2012 European Figure Skating Championships vs. Four Continents: Top Ladies Scores

These are comparisons between the two ISU Championships that lead into the World Championships in March. A few of these skaters won't be competing in Nice and we'll see notables Alissa Czisny & Akiko Suzuki added to the field, but could these standings be similar to what we'll see at Worlds?

1) Ashley Wagner (USA) 192.41
2) Mao Asada (JPN) 188.62
3) Carolina Kostner (ITA) 183.55
4) Caroline Zhang (USA) 176.18
5) Kanako Murakami (JPN) 169.32
6) Kiira Korpi (FIN) 166.94
7) Elene Gedevanishvilli (GEO) 165.93
8) Polina Korobeynikova (RUS) 164.13
9) Kexin Zhang (CHN) 162.59
10) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE) 160.82
11) Ksenia Makarova (RUS) 159.59
12) Alena Leonova (RUS) 158.78
13) Agnes Zawadzki (USA) 157.23
14) Amelie Lacoste (CAN) 147.65
15) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN) 147.47
16) Valentina Marchei (ITA) 146.84
17) Yretha Silete (FRA) 145.50
18) Joshi Helgesson (SWE) 145.11
19) Elena Glebova (EST) 141.92
20) Natalia Popova (UKR) 138.60

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Ladies Free Skate Commentary

1) Shoko Ishikawa (JPN)
     Music: Miss Saigon

• She clearly does not have the jumping content of the other Japanese ladies, but I like her overall flow across the ice
• This is very dynamic music, I'd like to see more interpretation and facial expression
• She needs to straighten the leg on the sit spin
• I feel like she is not committing to this program, she doesn't seem like she's giving it 100%
• There is not nearly enough energy in this step sequence
• She is almost crying, I don't know if that's because she's happy she didn't fall or if she's upset about something

FS Score: 34.14 (TES) + 42.93 (PCS) = 77.07
Total Score: 45.07 (SP) + 77.07 (FS) = 122.14

2) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN)
     Music: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

• She is such a hard skater to watch because you know she is stuck inside her own head
• If she could get herself straightened out mentally and just perform it would be amazing
• And we start with a popped jump
• One of the few skaters brave enough to go backless without illusion fabric
• And another pop
• She clearly has no self-confidence as these jumps are fine in the air but but she second guesses herself and opens up out of them
• I don't love this classical piece on her, I'd rather see something more modern and aggressive
• I'd rather see a skater fall 5 times than pop jumps because at least then you know they are really going for it
• She is starting to look like herself here in the step sequence
• It's a shame she wasn't able to take over where Joannie Rochette left off 
• She is not happy with that at all

FS Score: 38.71 (TES) + 48.69 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 86.40
Total Score: 45.42 (SP) + 86.40 (FS) = 131.82

3) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
     Music: Fever, Hey Pachuko, Who Framed Roger Rabbit

• I am not a fan of this costume on her, it would be perfect for a Latin short dance, but not a singles program
• When the back is cut so low that you can see the top of your tights, you know it's a problem
• She has a very high wrap on her jump rotations which is a technical issue
• The jumps are her strength and when she under-rotates and puts hands down, that really hurts her
• She has pretty good speed, at least what I can see on my screen
• Her jump entries are very long, she could earn more points by changing the entries with some steps
• This is a very weak spiral positions, she'd do well to actually hold the leg up as Nancy Kerrigan did
• This is an odd mixture of music for me
• The ending was strange, I felt she was just standing and posing

FS Score: 47.68 (TES) + 43.96 (PCS) = 91.64
Total Score: 52.05 (SP) + 91.64 (FS) = 143.69

4) Kiira Korpi (FIN)
     Music: I Got Rhythm

• This is a very interesting costume, I'm not sure how I feel about the shoulder details, but it looks very high fashion to me
• This is very playful and theatrical choreography
• Very good speed so far
• I love that she is perfectly in the period of this music, down to her hairstyle
• Great fly into the sit spin
• I love her commitment to the performance
• She has such fantastic posture and body carriage
• She's having a hard time finding the jumps today, a lot of doubling and singling
• I'm liking this program on her, it's a departure from what she usually does and I appreciate the risk
• She needs to stretch out through her fingertips, breaking at the wrists disrupts the arm line
• Abrupt ending of the final spin trying to catch the last beat of the music on time

FS Score: 46.23 (TES) + 57.60 (PCS) = 103.83
Total Score: 53.70 (SP) + 103.83 (FS) = 157.53

5) Agnes Zawadzki (USA)
     Music: Rhapsody in Blue

• It's strange seeing a new coach her with her
• I don't like the dark hair, it doesn't work for her at all
• I like this costume, it's a step in the right direction after what she wore last season
• She is skating very slowly starting out
• She rotates very quickly with a nice straight body position and very tightly wrapped legs
• Her spins have improved greatly
• She doesn't look over her legs in these jumps
• Her spiral position has improved as well
• Though she's not proving it today, I think that switching coaches will prove to be a positive in the long run
• That leg overhead sit spin variation is very cool
• I don't know that this music suits her so well, it is very big and broad and she needs to have the personality to live up to it
• After the second fall, she is really struggling to get back up and keep going
• She still looks very fit, but she looks undertrained stamina-wise
• I appreciate the toe point on the I-spin, most skaters have an ugly flexed foot in that spin

FS Score: 36.52 (TES) + 49.82 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 84.35
Total Score: 53.84 (SP) + 84.35 (FS) =138.19

6) Ashley Wagner (USA)
     Music: Black Swan

• I've always thought that skating 1st after warm-up must be difficult
• This costume is exquisite
• I love her upper body carriage
• I wish she'd look up at the audience more rather than down at the ice
• Very nice 3-jump combo to open, with an arm variation
• Her rotation speed is much faster now, after the coaching change
• She his fighting harder for the landings this season than ever before
• I love way she uses her arms to attack the music
• She's been getting lower PCS than I believe she deserves so it seems that the judges are holding her down until she can earn their respect again
• With these programs and her execution of them, I hope she goes to Worlds along with Czisny
• She'll be so happy with this skate!

FS Score: 54.45 (TES) + 55.32 (PCS)  = 109.77
Total Score: 55.88 (SP) + 109.77 (FS) = 165.65

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

• I don't like this costume, it just doesn't suit the music at all
• That was a very long approach to that triple lutz, hand down
• She is getting better at fighting for landings, Orser has clearly helped her mental game
• I'm so over Phantom!
• She is an athlete, but she really does nothing to try to interpret the music
• What an ugly heel stretch spiral, she needs to point the foot and drop the hip
• She looks a little disappointed in that skate

FS Score: 47.74 (TES) + 56.33 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 103.07
Total Score: 57.37 (SP) + 103.07 (FS) = 160.44

8) Mao Asada (JPN)
     Music: Liebestraum

• Mao is getting huge applause here at home
• Opens with a 3A, likely short of rotation
• I'm glad she's having another go at this program after the rough last season
• That toe point on the catch foot spin is gorgeous
• Another triple axel! 
• This is a piece of art and the jumps are just part of it
• Aside from a few jump exits that could be held out a bit longer, this was a fantastic program
• She's made a comeback! And at home!

FS Score: 61.20 (TES) + 64.57 (PCS) = 125.77
Total Score: 58.42 (SP) + 125.77 (FS) = 184.19

9) Alena Leonova (RUS)
     Music: Adagio for Strings, Requiem for a Tower

• She is a very clean jumper with fast rotation
• This is actually a fairly elegant program compared to what she normally puts out there
• She looks very calm, she's not giving away the easy point that she normally gives
• Toe jumps are much stronger for her than edge jumps
• She has rather long, boring entrances to her jumps
• And she just opened up a jump, so much for not making small mistakes
• She needs to concentrate on pointing her feet
• That was a very abrupt ending
• Very wild footwork, she needs to control it
• PS what is up with her hair?

FS Score: 50.50 (TES) + 58.42 (PCS) = 108.92
Total Score: 61.76 (SP) + 108.92 (FS) = 170.68


10) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
      Music: Die Fledermaus

• Akiko is so teeny tiny!
• Would be great to see Japan go 1, 2 in this event
• Nice triple lutz, great extension on the free leg
• I've never seen someone continue improving technically in their later years as she is
• She has such an elegance in her body carriage
• I love that "sleeping position" on the sit spin variation
• That upside down broken camel is just ugly, though I know it increases the level
• Popped a jump, but still able to add on two doubles to make a 3-jump combo, now that's a veteran move
• Another pop, she is opening the door for Mao
• She'll hold on to win, but this is not the perfect free skate she wanted for her first Grand Prix victory

FS Score: 57.04 (TES) + 62.39 (PCS) = 119.43
Total Score: 66.55 (SP) + 119.43 (FS) = 185.98

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Akiko SUZUKI	JPN	185.98	1	2
2	Mao ASADA	JPN	184.19	3	1
3	Alena LEONOVA	RUS	170.68	2	4
4	Ashley WAGNER	USA	165.65	5	3
5	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO	160.44	4	6
6	Kiira KORPI	FIN	157.53	7	5
7	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	143.69	8	7
8	Agnes ZAWADZKI	USA	138.19	6	9
9	Cynthia PHANEUF	CAN	131.82	9	8
10	Shoko ISHIKAWA	JPN	122.14	10	10

Pl.   Name Nation TSS = TES + PCS + SS TR PE CH IN Ded. - StN. 1 Mao ASADA JPN 125.77 61.20 64.57 8.11 7.75 8.07 8.21 8.21 0.00 #8 2 Akiko SUZUKI JPN 119.43 57.04 62.39 8.07 7.50 7.71 7.75 7.96 0.00 #10 3 Ashley WAGNER USA 109.77 54.45 55.32 7.04 6.61 7.04 7.00 6.89 0.00 #6 4 Alena LEONOVA RUS 108.92 50.50 58.42 7.54 6.86 7.43 7.32 7.36 0.00 #9 5 Kiira KORPI FIN 103.83 46.23 57.60 7.14 7.00 7.11 7.39 7.36 0.00 #4 6 Elene GEDEVANISHVILI GEO 103.07 47.74 56.33 7.32 6.75 7.07 7.00 7.07 1.00 #7 7 Mae Berenice MEITE FRA 91.64 47.68 43.96 5.68 5.18 5.54 5.54 5.54 0.00 #3 8 Cynthia PHANEUF CAN 86.40 38.71 48.69 6.36 5.71 5.96 6.18 6.21 1.00 #2 9 Agnes ZAWADZKI USA 84.35 36.53 49.82 6.50 6.04 6.14 6.25 6.21 2.00 #5 10 Shoko ISHIKAWA JPN 77.07 34.14 42.93 5.61 5.18 5.29 5.54 5.21 0.00 #1

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 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 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

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: NHK Trophy Ladies Free Skate

1) Shoko Ishikawa (JPN)
     Music: Miss Saigon

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 45.07 (SP) + (FS) =

2) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN)
     Music: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 45.42 (SP) + (FS) =

3) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
     Music: Fever, Hey Pachuko, Who Framed Roger Rabbit

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 52.05 (SP) + (FS) =

4) Kiira Korpi (FIN)
     Music: I Got Rhythm

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 53.70 (SP) + (FS) =

5) Agnes Zawadzki (USA)
     Music: Rhapsody in Blue

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 53.84 (SP) + (FS) =

6) Ashley Wagner (USA)
     Music: Black Swan

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 55.88 (SP) + (FS) =

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

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 57.37 (SP) + (FS) =

8) Mao Asada (JPN)
     Music: Liebestraum

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 58.42 (SP) + (FS) =


9) Alena Leonova (RUS)
     Music: Adagio for Strings, Requiem for a Tower

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 61.76 (SP) + (FS) =



10) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
      Music: Die Fledermaus

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FS Score:  (TES) +  (PCS) - (DED) =
Total Score: 66.55 (SP) + (FS) =