2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Mens Short Program

1) Viktor Pfeifer (AUT)

   Music: The Mask

• Here we go, worlds is underway!!
• I love his coach Priscilla Hill
• Viktor is so theatrical
• Triple lutz with her arm over his head landed in a nice arabesque positions
• A very awkward fall on his last jump, that looks like it could've hurt
• He has such long legs and he hits some really great positions but also some awkward ones
• The costume change is very cool

   SP Score: 29.01 (TES) + 28.67 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 56.68 

2) Min-Seok Kim (KOR)

   Music: Bolero (Moulin Rouge)

• Oh heeeeeey Moulin Rouge
• This is a very Johnny Weir-esque costume
• Nice triple axel to start, very tentative, but landed nonetheless
• Nice donut position on the spin, but he lacks speed coming out of it
• This is very passionate music and I would like to see more commitment to the performance from him
• He seems to be really losing speed toward the end

   SP Score: 31.33 (TES) + 24.86 (PCS) - (DED) = 56.19 

3) Richard Dornbush (USA)
     Music: Elena by Brian Setzer

• Come on Richard, get it!
• Good speed to open
• Wild landing on triple triple, but good speed and height nonetheless
• Same story on triple axel, he really attacked it but couldn't control the landing completely
• Nice job Ricky, landed that triple flip
• He has some really unique spin positions
• He is very much committing himself to this performance and what a great effort for her first senior Worlds
• I like that he is bringing back the hydroblade, what a nice move
• He is very proud of himself as he should be

   SP Score: 38.25 (TES) + 32.29 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.54 

4) Nan Song (CHN)

   Music: Requiem for a Dream

• He looks very tentative, but you can't be when skating to this music, you need to attack it
• His jumps are huge, but his landings could be much more crisp
• I'm starting to see some more fire in him now that he's entered this footwork sequence
• He could stretch out his spin positions much more

   SP Score: 35.56 (TES) + 28.22 (PCS) - (DED) = 63.78 

5) Denis Ten (KAZ)

   Music: Primavera Portento

• First time seeing Frank Carol at this year's Worlds
• Denis is a very talented skater but he lacks self-confidence, at least that has been the story all season
• A very nice clean axel to start
• That triple triple combo wasn't the prettiest, but he definitely fought for it
• This is very dynamic music and I would like to really see  him commit to it and bring out some flavor
• Well that was a really nice effort from Denis

   SP Score: 39.23 (TES) + 31.77 (PCS) - (DED) = 71.00

6) Ross Miner 

   Music: Para Ti by Jorge Gomez

• Come on Ross, get it!
• I love his commitment to the flavor of the piece right off the bat
• He really attacked that triple axel
• Good solid triple lutz-triple toe
• Good clean skate for Ross, its so great to see these young Americans rising to the occasion like this!
• Nice fast spins and elegant positions

   SP Score: 38.02 (TES) + 32.28 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.40 

7) Joey Russell (CAN) 

   Music: 1812 Overture

• Joey Russell is just precious
• Shaky first landing
• Stumble and hand down on the second jump
• This will not be the short program that Joey Russell saw in his dreams
• He fought to land that combo and did so with sheer will
• I like him overall, a very elegant skater, but he couldn't seem to get his legs under him today
• Joey is not pleased with that, he knows he made silly mistakes

   SP Score: 30.90 (TES) + 30.79 (PCS) - (DED) = 61.69 

8) Paolo Bacchini (ITA) 

   Music: Pinocchio

• That axel was very tilted in the air from the beginning, it was not a surprise that he fell
• Both jumps of his combination are very very tilted in the air but he eeeked them out
• Even his solo triple flip is very tilted but he lands it, its not pretty though
• I don't really understand this costume, even though it is Pinocchio
• Definitely not the skate Paolo was looking for
• That was a very "Italian" program, stylistically speaking

   SP Score: 30.77 (TES) + 29.19 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 58.96 

9) Maxim Shipov (ISR) 

   Music: Once Upon a Time in Mexico

• Almost no speed going into that opening axel; very awkward fall
• Hand down on his lutz
• This music is this year's "requiem"
• I appreciate how he is attacking everything, but he is a bit wild and lacks polish

   SP Score: 26.64 (TES) + 24.46 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 50.10

10) Peter Liebers 

   Music: Blues Deluxe

• Right off the bat, he is really committing to the character and feel of the piece
• He has a lot of speed going into that triple lutz-triple toe 
• I love him in this program; very smooth and suave
• Very solid triple axel
• Good lutz, he should put up a very respectable score here
• He could use a little more stretch in his camel, but I'm really only getting that specific because that was such a good program

   SP Score: 36.51 (TES) + 31.22 (PCS) - (DED) = 67.73 

11) Misha Ge (UZB)

   Music: Capone

• Wow that costume is certainly a burst of color in the morning
• He was the final qualifier from the Q round to make it to the short
• He looks so small out there on the ice and I'd really like to see him stretch out his body
• This is very jazzy and he is such a little performer
• Aside from the fall out of the flip, he has been pretty good
• You definitely cannot say that he doesn't have enthusiasm!

   SP Score: 22.80 (TES) + 26.81 (PCS) - (DED) = 49.61

12) Jorik Hendrickx (BEL)

   Music: Feeling Good

• Get it Jorik! Get every fraction of a point that you can muster to get into this free skate
• Nice triple lutz, but the triple toe looked two-footed to me
• Nice speed across the ice
• Stumble out of the loop from footwork; couldn't tell if it was under-rotated or not
• Good low positions in the sit spin
• Good axel, only a double but landed nonetheless
• I really like his footwork
• I picked Jorik for my Fantasy C pick at Europeans and he did an awesome job so I stuck with him here for Worlds
• Jorik's donut spin looks great from that overhead camera angle
• He just made such a crazy face in his last pose; this guy has so much heart

   SP Score: 31.96 (TES) + 28.78 (PCS) - (DED) = 60.74 

13) Ryan Bradley (USA)

   Music: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

• I'm so nervous! Get it Ryan! Do it like US Nationals!
• The quad was landed a little bit low, so he added a double toe instead of a triple
• Get it triple axel!!!
• Come on Ryan give us some personality now that the tough jumps are over
• His camel spin is looking slow; he seems to be skating really slowly across the ice
• Nice triple flip
• Let's hope he gets full credit for his quad
• Here we go, he is really bringing the personality in the footwork
• Good job for Ryan of staying on his feet, I would've liked more speed but that program should keep him in the running

   SP Score: 38.84 (TES) + 31.61 (PCS) - (DED) = 70.45 

14) Kim Lucine (MON)

   Music: Phantom of the Opera

• Hard fall on opening jump
• I love the way he used the glove as a mask
• This techno arrangement of Phantom is truly heinous
• This is nit-picky but I don't like the way that his cummerbund separates from his pants; I'd go with out it personally
• This sounds like a jock jams remix of Phantom
• This program really is doing nothing for me overall
• The use of the prop (glove/mask) is interesting nonetheless

   SP Score: 31.81 (TES) + 28.00 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 

15) Anton Kovalevski (UKR)

   Music: Stop Time Rag

   SP Score: 34.23 (TES) + 30.93 (PCS) - (DED) = 

16) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)

   Music: Moanin/Drum Thunder Suite

   SP Score: 34.00 (TES) + 31.36 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 

17) Alexander Majorov (SWE)

   Music: Austin Powers

   SP Score: 23.27 (TES) + 30.97 (PCS) - (DED) = 

18) Javier Fernandez (ESP) 

   Music: Histoir de un Amor/Hu Pogodi

   SP Score: 35.77 (TES) +33.39 (PCS) - (DED) = 69.19

19) Florent Amodio (FRA) 

   Music: Once Upon a Time in Mexico

• He seemed tentative going into the triple axel, but the landing was solid enough
• Solid triple lutz-triple toe, his arms were a little wild
• Nice triple flip
• Clean and focused so far
• I love his upturned chest in that camel spin
• Could that costume be any tighter
• I love the use of his head during the footwork, it reminds me very much of Evan Lysacek
• I really love this short program, and that was great execution

   SP Score: 40.46 (TES) + 37.18 (PCS) - (DED) = 77.64 

20) Brian Joubert (FRA) 

   Music: Once Upon a Time in Mexico

• Nice back to back programs with the same music
• I like Brian's choreography better
• Brian lands the quad toe but steps out of it
• Brian's choreography is fantastic; no movements are thrown away
• Great triple axel
• Amazing height and speed
• Great triple toe
• Everything here is completely 100% solid minus that step out of the quad
• Florent threw it down, and then Brian Joubert answered with (in my opinion) an even better program
• Oh wait, I just realized he didn't do a combination, ooops
• He'll be severely penalized for no combination

   SP Score: 34.36 (TES) + 36.92 (PCS) - (DED) = 71.29 

21) Adrian Schultheiss (SWE)

   Music: Nuclear Warhead

• He has struggled this season and even contemplated retiring; I'd love to see him do well here
• Wow he took falls on a jump and in his footwork
• At this point, he is in danger of not qualifying for the free skate
• He is upset with his performance and rightly so 

   SP Score: 29.63 (TES) + 30.78 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 58.41 

22) Patrick Chan (CAN) 

   Music: Take Five

• Alright it's time for Chiddy! Get it Patrick!
• I just love that smile!
• He seems so relaxed from the first movement
• Quad toe-triple toe is as solid as can be
• He is just so smooth in his skating and every movement means something
• A little ice flying off of the triple axel but very solid
• Now this is the way you put a great performance together with great choreography
• Great stretch through his limbs on spins and connecting movements
• Nice easy triple flip
• This piece is a work of art and will give him great confidence going into the free skate

   SP Score: 51.48 (TES) + 41.54 (PCS) - (DED) = 93.02

23) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) 

   Music: Soul Medley

• Get it Kozuka (that will be a tough act to follow)
• He has definitely improved as a performer throughout the season on this program
• Low landings on the quad toe-triple toe, but landed nonetheless
• Hands down on the triple axel but no deduction
• I always think of him as being so young, when really he is older than Patrick Chan
• This choreography is just so-so, there are a lot of throw away moments

   SP Score: 39.83 (TES) + 37.79 (PCS) - (DED) = 77.62

24) Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL) 

   Music: Art of War

• Fall on opening quad jump
• When a skater like this can't land his jumps, he is in trouble, because he doesn't do much in terms of performance and has to rely on those jumps to hold him up
• Not a great effort from Kevin today
• If that quad was rotated, the fall will only cost him a point and then the negative GOE

   SP Score: 35.73 (TES) + 33.61 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 68.34 

25) Michal Brezina (CZE)

   Music: Japanese Kodo Drums

• Very good height on opening triple axel
• He is looking very calm and focused
• I hate the way those pants bunch at his ankles, they look very child-like
• I really like this music, it is very interesting
• Nice program overall

   SP Score: 41.10 (TES) + 36.40 (PCS) - (DED) = 77.50 

26) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)

   Music: Historia de un Amor

• Wow does Takahashi know how to work the crowd
• Very solid triple-triple
• Every movement he makes means something
• That triple axel was textbook and his landing was on a great musical climax
• This is probably my favorite short program of the whole season, especially choreographically
• Patrick Chan threw it down and now Takahashi is answering that in the best way he can
• This footwork is phenomenal and his performance is spectacular
• This is exactly what a reigning world champ looks like
• Simply amazing

   SP Score: 39.33 (TES) + 40.92 (PCS) - (DED) = 80.25 

27) Tomas Verner (CZE)

   Music: Singing in the Rain

• Fall on opening quad toe attempt; lets see if that affects the rest of the program
• He is holding onto these jump landings, but they are shaky, and just barely there
• I love the theatricality of the program and he remained committed to the performance

   SP Score: 39.62 (TES) + 37.32 (PCS) - (DED) = 75.94 

28) Artur Gachinski (RUS) 

   Music: Selections by Pink Floyd

• This choreography is signature Plushenko with all the hand gestures
• Quad toe-triple toe into a hand gesture, again signature Plushenko
• Triple axel
• All of his landings look frazzled, just like Plushy
• Wow what was that on the triple loop, he caught the back of his blade and almost ate it, i still really don't get what happened there
• I want this kid to find his own identity as a skater but I feel like they are trying to force him to become a mini Plushenko

   SP Score: 42.45 (TES) + 35.89 (PCS) - (DED) = 78.34

29) Samuel Contesti (ITA)

   Music: Hungarian March

• I love that he takes the ice in character
• This music is not doing much for me, but he looks great in tails
• He has had some funky landings on his jumps, not incredibly polished
• His spins are lovely
• He has such an elegance and a regal quality on the ice
• I'd like a straighter leg on the signature Patrick Chan kick

   SP Score: 28.62 (TES) + 35.97 (PCS) - (DED) = 64.59

30) Nobunari Oda (JPN)

   Music: Storm

• I love this program and wish his free skate were more like it
• Stumble out of the quad toe for Nobu
• He has such incredible speed
• Nice triple axel
• I love that he exits a jump with the same speed he goes in with
• Nice triple triple combination
• His speed is just crazy and I bet its even more amazing to see in person
• Stumble in the footwork, he had perhaps a little too much energy going in

   SP Score: 43.37 (TES) + 38.44 (PCS) - (DED) = 81.81 

2011 World Figure Skating Championships: Mens Short Program Skate Order

Thirty of the best male figure skaters in the world will take the ice tomorrow at 5:30 am EST for their short program. The top twenty-four after the short program will move on to Thursday's Free Skate beginning at 5:00 am EST. The skate order for the short program is as follows.

Here is my preview of the Mens event: http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com/2011/04/2011-world-figure-skating-championships_16.html

StN.	Name	Nation
	Warm-Up Group 1
1	Viktor PFEIFER	AUT
2	Min-Seok KIM	KOR
3	Richard DORNBUSH	USA
4	Nan SONG	CHN
5	Denis TEN	KAZ
6	Ross MINER	USA
	Warm-Up Group 2
7	Joey RUSSELL	CAN
8	Paolo BACCHINI	ITA
9	Maxim SHIPOV	ISR
10	Peter LIEBERS	GER
11	Misha GE	UZB
12	Jorik HENDRICKX	BEL
	Warm-Up Group 3
13	Ryan BRADLEY	USA
14	Kim LUCINE	MON
15	Anton KOVALEVSKI	UKR
16	Kevin REYNOLDS	CAN
17	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE
18	Javier FERNANDEZ	ESP
	Warm-Up Group 4
19	Florent AMODIO	FRA
20	Brian JOUBERT	FRA
21	Adrian SCHULTHEISS	SWE
22	Patrick CHAN	CAN
23	Takahiko KOZUKA	JPN
24	Kevin VAN DER PERREN	BEL
	Warm-Up Group 5
25	Michal BREZINA	CZE
26	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN
27	Tomas VERNER	CZE
28	Artur GACHINSKI	RUS
29	Samuel CONTESTI	ITA
30	Nobunari ODA	JPN

2011 US Figure Skating Championships: The Barbie Awards for Best Moments in Greensboro

I needed a way to summarize Nationals 2011 in my own way without doing a generic wrap up of each event. I thought of doing a top ten favorite moments post, but there were so many that were great for different reasons that I simply couldn't rank them. So, I decided that I would just talk about the things that were highlights for me and why they were so special. Therefore, I give you The Barbie Awards for the Best Moments in Greensboro.

Newcomer Award: Courtney Hicks
Courtney Hicks won the Jr Ladies event by a huge margin and with the highest score ever posted by a US Jr lady. If the pressure doesn't get to her, she will do a phenomenal job at the Jr Worlds this season on a spectacular team also composed of Agnes Zawadzki & Christina Gao. What was spectacular about Courtney wasn't her win though, it was her ability and her talent. She truly reminds me of Sasha Cohen, not just because they share a coach, a dress, and a music selection, but because of her lines and technique. If she can find the consistency that Sasha lacked, she'll go very far. Check out her tw-hicks spin if you get the chance, I can't even describe it, but she is basically a spinning pretzel.

Debut Award: Mary Beth Marley
We've been hearing all season about the new partnership of Marley & Brubaker but we didn't get a chance to see them and boy was I surprised, pleasantly so. They haven't completely gelled as a pair yet-their jumps and spins aren't in perfect unison-but the progress they've made in 5 months is outstanding. Mary Beth showed so much determination in landing those throws and holding her positions in the lifts, especially after a fall in the free skate on some basic crossovers. She definitely has a fighting spirit and a willingness to learn which was great to see. They have so much promise if they can just stay together and stay healthy. The 2011 Grand Prix season will give them the chance to compete against the World's best and see how they stack up.

Emotionally Stirring Performance Award: Yankowskas & Coughlin
It's no surprise that I found John and Caitilin's free skate to Ave Maria to be the emotional performance of Nationals this year. Yes skating is a sport, but it is also about performing, and the performances are always more captivating when they portray real human emotion. Marina Zoueva's choreography perfectly conveyed what John was feeling after his mother's death and they translated it in such a way that it served as catharsis for John and also allowed he and Caitlin to connect with the audience in a very personal way. Aside from the mesmerizing performance, the program was very sound technically, aside from an awkward landing on a throw, and the judges awarded them, rightfully so, the gold medal. If they can deliver the two programs they performed at Nationals at Worlds, they'll do very well.

Watch out World Award: Maia & Alex Shibutani
I have been following this delightful brother and sister Ice Dance duo all season and they improve every time they step onto the ice. They have great natural ability and are very well matched, but I can also tell that they are very hard workers. They are both still teenagers and they have a very bright future as a team. They have the best coaches in the world, Marina Zoueva & Igor Shpilband, and at the rate they are going, they'll soon pass Davis & White.They may not have won a Junior World title, but if they can avoid injury and keep up their work ethic, they are sure to stand atop the senior World podium a few short years from now. Oh and did I mention that their short dance to The Carousel Waltz is the most heart-warming program of the season?

Selling the Performance Award: Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein

Madison & Greg's free dance to Cabaret has been the program I've talked about all season, and being a musical theatre gal, this is no surprise. This team has never really done much for me until I caught them at Skate Canada and was blown away. They have toed the line between over the top and too conservative all season but I felt they really hit their stride in Greensboro. They gave all they had to the performance without getting out of control. I felt like I was watching a young Liza Minnelli & Joel Grey. Excuse my theatrical terminology, but Madison knows how to "chew the scenery" just like Ms. Minnelli. With the rise of the Shibutani siblings, It may be a pipe dream, but I would still love to see Madison & Greg win a world championship someday because I appreciate their commitment to performance. 

Kick It And Stick It Award: Rachael Flatt

I am a Rachael fan and have really felt for her as she experienced the ups and downs of the season. She put us some great performances on the Grand Prix to win two silvers, but never had enough in the tank to win gold. An injury led to a disappointing Grand Prix Final and the scores her programs received this season seemed they would keep her off of the World Team. But then Lori Nichol stepped in, as she often does, with a brilliant piece of choreography that, in my opinion, saved Rachael's season. Before Rachael took the ice for her new East of Eden short program in Greensboro, I tweeted that I was going to lend Rachael my signature catchphrase "Kick It & Stick It." But what she did on the ice surprised us all. She actually did the "stick it" part first as she landed 4 clean jumps, in true Rachael fashion. But what nobody expected was when the "kick it" part came in as she lit up the arena with an explosive step sequence that showed passion that we have never seen from her, ever. Unfortunately she didn't completely kick it or stick it in the free skate, but she did enough to go onto Four Continents and Worlds, where I will again lend her my signature phrase. 

Comeback Kid Award: Alissa Czisny

Alissa is on the short list of most talked about skaters in the world this year, and who expected that? Well according to Alissa, her success has come from having coaches that truly believe in her, so Yuka Sato & Jason Dungjen have had faith all along that this would be her season. What I love about Alissa is that she demonstrates that grace, artistry, and belief in yourself can often get you further than triple-triple combinations. She has also shown the world that great figure skating careers don't have to end at age 17. After a tumultuous history at Nationals it was great to see her win a second title, this time with two clean performances and no controversy surrounding the win. Her performances in Greensboro were like a breath of fresh air and this was the first time I could really enjoy watching her skate without fearing that she would fall. After a very solid season and two major titles, Grand Prix Final & US Nationals, dare I say she has broken shaken the label of "the pretty skater who can't land her jumps?" Well I was one of those naysayers and she has certainly changed my mind this season, so with a strong showing at Four Continents, she may just establish herself about one to beat at Worlds.

Showmanship Award: Ryan Bradley

Ryan Bradley has always been known as a showman, and unfortunately, as the skater who finishes just off of the podium. He planned to retire after the heartbreak of missing the 2010 Vancouver team but due to popular demand, he returned to Nationals. With a new mindset, please the audience and enjoy himself, Ryan was freer than I've ever seen him and he delivered a short program that was sheer entertainment for the audience, but also a points magnet that landed him in first place. I cannot recall any other program in recent memory, aside from Davis & White's Baliwood, that was this entertaining while still gathering a huge sum of points from the judges.

Fighting Spirit Award: Adam Rippon

Adam's shaky performance in the short program, complete with a fall on the Rippon lutz, was the heartbreak of Nationals for me. I wanted so badly for him to win this one and I'm still in shock that he will not be competing at Worlds after a 5th place finish last season. After the disappointment of the short, I wanted so badly for him to come back with a strong free, and aside from a shaky first jump, he did just that. When Adam is "on" his skating is a thing of such beauty and last night he was "on". I think he knew that even a perfect free skate wouldn't put him on the podium, but the joy on his face after he finished a near perfect program was simply infectious. A lesser person would have given up after being favored to win and landing in 9th place after the short. Adam proved in the free that he has what it takes to be a winner if he can work on his focus and his mental toughness.

2011 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Men's Free Skate

I'm back again for my last live-blog of Nationals, the Men's Free skate. We are on icenetwork.com right now but will go live on NBC at 4pm for the final two groups. Best of luck to all the men, I hope we see some fantastic programs!
**Denotes my USFSA Fantasky Skating Team

1) Scott Dyer

   Music: On the Waterfront

• This is the same freeskate music as Brandon Mroz
• Nice double axel, should get a positive GOE
• He has nice stretch in his camel
• Nice triple lutz-got tripped up on the triple toe
• Popped open that triple flip
• Nice triple loop, good quick rotation
• Solid triple lutz
• HE is definitely putting effort into the interpretation
• Good triple loop comination
• I love the wally jump, he uses that as an entrance to a nice triple salchow combination
• He does an interesting sideways sit spin position at the end
• Nice energy and good stamina throughout
• FS Score: 61.65 (TES) + 59.72 (PCS) = 121.37
• 55.78 (SP) + 121.37 (FS) = 177.15

2) Lloyd Ting

   Music: Madness and Asian Dream Song

• Good triple lutz-double toe
• Falls on double axel
• He looks very focused, but like he may be holding back a little
• He gets nice height on his jumps, but the rotation isn't very quick
• He just doesn't really have his legs under him, fighting for all of the jumps and traveling on his spins
• This is gorgeous music, I just wish he'd do more in the way of interpreting it
• FS Score: 51.78 (TES) + 45.64 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 96.42
• 44.50 (SP) + 96.42 (FS) = 140.92

3) Sean Rabbitt

   Music: Long De Chuan Ren

• Can't wait to see a fantastic performance from Sean
• Struggling a bit jump-wise, let's hope he gets his feet under him
• Sean is a dance competition kid, I can totally see that
• What I love about him is his energy and I feel like he is really losing that here
• Nice spread eagle entrance into his double axel
• FS Score: 51.93 (TES) + 52.36 (PCS) = 104.29
• 51.42 (SP) + 104.29 (FS) = 155.71

4) Parker Pennington

   Music: Freedom

• Its great to see skaters choreographing their own programs
• I like this costume, very simple but shows off the body lines
• Huge triple axel, but trouble on the landing
• Nice double axel, triple toe
• Nice triple loop
• He has a lovely camel position, nice twist variation
• Such fantastic emotional connection to the music, this is a skater I could watch for a long time
• Wonky triple flip but holds onto the landing
• I think the jumps hold him back performance-wise, he would be a great show skater
• Great spread eagle into triple salchow, nice entrance to that jump
• I like the wally into the triple lutz double toe double toe with the Tano arms
• This is a gorgeous musical selection
• He is looking tired physically, but he hasn't lost his commitment to the performance
• FS Score: 51.99 (TES) + 58.20 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 109.19
• 55.49 (SP) + 109.19 (FS) = 164.68

5) Andrew Gonzales

   Music: 1492: Conquest

• I love when male skaters choose very masculine pieces of music, that is something the Europeans like Joubert & Van Der Perren are very good at
• Oh wow I thought he had that triple flip, but couldn't hang on
• Definitely picked up as he went along
• I'd love more performance skills from him
• FS Score: 52.05 (TES) + 57.06 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 108.11
• 54.41 (SP) + 108.11 (FS) = 162.52

6) Wesley Campbell

   Music: Man on Wire

• He has given stellar Nationals performances before so let's try to have one of those again
• I love that the opening relates directly to the theme of the program
• What a tall elegant skater
• I love that low position entrance to a triple lutz-double loop
• Feet twisted up in the triple axel leads to a fall
• He has a great camel spin into a donut
• Wonderful grace in his arms and upper body
• Nice tight turns on his footwork sequences
• Seems to lack the confidence he needs to land solid triple jumps
• The costume isn't doing much for me--it looks too "underwatery"
• I love the coach's scarf
• FS Score: 57.84 (TES) + 60.40 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 117.34
• 59.35 (SP) + 117.34 (FS) = 176.69

7) Christopher Caluza

   Music: Warsaw Concerto

• He takes a long time to get into character before taking the ice
• He is shorter than most, explosive jumps
• Fall on a triple lutz
• Nice triple toe to recover
• Whoa he did a Rippon-style loop on his three jump combination
• He has most of his combinations in the back half to get points
• He has some interesting elements for a man, including change of edge spiral and an Ina Bauer
• Tough slip going into a spin, not sure if they'll take away credit for that
• Nice side aerial to end!
• FS Score: 50.58 (TES) + 49.86 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 98.44
• 59.28 (SP) + 98.44 (FS) = 157.72

8) Alexander Johnson

   Music: Le Grand Tango/Oblivion

• One of his listed musical selections is the same as Yankowskas/Coughlin in their short
• Strong triple axel-double toe combo
• Pops the second jump
• Nice strong sit spin positions
• Nice spiral into a triple lutz
• He definitely has some strong performance skills, good commitment to the music
• He is really very enjoyable
• He is an easy skater to watch, and by that i mean nothing looks too forced or contrived
• Good fight on the landings for that 3-jump series
• Seems to be doubling a lot of jumps
• He did a second 3-jump combination, so he will not get credit for the second combination, same mistake that Nobunari Oda always makes
• FS Score: 48.70 (TES) + 59.50 (PCS) = 108.20
• 57.30 (SP) + 108.20 (FS) = 165.50

9) Joshua Farris

   Music: Porgy & Bess

• Gershwin's music is so good for skating
• Fall on the triple axel attempt
• He is getting very close to the boards on these jumps
• He is showing a lot of style in the choreography
• Second triple axel, falls and actually skids into the boards
• He has nice presence, I hope he doesn't lose that after the disappointed of the falls
• Hands down on the double axel
• Fall on a triple lutz
• This is a program he'll want to forget
• Wow he is just trying to get through this at this point           
• FS Score: 43.24 (TES) + 50.58 (PCS) -1.00 (DED)= 90.82
• 60.91 (SP) + 90.82 (FS) = 151.73

10) Jonathan Cassar **

     Music: Schindler's List

• He is on my fantasy team so I'm hoping for a nice big score
• I like the choice to open for a step sequence
• Such amazing emotion and musicality from this dance major
• Good solid triple lutz-double toe
• He doesn't have the technical arsenal of other men here, but good clean jumps with positive GOEs could put him ahead at this point
• So far just jumps are very crisp and clean
• Such elegance, he really uses his upper body in addition to his legs
• Great deep spin positions with nice twist variations
• Hand down on the second triple lutz but he hung on
• That inside edge spread eagle is to die for, rides such a nice long curve
• He is just a beautiful skater to watch, so calm, so elegant
• Eeks out the landing of the triple flip-double toe
• Good triple loop combination
• Very nice solid posture
• This is going to be a solid showing from him
• He can now focus with Frank on building his technical arsenal to add triple-triple combinations and triple axels
• His choreographic step sequence is gorgeous
• Lovely double axel to end his jumping passes
• Gorgeous spinning positions
• Lovely lovely performance, some people on their feet
• FS Score: 63.28 (TES) + 68.50 (PCS) = 131.78
• 55.98 (SP) + 131.78 (FS) = 187.76

11) Grant Hochstein

     Music: 

• 
  
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 117.61
• 65.76 (SP) + 117.61 (FS) = 183.37

12) Jason Brown

     Music:

• 
  
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 144.44
• 64.32 (SP) + 144.44 (FS) = 208.76

13) Jason Wong

     Music:

• 
  
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 110.43
• 62.20 (SP) + 110.43 (FS) = 172.63

14) Adam Rippon **

     Music: 

• Come on Adam, get it!!
• He has such fantastic edge work and stroking
• Step out of a triple axel, so titled in the air
• He needs perfection from here on out
• Gorgeous Rippon lutz, now if all of his jumps were like that
• Nice big second triple lutz
• He neesd to light it up to make up the point gap
• Gorgeous triple-triple
• Fantastic spread eagle position
• His artistry is unmatched in the US
• He does really interesting entrances into his jumps which help him rack up more points
• He really rising to the occasion
• The spins are great
• The musicality, and his presence on the ice are phenomenal
• He is killing the footwork sequence and he has the crowd with him
• I like his long edges out of the jumps
• He is so happy about that!
• FS Score: 76.36 (TES) + 77.42 (PCS) = 153.78
• 66.26 (SP) + 153.78 (FS) = 220.04

15) Richard Dornbush

     Music: Sherlock Holmes

• Huge triple flip to begin
• Triple axel-triple toe, very tough technically
• This music suits his performance style well
• His footwork seems slow and doesn't have a lot of content
• A lot of personality
• Huge triple axel, he should get positive GOEs on a lot of these jumps
• He seems to be getting tired in the last part of the program
• His footwork sequences are a little rough for me, he looks like he is flailing
• FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) = 157.85
• 67.71 (SP) + (FS) = 225.56

16) Armin Mahbanonozadeh **

     Music: Avatar

• Armin lands a solid triple axel
• He has just really impressed me so much this season, so much improvement
• He was definitely a fighter on that second triple axel
• I've been forgetting to type because this is just such an engrossing performance to watch
• He really uses his entire body in these step sequences, he reminds me of Evan Lysacek in that respect
• Its so nice to see a nice scratch spin 
• Wow, what an awesome performance
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 148.28
• 66.77 (SP) + (FS) = 215.05

17) Keegan Messing

     Music: The Hulk

• He blew me away in the short, let's hope he can keep it up in the long
• "Keegan turns figure skating into an extreme sport" -Sandra Bezic
• He is very athletic and energetic
• Wow that triple axel was huge!
• Quad toe, lands it but with a hand down
• He is killing nit so far
• Has a lot of speed on his spins too
• Second triple axel in combination this time
• This section of the music is so perfect for footwork
• I can't tell if he is tripping and stumbling on his footwork of if that's the choreography
• He needs work on choreography and grace, but he has so much attack which is a great building block
• He is just killing these jumps
• He ends with a jump on the last moment, gets so much bonus credit for the jumps later in the program
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) =143.50
• 69.79 (SP) + 143.50 (FS) = 213.29

18) Douglas Razzano

     Music:  

• Gigantic triple axel
• Little turn out, but fabulous quad toe so far
• Odd fall on that second triple axel
• Nice triple-triple combination
• He seems to be running out of speed here toward the end
• He gets a nice low position in his sit spin
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 137.15
• 69.61 (SP) + 137.15 (FS) = 206.76

19) Ross Miner

     Music: Casablanca

• He has grown a lot on the senior Grand Prix this season
• He opens with his step sequence, possibly to get the feel of the ice under him
• Triple axel combination was huge
• Triple lutz-triple toe was wonderful
• He is ready to go out there, uses this music perfectly 
• The jumps fit so well where they are placed in the music
• He has a nice traditional quality about him, like a Todd Eldredge
• Solid triple loop
• He looks like he is really enjoying himself out there
• He is making it look so easy
• Great entrance into that triple salchow combination
• This musical selection really suits his performances style well
• Wow, great for him
• FS Score: 81.80 (TES) + 74.56 (PCS) = 156.36
• 67.99 (SP) + 156.36 (FS) = 224.35

20) Jeremy Abbott  

      Music: Life Is Beautiful

• Solid triple lutz to open
• Jeremy seems to be in the zone here
• He seems very invested in the performance
• Triple axel-opens up toe loop to a double
• This musical selection just suits him so well as a performer and as an athlete
• He is really going after this footwork, he doesn't seem to be holding back really
• Hand down on the triple axel, that could have opened the door there
• Oh wow he just took a fall there, that hand down took away his concentration
• He seems to be losing control of the program at this point
• And he was doing so well at the beginning
• I respect that he didn't abandon the performance
• Not the way he wanted that to go
• FS Score: 66.91 (TES) + 79.86 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 145.77 
• 78.39 (SP) + 145.77 (FS) = 224.16

21) Brandon Mroz

   Music: On the Waterfront

• I am never a big fan of Brandon's programs
• Will he Rise to the occasion or feel the same pressure as Abbott?
• Brandon lands very low and steps out of the quad toe
• Sandra Bezic was right, this jazzy music suits him very well
• Triple axel-double toe, same exact thing that Jeremy Abbott did
• He looks timid, like he is afraid that he will make mistakes
• He seems to really be running out of speed in certain sections, his spins look really slow
• He seems to be really running out of stem, has looked tired throughout the whole program
• Amazing triple axel after that break 
• He is landing his jumps, but few of them are very pretty, wont get a lot of positive GOEs
• Did he fall out of that camel, or was that mean to be a change foot camel
• He looks very wild in this foot, and not a Rachael Flatt passionate kind of wild
• FS Score: 73.66 (TES) + 68.2 (PCS) = 141.88
• 71.61 (SP) + 141.88 (FS) = 213.49

22) Ryan Bradley

     Music:

• His entrance to his starting position is just of the performance
• Steps out of both quads
• Huge freaking triple axel
• Triple axel-triple toe loop
• Wow he has the crowd with him in  big way here
• If the crowd had any say at all he'd win by a mile
• Needs to get teh speed back up
• Pulls out his final triple flip
• Now he can really light it up in that last part of this program
• FS Score: (TES) +  (PCS) = 151.51
• 80.39 (SP) + 151.51 (FS) = 231.90