2012 Four Continents Championships: Free Dance LIVE Coverage

1) Corenne Bruhns & Ryan Van Natten (MEX)
 Music: Harlem Nocturne, My Drag

• This is dragging, I feel like this team needs more upbeat music to inject some more life into their skating
• The lifts are very slow and labored
• There is no sparkle in this program
• I'd like to see more effort, that helps disguise lesser technique
• Was that a fall, or was she just on her knees?
• That upside down lift with her shoulder on his knee is kind of cool
• Oh boy, scary balance lift, her head almost on the ice
• This team has potential and he's a great performer
• They just need to drill these programs to get more and more comfortable with them

32.66 (TES) + 22.98 (PCS) = 55.64
35.93 (SD) + (FD) = 91.57

2) Cortney Mansour & Daryn Zhunussov (KAZ)
 Music: Cirque du Soleil

• Oh boy, a Morozov team
• Is it me or do they look like a mini-me of the Reeds/
• I like the whimsical quality of this piece
• This suits their ages
• That slide under his legs was very cool
• Good twizzle set, his arms were just slightly higher
• Nice back entry and position changes on the straight line lift, great speed
• I think she's a little diva in the making
• A lot of spread eagles already, but it works in this piece
• Great knee bend
• I'd love to see a little more facial expression from him
• That was a pretty weak haircutter compared to what we'll see later
• That little moment where her mussed her hair was cute, very in the character
• Lost a lot of the speed in the spin, but a cool section of the music for it
• They need to work on matching the leg line, his is slightly higher
• Good outing overall, they should be pleased

30.43 (TES) + 22.70 (PCS) = 53.13
25.53 (SD) + 53.13 (FD) = 78.66

3) Anna Nagornyuk & Viktor Kovalenko (UZB)
 Music: Cry me a river/Peter Gunn

• This costume has a major ick factor
• Those twizzles were really fast, maybe a foot down
• Those boot covers are tragic
• It's so hard to watch anything else because my eye keeps going to the boots
• This is such an odd  combination of music
• Good speed on the rotational lift

38.07 (TES) + 30.61 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 67.68
39.93 (SD) + 67.68 (FD) = 107.61

4) Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)
 Music: Tonight

• They are exquisite, the definition of beautiful
• She looks like a little sylph out there
• Oh no, he falls on the first twizzle and then aborts the second
• Something is going on with them this season, the aren't clicking along like last year
• I love this music for them, it's like a modern classic
• I love that transition as they change feet on the spin, they make a moment of it
• They need the summer break to figure out where they're going and move on
• Lovely rotational lift

33.07 (TES) + 37.38 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 69.45
48.52 (SD) + 69.45 (FD) = 117.97

5) Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA)
 Music: I Put A Spell On You

• I'm buying everything he's selling, but she just gets in the way
• Good flow over the ice, very even and smooth
• That entrance to the first lift comes out of  nowhere
• Oh boy, another fall from him, didn't appear to be on an element
• Good first twizzle, got too close together on the second and appeared to have gotten tangled up
• Come on now kids, don't let go of the performance
• That little pop/lock dance break in the middle is a little tacky, it's corny
• They look wild and out of control here, and though it suits the dance, I think they're running out of steam

40.72 (TES) + 39.55 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 79.27
49.93 (SD) + 79.27 (FD) = 129.20

6) Danielle O'Brien & Gregory Merriman (AUS)
 Music: In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade

• Uh oh, somebody coming later in the event is about to do this music much better!
• Very fast and high energy, but a lot of the details are left out
• A lot of the lift positions need to be held out longer
• A little too slow in the middle section here, they're losing my interest
• This couple is really cute, I like their style, they just need more polish

34.93 (TES) + 30.88 (PCS) = 65.81
40.10 (SD) + 65.81 (FD) = 105.91

7) Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
 Music: Howl's Moving Castle

• Hard to tell the unison on the twizzles with all that fabric, but seemed on point
• Ohh, she was supposed to step on his boot to end that lift, but she missed it
• I don't like all the stationary movement at center ice
• Nice rotational lift, very lyrical quality overall
• They're starting to run out of steam in this step sequence
• This music suits them very well, ethereal and dreamlike

36.50 (TES) + 33.13 (PCS) = 69.63
45.42 (SD) + (FD) = 115.05

8) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)
 Music: Je Suis Malade

• This opening is beautiful, this is the most romantic of all  these free dances
• Really deep edges, good leg line
• This free skate complements their strong suits much better than last season
• I like the drama in this program
• I'm obsessed with this free dance, the emotion is real and not manufactured
• I think that was their first clean twizzle set of the season
• This is a complete program, you don't even see the elements
• That last lift is so grand
• I love the ending, it's so raw
• 47.42 (TES) + 51.61 (PCS) = 99.03

64.23 (SD) + 99.03 (FD) = 163.26

9) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)
 Music: Chattanooga Choo Choo, In the Mood

• Very quick and snappy beginning
• This is the polar opposite of Weaver & Poje
• The twizzles are more and more amazing everytime
• The strength it must take on her part in that straight line lift is remarkable
• They are masters at changing lift positions seamlessly while still hitting each
• You can see the elements in this program more than some of the older teams
• They manage to make even the slower pieces look fast
• Great balance and leverage on that curve lift
• She definitely gets to do her fair share of splits
• Oh boy, Alex doesn't look good, he's coughing and can hardly breathe
• I though he was going to pass out

47.06 (TES) + 48.85 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 94.91
63.38 (SD) + 94.91 (FD) = 158.29

10) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)
 Music: Funny Face

• I love this dance, it's so theatrical, it's perfection in my book
• This instrumental section in the middle is so clever
• That curve lift was perfectly in time with the musical nuances
• Perfect twizzles
• I don't envy the judges, there is nothing in this program that isn't exquisite
• That final lift is pretty fantastic, the control that must take is out of this world

54.07 (TES) + 57.17 (PCS) = 111.24
71.60 (SD) + 111.24 (FD) = 182.84

11) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)
 Music: Die Fledermaus

• I don't know how to pick this piece apart, it's so fantastic as it is
• They are perfectly at home with one another
• I keep losing my feed so unfortunately it's difficult to comment on it
• I think their twizzles are faster than Virtue & Moir
• I give the edge in performance to Davis & White, I think they include the crowd more
• However, I don't think their lifts change positions as many times as Virtue & Moir

50.01 (TES) + 57.24 (PCS) = 107.25
72.15 (SD) + 107.25 (FD) = 179.40

1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	182.84	2	1
2	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	179.40	1	2
3	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	163.26	3	3
4	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	158.29	4	4
5	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	129.20	5	5
6	Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAM	CAN	117.97	6	7
7	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	115.05	7	6
8	Anna NAGORNYUK / Viktor KOVALENKO	UZB	107.61	9	8
9	Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN	AUS	105.91	8	9
10	Corenne BRUHNS / Ryan VAN NATTEN	MEX	91.57	10	10
11	Cortney MANSOUR / Daryn ZHUNUSSOV	KAZ	78.66	11	11

1	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	111.24	54.07		57.17	9.46	9.32	9.71	9.61	9.71	0.00	#10
2	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	107.25	50.01		57.24	9.54	9.36	9.68	9.61	9.64	0.00	#11
3	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	99.03	47.42		51.61	8.50	8.36	8.75	8.71	8.89	0.00	#8
4	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	94.91	47.06		48.85	8.14	8.00	8.21	8.25	8.21	1.00	#9
5	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	79.27	40.72		39.55	6.61	6.43	6.54	6.75	6.75	1.00	#5
6	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	69.63	36.50		33.13	5.68	5.36	5.54	5.54	5.57	0.00	#7
7	Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAM	CAN	69.45	33.07		37.38	6.29	6.11	6.11	6.36	6.36	1.00	#4
8	Anna NAGORNYUK / Viktor KOVALENKO	UZB	67.68	38.07		30.61	5.18	4.93	5.21	5.18	5.11	1.00	#3
9	Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN	AUS	65.81	34.93		30.88	5.21	4.93	5.21	5.32	5.21	0.00	#6
10	Corenne BRUHNS / Ryan VAN NATTEN	MEX	55.64	32.66		22.98	4.00	3.64	3.82	4.00	3.79	0.00	#1
11	Cortney MANSOUR / Daryn ZHUNUSSOV	KAZ	53.13	30.43		22.70	3.96	3.46	3.86	4.04	3.79	0.00	#2

2012 Four Continents Championships: Short Dance LIVE Coverage

1) Cortney Mansour & Daryn Zhunussov (KAZ)

• Oh the music selections, kill me now
• She looks like she's bent in half
• Trip and then a fall, they can't seem to get their feet under them 
• This costume is just unecessary
• 13.22 (TES) + 13.31 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 25.53

2) Anna Nagornyuk & Viktor Kovalenko (UZB)

• This costume is very European-looking costumes
• These twizzles are rough, hand down for him
• Not much free leg extension
• That was an okay performance, but nothing spectacular 
• 21.49 (TES) + 18.44 (PCS) = 39.93

3) Corenne Bruhns & Ryan Van Natten (MEX)

• This is a very slow moving piece
• There is no commitment to the piece, she looks like she's not giving complete effort
• Lack of commitment to a performance bothers me more than falling
• 20.64 (TES) + 15.29 (PCS) = 35.93 

4) Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)

• The shoulders, the ruffles, the stripes, it's all so so so bad
• He almost ate it on that twizzle, very crooked
• As loud as the costumes are, this is a very boring dance
• Those long tails on the skirts terrify me, it's so easy to catch a blade
• 24.00 (TES) + 21.42 (PCS) = 45.42

5) Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)

• Really great subtleties in the opening
• This is one of the few smooth and sultry pieces this season
• This is beautiful, very graceful and elegant
• I like her hair floating like that, it's better out of the bun
• Not as much attack on the twizzles as I would've liked
• Improved from the rest of what I've seen from them this season
• 23.71 (TES) + 24.81 (PCS) = 48.52

6) Danielle Obrien & Gregory Merriman (AUS)

• That skirt doesn't seem to match the rest of the dress
• She exits the twizzles a turn early
• Nice use of the free arm in the rhumba sequence
• This team is packaged well and they look professional, they just need some more work
• 20.64 (TES) + 20.46 (PCS) = 40.10

7) Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA)

• He is a dream to watch, he his so dancy
• Oh no, where did that fall come from
• Hey, I'd rather you fall because you're too into the movement than half-assing it
• Oh boy, she wobbles a little on the twizzle
• At least her costume is more sassy this time
• They look very dejected after the fall and the bobble
• 25.50 (TES) + 25.43 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 49.93

8) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)

• They are the definition of hair-ography
• So much energy in that opening 
• He always looks like he's going to spin out of control everytime on the twizzles but never does!
• I'm glad they went all JLo this season, it suits them so well
• I  love that part of the footwork that looks like they're going into a sit spin
• 34.71 (TES) + 37.44 (PCS) + 72.15

9) Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)

• All those ruffles floating in the rhumba sequence is just obnoxious
• That costume is such a distraction, breaks up the lines
• The twizzle timing was perfect, but the arms are a little off
• I can only watch her in that costume because his is so boring by comparison
• They just don't look excited to be out there
• Anybody else surprised that ruffle didn't get in his face in the on that final rotational lift
• 33.92 (TES) + 37.68 (PCS) = 71.60

10) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibuani (USA)

• They look look a little slow today, other than the twizzles of course
• They arguably have the best unison of the top teams overall
• Whatever Corky Ballas did, it's working for them
• They've really come into their own this season, they're really stepping it up on this short dance
• I like their new costumes and their new aggressive attitude
• 31.86 (TES) + 31.52 (PCS) 63.38

11) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)

• I feel like this isn't as spicy as it could be, I don't know why
• They look really rushed, it looks a little frantic
• Their arms look a little flaily
• Something about it just seemed off today, no major mistakes, just something a little off
• 31.43 (TES) + 32.80 (PCS) = 64.23

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	72.15	34.71		37.44	9.39	9.25	9.32	9.43	9.39	0.00	#8
2	Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR	CAN	71.60	33.92		37.68	9.39	9.29	9.46	9.39	9.54	0.00	#9
3	Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	CAN	64.23	31.43		32.80	8.07	7.93	8.29	8.29	8.36	0.00	#11
4	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	63.38	31.86		31.52	7.93	7.64	8.04	7.89	7.89	0.00	#10
5	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	49.93	25.50		25.43	6.43	6.39	6.21	6.39	6.36	1.00	#7
6	Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAM	CAN	48.52	23.71		24.81	6.39	6.00	6.29	6.29	6.07	0.00	#5
7	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	45.42	24.00		21.42	5.43	5.14	5.36	5.46	5.36	0.00	#4
8	Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN	AUS	40.10	20.64		20.46	5.25	4.93	5.14	5.21	5.04	1.00	#6
9	Anna NAGORNYUK / Viktor KOVALENKO	UZB	39.93	21.49		18.44	4.75	4.50	4.61	4.75	4.46	0.00	#2
10	Corenne BRUHNS / Ryan VAN NATTEN	MEX	35.93	20.64		15.29	4.00	3.71	3.82	3.93	3.68	0.00	#3
11	Cortney MANSOUR / Daryn ZHUNUSSOV	KAZ	25.53	13.22		13.31	3.54	3.25	3.32	3.43	3.14	1.00	#1

2012 Four Continents Championships: Ice Dance Preview

This is a picture we haven't seen in two seasons, Virtue & Moir wearing Gold while Davis & White wore Silver. To be fair, the Canadians were not at 100% last season even when they did compete, but this season the teams are on a level playing field and Davis & White won the singular head-to-head battle at the Grand Prix Final. Can they repeat here? I say...yes!

Podium Predictions:
1) Davis & White (USA)
2) Virtue & Moir (CAN)
3) Shibutani & Shibutani (USA)


It's splitting hairs comparing the top two teams but I think Davis & White (USA) have the winning free skate. It's operatic, it's beautiful, it's elegant, it's shall we say European. Virtue & Moir (CAN) have a more theatrical free skate and while I happen to prefer it, it do not feel that the judges will score it as highly as the Americans in head-to-head competition. The teams are perfectly matched in terms of technical elements and program components so it simply comes down to the judges' preferences and whether one team will make a mistake as Virtue & Moir did with their fall in the short dance at the Grand Prix Final.

Another key battle will be for the bronze medal between Shibutani & Shibutani (USA) and Weaver & Poje (CAN). The Canadians were slightly behind the Americans at NHK Trophy, but went on to beat them by 6 points at the Grand Prix Final in December. The young Americans were majorly lacking in the short dance, which they've since beefed up. The Shib Sibs almost always skate clean while Weaver & Poje are known for making mistakes in high pressure situations so I'm going with the safe bet and taking the Americans based on their penchant for clean skating and upward improvement throughout the season. For the record, I personally hope Weaver & Poje can go clean and take bronze here and at Worlds.

I'm on the fence about Hubbell & Donohue (USA) in that I like their skating and I think they bring out the best in one another and have meshed very well in under a year. However, I think they still look a little tacky in their packaging. Now that they're going to be on 4CC and World teams with Meryl Davis, Madison needs to step it up in costume, hair, and makeup department. Ice dancing is so aesthetic and Meryl Davis is all class all the say...Madison Hubbell should take a page from that book. But back to the skating, they impressed with a win at Nebelhorn, but slumped when their programs weren't received well at Skate America. They beat some good teams to take 3rd at US Nationals, but I fear they won't score as well here or at Worlds as Chock & Bates could have scored. Again, that's just my personal opinion. I hope they prove me wrong.

The biggest disappointment of the season for me has been Paul & Islam (CAN). I expected them to seize the 3rd spot in Canada with the retirement of Crone & Poirier but they had a disastrous Grand Prix and for some reason their programs aren't clicking with the judges and they finished a disappointing 5th at their Nationals. Canada truly extended an olive branch by sending them to this event. I hope they can up their stock and build some momentum for next season.

2011 NHK Trophy: Ice Dance Preview

The Ice Dance event at NHK trophy is sure to be an exciting one as one of these teams will win their first Grand Prix Gold! Three of these teams have won medals before, but never a Gold and it's shaping up to be a dog fight for the top of the podium between these three teams-Canadians, Americans, and Russians-which happen to be the super powers in ice dance currently. These nations won the first three ice dance titles of the 2011 Grand Prix Season and whoever takes the title here will tip the scale in their country's favor. Both events technically take place on Friday November 11th with the short at 12:55 a.m. EST and the free at 10:00 p.m. EST.

After much thought, I really like Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN) to win this event, though not by a huge margin. They have the highest score of the season of all the teams competing, and that was from Skate Canada where they made errors in the free skate. They have a very fiery, passionate short dance juxtaposed with an elegant, romantic free dance which I consider a winning combination for them at this event. Many thought Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA) to be under-marked at Cup of China for how clean and technically proficient they were, but that, especially in ice dance, is how the cookie crumbles. Their scores in both phases were lower than those of the Canadians at their event. It is my opinion that they are being marked lower in the short dance because they are a sibling team and cannot explore the relationships that others have in this segment. Their free is where they can shine, though some judges may hold it against them that they're doing a piece in the realm of last season's free dance. Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS) are one of the most passionate and intense teams on the scene these days and though I admire them for that, they tend to get messy and make major mistakes in high-pressure competitions. They should medal easily unless they make several big mistakes, but they'll need to go error-free to challenge for Gold. Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA) are coming off of a win at Ice Challenge last weekend and they have great style, but their scores aren't at the level of the above mentioned teams, unless of course major errors are committed. Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN) are a favorite team of mine, though their programs haven't been well received this season, which judges demonstrated at Skate America by awarding lower program components scores. Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER) started the season off well, medaling at two Senior B events, though their free dance needs a lot of work before they'll contend for major medals.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Weaver & Poje (CAN)
2) Shibutani & Shibutani (USA)
3) Ilinykh & Katsalapov (RUS)


Competitive History:


Lorena Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi (ITA)-2nd 2011 O Nepela, 16th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Winter Universiade, 2nd 2010 Coup de Nice; PB: 115.32 at 2011 Europeans


Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)-7th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 4th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 154.50 at 2011 Worlds

Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA)-1st at 2011 Ice Challenge, 6th 2010 Skate America, 6th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 138.07 at 2011 Ice Challenge


Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)-8th at2011 Skate America, 4th 2010 Skate Canada, 2nd 2010 World Juniors; PB: 138.16 at 2011 Skate Canada


Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)-4th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 13th 2011 Worlds, 2nd Asian Winter Games, 7th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 133.33 at 2011 Worlds


Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)-2nd 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 3rd 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 3rd 2010 NHK Trophy, 5th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 163.79 at 2011 Worlds


Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)-2nd at 2011 Skate Canada, 5th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Four Continents, 4th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 4th 2010 Skate America, 2nd 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 160.32 at 2011 Worlds


Nelli Zhinganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)-4th at 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 O Nepela, 2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 11th 2011 Worlds, 7th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Bavarian Open, 1st 2010 P Roman, 2nd 2010 NRW Trophy, 3rd 2010 O Nepala, 4th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy, 6th 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 140.95 at 2011 Worlds

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Free Dance [LIVE BLOG}

1) Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)
     Music: Tonight by Bernie Taupin & Elton John

• If they can get over what plagued them in the short dance, this could bring home a huge score
• Beautiful rotational lift
• I love the colors of the costumes, very serene
• Gorgeous twizzle sequence
• This team is so elegant and it's a pity they couldn't show it in the short
• This circular step sequence doesn't have the speed of the top teams, but they have a gorgeous, well-matached leg line
• They've been called Virtue/Moir 2.0 and I can see it
• They have good variety in the lifts
• She looks like a bird floating in that dance spin
• There is always a pause when the couples shift spinning directions and I appreciate that she took the time to make a gesture with her arm to fill the space
• Their entries/exits to the lifts are flawless
• They have a very expressive quality about them, without pulling their faces
• They were born to do lyrical free skates, don't expect anything jazzy from them anytime soon
• He makes her look as light as a feather and shows her off well while still drawing attention to himself which I appreciate
• Gorgeous skate!

FD Score: 40.21 (TES) + 34.99 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 74.20
Total Score: 37.50 (SD) + 74.20 (FD) = 111.70

2) Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello (USA)
     Music: Les Miserables

• Fast paced opening to this program
• She loses the 1st twizzle and the 3rd for that matter
• This is an odd selection of pieces from Les Miserables
• They look like they aren't over their legs for some reason
• That curve lift was a nice position
• They're carrying great speed in this program
• I'm not as big a fan of their programs this season
• And her lipstick is too pink

FD Score: 38.36 (TES) + 34.81 (PCS)  = 73.17
Total Score: 42.05 (SD) + 73.17 (FD) = 115.22

3) Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA)
     Music: I Put a Spell on You by Joe Cocker

• This is a great Free Dance, I like it now and it has growing potential as well
• They are a very well matched team
• They are similar in height and they kind of put me in mind of Lang & Tschernyshev
• This is a very solid program, it's seamless and you don't see the elements
• The twizzles are great, I love that they take a risk with the a la seconde position
• Their holds are very close and they have a great connection to one another
• I'm so glad that Madison is not skating with her brother anymore
• That final moment was just so great
• They are so happy, Zachary is just thrilled with that

FD Score: 43.11 (TES) + 39.22 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 81.33
Total Score: 49.71 (SD) + 81.33 (FD) = 131.04

4) Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU)
     Music: Let's Twist Again, Only You, Tutti Frutti

• I love that Isabella Tobias trained at SAB
• They are so cute together!
• Love this program!
• Those music transitions are kind of awkward
• This music is great because it has a recognizable beat
• They have great lifts in signature Zoueva & Shpilband
• They need to carry more speed with this fast-paced music
• That was such a cute program!

FD Score: 41.99 (TES) + 38.76 (PCS) = 80.75
Total Score: 51.83 (SD) + 80.75 (FD) = 132.85

5) Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill (CAN)
     Music: Le Cosa Pequena, El Chulio

• They never have professional looking costumes
• I love watching Asher, but Kharis is a little clunky
• He is so much more expressive than she is and has much nicer body lines
• That was a gorgeous rotational lift that had great speed
• Interesting low spin position with her handing off of his leg
• They are running out of gas about halfway through and lack the speed of top teams
• Their leg lines do not match very well, he has much better extension
• That ending pose was very cool

FD Score: 40.22 (TES) + 38.39 (PCS) = 78.61
Total Score: 52.68 (SD) + 78.61 (FD) =131.29

6) Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)
     Music: Romeo & Juliet

• This is a beautiful program at times and painfully awkward at other times
• I hate that heartbeat undertone, but it was added after O Nepela when they received a music violation for not having a clear dance beat
• That "did they kiss or didn't they" life moment is awkward
• The upside down lift is lovely but the exit is strange
• This music transitions is awkward and they seem to be flailing, like they don't have their feet under them
• They normally have very nice lines, but today they seem off
• This is a very odd program for me
• I could also see another music violation in that the free skates are supposed to be uplifting in nature, but I don't see that at all when she stabs herself with his hand at the end and dies

FD Score: 37.43 (TES) + 38.53 (PCS) = 75.95
Total Score: 55.66 (SD) + 75.95 (FD) = 131.61

7) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
     Music: Passion, In the Garden of Souls, Le Retour de Punt, Alf Wayla Wa Layla

• That opening lift was a stunner!
• I hate the costumes, but I get how they work for the program
• I hope Fabian can make it, he is really sick
• He is a pharaoh and she is the mummy of his deceased wife coming back fro one last dance
• Very cool twizzle sequence, a bit of unison lost in the 3rd set
• They are keeping the theme of the piece even in the lifts, which is not always the case
• I love this jazzy section in the middle!
• I can't tell if I love it or hate it
• The ending pose was pretty cool

FD Score: 46.42 (TES) + 50.80 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 96.22
Total Score: 60.07 (SD) + 96.22 (FD) = 156.29

8) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)
     Music: Die Fledermaus by Strauss

• I am loving this classical program on them, they really look World Class
• This is what happens when you stay together for 13 years kids, you dance as one
• Dance spins must be the hardest place to get creative
• They are very good at waltz
• Meryl's arms were a little bent in that rotational lift and the exit was slightly abrupt
• Spot on twizzles today, the crowd loved it!
• I love the whimsical quality of this piece, they have two very light programs this season, both very watchable
• A little ragged and wild at the very end, but lovely and solid overall
• That piece fits them perfectly

FD Score: 51.21 (TES) + 56.53 (PCS) = 107.74
Total Score: 70.33 (SD) + 107.74 (FD) = 178.07

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Short Dance [LIVE BLOG]

All this intro info from the commentators is clearly for the casual skating fans, because the hard-core fans obviously know that Madison Hubbell used to skate with her brother Keiffer.

1) Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA)
    Music: Mambo, Rhumba, Samba

• I want Madi  Hubbell to get her roots done, and wear a sassier hairstyle than a high ponytail, its very Tessa Virtue circa 2011 Worlds
• He has great hip action and I'm loving the musicality already
• A little bit of loss of synchronization in that circular step sequence, but so great for a new team
• I'm glad that Madi can let out her inner diva now that she's not skating with her brother
• They have very well matched leg lines in the Rumba sequence
• They go in and out of the closeness of the hold in their 2nd Rumba sequence, but that too will get better with time
• I like the varied positions in the twizzles
• That was a little rough around the edges, but a good start to their season

SD Score: 24.65 (TES) + 25.06 (PCS) = 49.71

2) Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello (USA)
    Music: Cuando Pienso en ti, Tequila

• Did Bella have light hair last season?
• Bella's lipstick color is a little too bright for the dark costumes
• They start with their circular not touching step sequence
• His edges and knees seem much deeper than hers
• That parallel lift is a nice idea, but it needs a lot of work to get in and out more smoothly and maintain speed on Ian's part
• I am a big fan of keeping one piece of music for the whole short dance so it doesn't look like two programs tossed together
• Hard fall by Ian on a twizzle, they were out of synch from the beginning
• I"m not a fan of this program, the choreography didn't do much for me

SD Score: 21.43 (TES) + 21.63 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 42.05

3) Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU)
    Music: Shakira Medley

• I love that Isabella is working the Shakira-esque hair for this short dance
• Deividas is a very stiff and her arms are looking a little flaily
• Separation on the twizzle sequence
• Very nice rotational lift, she hits a very Belbin-esque split position
• I'd love more speed in this piece
• I like that this compulory, the Rhumba, focuses on extension, toe point, and leg line
• Fierce ending pose, and they look very happy with that program

SD Score: 28.14 (TES) + 23.69 (PCS) = 51.83

4) Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)
    Music: 2046 Main Theme, Havana Slido

• I am loving her costume, it's simple but has enough of a pop, and her make-up is flawless
• What happened, she just trip on a crossover? Simple loss of concentration
• Men wearing all black is a theme in the short dance this season
• Nice counter-balance lift, but her arm movements were a bit awkward
• Great speed in this 1st Rhumba section
• The arms were slightly off, but good twizzles overall
• Luckily for them, Crone & Porier are done and they have a great shot to make the Worlds team out of a tough Canadian ice dance field
• Tough second fall for Alexandra on another simple movement, she looks very thrown off
• She seemed out of her body, like she could be sick
• This is a lovely program and I know they'll grow a lot this season?

SD Score: 19.57 (TES) + 20.98 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 37.50

5) Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill (CAN)
    Music: Wanna Be Startin' Something, Harlem Nocturne, Do You Only Wanna Dance

• These costumes are hurting my eyes, I don't even know what else to say about them
• They look a little wild on this opening step sequence, it's great to go full out but you need to reign it in sometimes
• Nice straight line lift with her balancing on her blade
• Her positions are a little square, I'd like them to be more fluid
• This choreography is very fragmented, the "transitions" between elements were quite fragmented

SD Score: 27.79 (TES) + 24.89 (PCS) = 52.68

6) Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)
    Music: Desperados from "Once Upon A Time in Mexico"

• Poor commentators are struggling with those names
• This is a throwback to Amodio vs Joubert last season
• Something about this team.....they'e never looked well matched to me
• They carry nice speed through this circular step sequence
• Good flow over the ice overall, but Alexander looks a little off balance
• Funny how he goes down into the split position, nice role reversal
• Rotational lift in the haircutter position
• I've never been a fan of over the top endings, i.e. that cartwheel

SD Score: 29.14 (TES) + 26.52 (PCS) = 55.66

7) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)
    Music: Mas que Nada, Batacuda, Real in Rio

• This is my first time seeing them after their coaching change and I'm excited!
• Is it weird that I wish she were platinum blonde?
• Great shimmying opening? And I feel like I'm at Carnaval
• Great seamless position changes in that lift
• Fabian caught his toe pick and went down, that had to have been a deja vu moment to last year's Worlds
• Now this is good choreography, you don't even see the elements, it's one seamless performance
• Sloppy, sloppy twizzles; not the way to try to catch the World Champs
• I love the reverse lift cartwheel at the end

SD Score: 29.51 (TES) + 31.56 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 60.07

8) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)
     Music: Batacudas, Life is a Carnival, On the Floor

• I love the sass of them getting into the opening pose, sassafrass
• Great speed and intricacy of choreography right off the bat
• Charlie slightly ahead in the twizzles
• Great closeness in the holds
• This is the thing about Zoueva/Shpilband choreography, it is all one work, you don't see the elements
• Great fluidity in the Rhumba sequence
• And I lost my feed
• I assume the end was great, though I didn't get to see it

SD Score: 34.14 (TES) + 16.19 (PCS) = 70.33

2011 Skate America: Ice Dance Preview

The top two spots in this event are all but locked up, but the fight for Bronze will be interesting. I'll be live-blogging it all so visit me Friday night at 11:40 EST for the short dance and Saturday afternoon at 4:30 for the free dance.

Reigning World Champions Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA) will have no real competition until they meet up with Virtue & Moir at the Grand Prix Final but it is such a joy to see them perform anyway. They'll use this event as a way to test out their programs with the judges and make adjustments for later in the season. I can't wait to watch Meryl channel J Lo in the short dance and then an opera diva in the free. Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA) will leave with the Silver in their pocket and rack up points toward the Grand Prix Final. They are a great team and they have something to prove after falling at the 2011 Worlds and losing a medal. They've also made a coaching change to Camerlengo in Detroit so we'll see how that affects them. I was so impressed by the newly formed team of Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA) at Nebelhorn Trophy where they won a surprise Gold. They have solid technique and Camerlengo is doing wonders for them. They also have amazing chemistry and can do sensual programs that Madison couldn't do with her previous partner. Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER) have had a busy season, having already competed at two Senior B events. They've been steadily improving and could be a top ten team come Worlds, but I don't know that they are ready to take a Grand Prix medal yet. I'm really looking forward to Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN) after falling in love with them at Skate Canada last season. They are known as Virtue & Moir 2.0 but I hope they are finding their own identity. Either way, I appreciate their grace and elegance and hope to see them at Worlds this season. Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill (CAN) medaled at Nebelhorn so they'll have good momentum going in and Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU) also had a strong showing at that event. Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello (USA) had two GP assignments last year but this is their lone event this year so they'll want to go for broke and make as strong an impression as possible.

My Podium Predictions:

1) Davis & White (USA)

2) Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA)

3) Hubbell & Donohue (USA)

My USFSA Fantasy Picks:
A) Davis & White (USA)
B) Hubbell & Donohue (USA)
C) Paul/Islam (CAN)


Competitive History:

Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello (USA)-7th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 10th 2010 Cup of China, 6th 2009 JGP Final, 3rd 2009 JGP Istanbul, 3rd 2009 JGP Germany; PB: 116.60 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard 

Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)-1st 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 NHK Trophy; PB: 185.27 at 2011 Worlds

Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA)-1st 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, PB: 139.01 

Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)-4th 2010 Skate Canada, 2nd 2010 World Juniors; PB: 138.16 at 2011 Skate Canada

Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)-4th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Europeans, 2nd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2011 Cup of China, 1st 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 1st 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 167.40 at 2011 Europeans

Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill (CAN)-3rd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 6th 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 7th 2011 Cup of China; 121.39 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard

Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU)-5th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 14th 2011 Worlds, 12th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 NRW Trophy, 11th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 131.01 at 2011 Worlds

Nelli Zhinganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)-1st 2011 O Nepela, 2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 11th 2011 Worlds, 7th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Bavarian Open, 1st 2010 P Roman, 2nd 2010 NRW Trophy, 3rd 2010 O Nepala, 4th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy, 6th 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 140.95 at 2011 Worlds 

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Free Dance

1) Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)
     Music: Chale Chalo, Mon Amour

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 49.36 (SD) + (FD) =

2) Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)
     Music: Tonight

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 39.26 (SD) + (FD) =

3) Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA)
     Music: Walking in the Sand

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 50.81 (SD) + (FD) =

4) Lorenza Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi (ITA)
     Music: Tosca

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 54.37 (SD) + (FD) =

5) Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)
     Music: Romeo & Juliet 

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 55.69 (SD) + (FD) =

6) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)
     Music: Chattanooga Choo Choo, In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 59.02 (SD) + (FD) =

7) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)
     Music: Je Suis Malade

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 60.07 (SD) + (FD) =

8) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)
     Music: Ave Maria

• 
  

FD Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 61.83 (SD) + (FD) =

ISU Grand Prix: Rostelecom Cup Free Dance

1) Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (Canada)**
   Music: As Time Goes By

• FD Score: (TES) + (PCS) =
• 45.75 (SD) +  (FD) =

2) Lucie Mysliveckova & Matej Novak (Czech Republic)
   Music: Let My People Go/Money/Jessica Rabbit/Venus

• FD Score: (TES) + (PCS) =
• 48.45 (SD) +  (FD) =

3) Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (Russia)
   Music: Don Quixote

• FD Score: (TES) + (PCS) =
• 49.14 (SD) +  (FD) =

4) Madison Hubbell & Keiffer Hubbell (USA) **
   Music: Selections by Yello and Art of Noise

• FD Score: (TES) + (PCS) =
• 50.59 (SD) +  (FD) =

5) Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov (Russia)
   Music: Cha Cha/Manada de Carneval

• FD Score: (TES) + (PCS) =
• 51.97 (SD) +  (FD) =

6) Nora Hoffman & Maxim Zavozin (Hungary)
   Music: Gypsy Witch

• FD Score: (TES) + (PCS) =
• 57.24 (SD) +  (FD) =

7) Federica Faiella & Massimo Scali (Italy) **
   Music: Manolete-The Passion Within

• FD Score: (TES) + (PCS) =
• 57.65 (SD) +  (FD) =

8) Elena Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (Russia)
   Music: Melody of the White Lights

• FD Score: (TES) + (PCS) =
• 60.80 (SD) +  (FD) =

Final Standings: