2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Ladies Free Skate

1) Quiying Zhu (CHN)
     Music: Scent of a Woman

• She is so tentative going into her jumps, I really want to attack them with more speed
• The jumps really need more height
• I'd like to see more speed on the spins, some of the positions are nice
• The step sequence needs more levels to make it exciting to watch
• My overall note is she needs more attack
• That was a weak layback spin
• She is happy with the skate, good for her!

FS Score: 35.16 (TES) +38.13  (PCS) = 73.29
Total Score: 35.28 (SP) + 73.29 (FS) = 108.57

2) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
     Music: Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend, I Wanna Be Loved By You

• I love this program and just want to see it done well
• Trip and fall out of the triple lutz, legs were crossed on landing
• The choreography is so playful, love this gorgeous costume
• Lands the 3-2, but really lacks height
• Wild free leg on the triple loop
• Her hair looks to be falling down and it's distracting
• The jumps she's landing are hardly getting off the ground, where has her technique gone?
• This costume is fantastic, a great replica of the original
• The ending is abrupt, but I like the program as a whole
• Certainly some underrotations there, but one fall is a huge upgrade from her Skate America free skate

FS Score: 46.01 (TES) + 52.56 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 97.57
Total Score: 45.90 (SP) + 97.57 (FS) = 143.37

3) Christina Gao (USA)
     Music: Libertango

• I'm sick of this music, but I'll give her a chance
• Her crossovers seem very short and staccato, not sure if that's a skill issue or a style choice
• Nice 3-3 to open
• Conquered the double axel that caused a fall in the short
• Fall, I missed the jump
• I like her spin variations and the fact that they show off her long limbs
• That is a very Mao Asada-esque costume
• Awkward turn out of the triple flip
• Short landing on the triple loop
• She is giving away a lot of GOE points on these less than beautiful landings
• I wish she's pick up the speed and try to emote more
• She needs to bend the knees more and go deeper onto the edges
• Good attempt at interpretation in this step sequence

FS Score: 53.89 (TES) + 47.60 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 100.49
Total Score: 51.99 (SP) + 100.49 (FS) = 152.48

4) Valentina Marchei (ITA)
     Music: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

• This program seems oddly junior-ish for a woman of her age
• This as a free and the energetic upbeat short are too similar programs for the same season
• As in the short, crossovers with hand gestures are not transitions
• She is popping jumps left and right, tack on a fall as well
• Sato & Dungjen did not perform magic with her as they did with Czisny
• The gloves with this costume are distracting for me

FS Score: 32.76 (TES) + 49.68 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 81.44
Total Score: 52.42 (SP) + 81.44 (FS) = 133.86

5) Bingwa Geng (CHN)
     Music: Sylvia

• Two-foot on opening triple
• Turns a simple double axel into a 3-jump combination
• I'm not familiar with this music, but I really like it
• I like the headless-variation on the I-spin, but the leg must be pulled in closer if she's going to perform it
• This program is slow and lacking conviction like the rest of the skaters in this group
• She's picking up the energy slightly here at the end, but ti's a little to little to late at this point
• She's not terribly upset, but not terribly happy either with that skate

FS Score: 45.38 (TES) + 45.10 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 89.48
Total Score: 52.61 (SP) + 89.48 (FS) =142.09

6) Kexin Zhang (CHN)
     Music: En la Cueva

• This girl is a jumper, nice 3-3 there
• I like the costume, be it loud, but it doesn't fit with the music
• She needs a lot more speed
• She really does have all the jumps, nice rotation
• She's missing the components and interpretation of the more experienced Geng
• Good spins, I'm pleasantly surprised by her!
• She could relax her hands more, they get stuck in some funny positions
• Solid skate, she'll be quite pleased!

FS Score: 54.14 (TES) + 46.33 (PCS)  = 100.47
Total Score: 52.85 (SP) + 100.47 (FS) = 153.32

7) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
     Music: Violin Concerto

• I love Kanako's dress, this is  very new look for her this sesaon
• Low landing on the opening triple, if that was supposed to be her combination, I hope she tacks it on later
• She seems unsettled out there, perhaps she isn't quite soft enough for this type of program
• I do appreciate her effort in working toward a more mature program
• Her jumps don't seem to have their usual spring, but she may not yet have adjusted to her growth spurt

FS Score: 44.10 (TES) + 54.01 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 97.11
Total Score: 53.09 (SP) + 97.11 (FS) = 150.20

8) Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)
     Music: Liebestraum

• I'm on the edge of my seat!
• 3-3 to open, it hardly takes any effort for her
• She has a nice knee bend and good edging
• I love the costume, it is very age appropriate and fits the music
• She is looking solid out there, and much more mature that Tuktamisheva
• Popped a jump, signs of nerves?
• Really strange landing, may be counted as a fall
• She is letting go of precious GOE marks on these landings
• Really good spinning ability, another place where she tops Tuktamisheva
• Nice emotion and interpretation from her, it would be a great debut for any other skater
• Her facial expressions remind me of Sasha Cohen

FS Score: 51.69 (TES) + 54.52 (PCS) = 106.21
Total Score: 53.74 (SP) + 106.21 (FS) = 159.95

9) Mirai Nagasu (USA)
     Music: Spartacus

• Mirai looks relaxed out there, but almost to the point of being too casual in her movements
• So far so good after 4 jumping passes
• Wavering a little in her camel sequence
• I'd like to see that spread eagle ride out a little longer on that great part of the music
• She really is nailing it so far, it looks like we've gotten "Good Mirai" today!
• Wow, a clean program from Mirai is something we've not seen in a while!
• When she's good, she's GOOD

FS Score: 55.64 (TES) + 56.62 (PCS)  = 112.26
Total Score: 60.96 (SP) + 112.26 (FS) = 173.22


10) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
      Music: Concerto NO. 23 by Mozart

• Very wobbly landing for Caro, but she gets it under control
• Nice smooth easy program so far, let's keep it that way
• I appreciate the flow that she normally has out of her jumps
• Pointing the foot would do her a lot of good to extend an already long leg line
• And she's happy with that!

FS Score: 56.95 (TES) + 63.31 (PCS)  = 120.26
Total Score: 61.88 (SP) + 120.26 (FS) = 182.14