Showing posts with label caroline zhang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caroline zhang. Show all posts

Saturday, October 19, 2013

2013 Skate America: Ladies Short Program Recap

Can I watch Mao Asada (JPN) on repeat until the next event? That was so easy to watch. I felt like I was going to the ballet. Everything was fantastic down to the costuming. Nobody glides seamlessly out of the jump like Mao does. The 3A was two-footed, but how remarkable that she is still doing it? Short Program Total: 73.18!!!!!

Aside from the wrong colored tights and the slow final spin, Ashley Wagner (USA) threw it down today. We are finally seeing her competitive mettle now that she gave us the 3-3 combo. I appreciate her punched landings on the jumps; there's nothing weak about her skating. Thank goodness she ended with that hair toss. Short Program Total: 69.26

I try not to think about these tween skaters until they make it past their grown spurts, and Elena Radionova (RUS) is no exception. She is so itty bitty and she has so much growing to do before we take her seriously as a senior lady. For now, what a great moment for her to make her debut with a clean program. Let's not call her the future of skating yet because that didn't work out so well for Mirai or Caroline. Short Program Total: 67.01

Valentina Marchei (ITA) blew me away today. I don't give a crap about the technical content because that was a thing of beauty. This is what figure skating should be. This is why I fell in love with figure skating because of the quiet, delicate beauty. Short Program Total: 59.25

I love me some bubblegum pink, but Viktoria Helgeson (SWE) showed us a classic example of a costume that distracts from the skating itself. It's unacceptable. The skating content itself was ok, nothing blew us away, but it was pretty clean. Make a costume change ASAP or the Olympic audiences will eat you alive!  Short Program Total: 58.80

How interesting for Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO) to follow Radionova. We go from a 10-year-old to a mature lady. That skate was easy to watch because, other than the peeing dog sit spin, there were no distractions, just nice smooth skating. However, why on earth wear flesh colored gloves?? Short Program Total: 56.68

Mae Berenice Meite (FRA) is kind of just there for me. I want some fierce when you are skating to prince and she just isn't giving it to me in any sense of the word. The jumps are a pleasure to watch when they're on because they are so straight and so strong. She is an athlete through and through, but where is the art? Short Program Total: 55.84

Samantha Cesario (USA) did us proud! Not only did she go for the 3loop-3loop but she looked sexy while doing it. All we can ask for is firepower and she brought it. She could go even more all out, but I predict this will bring the house down at Nationals. Girlfriend has "it"! Short Program Total: 53.51

Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS) oh honey why? Cursed puberty! Why must you ruin so many careers! She has not adjusted well to her body's changes. Can she and Caroline have a support group? She is upping the sass level though, especially on the footwork. Sans the gloves, the costume is not nearly as garish as we've seen from her in the past. Short Program Total: 53.20

Caroline Zhang (USA)  had a pretty skate and there's not much else to say about it. ALW is just so overdone, especially Phantom. There was no spark, no life to that program so let's just call a spade a spade. Go out there and fight like you mean it! Short Program Total: 45.76

Monday, October 14, 2013

2013 Skate America: Ladies Preview

We won't see the Ladies until Saturday (10/19) at 1:30pm EST for their short program and then on Sunday (10/20) at 4:15pm EST for their free. This Ladies field is all over the place, and while there are about 3 clear cut favorites, anything could happen.

Mao Asada (JPN) is my personal favorite for the Olympic Gold Medal this season, but I'm not sure how much of that is from my heart and how much is from my head. Regardless, let's start with her. After all the changes of coaches and jump technique shenanigans, she finally seems settled. Her World medal last season proved that. She was bested by Yuna, yet again, but Yuna is injured which could give Mao the space she needs to pass by. Starting off well here will be important for Mao's confidence and luckily, she only has two major competitors to work against. She is returning to her classical roots for both programs (Chopin & Rachmaninov) and though I loved her spunky short last season, classic Mao is best suited for the big song and dance of the Olympic season.

Ashley Wagner (USA) is our best hope for an Olympic medal this season, but she won't do it without
the triple-triple. She did it at the Japan Open and she needs to do it here, at least attempt it, or I don't think it will happen all season. She won Skate America last year so she has nothing to prove in terms of winning the event. I would rather she try the triple-triple, fall, and not win the event, rather than skipping it to play it safe. Grand Prix titles are great, but we only really remember Olympic medalists. Julia Sebestyen, anybody? Give us that sexy Romeo & Juliet and give us that 3-3 combo and we will all be thrilled to death!

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) is a tale of two skaters. She blew us away her first year on the GP circuit with her jumps and her Slutskaya-fierce dramatics, but last year she fizzled out. Which skater is she? How is the Plushenko circus affecting her? Will she even make that Olympic team? There are so many questions surrounding this skater, and hopefully we will get some answers this week.






Elena Radionova (RUS) is the 2013 version of the 2011 Tuktamysheva.
She is the next best thing in a long line of "next best thing" Russian figure skaters. She is the reigning Junior World Champ and she's knocking at the door of the other Russian ladies. She's a teeny tiny peanut with great jumps until I see otherwise, but in a field of head cases, she could win out.

Samantha Cesario (USA) is one of my new favorites because she is a diva. She has a swagger and she knows it. She's not afraid of how she comes across and that is exciting for US Figure Skating. She has that pizzazz that we've been lacking and I'm so interested to see how she will do in the National spotlight. This could go either way.






Podium Predictions:
Gold: Mao Asada (JPN)
Silver: Ashley Wagner (USA)
Bronze: Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS)

The Rest of the Field:
Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
Valentina Marchei (ITA)
Elena Radionova (RUS)
Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
Samantha Cesario (USA)
Caroline Zhang (USA)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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)

Sunday, February 12, 2012

2012 European Figure Skating Championships vs. Four Continents: Top Ladies Scores

These are comparisons between the two ISU Championships that lead into the World Championships in March. A few of these skaters won't be competing in Nice and we'll see notables Alissa Czisny & Akiko Suzuki added to the field, but could these standings be similar to what we'll see at Worlds?

1) Ashley Wagner (USA) 192.41
2) Mao Asada (JPN) 188.62
3) Carolina Kostner (ITA) 183.55
4) Caroline Zhang (USA) 176.18
5) Kanako Murakami (JPN) 169.32
6) Kiira Korpi (FIN) 166.94
7) Elene Gedevanishvilli (GEO) 165.93
8) Polina Korobeynikova (RUS) 164.13
9) Kexin Zhang (CHN) 162.59
10) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE) 160.82
11) Ksenia Makarova (RUS) 159.59
12) Alena Leonova (RUS) 158.78
13) Agnes Zawadzki (USA) 157.23
14) Amelie Lacoste (CAN) 147.65
15) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN) 147.47
16) Valentina Marchei (ITA) 146.84
17) Yretha Silete (FRA) 145.50
18) Joshi Helgesson (SWE) 145.11
19) Elena Glebova (EST) 141.92
20) Natalia Popova (UKR) 138.60

Saturday, February 11, 2012

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)

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

2012 Four Continents Championships: Ladies Preview

Podium Predictions:
1) Mao Asada (JPN)
2) Ashley Wagner (USA)
3) Kanako Murakami (JPN)


I've loved Mao Asada (JPN) ever since she was a pre-teen jumping bean, but I think she's even better now in the Renaissance of her career. She may not be as technically proficient, but she's skating with the maturity of a true artist. I think that losing the Olympic Gold hurt her more than we can ever know and she is using that emotion to improve her performance quality. I grieve for her over the recent loss of her mother and that is the x-factor that certainly will affect her skating the rest of the season, though exactly how is an uncertainty. I think she'll take all of those feelings and put them into her programs, ultimately propelling her to a win.

Ashley Wagner (USA) is the new golden girl of the US and I think that new-found confidence is going to set her up for a nice run as a contender internationally. She beat Mao last year at at NHK 2010 and if she has it in her to do it again, this is as good a time as any. She is exquisitely trained and packaged this season and I believe she will go clean, but in my opinion that is not enough if Mao also skates clean. She's been talking up a triple-triple combination, even in the short, and I'd like to hope she'll try it here to give it a test run before Worlds. A medal here would do wonders for her confidence and give her more international credibility that could help her scores and give her the benefit of the doubt at Worlds.

Kanako Murakami (JPN) is still the little diva that burst onto the scene last year, she's just trying to find herself. Her programs are much  more lyrical and mature this season; I really appreciate that she's taking a step in that direction. Her jumps were an issue on the grand prix, particularly pops, which is a sign of lack of focus and confidence. I'm not worried about her, she's just in a sophomore slump, and I think a great performance and potentially a medal here will be a way to come out of that smelling like a rose.

The Japanese contingent is strong as always and Haruka Imai (JPN) has the potential to factor in. She's training with Sato and Dungjen and her skating reminds me of Yuka a lot. She has a beautiful, soft, elegant quality about her skating but she's a fragile skater and we don't know what kind of mindset she'll show up in. She trains in Detroit so travel and time changes won't affect her like it will the other Japanese ladies.

I like Agnes Zawadzki (USA) but I feel she is a little lost. Last season she had so much confidence, even when things weren't going well. This was an up and down season for her and I think she's just going through some growing pains of switching coaches and trying to find herself artistically. Actually, she reminds me of Kanako a lot this season. Aesthetically, I think her new look with the dark hair and makeup is very harsh. Is she trying to make herself look older? That's fine but if she softened up her look, I think it could help her artistically.

I can't even believe we are talking about Caroline Zhang (USA) as a contender at a major international but I'm happy to do it. If everybody skates clean, she still has a ways to go to make the podium. However, it's not an overly strong field and if she goes clean and others falter, she could find herself taking home some hardware. Either way, getting the bid to this event is a confidence builder and that's what she needs. The jumps still need some work, particularly in terms of height, but she's on the way. Now that skaters are seeming to have longer careers and/or peaking later in life, you can't count her out.

Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN) is certainly gritting her teeth after losing out on the National title. She breaks my heart because she's so dramatic and intense on the ice, that's my kind of skater, but she can't get out of her own head. She pops jumps more than she falls, which is a sign of focus issues. If anybody can straighten her out, it's Brian Orser, but will his methods have time to make an impact this soon in their partnership?

Amelie Lacoste (CAN) was recently crowned Canadian champ, but her federation does not yet have enough faith in her to send her to Worlds in it's one slot. They are using this event as a playoff between Lacoste and Phaneuf, so that will make for a good fight between them. I think I trust Lacoste more in the clutch than I do Phaneuf, particularly because she has momentum coming in from Canadians. 

Saturday, January 28, 2012

2012 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Ladies Free Skate LIVE Coverage

1) Morgan Bell
  Music: Avatar
  • Rough short for Morgan, I want a really great free, I"m pulling for her
  • Good 2a, two-foot on a 3lz, little stumble
  • She is always intense out there on the ice, I think the music fits her well
  • 2lz-2t, really close the boards
  • Spread eagle into the 3t was a highlight
  • Rough 3s and a fall, seemed like she was lacking energy getting up in the air
  • She looks really tired in this step sequence, very rigid in the upper body
  • I think she's just run out of steam here
  • Only one fall, and a very respectable program from Morgan
   38.46 (TES) + 38.47 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 73.93
   38.55 (SP) + 73.93 (FS) = 112.48

2) Joelle Forte
  Music: 13th Warrior
  • She was really able to shine in the free skate last year at Nationals
  • She looks a little tentative here tonight, very relaxed
  • She is just really missing a spark here tonight
  • I don't think this music is pushing her as much as it should, there's not a lot of energy behind it
   49,98 (TES) +  41.71 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 91.69
   48.13 (SP) + 91.69 (FS) = 139.82

3) Angela Wang
  Music: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
  • Calm and collected off the bat
  • 3f-2t, and 3lz-2t back to back
  • Any position with the booty up in the air should be banned
  • I like this music, it sounds like the theme from Survivor Thailand
  • She is just ticking off her elements
  • She's not doing the hardest elements, but she's putting out a clean performance
  • I love the placement of that layback spin right on the crash in the music
   62,61 (TES) + 47.07 (PCS) = 109.68
   48.98 (SP) + 109.68 (FS) = 158.66

4) Aimee Buchanan
  Music: Medley by Michael W. Smith
  • Not crazy about the design, but love the color of the costume
  • That donut spin is fantastic
  • Oh no, her jumps aren't with her today, but she's so happy just to be there as a last minute replacement
  • She achieves a fantastic Biellmann position, the leg was almost completely straight in the back
  • The music was lovely, but I don't think it had enough drama to propel her through the program
  31.75 (TES) + 35.37 (PCS) -3.00 (DED) = 64.12
   37.77 (SP) + 64.12 (FS) = 101.89

5) McKinzie Daniels
  Music:
  • I love her body lines on the ice, nice long limbs
  • It's a difficult transition from Junior to Senior
  • I love a good Wally jump!
  • This program is simply lacking in excitement for me, I think she's holding back as to avoid mistakes
  • She looks exhausted, probably some under-training
  49.17 (TES) + 42.29 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 90.46
   49.96 (SP) + 90.46 (FS) = 140.42

6) Kiri Baga
  Music: La Strada
  • We love Kiri, she's a dynamic little firecracker
  • Kiri actually belongs in a later group, but issues in the short can kill you
  • I don't know that she's tapping into the character of La Strada
  • She still looks a little junior-ish to me, I'd love to see her choose totally revamp her costuming, make-up and artistry
  • Needs to point the foot on that Sit spin
  • She's starting to bring it home here toward the end
  • Strong finish
  51.08 (TES) + 48.15 (PCS) = 99.23
   50.15 (SP) + 99.23 (FS) = 149.38

7) Sophia Adams
  Music: Titanic
  • We love Titanic around here, it was a thrill to see Simpson & Blackmer do it so well
  • Not a good start so far, 2 falls
  • Fantastic stretch on that catch foot spin
  • Stumble out of that loop, I think she's not opening up out of those jumps quickly enough
  • Lovely spiral, that stretch is fantastic, a true highlight of the piece
  • The whole piece is really lacking speed
  • Kind of anti-climactic, I don't feel the choreographer used the best parts of the music
   32.56 (TES) + 3.26 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 73.82
   51.40 (SP) + 73.82 (FS) = 125.22

8) Haley Dunne
  Music: Rondo Capriccioso
  • Fall on the 3s, fall on the opening jump seemed to be the theme of this night
  • Not her night tonight, I'd like to see more attack on this program
  • I want her to just go all out
  • This music has so much nuance, but I want her to accent it with her expression and her movements
  • She looks just happy to be done with that program, but still seems upbeat
  • I think she showed us a lot of good qualities and aspects of her skating, she can take away a lot from this and improve for next year
   43.46 (TES) + 43.41 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 84.87
   51.41 (SP) + 84.87 (FS) = 136.28

9) Leah Keiser
  Music: Dr. Zhivago
  • 3lz-3t looked to be in slow motion a little but, but hey, great combo
  • Sat down that easy 2a after that great combo
  • Gorgeous donut position on that spin
  • She is lovely to watch, a little spitfire, but I'd love more speed
  • She still looks very junior-ish in her skating, but good for her for trying to come into the senior level
   49.10 (TES) + 46.01 (PCS) = 93.11
   52.44 (SP) + 93.11 (FS) = 145.55

10) Yasmin Siraj
  Music:
  • Lovely musicality, good nuanced use of the body
  • Really crooked in the air on that 3f
  • I love her style, she has a special air about her
  • I keep forgetting about her injury, that will really effect flip and lutz
  • The choreography suits her well
  • Normally she is more of an explosive performer than this, but I'm afraid that a poor technical showing is throwing off her presentation skills
   41.92 (TES) + 44.95 (PC) = 86.87
   51.96 (SP) + 86.87 (FS) = 138.83

11) Nina Jiang
  Music: Turandot
  • Fall on the 3lz, very short on that as well
  • 3f turned into a 3t, nice and clean on that one
  • She has a very fluid upper body, expressive arms
  • Popped loop
  • She looks scared to death out there, you can see it on her face
  • Oh good old Nessun Dorma, why always purple for this piece
  • Nice spread eagle, strong finish though 
  • Beautiful moments, gorgeous qualities
   (TES) + (PCS) = 92.76
   53.66 (SP) + (FS) = 146.42

12) Rachael Flatt
  Music: Firebird
  • I'm so nervous I can hardly watch
  • Wobbly triple lutz, but landed
  • Doubles the flip
  • Nice accents with the arms and head
  • I feel like she's just going from element to element, so nervous she's going to miss, that she's forgetting to attack the program
  • There's a good triple flip in a 3-jump sequence
  • Her legs are under her out there now, she can really start going after the performance now
  • Nice seeing some passion on her face in the spiral sequence
  • 3loop-2t
  • Lovely stretch on the Ina Bauer
  • I feel like this is really slow, but it's a very courageous skate for her
  • Just letting it fly in the foot work, letting it fly 
   56.49 (TES) + 55.78 (PCS) = 112.27
   52.71 (SP) + 112.27 (FS) = 164.98

13) Vanessa Lam
  Music:
  • Gorgeous skater if she can stay out of her own head
  • Those gloves are bothering me
  • 3lz-2l-2l
  • These jumps lack height, but so far so good
  • Stumble on the 3lo
  • Very promising skater, lots to work with there and build on
  51.27 (TES) + 52.68 (PCS) = 103.05
   54.57 (SP) + 103.05 (FS) = 157.62

14) Christina Gao
  Music:
  • She has such long legs, she's still growing into her height
  • All of her landing are a little wobbly, she just looks slightly uneasy
  • This program is lacking in excitement for me
  • Very few of these landings have been clean and smooth, growth spurt is the cause of most of that
  •  A choppy skate, but no falls!
  55.40 (TES) + 56.13 (PCS) = 111.53
   54.83 (SP) + 111.53 (FS) = 166.36

15) Mirai Nagasu
  Music: Spartacus
  • I want to see her be gritty and gutsy
  • Nice clean, crisp 3lo-2t
  • 2a-2t, was going to be a 3t
  • 3-2-2 looked like she had it but, tripped and stumbled at the end
  • Another fall, and a pop
  • I'm sorry, she just looks so bored out there, no expression
  • She's crumbling, so rattled right now
  • I feel like this program never suited her well all season
  • There is no energy out there at all
  • Fantastic as that layback is, it will not salvage that program
   50.74 (TES) + 56.23 (PCS) = 104.97
   59.02 (SP) + 104.97 (FS) = 163.99

16) Caroline Zhang
  Music:
  • Stumble on the trip flip
  • 3lz had that big donkey kick, but still lands it
  • 2a, not a lot of height or distance, but hits it
  • She is losing a lot of speed here, needs to be more aggressive at this point
  • She has no expression on her face either
  • Come on girlfriend, the jumps and elements are nice, but where's your spark? Where's your hunger to win?
  • Now after the the last jump was landed, she's finally giving us some face!
  • That's the comeback story of the last 5 years
   56.46 (TES) + 56.55 (PCS) = 113.01
   60.18 (SP) + 113.01 (FS) = 173.19

17) Ashley Wagner
  Music: Swan Lake
  • Come on Ashley, you got this girl
  • Awesome start, girl is competing hard
  • Nice speed coming into this section
  • Lazer beam focus here, beauty of a triple lutz
  • I love that look in her eye on the spiral, such focus and passion
  • Nothing even looks shaky, oh no spoke too soon, just singled a triple salchow
  • No falls, but she'll be unhappy about that popped salchow
  • People are applauding that port de bras, that you don't see everyday
   60.64 (TES) + 63.32 (PCS) = 123.96
   63.06 (SP) + 123.96 (FS) = 187.02

18) Alissa Czisny
  Music: Valse Triste
  • I'm not loving this costume, it's very Nancy Kerrigan
  • Hand down on that triple lutz, needs to relax and get it together
  • 2a-2t, looking really tight
  • She's finally coming to life with this more uptempo section
  • Very crossed on that jump, fall and a very had one on the knees at that
  • She needs to get out of her own head here
  • 3lo-2t-2t
  • The layback is to die for
  • She just wasn't her usual self tonight, it was a struggle
  56.03 (TES) + 61.86 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 116.86
   63.14 (SP) + 116.86 (FS) = 180.00

19) Agnes Zawadzki
  Music: Rhapsody in Blue
  • 2a-3t
  • Big, big jumping tonight
  • Big wipe out on that triple lutz, uh oh
  • We'll see if that rattles her or not
  • She looks like she's running out of steam her
  • 3lz-2t almost into the wall, rough pass there
  • Another fall, she's crumbling a bit
  • 2toe
  • Did she just make eye contact with her coach off-ice?
  • I'm not really sure where this will finish at this point, could be a toss up at this point
  • I love her toe point on that catch foot spin
   (TES) + (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 107.86
   66.24 (SP) + (FS) = 174.10


Start No.NameShort ProgramFree SkateTotal Score
PlaceScorePlaceScore
117Ashley Wagner, SC of Wilmington363.061123.96187.02
218Alissa Czisny, Detroit SC263.142116.86180.00
319Agnes Zawadzki, Broadmoor SC166.247107.86174.10
416Caroline Zhang, All Year FSC460.183113.01173.19
514Christina Gao, Northern KY SC654.835111.53166.36
612Rachael Flatt, Broadmoor SC952.714112.27164.98
715Mirai Nagasu, Pasadena FSC559.028104.97163.99
83Angela Wang, Salt Lake Figure Skating1648.986109.68158.66
913Vanessa Lam, All Year FSC754.579103.05157.62
106Kiri Baga, FSC of Bloomington1450.151099.23149.38
1111Nina Jiang, TX Gulf Coast FSC853.661292.76146.42
129Leah Keiser, All Year FSC1052.441193.11145.55
135McKinzie Daniels, Broadmoor SC1549.961490.46140.42
142Joelle Forte, SC of NY1748.131391.69139.82
1510Yasmin Siraj, SC Of Boston1151.961586.87138.83
168Haley Dunne, WA FSC1251.411684.87136.28
177Sophia Adams, All Year FSC1351.401873.82125.22
181Morgan Bell, Rocky Mountain FSC1838.551773.93112.48
194Aimee Buchanan, Colonial FSC1937.771964.12101.89