Skate Canada: Mens Free Skate LIVE BLOG!

1) Liam Firus (CAN)
 Music: The Resistance

• For the sake of my fantasy team, this best be good!
• Crushed velvet is always a good sign
• Oh no you didn't just trip on a crossover boyfriend
• No you didn't just fall on your opening jump!
• There we go, good one
• He has a lovely lyrical quality to his skating, yes he does
• He seems unsure of himself, just needs some more seasoning to mature
• Liam honey, let's hold it together
• Give me some expression on that face, don't just go through the motions
• A great deal of traveling on that combination spin to end, and a funky ending pose
• He has potential and he's nice to look at
• 49.51 (TES) + 60.66 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 109.17
• 60.50 (SP) + 109.17 (FS) = 169.67

2) Takahito Mura (JPN)
 Music: Shogun

• Jumps look very "on" from the beginning
• I love this whole Samurai thing we have going on
• He has the huge jumps, but he is also very expressive for such a strong athlete
• The first popped jump is usually a warning sign of a break in concentration
• He lands these jump so low, yet always manages to stand them up; incredible
• This program is starting to lose me halfway through, it's a very "one note" performance for me
• I'd take that program back to the drawing board and revamp the choreo
• 72.00 (TES) + 66.64 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 137.64
• 62.10 (SP) + 137.64 (FS) = 199.74

3) Ross Miner (USA)
 Music: Captain Blood

• Huge jumps!
• This music suits him well and that shirt makes him look like a modern Todd Eldredge or Paul Wylie
• His jumps look so solid, he looks very sure of himself
• He knows he is going to hit all of these elements when he goes into them
• This is a solid program for him, this could be his year at US Nationals
• 73.91 (TES) + 70.28 (PCS) = 144.19
• 69.41 (SP) + 144.19 (FS) = 213.60

4) Artur Gachinski (RUS)
 Music:

• What does that spider web tuxedo have to do with anything?
• This is an oddly lyrical piece of music for him; we're used to Stravinski and anything dissonant
• He totally failed to finish that spin position, whey is he just going through the motions
• For a jumper, he is landing too many of them on his hands
• I forgot the mention the 2 Quads, I mean that's like old hat for him
• Every program of his has that moment where he clenches his fists and seems to shout "aha"
• Please straighten out your free leg when you land your jumps dear; Sincerely, the dancer in me
• I wonder if Mishin will tell Artur to lose weight to land the jumps?
• 63.40 (TES) + 67.44 (PCS) = 129.84
• 69.74 (SP) + 129.84 (FS) = 199.58

5) Elladj Balde (CAN)
 Music: Moonlight Sonata Remix & Animal Rights

• Is this hair really necessary?
• He is like the love child of Surya Bonaly and Philipe Candeloro
• Beethoven is rolling over in his grave right now
• He should only skate to Michael Jackson, nothing else
• The odd musical selection and choreography are distracting from the skating, which is actually quite good tonight
• Oddly enough, this won't be the strangest program we see tonight, our good buddy Florent is on the way
• 61.56 (TES) + 65.92 (PCS) = 127.48
• 72.46 (SP) + 127.48 (FS) = 199.94

6) Florent Amodio (JPN)
 Music: Jumpin Jack, Nothing but Sorrow, & To build a home

• Oh heaven help us, what are we about to witness
• Very fast rotation in the jumps, little stumbles on landings
• Very fast and smooth so far, good ice coverage
• Just when I think we'll see a nice, normal program we get something techno with a downbeat that sounds like Nadia's theme
• This boy is the king of standing still and posing
• He would be right at home in the 90s
• Losing that combination will hurt his base value
• Why do I feel like he has no concern for scores and just goes out to do whatever he feels like?
• 69.41 (TES) + 74.70 (PCS) = 144.11
• 74.61 (SP) + 144.11 (FS) = 218.72

7) Denis Ten (KAZ)
 Music: The Artist

• This music is gorgeous
• Falls on both Quads, A for effort though!
• When he hits his jumps, they are textbook
• I love this program for him, those little jazzy interludes are fun and they show off personality that I've never seen from him
• I like the program, the execution just isn't there today
• The sad thing is that we know he can do the jumps, we've seen them before
• 58.74 (TES) + 72.70 (PCS) -3.00 (DED) = 128.44
• 75.26 (SP) + 128.44 (FS) = 201.70

8) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
 Music: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

• I love how catlike he is on those landings, he has the softest knees around
• I missed this from him last season; loving the huge jumps!
• He looks extremely thin, that's probably how he's jumping so high
• Yay, this is lovely, this is what we want from him
• Oo, not a butt spin, never a butt spin
• Yay Nobu, very good
• 78.48 (TES) + 77.72 (PCS) = 156.20
• 82.14 (SP) + 156.20 (FS) = 238.34

9) Patrick Chan (CAN)
 Music: La Boheme

• Patrick looks so fast today
• Very slick opening combo
• Hands down on our 2nd quad of the day
• I actually like this program for him, it's very regal so it suits his posture and his rigid upper body
• He is showing us a new side, it's a little playful which is endearing
• Crash on the triple axel, that's his nemesis; I can see how that would've been lovely choreographically with the music
• He is always messy at Skate Canada, I feel like that's part of his process, how he builds up over the season
• You could never accuse him of peaking too early
• I love the use of levels in this last step sequence
• He must be a very well trained athlete because he doesn't seem to lose speed throughout the program
• Ends slightly after the music
• 75.13 (TES) + 86.78 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 160.91
• 82.52 (SP) + 160.91 (FS) = 241.43

10) Javier Fernandez (ESP)
 Music: Charlie Chaplin

• Wow, how charming
• I want him to be my boyfriend
• Oy that was one hard fall on the first quad, all the weight on the hands
• Very tight 2nd Quad
• Not one ounce of this music is wasted, ever nuance is accented
• He doesn't look fully comfortable yet, this program is sure to be stellar by Worlds
• Now he is getting into the program, findin his rhythm
• He should receive great PCS for this program; 'should' being the operative word
• I think he should win it; that was a gorgeous experience for the audience
• 85.15 (TES) + 83.92 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 168.07
• 85.87 (SP) + 168.07 (FS) = 253.94

Skate Canada: Ladies Free Skate LIVE BLOG!

1) Polina Shelepen (RUS)
 Music: Gone With The Wind

• 36.37 (TES) + 43.74 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 78.11
• 46.18 (SP) + 78.11 (FS) = 124.29

2) Gracie Gold (USA)
 Music: Life Is Beautiful

• Here's to hoping she can recover from this
• From what I can see on my feed she is looking confidant
• Lovely Bielman
• Squirrely landing on that axel
• This is a very senior program, she will do well as she grows with this over the season
• Does this costume remind anybody else of Tara Lipinski when she won her Olympic gold?
• She is a little taller this season, let's hope this is all that she'll do in terms of growing so there is no re-learning of jump technique
• 48.02 (TES) + 51.36 (PCS) = 99.38
• 52.19 (SP) + 99.38 (FS) = 151.57

3) Caroline Zhang (USA)
 Music: Nessun Dorma

• Not much height on these jumps, she is looking winded
• Not a lot of speed on the spins or steps either
• The feed is frozen to the extend where I really can't assess the quality of the skating
• I'm glad she stuk with this program, it definitely still has growing room
• Her spiral position has improved, I like the extension there
• Definitely not the disaster that she usually starts out with, this is really a new Caroline
• 46.96 (TES) + 49.94 (PCS) = 96.90
• 52.97 (SP) + 96.90 (FS) = 149.87 

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

• My feed is totally froze but I hear she did a lovely 3flip and 3lutz
• Maybe the new blonde did her some good!
• I love nuance in the little footwork section on the part of Rhapsody that we all know!
• She looks so light this year, like a little fairy
• I like her much better this season, great adjustments!
• 45.05 (TES) + 52.58 (PCS) = 97.63
• 53.81 (SP) + 97.63 (FS) = 151.44

5) Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS)
 Music: Black Eyes

• Is it just me or is Liza starting to look like Sasha Cohen?
• She is definitely taller, but from what I've seen in this small sample size, the jumps havent been affected
• Uh oh, little slip, not enough pop caused that fall
• This music choice suits her very well
• Very zippy spins
• Her performance quality is much improved, she is interacting with the audience
• Her upper body is more expressive as well
• The middle of the program is a little dull, the choreographer may need to tweak a few things here in the middle
• 58.14 (TES) + 53.76 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 112.90
• 55.10 (SP) + 112.90 (FS) = 168.00

6) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
 Music: O

• That opening is charming, it's so musical
• Girlfriend si still doing her thing at age 28, major props to her for that
• I hate that bent leg camel, just not my cup of tea
• I love this music, it's whimsical, yet very post moder as well
• She loks so comfortable in this piece; not that I know her but I believe this suits what I believe her personality to be
• She just keeps ticking off those jumps and elements
• This seems like a championships caliber program; I can see this looking outstanding by worlds
• I love that beautiful open position on the stretched out camel; she looks like a star hanging from the sky and spinning in midair
• That was lovely, that was the most enjoyable of all of the ladies programs I've seen this year aside from Ashley Wagner's
• 60.22 (TES) + 59.82 (PCS) = 120.04
• 55.12 (SP) + 120.04 (FS) = 175.16 

7) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
 Music: Oblivion, Fuego Lento

• Oh no, all my commentary was deleted
• Basically, I said that this is a step in the right direction for her and she has a lot of room to grow in this program
• 53.49 (TES) + 58.34 (PCS) = 111.82
• 56.21 (SP) + 111.82 (FS) = 168.04

8) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
 Music: Megapolis

• Oh no, I miss my little Russian blonde
• I love her expressive upper body
• This music is a little odd, I can't decide if I like it or not
• She has such a fluid upper body, but then the lower body seems so rigid
• When she falls, it's always dramatic
• This isn't really holding my interest, I'm not so sure why
• The music is interesting and I love the choreography, but it's not a complete piece yet
• 40.43 (TES) + 56.12 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 95.55
• 58.56 (SP) + 95.55 (FS) = 154.11

9) Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN)
 Music: Carmen Ballet

• This is interesting, a Canadian lady with amazing potential; something we haven't seen in about 3-4 years
• She is a firecracker, loving her already
• Skate Canada has been the poster child for Carmen thus far
• Uh oh, feed going wonky, but I hear applause so I assume things are still on the up and up
• She has a lot of things to clean up, but she is landing the jumps and she is exciting which is what the Canadian ladies have lacked since Rochette
• This is starting to get pretty messy toward the end, but those are all things that can be fixed with better conditioning and more experience
• 57.28 (TES) + 59.61 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 115.81
• 60.56 (SP) + 115.81 (FS) = 176.45 

10) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
 Music: Don Quixote

• Hard fall on opening jump, she is a very heady skater, the beginning always sets the tone for the whole program
• She is looking like such an elegant diva out there on the ice
• She is going so fast, can she hang onto this speed for the whole program??
• I love her intensity, through the good and the bad she never loses that quality about her
• Definitely losing speed here at the end
• She is running out of steam, but I love that little ode to a fouette in the footwork sequence
• 42.83 (TES) + 57.89 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 99.72
• 60.80 (SP) + 99.72 (FS) = 1160.52 

Skate Canada: Ice Dance Preview

Friday October 26th at 9:10pm-Short Dance
Saturday October 27th at 4:40pm-Free Dance
I should be Live Blogging both of these events!

Every year we have this debate. Will it be the year of Davis & White or Virtue & Moir (CAN)? My question is this, is a sport like ice dance that is all about innovation, should you really win a World title skating to Carmen? We'll see, but it's going to have to be a pretty spectacular Carmen for me to get behind a musical selection like that. I cannot wait to see how the lack of Igor's presence changes the look of both top teams.

Cappellini & Lanotte (ITA) are now being coached by Igor Shpilband which could make all the difference for them. This looks to be a breakout year for them. They could become contenders. Igor's old team Virtue & Moir and his new team are both skating to Carmen for the free. Coincidence? I think not.

The real battle is for bronze. I give the edge to Hubbell & Donohue (USA) as they have a full year under the belt and already have a top-10 finish at Worlds. They have really steamy chemistry and that will only get better with time. Look for them to up the technical ante and avoid some of the silly errors that they made on twizzles last season.

The team hot on their heels for the bronze will be Gilles & Poirier (CAN). They are a new team and oddly enough, Piper used to skate with Zach Donohue. They skated together last season as well, but not Internationally as Piper had to wait a full year to be completely released from USFSA. They have such energy and a great look together. I think Paul is a beautiful ice dancer, but he never looked quite right with Vanessa Crone for me, so hopefully this new pairing will do the trick.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Virtue & Moir (CAN)
Silver: Cappellini & Lannote (ITA)
Bronze: Hubbell & Donohue (USA)

The Rest of the Field:
Zlobina & Sitnikov (AZE)
Ralph & Hill (CAN)
Carron & Jones (FRA)
Riazanova & Tkachenko (RUS)

Skate Canada: Pairs Preview

Friday October 26th at 3:45 pm-Short Program
Saturday October 27th at 1:05 pm-Free Skate
I should be available to live blog the Short Program.

This is not a competition for Gold, it's a competition for Silver. Savchenko & Szolkowy (GER) have their season sewn up until they meet up with Voloshozar & Trankov. I cannot wait to see their new programs as they are always so innovative and unique. I appreciate that they still take risks even though they are at the point in their careers where they could phone it in.

Duhamel & Radford (CAN) look poised to take their second Skate Canada medal and it should most likely be silver. They are on their way to becoming a top pair as long as they stay together. They have a great look and they alway seem so happy and grateful when they do well. They should be the top North American pair team for years to come.

Lawrence & Swiegers (CAN) medaled at this event two years ago, but they slumped in 2011. Partly due to a relatively weak field, I think they will take bronze here. I'm also very excited to see that War Horse program.

Berton & Hotarek (ITA) will be the other candidates for bronze. They took 3rd at Rostelecom Cup last year and finished just outside of the top-ten at Worlds last year and nearly medaled at Europeans.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Savchenko & Szolkowy (GER)
Silver: Duhamel & Radford (CAN)
Bronze: Lawrence & Swiegers (CAN)

The Rest of the Field:
Popova & Massot (FRA)
Kemp & King (GBR)
Davis & Ladwig (USA)
Vise & Baldwin (USA)

Skate Canada: Ladies Preview

Friday October 26th at 2:05 pm-Short Program
Saturday October 27th at 10:45 am-Free Skate
I should be available to live blog part of the Short Program and all of the Free Skate!

Watch out skating fans because there's a new girl in town and she's about to bust this sport wide open. The Skate Canada Ladies Event was won by a rookie last year and Gracie Gold (USA) is going to continue that tradition. She has talent beyond her years and has the goods to win pretty much any major skating event that she enters. I'm praying that she is the skater we have been waiting for and that she and Ashley Wagner battle for the top 2 spots in the US for years to come. I cannot wait to see her Hernando's Hideaway and Life Is Beautiful programs!

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) is about to go into a little bit of a sophomore slump, but what I mean by that is perhaps she won't win both of her Grand Prix events. She still has a lot to prove in terms of maturity, but she'll get there.

Kanako Murakami (JPN) experienced her own sophomore slump last year but she came out of it beautifully. She was a little jumping caterpillar in her first season as a senior who turned into a beautiful butterfly by the end of the second. I love her new lyrical quality and I hope that this is the year she will combine that with the springy jumping combinations she once had.

Akiko Suzuki (JPN) is a grandma by figure skating standards. However, she did defy the odds and won her first world medal last year at age 27. If I were her, I would've hung up the skates at the top of my game, but if she still loves the daily grind of training and competing then more power to her. It is refreshing to see a woman on the ice in a sea of tiny girls.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Gracie Gold (USA)
Silver: Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)
Bronze: Kanako Murakami (JPN)

The Rest of the Field
Amelie Lacoste (CAN)
Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN)
Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
Polina Shelepen (RUS)
Caroline Zhang (USA)

Skate Canada: Mens Preview

If (and that's a big if) we happen to get a feed for this event, I will be live blogging all of the Skate Canada events this weekend!

Competition Schedule:
Friday October 26th at 7:30 pm-Short Program
Saturday October 27th at 7:10 pm-Free Skate



Hi, anybody who knows anything knows that Patrick Chan (CAN) is going to win this event. He is at home, he is the love child of IJS and the judging panels. He is working with a new coaching team this year because he fired the people who created him so we'll see if that takes a toll on his emotional status. It's a big year for P-Chiddy because he has two, count 'em two, new programs this year. Good times! In all seriousness, this guy can skate and it's great to see the quads, but let's hope he holds back some of the goods to make it a fair fight for the rest of the field.

Javier Fernandez (ESP) is my new skating boyfriend. I am just smitten with him! He is a lovely performer and I love how he was hot on Chan's heels at last year's skate Canada. I cannot wait to see his Zorro short program and especially his Charlie Chaplin free skate. Both should be endearing and jam-packed technically. I really want him to win, but it will take a lot to beat Chan on home ice.

Ross Miner (USA) has a chance to make the podium on the Grand Prix this season, but until he gets the quad nobody will take him seriously. He is usually pretty consistent so considering that the first 2 or 3 Grand Prix events are a hot mess, he has a really good shot at the podium.

Speaking of hot messes, Florent Amodio (FRA) has been all over the place in the past two years. I no longer take him seriously as a competitor, but I do look forward to seeing the costumes that he borrows from the disco animals in Lady Gaga's bathhouse. I'm looking at his free skate music, which looks like a hot disaster on blades, and I couldn't be more excited about it!.

Our dear Artur Gachinski (RUS) is a hot mess of an entirely different variety. We love that he is Evgeni's mini-me and how he flails about like Boy George in 1980s London, but it really has no place on the ice in 2012 under IJS. Perhaps he should've been born in another generation so he could pit his "style" against the likes of Rudy Galindo and Philipe Candeloro. He does have a World medal under his belt, but he has not risen to the occasion since he accomplished that feat in 2010.

Our dear little Nobunari Oda (JPN) is a sad case. Ever since he became a father his career has gone down hill. 2011-2012 was a disaster for him and this is a do or die year. Takahashi is still fabulous, Hanyu and Kozuka are world medalists, and Machida is on his way up the ranks. If Oda does not prove this season that he can still do it, I say the Japanese federation washes their hands of him as they did with Fumie Suguri.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Patrick Chan
Silver: Javier Fernandez
Bronze: Ross Miner

The Rest of the Field:
Elladj Balde (CAN)
Liam Firus (CAN)
Takahito Mura (JPN)
Denis Ten (KAZ)