2012 Four Continents Championships: Ladies Free Skate LIVE Coverage

1) Lejeanne Marais (RSA)
   Music: The Holiday

• I like this costume, but not for this music
• She's really stalking those jumps
• Those jumps are all in one place, they kind of stay on top of each other and don't travel much
• Kind of an interesting layback variation, she looked like she was hanging from the season
• Why did you end at the end of the rink? #weird
• Competition Total = 94.34

2) Crystal Kiang (TPE)

•  Two foot on the first jump
• She has nice upper body carriage
• We've got an opposite jumper!
• Really slow spins, but oddly some nice positions
• She really stalks these jumps, really slow entrances and lots of two-footing
• Competition Total = 93.78

3) Chatelle Kerry (AUS)

• She is so leggy that jumps have to be difficult for her
• Pretty spiral if she'd straighten that standing leg
• Wow that tucked sit spin was really cool
• She's taken advantage of her height to make some really cool spin positions
• She's a very fragile looking skater, this was good music for her
• Competition Total: 102.49

4) Melanie Swang (THA)

• We are having a lot of film soundtrack moments
• Lots of double jumps here, we just can't have that
• She is really hunched over
• I appreciate her knee bend, but her upper body should be more upright
• Competition Total: 96.16

5) Zhaira Costiniano (PHI)

• 1 and a half lutz?
• That high free leg is a technical error
• Those bangs have got to go
• Needs to point that foot on the sit spin
• Well we missed the rest of the piece due to feed malfunctions
• Competition Total = 87.26

6) Yea-Ji Yun (KOR)

• She has a very fresh faced look 
• I like her elegance and her style, but some of the jumps just aren't there
• I love this Cinderella music on her, but the performance quality is not there
• Competition Total = 96.85

7) Chae-Yeon Shur (KOR)

• What to even say about this costume...it's just a lot
• Green is bad luck for sure
• Straighten that standing leg in the spins please!
• She's stalking those jumps big time
• That fall was horrible, right on the hip, that's gotta hurt
• Bailed jump mid air, she's running out of steam big team
• Poor girl, she looks so dejected
• Competition Total = 94.95

8) Alexandra Najarro (CAN)

• What's with the CDonn bun
• Popped 3toe, oh boy
• This is not going so well so far
• Point that foot please!
• This program took a long time to get to the part of the music that we know
• If you're going to take on this program, you need to kill it
• If she doesn't point that foot I don't even know what I'm going to do 
• She's a big fan of the headless spin
• Competition Total = 117.11

9) Mimi Tanasorn Chindasook (THA)

• This costume is interesting, it's rough to pull off all white
• Aborted first jump
• She's at least showing some grace
• Nice 2-3 combo
• A little clunky in the jumps
• Uh oh, botched a spin and had to skate around a little to wait for the music
• Poor girl, shes really running out of steam here
• She really needs some umph her in the big part of the music
• Competition Total = 97.19

10) Sandra Khopon (THA)

• I love this costume, its so elegant and interesting
• I like this music, it's different
• She could use a little zap of energy, but she's still about the best we've seen thus far
• Really high wrap on that leg in the jumps
• Competition Total = 103.15

11) Quiying Zhu (CHN)

• This is a fun little latin number
• Lots of two-footing moments happening
• She looks like she really can't breathe at all
• She's having a hard time even getting off the ice
• They are massaging her chest to keep help her breathe, this is really scary
• Competition Total = 102.77

12) Melinda Wang (TPE)

• This costume is very pretty, I like the deep purple
• She looks thrilled to be there, good for her!
• She's doing a really nice program, nice presentation, she is very present in this program
• She's breathing hard too, but I think she's going to make it okay though
• Competition Total = 103.69

13) Haruka Imai (JPN)

• This is a program where lyrics would help to bring out some personality
• Nice 3-3
• She needs a lot more face and more choreography 
• This is going very slowly, but then again the music isn't helping her at all
• That was a weird fall, her feet just fell out from under her
• She is running out of steam and this lounge version of My Fair Lady is doing nothing
• Competition Total = 134.49

14) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN)

• She pops the first jump, that's what she always does
• There you go, good triple
• And another pop
• Nice turn out on that leg in the spin, good low position
• I'm not loving this white costume on her
• Let's get it on this footwork, keep it up and keep fighting for it
• Now she's really living up to the momentum in this music, needs to keep fighting
• Competition Total =147.47

15) Amelie Lacoste (CAN)

• This costume is a nice cut on her
• So far so good, 2 clean triples
• Stumble and trip on that next one there
• I like that side-stretched position on the layback
• Definitely some errors, but a cleaner skate overall than Cynthia
• And then you go and cock it up with a fall on a double axel
• Competition Total = 147.65

16) Bingwa Geng (CHN)

• Did these skaters all decide after practice and the men's event to just cut their losses and do double jumps?
• Lovely catch foot spiral
• She seems to be holding back, we'll never know how much this altitude is affecting the skaters
• These jumps are barely off the ground
• Competition Total = 127.89

17) Victoria Muniz (PUR)

• Good 3-jump combo off the bet, seems very strong
• That was a very ugly A-spin
• Definitely the best of the unknown skaters tonight despite some falls and doubling
• She is definitely breathing hard
• Competition Total = 117.83

18) Min-Jeong Kwak (KOR)

• These gloves are too much for me, they don't go with the costume
• Barely getting these jumps around
• Really running out of speed
• Good flexibility in the spins
• Competition Total = 130.52

19) Caroline Zhang (USA)

• Which Caroline will we get today?
• A lot of arm swing into that 2a
• So far so good, she doesn't seem to be too affected by the altitude
• Good clean program ending with her signature pearl spin!
• Competition Total = 176.18

20) Ashley Wagner (USA)

• Great 3-2-2 combo to open
• 2a-2t  instead of a planned 2a-3t but not too bad so far
• A little loss of speed in that spin
• Altitude is not affecting her, she looks strong as can be
• This is a fantastic skate from Ashley and she's really selling it well
• The title of US Champion suits her well
• Great clean program from Ashley, not just clean but inspired
• Let us hope that wasn't Ashleys peak
• Competition Total = 192.41

21) Agnes Zawadzki (USA)

• She's starting off much better than at US Nationals
• She looks so tall and elegant this season
• So far so good, but lacking spark
• There's no life in her skating, the seems tired, but she trains here
• I love that she points her foot on that final spin, I'm obsessed with that
• She's not happy, she just seems mentally blocked this season
• Competition Total = 157.23

22) Kanako Murakami (USA)

• I love Kananko...get it baby girl!
• She looks a little wild tonight, something just isn't quite right
• She looks exhausted, poor baby
• Her jumps looked really sloppy, technique looks off
• Competition Total = 169.32

23) Mao Asada (JPN)

• 3a, but looked 2-footed
• She's looking lovely tonight
• Hand down on the 3lz
• This is a really well composed program
• Beautiful pointed foot on that catch foot spin, I love the head back variation
• 2a-3t combination
• 3-2-2 combination, she's just floating through this, nothing is affecting her
• I love that spiral to end the program
• Good for her, she looks amazing and oh so happy out there!
• Competition Total = 188.62

24) Kexin Zhang (CHN)

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

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Ladies Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Kexin Zhang (CHN)
     Music: Piano Concerto No. 3 by Rachmaninov

• The Chinese ladies struggled last Grand Prix season, I'd like to see them do well here at home
• 3-3 attempt, I couldn't tell from the angle if it was rotated
• Hand down on a very tilted triple lutz
• She is very stiff in her upper body, some ballet would go a long way for her
• She needs to extend the movement even through the fingertips
• Nice donut spin position
• Footwork into a double axel, so far clan on the jumping
• I want to see more use of levels in this footwork, but she has begun to relax her upper body
• She'll be happy with that skate

SP Score: 31.47 (TES) + 21.38 (PCS) = 52.85

2) Quiying Zhu (CHN)
     Music: Nutrckacker

• She is gorgeous!
• From that costume I was expecting the Plum pas de deux music and I was correct!
• Fall on the first triple attempt, just not nearly enough speed and or height
• Triple-double completed, but still lacking speed and height
• She goes into the double axel almost at a stand-still
• She is so tentative going into these elements
• Her hands are really broken at the wrist which really disrupts the arm line she's creating
• Spins are a bit wobbly, traveling a bit
• No don't pick your skirt out of your butt on the ice! 

SP Score: 16.40 (TES) + 19.88 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 35.28

3) Bingwa Geng (CHN)
     Music: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

• I love this costume, it's very dynamic
• I hate this overhead camera angle, but nice 3-2
• She has more speed and is more aggressive than the other more delicate Chinese ladies
• That catch foot spin should be much more stretched if she's going to attempt it
• The spins really lack speed
• That ina bauer needs much more stretch, clean double axel
• That fog on the ice is really distracting
• Nice layback into final ending position
• An easy skater to watch

SP Score: 29.66 (TES) +22.95 (PCS) = 52.61

4) Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)
     Music: Bolero

• Very strong opening stance, drastically different from her programs of last season
• She is coming out very aggressive
• Fall on the triple lutz, had no speed coming out
• I hope she's smart enough to tack on a combo to another jump
• And she does add a 2T to the 3F
• Very fast spinning and nice position changes
• That lutz looked rotated, so she'll just lose the 1 point deduction and some GOE marks
• Solid double axel
• I'm loving her spins, that is where she is much stronger than Elizaveta
• Her step sequence movements are a little repetitive for me, but I appreciate that she is giving it her all
• That low sit spin variation is rally interesting
• She is not happy with that, but should still bring in a strong score

SP Score: 29.66 (TES) + 25.08 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 53.74

5) Christina Gao (USA)
     Music: To Love You More

• I like her even more now that she's tall, is that strange?
• She's getting the Yuna look!
• 3F-3t, looked solid to me
• Slow approach to the double axel, can't keep it on her feet
• I like this program on her
• I'd like a stronger flow out of that triple lutz
• She has lovely spin positions but lost a lot of speed by the time she hit the Bielman
• I'd like to see more facial expression, she's in the ballpark here on her step sequence
• Aren't bangs really distracting for a figure skater?

SP Score: 29.34 (TES) + 23.65 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 51.99

6) Valentina Marchei (ITA)
     Music: Johnny's Mambo, Ronny's Mambo

• Yuka is here for Team Detroti, no surprise b/c of her connection with Jeremy Abbott
• Again, I hate the braid, it's immature for her age
• Her opening combo took off from and landed on very straight legs
• She came out firing today, seems to really have her legs under her
• This program doesn't do much for me, the transitions are really just crossovers with sassy facial expressions
• She's landed all of the jumps, but none of them really have much height at all
• Pretty quick rotation on the spins, she must be studying Alissa

SP Score: 26.46 (TES) + 25.96 (PCS) = 52.42

7) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
     Music: Maria and the Violin's String

• What a lovely program this is if she can just stay upright
• The choreography is fantastic, the opening is so unique
• Fall out of the opening 3F, I really don't know that the coaching change did her any favors
• This audience really gasps when a skater falls
• Step out of the triple loop,won't get full credit
• I don't know where this girl's mind is, if I had that choreography I wouldn't be throwing away jumps
• This poor girl, she's so lovely if she could get her mind in the game and learn to compete

SP Score: 20.44 (TES) + 26.46 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 45.90

8) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
     Music: Violin Muse

• Wow she's grown up since last season!
• 3lz-3t, 2nd jump likely underrotated and maybe two-footed
• Triple loop, UR probably
• This is a much more mature program for her, she's improved her sense of interpretation
• A bit of a funny layback position; broken leg line
• Her hands are a bit stiff for me, softening them would do wonders for her arm line
• Double axel, good to see she's maintained her jumps even with the growth spurt

SP Score: 25.80 (TES) + 27.29 (PCS) = 53.09

9) Mirai Nagasu (USA)
     Music: Danzarin

• Lord I don't even know what to think anymore when Mirai steps onto the ice
• It looks like good Mirai came out to skate today, all jumps landed
• She really does a fantastic job of not traveling at all on that layback spin
• I like that camel variation into the donut that she does
• Sassy Mirai is out there today, Frank is looking on as seriously as ever
• I like this step sequence a lot
• Mirai is one of the best spinners around in terms of speeding up rotation as she goes

SP Score: 31.75 (TES) + 29.21 (PCS) = 60.96

10) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
      Music: Alegretto from Trio No. 2 by Shostakovitch

• The illusion mesh is still horrible but the costume as a whole has grown on me
• The more I watch it I like this program
• She went for the 3-3, wasn't watching closely enough for rotation
• She really carries a lot of speed with those long legs
• Two hands down on the triple loop
• Nice sharp double axel
• I appreciate the way the subtleties of the choreography mirror the music
• Nice deep edging, she'll likely pass Mirai in PCS but not in TES after the hands down

SP Score: 31.44 (TES) + 30.44 (PCS) = 61.88