2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Ladies Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Shoko Ishikawa (JPN)
     Music: La Rosa

• Very dramatic opening, not what I was expecting
• I do not like this costume, it's like a cross between Gypsy and Latino
• She really needs to bend the knees, she appears to be skating on top of the ice rather than down into it
• Clean jumps
• She doesn't have a lot of speed going through this step sequence
• Good solid skate, she'll be happy with that!

SP Score: 23.64 (TES) + 21.43 (PCS) = 45.07

2) Agnes Zawadzki (USA)
     Music: Harlem Nocturne, Whatever Lola Wants

• I'm trying to decide if I like her as a brunette or not
• She is looking really tentative on all these jumps
• She looks really nervous, like she can't give it 100% for some reason
• That was an okay skate, but certainly not her best
• She looks happy enough with that showing

SP Score: 29.39 (TES) + 24.45 (PCS) = 53.84

3) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
     Music: Forrest Gump 

• Very solid opening combination
• This is a beautiful musical selection but I feel like she is skating over it rather than listening to it and letting it move her
• She's getting more into the program in the step sequence, but I'd love to see more passion from her
• No real spark, but a good clean skate nonetheless

SP Score: 29.90 (TES) + 22.15 (PCS) = 52.05

4) Ashley Wagner (USA)
     Music: Pollock

• This is very interesting music, I loved this program at Skate Canada
• 3-2 with the 2T in the Rippon variation, very solid combination
• She is skating with nice speed and great confidence out there, I love it!
• She has great flow out of that double axel, loses no speed on the exit
• All 3 jumping passes as clean as can be
• I love this new sense of purpose she has to her skating now that she's switched coaches
• She is skating like a champion
• I really enjoy this choreography, every movement is deliberate and has a specific purpose
• She's very happy with that, I'm thrilled for her!

SP Score: 29.45 (TES) + 26.43 (PCS) = 55.88

5) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
     Music: Tango Jalousie

• She always comes out swinging, but it's just a matter of keeping  up that intensity
• 3lz-2toe combination I believe that was
• Thus far this is a totally different Elene than we saw at Skate America, but the free is the real test of course
• I never wanted to hear this music again after it was everywhere last season, but she really portrays the character of the piece
• Spins are traveling a bit today, it looks to be a strain to hold onto the positions
• Good job sticking the jumps!

SP Score: 29.80 (TES) + 27.57 (PCS) = 57.37

6) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN)
     Music: Spanish Guitar

• This shall be interesting....
• She always comes out aggressive
• Shaky landing on that double axel, tentative in the air
• Fall on the triple lutz, very tilted in the air, missed the combination
• I don't know where her head is sometimes
• Triple loop, why didn't she tack on a combination to that?
• She looks really cautious out there, I'd rather see her fall 3 times and skate lights out than play it safe
• She is finally looking like herself here in the step sequence, plus she has the crowd behind her
• She finished a hair after the music, not sure if that will cost her or not

SP Score: 21.00 (TES) + 25.42 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 45.42

7) Mao Asada (JPN)
     Music: Shererazade

• Good speed from Mao right off the top
• Singles the axel, not a good way to start off
• Nice 3-2 to get back in it
• If she does all her other elements to their full potential, she can make up enough points in GOE and PCS to recover from singling the axel
• I really like the program, it is a very different look for her
• Really nice speed on the catch foot spin, great position
• I like this take on the music, and she looks like she's enjoying herself which is best of all
• Really not a moment is wasted in this program
• Exquisite Bielman
• Well the single axel was a problem, but this still looks like a totally different Mao from last season

SP Score: 28.33 (TES) + 30.09 (PCS) = 58.42

8) Kiira Korpi (FIN)
     Music: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

• 2T-3T combination that looked like to me, I doubt she rotated the triple with hardly any speed going in
• I'm not sure if I like this yellow dress better or the blue from last season
• Triple loop
• Now she singles her axel, is it something in the air?
• She is such a pretty skater, so easy to watch
• That was not her usual best, something seemed off, she didn't seem totally comfortable out there

SP Score: 24.31 (TES) + 29.39 (PCS) = 53.70

9) Alena Leonova (RUS)
     Music: Pirates of the Caribbean

• Opens with a 3-3, very quick rotation
• Hits all her jumping passes in what seems like the first 30 seconds
• Nothing against her personally, but I hate everything about this program; it just doesn't seem like World-class skate to me
• This is a much stronger program than she did at Skate Canada overall
• She looks to run out of steam toward the end, a lot of traveling on that last spin

SP Score: 31.79 (TES) + 29.97 (PCS) = 61.76

10) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
      Music: Hungarian Rhapsody

• Good solid combination, she's looking strong today
• Good double axel, she is really flying around the ice today
• This is one of the best programs I've seen from Akiko in a while
• She really has the crowd behind her as well
• OMG Akiki's coach was so excited!!

SP Score: 35.09 (TES) + 31.46 (PCS) = 66.55

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Akiko SUZUKI	JPN	66.55	35.09		31.46	8.00	7.54	7.96	7.86	7.96	0.00	#10
2	Alena LEONOVA	RUS	61.76	31.79		29.97	7.43	7.04	7.82	7.50	7.68	0.00	#9
3	Mao ASADA	JPN	58.42	28.33		30.09	7.68	7.25	7.54	7.54	7.61	0.00	#7
4	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO	57.37	29.80		27.57	6.89	6.54	7.07	6.93	7.04	0.00	#5
5	Ashley WAGNER	USA	55.88	29.45		26.43	6.61	6.39	6.79	6.61	6.64	0.00	#4
6	Agnes ZAWADZKI	USA	53.84	29.39		24.45	6.29	5.89	6.00	6.21	6.18	0.00	#2
7	Kiira KORPI	FIN	53.70	24.31		29.39	7.46	7.14	7.25	7.39	7.50	0.00	#8
8	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	52.05	29.90		22.15	5.86	5.25	5.54	5.54	5.50	0.00	#3
9	Cynthia PHANEUF	CAN	45.42	21.00		25.42	6.39	6.21	6.18	6.46	6.54	1.00	#6
10	Shoko ISHIKAWA	JPN	45.07	23.64		21.43	5.54	5.25	5.32	5.50	5.18	0.00	#1