Rostelecom Cup: Ladies short program LIVE blog

1) Gracie Gold (USA)
  Music: Hernando's Hideaway

• Who doesn't love Hernando's Hideaway?
• Nice 3-3 Gracie, I love the speed
• So far so good, but I feel like she's speeding through the choreography and just ticking off the elements
• Now that's she's put down a clean short on the GP, that's a huge step
• Our girl looks thrilled
• 34.92 (TES) + 27.24 (PCS) = 62.16

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

• I love everything that she does with her face at the beginning of this piece
• I love this music so much
• Uh on, pupped the first jump, not a good sign
• That stretched out camel is wonderful, but the bent leg position looks rough
• The step sequence is lovely in this piece, it perfectly fits the tone of the music
• 21.84 (TES) + 324.31 (PCS) = 46.15

3) Polina Korobeynikova (RUS)
  Music: Romeo & Juliet

• I'm loving this braid into the bun
• I actually really love this dress
• Her body type reminds me of Alissa Czisny
• She seems like a very introspective skater to me, which is coming back to me now from the Junior GP
• 26.42 (TES) + 25.03 (PCS) = 51.45

4) Agnes Zawadzki (USA)
  Music: Sex and the City

• Agnes honey, what is this odd costume situation we've got going here?
• So, are you Carrie Bradshaw in Abu Dahbi?
• Well  I guess you can be whomever you want to be when you are jumping like this
• She is looking so slick today, so in a zone
• This is a great piece for a short program, it suits her energy
• I love all these arm variations in the combination spin
• 33.01 (TES) + 27.17 (PCS) = 60.18

5) Valentina Marchei (ITA)
  Music: Esperanza

• This program suits her fiery personality
• I feel like her spins and body positions are so improved this year
• Those swing programs last year didn't show of any of these wonderful things we are seeing from her this season
• The technical content is not at the level of the youngsters, but this is still a very solid program that will receive a good score
• 20.48 (TES) + 25.77 (PCS) = 46.25

6) Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)
  Music: Capriccio Espagnoi

• Nice 3-3
• Uh oh, baby popped her flip
• She is killing it in this footwork, you can tell that being at home helps her energy
• 29.11 (TES) + 18.00 (PCS) = 57.11

7) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
  Music: Prayer for Taylor

• Baby girl is killing it today
• I love that she reinvented herself into an artist, this is a beautiful piece
• Darn that fall, but still she's becoming quite the lovely skater
• 29.01 (TES) + 28.77 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 56.78

8) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
  Music: Poinciana

• I remember when it used to flip back and forth-who was better-between Viktoria & Joshi, but honestly it's not even close anymore
• That was just okay, iffy technique
• I like the short hair much better that last year's poofy up-dos
• Wait, doesn't her mom coach her anymore?
•  26.67 (TES) + 27.43 (PCS) = 54.10

9) Kiira Korpi (FIN)
  Music: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair

• This is my favorite costume of the season
• This is so delicate and soft
• That was pure enjoyment to watch
• 31.51 (TES) + 30.04 (PCS) = 61.55

10) Alena Leonova (RUS)
  Music: Slumdog Millionaire

• I never quite know what's going to happen when this one steps out onto the ice
• 
  
• (TES) + (PCS) =

Rostelecom Cup: Ladies Preview

This event is going to come down to who wants it the most. I can see this going so many different ways it's making my head spin. There are about 6 ladies that could win this thing, so let's get started. I'll be live blogging the short on Friday AM and all the free programs on Saturday AM. Here is a link to the schedule http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com/2012/10/2012-grand-prix-of-figure-skating.html.

Adelina Sotnikova (RUS) is our favorite Russian baby. She is a more complete skater than Tuktamisheva and Lipnitskaia and I hope she can win here and make it to the Grand Prix Final in Sochi. She won bronze at Skate America so let's hope that she keeps escalating!

Kiira Korpi (FIN) is looking divine this season. Her costumes are gorgeous and I appreciate how calm she looks on the ice. I love that every time she steps out, we know that we are going to get something beautiful. I love her elegance. We know she will always receive high PCS marks so that helps give her the edge over many other skaters.

Kanako Murakami (JPN) looks to factor into the medal scene this season after already securing a bronze at Skate Canada. She is finally growing into her body and she's held onto her jumps while developing a new sense of artistry. I expect to see her in the top 6 at Worlds this year with her lovely programs.

Gracie Gold (USA) could easily hit the podium if she goes clean. We all expected her to medal at Skate Canada, but she is a rookie senior and we shouldn't put so much pressure on her. She is brand new on the scene and we need to be patient while she develops.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)
Silver: Kiira Korpi (FIN)
Bronze: Kanako Murakami (JPN)

The Rest of the Field:
Valentina Marchei (ITA)
Polina Korobeynikova (RUS)
Alena Leonova (RUS)
Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
Agnes Zawadzki (USA)
Caroline Zhang (USA)

Skate Canada: Ladies Free Skate LIVE BLOG!

1) Polina Shelepen (RUS)
 Music: Gone With The Wind

• 36.37 (TES) + 43.74 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 78.11
• 46.18 (SP) + 78.11 (FS) = 124.29

2) Gracie Gold (USA)
 Music: Life Is Beautiful

• Here's to hoping she can recover from this
• From what I can see on my feed she is looking confidant
• Lovely Bielman
• Squirrely landing on that axel
• This is a very senior program, she will do well as she grows with this over the season
• Does this costume remind anybody else of Tara Lipinski when she won her Olympic gold?
• She is a little taller this season, let's hope this is all that she'll do in terms of growing so there is no re-learning of jump technique
• 48.02 (TES) + 51.36 (PCS) = 99.38
• 52.19 (SP) + 99.38 (FS) = 151.57

3) Caroline Zhang (USA)
 Music: Nessun Dorma

• Not much height on these jumps, she is looking winded
• Not a lot of speed on the spins or steps either
• The feed is frozen to the extend where I really can't assess the quality of the skating
• I'm glad she stuk with this program, it definitely still has growing room
• Her spiral position has improved, I like the extension there
• Definitely not the disaster that she usually starts out with, this is really a new Caroline
• 46.96 (TES) + 49.94 (PCS) = 96.90
• 52.97 (SP) + 96.90 (FS) = 149.87 

4) Amelie Lacoste (CAN)
 Music: Rhapsody in Blue & Concerto in F

• My feed is totally froze but I hear she did a lovely 3flip and 3lutz
• Maybe the new blonde did her some good!
• I love nuance in the little footwork section on the part of Rhapsody that we all know!
• She looks so light this year, like a little fairy
• I like her much better this season, great adjustments!
• 45.05 (TES) + 52.58 (PCS) = 97.63
• 53.81 (SP) + 97.63 (FS) = 151.44

5) Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS)
 Music: Black Eyes

• Is it just me or is Liza starting to look like Sasha Cohen?
• She is definitely taller, but from what I've seen in this small sample size, the jumps havent been affected
• Uh oh, little slip, not enough pop caused that fall
• This music choice suits her very well
• Very zippy spins
• Her performance quality is much improved, she is interacting with the audience
• Her upper body is more expressive as well
• The middle of the program is a little dull, the choreographer may need to tweak a few things here in the middle
• 58.14 (TES) + 53.76 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 112.90
• 55.10 (SP) + 112.90 (FS) = 168.00

6) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
 Music: O

• That opening is charming, it's so musical
• Girlfriend si still doing her thing at age 28, major props to her for that
• I hate that bent leg camel, just not my cup of tea
• I love this music, it's whimsical, yet very post moder as well
• She loks so comfortable in this piece; not that I know her but I believe this suits what I believe her personality to be
• She just keeps ticking off those jumps and elements
• This seems like a championships caliber program; I can see this looking outstanding by worlds
• I love that beautiful open position on the stretched out camel; she looks like a star hanging from the sky and spinning in midair
• That was lovely, that was the most enjoyable of all of the ladies programs I've seen this year aside from Ashley Wagner's
• 60.22 (TES) + 59.82 (PCS) = 120.04
• 55.12 (SP) + 120.04 (FS) = 175.16 

7) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
 Music: Oblivion, Fuego Lento

• Oh no, all my commentary was deleted
• Basically, I said that this is a step in the right direction for her and she has a lot of room to grow in this program
• 53.49 (TES) + 58.34 (PCS) = 111.82
• 56.21 (SP) + 111.82 (FS) = 168.04

8) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
 Music: Megapolis

• Oh no, I miss my little Russian blonde
• I love her expressive upper body
• This music is a little odd, I can't decide if I like it or not
• She has such a fluid upper body, but then the lower body seems so rigid
• When she falls, it's always dramatic
• This isn't really holding my interest, I'm not so sure why
• The music is interesting and I love the choreography, but it's not a complete piece yet
• 40.43 (TES) + 56.12 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 95.55
• 58.56 (SP) + 95.55 (FS) = 154.11

9) Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN)
 Music: Carmen Ballet

• This is interesting, a Canadian lady with amazing potential; something we haven't seen in about 3-4 years
• She is a firecracker, loving her already
• Skate Canada has been the poster child for Carmen thus far
• Uh oh, feed going wonky, but I hear applause so I assume things are still on the up and up
• She has a lot of things to clean up, but she is landing the jumps and she is exciting which is what the Canadian ladies have lacked since Rochette
• This is starting to get pretty messy toward the end, but those are all things that can be fixed with better conditioning and more experience
• 57.28 (TES) + 59.61 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 115.81
• 60.56 (SP) + 115.81 (FS) = 176.45 

10) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
 Music: Don Quixote

• Hard fall on opening jump, she is a very heady skater, the beginning always sets the tone for the whole program
• She is looking like such an elegant diva out there on the ice
• She is going so fast, can she hang onto this speed for the whole program??
• I love her intensity, through the good and the bad she never loses that quality about her
• Definitely losing speed here at the end
• She is running out of steam, but I love that little ode to a fouette in the footwork sequence
• 42.83 (TES) + 57.89 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 99.72
• 60.80 (SP) + 99.72 (FS) = 1160.52 

Skate Canada: Ladies Preview

Friday October 26th at 2:05 pm-Short Program
Saturday October 27th at 10:45 am-Free Skate
I should be available to live blog part of the Short Program and all of the Free Skate!

Watch out skating fans because there's a new girl in town and she's about to bust this sport wide open. The Skate Canada Ladies Event was won by a rookie last year and Gracie Gold (USA) is going to continue that tradition. She has talent beyond her years and has the goods to win pretty much any major skating event that she enters. I'm praying that she is the skater we have been waiting for and that she and Ashley Wagner battle for the top 2 spots in the US for years to come. I cannot wait to see her Hernando's Hideaway and Life Is Beautiful programs!

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) is about to go into a little bit of a sophomore slump, but what I mean by that is perhaps she won't win both of her Grand Prix events. She still has a lot to prove in terms of maturity, but she'll get there.

Kanako Murakami (JPN) experienced her own sophomore slump last year but she came out of it beautifully. She was a little jumping caterpillar in her first season as a senior who turned into a beautiful butterfly by the end of the second. I love her new lyrical quality and I hope that this is the year she will combine that with the springy jumping combinations she once had.

Akiko Suzuki (JPN) is a grandma by figure skating standards. However, she did defy the odds and won her first world medal last year at age 27. If I were her, I would've hung up the skates at the top of my game, but if she still loves the daily grind of training and competing then more power to her. It is refreshing to see a woman on the ice in a sea of tiny girls.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Gracie Gold (USA)
Silver: Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)
Bronze: Kanako Murakami (JPN)

The Rest of the Field
Amelie Lacoste (CAN)
Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN)
Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
Polina Shelepen (RUS)
Caroline Zhang (USA)

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Short Program Results

Pl.	Qual.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Q	Alena LEONOVA	RUS	64.61	34.64		29.97	7.29	7.07	7.64	7.57	7.89	0.00	#20
2	Q	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN	62.67	34.61		28.06	7.18	6.75	7.07	7.00	7.07	0.00	#27
3	Q	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA	61.00	30.26		30.74	7.82	7.43	7.57	7.71	7.89	0.00	#28
4	Q	Mao ASADA	JPN	59.49	30.89		29.60	7.61	7.14	7.43	7.32	7.50	1.00	#19
5	Q	Akiko SUZUKI	JPN	59.38	30.67		28.71	7.39	6.82	7.25	7.14	7.29	0.00	#29
6	Q	Ksenia MAKAROVA	RUS	58.51	31.30		27.21	6.79	6.61	6.86	6.75	7.00	0.00	#22
7	Q	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO	58.49	30.86		27.63	6.86	6.57	6.96	6.93	7.21	0.00	#21
8	Q	Ashley WAGNER	USA	56.42	28.80		27.62	6.96	6.64	6.96	6.82	7.14	0.00	#24
9	Q	Kexin ZHANG	CHN	55.00	32.76		22.24	5.86	5.18	5.61	5.61	5.54	0.00	#13
10	Q	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	54.19	28.35		25.84	6.50	6.11	6.61	6.46	6.61	0.00	#30
11	Q	Valentina MARCHEI	ITA	52.14	27.28		24.86	6.32	5.75	6.29	6.25	6.46	0.00	#25
12	Q	Jenna MCCORKELL	GBR	50.42	27.56		22.86	5.89	5.32	5.82	5.68	5.86	0.00	#14
13	Q	Amelie LACOSTE	CAN	49.37	25.80		23.57	6.14	5.57	5.93	5.82	6.00	0.00	#17
14	Q	Elena GLEBOVA	EST	49.04	28.47		21.57	5.64	5.07	5.46	5.43	5.36	1.00	#8
15	Q	Yretha SILETE	FRA	48.42	27.60		20.82	5.46	4.93	5.21	5.18	5.25	0.00	#16
16	Q	Alissa CZISNY	USA	48.31	23.26		27.05	6.82	6.43	6.64	6.96	6.96	2.00	#26
17	Q	Juulia TURKKILA	FIN	47.75	28.18		19.57	5.11	4.57	5.00	4.89	4.89	0.00	#2
18	Q	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP	47.36	26.98		20.38	5.32	4.79	5.25	5.07	5.04	0.00	#4
19	Q	Polina KOROBEYNIKOVA	RUS	46.71	25.36		21.35	5.54	5.11	5.25	5.43	5.36	0.00	#3
20	Q	Natalia POPOVA	UKR	46.60	26.57		20.03	5.18	4.75	5.11	5.00	5.00	0.00	#18
21	Q	Sarah HECKEN	GER	46.39	24.99		22.40	5.82	5.29	5.64	5.68	5.57	1.00	#23
22	Q	Kerstin FRANK	AUT	45.80	26.86		18.94	4.96	4.43	4.82	4.68	4.79	0.00	#12
23	Q	Alisa MIKONSAARI	FIN	44.16	24.90		19.26	4.82	4.54	5.07	4.71	4.93	0.00	#10
24	Q	Romy BÜHLER	SUI	44.02	23.78		20.24	5.18	4.64	5.18	5.14	5.18	0.00	#5
25		Victoria MUNIZ	PUR	43.27	24.56		18.71	4.79	4.32	4.75	4.64	4.89	0.00	#15
26		Isabelle PIEMAN	BEL	38.45	21.59		17.86	4.57	4.25	4.54	4.43	4.54	1.00	#11
27		Alina FJODOROVA	LAT	38.06	22.11		16.95	4.46	4.00	4.32	4.29	4.11	1.00	#9
28		Min-Jeong KWAK	KOR	36.91	18.26		18.65	4.96	4.29	4.68	4.68	4.71	0.00	#7
29		Clara PETERS	IRL	34.03	17.43		16.60	4.25	3.75	4.21	4.21	4.32	0.00	#1
30		Lejeanne MARAIS	RSA	32.22	16.96		16.26	4.18	3.79	4.14	4.11	4.11	1.00	#6

2012 World Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Short Program Skate Order

StN.	Name	Nation
	Warm-Up Group 1
1	Clara PETERS	IRL
2	Juulia TURKKILA	FIN
3	Polina KOROBEYNIKOVA	RUS
4	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP
5	Romy BÜHLER	SUI
6	Lejeanne MARAIS	RSA
	Warm-Up Group 2
7	Min-Jeong KWAK	KOR
8	Elena GLEBOVA	EST
9	Alina FJODOROVA	LAT
10	Alisa MIKONSAARI	FIN
11	Isabelle PIEMAN	BEL
12	Kerstin FRANK	AUT
	Warm-Up Group 3
13	Kexin ZHANG	CHN
14	Jenna MCCORKELL	GBR
15	Victoria MUNIZ	PUR
16	Yretha SILETE	FRA
17	Amelie LACOSTE	CAN
18	Natalia POPOVA	UKR
	Warm-Up Group 4
19	Mao ASADA	JPN
20	Alena LEONOVA	RUS
21	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO
22	Ksenia MAKAROVA	RUS
23	Sarah HECKEN	GER
24	Ashley WAGNER	USA
	Warm-Up Group 5
25	Valentina MARCHEI	ITA
26	Alissa CZISNY	USA
27	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN
28	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA
29	Akiko SUZUKI	JPN
30	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE

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

2012 Four Continents Championships: Ladies Free Skate LIVE Coverage

1) Lejeanne Marais (RSA)
   Music: The Holiday

• I like this costume, but not for this music
• She's really stalking those jumps
• Those jumps are all in one place, they kind of stay on top of each other and don't travel much
• Kind of an interesting layback variation, she looked like she was hanging from the season
• Why did you end at the end of the rink? #weird
• Competition Total = 94.34

2) Crystal Kiang (TPE)

•  Two foot on the first jump
• She has nice upper body carriage
• We've got an opposite jumper!
• Really slow spins, but oddly some nice positions
• She really stalks these jumps, really slow entrances and lots of two-footing
• Competition Total = 93.78

3) Chatelle Kerry (AUS)

• She is so leggy that jumps have to be difficult for her
• Pretty spiral if she'd straighten that standing leg
• Wow that tucked sit spin was really cool
• She's taken advantage of her height to make some really cool spin positions
• She's a very fragile looking skater, this was good music for her
• Competition Total: 102.49

4) Melanie Swang (THA)

• We are having a lot of film soundtrack moments
• Lots of double jumps here, we just can't have that
• She is really hunched over
• I appreciate her knee bend, but her upper body should be more upright
• Competition Total: 96.16

5) Zhaira Costiniano (PHI)

• 1 and a half lutz?
• That high free leg is a technical error
• Those bangs have got to go
• Needs to point that foot on the sit spin
• Well we missed the rest of the piece due to feed malfunctions
• Competition Total = 87.26

6) Yea-Ji Yun (KOR)

• She has a very fresh faced look 
• I like her elegance and her style, but some of the jumps just aren't there
• I love this Cinderella music on her, but the performance quality is not there
• Competition Total = 96.85

7) Chae-Yeon Shur (KOR)

• What to even say about this costume...it's just a lot
• Green is bad luck for sure
• Straighten that standing leg in the spins please!
• She's stalking those jumps big time
• That fall was horrible, right on the hip, that's gotta hurt
• Bailed jump mid air, she's running out of steam big team
• Poor girl, she looks so dejected
• Competition Total = 94.95

8) Alexandra Najarro (CAN)

• What's with the CDonn bun
• Popped 3toe, oh boy
• This is not going so well so far
• Point that foot please!
• This program took a long time to get to the part of the music that we know
• If you're going to take on this program, you need to kill it
• If she doesn't point that foot I don't even know what I'm going to do 
• She's a big fan of the headless spin
• Competition Total = 117.11

9) Mimi Tanasorn Chindasook (THA)

• This costume is interesting, it's rough to pull off all white
• Aborted first jump
• She's at least showing some grace
• Nice 2-3 combo
• A little clunky in the jumps
• Uh oh, botched a spin and had to skate around a little to wait for the music
• Poor girl, shes really running out of steam here
• She really needs some umph her in the big part of the music
• Competition Total = 97.19

10) Sandra Khopon (THA)

• I love this costume, its so elegant and interesting
• I like this music, it's different
• She could use a little zap of energy, but she's still about the best we've seen thus far
• Really high wrap on that leg in the jumps
• Competition Total = 103.15

11) Quiying Zhu (CHN)

• This is a fun little latin number
• Lots of two-footing moments happening
• She looks like she really can't breathe at all
• She's having a hard time even getting off the ice
• They are massaging her chest to keep help her breathe, this is really scary
• Competition Total = 102.77

12) Melinda Wang (TPE)

• This costume is very pretty, I like the deep purple
• She looks thrilled to be there, good for her!
• She's doing a really nice program, nice presentation, she is very present in this program
• She's breathing hard too, but I think she's going to make it okay though
• Competition Total = 103.69

13) Haruka Imai (JPN)

• This is a program where lyrics would help to bring out some personality
• Nice 3-3
• She needs a lot more face and more choreography 
• This is going very slowly, but then again the music isn't helping her at all
• That was a weird fall, her feet just fell out from under her
• She is running out of steam and this lounge version of My Fair Lady is doing nothing
• Competition Total = 134.49

14) Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN)

• She pops the first jump, that's what she always does
• There you go, good triple
• And another pop
• Nice turn out on that leg in the spin, good low position
• I'm not loving this white costume on her
• Let's get it on this footwork, keep it up and keep fighting for it
• Now she's really living up to the momentum in this music, needs to keep fighting
• Competition Total =147.47

15) Amelie Lacoste (CAN)

• This costume is a nice cut on her
• So far so good, 2 clean triples
• Stumble and trip on that next one there
• I like that side-stretched position on the layback
• Definitely some errors, but a cleaner skate overall than Cynthia
• And then you go and cock it up with a fall on a double axel
• Competition Total = 147.65

16) Bingwa Geng (CHN)

• Did these skaters all decide after practice and the men's event to just cut their losses and do double jumps?
• Lovely catch foot spiral
• She seems to be holding back, we'll never know how much this altitude is affecting the skaters
• These jumps are barely off the ground
• Competition Total = 127.89

17) Victoria Muniz (PUR)

• Good 3-jump combo off the bet, seems very strong
• That was a very ugly A-spin
• Definitely the best of the unknown skaters tonight despite some falls and doubling
• She is definitely breathing hard
• Competition Total = 117.83

18) Min-Jeong Kwak (KOR)

• These gloves are too much for me, they don't go with the costume
• Barely getting these jumps around
• Really running out of speed
• Good flexibility in the spins
• Competition Total = 130.52

19) Caroline Zhang (USA)

• Which Caroline will we get today?
• A lot of arm swing into that 2a
• So far so good, she doesn't seem to be too affected by the altitude
• Good clean program ending with her signature pearl spin!
• Competition Total = 176.18

20) Ashley Wagner (USA)

• Great 3-2-2 combo to open
• 2a-2t  instead of a planned 2a-3t but not too bad so far
• A little loss of speed in that spin
• Altitude is not affecting her, she looks strong as can be
• This is a fantastic skate from Ashley and she's really selling it well
• The title of US Champion suits her well
• Great clean program from Ashley, not just clean but inspired
• Let us hope that wasn't Ashleys peak
• Competition Total = 192.41

21) Agnes Zawadzki (USA)

• She's starting off much better than at US Nationals
• She looks so tall and elegant this season
• So far so good, but lacking spark
• There's no life in her skating, the seems tired, but she trains here
• I love that she points her foot on that final spin, I'm obsessed with that
• She's not happy, she just seems mentally blocked this season
• Competition Total = 157.23

22) Kanako Murakami (USA)

• I love Kananko...get it baby girl!
• She looks a little wild tonight, something just isn't quite right
• She looks exhausted, poor baby
• Her jumps looked really sloppy, technique looks off
• Competition Total = 169.32

23) Mao Asada (JPN)

• 3a, but looked 2-footed
• She's looking lovely tonight
• Hand down on the 3lz
• This is a really well composed program
• Beautiful pointed foot on that catch foot spin, I love the head back variation
• 2a-3t combination
• 3-2-2 combination, she's just floating through this, nothing is affecting her
• I love that spiral to end the program
• Good for her, she looks amazing and oh so happy out there!
• Competition Total = 188.62

24) Kexin Zhang (CHN)

2012 Four Continents Championships: Ladies Preview

Podium Predictions:
1) Mao Asada (JPN)
2) Ashley Wagner (USA)
3) Kanako Murakami (JPN)


I've loved Mao Asada (JPN) ever since she was a pre-teen jumping bean, but I think she's even better now in the Renaissance of her career. She may not be as technically proficient, but she's skating with the maturity of a true artist. I think that losing the Olympic Gold hurt her more than we can ever know and she is using that emotion to improve her performance quality. I grieve for her over the recent loss of her mother and that is the x-factor that certainly will affect her skating the rest of the season, though exactly how is an uncertainty. I think she'll take all of those feelings and put them into her programs, ultimately propelling her to a win.

Ashley Wagner (USA) is the new golden girl of the US and I think that new-found confidence is going to set her up for a nice run as a contender internationally. She beat Mao last year at at NHK 2010 and if she has it in her to do it again, this is as good a time as any. She is exquisitely trained and packaged this season and I believe she will go clean, but in my opinion that is not enough if Mao also skates clean. She's been talking up a triple-triple combination, even in the short, and I'd like to hope she'll try it here to give it a test run before Worlds. A medal here would do wonders for her confidence and give her more international credibility that could help her scores and give her the benefit of the doubt at Worlds.

Kanako Murakami (JPN) is still the little diva that burst onto the scene last year, she's just trying to find herself. Her programs are much  more lyrical and mature this season; I really appreciate that she's taking a step in that direction. Her jumps were an issue on the grand prix, particularly pops, which is a sign of lack of focus and confidence. I'm not worried about her, she's just in a sophomore slump, and I think a great performance and potentially a medal here will be a way to come out of that smelling like a rose.

The Japanese contingent is strong as always and Haruka Imai (JPN) has the potential to factor in. She's training with Sato and Dungjen and her skating reminds me of Yuka a lot. She has a beautiful, soft, elegant quality about her skating but she's a fragile skater and we don't know what kind of mindset she'll show up in. She trains in Detroit so travel and time changes won't affect her like it will the other Japanese ladies.

I like Agnes Zawadzki (USA) but I feel she is a little lost. Last season she had so much confidence, even when things weren't going well. This was an up and down season for her and I think she's just going through some growing pains of switching coaches and trying to find herself artistically. Actually, she reminds me of Kanako a lot this season. Aesthetically, I think her new look with the dark hair and makeup is very harsh. Is she trying to make herself look older? That's fine but if she softened up her look, I think it could help her artistically.

I can't even believe we are talking about Caroline Zhang (USA) as a contender at a major international but I'm happy to do it. If everybody skates clean, she still has a ways to go to make the podium. However, it's not an overly strong field and if she goes clean and others falter, she could find herself taking home some hardware. Either way, getting the bid to this event is a confidence builder and that's what she needs. The jumps still need some work, particularly in terms of height, but she's on the way. Now that skaters are seeming to have longer careers and/or peaking later in life, you can't count her out.

Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN) is certainly gritting her teeth after losing out on the National title. She breaks my heart because she's so dramatic and intense on the ice, that's my kind of skater, but she can't get out of her own head. She pops jumps more than she falls, which is a sign of focus issues. If anybody can straighten her out, it's Brian Orser, but will his methods have time to make an impact this soon in their partnership?

Amelie Lacoste (CAN) was recently crowned Canadian champ, but her federation does not yet have enough faith in her to send her to Worlds in it's one slot. They are using this event as a playoff between Lacoste and Phaneuf, so that will make for a good fight between them. I think I trust Lacoste more in the clutch than I do Phaneuf, particularly because she has momentum coming in from Canadians. 

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Ladies Free Skate LIVE BLOG

1) Lena Marrocco (FRA)
     Music: Notre Dame de Paris

• Hello Esmerelda!
• I missed the 1st 30 seconds so I don't know how she started off
• She's a decent little jumper when she's on...but her arms tend to kind of do whatever they want without exact placement
• She does a decent job of acting the character as well
• I'd like her to look up and out more
• This program looks very junior-ish, but she is very young
• Not really much too this program in the way of composition, I don't see the spins or footwork receiving very great levels
• She finally looked up on that spiral!
• A lot of little errors here and there

FS Score: 43.14 (TES) + 39.88 (PCS) = 83.02
Total Score: 43.95 (SP) + 83.02 (FS) = 126.97

2) Yretha Silete (FRA)
     Music: Xotica

• Hello loud costume
• Those hair clips + flower + the dangles in the back are really distracting
• Fall on the opening jump
• She has a lot of power in those legs
• At least this program has more in the way of choreography than Marrocco
• She's taken 2 very hard falls, both out of jumps that looked underrotated
• That split jump needs more height and stretch if she's going to do it
• All her jump landings are shaky
• I don't know how those loose pieces on her costume aren't driving her nuts in the spins and jumps
• I hope she's not hurt after those hard falls she took

FS Score: 47.60 (TES) + 42.05 (PCS) - 2.00 (DED) = 87.65
Total Score: 48.25 (SP) + 87.65 (FS) = 135.90

3) Sonia LaFuente (ES)
     Music: Concierto de Aranjuez

• I've had quite enough Aranjuez for one event thank you
• Hand down on the opening jump
• Sonia is looking pretty good so far
• Hardly any height at all on these jumps, but she's landing at least
• She could really straighten out her free let on that sit spin and point the foot
• There is no attempt at expression here at all
• Very nice hair cutter spin position, ended after the music

FS Score: 42.99 (TES) + 43.82 (PCS)  = 86.81
Total Score: 49.51 (SP) + 86.81 (FS) = 136.32

4) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
     Music: Fever, Jessica's Theme, Hey Pachuko

• This costume is just way too much
• And when you can see your tights in the back, you know the dress is cut to low
• She is mostly hitting the jumps
• The other elements of her program are slowly improving each competition
• The home crowd is loving her
• Her free leg is wrapped really high
• She is putting on a show for the home crowd

FS Score: 51.87 (TES) + 44.08 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 94.95
Total Score: 50.49 (SP) + 94.95 (FS) = 145.44

5) Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)
     Music: Sunset Boulevard

• Nice 3 jump combo
• It's fun to watch the sleeve puffs as she rotates her jumps
• If we have to hear Webber, I'm glad it's something other than Phantom or Evita
• So much passion in this footwork, She's a much different skater now after the confidence boost of winning Bronze at Skate America
• This program is a joy to watch, she's really giving it everything she has

FS Score: 48.59 (TES) + 52.15 (PCS) = 100.74
Total Score: 54.16 (SP) + 100.74 (FS) = 154.90

6) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
     Music: Violin Concerto

• I like this music on her a lot
• She looks so much more confident than she did in China
• She is flying through this beginning, but its a little sloppy
• She still looks like a little girl wearing big girl clothes
• 2nd popped jump, she's had a look of surprise on her face both times
• A skate with 2 singles is not going to put any pressure on the top ladies
• She is flying through everything, not taking time to hit any positions or feel the music
• She's a very emotional skater, in China she was crying after a decent skate, and now after two pops she's laughing at herself

FS Score: 51.66 (TES) + 53.88 (PCS) = 105.54
Total Score: 55.77 (SP) + 105.54 (FS) = 161.31

7) Alissa Czisny (USA)
     Music: Valse Triste

• 2 clean triples, and then she singles the axel
• Gorgeous spiral of course
• Alissa & Johnny Weir could've done pairs because the both jump and spin the same way
• Beautiful arch in the back on the camel
• Triple-double, no attempt at the 3-3 combo today
• There we go with a clean double axel
• All of the jumps seem to be a little pitched forward, they aren't perfect but she's learned to fight
• That straight leg and pointed toe on the sit spin are to die for!
• She is interpreting the music and performing much better overall here than she did at Skate America
• Why do I even comment on the spins, they're always going to be beautiful!
• She should be pretty happy with that, will be enough to medal

FS Score: 60.06 (TES) + 61.84 (PCS)  = 121.90
Total Score: 57.25 (SP) + 121.90 (FS) = 179.15

8) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
     Music: Adagio from Concerto 3 by Mozart

• Huge spring on the opening triple
• Now she's doubling jumps
• Really great speed as usual
• There is a smile finally!
• Really tight rotation, body position is perpendicular to the ice

FS Score: 66.97 (TES) + 63.65 (PCS) = 119.62
Total Score: 59.70 (SP) + 119.62 (FS) = 179.32

9) Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)
     Music: Latin Selection

• I wish she'd soften her hands
• Nice 3-3 combination!
• She's performing a little more today than she did in Canada
• This program still looks junior-ish, which it should since she's 14
• We'll see if the judges place her above or below the veterans, there's hardly room between them
• She really needs to straighten that foot on the sit spin
• What a little jumping bean!
• Very nice skate from Liza, do they give it to her? I think they have to unless there were deductions that we didn't see

FS Score: 63.66 (TES) + 57.19 (PCS) = 120.85
Total Score: 62.04 (SP) + 120.85 (FS) = 182.89

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Elizaveta TUKTAMISHEVA	RUS	182.89	1	2
2	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA	179.32	2	3
3	Alissa CZISNY	USA	179.15	3	1
4	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN	161.31	4	4
5	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	154.90	5	5
6	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	145.44	6	6
7	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP	136.32	7	8
8	Yretha SILETE	FRA	135.90	8	7
9	Lena MARROCCO	FRA	126.97	9	9

Pl.   Name Nation TSS = TES +   PCS + SS TR PE CH IN Ded. - StN. 1 Alissa CZISNY USA 121.90 60.06   61.84 7.86 6.96 8.04 7.75 8.04 0.00 #7 2 Elizaveta TUKTAMISHEVA RUS 120.85 63.66   57.19 7.07 6.61 7.54 7.14 7.39 0.00 #9 3 Carolina KOSTNER ITA 119.62 55.97   63.65 8.11 7.50 7.82 8.14 8.21 0.00 #8 4 Kanako MURAKAMI JPN 105.54 51.66   53.88 7.04 6.25 6.82 6.82 6.75 0.00 #6 5 Viktoria HELGESSON SWE 100.74 48.59   52.15 6.57 6.14 6.64 6.57 6.68 0.00 #5 6 Mae Berenice MEITE FRA 94.95 51.87   44.08 5.79 5.00 5.61 5.61 5.54 1.00 #4 7 Yretha SILETE FRA 87.65 47.60   42.05 5.39 4.93 5.25 5.46 5.25 2.00 #2 8 Sonia LAFUENTE ESP 86.81 42.99   43.82 5.79 5.21 5.50 5.50 5.39 0.00 #3 9 Lena MARROCCO FRA 83.02 43.14   39.88 5.29 4.46 5.14 5.04 5.00 0.00 #1

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard Ladies Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Sonia LaFuente (ESP)
     Music: Cry Me A River

• I love this costume! The coloring on the straps is so interesting
• Nice triple lutz to start off
• Triple loop-double toe
• Spiral into a double axel
• All her jumps are landed, but none of them get a lot of height and they rotate pretty slowly
• She needs to really straighten that leg on the camel spin
• Decent footwork, but I wish she'd show a little more expression on her face
• She needs to look up and out instead of down at the ice
• She needs to straighten her knee on the I-Spin

SP Score: 27.43 (TES) + 22.08 (PCS) = 49.51

2) Yretha Silete (FRA)
     Music: Black Swan

• Interesting to use this this music for the short, it's been mostly a free skate piece all season
• She can jump, but there's not much style there
• Stumble out of the double axel
• This is somebody who shouldn't be doing a Bielmann spin, if you can't do it great, then don't do it at all

SP Score: 26.60 (TES) + 21.65 (PCS) = 48.25

3) Lena Marrocco (FRA)
     Music: Minnie the Moocher

• This is a very different sort of program, grabs your attention right away
• Doubles the flip, that will hurt
• Turn out of the lutz, double toe on the end
• Nice double axel
• Her hands are very stiff, that breaks the arm line
• I appreciate her attempt at performance, she should take some acting classes to teach her how to relax her face while still expressing the music
• This step sequence showcases the nuances of the music
• The whole thing looks a little frantic to me
• Hits her last pose slightly after the music
• That was a decent outing, not terrible, not great

SP Score: 22.95 (TES) + 21.00 (PCS) = 43.95

4) Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS)
     Music: Tango by Piazzolla

• Go Liza!
• Nice 3-3 combo, get it girl!
• She is looking stronger that Skate Canada, going to give those top ladies a run for their money
• Her jumps just look so easy
• This program looks more mature that at Skate Canada

SP Score: 34.99 (TES) + 27.05 (PCS) = 62.04

5) Mae Berenice Meite (FRA)
     Music: Derniere Lettre du Prince

• She always wears such loud flashy costumes
• Solid opening combination, she rotated very quickly
• I think she would have done quite well under the 6.0 system
• Did she go through a growth spurt in the off season?
• She is going through the motions really slowly in this step sequence
• Love the music by the way
• Some one of her muscular build should FLY across the ice
• Very nice stretch in the came spin
• I don't know that that costume is the best for showing off her body line

SP Score: 28.71 (TES) + 21.78 (PCS) = 50.49

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

• What lives under that hair
• I don't like this version of My Funny Valentine, but that's just a personal opinion
• So far so clean
• She looks like a new skater today, that Skate America medal has given her so much confidence
• Interesting spin variations
• I love that she skates like a woman and not like a little girl
• I liked this program much better here than at Skate America

SP Score: 28.13 (TES) + 26.03 (PCS) = 54.16

7) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
     Music: Violin Muse

• She needs to get the confidence back that she had last year on the Grand Prix
• She is in a similar situation to Mirai Nagasu, she had a rough 1st Grand Prix so now she can skate lights out here
• Funky second landing, but hits the 3-3!
• She is carrying good speed throughout!
• She is really looking good in this step sequence
• I'd love to see her look up and out more rather than down at the ice
• She is so happy, so different from her last outing!

SP Score: 28.88 (TES) + 26.89 (PCS) = 55.77

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

• I love this program on her
• Triple lutz, a little shaky on the landing, let's hope that's the only bobble
• Turn out of the triple loop-double toe
• Weird swing out of the double axel
• Her jumps are not there today, but at least she didn't fall!
• This is such an elegant program
• Her PCS and the spin levels should hold her up pretty close the top even though the jumps were off
• Not her best, but she recovered from early mistakes and didn't fall

SP Score: 27.49 (TES) +  (PCS) = 57.25

9) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
      Music: Allegretto From Trio No. 2 by Shostakovitch

• Awesome speed
• Triple toe-triple toe, very tight quick rotation
• Is he underlayer of her costume different
• Was that a hand down on that triple salchow?
• A lot of ice coverage on the double axel
• Oh goodness, a fall on footwork, a simple concentration break
• She had a dear in the headlights look there for a minute and had trouble finding where to restart it

SP Score: 29.88 (TES) + 30.82 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 59.70

Pl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Elizaveta TUKTAMISHEVA	RUS	62.04	1
2	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA	59.70	2
3	Alissa CZISNY	USA	57.25	3
4	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN	55.77	4
5	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	54.16	5
6	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	50.49	6
7	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP	49.51	7
8	Yretha SILETE	FRA	48.25	8
9	Lena MARROCCO	FRA	43.95	9

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Elizaveta TUKTAMISHEVA	RUS	62.04	34.99		27.05	6.68	6.25	7.07	6.89	6.93	0.00	#4
2	Carolina KOSTNER	ITA	59.70	29.88		30.82	7.86	7.36	7.61	7.82	7.86	1.00	#9
3	Alissa CZISNY	USA	57.25	27.49		29.76	7.50	6.93	7.43	7.64	7.71	0.00	#8
4	Kanako MURAKAMI	JPN	55.77	28.88		26.89	6.86	6.39	6.79	6.79	6.79	0.00	#7
5	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	54.16	28.13		26.03	6.57	6.14	6.68	6.57	6.57	0.00	#6
6	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	50.49	28.71		21.78	5.61	5.18	5.50	5.57	5.36	0.00	#5
7	Sonia LAFUENTE	ESP	49.51	27.43		22.08	5.68	5.21	5.71	5.61	5.39	0.00	#1
8	Yretha SILETE	FRA	48.25	26.60		21.65	5.46	5.18	5.43	5.61	5.39	0.00	#2
9	Lena MARROCCO	FRA	43.95	22.95		21.00	5.32	4.93	5.32	5.43	5.25	0.00	#3