BackStage Barbie: alissa czisny

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Short Program Skate Order

StN.

Name

Nation

Warm-Up Group 1

IRL

FIN

RUS

ESP

SUI

RSA

Warm-Up Group 2

KOR

EST

LAT

FIN

BEL

AUT

Warm-Up Group 3

CHN

GBR

PUR

FRA

CAN

UKR

Warm-Up Group 4

JPN

RUS

GEO

RUS

GER

USA

Warm-Up Group 5

ITA

USA

JPN

ITA

JPN

SWE

Monday, March 26, 2012

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Preview

This is an interesting year for the Ladies because while the field is depleted of the World and Olympic Champions and the hot young Russian phenoms, but it should still be a great competition. You could call this year's Worlds a battle of the underdogs and the ladies who "deserve" to win. The ladies skate their Short Program on Thursday March 29th at 7:30 am EST and their Free Skate on Saturday March 31st at 1:30 pm EST.

Podium Predictions
1) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
2) Mao Asada (JPN)
3) Ashley Wagner (USA)

Top Contenders

Carolina Kostner (ITA) has never been my favorite in the past, you know that if you've followed my posts, but she's finally grown on me. I've decided that her style is an acquired taste, like highbrow theatre or postmodern dance. The fact that has been winning all season with a watered down jump arsenal, but I say more power to her if she has figured out how to add up the points in other ways. I hate to suggest that people should be given more favor because of past performance and longevity, but if anybody is deserving of this World title, Kostner is.

Mao Asada (JPN) is another skater that you could call completely deserving of a title. She's bounced back remarkable after a series of battles in an out of skating. She reworked her technique and the poor thing had to deal with the death of her mother this season. She was great at Four Continents and would have won had she not watered down jumps in the Free Skate. The good news is she still has room to improve and looks poised to peak at Worlds.

Can you believe we're mentioning Ashley Wagner (USA) as a top World contender in the same breath as Kostner and Asada? Yet another person who is deserving of a medal for all she has gone through in getting away from the "almost girl" label. US Champ...check. Four Continents Champ...check. World Medalist...check? I think so! She isn't held in the same high esteem as Kostner and Asada with International judges, so if either is perfect, I think they will win. However, Wagner has been consistent and keeps adding more technical difficulty so if she is perfect and the others aren't, she may leave Nice with her third Gold in a row.

Akiko Suzuki (JPN) has had a solid career, but has only competed in one prior Worlds, placing 11th in 2010. She looked fantastic in her Grand Prix events and at The Final. We haven't seen her since the Final, but she did place second at Nationals against some very stiff competition. The judges love her and reward her with high PCS marks, which could be the difference maker against some of the younger, more technically advanced skaters.

Alissa Czisny (USA) is another skater who has been through so much on her way here...are we sensing a theme? It seems like last year was her window of opportunity after winning the GPF and US Nationals, but this girl has revived her career countless times and she can do it again. She melted down at her recent competition, The Challenge Cup, but I'm really hoping she lives out the the old adage "bad dress rehearsal, great performance."

Alena Leonova (RUS) has been all over the place this season. She gradually improved from fourth, to third, to second over her Grand Prix series, and then took third at the Final. But then she dropped to seventh at Europeans, the last event before Worlds. I could see her placing anywhere inside the top ten depending on which Alena shows up in Nice.

In The Hunt

Kanako Murakami (JPN) has hit a bit of a sophomore slump after having an impressive senior debut last year, but the good thing is she's gradually improved all year. Sixth at her 1st GP, 4th at her 2nd JP, and 4th at Four Continents. The most important thing is she held off all the competition at home and finished 3rd at Nationals to make the World team. Her programs are beautiful, much more mature than last year, and she's growing into them more and more each season.

Polina Korobeynikova (RUS) competed on the Grand Prix as a Junior placing fourth, second, and finally third at the Junior Grand Prix Final. However, she was the surprise of the European Championships placing fourth and beating all of her Russian teammates. She likely won't feel the pressure of the top ladies here and she could be a dark horse to sneak into the final group.

Ksenia Makarova (RUS) has been up, down, and all over since she hit the Senior level, but lately it's been more down. She didn't medal in either Grand Prix and took fourth at her Nationals. She even had to compete in a qualifying event before the Russian federation would add her to the team for Worlds. I love both of her programs this season because they are so different from what all the other ladies are doing these days. However, she seems to have lost her competitive edge and if she doesn't get it back before all of the Russian babies can compete at Worlds next year, this may be her last ISU Championship.

Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO) had truly resurrected her career this season. Brian Orser has done wonders for this girl that was once so fragile and turned her into a warrior. She got better throughout the Grand Prix season and she surprised everyone to win Bronze at Europeans. If she comes out guns blazing, she is a threat to make the final group.

Valentina Marchei (ITA) was a skater I counted out until she beat Alissa Czisny a few weeks ago at the Challenge Cup. She's struggled all season, but winning Silver there may have just been the confidence booster she needed to up her game.

Viktoria Helgesson (SWE) was the surprise Bronze medalist and she was solidly in the second tier of skaters all season. Her fifth place finish at Europeans was solid and a top-ten finish at Worlds would be a great accomplishment for her.

Amelie Lacoste (CAN) won Canadian Nationals, finally beating Cynthia Phaneuf, but Skate Canada still didn't trust her enough to send her in the one Canadian spot to Worlds. They made her compete with Phaneuf with a spot at Four Continents and she was the higher scorer so here she is. Perhaps going it alone and being out of Phaneuf's shadow will help her to live up her potential.

The Rest Of The Field

Chantelle Kerry (AUS)
Kerstin Frank (AUT)
Isabelle Pieman (BEL)
Daniela Stoeva (BUL)
Kexin Zhang (CHN)
Melinda Wang (TPE)
Mirna Libric (CRO)
Eliska Brezinova (CZE)
Karina Johnson (DEN)
Elena Glebova (EST)
Alisa Mikonsaari (FIN)
Juulia Turkkila (FIN)
Yretha Silete (FRA)
Sarah Hecken (GER)
Jenna McCorkell (GBR)
Georgia Glastris (GRE)
Viktoria Pavuk (HUN)
Ami Parekh (IND)
Clara Peters (IRL)
Alina Fjodorova (LAT)
Inga Januleviciute (LTU)
Fleur Maxwell (LUX)
Reyna Hamui (MEX)
Anine Rabe (NOR)
Zhaire Costiniano (PHI)
Victoria Muniz (PUR)
Min-Jeong Kwak (KOR)
Chae-Yeon Suhr (KOR)
Sabina Mariuta (ROU)
Marina Seeh (SBR)
Alexandra Kunova (SVK)
Dasa Grm (SLO)
Lejeanna Marais (RSA)
Sonia Lafuente (ESP)
Romy Buhler (SUI)
Mimi Tanasorn Chindasook (THA)
Sila Saygi (TUR)
Natalia Popova (UKR)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

2012 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Ladies Short Program LIVE Coverage

1) Yasmin Siraj

Music: Daphnis et Chloe

Yasmin has the highest score from Sectionals of anyone who went through the qualifying rounds
She is a beautifully elegant skater
I love this short program on her, gorgeous costume
3t-2t combination, she usually does a 3-3, but she's battling an injury
She has a ton of speed
Fall on the triple lutz, very tilted in the air
I love that back and forth Ina Bauer
Nice position in the traditional layback
She picked up some extra points in the entrance to that double axel

28.58 (TES) + 24.38 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 51.96

2) Mirai Nagasu

Music: Danzarin

Come on Mirai!
Mirai is looking to be in really good shape
Nice calm intensity in this opening section
That was a very funky landing on that triple loop, she really fought for that one
3lz-2t was very close to the wall
Nice double axel
She gets so far back on that layback, that is something that was not affected by the growth spurt
Great variation on that back camel
Good footwork, but I really want more fire out of her
She is intense, but I'd like a little more excitement

30.17 (TES) + 28.85 (PCS) = 59.02

3) Haley Dunne

Music: Tosca Fantasy

Nice 3t-3t, second jump was probably short of rotation
I really like her style, she is very passionate
This is a very graceful and elegant performance
Nice clean double axel
Wonderful free leg position on the layback
Great skate from her overall

26.79 (TES) + 24.62 (PCS) = 51.41

4) Morgan Bell

Music: Assassin's Tango

Very aggressive from the start
That was a fierce opening
Spread eagle into a good double axel, pitched forward just a bit
Triple-single I think that was?
This started out so well, but there are definitely some rough spots
She was a break out star in the short program last year

19.06 (TES) + 20.49 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 38.55

5) Alissa Czisny

Music: La Vie en Rose

She looked very settled in warm-up
Looking very calm
Nice 3lz-2t combination
I love the arrangement of this music
Very tilted in the air on that second jump, but held it up
Popped that axel into a single, caught an edge, that was really a fluke thing
I always say it, but she looks like she's in fast forward when she spins

31.94 (TES) + 31.20 (PCS) = 63.14

6) McKinzie Daniels

Music: Love Story

That blush is just a lot
Good spring on that opening combination
She is really a very fast skater
This costume doesn't scream Taylor Swift to me
Landed all the jumps
I really love hearing a contemporary music

(TES) + (PCS) = 49.96

7) Nina Jiang

Music: Man with the Golden Arm

Great triple lutz from our youngest competitor out there
I loved that hydroblade moment
Nice Rippon variation on that 3t-2t combination
She is very elegant and stylish skater
She is only 14, she'll be someone to watch in the upcoming years
I love seeing a youngster make such a splash

28.39 (TES) + 25.27 (PCS) = 53.66

8) Joelle Forte

Music: Cirque du Soleil

She was a surprise standout last year, so she'll have a little more pressure this year
She fought that 3lz-2t
She doesn't look completely over her legs today, she seems a little stiff
Nice clean double axel, she's settling into the program a little more after the halfway point
I really like her skating, she seems more elegant this year than in the past
I think doing Skate America and getting some exposure did wonders for her self-confidence

26.54 (TES) + 21.59 (PCS) = 48.13

9) Angela Wang

Music: A League of their Own

That is quite a fierce dress out there
That was an odd fall, she seemed to have it, but didn't check to stop the rotation
I love the look of that costume out on the ice, it's so different
Really crisp double axel, not a lot of height, but quick rotation
This program is a little slow moving for me
She doesn't look pleased, but she did have some great moments despite the fall

27.24 (TES) + 22.74 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 48.98

10) Aimee Buchanan

Music:

It has to be touching coming in at the last minute to replace another skater
She is really looking down at the ice a lot, open up your chest and smile!
She looks really uptight and nervous, which I totally get
She has a nice stretch in that back camel
Now we get a nice smile!
I love that she is thrilled just to be there, good for her for having a good attitude!

19.49 (TES) + 18.28 (PCS) = 37.77

11) Agnes Zawadzki

Music: Harlem Nocturne

Her hair and makeup are so harsh
She looks so much more mature this year, more polished and better packaging
Fantastic 3t-3t with great speed and precision
Easy 3lz
She is looking ON tonight
I'm loving her right now!
I love that every gesture and movement is exactly with the music and nothing is wasted
This is a very well composed short program and she's showing more confidence than we've seen all season from her
I feel like doing a double axel toward the end of the short is kind of her thing
I'm obsessed with her toe point on that final spin!
Leaving Tom Z was the best thing she ever did for herself

35.65 (TES) + 30.59 (PCS) = 66.24

12) Vanessa Lam

Music: Con te Partiro

She was a "breakout star last year" but if you've been following the Junior Grand Prix, she's been great for years
I love her elegance, she is a quiet, subtle skater
She is fantastic in her expression
She is a good jumper, but where she draws you in is with her face and her expression
Point that toe on the sit spin

30.43 (TES) + 24.14 (PCS) = 54.57

13) Caroline Zhang

Music: Rushing Wings of Dawn

Keep the momentum going!
Very nice 3lo-3lo combination!
I'm dying over that combination right now
Nice flying camel, I don't love the broken leg position
Give us some face Caroline, we want to see your smile
Huge smile erupted once she knew she landed all the jumps
Needs just a tiny bit more stretch in that leg catch spin
Phenomenal job on that final layback spin, as per the usual for her
Karen Kwan and her magic braid have fixed Caroline Zhang!

31.53 (TES) + 28.65 (PCS) = 60.18

14) Ashley Wagner

Music: Pollock

I love this costume on her, such gorgeous beading and detail
She has a great upper body, who is her trainer?
Fantastic speed
3flip-2toe in the Adam Rippon variation
I love this music, it's very postmodern
I love her relationship to the music and the audience
Great triple loop
Perfect double axel, and now she can just sell the rest
I'm so glad she's gotten over that hump of struggling in the short
She is in control out there, nobody is getting between her and what she wants
Great job engaging the audience in eye contact on that spread eagle

32.63 (TES) + 30.63 (PCS) = 63.06

15) Rachael Flatt

Music: East of Eden

I loved this program last year at Nationals because it was so out of character for Rachel
3lz-2toe with a nice glide out of it
Good 3flip, she is finally smiling!
Singled the axel, that's going to hurt her scores big time
I love that Ina Bauer
She is building some nice speed here
I wish that her face would match the expression in her body in that step sequence

24.96 (TES) + 27.75 (PCS) = 52.71

16) Sophia Adams

Music: Music of Hope

I like her expression a lot, both on her face and in her upper body
Really nice spiral position, almost a complete split position
I haven't seen this skater before but I like her a lot! She looks so happy just to be out there on the ice!

27.00 (TES) + 24.40 (PCS) = 51.40

17) Kiri Baga

Music: Piano Fantasy

She is fighting for these jumps, but landing them nonetheless
She has a lot of strength to hold onto some of those landings that others would let go of
Some nice, unique positions on those spins
That use of one leg on the footwork was great
Really solid performance from Kiri, showed a fighting spirit

26.01 (TES) + 24.14 (PCS) = 50.15

18) Christina Gao

Music: Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto

3f-2toe combination
She's struggled every since she went through the growth spurt
3loop is a very popular jump tonight
She needs to really straighten out her legs and use those long limbs to her advantage
She is really coming into her own and getting better throughout the program
I love her unique spin variations
Very nice job from Christina

28.78 (TES) + 25.85 (PCS) = 54.63

19) Leah Keiser

Music: Intro and Rondo Capriciosso

Unfortunate fall on that combination after a great warm-up
That triple flip was clean as a whistle
This costume is fantastic
She is so spunky, I love her personality out on the ice
She has potential and the right attitude, just needs a little time and some more refinement

29.58 (TES) + 23.86 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 52.44

Start No.	Name	Score
1	11	Agnes Zawadzki, Broadmoor SC	66.24
2	5	Alissa Czisny, Detroit SC	63.14
3	14	Ashley Wagner, SC of Wilmington	63.06
4	13	Caroline Zhang, All Year FSC	60.18
5	2	Mirai Nagasu, Pasadena FSC	59.02
6	18	Christina Gao, Northern KY SC	54.83
7	12	Vanessa Lam, All Year FSC	54.57
8	7	Nina Jiang, TX Gulf Coast FSC	53.66
9	15	Rachael Flatt, Broadmoor SC	52.71
10	19	Leah Keiser, All Year FSC	52.44
11	1	Yasmin Siraj, SC Of Boston	51.96
12	3	Haley Dunne, WA FSC	51.41
13	16	Sophia Adams, All Year FSC	51.40
14	17	Kiri Baga, FSC of Bloomington	50.15
15	6	McKinzie Daniels, Broadmoor SC	49.96
16	9	Angela Wang, Salt Lake Figure Skating	48.98
17	8	Joelle Forte, SC of NY	48.13
18	4	Morgan Bell, Rocky Mountain FSC	38.55
19	10	Aimee Buchanan, Colonial FSC	37.77