3z
  • I love the wally entrance into the 3F, her feet get tangled and a hand must go down
  • She could use a lot more stretch in the spiral
  • I love that she uses her arms well and is so strong, but I want to see more on her face
  • Fall on 3T
  • She made such a strong debut this season with a bronze at Skate Canada; such a shame she couldn't find that magic the rest of the season
  FS Score: 44.58 (TES) + 48.20 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 92.78
  Total Score: 51.98 (SP) + 92.78 (FS) = 144.76

10) Ira Vannut (BEL) 
  Music: Children of Dune
  • Very tilted in the air on her opening 3z, couldn't save the landing
  • This costume is too over the top for me, with the gloves and all its too much red
  • I want to see some expression on her face
  • I want her to turn out that foot on the layback spin
  • She is in dire need of some ballet to help her skate more elegantly
  • Is that pink underneath her costume? Why is that necessary?
  • I feel that she is just going through the motions and is not engaged at all with the performance
  • She really needs to stretch through those fee in her spins so they don't look like they are just hanging off of her legs
  FS Score: 47.31 (TES) + 42.74 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 89.05
  Total Score: 49.23 (SP) + 89.05 (FS) = 138.28

11) Joshi Helgesson (SWE) 
  Music: Palladio/Feeling Good
  • I love Joshi, she's had a great season so far
  • She takes a very  hard fall on her opening 3z
  • Nice 3S to get back into it
  • I admire that she didn't let the fall hurt her and she is still putting 100% into the performance
  • She seems to really enjoy this footwork
  • She needs to keep her speed up because its one of the best things about her skating
  • She is definitely the more athletic of the Helgesson sisters while Viktoria is more elegant
  • She seems to have the crowd on her side
  • I love the way she attacks every element
  • Aside from the fall, what a great free skate
  • She and her coaches seems so pleased
  FS Score: 53.47 (TES) + 46.36 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 98.83
  Total Score: 50.25 (SP) + 98.83 (FS) = 149.08

12) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN) 
  Music: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini
  • She needs to do well here to hold onto 2 ladies spots for Canada at 2012 worlds
  • Nice strong 3T
  • Very tilted in the air, falls on 3z
  • I wish she would've picked a stronger piece of music; her short is much better suited for her
  • She has really good speed
  • She is popping jumps now, she is losing her concentration
  • This won't be the 5th place finish she had last season
  • It has to be a lot of pressure to go out and know that your teammate didn't skate well and that it falls on  your shoulders to hold onto the spots
  FS Score: 47.94 (TES) + 53.22 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 100.16
  Total Score: 52.26 (SP) + 100.16 (FS) = 152.78

13) Sarah Hecken (GER) 
  Music: Zazdrosc i Medycyna/Smuga Cienia/Revolutionary Etude
  • Sarah is probably the surprise of this group
  • A fine opening so far
  • Her entrances are very long, I'd like to see more choreography into the jumps
  • She really needs to concentrate on pointing her feet, they are especially noticeable in spins
  • She is really committing to this footwork which is great to see
  • Some of her spin positions are truly heinous, skaters shouldn't sacrifice beauty for levels
  FS Score: 53.88 (TES) + 50.22 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 103.10
  Total Score: 52.73 (SP) + 103.10 (FS) = 155.83

14) Kiira Korpi (FIN) 
  Music: Evita
  • Nice 3t-3t; redemption from the short program
  • Great jump on that flying sit spin
  • After a doubled triple and a fall, this will not be the clean free that she wanted
  • That spiral position really needs to be stretched out
  • I would have worn a white dress rather than purple
  • Another double
  • The catch foot is a nice spin position, but that ending was very abrupt
  FS Score: 52.65 (TES) + 58.06 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 109.71
  Total Score: 55.09 (SP) + (FS) = 164.80

15) Kanako Murakami (JPN) 
  Music: The Mask of Zorro
  • So she changed her fabulous short program costume but kept this mess?
  • Nice 3-3
  • Now this looks like the Kanako we've been seeing all season, very solid
  • She has nothing to lose, starting in 10th, so its good to see her going all out
  • Fairly nice stretch on her spiral
  • A single flip, that certainly won't do
  • I wonder how she feels about skating before her idol Mao
  • She looks pleased and if she is happy, I'm happy
  FS Score: 55.62 (TES) + 56.62 (PCS) - (DED) = 112.62
  Total Score: 54.86 (SP) + 112.62 (FS) = 167.10

16) Mao Asada (JPN) 
  Music: Liebestraum
  • Here comes one of the two headliners
  • The 3a looked two-footed to me
  • This lyrical program suits Mao so much better than her short
  • Does Mao always wear long sleeves?
  • You can tell Mao has a ballet background by looking at her arms
  • A bit wild on the camel spin, but she controls it by the sit spin
  • 2a-3t (two-footed)
  • Mao you can't pop jumps like that if you want to move up; she's letting it get away
  • Nice spiral position
  • I can see she isn't completely happy
  • Nice to see a little smile though
  FS Score: 54.19 (TES) + 59.94 (PCS) - (DED) = 114.13
  Total Score: 58.66 (SP) + 114.13 (FS) = 172.79

17) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA) 
  Music: Concertino pour guitare/Hable con ella/Fiesta Flamenca
  • Wow after a great short, she is struggling with a fall and a huge stumble in the opening sequence of jumps
  • Her footwork seems so slow
  • Her leg is wrapped very high in these jumps which slows rotation
  • Another stumble, this just is not her day
  • But either way, that good short shows she can hang with the top skaters and sets her up well for next year
  • The faster part of this music suits her better than the opening
  FS Score: 50.63 (TES) + 47.55 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 97.18
  Total Score: 53.26 (SP) + 150.44 (FS) = 150.44

18) Rachael Flatt (USA) 
  Music: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
  • This new costume adds a level of elegance
  • 2a-3t (maybe under-rotated and stumble, hand down)
  • Popped 3F
  • She needs perfection from here on out to help team USA
  • 2a was nice
  • She needs to eek out every fraction of a point right now
  • Another popped Flip; has to be related to the injury
  • This score is just not going to be pretty at all
  • And she will not be held up by PCS like some of the other skater
  FS Score: 45.45 (TES) + 51.94 (PCS) - (DED) = 97.39
  Total Score: 57.22 (SP) + 97.39 (FS) =154.61

19) Miki Ando (JPN) 
  Music: Piano Concerto in A minor by Grieg

  • I think Miki is going to give this all she possibly has in the tank
  • I don't see her letting go of any easy points
  • I think her flexibility has improved
  • She is so focused, but I'd love to see a bit of that smile we saw in the short
  • She started doubling some jumps, so she definitely did not give her best performance of the season
  FS Score: 65.75 (TES) + 64.46 (PCS) - (DED) = 130.21
  Total Score: 65.58 (SP) + 130.21 (FS) = 195.79

20) Alena Leonova (RUS) 
  Music: The Witches of Eastwick

  • The costume, hair, gloves, it all looks like a tacky drag show
  • Very solid triple-triple
  • She has hit everything so far
  • I don't like anything about this program or performance, but must admit she is looking solid
  • This is the tackiest thing I've ever seen, but she landed the jumps and she'll score well
  • Its great to see such unbridled happiness; Irina Slutskaya loved it too
  FS Score: 62.35 (TES) + 61.82 (PCS) - (DED) = 124.17
  Total Score: 59.75 (SP) + 124.17 (FS) = 183.92

21) Yuna Kim (KOR) 
  Music: Homage to Korea
  • THE QUEEN
  • This program is an homage to Korea, the homeland
  • Amazing 3z-3t
  • Such gorgeous flow and glide across the ice
  • That was what, 2a-1t?
  • This is a gorgeous piece of music
  • 1F
  • 2a-2-2 sequence
  • This is the Yuna Kim we should have seen at the first grand prix of the season, not at Worlds
  • Her basic skills are so fantastic that she can afford jumping mistakes and still be okay
  • It looks like she has lost flexibility in her spiral
  • I would love to see more passion on her face since this piece is so near to her heart
  FS Score: 61.72 (TES) + 66.87 (PCS) - (DED) = 128.59
  Total Score: 65.91 (SP) + 128.59 (FS) = 194.50

22) Alissa Czisny (USA) 
  Music: Winter and Spring by George Winston
  • Come on Alissa!!
  • I love that opening moment where she just takes her time to breathe
  • Fall on the opening jump, this cannot bode well
  • Nice 3-2 combination
  • 3-2-2 sequence
  • She looks very nervous, I want to see her face light up
  • If the opening jump was fully rotated and she can avoid edge calls, she may be able to hang in
  • Old Alissa would have crumbled after one fall, but this is new Alissa
  • Gorgeous despite that one pesky fall
  FS Score: 60.65 (TES) + 61.13 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 120.78
  Total Score: 61.47 (SP) + 120.78 (FS) = 182.25

23) Carolina Kostner (ITA) 
  Music: Afternoon of a Fawn

  • This program is so unbelievably boring
  • There is no drama to the music so you need a very nuanced performer, which she is not
  • She normally tanks the free skate but she's been unusually clean today aside from a few bobbles
  • If she medals I'm going to vomit
  FS Score: 60.30 (TES) + 64.63 (PCS) - (DED) = 124.93
  Total Score: 59.75 (SP) + 124.93 (FS) = 184.68

24) Ksenia Makarova (RUS) 
  Music: Evita
  • Yay so far so good!
  • She has really grown up as a performer this season!
  • I want her on the podium so bad!!
  • She needs to keep fighting for every fraction of a point
  • Very hard fall 
  • Nice 2a-2-2 sequence
  • She may still hang on for a medal
  • She is such a little fighter out there
  • Nice 2a to end her jumps
  • Her spins are positions are much improved this season
  • I like when she goes into the Buenos Aires section for footwork
  • The sound design of her Evita is far superior to that of Korpi
  FS Score: 46.52 (TES) + 60.08 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 105.60
  Total Score: 61.62 (SP) + 105.60 (FS) = 167.22

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Short Program Skate Order

The ladies take the ice for their short program tomorrow (Friday) at 5:30 am. I'll be live-blogging at tweeting!. The skate order is as follows and the top 24 will move on to the free skate on Saturday.


StN.NameNation
 Warm-Up Group 1 
1Karina JOHNSON
DEN
2Irina MOVCHAN
UKR
3Dasa GRM
SLO
4Belinda SCHĂ–NBERGER
AUT
5Juulia TURKKILA
FIN
6Bettina HEIM
SUI
 Warm-Up Group 2 
7Cheltzie LEE
AUS
8Jenna MCCORKELL
GBR
9Bingwa GENG
CHN
10Amelie LACOSTE
CAN
11Mae Berenice MEITE
FRA
12Elena GLEBOVA
EST
 Warm-Up Group 3 
13Sonia LAFUENTE
ESP
14Viktoria PAVUK
HUN
15Ira VANNUT
BEL
16Sarah HECKEN
GER
17Viktoria HELGESSON
SWE
18Joshi HELGESSON
SWE
 Warm-Up Group 4 
19Kanako MURAKAMI
JPN
20Cynthia PHANEUF
CAN
21Alena LEONOVA
RUS
22Carolina KOSTNER
ITA
23Ksenia MAKAROVA
RUS
24Elene GEDEVANISHVILI
GEO
 Warm-Up Group 5 
25Miki ANDO
JPN
26Alissa CZISNY
USA
27Kiira KORPI
FIN
28Rachael FLATT
USA
29Mao ASADA
JPN
30Yuna KIM
KOR