Cup of China: Ladies Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Ying Zhang (CHN)
  Music: Blue Light

• We are wearing a blue dress for Blue Light; that's a good start
• What a tiny little thing, she is very serious
• Very tough fall to start on the 3lz
• Solid 3F
• 2 jumps in and no combo, I hope she tacks it onto the 2A
• This program lacks drama for me
• Those overhead shots make me so dizzy, I can't handle it
• The lack of combo will hurt her
• Why is she sitting so far from the coach?
• 22.95 (TES) + 21.43 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 43.38

2) Sofia Biryukova (RUS)
  Music: Seven Years in Tibet

• She is a gorgeous young lady
• Very understated, glamorous costume compared to Russian ladies of the past
• Great speed off the top
• Fall on the 3lz
• Gets right back up and into the program
• 3loop into a funky leg postion layback
• Nice musical accent for that double axel
• This combination spin is underwhelming given it's placement on the most recognizable piece of the music
• I love the drama in the step sequence
• 21.42 (TES) + 23.97 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 44.39

3) Bingwa Geng (CHN)
  Music: Scene d'amour

• She is a gorgeous skater who lacks confidence
• See, she had that 1st jump but she bailed; a little close to the boards too
• Another turn out, she just doesn't seem to have the guts to nail these programs like she can
• I kind of like this music, but the performance is flat for me
• That was just okay, there was nothing extraordinary about it and it seemed there was no passion
• 16.27 (TES) + 21.26 (PCS) = 36.53

4) Julia Lipnitskaia (RUS)
  Music: Sabre Dance

• The moment we've all been waiting for, the newest Russian baby makes her senior debut
• Wow that just started out of nowhere
• Clean 3lz-3t
• She attacks the jumps
• Signature Julia spiral into the 3F
• She comes from the Sasha Cohen school of never hitting a bad position
• Sharp, quick 2A
• Feed froze for the spin, but it loked lovely
• She is killing the footwork, very agressive; she's leaving it all out on the ice
• This girl has no bones in her body, I love it
• That was a totally jam-packed program; let's see if she maintains that intensity in the free
• 35.35 (TES) + 27.71 (PCS) = 63.06

5) Zijun Li (CHN)
  Music: Dark Eyes

• She was another little diva baby on the Junior GP last season, let's see if she debuts like Julia
• She is lovely, she has better line and more grace than Julia
• She eeks out the jumps, not the command of Julia, but she hits them nonetheless
• She is so joyful in this footwork
• She has very long arms and once she learns to use them in a really expressive way, that will be a huge asset to her skating
• It is so wonderful to see a young lady from China doing well at home; good for the home fans
• 33.79 (TES) + 25.42 (PCS) = 59.21

6) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)
  Music: Mystere & Taiko

• That one-arm-over-head variation should be left for those with superb jumping technique
• I like this music, but not enough drama in the program
• I like the costume, but it seems more like a gypsy dance costume
• Nice attitude position on the exit of the 2A
• Overall this was just so-so for me
• I want her to really amp up the diva like her sister
• 25.93 (TES) + 24.74 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 49.67

7) Amelie Lacoste (CAN)
  Music: The Feeling Begins

• I missed most of the program due to my feed freezing, not sure how she's doing
• I like that the steps and the arm movements are in the character of the piece
• I missed all the jumps, but this is a well composed program that should take her far this season
• Wow, much improved from her last outing; she'll have a very long break between this and nationals so let's see what she does with it 
• 30.25 (TES) + 27.18 (PCS) = 57.43

8) Mirai Nagasu (USA)
  Music: Downhill Special

• She looks so grown up!
• She looks ready to kick som ass here
• Did she get taller, look at those long legs!!
• She is jumping up a storm here so far (I'll ignore the 2-foot landings)
• She has some new zip and attitude to her skating
• I thought that leaving Frank would be the best thing she ever did for her skating
• This is a cute little short program, I just love it; suits her so well
• She looks so carefree, nothing looks labored like it did the past two seasons 
• 31.04 (TES) + 28.72 (PCS) = 59.76

9) Mao Asada (JPN)
  Music: I Got Rhythm

• Please Mao go into 1st!
• I love her ease across the ice
• Way to cut that pesky 3A, she really doesn't need it with her precisions and PCS
• Way to go Mao, choosing a piece outside of your comfort zone is a great strategy
• She hits the accents so strongly and yet is so soft with her arms the rest of the time
• Leaving Tarasova was the best thing she ever did, all of her programs were so labored then
• Wow, I just noticed she's not wearing sleeves!
• This program is divine, it really shows off her personality and dance ability, a totally new side of Mao
• This is so charming and endearing!
• Great ending, just a really nice button on the end!
• 31.83 (TES) + 31.06 (PCS) = 62.89

10) Kiira Korpi (FIN)
  Music: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair

• Wide swinging free leg on both jumps in the combo
• Her upper body is looking very stiff today
• This costume is GORGEOUS and it matches the music and the skater perfectly
• Once she gets more comfortable and relaxes, this program is going to be like buttah!
• This is a beautifully composed program, all of the in between movements are so specific and spot on
• That was simple and elegant, like a glass of fine wine
• 29.26 (TES) + 30.43 (PCS) = 59.69