Skate Canada: Ice Dance Practice LIVE BLOG

4:53 Scott tries to put his tie on Marina and she rolls her eyes like a Mom
4:52 Cappellini & Lannote seem to have a brand new confidence
4:50 Marina is at the board for Tessa & Scott
4:48 What I saw of the Italians looked very nice!
4:47 Cappellini & Lannote are skating through their short
4:43 Weaver & Poje are on the ice for their Short Dance, but the feed cut out; her costume is trashy
4:41 That final lift from Tessa and Scott is a thing of beauty! They look like 1940s Hollywood stars
4:39 Tessa & Scott have my favorite free dance of the season, I live it even better than Meryl & Charlie
4:39 All teams are in costume on this session, perhaps it's because teams must get used to the costumes for lifts and that's not such and issue in other disciplines
4:38 Scott has a theatre face, he definitely pulls focus
4:37 Huge response from the crowd for the Olympic champs; this Funny Face program is signature Tessa & Scott and I'm obsessed
4:36 I'm really enjoying this musical selection from Harvey & Gagnon, she takes a fall on the twizzle, his blade was uncomfortably close to her hand
4:33 Harvey/Gagon out first, doing their short dance
4:32 Fierce skirt on Cappellini
4:31 Tessa & Scott have completely different costumes from Finlandia
4:31 Boy do the Camerlengo teams love animal print; fierce tiger dress on Katilyn Weaver
4:49 3 Canadian teams plus Cappellini & Lannote on this session

Skate Canada: Mens Practice LIVE BLOG

4:10 Huge crash from Patrick, a little slow getting up but seems fine
4:08 Chan's edge and blade work is superior to everybody else
4:03 Run-thrus are over, now we'll have the obligatory jump off
4:03 I haven't seen much in Majorov's program on which to comment, but his footwork is very nice and comes right at the end of the program
4:02 It amazes me that these commentators are so experienced yet they aren't doing much
4:00 Majorov up last, not doing a whole lot in this Bolero skate
3:57 I'm so glad Fernandez switched from Morozov to Orser
3:56 This is a new, more gentle look from Fernandez, he's softened his presentation but kept the height of his jumps
3:54 Marked the Quad toe, good ice coverage, very wide strokes, huge jumps
3:53 Fernandez up next, will her do the Quad?
3:50 Strong 3A from Rogozine, he really attacks his footwork, reminds me a bit of Yagudin
3:50 Rogozine out next, stumble on the 3F-3T but recovers; great speed
3:48 Chan takes a bit of a break mid-program
3:46 Patrick skates well to the intricate music, but it doesn't live through him like it does with Takahashi
3:45 Huge opening jump almost into the TV booth, looking fast and strong
3:44 This is my first look at his free skate, so much choreography right off the top, the crowd is silent
3:44 Chan is up next for his run through
3:43 This will be interesting to see how Elladj hits this program
3:42 I like this selection of Michael Jackson pieces
3:40 These attempted Michael Jackson moves take me back to last season, and not in a good way
3:39 Elladj starts us off w/ a Michael Jackson piece
3:37 Patrick looks serious and focused
3:34 Patrick Chan is on the ice and people are going nuts
3:21 Great Men's session, all of them bow to the crowd; Group 2 getting ready to come out including Chan and the rest of the Canadians
3:20 Adam wipes out on a 4lz attempt and nearly takes out Ross Miner, Miner helps him up
3:17 Adam finally hits a nice 3A at the end of practice
3:15 The end of this practice, after the run-throughs, has become a jump off
3:14 Dais is taking some HARD falls working on Quads
3:13 Nice 3A from Ross right then
3:13 Wow Pasquale, the choreographer, is there with Adam as well
3:10 Adam's jumps look more sound now that he's with Jason
3:09 The jumps he is doing look fantastic, really quick rotation
3:08 Adam is doubling and singling a lot of jumps, but I assume that is to conserve energy
3:06 Rippon is up now, looking loverly; and the commentators again get it wrong, Adam has been on the circuit more than 2 seasons
3:04 His Untouchables free skate is very Kenny G esque
3:02 Rough jumping day for Ross, all the landings look unsteady and uneasy
3:01 Ross Miner out now
2:59 Beautiful set for Denis with a Quad Toe followed by a 3A
2:56 Denis Ten had a great free at Skate America, but he is quite the head case
2:54 I just love that most of the skaters wear all black, or at least muted colors
2:53 Dais hears music in a way unlike others, I just love him
2:53 We also have Miner and Rippon up in this group
2:52 Very bluesy program from Takahashi, he is very blank-faced so I can't tell if he's tired or just very serious
2:50 KVDP is doing back to back events so he stayed in the states in the mean time
2:46 KVDP looks like he's wearing a bullet-proof vest, walking thru the beginning of his Free

Skate Canada: Pairs Practice LIVE BLOG

2:11 This is shaping up to be a fantastic Pairs competition
2:09 The last lift for V/T is pretty fantastic; the callers are impressed and call them a Grade A team
2:04 V/T are up for their free skate run through; I love their speed and power
2:04 I/M have a fantastic final lift in their free skate
2:03 These commentators no longer have any credibility with me, they just asked if Iliushechkina/Maisuradze were at Skate Canada last year; duh, they won!
2:01 From what I've seen, Michael Bennett would be proud of this choreography
2:00 Iliushechkina/Maisuradze on-ice now, this will automatically be my favorite program of the season because it's A Chorus Line
1:58 Throw a triple salchow late in the program; both throws back to back right after the halfway point to get the 10% bonus, following with the Chinese formula
1:57 Now Yu/Jin aren't doing much at all, just some stroking; and then they throw a triple loop
1:56 Yu/Jin did opening elements, but now they're basically doing  a dance-thru
1:55 The commentators think that the non-Bin Yao teams look "North American-ized"
1:54 Yu/Jin also worked with Zoueva for their free skate
1:52 The commentators are saying that because Sui/Han didn't come from the Bin Yao camp, they are much more expressive; I agree, but Shen & Zhao became more expressive later in their careers
1:51 Interesting that Sui & Han hired Marina Zoueva to choreograph this program; I should have know, it's so nuanced, and Sui really uses her head
1:50 Sui & Han are doing their free skate, their connection is much better this season, nice Quad twist
1:49 Group 2 is done warming up, Sui & Han are the first team to skate
1:42 Still waiting for the 2nd group of pairs to arrive, 2 Russians & 2 Chinese
1:13 Definitely work horses in this session
1:12 Jessica Dube has her boot off and if rubbing the side of her foot, landing foot
1:11 The commentators are saying that we're seeing full run throughs in session 1 because North Americans like to pound it in practice, while the Russians in session 2 likely won't do an intense practice
1:10 Outstanding lift, beautiful choreography, they've really become so much more elegant
1:10 Throw was very close to the wall, she tripped up a bit and crashed
1:09 I hope that since they're only doing Senior and not Junior this season, they'll be a little more consistent
1:08 Takahashi and Tran up next, this is a very tender program to Imagine
1:06 Lawrence & Swiegers are killing it! Outstanding free skate they've just done
1:04 I love their lift entrance and the position changes, Rudi looks like he'd be such a great partner
1:03 Paige Lawrence is so teeny-tiny, even by Pairs standards, she's wearing some kind of tape on her back, hopefully not an injury
1:02 She stumbled out of the throw, but the lift was very strong; I love the athleticism
1:01 Great intricate crossing step sequence
1:00 Only triple salchows in this program; great speed, but Eric looks exhausted
12:59 Duhamel & Radford look good, and they are matching!
12:58 I like Dube & Wolfe, I miss Bryce, but they have a beautiful chemistry and look together
12:57 Really great commentary here on the basics of pairs skating
12:55 Dube/Wolfe have good speed in stroking but some slow entries into their elements; jump timing is off
12:54 Dube/Wolfe are this first team to do a run through
12:52 Takahashi & Tran are also in this group, Mervin is precious!
12:52 We seem to have all 3 Canadian pairs in this 1st practice session

Skate Canada: Ladies Practice LIVE BLOG

11:48 I may not get to watch the rest of the ladies, but I will be back for Pairs at 12:50 EST, just check back on my main blog site
11:45 Feed is back up, hello Canadians in the crowd!
11:43 The 3 Canadians + Hecken & Suzuki are on the ice now, but we don't have the feed
11:36 We've lost the feed, but I"m pretty sure everyone is done anyway
11:33 Ashley is leaving the ice and Reliable Rachael is still working
11:32 Mirai just hit 3 fantastic triple flips in a row
11:31 Wagner, Flatt, Nagasu, Tuktamisheva and Leonova in this session, Phaneuf, DeSanctis, Lacose, Hecken, and Suzuki in session 2
11:30 They commentators just said, "the Russians are off the ice and the Americans are working hard and pounding it"
11:30 Rachael's spins are looking  a little better today, faster and cleaner position changes
11:28 Mirai just ran several jumps again and nailed them, she looks really determined after Frank have her a talking to following the run through
11:28 We have the rest of the ladies coming up in a few minutes
11:24 Very good short from Ashley, and she looks to be in such great shape
11:23 Ashley Wagner looks fantastic, nice spins, and very clean jumps, Mr. Nicks seems to have worked his magic
11:21 I like these commentators, they'retelling us exactly what each skater is doing and what level it would receive
11:20 Mirai seems to have found her footing, really nice step sequence and a gorgeous change of edge camel spin
11:19 Mirai took a hard fall just there, she's not looking her best right now, but I've always heard that a hard practice makes for a great performance
11:15 We're back, Rach is taking a little break in the middle of the program and now she's back, somebody is  doing commentary and they're talking about GOE, not sure in what respect
11:14 Stream just cut out...be back momentarily
11:13 Hand down on a triple lutz for Rachael, looked rotated
11:12 Rachael is not doing her free skate run-through w/ the first triple
11:10 I'm loving Liza's step sequence, very interesting turns, kicks, and flicks
11:09 Now it's Liza's turn to run through, she is really going after, no marking in the opening section, marks the jump combination
11:07 Alena is looking solid in practice today, at least what she's actually doing
11:05 Alena seems to be doing a run-thru of her short program
11:05 Liza and others have made several outfit changes already
11:04 I'm watching on mute because the sound is horrible
11:02 Rachael & Ashley almost run into one another and have a little giggle moment
11:02 Ashley Wagner gets right into some footwork, as does Rachael Flatt (definitely her short program step sequence)
11:01 Mirai is looking very fast, Liza is commanding that ice like an old pro!
11:00 All of the skaters look to be in better shape than when we last saw them
10:59 There are a few crowded sections in the arena, but it's mostly empty
10:58 It looks like a few ladies are missing, I can't tell exactly who is there but I see all three Americans and Liza

2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Viewing Schedules

**All times listed below are Eastern Standard Time Zone**

Rostelecom Cup

Moscow, Russia

Friday November 25th
7:00 a.m. Ladies Short Program
8:35 a.m. Pairs Short Program
10:45 a.m. Men's Short Program
12:20 p.m. Short Dance
Saturday November 26th
7:00 a.m. Ladies Free Skate
8:45 a.m. Pairs Free Skate
10:25 a.m. Men's Free Skate

12:25 p.m. Free Dance               

2011 Grand Prix Final Predictions

I've finally made my predictions for the 2011 Grand Prix Final. Last year I only picked 12/24 qualifiers so I'm hoping to get to about 18/24 this season. Last year I chose blindly and this year I actually attempted to calculate the qualifiers based on who I predicted to medal at each event. I've also tried to calculate who I think will qualify as alternates.

Men:

1) Patrick Chan (30)

2) Michal Brezina (28)

3) Jeremy Abbott (28)

4) Yuzuru Hanyu (28)

5) Takahiko Kozuka (26)

6) Daisuke Takahashi (26)

A1) Adam Rippon (22)

A2) Brandon Mroz (22)

A3) Nobunari Oda (22)

Ladies:

1) Adelina Sotnikova (30)

2) Mao Asada (28)

3) Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (28)

4) Alissa Czisny (26)

5) Mirai Nagasu (26)

6) Carolina Kostner (26)

A1) Ashley Wagner (20)

A2) Akiko Suzuki (20)

A3) Agnes Zawadzki (20)

Pairs:

1) Savchenko & Szolkowy (30)

2) Volosozhar & Trankov (30)

3) Kavaguti & Smirnov (28)

4) Sui & Han (26)

5) Zhang & Zhang (24)

6) Iliushechkina & Maisuradze (22)

A1) Bazarova & Larionov (20)

A2) Duhamel & Radford (20)

A3) Moore-Towers & Moscovitch (18)

Ice Dance:

1) Davis & White (30)

2) Virtue & Moir (30)

3) Shibutani & Shibutani (30)

4) Pechalat & Bourzat (26)

5) Weaver & Poje (26)

6) Bobrova & Soloviev (24)

A1) Ilinykh & Katsalapov (22)

A2) Cappellini & Lanotte (20)

A3) Zhiganshina & Gazsi (18)

Skaters to Watch: Skate Canada Edition

Patrick Chan (CAN)-2011 Canadian Nationals Free Skate





Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)-2011 Four Continents Short Program





Mirai Nagasu (USA)-2010 Trophee Eric Bompard Short Program





Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS)-2011 Japan Open Free Skate





Ashley Wagner (USA)-2011 Glacier Falls Classic Short Program





Tatiana Volosozhar & Maxim Trankov (RUS)-2011 Worlds Short Program





Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN)-2011 JGP Austria Free Skate





Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)-2011 Worlds Short Dance









Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)-2011 Worlds Short Dance