2013 Skate Canada: Ladies Preview

Julia Liptnitskaia (RUS) is the one to beat here. She doesn't necessarily have the best skills or artistry of the field, but she is the best competitor and at these early events, that generally wins the day. She has her sights set on Sochi and as long as she can stay healthy, she is all but guaranteed to make the Olympic team. She has fared the best overall of the "Russian babies" as she transitioned from the junior to the senior ranks and I appreciate her skating more than that of Sotnikova, Tuktamisheva, or Radionova. She qualified for the Final last year and likely would have done quite well if not for that concussion. My only concern for her is that Schindler's List is beyond her current range as a performer. We shall see.

Akiko Suzuki (JPN) is a longtime favorite of nearly the entire skating world, but the biggest question mark with her is a competitive edge. I'm afraid that her window of opportunity has passed her by and and that she reached her peak in 2012 with that World bronze. She recently finished behind Lipnitskaia at the Finlandia Trophy. I question her choice of Phantom of the Opera for her free skate because I think she can do better than that warhorse. She is so classical and refined that I'd prefer she choose something more nuanced.

Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN) won this event last year and she has the potential to do it again. However, she won primarily because she was simply cleaner that the other women. I personally don't believe that she has the maturity or performance quality to beat a clean Suzuki, Lipnitskaia, or even Gao. I truly believe this event will be decided by who makes the fewest mental errors.

Gracie Gold (USA) is the "no pun intended" Golden Girl in US Figure Skating. USFS wants her to be the answer that we've all been looking for, the next Michelle Kwan who can dominate national and international events. She is almost guaranteed a spot on the Sochi team, but she needs to prove that she has the mental game to compete and that's where she's been lacking recently. Luckily for her, she is a late bloomer across the course of a season. She bombed at this event last year, but went on to win silver at Cup of Russia, silver at US Nationals, and placed a respectable 6th at Worlds. If the wheels fall off here, we don't need to lose our minds yet, but it will be cause for concern for Team Gold if Gao or Hicks beat her here.

Christina Gao (USA) is a personal favorite of mine and I am really pulling for her to make the Sochi team. She has a much more international look than many of the US ladies and much more classical elegance than either Wagner or Gold. We know that she is an extremely hard work and my biggest fear for her, opposite of Gold, is that she will peak too early. She has finished 5th at US Nationals for the past four years, so she's going to have to show USFS that she is the real deal on the Grand Prix before their judges will PCS her high enough at Nationals to make the podium.




My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Julia Liptnitskaia (RUS)
Silver: Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
Bronze: Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN)

The Rest of the Field:
Amelie Lacoste (CAN)
Veronik Mallet (CAN)
Natalia Popova (UKR)
Christina Gao (USA)
Gracie Gold (USA)
Courtney Hicks (USA)

2012 Grand Prix Final: Ladies Preview

One lady has dominated the 2012 Grand Prix and that is Ashley Wagner (USA). Sure, Mao Asada won two events as well, but the NHK results were spotty and her programs have not been perfect. Ashley is like a rocket steadily climbing toward Worlds and the Olympics. She has reinvented herself yet again. She is a lady, a diva, on the ice and she invites audiences to simply come along for the ride. I don't feel nervous when she competes, I feel like I'm watching a seasoned professional performing. The rest of this season is hers for the taking if she just keeps on keeping on.

I do love Mao Asada (JPN) and her new programs, but she gets a lot of her points on reputation. Let's just say that she can make little mistakes and get away with them. That being said, we love her and her Swan Lake is to die for.

Akiko Suzuki (JPN) is one of those skaters who never gets the credit she deserves. She basically has to skate perfectly and others have to fall apart if she wants to medal-but that's how it's always been for her whole career.

Kiira Korpi (FIN), other than her beauty, has really never done much for me. In terms of her skating, she's just kind of "there". She is elegant and pleasant to watch, but she just doesn't bring much excitement to the sport.

After starting out with such a bang last year, this Grand Prix was a slight disappointment for Liza Tuktamisheva (RUS) but she's still done quite well for herself. She's getting used to a growth spurt and she's survived. She didn't falli into a complete sophomore slump, so I think she's here to stay.

Christina Gao (USA) is certainly the surprise of the Grand Prix. Who ever would've thought the US would have 2 ladies at the GPF? She has skated with such joy this year and I am so happy to see her doing well, especially being a Harvard student. The balance in her life is unreal.

Podium Preductions:
1) Ashley Wagner (USA)
2) Mao Asada (JPN)
3) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)

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: 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)

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Short Program Results

Pl.	Qual.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Q	Alena LEONOVA	RUS	64.61	34.64		29.97	7.29	7.07	7.64	7.57	7.89	0.00	#20
2	Q	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN	62.67	34.61		28.06	7.18	6.75	7.07	7.00	7.07	0.00	#27
3	Q	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA	61.00	30.26		30.74	7.82	7.43	7.57	7.71	7.89	0.00	#28
4	Q	Mao ASADA	JPN	59.49	30.89		29.60	7.61	7.14	7.43	7.32	7.50	1.00	#19
5	Q	Akiko SUZUKI	JPN	59.38	30.67		28.71	7.39	6.82	7.25	7.14	7.29	0.00	#29
6	Q	Ksenia MAKAROVA	RUS	58.51	31.30		27.21	6.79	6.61	6.86	6.75	7.00	0.00	#22
7	Q	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO	58.49	30.86		27.63	6.86	6.57	6.96	6.93	7.21	0.00	#21
8	Q	Ashley WAGNER	USA	56.42	28.80		27.62	6.96	6.64	6.96	6.82	7.14	0.00	#24
9	Q	Kexin ZHANG	CHN	55.00	32.76		22.24	5.86	5.18	5.61	5.61	5.54	0.00	#13
10	Q	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	54.19	28.35		25.84	6.50	6.11	6.61	6.46	6.61	0.00	#30
11	Q	Valentina MARCHEI	ITA	52.14	27.28		24.86	6.32	5.75	6.29	6.25	6.46	0.00	#25
12	Q	Jenna MCCORKELL	GBR	50.42	27.56		22.86	5.89	5.32	5.82	5.68	5.86	0.00	#14
13	Q	Amelie LACOSTE	CAN	49.37	25.80		23.57	6.14	5.57	5.93	5.82	6.00	0.00	#17
14	Q	Elena GLEBOVA	EST	49.04	28.47		21.57	5.64	5.07	5.46	5.43	5.36	1.00	#8
15	Q	Yretha SILETE	FRA	48.42	27.60		20.82	5.46	4.93	5.21	5.18	5.25	0.00	#16
16	Q	Alissa CZISNY	USA	48.31	23.26		27.05	6.82	6.43	6.64	6.96	6.96	2.00	#26
17	Q	Juulia TURKKILA	FIN	47.75	28.18		19.57	5.11	4.57	5.00	4.89	4.89	0.00	#2
18	Q	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP	47.36	26.98		20.38	5.32	4.79	5.25	5.07	5.04	0.00	#4
19	Q	Polina KOROBEYNIKOVA	RUS	46.71	25.36		21.35	5.54	5.11	5.25	5.43	5.36	0.00	#3
20	Q	Natalia POPOVA	UKR	46.60	26.57		20.03	5.18	4.75	5.11	5.00	5.00	0.00	#18
21	Q	Sarah HECKEN	GER	46.39	24.99		22.40	5.82	5.29	5.64	5.68	5.57	1.00	#23
22	Q	Kerstin FRANK	AUT	45.80	26.86		18.94	4.96	4.43	4.82	4.68	4.79	0.00	#12
23	Q	Alisa MIKONSAARI	FIN	44.16	24.90		19.26	4.82	4.54	5.07	4.71	4.93	0.00	#10
24	Q	Romy BÜHLER	SUI	44.02	23.78		20.24	5.18	4.64	5.18	5.14	5.18	0.00	#5
25		Victoria MUNIZ	PUR	43.27	24.56		18.71	4.79	4.32	4.75	4.64	4.89	0.00	#15
26		Isabelle PIEMAN	BEL	38.45	21.59		17.86	4.57	4.25	4.54	4.43	4.54	1.00	#11
27		Alina FJODOROVA	LAT	38.06	22.11		16.95	4.46	4.00	4.32	4.29	4.11	1.00	#9
28		Min-Jeong KWAK	KOR	36.91	18.26		18.65	4.96	4.29	4.68	4.68	4.71	0.00	#7
29		Clara PETERS	IRL	34.03	17.43		16.60	4.25	3.75	4.21	4.21	4.32	0.00	#1
30		Lejeanne MARAIS	RSA	32.22	16.96		16.26	4.18	3.79	4.14	4.11	4.11	1.00	#6

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Short Program Skate Order

StN.	Name	Nation
	Warm-Up Group 1
1	Clara PETERS	IRL
2	Juulia TURKKILA	FIN
3	Polina KOROBEYNIKOVA	RUS
4	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP
5	Romy BÜHLER	SUI
6	Lejeanne MARAIS	RSA
	Warm-Up Group 2
7	Min-Jeong KWAK	KOR
8	Elena GLEBOVA	EST
9	Alina FJODOROVA	LAT
10	Alisa MIKONSAARI	FIN
11	Isabelle PIEMAN	BEL
12	Kerstin FRANK	AUT
	Warm-Up Group 3
13	Kexin ZHANG	CHN
14	Jenna MCCORKELL	GBR
15	Victoria MUNIZ	PUR
16	Yretha SILETE	FRA
17	Amelie LACOSTE	CAN
18	Natalia POPOVA	UKR
	Warm-Up Group 4
19	Mao ASADA	JPN
20	Alena LEONOVA	RUS
21	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO
22	Ksenia MAKAROVA	RUS
23	Sarah HECKEN	GER
24	Ashley WAGNER	USA
	Warm-Up Group 5
25	Valentina MARCHEI	ITA
26	Alissa CZISNY	USA
27	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN
28	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA
29	Akiko SUZUKI	JPN
30	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Preview

This is an interesting year for the Ladies because while the field is depleted of the World and Olympic Champions and the hot young Russian phenoms, but it should still be a great competition. You could call this year's Worlds a battle of the underdogs and the ladies who "deserve" to win. The ladies skate their Short Program on Thursday March 29th at 7:30 am EST and their Free Skate on Saturday March 31st at 1:30 pm EST.

Podium Predictions
1) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
2) Mao Asada (JPN)
3) Ashley Wagner (USA)


Top Contenders

Carolina Kostner (ITA) has never been my favorite in the past, you know that if you've followed my posts, but she's finally grown on me. I've decided that her style is an acquired taste, like highbrow theatre or postmodern dance. The fact that has been winning all season with a watered down jump arsenal, but I say more power to her if she has figured out how to add up the points in other ways. I hate to suggest that people should be given more favor because of past performance and longevity, but if anybody is deserving of this World title, Kostner is.

Mao Asada (JPN) is another skater that you could call completely deserving of a title. She's bounced back remarkable after a series of battles in an out of skating. She reworked her technique and the poor thing had to deal with the death of her mother this season. She was great at Four Continents and would have won had she not watered down jumps in the Free Skate. The good news is she still has room to improve and looks poised to peak at Worlds.

Can you believe we're mentioning Ashley Wagner (USA) as a top World contender in the same breath as Kostner and Asada? Yet another person who is deserving of a medal for all she has gone through in getting away from the "almost girl" label. US Champ...check. Four Continents Champ...check. World Medalist...check? I think so! She isn't held in the same high esteem as Kostner and Asada with International judges, so if either is perfect, I think they will win. However, Wagner has been consistent and keeps adding more technical difficulty so if she is perfect and the others aren't, she may leave Nice with her third Gold in a row.

Akiko Suzuki (JPN) has had a solid career, but has only competed in one prior Worlds, placing 11th in 2010. She looked fantastic in her Grand Prix events and at The Final. We haven't seen her since the Final, but she did place second at Nationals against some very stiff competition. The judges love her and reward her with high PCS marks, which could be the difference maker against some of the younger, more technically advanced skaters.

Alissa Czisny (USA) is another skater who has been through so much on her way here...are we sensing a theme? It seems like last year was her window of opportunity after winning the GPF and US Nationals, but this girl has revived her career countless times and she can do it again. She melted down at her recent competition, The Challenge Cup, but I'm really hoping she lives out the the old adage "bad dress rehearsal, great performance."

Alena Leonova (RUS) has been all over the place this season. She gradually improved from fourth, to third, to second over her Grand Prix series, and then took third at the Final. But then she dropped to seventh at Europeans, the last event before Worlds. I could see her placing anywhere inside the top ten depending on which Alena shows up in Nice.

In The Hunt


Kanako Murakami (JPN) has hit a bit of a sophomore slump after having an impressive senior debut last year, but the good thing is she's gradually improved all year. Sixth at her 1st GP, 4th at her 2nd JP, and 4th at Four Continents. The most important thing is she held off all the competition at home and finished 3rd at Nationals to make the World team. Her programs are beautiful, much more mature than last year, and she's growing into them more and more each season.


Polina Korobeynikova (RUS) competed on the Grand Prix as a Junior placing fourth, second, and finally third at the Junior Grand Prix Final. However, she was the surprise of the European Championships placing fourth and beating all of her Russian teammates. She likely won't feel the pressure of the top ladies here and she could be a dark horse to sneak into the final group.

Ksenia Makarova (RUS) has been up, down, and all over since she hit the Senior level, but lately it's been more down. She didn't medal in either Grand Prix and took fourth at her Nationals. She even had to compete in a qualifying event before the Russian federation would add her to the team for Worlds. I love both of her programs this season because they are so different from what all the other ladies are doing these days. However, she seems to have lost her competitive edge and if she doesn't get it back before all of the Russian babies can compete at Worlds next year, this may be her last ISU Championship.

Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO) had truly resurrected her career this season. Brian Orser has done wonders for this girl that was once so fragile and turned her into a warrior. She got better throughout the Grand Prix season and she surprised everyone to win Bronze at Europeans. If she comes out guns blazing, she is a threat to make the final group.

Valentina Marchei (ITA) was a skater I counted out until she beat Alissa Czisny a few weeks ago at the Challenge Cup. She's struggled all season, but winning Silver there may have just been the confidence booster she needed to up her game.

Viktoria Helgesson (SWE) was the surprise Bronze medalist and she was solidly in the second tier of skaters all season. Her fifth place finish at Europeans was solid and a top-ten finish at Worlds would be a great accomplishment for her.

Amelie Lacoste (CAN) won Canadian Nationals, finally beating Cynthia Phaneuf, but Skate Canada still didn't trust her enough to send her in the one Canadian spot to Worlds. They made her compete with Phaneuf with a spot at Four Continents and she was the higher scorer so here she is. Perhaps going it alone and being out of Phaneuf's shadow will help her to live up her potential.

The Rest Of The Field


Chantelle Kerry (AUS)
Kerstin Frank (AUT)
Isabelle Pieman (BEL)
Daniela Stoeva (BUL)
Kexin Zhang (CHN)
Melinda Wang (TPE)
Mirna Libric (CRO)
Eliska Brezinova (CZE)
Karina Johnson (DEN)
Elena Glebova (EST)
Alisa Mikonsaari (FIN)
Juulia Turkkila (FIN)
Yretha Silete (FRA)
Sarah Hecken (GER)
Jenna McCorkell (GBR)
Georgia Glastris (GRE)
Viktoria Pavuk (HUN)
Ami Parekh (IND)
Clara Peters (IRL)
Alina Fjodorova (LAT)
Inga Januleviciute (LTU)
Fleur Maxwell (LUX)
Reyna Hamui (MEX)
Anine Rabe (NOR)
Zhaire Costiniano (PHI)
Victoria Muniz (PUR)
Min-Jeong Kwak (KOR)
Chae-Yeon Suhr (KOR)
Sabina Mariuta (ROU)
Marina Seeh (SBR)
Alexandra Kunova (SVK)
Dasa Grm (SLO)
Lejeanna Marais (RSA)
Sonia Lafuente (ESP)
Romy Buhler (SUI)
Mimi Tanasorn Chindasook (THA)
Sila Saygi (TUR)
Natalia Popova (UKR)

Grand Prix Final: Ladies Preview

She's baaaaaaack. After a disastrous 2010 Grand Prix, World Champion Mao Asada is gradually returning to top form. Though she has yet to do 2 clean programs at one event, she is showing her fighting spirit and I believe in her, enough to think she can topple the only double Gold winner of this Grand Prix season, Elizaveta Tuktamisheva. Liza has been outstanding, but she's also been almost 100% clean in all 4 programs thus far, which the other ladies cannot say. Because she lacks the maturity and elegance of the other ladies, Liza is beatable if other skaters go clean. Akiko Suzuki is another feel-good story this season, becoming one of the oldest ladies ever to win a Grand Prix at NHK Trophy. She receives very high PCS marks if she can land the jumps. Carolina Kostner & Alissa Czisny have had very comparable seasons, each winning one event and medaling in the other. Both are elegant and mature, but often make silly mistakes and beat themselves out of titles. Alena Leonova is not my favorite and that is no secret. I respect that she does the best she can with what she is given but her choreography is crap, in my opinion. You can shoot me if I'm wrong, but I say she is the only lady who has no shot of winning this thing.

Placement Predictions:
1) Mao Asada (JPN) Season's Highest GP Score 184.19
2) Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS) Season's Highest GP Score 182.89
3) Akiko Suzuki (JPN) Season's Highest GP Score 185.98
4) Carolina Kostner (ITA) Season's Highest GP Score 182.12
5) Alissa Czisny (USA) Season's Highest GP Score 179.15
6) Alena Leonova (RUS) Season's Highest GP Score 180.45


Competitive History: 


Mao Asada (JPN)-1st at 2011 Rostelecom Cup, 2nd at 2011 NHK Trophy, 6th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Four Continents, 5th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 8th 2010 NHK Trophy, 1st 2010 Worlds, 2nd 2010 Winter Olympics; PB: 205.50 at 2010 Winter Olympics (NHK Trophy, Rostelecom Cup)


Alissa Czisny (USA)-3rd at 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 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 (Skate America, Trophee Eric Bompard)


Carolina Kostner (ITA)-2nd at 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 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 (Skate America, Cup of China, Trophee Eric Bompard)


Alena Leonova (RUS)-2nd at 2011 Rostelecom Cup, 3rd at 2011 NHK Trophy, 4th at 2011 Skate Canada, th 2011 Worlds, 5th 2011 Europeans, 9th 2010 Cup of Russia, 3rd 2010 Cup of China, 1st 2010 Coup de Nice, 3rd 2010 Finlandia Trophy; PB: 183.92 at 2011 Worlds (Skate Canada, NHK Trophy, Rostelecom Cup)


Akiko Suzuki (JPN)-1st at 2011 NHK Trophy, 2nd at 2011 Skate Canada, 7th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Triglav Trophy, 5th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 2nd 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 2nd 2010 Cup of China; PB: 185.98 at 2011 NHK Trophy (Skate Canada, NHK Trophy)

Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)-1st at 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 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: 182.89 at 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard (Skate Canada, Trophee Eric Bompard)

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Ladies Free Skate Commentary

1) Shoko Ishikawa (JPN)
     Music: Miss Saigon

• She clearly does not have the jumping content of the other Japanese ladies, but I like her overall flow across the ice
• This is very dynamic music, I'd like to see more interpretation and facial expression
• She needs to straighten the leg on the sit spin
• I feel like she is not committing to this program, she doesn't seem like she's giving it 100%
• There is not nearly enough energy in this step sequence
• She is almost crying, I don't know if that's because she's happy she didn't fall or if she's upset about something

FS Score: 34.14 (TES) + 42.93 (PCS) = 77.07
Total Score: 45.07 (SP) + 77.07 (FS) = 122.14

2) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN)
     Music: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

• She is such a hard skater to watch because you know she is stuck inside her own head
• If she could get herself straightened out mentally and just perform it would be amazing
• And we start with a popped jump
• One of the few skaters brave enough to go backless without illusion fabric
• And another pop
• She clearly has no self-confidence as these jumps are fine in the air but but she second guesses herself and opens up out of them
• I don't love this classical piece on her, I'd rather see something more modern and aggressive
• I'd rather see a skater fall 5 times than pop jumps because at least then you know they are really going for it
• She is starting to look like herself here in the step sequence
• It's a shame she wasn't able to take over where Joannie Rochette left off 
• She is not happy with that at all

FS Score: 38.71 (TES) + 48.69 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 86.40
Total Score: 45.42 (SP) + 86.40 (FS) = 131.82

3) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
     Music: Fever, Hey Pachuko, Who Framed Roger Rabbit

• I am not a fan of this costume on her, it would be perfect for a Latin short dance, but not a singles program
• When the back is cut so low that you can see the top of your tights, you know it's a problem
• She has a very high wrap on her jump rotations which is a technical issue
• The jumps are her strength and when she under-rotates and puts hands down, that really hurts her
• She has pretty good speed, at least what I can see on my screen
• Her jump entries are very long, she could earn more points by changing the entries with some steps
• This is a very weak spiral positions, she'd do well to actually hold the leg up as Nancy Kerrigan did
• This is an odd mixture of music for me
• The ending was strange, I felt she was just standing and posing

FS Score: 47.68 (TES) + 43.96 (PCS) = 91.64
Total Score: 52.05 (SP) + 91.64 (FS) = 143.69

4) Kiira Korpi (FIN)
     Music: I Got Rhythm

• This is a very interesting costume, I'm not sure how I feel about the shoulder details, but it looks very high fashion to me
• This is very playful and theatrical choreography
• Very good speed so far
• I love that she is perfectly in the period of this music, down to her hairstyle
• Great fly into the sit spin
• I love her commitment to the performance
• She has such fantastic posture and body carriage
• She's having a hard time finding the jumps today, a lot of doubling and singling
• I'm liking this program on her, it's a departure from what she usually does and I appreciate the risk
• She needs to stretch out through her fingertips, breaking at the wrists disrupts the arm line
• Abrupt ending of the final spin trying to catch the last beat of the music on time

FS Score: 46.23 (TES) + 57.60 (PCS) = 103.83
Total Score: 53.70 (SP) + 103.83 (FS) = 157.53

5) Agnes Zawadzki (USA)
     Music: Rhapsody in Blue

• It's strange seeing a new coach her with her
• I don't like the dark hair, it doesn't work for her at all
• I like this costume, it's a step in the right direction after what she wore last season
• She is skating very slowly starting out
• She rotates very quickly with a nice straight body position and very tightly wrapped legs
• Her spins have improved greatly
• She doesn't look over her legs in these jumps
• Her spiral position has improved as well
• Though she's not proving it today, I think that switching coaches will prove to be a positive in the long run
• That leg overhead sit spin variation is very cool
• I don't know that this music suits her so well, it is very big and broad and she needs to have the personality to live up to it
• After the second fall, she is really struggling to get back up and keep going
• She still looks very fit, but she looks undertrained stamina-wise
• I appreciate the toe point on the I-spin, most skaters have an ugly flexed foot in that spin

FS Score: 36.52 (TES) + 49.82 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 84.35
Total Score: 53.84 (SP) + 84.35 (FS) =138.19

6) Ashley Wagner (USA)
     Music: Black Swan

• I've always thought that skating 1st after warm-up must be difficult
• This costume is exquisite
• I love her upper body carriage
• I wish she'd look up at the audience more rather than down at the ice
• Very nice 3-jump combo to open, with an arm variation
• Her rotation speed is much faster now, after the coaching change
• She his fighting harder for the landings this season than ever before
• I love way she uses her arms to attack the music
• She's been getting lower PCS than I believe she deserves so it seems that the judges are holding her down until she can earn their respect again
• With these programs and her execution of them, I hope she goes to Worlds along with Czisny
• She'll be so happy with this skate!

FS Score: 54.45 (TES) + 55.32 (PCS)  = 109.77
Total Score: 55.88 (SP) + 109.77 (FS) = 165.65

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

• I don't like this costume, it just doesn't suit the music at all
• That was a very long approach to that triple lutz, hand down
• She is getting better at fighting for landings, Orser has clearly helped her mental game
• I'm so over Phantom!
• She is an athlete, but she really does nothing to try to interpret the music
• What an ugly heel stretch spiral, she needs to point the foot and drop the hip
• She looks a little disappointed in that skate

FS Score: 47.74 (TES) + 56.33 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 103.07
Total Score: 57.37 (SP) + 103.07 (FS) = 160.44

8) Mao Asada (JPN)
     Music: Liebestraum

• Mao is getting huge applause here at home
• Opens with a 3A, likely short of rotation
• I'm glad she's having another go at this program after the rough last season
• That toe point on the catch foot spin is gorgeous
• Another triple axel! 
• This is a piece of art and the jumps are just part of it
• Aside from a few jump exits that could be held out a bit longer, this was a fantastic program
• She's made a comeback! And at home!

FS Score: 61.20 (TES) + 64.57 (PCS) = 125.77
Total Score: 58.42 (SP) + 125.77 (FS) = 184.19

9) Alena Leonova (RUS)
     Music: Adagio for Strings, Requiem for a Tower

• She is a very clean jumper with fast rotation
• This is actually a fairly elegant program compared to what she normally puts out there
• She looks very calm, she's not giving away the easy point that she normally gives
• Toe jumps are much stronger for her than edge jumps
• She has rather long, boring entrances to her jumps
• And she just opened up a jump, so much for not making small mistakes
• She needs to concentrate on pointing her feet
• That was a very abrupt ending
• Very wild footwork, she needs to control it
• PS what is up with her hair?

FS Score: 50.50 (TES) + 58.42 (PCS) = 108.92
Total Score: 61.76 (SP) + 108.92 (FS) = 170.68


10) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
      Music: Die Fledermaus

• Akiko is so teeny tiny!
• Would be great to see Japan go 1, 2 in this event
• Nice triple lutz, great extension on the free leg
• I've never seen someone continue improving technically in their later years as she is
• She has such an elegance in her body carriage
• I love that "sleeping position" on the sit spin variation
• That upside down broken camel is just ugly, though I know it increases the level
• Popped a jump, but still able to add on two doubles to make a 3-jump combo, now that's a veteran move
• Another pop, she is opening the door for Mao
• She'll hold on to win, but this is not the perfect free skate she wanted for her first Grand Prix victory

FS Score: 57.04 (TES) + 62.39 (PCS) = 119.43
Total Score: 66.55 (SP) + 119.43 (FS) = 185.98

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Akiko SUZUKI	JPN	185.98	1	2
2	Mao ASADA	JPN	184.19	3	1
3	Alena LEONOVA	RUS	170.68	2	4
4	Ashley WAGNER	USA	165.65	5	3
5	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO	160.44	4	6
6	Kiira KORPI	FIN	157.53	7	5
7	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	143.69	8	7
8	Agnes ZAWADZKI	USA	138.19	6	9
9	Cynthia PHANEUF	CAN	131.82	9	8
10	Shoko ISHIKAWA	JPN	122.14	10	10

Pl.   Name Nation TSS = TES + PCS + SS TR PE CH IN Ded. - StN. 1 Mao ASADA JPN 125.77 61.20 64.57 8.11 7.75 8.07 8.21 8.21 0.00 #8 2 Akiko SUZUKI JPN 119.43 57.04 62.39 8.07 7.50 7.71 7.75 7.96 0.00 #10 3 Ashley WAGNER USA 109.77 54.45 55.32 7.04 6.61 7.04 7.00 6.89 0.00 #6 4 Alena LEONOVA RUS 108.92 50.50 58.42 7.54 6.86 7.43 7.32 7.36 0.00 #9 5 Kiira KORPI FIN 103.83 46.23 57.60 7.14 7.00 7.11 7.39 7.36 0.00 #4 6 Elene GEDEVANISHVILI GEO 103.07 47.74 56.33 7.32 6.75 7.07 7.00 7.07 1.00 #7 7 Mae Berenice MEITE FRA 91.64 47.68 43.96 5.68 5.18 5.54 5.54 5.54 0.00 #3 8 Cynthia PHANEUF CAN 86.40 38.71 48.69 6.36 5.71 5.96 6.18 6.21 1.00 #2 9 Agnes ZAWADZKI USA 84.35 36.53 49.82 6.50 6.04 6.14 6.25 6.21 2.00 #5 10 Shoko ISHIKAWA JPN 77.07 34.14 42.93 5.61 5.18 5.29 5.54 5.21 0.00 #1