2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Ladies Free Skate LIVE BLOG

1) Lena Marrocco (FRA)
     Music: Notre Dame de Paris

• Hello Esmerelda!
• I missed the 1st 30 seconds so I don't know how she started off
• She's a decent little jumper when she's on...but her arms tend to kind of do whatever they want without exact placement
• She does a decent job of acting the character as well
• I'd like her to look up and out more
• This program looks very junior-ish, but she is very young
• Not really much too this program in the way of composition, I don't see the spins or footwork receiving very great levels
• She finally looked up on that spiral!
• A lot of little errors here and there

FS Score: 43.14 (TES) + 39.88 (PCS) = 83.02
Total Score: 43.95 (SP) + 83.02 (FS) = 126.97

2) Yretha Silete (FRA)
     Music: Xotica

• Hello loud costume
• Those hair clips + flower + the dangles in the back are really distracting
• Fall on the opening jump
• She has a lot of power in those legs
• At least this program has more in the way of choreography than Marrocco
• She's taken 2 very hard falls, both out of jumps that looked underrotated
• That split jump needs more height and stretch if she's going to do it
• All her jump landings are shaky
• I don't know how those loose pieces on her costume aren't driving her nuts in the spins and jumps
• I hope she's not hurt after those hard falls she took

FS Score: 47.60 (TES) + 42.05 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 87.65
Total Score: 48.25 (SP) + 87.65 (FS) = 135.90

3) Sonia LaFuente (ES)
     Music: Concierto de Aranjuez

• I've had quite enough Aranjuez for one event thank you
• Hand down on the opening jump
• Sonia is looking pretty good so far
• Hardly any height at all on these jumps, but she's landing at least
• She could really straighten out her free let on that sit spin and point the foot
• There is no attempt at expression here at all
• Very nice hair cutter spin position, ended after the music

FS Score: 42.99 (TES) + 43.82 (PCS)  = 86.81
Total Score: 49.51 (SP) + 86.81 (FS) = 136.32

4) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
     Music: Fever, Jessica's Theme, Hey Pachuko

• This costume is just way too much
• And when you can see your tights in the back, you know the dress is cut to low
• She is mostly hitting the jumps
• The other elements of her program are slowly improving each competition
• The home crowd is loving her
• Her free leg is wrapped really high
• She is putting on a show for the home crowd

FS Score: 51.87 (TES) + 44.08 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 94.95
Total Score: 50.49 (SP) + 94.95 (FS) = 145.44

5) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: Sunset Boulevard

• Nice 3 jump combo
• It's fun to watch the sleeve puffs as she rotates her jumps
• If we have to hear Webber, I'm glad it's something other than Phantom or Evita
• So much passion in this footwork, She's a much different skater now after the confidence boost of winning Bronze at Skate America
• This program is a joy to watch, she's really giving it everything she has

FS Score: 48.59 (TES) + 52.15 (PCS) = 100.74
Total Score: 54.16 (SP) + 100.74 (FS) = 154.90

6) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
     Music: Violin Concerto

• I like this music on her a lot
• She looks so much more confident than she did in China
• She is flying through this beginning, but its a little sloppy
• She still looks like a little girl wearing big girl clothes
• 2nd popped jump, she's had a look of surprise on her face both times
• A skate with 2 singles is not going to put any pressure on the top ladies
• She is flying through everything, not taking time to hit any positions or feel the music
• She's a very emotional skater, in China she was crying after a decent skate, and now after two pops she's laughing at herself

FS Score: 51.66 (TES) + 53.88 (PCS) = 105.54
Total Score: 55.77 (SP) + 105.54 (FS) = 161.31

7) Alissa Czisny (USA)
     Music: Valse Triste

• 2 clean triples, and then she singles the axel
• Gorgeous spiral of course
• Alissa & Johnny Weir could've done pairs because the both jump and spin the same way
• Beautiful arch in the back on the camel
• Triple-double, no attempt at the 3-3 combo today
• There we go with a clean double axel
• All of the jumps seem to be a little pitched forward, they aren't perfect but she's learned to fight
• That straight leg and pointed toe on the sit spin are to die for!
• She is interpreting the music and performing much better overall here than she did at Skate America
• Why do I even comment on the spins, they're always going to be beautiful!
• She should be pretty happy with that, will be enough to medal

FS Score: 60.06 (TES) + 61.84 (PCS)  = 121.90
Total Score: 57.25 (SP) + 121.90 (FS) = 179.15

8) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
     Music: Adagio from Concerto 3 by Mozart

• Huge spring on the opening triple
• Now she's doubling jumps
• Really great speed as usual
• There is a smile finally!
• Really tight rotation, body position is perpendicular to the ice

FS Score: 66.97 (TES) + 63.65 (PCS) = 119.62
Total Score: 59.70 (SP) + 119.62 (FS) = 179.32

9) Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)
     Music: Latin Selection

• I wish she'd soften her hands
• Nice 3-3 combination!
• She's performing a little more today than she did in Canada
• This program still looks junior-ish, which it should since she's 14
• We'll see if the judges place her above or below the veterans, there's hardly room between them
• She really needs to straighten that foot on the sit spin
• What a little jumping bean!
• Very nice skate from Liza, do they give it to her? I think they have to unless there were deductions that we didn't see

FS Score: 63.66 (TES) + 57.19 (PCS) = 120.85
Total Score: 62.04 (SP) + 120.85 (FS) = 182.89

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Elizaveta TUKTAMISHEVA	RUS	182.89	1	2
2	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA	179.32	2	3
3	Alissa CZISNY	USA	179.15	3	1
4	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN	161.31	4	4
5	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	154.90	5	5
6	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	145.44	6	6
7	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP	136.32	7	8
8	Yretha SILETE	FRA	135.90	8	7
9	Lena MARROCCO	FRA	126.97	9	9

Pl.   Name Nation TSS = TES +   PCS + SS TR PE CH IN Ded. - StN. 1 Alissa CZISNY USA 121.90 60.06   61.84 7.86 6.96 8.04 7.75 8.04 0.00 #7 2 Elizaveta TUKTAMISHEVA RUS 120.85 63.66   57.19 7.07 6.61 7.54 7.14 7.39 0.00 #9 3 Carolina KOSTNER ITA 119.62 55.97   63.65 8.11 7.50 7.82 8.14 8.21 0.00 #8 4 Kanako MURAKAMI JPN 105.54 51.66   53.88 7.04 6.25 6.82 6.82 6.75 0.00 #6 5 Viktoria HELGESSON SWE 100.74 48.59   52.15 6.57 6.14 6.64 6.57 6.68 0.00 #5 6 Mae Berenice MEITE FRA 94.95 51.87   44.08 5.79 5.00 5.61 5.61 5.54 1.00 #4 7 Yretha SILETE FRA 87.65 47.60   42.05 5.39 4.93 5.25 5.46 5.25 2.00 #2 8 Sonia LAFUENTE ESP 86.81 42.99   43.82 5.79 5.21 5.50 5.50 5.39 0.00 #3 9 Lena MARROCCO FRA 83.02 43.14   39.88 5.29 4.46 5.14 5.04 5.00 0.00 #1

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Ladies Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Sonia LaFuente (ESP)
     Music: Cry Me A River

• I love this costume! The coloring on the straps is so interesting
• Nice triple lutz to start off
• Triple loop-double toe
• Spiral into a double axel
• All her jumps are landed, but none of them get a lot of height and they rotate pretty slowly
• She needs to really straighten that leg on the camel spin
• Decent footwork, but I wish she'd show a little more expression on her face
• She needs to look up and out instead of down at the ice
• She needs to straighten her knee on the I-Spin

SP Score: 27.43 (TES) + 22.08 (PCS) = 49.51

2) Yretha Silete (FRA)
     Music: Black Swan

• Interesting to use this this music for the short, it's been mostly a free skate piece all season
• She can jump, but there's not much style there
• Stumble out of the double axel
• This is somebody who shouldn't be doing a Bielmann spin, if you can't do it great, then don't do it at all

SP Score: 26.60 (TES) + 21.65 (PCS) = 48.25

3) Lena Marrocco (FRA)
     Music: Minnie the Moocher

• This is a very different sort of program, grabs your attention right away
• Doubles the flip, that will hurt
• Turn out of the lutz, double toe on the end
• Nice double axel
• Her hands are very stiff, that breaks the arm line
• I appreciate her attempt at performance, she should take some acting classes to teach her how to relax her face while still expressing the music
• This step sequence showcases the nuances of the music
• The whole thing looks a little frantic to me
• Hits her last pose slightly after the music
• That was a decent outing, not terrible, not great

SP Score: 22.95 (TES) + 21.00 (PCS) = 43.95

4) Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)
     Music: Tango by Piazzolla

• Go Liza!
• Nice 3-3 combo, get it girl!
• She is looking stronger that Skate Canada, going to give those top ladies a run for their money
• Her jumps just look so easy
• This program looks more mature that at Skate Canada

SP Score: 34.99 (TES) + 27.05 (PCS) = 62.04

5) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
     Music: Derniere Lettre du Prince

• She always wears such loud flashy costumes
• Solid opening combination, she rotated very quickly
• I think she would have done quite well under the 6.0 system
• Did she go through a growth spurt in the off season?
• She is going through the motions really slowly in this step sequence
• Love the music by the way
• Some one of her muscular build should FLY across the ice
• Very nice stretch in the came spin
• I don't know that that costume is the best for showing off her body line

SP Score: 28.71 (TES) + 21.78 (PCS) = 50.49

6) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: My Funny Valentine

• What lives under that hair
• I don't like this version of My Funny Valentine, but that's just a personal opinion
• So far so clean
• She looks like a new skater today, that Skate America medal has given her so much confidence
• Interesting spin variations
• I love that she skates like a woman and not like a little girl
• I liked this program much better here than at Skate America

SP Score: 28.13 (TES) + 26.03 (PCS) = 54.16

7) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
     Music: Violin Muse

• She needs to get the confidence back that she had last year on the Grand Prix
• She is in a similar situation to Mirai Nagasu, she had a rough 1st Grand Prix so now she can skate lights out here
• Funky second landing, but hits the 3-3!
• She is carrying good speed throughout!
• She is really looking good in this step sequence
• I'd love to see her look up and out more rather than down at the ice
• She is so happy, so different from her last outing!

SP Score: 28.88 (TES) + 26.89 (PCS) = 55.77

8) Alissa Czisny (USA)
     Music: La Vie En Rose

• I love this program on her
• Triple lutz, a little shaky on the landing, let's hope that's the only bobble
• Turn out of the triple loop-double toe
• Weird swing out of the double axel
• Her jumps are not there today, but at least she didn't fall!
• This is such an elegant program
• Her PCS and the spin levels should hold her up pretty close the top even though the jumps were off
• Not her best, but she recovered from early mistakes and didn't fall

SP Score: 27.49 (TES) +  (PCS) = 57.25

9) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
      Music: Allegretto From Trio No. 2 by Shostakovitch

• Awesome speed
• Triple toe-triple toe, very tight quick rotation
• Is he underlayer of her costume different
• Was that a hand down on that triple salchow?
• A lot of ice coverage on the double axel
• Oh goodness, a fall on footwork, a simple concentration break
• She had a dear in the headlights look there for a minute and had trouble finding where to restart it

SP Score: 29.88 (TES) + 30.82 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 59.70

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Elizaveta TUKTAMISHEVA	RUS	62.04	1
2	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA	59.70	2
3	Alissa CZISNY	USA	57.25	3
4	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN	55.77	4
5	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	54.16	5
6	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	50.49	6
7	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP	49.51	7
8	Yretha SILETE	FRA	48.25	8
9	Lena MARROCCO	FRA	43.95	9

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Elizaveta TUKTAMISHEVA	RUS	62.04	34.99		27.05	6.68	6.25	7.07	6.89	6.93	0.00	#4
2	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA	59.70	29.88		30.82	7.86	7.36	7.61	7.82	7.86	1.00	#9
3	Alissa CZISNY	USA	57.25	27.49		29.76	7.50	6.93	7.43	7.64	7.71	0.00	#8
4	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN	55.77	28.88		26.89	6.86	6.39	6.79	6.79	6.79	0.00	#7
5	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	54.16	28.13		26.03	6.57	6.14	6.68	6.57	6.57	0.00	#6
6	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	50.49	28.71		21.78	5.61	5.18	5.50	5.57	5.36	0.00	#5
7	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP	49.51	27.43		22.08	5.68	5.21	5.71	5.61	5.39	0.00	#1
8	Yretha SILETE	FRA	48.25	26.60		21.65	5.46	5.18	5.43	5.61	5.39	0.00	#2
9	Lena MARROCCO	FRA	43.95	22.95		21.00	5.32	4.93	5.32	5.43	5.25	0.00	#3

2011 Trophee Eric Bompard: Ladies Preview

This ladies event is going to be a heated battle of the Gold medalists from the first 3 events of the season: Czisny, Tuktamisheva, and Kostner. These three competing head to head will be a battle of youth v experience. The ladies skate their short Friday November 18th at 12:15 p.m. and their free Saturday November 19th at 12:30 p.m. EST.

So maybe I'm going soft, but after years of criticizing Carolina Kostner (ITA) she's finally turned me into a fan. Some say that the nuances of her skating are an acquired taste, and I'm finally beginning to see that. She chooses very highbrow music and her programs are very sophisticated. She does not perform a triple lutz and has just recently added back her triple flip. This strategy appears to be working as she earns very high GOEs on the jumps she does perform as well as very high PCS scores. Of the ladies competing here, she currently has the top score of the season at 182.12 at Cup of China. Alissa Czisny (USA) has the 2nd highest score of this field at a 177.48, though that came with a mistake filled free skate at Skate America. Her programs are much more accessible to audiences than Kostner's and it seems to simply be a matter of preference choosing between the two. Because Czisny is planning a 3lutz-3toe and a more difficult array of triples, she has more scoring potential to pass Kostner if she skates cleanly. Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS) the young phenom finished just a hair below with a 177.38 in her win at Skate Canada. She was nearly perfect technically in her first outing but I don't know if she'll hold up against a perfect Kostner or Czisny. Kanako Murakami (JPN) may factor in here, though her Cup of China performance left much to be desired. She may be going through a sophomore slump after a great senior debut last season.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
2) Alissa Czisny (USA)
3) Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)


Competitive History:


Alissa Czisny (USA)-1st at 2011 Skate America, 5th 2011 Worlds, 5th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2010 Grand Prix Final, 3rd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 Skate Canada; PB: 182.25 at 2011 Worlds


Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)-3rd at 2011 Skate Americ, 5th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 17th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Nordics, 1st 2010 Merano Cup, 6th 2010 Skate America, 9th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 161.79 at 2010 Worlds


Carolina Kostner (ITA)-1st at 2011 Cup of China, 2nd at 2011 Skate America, 3rd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 1st 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 184.68 at 2008 Worlds


Sonia LaFuente (ESP)-9th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 25th 2011 Worlds, 12th 2011 Europeans, 2nd 2011 Winter Universiade; PB: 143.60 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard


Lena Marrocco (FRA)-3rd 2011 O Nepela, 1st 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 12th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 10th 2010 NHK Trophy, 1st 2010 Ice Challenge; PB: 122.03 at 2010 NHK Trophy

Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)-7th at 2011 NHK Trophy, 1st 2011 O Nepela, 14th 2011 Worlds, 9th 2011 Europeans, 9th Trophee Eric Bompard, 8th 2010 Skate America, 3rd 2010 Coup de Nice, 7th 2010 Triglav Trophy; PB: 150.44 at 2011 Worlds

Kanako Murakami (JPN)-6th at 2011 Cup of China, 8th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Asian Winter Games, 3rd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Skate America, 3rd 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 178.59 at 2010 Grand Prix Final 


Yretha Silete (FRA)-11th 2011 World Juniors, 3rd 2010 NRW Trophy, 6th 2010 JGP Germany, 4th 2010 JGP France


Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)-1st at 2011 Sktae Canada, 2nd 2011 World Junior Championships, 1st 2010 Junior Coup de Nice, 2nd 2010 Junior Grand Prix Final, 1st JGP Romania, 1st JGP Germany; PB: 177.38at 2011 Skate Canada 

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Ladies Free Skate [LIVE BLOG]

1) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
     Music: Phantom of the Opera

• I really like that costume, something about it is very Victorian, yet very modern
• Solid triple lutz-double toe to start off, great speed in and out
• Pops the triple flip into a single
• Really fast rotation on the double axel-double toe-double toe
• Popped planned triple toe to a double-double toe
• She is a very mental skater, looks to come out guns ablaze and focused, but melts down much too often
• She really fought on that second 3lutz
• Nice catch foot spiral, covering a lot of ice
• Triple toe, two-footed
• I really like this program and it has a lot of potential is she can get more consistency on the jumps
• I really like the footwork sequence
• Nice flying camel, good position changes
• She won't be happy with that program, no falls, but so many points given back

FS Score: 48.15 (TES) + 49.46 (PCS) = 97.61
Total Score: 42.51 (SP) + 97.61 (FS) =140.12

2) Valentina Marchei (ITA)
     Music: Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy

• This is shaping up to be a fun program!
• Two-footed triple lutz, looked under-rotated
• Good triple flip
• The dress would be much better without those gloves
• This pace is so fast, I wonder if she'll be able to keep the energy up
• Bent legs on the spins
• I hate when music changes mid-spin, but that's just me
• Fall on a triple salchow
• She is getting very wild, losing some of her control on the program
• I like her sit spin variations

FS Score: 44.21 (TES) + 48.11 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 91.98
Total Score: 43.19 (SP) + 91.98 (FS) = 135.17

3) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: Romeo and Juliet

• 
  

FS Score: 43.57 (TES) + 45.38 (PCS)  = 88.95
Total Score: 45.03 (SP) + 88.95 (FS) = 133.98

4) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
     Music: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, I Wanna Be Loved By You

• 
  

FS Score: 45.20 (TES) + 52.52 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 96.72
Total Score: 45.94 (SP) + 96.72 (FS) = 142.67

5) Joelle Forte (USA)
     Music: 13th Warrior

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FS Score: 45.43 (TES) + 46.41 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 90.84
Total Score: 48.86 (SP) + 90.84 (FS) = 139.70

6) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: Sunset Boulevard

• Oh lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, I hope Patti LuPone isn't watching this event
• Love the costume, very reminiscent of Norma Desmond
• Hard fall on the triple lutz, legs very wrapped up
• She is coming out fighting, looks very edgy and unrelaxed
• This is a lovely program if she can hit the rest of it
• Hand down on a triple salchow
• Foot needs to point harder on the fly into the sit spin

FS Score: 44.41 (TES) + 51.21 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 94.62
Total Score: 51.13 (SP) + 94.62 (FS) = 145.74

7) Haruka Imai (JPN)
     Music: My Fair Lady

• This is an interesting choice of dress for My Fair Lady
• She is graceful and elegant, but doesn't have the powerful jumps of the top Japanese ladies
• This is such an odd arrangement
• Fall on a triple toe, not sure if it was rotated or not
• Stumble out of a triple loop
• Stumble out of a triple salchow, her timing is very off today
• None of her jumps have good flow out of them
• I wonder why her choreographer put all her spins right in a row here

FS Score: 39.08 (TES) + 50.19 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 88.27
Total Score: 43.67 (SP) + 88.27 (FS) = 143.94

8) Caroline Zhang (USA)
     Music: Allegro, Cello Concerto in B Minor by Dvorak

• Struggle on the lutz, let's hope she doesn't unravel after this
• She looks like all the confidence is gone from her face
• Triple loop-double toe
• She is losing speed, she really needs to pick it up
• She could use more stretch in her spiral
• Very hard fall on the triple flip, she took a very long time to get up
• Another fall, she struggled to get up again, she seems as if she could be injured
• She's really having a hard time staying in the program
• All the energy has been zapped out of her
• Good double axel to end it on a good note, and of course her signature Pearl spin

FS Score: 38.81 (TES) + 49.84 (PCS) - 3.00 (DED) = 85.65
Total Score: 55.05 (SP) + 85.65 (FS) = 140.71

9) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
     Music: Concerto No. 27 by Mozart

• So far so good for Caro
• Very solid double axel
• I like this costume on her so much better than the short
• She is not nearly as fast as she usually is
• Her jumps are rotating very quickly
• I like this program much better than the short as well, her upper body is much more fluid
• Triple sal-double toe-single loop
• Good first free skate for the first event of the season, she'll certainly improve from here
• This program is classic figure skating

FS Score: 55.45 (TES) + 61.67 (PCS) = 117.12
Total Score: 60.23 (SP) + 117.12 (FS) = 177.35


10) Alissa Czisny (USA)
      Music: Valse Triste

• Loving this costume and the stark contrast to her short program dress
• Now that is how you wear illusion fabric, matched to your skin
• Will we see the triple triple?
• Her hairstyle from last season looks lovely with this dress
• I love the intricacies of the choreography off the top and the expression
• First jump is crucial
• Triple lutz-triple toe, second jump looked two-footed and under-rotated
• Stumble on the triple flip, I don't know if it was a fall or not
• She looks a little unsettled
• This spiral sequence should calm her down hopefully
• Just going for the triple-triple hitting it, even with downgrades is a big step in the right direction
• Great interpretation of the choreography
• Nice second triple lutz, not great flow out
• She's turning out of a lot of these jumps
• Good quick thinking on her feet, adding a 3rd jump to her double axel-double toe combination
• She doesn't look as confident as she did yesterday, but she'll improve throughout the season

FS Score: 51.37 (TES) + 62.92 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 113.28
Total Score: 64.20 (SP) + (FS) = 177.48

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Ladies Short Program [LIVE BLOG}

Here we go, what is always called the headlining event, the ladies short! Zhang looks happy, let's hope that continues over into the skating.

1) Joelle Forte (USA)
     Music: O from "Cirque do Soleil"

• This is going to be touch and go to see how she does in her debut
• Her arms and hands are very stiff, I'd like to see them loosen up
• Stumble out of the lutz
• Triple salchow-double toe is an interesting combination, many of the top skaters will have flip or lutz in the combo
• She needs to pick up the speed a lot in this foot works sequence
• Would love more stretch in that Ina Bauer
• Very pleasant skater, she seems so happy just to be out there in her Grand Prix debut
• She'll be happy with that relatively clean skate, she's like the Douglas Razzano of the ladies event

SP Score: 26.61 (TES) + 22.25 (PCS) = 48.86

2) Caroline Zhang (USA)
    Music: Rushing Wings of Dawn by Tim Janis

• Gorgeous fluidity in her upper body from the beginnin
• Gorgeous triple flip-triple toe, and no big donkey kick
• Lovely spread eagle
• Nice triple loop, one of her favorite jumps
• She has great flow out of those triples tonight
• Her spiral even looks better too and it's so good to see her smile
• Step out on that double axel
• She's always been a good spinner and she looks solid here
• She just looks so happy in this step sequence, I"m beaming for her from my chair
• And the pearl spin is back
• Just a glorious program for her

SP Score: 29.36 (TES) + 25.69 (PCS) = 55.06

3) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)
    Music: The Man with the Golden Arm

• Family affair again at Skate America with both Helgesson sisters and their mom the coach
• I prefer Joshi to Viktoria, I just like her on-ice personality more
• Was that 3lutz two-footed?
• Popped the toe-loop and missed the combination
• I like the jazzy accents
• She could work on her posture
• I wish she would've added a jump onto the end of the double axel
• She kind of ran out of gas toward the end

SP Score: 22.15 (TES) + 22.88 (PCS) = 45.03

4) Haruka Imai (JPN)
    Music: Song Without Words opus 109 by Felix Mendelssohn

• I love the dress, but the eyeshadow I'm not feeling so much
• Triple lutz-double toe
• Very elegant, I love the fluidity of her arms
• She has nice spin positions, but really needs to straighten out that standing leg
• Great use of the whole body in this step sequence
• Nice to actually see a scratch spin after all the ugly, I mean innovative positions we usually see

SP Score: 28.75 (TES) + 25.92 (PCS) = 54.67

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

• Fall on an under-rotated triple lutz is not a good way to start out
• That braid in her hair is driving me nuts, I don't know why
• I like her attempt at hip action, and that she is committed to the performance
• That won't be a score she'll be too happy with

SP Score: 20.30 (TES) + 23.89 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 43.19

So far I'm so proud of Caroline Zhang and loving the beauty and elegance of Haruka Ima. This will be an exciting group. Czisny looks fantastic and Gedevanishvili looks to have her game face on!

6) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: My Funny Valentine

• I love this song, hoping for a good performance
• Triple toe-double toe, not as difficult as the other skaters' combinations
• So I'm not loving this Latina version of this song, Rogers and Hart would not be pleased
• I love headless spins, but that transition to layback was not so great
• Her arms are very stiff, she needs to work on her fluidity
• Very tight rotation in the double axel
• Trouble in the flying sit, the foot touched the ice, that will cost her points
• Nice camel into heel stretch position
• I can't tell how she feels by her facial expession

SP Score: 26.10 (TES) + 25.03 (PCS) = 51.13

7) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
    Music: Tango Jalousie

• Girl has a fire in her eyes like I've never seen from her
• She looks to be in amazing shape
• Doubled the lutz, added on a double toe
• Doubled the salchow as well
• She needs to get a grip before she throws this away
• Death drop into a great sit spin
• Wow, eeked out the landing of that double axel
• She has the right technique and timing on all these jumps, something inside her head is just telling her to bail early
• That layback has great speed
• That fire in her eye is rapidly turning to disappointment
• I like this choreography a lot but it requires 100% attack and commitment
• Very ugly flexed foot on that sit spin
• I love that knee slide at the end!

SP Score: 17.78 (TES) + 24.73 (PCS) = 42.51

8) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
    Music: Selections by Yann Tiersen

• Is it me, or does she look slimmer than last season
• I love her flow across the ice in this opening
• That was a really hard fall on the triple toe, no way to save that
• Triple loop-single toe
• She is not even attempting the harder jumps
• Step out of the double axel
• She looks like she is on very wobbly legs
• What a shame, because she seems to have grown oh so much artistically, but her jumps are just not happening today
• Her spin positions are looking lovely today
• I love that music so much, I'd love to listen to it in yoga class or during meditition

SP Score: 20.84 (TES) + 26.11 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 45.95

9) Alissa Czisny (USA)
    Music: La Vie En Rose

• Come on Alissa, we need a hit program to salvage this event
• That is the most gorgeous figure skating costume I've ever seen
• Loving the Balanchine bun by the way
• Beautiful selection of music
• The posture, the carriage, its all delightful
• Triple lutz, double toe with great flow out of it
• Triple flip, she's hitting all the difficult triples
• Nice double axel
• She looks so confident going into the program, like she knows she is going to land them
• No uncertainty
• I want to watch this program everyday of my life
• Everything about this looks easy
• With this program you see the performance, not the effort behind it
• Those spins look like they are in fast forward
• Btw she has such perfect teeth
• Jason Dungjen looks like a proud dad!

SP Score: 33.03 (TES) + 31.17  (PCS) = 64.20

10) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
      Music: Allegretto from Trio No.2 by Shostakovich

• This costume is heinous, she always goes overboard on the fake skin
• Triple toe-triple toe, the only 3-3 of the night
• Really low landing on the triple loop
• Slow entry into some pretty ugly spin positions
• She has such long limbs and I always wish she'd use them gracefully instead of flailing about 
• This musical choice merely accents how choppy her natural movements are
• That program did nothing for me, but she is clearly happy

SP Score: 30.66 (TES) + 29.57 (PCS) = 60.23

2011 Skate America: Ladies Preview

The 2011-2012 Grand Prix circuit kicks off this weekend, and though this may not be the most loaded ladies field of the series, there is one key battle to watch for. The ladies take the ice Saturday at 11:25pm (EST) for their short program and 5:40pm on Sunday for their free. I'll be live-blogging all 8 events this weekend so be sure to check back for all my thoughts and feelings! Welcome back and let's have a great season!

This event has two standouts in Alissa Czisny (USA) and Carolina Kostner (ITA) who will fight it out for Gold, and then an inconsistent rest of the field who could fall into place any number of ways. Czisny & Kostner had nearly identical seasons in 2010/11 with each winning Gold & Bronze on the Grand Prix. Czisny finished one notch ahead of Kostner to win the Grand Prix Final while Kostner finished two spots ahead of Czinsy when she won Bronze at Worlds. Both have been inconsistent in the past but if they are both on, I'd prefer to watch Czisny any day. Her spins are among the best in the World, and in my opinion her artistry is far superior with grace and fluidity to spare, while I have always found Kostner to be a bit robotic. Bronze will be key here and there is no favorite now that 2010 World Bronze Medalist Laura Lepisto has withdrawn. Ksenia Makarova (RUS) had an up and down 2010/11 season and she withdrew from Nebelhorn Trophy earlier this month due to injury so only time will tell if that was serious enough to affect her here. Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO) made a coaching change in the off-season and seemed to have settled down a bit when she debuted at Nebelhorn earlier this month with a Silver Medal. Sisters Viktoria Helgesson (SWE) & Joshi Helgesson (SWE) had strong showings last year and normally Joshi is the higher scoring athlete, though she has a habit of finishing lower when she competes directly against her sister. We'll see if that trend continues. Haruka Imai (JPN) finished as high as 5th last season at Skate Canada, and though she is a nice skater, she has never reached the level of the top Japanese Ladies. Valentina Marchei (ITA) is a nice skater when she can land her elements and she too finished as high as 5th last season at Rostelecom Cup. At 25, she is pushing the age envelope for a singles skater and this could be her last season. Last but not least, America's host picks Caroline Zhang (USA) & Joelle Forte (USA) are dark horses to say the least. Zhang was a Junior phenom but never achieved success as a senior and you have to wonder if this may be the last year that US Figure Skating gives her International assignments unless she produces results. Forte is a pleasant skater, though I don't see a hugely successful career ahead of her given that she is making her International debut this season at age 25.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Alissa Czisny (USA)
2) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
3) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)


My USFSA Fantasy Picks:
A) Alissa Czisny (USA)
B) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
C) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)


Competitive History:

Alissa Czisny (USA)-5th 2011 Worlds, 5th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2010 Grand Prix Final, 3rd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 Skate Canada; PB: 182.25 at 2011 Worlds


Joelle Forte (USA)-7th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 4th 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy


Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)-2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 10th 2011 Worlds, 8th 2011 Europeans, 7th 2010 Skate America, 6th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 164.54 at 2010 Europeans


Joshi Helgesson (SWE)-3rd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 15th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 6th 2011 Nordics, 4th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 Cup of China; PB: 149.08 at 2011 Worlds

Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)-5th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 17th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Nordics, 1st 2010 Merano Cup, 6th 2010 Skate America, 9th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 161.79 at 2010 Worlds


Haruka Imai (JPN)-3rd 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy, 2nd 2011 Asian Winter Games, 6th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 5th 2010 Skate Canada, 1st 2010 O Nepala; PB: 155.29 at 2010 Four Continents


Carolina Kostner (ITA)-3rd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 1st 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 184.68 at 2008 Worlds


Ksenia Makarova (RUS)-7th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Europeans, 7th 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 4th 2010 Skate Canada, 4th 2010 Finlandia Trophy; 171.91 at 2010 Winter Olympics

Valentina Marchei (ITA)-10th 2011 Europeans, 5th 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 8th 2010 Skate Canada, 2nd 2010 Coup de Nice, 2nd 2010 O Nepala; PB: 153.71 at 2010 Rostelecom Cup 


Caroline Zhang (USA)-9th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 176.48 at 2008 Grand Prix Final