Team Canton: We Ready!

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: Short Dance Skate Order

The Ice Dancers take the ice tomorrow for their Short Dance and the order is as follows. The top 20 will move on to compete in the Free Dance on Saturday.

1	Brooke Elizabeth FRIELING / Lionel RUMI	ISR
2	Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ	ESP
3	Allison REED / Otar JAPARIDZE	GEO
4	Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI	ITA
5	Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS	LTU
	Warm-Up Group 2
6	Louise WALDEN / Owen EDWARDS	GBR
7	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN
8	Ramona ELSENER / Florian ROOST	SUI
9	Penny COOMES / Nicholas BUCKLAND	GBR
10	Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI	GER
	Warm-Up Group 3
11	Dora TUROCZI / Balazs MAJOR	HUN
12	Siobhan HEEKIN-CANEDY / Alexander SHAKALOV	UKR
13	Lucie MYSLIVECKOVA / Matej NOVAK	CZE
14	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN
15	Madison CHOCK / Greg ZUERLEIN	USA
	Warm-Up Group 4
16	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN
17	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN
18	Vanessa CRONE / Paul POIRIER	CAN
19	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA
20	Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS
	Warm-Up Group 5
21	Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV	RUS
22	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA
23	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA
24	Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES	FRA
25	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Ice Dance Preview

As the 2011 World Championships kick off next week, the biggest story in ice dance will be the battle of the training mates: Davis & White vs. Virtue & Moir. With the recent retirement of top contenders Faiella & Scali and Kerr & Kerr, the rest of the top five seems to be up for grabs.

The Top Contenders

Virtue & Moir are my team to watch at Worlds next week. In my opinion, they hold all of the cards because if they perform at their best, I think they'll win another World gold. They well may have beaten Davis & White at Four Continents this season if they had not had to withdraw midway through the free skate due to injury. As much as I'd love to see Davis & White win, I think they lack the spark and heat that that their Canadian training mates have. Even if Virtue & Moir don't give their best performance, they should still place no lower than second.

Davis & White really do deserve the World title this year. They've gone undefeated all season and they've never stopped working to improve on their programs. However, I fear that they've become so good that they are almost robotic in their performance quality. They are so well trained that their presentation looks manufactured whereas that of Virtue & Moir is natural and effortless. I predict that Davis & White will take the top technical marks but Virtue & Moir will outscore them in components and the winner will be decided by the slightest of margins.

If Davis/White & Virtue/Moir are favorites for gold and silver, then the French team of Pechalat & Bourzat are favorites for bronze. They've been solid all season and have phenomenal programs, including a fiery short dance and a theatrical Charlie Chaplin free dance. I find them to be the most interesting to watch, in terms of sheer artistry and performance, of any of the world's top ice dance teams. I love their signature European quality. The are in a league of their own in the world in that they aren't quite up to the level of the Americans or Canadians, but they are well above the level of the next tier of ice dancers. I'll be floored if they do not make the podium in Moscow next week.

Though Ice Dance has become more objective in the past years, it is still one of the easiest disciplines to predict and I feel very confident that Bobrova & Soloviev will finish solidly in the top five next week. Home ice advantage will give them a boost, but they've been steadily improving all season and most importantly, they've scrapped that god awful "Delilah" short dance. Expect two very solid programs from them next week.

Although I hate to say it, Canada's Crone & Poirier very well may round out the top 5 next week in Moscow. For reasons I cannot understand, their free skate has been a favorite of the judges all season and even with their subpar short dance, they seem to always sneak back toward to top of the rankings after the free dance. However, they were beaten in a surprise by the young American Shibutani siblings and they also have great momentum going into Worlds so they too good complete the top 5. I have tried all season to enjoy this team but they really do nothing for me. Paul always looks very young and frail and Vanessa struggles to connect with him in a passionate or emotional way. She also has an odd way of moving her limbs, but then who am I to judge.

In The Hunt
As mentioned above, Maia & Alex Shibutani have been climbing all season and surprised the world with a silver medal at this year's Four Continents Championships. In only their first senior season, they've collected two Grand Prix bronze medals and a US silver medal in addition to their Four Continents silver. They are known for their speed and technique, with some of the best twizzles in the world, but they've really shown that they are performers as well. Their coaches Zoueva and Shpilband have given them two phenomenal programs that suit them perfectly and I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see them in the top 5 next week in Moscow.
Weaver & Poje of Canada have been one of my favorite teams all season and have what I consider to be the best short dance of the entire season. They've struggled in the free dance with silly mistakes that have taken them off the podium when they were in medal contention. If they can set themselves up with a strong short dance and get the level fours they got at Four Continents, and then follow it up with a clean free skate, they have top five potential.
Ilinykh & Katsalapov entered the senior ranks this year along with the Shibutani siblings but their debut was not quite as strong, though they did climb steadily. The placed fourth at NHK trophy and took the bronze at Cup of Russia after several withdrawals. They placed a very respectable fourth at the European Championships and they'll have the crowd behind them next week in Moscow. I find them to be extremely passionate and elegant and they too could move into the top five or six depending how other teams perform.
Chock & Zuerlein of the US are my favorite team and I am obsessed with their Cabaret free skate. They are such amazing performers but it seems they don't have the difficulty in lifts that the other American teams have. Their short dance is also a little weaker and they don't score as many level fours as the other top teams. Though I'd love them to place in the top group, I am forcing myself to be realistic and anywhere in the top eight would be an amazing finish for them.
Hoffman & Zavozin were the surprise qualifiers for the Grand Prix Final this season, though they did so because of a second place finish at Cup of Russia when the favorites withdrew due to injury. They are a nice enough team, though they don't do much for me personally. They finished a disappointing 8th at the European Championships and their highest total score of the season is just below that of Chock & Zuerlein.
Capellini & Lanotte of Italy have been thrust into the spotlight at their country's best hope in Ice Dance after the sudden retirement of Faiella & Scali. They placed 5th at NHK trophy this season, 2nd at the Nebelhorn Trophy and 1st at the Mont Blanc Trophy. They are big wild cards and could finish anywhere on the board depending on their performance.
The Rest of the Field
Obrien & Merriman (AUS): 9th at 2011 Four Continents Championships; 15th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 10th at 2010 O Nepala Trophy
Geil & Eisenbauer (AUT): 8th at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 4th at 2010 Int Trophy of Lyon; 4th at 2011 Bavarian Open
Valadzenkava & Vakunkov (BLF): 5th at 2010 P. Roman Memorial; 10th at 2011 Winter Universiade
Tremasova & Lichev (BUL): 24th at 2011 Junior Worlds; 13th at 2010 JGP Great Britain; 16th at JGP Czech; 7th at 2010 Int Trophy Lyon
Huang & Zheng (CHN): 19th at 2010 Olympics; 5th at 2010 Cup of China; 5th at 2010 Grand Prix Paris; 6th at 2011 Four Continents; 1st at 2011 Asian Winter Games
Mysliveckova & Novak (CZE): 16th at 2010 Worlds; 8th at 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; 7th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 2nd at 2010 O Nepala Memorial; 6th at 2010 NHK Trophy; 5th at 2010 Cup of Russia; 1st at 2010 Golden Spin; 10th at 2011 Europeans
Good & Sorensen (DEN): 24th at 2010 Worlds; 14th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 9th at 2010 Finlandia Trophy
Carron & Jones (FRA): 12th at 2010 Worlds; 1st at 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; 1st at 2010 Coup de Nice; 5th at 2010 Skate Canada; 1st at 2010 Coup de Nice; 4th at 2010 Grand Prix Paris; 9th at 2011 Worlds
Reed & Japaridze (GEO): 22nd at 2010 Olympics, 21st at 2010 Worlds; 2nd at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 4th at 2010 Golden Spin; 17th at 2011 Europeans
Zhiganshina & Gazsi (GER): 6th at 2010 Mont Blanc; 4th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 3rd at 2010 O Nepala Trophy; 2nd at 2010 NRW Trophy Ice Dance; 1st at 2010 R Roman Memorial; 1st at 2011 Bavarian Open; 7th at 2011 Europeans
Coomes & Buckland (GBR): 20th at 2010 Olympics; 4th at 2010 O Nepala Memorial; 3rd at 2010 Coup de Nice; 8th at 2010 NHK Trophy; 8th at 2010 Skate America; 14th at 2011 Europeans
Walden & Edwards (GBR): 12th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 8th at 2010 O Nepala Trophy; 5th at 2010 Coup de Nice; 6th at 2010 NRW Ice Dance Trophy; 1st at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 1st at 2010 Int Trophy Lyon; 5th at 2011 Winter Universiade
Nagy & Fejes (HUN): 7th at 2010 O Nepala Trophy; 8th at 2010 Finlandia Trophy; 5th at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 3rd at 2010 P Roman Memorial
Frieling & Rumi (ISR): 13th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 9th at 2010 O Nepala Trophy; 9th at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 12th at 2010 Golden Spin; 6th at 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy; 20th at 2011 Europeans
Guignard & Fabbri (ITA): 4th at 2010 NRW Ice Dance Trophy; 3rd at 2010 Golden Spin; 3rd at 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy
Reed & Reed (JPN): 17th at 2010 Olympics; 15th at 2010 Worlds; 7th at 2010 NHK Trophy; 7th at 2010 Skate America; 2nd at 2011 Asian Winter Games
Tobias & Stagniunas (LTU): 11th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 3rd at 2010 NRW Ice Dance Trophy; 12th at 2011 Europeans
Bruhns & Westenberger (MEX): 10th at 2010 Coup de Nice; 6th at 2010 Int Trophy Lyon; 10th at 2011 Four Continents
Hurtado & Diaz (ESP): 10th at JGP Great Britain; 5th at JGP Germany; 8th Junior at NRW Trophy Ice Dance; 11th at 2010 Golden Spin; 4th at 2011 Winter Universiade; 3rd at 2011 Bavarian Open; 15th at 2011 Europeans
Elsener & Roost (SUI): 25th at 2010 Europeans; 12th at 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; 7th at 2010 JGP Austria; 13th at 2010 JGP Germany; 10th at 2010 Ice Challenge Graz; 5th at 2011 Bavarian Open; 19th at 2011 Europeans
Heekin-Crane & Shakalov (UKR): 5th at 2010 Mont Blanc; 10th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 6th at 2010 Finlandia Trophy; 4th at 2010 Coup de Nice; 3rd at Int Trophy Lyon; 4th at 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy; 11th at 2011 Europeans

2011 Four Continents Championships: Short Dance

**Denotes USFSA Fantasy Skating Team Selections
Warm-Up Group 1:
1) Danielle O'Brien & Gregory Merriman (AUS)
2) Xueting Guan & Meng Wang (CHN)
3) Maria Borounov & Evgeni Borounov (AUS)
4) Corenne Bruhns & Benjamin Westenberger (MEX)

Warm-Up Group 2:
5) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)
6) Vanessa Crone & Paul Poirier (CAN)
7) Xintong Huang & Zun Zheng (CHN) **
8) Kaitlin Weaver & Andrew Poje (CHN)

Warm-Up Group 3:
9) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA) **
10) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA) **
11) Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
12) Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein (USA)

Standings After Short Dance

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	69.40	35.64		33.76	8.29	8.18	8.57	8.54	8.57	0.00	#5
2	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	69.01	34.50		34.51	8.61	8.46	8.64	8.71	8.68	0.00	#9
3	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	65.45	36.50		28.95	7.18	7.04	7.36	7.18	7.39	0.00	#8
4	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	62.04	34.22		27.82	7.11	6.75	6.96	6.96	6.96	0.00	#10
5	Vanessa CRONE / Paul POIRIER	CAN	61.66	33.50		28.16	7.14	6.86	6.96	7.18	7.04	0.00	#6
6	Madison CHOCK / Greg ZUERLEIN	USA	57.14	30.94		26.20	6.50	6.32	6.50	6.82	6.57	0.00	#12
7	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	52.93	28.42		24.51	6.21	5.89	6.14	6.18	6.18	0.00	#7
8	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	50.58	27.78		22.80	5.71	5.43	5.82	5.71	5.79	0.00	#11
9	Xueting GUAN / Meng WANG	CHN	42.77	24.72		18.05	4.64	4.39	4.46	4.61	4.46	0.00	#2
10	Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN	AUS	42.67	25.00		17.67	4.46	4.21	4.43	4.57	4.39	0.00	#1
11	Corenne BRUHNS / Benjamin WESTENBERGER	MEX	40.68	25.28		15.40	4.04	3.64	3.86	3.96	3.75	0.00	#4
12	Maria BOROUNOV / Evgeni BOROUNOV	AUS	28.52	15.62		12.90	3.46	3.04	3.21	3.39	3.04	0.00	#3

My analysis:

• As I, and probably mostly everybody else expected, the Americans and Canadians currently occupy 1st-6th place
• Virtue/Moir: what a fabulous debut from the reigning World and Olympic champions to finish the short dance in first place on their first time out; they lead by .39 and they received level fours on every element but their mid-line step sequence
• Davis/White: an uncharacteristic bobble by Meryl on a twizzle and level 3s on their mid-line step sequence and their 1st golden waltz sequence lost them enough technical points to keep them in second after the short dance, though they did win the program components scores
• Weaver/Poje: they have my favorite short dance of the season and because they were the only team to receive all level 4s, they have the highest technical elements scores; their free dance has been the weaker dance for them this season but if they can avoid mistakes, they may just stay on the podium
• Shibutani/Shibutani: they received all level 4s, aside from a level 3 on their mid-line step sequence but low GOEs on their twizzles, which are usually their strongest elements; if Weaver/Poje struggle in the free as they have all season, the Shib Sibs can definitely move up into podium position
• Crone/Poirier: I've thought their short dance was weak all season and it truly shows in the scores against the top teams in this field; they are about 4 points off of the podium right now but then again they did come from 5th to win bronze at the Grand Prix Final so don't count them out quite yet
• Chock/Zuerlein: they are my favorite team and it kills me to say it but I'm not surprised to see them at the back of the American/Canadian pack; I don't think this short dance suits them terribly well-they only received a level 2 on their 1st Golden Waltz sequence and negative GOEs on their twizzles due to an unusual bobble by Greg-but the good news is the free dance is their strength so if they skate a season's best, they could move up if others make mistakes

2011 Four Continents Championships: Ice Dance Preview

The 2011 Four Continents Championship kicks off next week from Chinese Taipei.. In the past the US has not sent its top flight to this event, but the ISU has been encouraging federations to send their World championship team in an effort to make this event an equivalent of the European Championships. The US will be sending their top 3 Ice Dance teams to the competition next week, as will Canada. There are a total of 13 teams competing and if all goes according to plan, the US and Canada should sweep the top 6 spots.

Here are my podium predictions, and I will update with my fantasy skating picks as soon as USFSA opens up the selection for this event:

1) Davis/White
2) Virtue/Moir
3) Shibutani/Shibutani

Meryl Davis & Charlie White are poised to take the title in this event. They have not lost all season, winning two Grand Prix events, the Grand Prix Final, and US Nationals, but they also have not been challenged. Because the rest of the field is improving and Davis and White have been scoring almost all level 4s and near perfect components scores, there is not a lot of room for them to grow, so I look for the gap to close a bit at the event with Meryl and Charlie still finishing on top. Their programs are both looking very solid this season and they have so much confidence at this point in the season that a victory here would be just one step away from claiming the world title in March.

Davis & White may not have had much competition this season, but ready to spoil their efforts are their training mates and friends Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, debuting new programs in their first competition of the season. After Tessa required surgery, the team had to withdraw from the Grand Prix and Canadian Nationals. Though it is a tall order to come back in the second to last major event of the season and beat a team that has dominated, if anybody can do it it's Tessa & Scott. Though they haven't competed the short dance yet, their coaches Zoueva & Shpilband now have experience in what the judges are looking for in this event from the feedback and scores their other teams have gotten. I have high expectations for this team and I'm expecting to be wowed. Don't get me wrong, I still believe Davis & White will win, but I suspect it will be close.

I may be going out on a limb here, but my gut tells me that Maia & Alex Shibutani of the US are going to take the final spot on the 4 Continents podium along with their older training mates. They have been improving like wildfire and have beaten some top teams this year.While I believe all scores from the US Nationals are inflated, there is no denying that they gave two world class performances. I think the momentum and the silver medal from Nationals will give them great confidence going into this event and if they perform as well as we've seen them, they'll be tough to keep off the podium. They'll have to put up a season's best total score, but I truly think they can do it and a medal here would give them yet another confidence boost going into worlds.

While I think most people would agree with my predictions for the top two, many probably have Vanessa Crone & Paul Poirier, the new Canadian national champions and Grand Prix Final bronze medalists in 3rd at this event. I think they'll have a strong showing, but I'm putting them in 4th and here is why. The Shibutanis were only 4 points behind this team at Skate America, and the young Americans have improved by leaps and bounds since then. Also, I've seen Vanessa & Paul struggle in the short dance (at the Grand Prix Final) while the Shibutanis have sailed through their short dance ever since the costume-related fall at NHK trophy. Also, I think Crone & Poirier's Eleanor Rigby Free Dance seemed unique at the beginning of the season but the novelty is beginning to wear off, at least in my opinion. In other words, I think the Shibutanis have more staying power because their great scores this season are coming from solid training and technique while Crone & Poirier seem to have gotten a boost from their free dance and its renowned choreography, Christopher Dean.

As I've said above in not so many words, I believe this ice dance competition will come down to three distinct battles among the top six. Davis/White v. Virtue/Moir, the Shibutanis v. Crone/Poirier, and Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje v. Chock/Zuerlein for 5th and 6th place. I think Weaver/Poje, the recently crowned Canadian silver medalists will take the third battle based on the strength of their short dance. Theirs is my favorite short dance of the season and I think their music choices suit them perfectly. I think what has kept them from reaching the upper echelon of ice dance this season is their free dance. It hasn't been getting the highest scores and they can't seem to perform it in competition without mistakes or bobbles, however small they may be.

Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein are my absolute favorite ice dance team and as much as it pains me to say it, I see them finishing at the bottom of this 6-way USA vs. Canada match-up. They have not beaten any of these other teams all season in competition and they have the lowest scores of the bunch. They put together two solid programs last week to win the US national bronze medal and were finally able to eliminate the mistakes that plagued them at their Grand Prix events. It any of the above teams make mistakes, they could capitalize, but if everybody else skates cleanly, I'm afraid this will not be the year for my team to win a 4 continents medal.

Aside from the 6 headliners, the other teams competing next week in Taipei are as follows:

Borounov/Borounov (AUS)
O'Brien/Merriman (AUS)
Guan/Wang (CHN)
Huang/Zheng (CHN)
Yu/Wang (CHN)
Kucherenko/Adoniev (KAZ)
Bruhns/Westenberger (MEX)

2011 US Figure Skating Championships: The Barbie Awards for Best Moments in Greensboro

I needed a way to summarize Nationals 2011 in my own way without doing a generic wrap up of each event. I thought of doing a top ten favorite moments post, but there were so many that were great for different reasons that I simply couldn't rank them. So, I decided that I would just talk about the things that were highlights for me and why they were so special. Therefore, I give you The Barbie Awards for the Best Moments in Greensboro.

Newcomer Award: Courtney Hicks
Courtney Hicks won the Jr Ladies event by a huge margin and with the highest score ever posted by a US Jr lady. If the pressure doesn't get to her, she will do a phenomenal job at the Jr Worlds this season on a spectacular team also composed of Agnes Zawadzki & Christina Gao. What was spectacular about Courtney wasn't her win though, it was her ability and her talent. She truly reminds me of Sasha Cohen, not just because they share a coach, a dress, and a music selection, but because of her lines and technique. If she can find the consistency that Sasha lacked, she'll go very far. Check out her tw-hicks spin if you get the chance, I can't even describe it, but she is basically a spinning pretzel.

Debut Award: Mary Beth Marley
We've been hearing all season about the new partnership of Marley & Brubaker but we didn't get a chance to see them and boy was I surprised, pleasantly so. They haven't completely gelled as a pair yet-their jumps and spins aren't in perfect unison-but the progress they've made in 5 months is outstanding. Mary Beth showed so much determination in landing those throws and holding her positions in the lifts, especially after a fall in the free skate on some basic crossovers. She definitely has a fighting spirit and a willingness to learn which was great to see. They have so much promise if they can just stay together and stay healthy. The 2011 Grand Prix season will give them the chance to compete against the World's best and see how they stack up.

Emotionally Stirring Performance Award: Yankowskas & Coughlin
It's no surprise that I found John and Caitilin's free skate to Ave Maria to be the emotional performance of Nationals this year. Yes skating is a sport, but it is also about performing, and the performances are always more captivating when they portray real human emotion. Marina Zoueva's choreography perfectly conveyed what John was feeling after his mother's death and they translated it in such a way that it served as catharsis for John and also allowed he and Caitlin to connect with the audience in a very personal way. Aside from the mesmerizing performance, the program was very sound technically, aside from an awkward landing on a throw, and the judges awarded them, rightfully so, the gold medal. If they can deliver the two programs they performed at Nationals at Worlds, they'll do very well.

Watch out World Award: Maia & Alex Shibutani
I have been following this delightful brother and sister Ice Dance duo all season and they improve every time they step onto the ice. They have great natural ability and are very well matched, but I can also tell that they are very hard workers. They are both still teenagers and they have a very bright future as a team. They have the best coaches in the world, Marina Zoueva & Igor Shpilband, and at the rate they are going, they'll soon pass Davis & White.They may not have won a Junior World title, but if they can avoid injury and keep up their work ethic, they are sure to stand atop the senior World podium a few short years from now. Oh and did I mention that their short dance to The Carousel Waltz is the most heart-warming program of the season?

Selling the Performance Award: Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein

Madison & Greg's free dance to Cabaret has been the program I've talked about all season, and being a musical theatre gal, this is no surprise. This team has never really done much for me until I caught them at Skate Canada and was blown away. They have toed the line between over the top and too conservative all season but I felt they really hit their stride in Greensboro. They gave all they had to the performance without getting out of control. I felt like I was watching a young Liza Minnelli & Joel Grey. Excuse my theatrical terminology, but Madison knows how to "chew the scenery" just like Ms. Minnelli. With the rise of the Shibutani siblings, It may be a pipe dream, but I would still love to see Madison & Greg win a world championship someday because I appreciate their commitment to performance. 

Kick It And Stick It Award: Rachael Flatt

I am a Rachael fan and have really felt for her as she experienced the ups and downs of the season. She put us some great performances on the Grand Prix to win two silvers, but never had enough in the tank to win gold. An injury led to a disappointing Grand Prix Final and the scores her programs received this season seemed they would keep her off of the World Team. But then Lori Nichol stepped in, as she often does, with a brilliant piece of choreography that, in my opinion, saved Rachael's season. Before Rachael took the ice for her new East of Eden short program in Greensboro, I tweeted that I was going to lend Rachael my signature catchphrase "Kick It & Stick It." But what she did on the ice surprised us all. She actually did the "stick it" part first as she landed 4 clean jumps, in true Rachael fashion. But what nobody expected was when the "kick it" part came in as she lit up the arena with an explosive step sequence that showed passion that we have never seen from her, ever. Unfortunately she didn't completely kick it or stick it in the free skate, but she did enough to go onto Four Continents and Worlds, where I will again lend her my signature phrase. 

Comeback Kid Award: Alissa Czisny

Alissa is on the short list of most talked about skaters in the world this year, and who expected that? Well according to Alissa, her success has come from having coaches that truly believe in her, so Yuka Sato & Jason Dungjen have had faith all along that this would be her season. What I love about Alissa is that she demonstrates that grace, artistry, and belief in yourself can often get you further than triple-triple combinations. She has also shown the world that great figure skating careers don't have to end at age 17. After a tumultuous history at Nationals it was great to see her win a second title, this time with two clean performances and no controversy surrounding the win. Her performances in Greensboro were like a breath of fresh air and this was the first time I could really enjoy watching her skate without fearing that she would fall. After a very solid season and two major titles, Grand Prix Final & US Nationals, dare I say she has broken shaken the label of "the pretty skater who can't land her jumps?" Well I was one of those naysayers and she has certainly changed my mind this season, so with a strong showing at Four Continents, she may just establish herself about one to beat at Worlds.

Showmanship Award: Ryan Bradley

Ryan Bradley has always been known as a showman, and unfortunately, as the skater who finishes just off of the podium. He planned to retire after the heartbreak of missing the 2010 Vancouver team but due to popular demand, he returned to Nationals. With a new mindset, please the audience and enjoy himself, Ryan was freer than I've ever seen him and he delivered a short program that was sheer entertainment for the audience, but also a points magnet that landed him in first place. I cannot recall any other program in recent memory, aside from Davis & White's Baliwood, that was this entertaining while still gathering a huge sum of points from the judges.

Fighting Spirit Award: Adam Rippon

Adam's shaky performance in the short program, complete with a fall on the Rippon lutz, was the heartbreak of Nationals for me. I wanted so badly for him to win this one and I'm still in shock that he will not be competing at Worlds after a 5th place finish last season. After the disappointment of the short, I wanted so badly for him to come back with a strong free, and aside from a shaky first jump, he did just that. When Adam is "on" his skating is a thing of such beauty and last night he was "on". I think he knew that even a perfect free skate wouldn't put him on the podium, but the joy on his face after he finished a near perfect program was simply infectious. A lesser person would have given up after being favored to win and landing in 9th place after the short. Adam proved in the free that he has what it takes to be a winner if he can work on his focus and his mental toughness.

2011 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Free Dance

Alright everybody, the senior free dance is about to get underway. I'll be giving my commentary and thoughts on the elements and the performances as a whole. Feel free to leave me a comment!
** Denotes my choice in USFSA Fantasy Skating

1) Kristen Nardozzi & Robert Cuthbertson

   Music: Imagine/Revolution

• Great to hear the Beatles, a great American musical selection
• I don't love that they chose the GLEE version of Imagine versus the original John Lennon
• These 60s costumes a a tad tacky for me
• Kristen has a beautiful smile, but I hope she explores other ranges of emotion
• I'd like them to hold their lift positions a bit longer
• Oh Kristen tripped on her toe pick in the circular step sequence
• I love that we get to hear lyrics in Ice Dance
• That was a nice position in that one-arm rotational lift
• They are really far apart in their twizzles, but the mirroring work is very nice
• Using several versions of Imagine is a nice idea
• Nice solid ending to them
• Good performance, despite the fall
• FD Score: 29.75 (TES) + 25.71 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 54.46
• 38.53 (SD) + 54.46 (FD) = 92.99

2) Alison Carey & Ryan Van Nattan

   Music: James Bond

• Nice difficult spin positions, but they lose speed
• They start off out of synch, but get back together later in the twizzle sequence
• There is some snow flying, which is a sign of unclean turns
• They definitely can work on their fluidity and elegance
• They seem to be dancing on top of the ice, rather than into the ice
• They did a nice job, she really looks like a Bond Girl
• As their first senior season, this will be a good building year for them
• FD Score: 27.27 (TES) + 23.06 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 49.33
• 34.35 (SD) + 49.33 (FD) = 83.68

3) Alissandra Aronow & Zachary Donohue 

   Music: Medley

• This is another Zoueva/Shpilband team
• Zachary used to skate with Piper Gilles, the twin of Alexe
• They have been together less than a year
• So far, a very fluid, sensual opening
• They have some really fine lifts with interesting positions
• They really use their knees a lot
• Nice attack in those twizzles
• Nice layed out camel position by Alissandra in the dance spin
• Emily Samuelson just commented on their improved connection with each other on the ice
• Alissandra shows some nice flexibility in the split position going into the rotational lift
• That was a very strong free dance from them
• FD Score:  32.54 (TES) + 31.98 (PCS) = 64.52
• 40.84 (SD) + 64.52 (FD) = 105.36

4) Katharine Zeigler & Baxter Burbank

   Music: Ladies in Lavender

• This is another team in their first year at senior Nationals
• Slightly out of sync on their twizzles
• Nice lyrical quality and elegance in their program
• This won't medal, but it's a good beginning to their senior careers
• FD Score: 30.41 (TES) + 27.30 (PCS) = 57.71 
• 32.29 (SD) + 57.71 (FD) = 90.00

5) Katherine Pilgrim & Alexander Lorello

   Music: Sweet Emotion/Come Together/Walk This Way

• They are starting right off with their dance spin
• They are very close in height which gives them nice long lines on the ice
• Very far apart in their twizzles, they'll want to get closer together in those in the future
• He caught an edge and dropped her in a split position from a rotational lift
• She has to be hurting right now
• A fall like that will definitely hurt your performance quality
• They seem like they are running out of steam here after that fall
• Nice hydroblade move, I wish they would've hung onto the edge a little longer and rode a longer curve
• Poor Katherine also had a serious collision during the warm up for the short dance and now this
• FD Score: 22.92 (TES) + 25.68 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 47.60
• 32.79 (SD) + 47.60 (FD) = 80.39

6) Ginna Hoptman & Pavel Filchenkov **

   Music:

• 
  
• FD Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 69.16
• 48.37 (SD) + 69.16 (FD) = 117.53

7) Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello

   Music: West Side Story

• 
  
• FD Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 82.12
• 54.43 (SD) + 82.12 (FD) = 136.55

8) Rachel Tibbets & Colin Brubaker

   Music:

• 
  
• FD Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 76.39
• 41.86 (SD) + 76.39 (FD) = 118.25

9) Shannon Wingle & Timothy McKernan

   Music:

• 
  
• FD Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 75.13
• 55.07 (SD) + 75.13 (FD) = 130.20

10) Meredith Zuber & Kyle Herring

     Music:

• 
  
• FD Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 73.64
• 44.42 (SD) + 73.64 (FD) = 118.06 

11) Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein

     Music: Cabaret

• I've been saying all season that they look like a young Liza Minnelli & Joel Grey, thats a compliment
• Greg has great facial expression here to keep up with Madison
• Nice twizzle series, very solid
• They just banged it out
• Awesome speed in teh circular step sequence, good tight turns here
• Greg is killing me with this performance, Joel Grey would be so proud
• I love this spin they do at the beginning of The Money Song
• Loving everything about them
• They've been the team I've been pulling for all season
• I love that upside down lift they do in The Money Song
• Those tight turns at the end of the Money Song are so tight, they had falls there at Grand Prix Paris but so clean here
• oooo time for Liza, work the Liza Madison!
• That final rotational lift was awesome!
• FD Score: 48.07 (TES) + 44.81 (PCS) = 92.88
• 61.74 (SD) + 92.88 (FD) = 154.62

12) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

     Music: Smile/Let's Face The Music And Dance

• So precious, I just love it
• This is so elegant, maturity beyond their years
• They look like a 25-year old seasoned veteran team out there
• Every moment is just so special, there is so much detail
• They are so gentle and delicate in those holds
• That combination lift is fantastic and he sets her down so gently 
• I love the transition here into the second piece
• They are twizzle masters, they are so good the do three sets 
• He lifts her like nobody's business
• They just are so heartwarming, they have something so very special about them
• They have that X-factor performance quality that you just can't teach
• They could be the next Olympic champions, they are that good at such a young age
• FD Score: 52.34 (TES) + 50.37 (PCS) = 102.71
• 70.47 (SD) + 102.71 (FD) = 173.18

13) Madison Hubbell & Keiffer Hubbell

     Music: Medley by Yellow & Art of Noise

• Their programs always have a bit too much sensuality for me for a brother/sister team
• They have some unison issues on their twizzles, they are pushing it too much
• They do have nice long lines because they are both so tall
• They hit some innovative lift positions
• Nice use of the hydroblade technique there
• I love the low positions they get to in those balance moves, that's a way that they use their height similarity to their advantage
• They look a little wild in my opinion, not as crisp and clean as I would like
• FD Score: 41.86 (TES) + 41.93 (PCS) = 83.79
• 57.91 (SD) + 83.79 (FD) = 141.70

14) Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt **

     Music: 

• They are on my fantasy team so I'm rooting for them
• They have nice speed, but I want them to calm down a bit and not get so wild
• Nice lift with Logan on one foot
• Arms were a little out of unison on the twizzles
• She is flying around his head really quickly in some of those lifts
• I'm not sure who their coaches are, but they have some pretty innovative lifts
• They don't have the speed and difficulty of the Zoueva/Shpilband teams in their footwork sequences
• Nice dance spin sequence, she uses her free arm quite well as well
• Oh wow Lynn just fell and pulled Logan down on top her
• That is really going to hurt their score, which is unfortunate because they had been doing so well
• FD Score: 40.00 (TES) + 42.83 (PCS) -2.00 (DED)  = 79.83
• 58.59 (SD) + 79.83 (FD) = 138.42

15) Meryl Davis & Charlie White **

     Music: Tango Medley

• I have a feeling this is just a preview of the 2011 World Champions
• Another new costume for Meryl, I love the skirt on this one
• They have such amazing speed
• I love that lift where Meryl rests on the back of Charlie's leg
• They have such intricate and complicated holds
• They are soo good at the small details like head positions and hand movements
• Phenomenal twizzles
• This is an expertly choreographed program that does not waste a single moment of the music
• Every time they get through that moment where they fell at Skate America, I breath a little easier
• Meryl has to have such amazing abdominal strength to hold some of those lift positions
• They have to be so exhausted after this program
• I love how distinctive those three poses are at the end of the program
• FD Score: 52.16 (TES) + 57.28 (PCS) = 109.44
• 76.04 (SD) + 109.44 (FD) = 185.48

Final Standings: