Skate America: Mens Preview

Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) is the lovechild of Daisuke Takahashi & Johnny Weir and this is going to be his breakout season. He is really the only person on the scene who has the big technical elements and actual unique artistry. I hope he sweeps every event this year.

Jeremy Abbott (USA) is one of my great loves of figure skating but he makes me too nervous when he competes. I want so badly for him not to be scared anymore and to light it up on the ice. He should do us all a favor and let his inner diva shine because that Patrick Chan-esque attempt at keeping all the emotion inside ain't working for me.

I had such high hopes for Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) after his World medal in 2011. His confidence took a nosedive last season, but maybe now that Hanyu is coming into his own as on one of the favorites, maybe Taka won't feel so much pressure. I love his clean style and I hope he makes a comeback.

Michal Brezina (CZE) is an oddball whom I've never particularly enjoyed. I'm sure he is a lovely young man, but I don't particularly enjoy his skating. He always looks rushed and never finishes his movements. I'd like to see some attempt at style before I give him my "Barbie Seal of Approval."

Douglas Razzano (USA) could be the surprise medalist of the bunch. He is a beautiful lyrical skater who also has a good quad. If he does his best, I sincerely believe he will be on the podium. I believe that he has a beautiful spirit and I am pulling for him to have a breakout season.

Podium Predictions:
Gold: Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
Silver: Jeremy Abbott (USA)
Bronze: Douglas Razzano (USA)

The Rest of the Field:
Tomas Verner (CZE)
Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
Konstantin Menshov (RUS)
Alexander Majorov (SWE)
Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)

Skate America: Ladies Preview

This should be Ashley Wagner's (USA) event to lose. She has the home ice advantage, and all the confidence in the world. Black Swan was such a statement piece for her last year and I'm very much looking forward to this year's programs. She's looking for her first Grand Prix gold medal.

Though Alena Leonova (RUS) medaled at the 2012 Worlds, I feel like she's a one-year-wonder. Her clunky, masculine approach cannot sit well with international judges much longer. She is usually quite clean, but a number of other ladies could pass her if they skate cleanly.

Adelina Sotnikova (RUS) was a highly publicized "Russian Baby" just a year ago. Though she didn't make the debut we had all hoped, she still did quite well on the 2011 Grand Prix, but she looked scared and timid. I pray that she unleashes her inner diva and swipes the silver.

Viktoria Helgesson (SWE) was the surprise bronze medalist at this event last year and even though she only medaled because other ladies failed spectacularly, she still has a legitimate shot this year if some of the "fragile competitors" meltdown. She has a very mature look on the ice that we do not see from the babies.

Rachael Flatt (USA) was once the darling of US Figure Skating. Last year we wondered if she could balance school and skating and the answer was clearly no. Has she gotten her insane schedule under control and stayed in good enough shape to return to a high level of competition? I've always had a soft spot for her so I hope so!

Will Christina Gao (USA) ever get it together and live up to her potential? She was once a lovely junior lady that we thought would be the future of US figure skating. Alas, her fragile competitive psyche would not allow that to happen and now that she is a Harvard student, will she become Rachael Flatt 2.0? She had a rough 2011 Grand Prix, so at least she has nowhere to go but up!


Podium Predictions
Gold: Ashley Wagner (USA)
Silver: Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)
Bronze: Alena Leonova (RUS)


The Rest of the Field:
Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
Sarah Hecken (GER)
Valentina Marchei (ITA)
Haruka Imai (JPN)

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Ladies Free Skate [LIVE BLOG]

1) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
     Music: Phantom of the Opera

• I really like that costume, something about it is very Victorian, yet very modern
• Solid triple lutz-double toe to start off, great speed in and out
• Pops the triple flip into a single
• Really fast rotation on the double axel-double toe-double toe
• Popped planned triple toe to a double-double toe
• She is a very mental skater, looks to come out guns ablaze and focused, but melts down much too often
• She really fought on that second 3lutz
• Nice catch foot spiral, covering a lot of ice
• Triple toe, two-footed
• I really like this program and it has a lot of potential is she can get more consistency on the jumps
• I really like the footwork sequence
• Nice flying camel, good position changes
• She won't be happy with that program, no falls, but so many points given back

FS Score: 48.15 (TES) + 49.46 (PCS) = 97.61
Total Score: 42.51 (SP) + 97.61 (FS) =140.12

2) Valentina Marchei (ITA)
     Music: Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy

• This is shaping up to be a fun program!
• Two-footed triple lutz, looked under-rotated
• Good triple flip
• The dress would be much better without those gloves
• This pace is so fast, I wonder if she'll be able to keep the energy up
• Bent legs on the spins
• I hate when music changes mid-spin, but that's just me
• Fall on a triple salchow
• She is getting very wild, losing some of her control on the program
• I like her sit spin variations

FS Score: 44.21 (TES) + 48.11 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 91.98
Total Score: 43.19 (SP) + 91.98 (FS) = 135.17

3) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: Romeo and Juliet

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FS Score: 43.57 (TES) + 45.38 (PCS)  = 88.95
Total Score: 45.03 (SP) + 88.95 (FS) = 133.98

4) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
     Music: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, I Wanna Be Loved By You

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FS Score: 45.20 (TES) + 52.52 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 96.72
Total Score: 45.94 (SP) + 96.72 (FS) = 142.67

5) Joelle Forte (USA)
     Music: 13th Warrior

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FS Score: 45.43 (TES) + 46.41 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 90.84
Total Score: 48.86 (SP) + 90.84 (FS) = 139.70

6) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: Sunset Boulevard

• Oh lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, I hope Patti LuPone isn't watching this event
• Love the costume, very reminiscent of Norma Desmond
• Hard fall on the triple lutz, legs very wrapped up
• She is coming out fighting, looks very edgy and unrelaxed
• This is a lovely program if she can hit the rest of it
• Hand down on a triple salchow
• Foot needs to point harder on the fly into the sit spin

FS Score: 44.41 (TES) + 51.21 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 94.62
Total Score: 51.13 (SP) + 94.62 (FS) = 145.74

7) Haruka Imai (JPN)
     Music: My Fair Lady

• This is an interesting choice of dress for My Fair Lady
• She is graceful and elegant, but doesn't have the powerful jumps of the top Japanese ladies
• This is such an odd arrangement
• Fall on a triple toe, not sure if it was rotated or not
• Stumble out of a triple loop
• Stumble out of a triple salchow, her timing is very off today
• None of her jumps have good flow out of them
• I wonder why her choreographer put all her spins right in a row here

FS Score: 39.08 (TES) + 50.19 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 88.27
Total Score: 43.67 (SP) + 88.27 (FS) = 143.94

8) Caroline Zhang (USA)
     Music: Allegro, Cello Concerto in B Minor by Dvorak

• Struggle on the lutz, let's hope she doesn't unravel after this
• She looks like all the confidence is gone from her face
• Triple loop-double toe
• She is losing speed, she really needs to pick it up
• She could use more stretch in her spiral
• Very hard fall on the triple flip, she took a very long time to get up
• Another fall, she struggled to get up again, she seems as if she could be injured
• She's really having a hard time staying in the program
• All the energy has been zapped out of her
• Good double axel to end it on a good note, and of course her signature Pearl spin

FS Score: 38.81 (TES) + 49.84 (PCS) - 3.00 (DED) = 85.65
Total Score: 55.05 (SP) + 85.65 (FS) = 140.71

9) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
     Music: Concerto No. 27 by Mozart

• So far so good for Caro
• Very solid double axel
• I like this costume on her so much better than the short
• She is not nearly as fast as she usually is
• Her jumps are rotating very quickly
• I like this program much better than the short as well, her upper body is much more fluid
• Triple sal-double toe-single loop
• Good first free skate for the first event of the season, she'll certainly improve from here
• This program is classic figure skating

FS Score: 55.45 (TES) + 61.67 (PCS) = 117.12
Total Score: 60.23 (SP) + 117.12 (FS) = 177.35


10) Alissa Czisny (USA)
      Music: Valse Triste

• Loving this costume and the stark contrast to her short program dress
• Now that is how you wear illusion fabric, matched to your skin
• Will we see the triple triple?
• Her hairstyle from last season looks lovely with this dress
• I love the intricacies of the choreography off the top and the expression
• First jump is crucial
• Triple lutz-triple toe, second jump looked two-footed and under-rotated
• Stumble on the triple flip, I don't know if it was a fall or not
• She looks a little unsettled
• This spiral sequence should calm her down hopefully
• Just going for the triple-triple hitting it, even with downgrades is a big step in the right direction
• Great interpretation of the choreography
• Nice second triple lutz, not great flow out
• She's turning out of a lot of these jumps
• Good quick thinking on her feet, adding a 3rd jump to her double axel-double toe combination
• She doesn't look as confident as she did yesterday, but she'll improve throughout the season

FS Score: 51.37 (TES) + 62.92 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 113.28
Total Score: 64.20 (SP) + (FS) = 177.48

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Pairs Free Skate [LIVE BLOG]

I'm loving Mary Beth Marley's costume. I'm really pulling for Marley & Brubaker to have a clean free skate, regardless of placement. She's just come so far! I feel like Aliona always wears her warm-up jacket out in the warm up.

1) Maylin Hausch & Daniel Wende (GER)
     Music: Your Highness by Steve Yablonsky

• 8th after the short was a huge surprise, I had them pegged for top 4, or 5th at the lowest
• His costume is very similar to that of Don Baldwin in the short
• Not enough height on the split twist, not a clean catch
• I love Daniel's long flowing edge out of  the throw
• Maylin puts her hand down in the first jump of the combination
• Both struggle on the side by side triple salchows, she doubled I believe
• I like their athleticism in this program, but they're struggling on elements
• Even the exit from that lift seemed rough
• They just don't look like themselves
• The star lift with him on the inside spread eagle was great!
• She was so tilted on that throw 3flip, steps out and puts a hand down
• This will not be a program they're happy with
• They have some intricate positions in their lifts, nice innovations
• I hate that death spiral, anything other than a traditional death spiral is ugly to me
• Good pair spin positions, but the speed was lacking
• The final pose seemed out of the character of the piece to me

FS Score: 46.25 (TES) + 46.35 (PCS) = 92.60
Total Score: 48.94 (SP) + 92.60 (FS) = 141.54

2) Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin (USA)
     Music: Legends of the Fall, Time To Say Goodbye

• I think Tiffany Vise is a little to old for that hair ribbon
• Wrong music played for them, I haven't seen that in a while
• That has to rattle you a little bit once you're in character
• They can't stop laughing, now they'll be announced a 3rd time
• I love this music, I've choreographed pieces to it so it's very close to my heart
• That double twist was very clean, and the catch was clean and high
• I love the spread eagle entrance into the throw triple loop, gorgeous flow out
• Triple-toe double toe from him, single toe for her
• I really enjoy seeing them jump and spin in opposite directions
• I really don't like these "innovative" death spiral positions at all
• This is a very elegant piece, we're used to more athletic pieces from them so it's a nice change
• Side by side triple salchows were lovely
• I think the spiral requirement in pairs is silly, the men never look good doing them  and there are so many other elements
• The counter balance on his skate is very cool
• Hands down on the throw triple
• Good quality spins, dangerously close at certain points
• I think Code of Points has been great for pairs because we get higher quality choreography between the elements
• Very solid performance for them, should easily be in first

FS Score: 53.00 (TES) + 50.87 (PCS) = 103.87
Total Score: 51.55 (SP) + 103.87 (FS) = 155.42

3) Mary-Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (USA)
     Music: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor by Rachmaninov

• I'm pulling for them, hoping for a good clean skate
• Did she stumble a little on the opening pose
• She fell really hard on that side by side triple toe
• Very good speed here, I like to see that
• Huge height on the split triple twist, catch was a little low
• She falls again on the triple salchow, must be nerves because she is a very strong jumper
• Their spins are greatly improved from last season when they debuted
• Two footed throw triple lutz, but that is a harder throw than most will do
• Her lift positions are much stronger than last season
• Interesting spiral sequence
• I like this program and I think they have a lot of growing room
• I wish they had been able to compete at Nebelhorn so this wasn't their first event of the season
• The lifts are very nice
• Rockne is such a strong partner and I'm sure he's being very patient with her
• Fall on the throw triple salchow
• I really like the innovative positions of their pair spin
• Poor girl, she has to be so upset with that program

FS Score: 44.28 (TES) + 47.36 (PCS) - 3.00 (DED) = 88.64
Total Score: 56.16 (SP) + 88.64 (FS) = 144.80

4) Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (GER)
     Music: Pina

• This piece is based on the German postmodern dancer & choreographer Pina Bausch, who I happen to love!
• Gorgeous throw triple flip
• Very strong side-by-side jump sequence
• I really like their spiral sequence, if that's possible
• This is unique music, and their in between choreography fits it perfectly
• I'm loving this music!
• These costumes are quite subdued for them!
• I'm not a fan of even their death spiral, but at least it fits the theme of the program
• This is great choreography, this program is going to be outrageously good by Europeans and Worlds
• They act this very well and he lets her be the star
• These lifts, entrances and exits included are so cool
• Great pair spin programs
• I'm enamored with this program!
• The speed is one thing they can work on but the rest is brilliant

FS Score: 60.41 (TES) + 64.12 (PCS) = 124.53
Total Score: 59.45 (SP) + 124.53 (FS) = 183.98

5) Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN)
     Music: Henry V

• Their costumes look like they were bought from a Tudors salvage sale, which is obviously quite fitting
• I loved them last season but they fizzled, can they keep a high level for a whole season this year?
• Triple toe-triple toe in sequence, slight loss of unison in the second set
• Seriously lacking height on the split triple twist
• Step out and maybe a hand down for Dylan on the triple salchow
• I really like this music, it's a nice look for them
• They are losing some speed after that stumble on the jump, could be running out of gas
• Great height on the throw triple loop
• This middle section seems slow, they are lacking in their choreography and musical interpretation
• This is a very grandiose musical choice, in the same vein as their Les Miserables free last season
• Her free leg seems bent in the spins and his foot seems flexed
• That star lift out of the lunge position at the end of the program has become somewhat of a signature for them
• I like them a lot and hope they stay together in order to grow in their maturity and musical interpretation

FS Score: 61.65 (TES) + 56.18 (PCS) = 117.83
Total Score: 59.60 (SP) + 177.43 (FS) = 177.43

6) Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov (RUS)
     Music: Doctor Zhivago

• Her costume is a little much for me, it's very 1994 Lillehammer-esque
• Can they actually land their elements today?
• She turns out of her side by side triple toe
• Gorgeous split triple twist with a clean catch
• She seems to have little to no confidence in her skating
• Nice throw triple flip, but tentative on her part
• Side by side double axel sequence, loss of unison at the end
• This program needs a lot more speed 
• They are beautiful, but they need more expression
• I hate to say it, and usually I love their grace, but this program is a little boring for me
• Slight unison issue on the spins, and they hit some ugly positions
• That program was just okay for me, it needs a little more oomph

FS Score: 58.72 (TES) + 55.60 (PCS)  = 114.32
Total Score: 59.62 (SP) + 114.32 (FS) = 173.94

7) Caydee Denney & John Coughlin (USA)
     Music: Nessun Dorma

• I can't decide whether I want to like them or not
• Clean side by side triple throws, slight unison issues
• That split triple twist is World class, I'd like to see a quad attempt
• Double axel-double axel sequence, Caydee singles it; not a good way to pass top teams
• Really nice throw triple loop
• This choreography has a lot of arms, but not much else for me
• This arrangement of Nessun Dorma makes me want to throw up
• I hate to admit it, but they do have some decent chemistry out there, I wonder why?
• Throw triple flip was clean, but it lacked the height of their first throw
• They spins are very well synchronized for a new pair
• They've done all their difficult elements minus a lift at this point
• Her positions are improved from when she skated with Jeremy, but could still be more stretched
• This is a strong start for them, regardless of placement
• Nice difficult entrance and positions in that final lift
• They should be thrilled with that
• I'm not sure if that is enough to pass the Canadians or not

FS Score: 59.36 (TES) +56.42  (PCS) - (DED) = 115.78
Total Score: 59.62 (SP) + 115.78 (FS) = 175.40

8) Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN)
     Music: Totentanz

• Nice opening jump sequence
• I hate this piece of music
• Good height on the split twist
• Side by side triple salchows
• This is a nice enough program, but it's not really doing much for me
• It's not nearly as interesting as Savchenko & Szolkowy's free skate, but they may have enough of a buffer from the short program
• They are skating really slowly
• Turn out of the throw triple salchow
• They used to be such an athletic pair but now with her height, they could work toward re-establishing themselves as an elegant pair
• Very clean skate from them, good comeback after a year off
• They look exhausted!

FS Score: 56.96 (TES) + 58.85 (PCS)  = 115.81
Total Score: 62.85 (SP) + (FS) = 178.66

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Ladies Short Program [LIVE BLOG}

Here we go, what is always called the headlining event, the ladies short! Zhang looks happy, let's hope that continues over into the skating.

1) Joelle Forte (USA)
     Music: O from "Cirque do Soleil"

• This is going to be touch and go to see how she does in her debut
• Her arms and hands are very stiff, I'd like to see them loosen up
• Stumble out of the lutz
• Triple salchow-double toe is an interesting combination, many of the top skaters will have flip or lutz in the combo
• She needs to pick up the speed a lot in this foot works sequence
• Would love more stretch in that Ina Bauer
• Very pleasant skater, she seems so happy just to be out there in her Grand Prix debut
• She'll be happy with that relatively clean skate, she's like the Douglas Razzano of the ladies event

SP Score: 26.61 (TES) + 22.25 (PCS) = 48.86

2) Caroline Zhang (USA)
    Music: Rushing Wings of Dawn by Tim Janis

• Gorgeous fluidity in her upper body from the beginnin
• Gorgeous triple flip-triple toe, and no big donkey kick
• Lovely spread eagle
• Nice triple loop, one of her favorite jumps
• She has great flow out of those triples tonight
• Her spiral even looks better too and it's so good to see her smile
• Step out on that double axel
• She's always been a good spinner and she looks solid here
• She just looks so happy in this step sequence, I"m beaming for her from my chair
• And the pearl spin is back
• Just a glorious program for her

SP Score: 29.36 (TES) + 25.69 (PCS) = 55.06

3) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)
    Music: The Man with the Golden Arm

• Family affair again at Skate America with both Helgesson sisters and their mom the coach
• I prefer Joshi to Viktoria, I just like her on-ice personality more
• Was that 3lutz two-footed?
• Popped the toe-loop and missed the combination
• I like the jazzy accents
• She could work on her posture
• I wish she would've added a jump onto the end of the double axel
• She kind of ran out of gas toward the end

SP Score: 22.15 (TES) + 22.88 (PCS) = 45.03

4) Haruka Imai (JPN)
    Music: Song Without Words opus 109 by Felix Mendelssohn

• I love the dress, but the eyeshadow I'm not feeling so much
• Triple lutz-double toe
• Very elegant, I love the fluidity of her arms
• She has nice spin positions, but really needs to straighten out that standing leg
• Great use of the whole body in this step sequence
• Nice to actually see a scratch spin after all the ugly, I mean innovative positions we usually see

SP Score: 28.75 (TES) + 25.92 (PCS) = 54.67

5) Valentina Marchei (ITA)
   Music: Johnny's Mambo, Ronny's Mambo

• Fall on an under-rotated triple lutz is not a good way to start out
• That braid in her hair is driving me nuts, I don't know why
• I like her attempt at hip action, and that she is committed to the performance
• That won't be a score she'll be too happy with

SP Score: 20.30 (TES) + 23.89 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 43.19

So far I'm so proud of Caroline Zhang and loving the beauty and elegance of Haruka Ima. This will be an exciting group. Czisny looks fantastic and Gedevanishvili looks to have her game face on!

6) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: My Funny Valentine

• I love this song, hoping for a good performance
• Triple toe-double toe, not as difficult as the other skaters' combinations
• So I'm not loving this Latina version of this song, Rogers and Hart would not be pleased
• I love headless spins, but that transition to layback was not so great
• Her arms are very stiff, she needs to work on her fluidity
• Very tight rotation in the double axel
• Trouble in the flying sit, the foot touched the ice, that will cost her points
• Nice camel into heel stretch position
• I can't tell how she feels by her facial expession

SP Score: 26.10 (TES) + 25.03 (PCS) = 51.13

7) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
    Music: Tango Jalousie

• Girl has a fire in her eyes like I've never seen from her
• She looks to be in amazing shape
• Doubled the lutz, added on a double toe
• Doubled the salchow as well
• She needs to get a grip before she throws this away
• Death drop into a great sit spin
• Wow, eeked out the landing of that double axel
• She has the right technique and timing on all these jumps, something inside her head is just telling her to bail early
• That layback has great speed
• That fire in her eye is rapidly turning to disappointment
• I like this choreography a lot but it requires 100% attack and commitment
• Very ugly flexed foot on that sit spin
• I love that knee slide at the end!

SP Score: 17.78 (TES) + 24.73 (PCS) = 42.51

8) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
    Music: Selections by Yann Tiersen

• Is it me, or does she look slimmer than last season
• I love her flow across the ice in this opening
• That was a really hard fall on the triple toe, no way to save that
• Triple loop-single toe
• She is not even attempting the harder jumps
• Step out of the double axel
• She looks like she is on very wobbly legs
• What a shame, because she seems to have grown oh so much artistically, but her jumps are just not happening today
• Her spin positions are looking lovely today
• I love that music so much, I'd love to listen to it in yoga class or during meditition

SP Score: 20.84 (TES) + 26.11 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 45.95

9) Alissa Czisny (USA)
    Music: La Vie En Rose

• Come on Alissa, we need a hit program to salvage this event
• That is the most gorgeous figure skating costume I've ever seen
• Loving the Balanchine bun by the way
• Beautiful selection of music
• The posture, the carriage, its all delightful
• Triple lutz, double toe with great flow out of it
• Triple flip, she's hitting all the difficult triples
• Nice double axel
• She looks so confident going into the program, like she knows she is going to land them
• No uncertainty
• I want to watch this program everyday of my life
• Everything about this looks easy
• With this program you see the performance, not the effort behind it
• Those spins look like they are in fast forward
• Btw she has such perfect teeth
• Jason Dungjen looks like a proud dad!

SP Score: 33.03 (TES) + 31.17  (PCS) = 64.20

10) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
      Music: Allegretto from Trio No.2 by Shostakovich

• This costume is heinous, she always goes overboard on the fake skin
• Triple toe-triple toe, the only 3-3 of the night
• Really low landing on the triple loop
• Slow entry into some pretty ugly spin positions
• She has such long limbs and I always wish she'd use them gracefully instead of flailing about 
• This musical choice merely accents how choppy her natural movements are
• That program did nothing for me, but she is clearly happy

SP Score: 30.66 (TES) + 29.57 (PCS) = 60.23

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

Wow, Dan Zhang is super tall now!!

1) Caydee Denney & John Coughlin (USA)
    Music: East of Eden

• I don't like her lipstick, but I like her dress a lot
• it still hurts that she's not Caitlin
• That triple twist was huge with a very clean catch
• Nice clean triple toes, slight unison issues
• They seem to have a very strong personal connection to one another for only being together a few months
• Very slow in the footwok, speed will pick up as they get more experience
• A little bit of a wonky entrance into that overhead lift
• I don't know how Caydee saved that throw, very tilted in the air
• I still hate that she isn't Caitlin, but that was a solid skate

SP Score: 33.82 (TES) + 25.80 (PCS) = 59.62

2) Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin (USA)
     Music: Pirates of the Caribbean by Hans Zimmer

• They only do a split double twist, so that will her their TES
• Very good height on the throw triple loop, hand down
• I think it's interesting to watch teams that jump and spin in opposite directions
• Here head almost hit the ice on that death spiral
• I really like their speed and edging on the footwork
• She tripped up a bit at the end, unfortunate

SP Score: 27.12 (TES) + 24.43 (PCS) = 51.55

3) Mary-Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (USA)
    Music: Singin in the Rain

• I love that they are doing a cute, jazzy short program
• Very good unison on those side by side triple toes
• Very cute choreography, loving it so far
• Really good height on the the split triple twist, a little bit of a rough catch
• Hands down maybe on that throw triple lutz, but kudos to them for trying a harder throw
• I am just smitten with this program
• Very great energy throughout
• Nice lift
• They showed AMAZING improvement

SP Score: 29.68 (TES) + 26.48 (PCS) = 56.16

4) Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN)
    Music: A Transylvanian Lullaby by John Morris

• Fantastic throw triple loop, that's what happens when you practice throwing over couches
• This is signature Lori Nichol choreography
• Other than lacking some speed, they look just as good as they did before they took their year off
• I'm not in love with this program, it is a little bland for me
• They are clearly a class above all the other skaters we've seen
• That was an abrupt ending to the program

SP Score: 34.17 (TES) +28.68  (PCS) = 62.85

5) Kirsten  Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN)
     Music: Borsalino by Claude Bolling

• Fast rotation on the  split twist, but not a clean catch
• Good side by side triple toes
• That throw triple loop was so tilted, she saved it
• I love their lift entry with Dylan in the lunge
• This program has some nice potential, but they can really up the performance ante
• That was scary when she stepped over the back of his skate boot, looked like a sliced achilles waiting to happen

SP Score: 32.30 (TES) + 27.40 (PCS) = 59.60

6) Maylin Hausch & Daniel Wendne (GER)
    Music: Music by John Miles

• Is it just me or does Daniel look a bit like Alexander Gazsi?
• Bad catch on that split triple twist, but I like how they linked it to their throw triple salchow
• Fall by Maylin on the triple toe
• I'm hating this 80s-tastic musical selections, and how do black and white costumes fit? 
• Trip by Daniel on the footwork sequence, they just look a bit frantic for me
• Her positions in the overhead spins could really use work
• I really like the ending pose

SP Score: 25.63 (TES) + 24.31 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 48.94

7) Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov (RUS)
    Music: Tosca by Puccini

• I always forget that Vera is so young, only 18
• I love they're elegance, if they can just land their elements, they're elite status
• Wow Yuri actually fell this time, usually it's Vera who struggles
• Did she die her hair darker?
• I've been saying for many a season that they remind me of Gordeeva & Grinkov, but not when they fall like that
• Clean throw triple flip, a harder throw than many
• I like their death spiral and that pair spin is to die for
• Very unique entrance and position changes into their overhead lift
• This is lovely choreography, not a moment is wasted
• Stumble by Yuri at the end, they looked unsettled out there

SP Score: 32.43 (TES) + 28.20 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 59.62

8) Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (GER)
    Music: Angels & Demons by Hans Zimmer

• Wow, Aliona is all about the fake skin
• I love Ingo!!
• Let me guess, she's the angel and he's the demon?
• They have a very innovative coach which is great to see
• She ate it in the throw triple axel, very tilted, not sure if they'll call it rotated or not
• Struggle coming out of the split triple twist
• She two-footed the triple toe
• Granted she took a very hard fall on the throw, could understandably be shaken
• Their pair spin is so cool, loving it!
• So far no heinous death spirals, I'm okay with that sideways position
• This program is going to be outstanding come the Grand Prix Final, just needs some work

SP Score: 29.48 (TES) + 30.97 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 59.45

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 Mens Free Skate [LIVE BLOG]

Here we are, our first free skate of the season! After some uncharacteristically rough free skates, some of the top skaters will be in the first group. Some nice shots of of the Ricky Dornbush fan club in the crowd. I'm loving Florent's costume! I'm just obsessed with him, I just love him to pieces! PS...can Tonia please shut her mouth already? This event is all about the deep V-neck.

1) Samuel Contesti (ITA)
     Music: La Vie En Rose

• Come on Samuel, let's see a solid program
• Looks like this will be a character piece, hello Edith Piaf
• Very nice Triple axel, great posture
• Good triple flip, he seems very settled unlike last night
• Very wild exit from that triple lutz, not sure if it's because he was close to the wall or not
• His spins are very slow compared to other top men
• I like this program, very well choreographed to the theme, I'm feeling the Parisian street performer vibe
• Huge height on that triple axel, it looked like it may may have been landed a little short
• He is so tall and has lovely posture, but I'd like to see him get deeper into his knees and use the upper body more
• He saves a lot of his jumps, including the 3-jump sequence for the second half
• Solid effort for his first major event of the season, this program will surely grow all season
• I want him to work with Lambiel on his spinning

FS Score: 68.32 (TES) + 66.36 (PCS)  = 134.68
Total Score: 55.52 (SP) + 134.68 (FS) = 190.20

2) Douglass Razzano (USA)
     Music: Adios Noninos, Oblivion, Obertura

• This was a great free skate for him at Finlandia Tropy
• Huge triple axel with great flow out of it, that's what I like to see
• He seems much more invested in the performance today than last night
• Second triple axel, a bit tilted in the air but landed well, tacks on a 2T
• He is a very nice spinner, his positions are not only intricate, but beautiful
• I love the low sit and twist variations
• He uses his upper body and his head quite well
• He is rapidly losing speed through this step sequence, that will be an improvement he can make going toward Nationals
• No triple-triples so far, perhaps later in the program?
• This is a very well choreographed piece, none of the elements stick out, they just grow from the program
• I love this music, even though we've heard it a thousand times
• He should be happy with this clean free skate; it's a good piece for him because it's already good but it has a lot of room to grow
• He is a rather reserved kind of guy, but I can tell he's pleased

FS Score: 69.84 (TES) + 62.42 (PCS) = 132.26
Total Score: 60.69 (SP) + 132.26 (FS) = 192.95

3) Florent Amodio (FRA)
     Music: Besame Mucho, Mambo No. 5, Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White

• This is certain to be a wild program
• Triple salchow, it was planned to be a Quad
• He rotates very fast on that 3A
• Big death drop, but loses a lot of speed on the sit spin
• Do these syllables count as lyrics?
• And now I'm watching the 2nd half of the program on NBC, with the Scott Hamilton commentary
• Florent Amodio basically just directed the audience to clap along with him in the footwork
• He is really running out of gas; the program is so fast paced and it has to be a struggle early in the season to carry through

FS Score: 56.86 (TES) + 68.28 (PCS) - (DED) = 125.14
Total Score: 62.46 (SP) + 125.14 (FS) = 187.60

4) Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)
     Music: Kill Bill

• Quad toe was short on the landing and he takes a fall
• Nice triple axel, with a double toe
• He looks tentative, I want him to really go after it
• Popped his triple lutz
• Armin you are no good for my fantasy team right now
• I like this music, but it requires more aggression and he seems like he can't get his feet under him
• Fall on triple axel, super tilted in the air
• Hand down, he just does not seem like himself today at all
• Another fallout, this is a Johnny Weir-esque meltdown that is happening here

FS Score: 56.87 (TES) + 59.86 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 114.53
Total Score: 64.54 (SP) + 114.53 (FS) = 179.07

5) Denis Ten (KAZ)
     Music: Adios Nonino by Astor Piazolla

• Wow, Quad toe for Denis, Frank must be jumping for joy
• Solid triple axel, this is a different Denis than we saw last season
• That 3-3 was gorgeous, and he has really grown artistically
• Let's hope that Mirai has had the growth that Denis had this season
• Being around Evan Lysacek has had quite an effect on Denis's musicality and performance quality
• He is starting to crumble a little bit, running out of gas
• Though it won't go down as a perfect program, this is still a huge step in the right direction for Denis

FS Score: 64.38 (TES) + 67.22 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 130.60
Total Score: 67.38 (SP) + 130.60 (FS) = 197.98

6) Richard Dornbush (USA)
     Music: A Fistful of Dollars, Ecstasy of Gold, The Lone Ranger

• Here's my boy Ricky, let's hope he can rise to the occasion
• Very stylish right from the beginning
• Landed the quad, in a deep squat nonetheless, but it looked rotated to me
• Great triple lutz, that quad has to give him a lot of confidence
• Triple axel looked good, but hand down and he'll get some negative GOEs
• He is very good at playing the role, he reminds me of a a young Kurt Browning
• Opened up out of that triple axel
• Beautiful 3-3, but followed by another triple turned into a double
• I love this program so much, but he stumbled out of his last jump right in front of the judges
• I hope he can get full credit for that Quad Toe
• I hope that levels in footwork and spins can hold him up

FS Score: 64.44 (TES) + 68.80 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 132.24
Total Score: 70.03 (SP) + 132.24 (FS) = 202.27

7) Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL)
     Music: The Man in the Iron Mask

• HUGE Quad toe from Kevin
• This is a risky music choice as it's so closely tied to Alexei Yagudin
• Stumble on the triple axel
• Kevin is a skater who needs the jumps, he doesn't have great footwork levels or PCS to fall back on
• I'd love to see him get more into the knees and use his head more
• I love the speed of rotation on his jumps and the dancer in me loves to see him spot
• He has been around so long he's been through 3 judging systems
• This costume is a little much for me
• He always has this tendency to run out of gas toward the end of the program
• His spins are really what is lacking

FS Score: 74.61 (TES) + 67.78 (PCS) - (DED) = 142.39
Total Score: 70.09 (SP) + 142.39 (FS) = 212.48

8) Daisuke Murakami (JPN)
     Music: Gladiator

• Here is another Frank Carroll skater
• Triple lutz, doubles the toe
• That triple axel was huge
• We are seeing a lot of falls here
• Double footed the second triple axel
• He is improved in his artistry here, but he needs to keep upping up ante

FS Score: 57.35 (TES) + 66.30 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 122.65
Total Score: 70.67 (SP) + 122.65 (FS) = 193.42

9) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
     Music: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

• I love you Taka, let's get this Quad
• Fall on the Quad toe, short on the landing too and probably won't get the rotation either
• Gorgeous triple axel
• That high-collared blousy shirt is very Todd Eldredge circa 1998
• Two falls so far, he hasn't seemed like himself this week and he pretty much needed to skate clean to have a hope at winning
• I love Taka for the quality of his skating, even down to the basics
• He really saved that triple axel
• This is not the Taka who won two Grand Prix Gold medals, he just looks dejected at this point
• I like this program a lot, and can't wait to see it grow
• I wanted a better skate from him, but it was courageous to keep going after such a tough opening and a tough week in general

FS Score: 68.54 (TES) + 74.86 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 141.40
Total Score: 70.69 (SP) + 141.40 (FS) = 212.09


10) Michal Brezina (CZE)
      Music: The Untouchables

• Brezina has a pretty easy win here if he can just stay on his feet
• That flying sit is a little weak, could use a lot more speed
• I'm not a fan of this footwork, it needs a lot more level variation and upper body and head usage
• Triple axel-double toe
• I really don't understand this costume
• He has very long lines and he looks great when he jumps cleanly
• He is completely unraveling, he tried to water down and it's blowing up in his face
• We've had a fall, a few pops, a few singles
• This is going to be close, what a talented guy who seems to fall apart when it matters most

FS Score: 64.50 (TES) + 73.42 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 136.92
Total Score: 79.08 (SP) + 126.92 (FS) = 216.00

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

Skaters to Watch: Skate America Edition

Alissa Czisny (USA)-2010 Grand Prix Final Free Skate





Carolina Kostner (ITA)-2010 Grand Prix Final Short Program





Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)-2011 World Free Skate





Richard Dornbush (USA)-2011 US Nationals Free Skate





Savchenko & Szolkowy (GER)-2011 Worlds Free Skate





Bazarova & Larionov (RUS)-2010 NHK Trophy Short Program





Davis & White (USA)-2011 Worlds Short Dance





Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA)-2011 Europeans Short Dance

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Men's Short Program [LIVE BLOG]

Here we go...the start of the Senior ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The 1st group of Men are taking the ice for Warm Up! It's a big confusing here on the couch because we're hearing overlapping commentary and in-arena announcers. I can't tell with all the overlap, but I'm excited to see who our commentators are going to be. I love seeing what skaters do during warm-up...some do their tough jumps and some just skate around. Skaters are coming off the ice...here we go!

1) Douglas Razzano (USA)
       Music: Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninov

• A little wobble on the end of the 3axel but a solid start
• He looks a little tentative, popped that toe loop into a double
• I'd like to see him be a little more expressive in his upper body
• He lands the 3-3 combination but it could get a negative GOE
• Could use a little more height in that split jump
• I'm nit-picking, but anytime you land all your jumps in the first major event of the season, it's a solid start
• He could definitely speed it up a little more in this footwork sequence
• I like the choreography of the piece and can't wait to see it grow

SP Score: 30.62 (TES) + 30.07 (PCS) = 60.69

2) Daisuke Murakami (JPN)
     Music: The Feeling Begins by Peter Gabriel

• He won O Nepela earlier this month so I'm excited for this skate!
• This costume is way over the top
• Quad sal-double toe, I assume should've been a 4-3 combo
• Huge triple axel, could've used more flow out of it
• Triple lutz could've had more height
• He needs more speed on his spins and more stretch in the positions
• What I hate about the new system is some of the heinous spin positions we get
• I like the use of levels on this footwork sequence, he uses his head nicely

SP Score: 39.91 (TES) + 30.76 (PCS) = 70.76

3) Denis Ten (KAZ)
       Music: Elegie Opus 3, No. 1 by Rachmaninov

• Here is one of Frank Carroll's skaters
• Denis is a very lyrical, soft skater
• That is a very 90s costume, very Todd Eldredge
• It's good to see him land that 3axel
• He lands the 3-3 combination, but he lacks a  lot of flow out of the jumps
• Fall on the triple lutz, it looks like he had it but his foot slipped out from under him
• That program had a very abrupt ending for me

SP Score: 35.11 (TES) + 32.27 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 67.38

4) Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)
      Music:  Kashmir by Led Zeppelin

• Armin is on my Fantasty Team, go Armin!!
• Wasn't this Ashley Wagner's original short program last season
• Very powerful 3-3 combo
• He is coming out very aggressive
• Hand down on the triple axel, very tilted in the air, but nice tight spinning
• I love his donut spin, it's reminiscent of Johnny Weir
• Armin has awesome spin positions
• He is showing more command of the ice than he has in the past, he looks like he belongs at the top
• I like that his weird spin positions fit the theme of the program

SP Score: 33.72 (TES) + 30.82 (PCS) = 64.54

5) Richard Dornbush (USA)
    Music: The Fifth by David Garrett

• Come on Ricky, you're on my fantasy team too
• I love his command and his artistry
• He uses his head like Evan Lysacek
• Great 3lz-3t combo
• This is nice choreography, he doesn't waste one movement
• Huge triple axel with great flow on the edge
• Nice stretched out came position, and those sleeves flow well
• Good triple flip
• This footwork is very nice, the arms are working just as hard as the legs and feet
• I like this contemporary version of Beethoven's fifth; very edgy
• Very solid start to the season for Ricky! Good job buddy!

SP Score: 35.74 (TES) + 34.29 (PCS) = 70.03

6) Florent Amodio (FRA)
     Music: Summertime by Gershwin

• So how does hot pick go with Gershwin?
• I love Florent but he's kind of a hot mess sometimes
• That triple Flip really lacked height
• I'd love to see that triple axel travel more
• I think Gershwin would roll over right now if he heard his music mixed with Jumpin Jack
• And he just popped his Lutz and missed the combination, that is going to hurt his score a lot
• This step sequence is very flashy, I love it!
• I love the low knees and upper body usage in the step sequence
• This music take me back to Kanako Murakami last season and her sippy cup
• Morozov looks pissed, but he's patting Florent's leg lol

SP Score: 27.32 (TES) + 35.14 (PCS) = 62.46

7) Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL)
    Music: Quidam from "Cirque du Soleil"

• I love watching Kevin jump, when he hits that is
• He always skates to highly dramatic music with a really strong beat
• That triple axel was huge
• The dancer in me loves to watch the way his head spots his jumps
• His landings were wonky but he hit the 3-3 with a very fast rotation
• Triple loop is a new solo jump
• Normally we see Quads from Kevin, but we're certain to see that in the free
• I've always loved to watch him skate and I'm so glad he didn't retire
• He is rapidly losing speed on his spins
• Not seeing near the speed in footwork that we saw from Dornbush, Amodio, etc
• He really needs to point his toes on that death drop

SP Score: 37.76 (TES) + 32.3  (PCS) = 70.09

8) Samuel Contesti (ITA)
    Music: Hungarian March, La Gazza Ladra, 1812 Overture

• Samuel is such a showman, I believe this is his short from last season
• Foot totally slipped on the lutz, but jumped right back up
• Stumble out of the triple axel, he is have a rough go of it but you wouldn't know it from his facial expression
• Solo triple flip, I though maybe he'd try to add a combination onto that after the fall on the lutz
• He, like Amodio, has no combination and will suffer greatly on the technical mark
• There is no making nice about it, that was struggle for Samuel, but it's early in the season and he usually peaks later

SP Score: 24.27 (TES) + 32.35 (PCS) 1.00 (DED) = 55.52

9) Michal Brezina (CZE)
    Music: Best of Kodo

• I love the opening Crouching Tiger pose
• Very powerful triple axel to start
• Very solid triple flip-triple toe combination
• He seems to be in the zone
• Triple lutz looked clean as well
• I'm not a huge Brezina fan nor do I like this Survivor-esque music but even I'll admit that this is a solid program
• The wild arm movements are a lot to handle, but they support the theme of the program
• Bobble on the foot change of the combination spin, but this should put him into 1st overall

SP Score: 42.05 (TES) + 37.03 (PCS) = 79.08

10) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
       Music: Inner Urge

• Come on Taka, my fantasy team could use some love!
• Another jazzy short for Taka
• Fall on the quad toe, which looked under-rotated as well
• Rebounds with what I thought was a solid triple axel, but drops the hand
• He landed very cross-legged on that Quad Toe fall, I hope he didn't injure himself
• It takes guts to continue after two botched jumps, but he hits his triple lutz-triple toe solidly
• Don't count out Taka, because he came from behind in the short at Worlds to win Silver
• Taka has always been a much stronger free skater in the free that in the short
• I like his improved commitment to choreography; does this remind anybody slightly of Chan's Take 5 short
• Tonia K, do we really think it was about rink size?

SP Score: 34.33 (TES) + 37.16 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 70.69

2011 Skate America: Ladies Preview

The 2011-2012 Grand Prix circuit kicks off this weekend, and though this may not be the most loaded ladies field of the series, there is one key battle to watch for. The ladies take the ice Saturday at 11:25pm (EST) for their short program and 5:40pm on Sunday for their free. I'll be live-blogging all 8 events this weekend so be sure to check back for all my thoughts and feelings! Welcome back and let's have a great season!

This event has two standouts in Alissa Czisny (USA) and Carolina Kostner (ITA) who will fight it out for Gold, and then an inconsistent rest of the field who could fall into place any number of ways. Czisny & Kostner had nearly identical seasons in 2010/11 with each winning Gold & Bronze on the Grand Prix. Czisny finished one notch ahead of Kostner to win the Grand Prix Final while Kostner finished two spots ahead of Czinsy when she won Bronze at Worlds. Both have been inconsistent in the past but if they are both on, I'd prefer to watch Czisny any day. Her spins are among the best in the World, and in my opinion her artistry is far superior with grace and fluidity to spare, while I have always found Kostner to be a bit robotic. Bronze will be key here and there is no favorite now that 2010 World Bronze Medalist Laura Lepisto has withdrawn. Ksenia Makarova (RUS) had an up and down 2010/11 season and she withdrew from Nebelhorn Trophy earlier this month due to injury so only time will tell if that was serious enough to affect her here. Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO) made a coaching change in the off-season and seemed to have settled down a bit when she debuted at Nebelhorn earlier this month with a Silver Medal. Sisters Viktoria Helgesson (SWE) & Joshi Helgesson (SWE) had strong showings last year and normally Joshi is the higher scoring athlete, though she has a habit of finishing lower when she competes directly against her sister. We'll see if that trend continues. Haruka Imai (JPN) finished as high as 5th last season at Skate Canada, and though she is a nice skater, she has never reached the level of the top Japanese Ladies. Valentina Marchei (ITA) is a nice skater when she can land her elements and she too finished as high as 5th last season at Rostelecom Cup. At 25, she is pushing the age envelope for a singles skater and this could be her last season. Last but not least, America's host picks Caroline Zhang (USA) & Joelle Forte (USA) are dark horses to say the least. Zhang was a Junior phenom but never achieved success as a senior and you have to wonder if this may be the last year that US Figure Skating gives her International assignments unless she produces results. Forte is a pleasant skater, though I don't see a hugely successful career ahead of her given that she is making her International debut this season at age 25.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Alissa Czisny (USA)
2) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
3) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)


My USFSA Fantasy Picks:
A) Alissa Czisny (USA)
B) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
C) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)


Competitive History:

Alissa Czisny (USA)-5th 2011 Worlds, 5th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2010 Grand Prix Final, 3rd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 Skate Canada; PB: 182.25 at 2011 Worlds


Joelle Forte (USA)-7th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 4th 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy


Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)-2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 10th 2011 Worlds, 8th 2011 Europeans, 7th 2010 Skate America, 6th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 164.54 at 2010 Europeans


Joshi Helgesson (SWE)-3rd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 15th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 6th 2011 Nordics, 4th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 Cup of China; PB: 149.08 at 2011 Worlds

Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)-5th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 17th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Nordics, 1st 2010 Merano Cup, 6th 2010 Skate America, 9th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 161.79 at 2010 Worlds


Haruka Imai (JPN)-3rd 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy, 2nd 2011 Asian Winter Games, 6th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 5th 2010 Skate Canada, 1st 2010 O Nepala; PB: 155.29 at 2010 Four Continents


Carolina Kostner (ITA)-3rd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 1st 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 184.68 at 2008 Worlds


Ksenia Makarova (RUS)-7th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Europeans, 7th 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 4th 2010 Skate Canada, 4th 2010 Finlandia Trophy; 171.91 at 2010 Winter Olympics

Valentina Marchei (ITA)-10th 2011 Europeans, 5th 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 8th 2010 Skate Canada, 2nd 2010 Coup de Nice, 2nd 2010 O Nepala; PB: 153.71 at 2010 Rostelecom Cup 


Caroline Zhang (USA)-9th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 176.48 at 2008 Grand Prix Final