Cup of China: Mens Free Skate LIVE BLOG

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Tatsuki MACHIDA	JPN	236.92	2	1
2	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN	231.75	1	2
3	Sergei VORONOV	RUS	217.61	3	3
4	Adam RIPPON	USA	205.48	4	4
5	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN	198.24	6	6
6	Yi WANG	CHN	188.27	8	5
7	Jinlin GUAN	CHN	171.04	9	7

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tatsuki MACHIDA	JPN	153.44	76.66		77.78	7.75	7.39	7.89	7.86	8.00	1.00	#8
2	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN	146.96	65.30		82.66	8.39	8.04	8.04	8.32	8.54	1.00	#9
3	Sergei VORONOV	RUS	144.03	73.59		70.44	7.32	6.54	7.21	7.04	7.11	0.00	#7
4	Adam RIPPON	USA	133.67	61.81		71.86	7.29	6.89	7.11	7.32	7.32	0.00	#6
5	Yi WANG	CHN	131.02	68.52		63.50	6.57	6.07	6.43	6.36	6.32	1.00	#2
6	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN	128.37	62.17		67.20	6.82	6.64	6.64	6.64	6.86	1.00	#4
7	Jinlin GUAN	CHN	115.07	55.57		60.50	6.25	5.79	6.14	6.07	6.00	1.00	#1
WD	Nan SONG	CHN											#5
WD	Brian JOUBERT	FRA											#3

1) Jinlin Guan (CHN)
  Music: Percussion Carmen

• Oh geez, how does this costume go with Carmen?
• I don't understand what's happening here
• I actually like this step sequence
• This sounds weird but he has a sloppy head, he doesn't hold it up strong
• That was just meh, nothing behind his skating
• He looks gassed!
• 55.57 (TES) + 60.50 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 115.07
• 55.97 (SP) + 115.07 (FS) = 171.04

2) Yi Want (CHN)
  Music: Nothing Else Matters & One

• Nice smooth start
• This sounds like my Vitamin String Quartet, rock on!
• He is a very expressive skater with his upper body, I want him to look up and out instead of down at the ice
• This is actually a fairly interesting program, but he needs to show more on his face
• The potential is definitely there
• 68.52 (TES) + 63.50 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 131.02
• 57.25 (SP) + 131.02 (FS) = 188.27

3) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
  Music: Concerto No. 4 in E Minor by Mathieu

• Yay, hit the first jump, that should be a good sign
• Doubling jumps, not a good sign
• I desperately want him to take some dance classes to loosen up his upper body
• Straighten that foot in the camel
• This kid has to way 100 pounds soaking wet
• Why are his jumps deceiving him? This guy was the 1st to land 2 different quads in the short
• I don't understand what has happened to his jumping technique
• This was an odd program, I just don't feel like it went anywhere
• 62.17 (TES) + 67.20 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 128.37
• 69.87 (SP) + 128.37 (FS) = 198.24

4) Adam Rippon (USA)
  Music: The Incredibles

• So after bumping heads with Song, I hope Adam is okay! Please be okay and please concentrate!
• Nice opening pose, I like that he's giving us face
• He looks so much more mature now!
• Feed froze, but I think he doubled his planned 3A
• I kind of like this new side to him, very jazzy and masculine
• Decent second 3A, probably two-footed, but good approach
• I like that 3-jump combo with the tano variation on both jumps
• He seems very at home in this style, he seems to be enjoying himself
• That was decent, no crashes, but he definitely gave away a lot of precious points popping jumps, not hitting 3-3 combos, etc
• I'm so torn, I liked that, but I really miss his balletic style
• 61.81 (TES) + 71.86 (PCS) = 133.67
• 71.81 (SP) + 133.67 (FS) = 205.48

5) Sergei Voronov (RUS)
  Music: Romeo & Juliet

• I don't get this meshy top for Romeo & Juliet
• He is doing work on these jumps
• He is Plushenko-like in that he goes up in the air and the jump looks wild, but he lands it like a cat
• This step sequence is an utter atrocity
• I don't understand, in what world do you wear a mesh top and gloves?
• Wow, this is the program of a lifetime today for him
• And we had to ruin it with the butt spin
• Honey, if you want to do a catch foot spin, please straighten the leg
• 73.59 (TES) + 70.44 (PCS) = 144.03
• 73.58 (SP) + 144.03 (FS) = 217.61

6) Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
  Music: Firebird

• This little peanut is trying to put us under his spell like Hanyu did last year
• He reminds me of a more stylish Oda because he is so cat-like an landing the jumps
• I love the little footwork flutters
• And the arm flutter I like as well
• This is a very stylish program, I'm glad to see that when Daisuke retires, we'll still have plenty of great Japanese men to watch
• Fall on the quad, but this should still be enough to make the podium
• 76.66 (TES) + 77.78 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 153.44
• 83.48 (SP) + 153.44 (FS) = 236.92

7) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
  Music: I Pagliacci

• Did we 2-foot that quad Dai?
• I want so badly to see him come back and win Olympic gold in 2014, just hang in there!
• He never does a program that's not interesting to watch, he is like Fred Astaire on ice
• Oh no Dai, why did you have to fall?
• With his PCS, he can handle one fall since Tatsu also fell
• I like this program on him, very dramatic
• His edge work is incredible, he would've been amazing at figures
• He was kind of on another planet today, seemed like he was out in space
• 65.30 (TES) + 82.66 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 146.96
• 84.9 (SP) + 146.96 (FS) = 231.75

Cup of China: Ladies Free Skate LIVE BLOG

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Mao ASADA	JPN	181.76	2	1
2	Julia LIPNITSKAIA	RUS	177.92	1	2
3	Kiira KORPI	FIN	169.86	4	3
4	Mirai NAGASU	USA	163.46	3	4
5	Zijun LI	CHN	160.06	5	5
6	Amelie LACOSTE	CAN	135.46	6	9
7	Joshi HELGESSON	SWE	134.43	7	7
8	Ying ZHANG	CHN	130.65	9	6
9	Sofia BIRYUKOVA	RUS	127.36	8	8

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Mao ASADA	JPN	118.87	54.53		64.34	8.14	7.75	7.96	8.11	8.25	0.00	#9
2	Julia LIPNITSKAIA	RUS	114.86	57.43		57.43	7.21	7.00	7.32	7.25	7.11	0.00	#10
3	Kiira KORPI	FIN	110.17	51.03		59.14	7.43	7.04	7.32	7.54	7.64	0.00	#7
4	Mirai NAGASU	USA	103.70	45.89		57.81	7.39	6.96	7.25	7.32	7.21	0.00	#8
5	Zijun LI	CHN	100.85	51.58		51.27	6.61	6.21	6.32	6.54	6.36	2.00	#6
6	Ying ZHANG	CHN	87.27	46.97		42.30	5.61	4.96	5.36	5.29	5.21	2.00	#2
7	Joshi HELGESSON	SWE	84.76	38.16		47.60	6.04	5.64	6.04	6.04	6.00	1.00	#4
8	Sofia BIRYUKOVA	RUS	82.97	37.07		45.90	6.21	5.50	5.50	5.86	5.61	0.00	#3
9	Amelie LACOSTE	CAN	78.03	31.06		48.97	6.46	6.11	5.71	6.25	6.07	2.00	#5
WD	Bingwa GENG	CHN											#1

1) Ying Zhang (CHN)

  Music: Soul Dance

• She is loving the blue costumes at this event
• She needs to straighten those legs and point the feet
• I knew that jump was going down from the minute it went up
• 3F-2T very low to the ground
• This program isn't doing anything for me, she is just going through the motions
• Nice scorpion position in that spiral, but the standing leg really needs to be straight
• 46.97 (TES) + 42.30 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 87.27
• 43.38 (SP) + (FS) = 130.65

2) Sofia Biryukova (RUS)
  Music: Turandot

• She is a beauty!
• This costume looks Asian to me; funny we don't see that more for Turandot
• Bad slip, hands down; I'm always surprised when hands down can actually stop a fall on slippery ice
• 2-foot crossed landings, we aren't starting out well here
• Very sloppy, I can't even comment on anything because it's so labored and sloppy
• That spread eagle into 2A was nice, but the eagle could've been on a deeper edge to enhance the drama
• She was not happy with that, looked like a mental lapse
• 37.07 (TES) + 45.90 (PCS) = 82.97
• 44.39 (SP) + 82.97 (FS) = 127.36

3) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)
  Music: Burlesque, Express, Blues in Night

• That white bodice is not that flattering, a brighter color like magenta or turquoise would've been nice
• There's absolutely nothing going on here right now
• She is totally going through the motions, not nearly enough sass
• Only 1 fall, but a lot of potential underrotations
• 38.16 (TES) + 47.60 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 84.76
• 49.67 (SP) + 84.76 (FS) = 134.43

4) Amelie Lacoste (CAN)
  Music: Rhapsody in Blue & Concerto in F by Gershwin

• I love her intensity, how she attacks everything
• Even if she's technically not sound, she's still exciting to watch
• Starting out with a fall usually puts her on a downward spiral, let's see how that plays out
• Of the first 4 jumps, all have had landing issues thus far
• She cannot land a clean jump to save her life, that's not a technical issue, that's confidence
• The program is composed beautifully and the choreography is well executed; if she had the jumps she'd be right in the thick of things
• 31.06 (TES) + 48.97 (PCS) -2.00 (DED)= 78.03
• 57.43 (SP) + 78.03 (FS) =

5) Zijun Li (CHN)
  Music: Sleeping Beauty

• She is at the perfect age to skate to this music, it's light and ethereal
• Jumping bean!
• Nice 2a-3a combo, 2 footed
• This is so sprightly, the program is just perfect for her
• I didn't realize Chengjiang Li was her coach, he was such a great jumper when he competed
• I also see that Karen Kwan choreographed this piece, it's lovely
• Her jumps are very small, quick, but small
• She is losing speed in the middle; as we saw at last year's 4 continents, it seems the Chinese skaters often aren't very well conditioned
• 51.58 (TES) + 51.27 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 100.85
• 59.21 (SP) + 100.85 (FS) = 160.06

6) Kiira Korpi (FIN)
  Music: Once Upon a Time in America

• This dress is divine, as all of her dresses always are
• I love the drama in that opening
• 3T-3T to open, very strong
• Feed froze in the middle of the program, missed a good chunk
• Jumps are starting to unravel, very squirrely landings
• A couple popped jumps, not want she wants or needs to get on the podium
• She's left enough of a door open technically that Li will pass her
• This is a very well composed program, once she builds up her stamina it should be lovely
• I think we have  clean triples, lots of wonky landings, she'll get there
• 51.03 (TES) + 59.14 (PCS) = 110.86
• 59.69 (SP) + 110.86 (FS) = 169.86

7) Mirai Nagasu (USA)
  Music: Symphony No. 3 by Saint-Saens

• Let's get this one Mirai
• Nearly into the boards on the first jump
• Clean 2a, 2-footed the combo
• Why are all of these jumps so close to the boards
• Feed froze, missed a good chunk of the middle
• This dress is lovely on her, I love the neckline/haltar detail
• I want more intensity in these steps, right now it looks like she's going through the motions
• Clean 3-2-2 combo, all of these landings are nice too, good flowing edges and straight free legs out of them
• This has been a great skate for Mirai, she looks really free out there
• Much more passion on that last step sequence
• She should be very happy and relieved right there
• 45.89 (TES) + 57.81 (PCS) = 103.70
• 59.76 (SP) + 103.70 (FS) = 163.46

8) Mao Asada (JPN)
  Music: Swan Lake

• I hope we get good Mao today, she has so much speed!
• That costume is to die for!
• She looks so delicate out there
• Gorgeous combination spin, every position is fantastic
• This is so graceful and lyrical
• I like the musical selection, she used in interesting arrangement with sections that aren't completely overdone
• This is going to be phenomenal by Worlds
• Very strong ending, what a beautifully composed and choreographed program
• Tarasova choreographed that, I wonder if it is odd working with your old coach as choreographer
• 54.53 (TES) + 64.34 (PCS) = 118.87
• 62.89 (SP) + 118.87 (FS) = 181.76

9) Julia Lipnitskaia (RUS)
  Music: Nutcracker

• Leaning very far over on landings of first combo
• Fall out of 2nd combo, one more little mistake like that and she'll give it away to Mao, she needs all the TES she can get
• There is no attempt at expression, she's just ticking the elements off the list
• I like this step sequence a lot, it's well placed in the music
• Best I-spin since Sasha Cohen
• She has a lot there to work with in that program; just let it develop
• 57.43 (TES) + 57.43 (PCS) = 114.86
• 63.06 (SP) + 114.86 (FS) = 177.92

Cup of China: Free Dance LIVE BLOG

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	169.73	1	1
2	Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV	RUS	159.46	3	2
3	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	158.97	2	3
4	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	149.54	4	4
5	Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI	ITA	137.58	5	6
6	Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN	RUS	137.46	6	5
7	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	121.01	7	7
8	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	106.42	8	8

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	FRA	100.58	48.83		52.75	8.71	8.58	8.88	8.92	9.04	1.00	#8
2	Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV	RUS	95.14	44.50		50.64	8.33	8.13	8.58	8.71	8.71	0.00	#6
3	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	93.38	44.25		49.13	8.13	7.96	8.33	8.33	8.38	0.00	#7
4	Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	USA	90.28	45.92		44.36	7.25	7.17	7.54	7.58	7.63	0.00	#5
5	Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHIN	RUS	82.37	41.45		40.92	6.75	6.58	6.92	7.00	7.04	0.00	#3
6	Charlene GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI	ITA	82.01	42.42		40.59	6.75	6.58	6.83	6.92	6.88	1.00	#4
7	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	74.25	36.89		37.36	6.21	6.08	6.42	6.33	6.21	0.00	#2
8	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	63.45	31.00		32.45	5.42	5.21	5.46	5.71	5.38	0.00	#1

1) Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
  Music: The House of Dancing Water

• This is definitely last year's program or I'm losing my mind
• They love this fairtytale theme for sure
• They both have wonderfully expressing upper bodies
• I feel like this piece of music pretty much stays in one place all along; it doesn't develop a lot
• That change of position lift was lovely
• It is hard for them to hit an ugly position
• I want to see more in the way of expression to add drama to the piece, it's very emotionally flat
• 31.00 (TES) + 32.45 (PCS) = 61.45
• 42.97 (SD) + 61.45 (FD) = 106.42

2) Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)
  Music: LOVE, At Last, Crazy Love

• I love these costumes
• I like the flow over the ice in this opening sequence, the twizzles fit very will with LOVE
• Great ice coverage on that rotational lift
• This is a very well composed program, the best I've seen from them
• I see Krylova & Camerlengo choreographed this program, that shows
• I basically love everything so far that I've seen in this program, it's very sophisticated
• That was the best I've ever seen from them; the upgrade at choreographer made such a huge difference
• 36.89 (TES) + 37.36 (PCS) = 74.25
• 46.76 (SD) + 74.25 (FD) = 121.01

3) Victoria Sinitsina & Ruslan Zhiganshin (RUS)
  Music: Splagge Iontane

• Very good speed at the beginning, they are definitely comfortable with one another
• They have a good blend of artistry and athleticism
• They hold onto the speed throughout the program
• I am not getting a through line in this program, I want something to carry the drama across the program for me
• This has been a very solid senior debut for them, very nice 
• 41.43 (TES) + 40.92 (PCS) = 82.37
• 55.09 (SD) + 82.37 (FD) = 137.26

4) Charlene Guignard & Marco Fabbri (ITA)
  Music: Four Seasons

• Her dress is divine
• This choreography is ver postmodern; interesting when set to such a classical piece
• That straight line lift was gorgeous
• I wish I'd chosen them for my fantast team, this piece is gorgeous
• Great ice coverage, I could tell that form the overhead shot
• I love pretty much everything about this program
• They are maintaining their speed throughout the program, yet it hasn't gotten frantic
• 42.42 (TES) + 40.59 (PCS) = 82.01
• 55.57 (SD) + 82.01 (FD) = 137.58

5) Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)
  Music: Dr. Zhivago

• I'm so excited to see this piece, it was phenomenal at Nebelhorn
• Normally white costumes look too much but these hav enough contrast that they stand out, especially with her dark hair
• This suits them so well, much better than that elevator music last season
• I feel like I'm in  winter dream when I watch this program
• Igor has really taken advantage if the height difference to design some stunning lifts
• I love that little transitional move in the dance spin, just a little abrupt in the position change today
• Her positions on the curve lifts are great; she looks so elated to be doing this dance 
• For all the hype that this dane has received, it does not disappoint
• Very nice job, they should be so happy with that
• 43.93 (TES) + 44.36 (PCS) = 90.28
• 59.26 (SD) + 90.28 (FD) = 149.54

6) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)
  Music: Man with a Harmonica & Tosca

• They get so deep in the knees that they almost look hunched over; there's a fine line
• The beginning of this program is very subtle, that's a new look for them
• These costumes aren't doing much for me, they are drab
• Her hair is very 1990s ice dance for me
• I am at a loss for words really with this program, I just really can't put my finger on how I feel about it
• 44.50 (TES) + 50.64 (PCS) = 95.14
• 64.32 (SD) + 95.14 (FD) = 159.46

7) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)
  Music: Humanity in Motion

• This piece is so unlike anything else I've ever seen in ice dance
• I would love to know the process of how they took this from a modern dancer and put it onto the ice
• Their upper bodies are so expressive, this is divine
• Slight unison issue on the 1st twizzle set; never got them perfectly back together
• This program is so aesthetically pleasing
• The music builds and the story follows it, his looks like a world medalist program to me, I hope it happens for them this year
• 44.25 (TES) + 49.13 (PCS) = 93.38
• 65.59 (SD) + 93.38 (FD) = 158.97

8) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
  Music: Rolling Stones Medley

• This reminds me of something Lobcheva & Averbukh would've done circa the late 90s
• I'm glad they went for the hippie theme and not an all-black, punky theme
• That curve lift was so cool, very innovative
• The straight line lift too, I love that they hit the positions quickly and then ride them out; their lifts don't take an hour to develop
• I thought this program would be really tacky, but I actually like it a lot
• That was a very abrupt ending, it was like the music just cut off
• 48.83 (TES) + 52.75 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 100.58
• 69.15 (SD) + 100.58 (FD) = 169.73

Cup of China: Men's Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Yi Wang (CHN)
  Music: Peer Gynt Suite

• My feed started a little late
• He looks a little reckless, flailing a lot
• I don't think he's conditioned enough to keep up with the music
• Very good effort though in trying to keep up with the music
• That was a pretty rough program, not going to even lie at all
• 29.40 (TES) + 28.85 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 57.25

2) Sergei Voronov (RUS)
  Music: Yablochko

• These Russian guys are all over the place, this should be interesting
• This music is much more intense and heavy than I though; I was expecting something whimsical
• Ooo we have our first Quad combo!
• 3a wild in the air, but catlike on the landing
• This music in the footwork section is wild and his movements match...but not in a good way I'm afraid
• Very bent leg on that last spin, don't do the catch foot if you can't straighten the knee 
• 39.44 (TES) + 34.14 (PCS) = 73.58

3) Jinlin Guan (CHN)
  Music: Danse Macabre

• I already like how theatrical this is from the start
• I love his asymmetrical hair cut already
• Unfortunate fall right away, I was getting interested in this program
• Big time 3A, he really uses the music well
• I like the choreography and composition of the program
• He has some nice qualities to his skating, but the jumps aren't happening today for him
• He seems to be concentrating really hard, he needs to let himself go
• Some of these movements are very Weir-esque
• 25.86 (TES) + 31.11 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 55.97

4) Nan Song (CHN)
  Music: The Middle East Side

• I like this choice of music for him, very nuanced
• Unfortunate fall from such a skilled jumper
• Huge 3A to recover, very tight rotation
• His spins have improved, still on the wild side, but better
• He's losing me in the footwork, I liked the music at the beginning, but now it's not holding my interest
• 39.53 (TES) + 32.22 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 70.86

5) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
  Music: Chambermaid Swing

• He fell hard on that opening jump
• For somebody so skilled at landing Quads, he's struggled a lot the last 2 seasons
• Very wobbly 3A
• I still don't like this choreography, even after a 2nd year
• Advertisements came up in the middle of my feed, so I missed the 2nd half 
• 36.48 (TES) + 34.39 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 68.87

6) Brian Joubert (FRA)
  Music: Genesis & Aerodynamic

• Yay, please do great!
• He looks stunning in that all black number with the sheer and metallic accents
• He makes it look so easy, he's been doing this for so long
• I love this program, it's classic Brian
• The speed and smoothness is wonderful
• He reminds me so much of Yagudin, even more so now that he's older
• This program has too many throw away moments for IJS, but the step sequence is thrilling 
• 27.20 (TES) + 36.07 (PCS) = 63.27

7) Adam Rippon (USA)
  Music: Nessun Dorma

• Yay Adam, please be awesome!
• This costume is very simple, let's see if it works
• That is a very Todd Eldredge opening pose
• I love that we start with that beautiful laid out camel
• I see we borrowed the Denney/Coughlin Nessun Dorma remix
• Oh man, rough splayed out fall on the 3A, and it looked so solid going up!
• Very tight combo, good air positions
• He excels at the in-between moments
• His strength is in putting a full, complete program out there for us
• Very hard lean on the landing of the Rippon lutz, but he held it up
• This version works for him because he keeps it simple so it doesn't go to the Punk Rock Prom Queen place that Caydee Denney took it too
• Regardless of that fall on the 3A this should still score well due to the program composition, steps, and spins
• Not sure I love that ending, it was a little abrupt and could stand to be smoothed out
•  (TES) + (PCS) =

8) Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
  Music: F. U. Y. A.

•  (TES) + (PCS) =

9) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
  Music: Rock n' Roll Medley

•  (TES) + (PCS) =

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

Cup of China: Short Dance LIVE BLOG

1) Xioyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
   Music: Oh Susanna & Twilight Waltz

• Oh boy, a Chinese team doing a cowboy theme?
• I've always loved her facial expression
• This his very zippy
• He was a little crooked on the twizzle, they could've held them out longer
• They are losing energy in the Tennessee Waltz segment
• Oh boy, Cotton Eye was a surprise
• 20.58 (TES) + 22.39 (PCS) = 42.97

2) Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)
 Music: Quidam

• Her costume is absolutely to die for
• They need to kill this!
• She is perfectly in character, I love it
• Their posture and flow over the ice is gorgeous
• This Cirque piece suits them, she can use all of her flexibility to her advantage
• Nice unison on the twizzles, though the arm positions weren't always matching perfectly
• From what I know thus far of the Yankee polka, they seem to be doing well, the rhythm is there
• I particularly like the teams that have bought into the whimsy of the Yankee Polka
• She is divine
• 30.90 (TES) + 28.36 (PCS) = 59.29

3) Charlene Guignard & Marco Fabbri (ITA)
 Music: Buonglorno a Te & Tritsch Tratsch 

• We are seing such beautiful, light programs in the short, it's a breath of fresh air
• He is very smooth with great upper body carriage, but she seems to flail a lot
• That rotational lift looked a little reckless
• That all looked so frantic to me
• 29.17 (TES) + 26.40 (PCS) = 55.57

4) Victoria Sinitsina & Ruslan Zhiganshin (RUS)
 Music: Tennessee Waltz & Country Polka

• Another Tennessee Waltz? 
• This team is divine, let's see how they translate as seniors
• Very smooth so far
• He looks like a senior man, but she looks like a junior lady; could be the costuming
• I like the mirroring patterns, but they weren't executed quite perfectly
• The choreography in these "country" pieces is offensive to people from the south
• 28.25 (TES) + 26.84 (PCS) = 55.09

5) Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)
  Music: Waltz & Polka

• This is the most understated costuming I've ever seen on them
• They usually score quite well in the short dance so we'll see
• They are never afraid to go to a "costumey place" you'll never see him in all black
• Nice speed off the bat, but synch issues in the twizzles
• I love how expressive they are with their upper bodies
• I don't like the disconnect between the waltz an the polka, it just looks sloppy to me
• His arms are getting so sloppy in this second section of the piece 
• 21.99 (TES) + 24.77 (PCS) = 46.76

6) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)
  Music: Put in a Good Word for the Poor Hussar & The Crew

• This is the best I've ever seen her costumed
• Very fast opening, great use of the musical nuances and intricacies
• Very quick work of the polka, clean crisp steps
• This music is so charming
• You can tell this is their second event, the look so well trained and rehearsed
• That lift seemed terribly out of place for this program
• Very nice program, I think that is my favorite short dance that I've seen
• 31.50 (TES) + 32.82 (PCS) = 64.32

7) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew (CAN)
  Music: The Sound of Music

• Gorgeous musical selection from such a classic-looking team
• I'm missing some of the expression that I've come to love from them
• Okay, they are coming more into the performance here in the 2nd part
• Twizzle synchronization issues, Andrew was a little slower
• That was a wonderful straight line-no touching sequence 
• That was delightful and so enjoyable to watch
• 32.83 (TES) + 32.76 (PCS) = 65.59

8) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
  Music: Gaite Parisienne & Sous le ciel de Paris 

• I just love the costuming
• Very playful, their showmanship is always fantastic
• Very good speed at the beginning, a little frantic in the twizzles
• I have difficulty tracking the skaters when then do the mirroring sequences
• I love the idea of that straight line lift, but it loked very labored
• I love the quickness of the last section, but it is a very abrupt transition from the middle piece of music
• I like this program but it's not at it's best, I can see it being stellar by the end of the season
• 34.00 (TES) + 35.15 (PCS) = 69.15