2012 Four Continents Championships: Pairs Short Program LIVE Coverage

1) Caydee Denney & John Coughlin (USA)

    Music: East of Eden

• Ice Musings and I are not obsessed with this themed entrance
• This looks a little slow for me today
• That was really slow getting into that lift
• That was a save on the throw, she was super tilted in the air
• Good showing overall from the home team
• 35.55 (TES) + 27.80 (PCS) = 63.35

2) Jessica Dube & Sebastien Wolfe (CAN)

    Music: Three Hours After Midnight

• I like her hair a lot and I love the zipper on the back of her dress
• Good speed
• I feel like she's reinvented herself as an athletic skater which is really cool
• 31.28 (TES) + 26.40 (PCS) = 57.68

3) Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (USA)

    Music: Singing in the Rain

• I'm loving her right now, so quick and speedy right off the bat
• Nice opening SBS jumps, great unison
• That split twist is so improved from last season
• Landed the throw on 2 feet, that's the only visible error
• Stretch out those legs on the lift honey!
• Nice button on the end
• 34.96 (TES) + 27.46 (PCS) = 62.42 

4) Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford (CAN)

     Music: Concierto de Aranjuez

• Meagan kind of looks like Hilary Swank
• Good fight on those SBS jumps, I don't know how she landed that
• Girlfriend is attacking this
• Did they change some of this choreography, I like it more than I remember it
• She looks oddly hunched over and he is very upright which exaggerates the height difference
• They're looking a bit tired here
• Hands down on the throw
• Something about it looked off today, I can't put my finger on it really
• 31.44 (TES) + 26.09 (PCS) = 57.53

5) Yue Zhang & Lei Wang (CHN)
     Music: The Swan

• All kinds of craziness on those SBS jumps, she doubles and he almost goes into the boards
• Really labored throw, two-footed
• They look really really tired out there, it's like slow motion
• Some nice moments of elegance, but the whole thing just lacks spark
•  24.21 (TES) + 23.63 (PCS) = 48.04

6) Huibo Dong & Yiming Wu (CHN)
    Music: Red Violin

• Slightly off on those SBS jumps, just a slight unison issue
• Wild on that throw, couldn't control the height, hands down
• A lot of position changes on those throws, not such clean positions though
• That was a decent skate, but no polish
• 27.29 (TES) + 22.23 (PCS) = 49.52 

7) Narumi Takahashi & Mervin Tran (JPN)
    Music: Imagine

• That was a cute little fist bump
• No elaborate opening poses here
• They are one of the "beautiful, but" teams
• Land those jumps Narumi please
• A little scratchy there on that throw
• Really nice entry into that lift, that's one of the best in the competition
• This music and the choreography is fantastic
• That is the only time you see a "unique entry" and the death spiral position is beautiful as well
• 34.74 (TES) + 27.80 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 61.54

8) Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN)
     Music: Country Dance

• She definitely grew
• They look like they were shot out of a rocket, it's a little too high energy for me
• So far so good, as long as they don't fall on a crossover of something, they'll likely take the lead
• I think this music may be arranged differently
• Their presentation quality is a welcome change from the rest of the Chinese pairs who are usually stone-faced
•  37.71 (TES) + 29.44 (PCS) = 66.75

9) Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig (USA)
    Music: The Man I Love

• That looked like a 2-foot, but that's a HUGE improvement
• She looked so good going in
• That was a beautiful throw, fantastic glide out of it
• So elegant, it's really refreshing to see them hit all those technical elements
• Best short of the season by far
• 32.47 (TES) + 28.28 (PCS) = 60.75

10) Paige Lawrence & Rudi Swiegers (CAN)
      Music: Beetlejuice

• That was nearly a fall on the split twist, she went way off to the side
• A lot of ice flying on those SBS jumps, but landed
• This is kind of weird choreography, but it suits the music well
• Very crooked position on the throw, but she managed to land it
• 31.28 (TES) + 26.69 (PCS) = 57.97

2012 Four Continents Championships: Men's Short Program

Thursday February 9th, 2012 8:45 PM EST

1) Nicholas Fernandez (AUS)
2) Maverick Eguia (PHI)
3) Alex Kang Chan Kam (KOR)
4) Harry Hau Yin Lee (HKG)
5) Hwan-Jin Kim (KOR)
6) Wun-Chang Shih (TPE)
7) Luiz Manella (BRA)
8) Jordan Ju (TPE)
9) Kevin Alves (BRA)
10) Min-Seok Kim (KOR)
11) Brendan Kerry (AUS)
12) Jeremy Ten (CAN)
13) Christopher Caluza (PHI)
14) Mark Webster (AUS)
15) Jinlin Guan (CHN)
16) Misha Ge (UZB)
17) Adam Rippon (USA)
18) Ross Miner (USA)
19) Nan Song (CHN)
20) Patrick Chan (CAN)
21) Tatsuki Machida (JPN)
22) Richard Dornbush (USA)
23) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
24) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
25) Jialiang Wu (CHN)
26) Denis Ten (KAZ)
27) Takahito Mura (JPN)
28) Abzal Rakimgaliev (KAZ)

2012 Four Continents Championships: Men's Preview

Podium Predictions:
1) Patrick Chan (CAN)
2) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
3) Adam Rippon (USA)

At this point, betting against Patrick Chan (CAN) is like betting against the Yankees, it's just not a smart idea most of the time. Kudos to he and his coach for figuring out the system (IJS) and working it to their advantage. It make not be pretty or exciting all the time, but they know where to squeeze out those points. The subversive part of me likes skaters who buck the system, but it's just not a smart idea if you actually want to win. Chan winning has become the biggest constant in skating these days. My one criticism of him is that he reuses programs too often. If we're going to see him at all the big events as the headliner, I want two new programs each season. But back to this event, he should have it in the bag aside from a 4+ fall meltdown. His 3 Quads and PCS will get him the Gold, despite my love for Takahashi. He's also competing in his home arena, so it will feel like practice.

My love for Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) runs deep, but even I don't think he has it in him to beat Chan anymore. His dance and performance abilities are otherworldly, but his jumps are not what they used to be and he's showing his age. If he could get ever get that Quad flip, he'd be in the ballgame, but without it, he'll play second fiddle to Chan. He is first in my heart, but unfortunately he'll probably be second on the ice.

Nan Song (CHN) was the surprise of the Grand Prix for me this season, grabbing some medals and almost making the Final. He plans 3 quads across his programs and they're pretty spectacular. He's not an artist by any means, so that aspect of his skating suffers, but he tries at least! He'll be a great up and comer, and he reminds me a little of Javier Fernandez at this time last year. Both burst onto the scene because of their ability to  do Quads, but now Fernandez has found an artistic side as well.

Adam Rippon (USA) is finally looking like himself again with a recent 2nd place finish at the US Championships. However, he lost tot Jeremy Abbot by a large margin. Because he does not have the Quad, he'll have to maximize GOE marks on all of his other elements to have comparable scores to Song and company. He usually gets the edge in PCS marks because of his great quality of skating overall. Winning a medal here is a chance to make a mini splash pre-Worlds and set up for a good showing in Nice.

Of the rest of the American contingent, Ricky Dornbush and Ross Miner each has an outside shot at this podium if they can stay clean and like the top guys make mistakes. Ross won at bronze at NHK trophy by doing just that. Ricky was disastrous in the short at US Nationals and Ross made a few silly mistakes in the free so this is their chance to end the season on a high note after failing to make the World team.

The rest of Canada's team is a bit spotty as well. Kevin Reynolds is known for his ability to do Quads with ease, but the rest of his programs normally go to the wayside under competition pressure. Jeremy Ten is a wonderful skater, but he's missed over a season with serious injury so this will be our first time seeing him in forever, so nobody knows what to expect. 

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. 

Dance Moms LIVE BLOG: Season 2, Episode 5

• Brooke needs to be more mature and stick with something for a whole season
• I get what Abby is saying about Brooke, she's being very nice to her about it
• Wowza, Kendall is finally off probation
• I love Starbound, that's a good competition
• Paige didn't do a trio because you pulled it from her Abby
• Wow Maddy was downgraded to #3 on the pyramid, she needs to step it up
• Poor Peyton, she wasn't given a fair shot, but her height did make her stick out like a sore thumb
• How do these women even have voices with all the screaming?
• I wonder if Brooke was actually ever on that cheer team?
• Haha Brooke is "portraying an alien like her mother"
• Mackenzie's hat is so funny! 
• Mackenzie learned to dance in 30 minutes!
• "This is my hobby, watching my kids" -Jill; that is just sad, get your own life dear
• My teacher would pitch a fit if a parent went to an assistant instead of her
• It took Nia and Paige a long time to get special parts, Jill needs to calm it down
• Melissa works the front desk for free to get her daughter ahead, I know that exact mom at my studio
• Jill is definitely messing the group up, before she got there, they only talked about Melissa behind her back
• What team are you on...Jill/Melissa or Christi/Kelly/Holly?
• I'm really liking Abby this episode, she's acting like a real person, nice tender little moment with Mackenzie
• Oh lord have mercy, Jill hired a personal in-studio masseuse for Abby & Gia...but why is Jill in there during the massage? Weird !
• I think I'd be terrified to ride in a bus driven by Abby
• Jill, dear, obviously Kendall has to still stretch even though she has no solos, what are you smoking?
• Half the time I can't even hear what they're saying because they all yell over each other
• Mackenzie does have some nice acro skills for her age
• Poor Brooke always has to wear cirqu du  soleil-esque eye makeup
• This music sounds like 2001 Space Odyssey
• Brooks movements look a little slow and clunky...Abby isn't happy
• Aww Mackenzie won, that's awesome, she's really coming into her own, she isn't just eating chips anymore
• You can't deny that Abby knows her stuff, telling them to jump from their core and not the legs is spot on
• Christi is acting like white trash
• I love Abby's constant references to Broadway, she has genuine reverence for it
• Avalanche is a really cute number, I like the costumes a lot
• The group didn't win, Abby is smart to recognize that the kids that won love dance more than some of her kids
• What is going on next week, it looks like a hodge-podge mess if I've ever seen one

2012 Four Continents Championships: Ice Dance Preview

This is a picture we haven't seen in two seasons, Virtue & Moir wearing Gold while Davis & White wore Silver. To be fair, the Canadians were not at 100% last season even when they did compete, but this season the teams are on a level playing field and Davis & White won the singular head-to-head battle at the Grand Prix Final. Can they repeat here? I say...yes!

Podium Predictions:
1) Davis & White (USA)
2) Virtue & Moir (CAN)
3) Shibutani & Shibutani (USA)


It's splitting hairs comparing the top two teams but I think Davis & White (USA) have the winning free skate. It's operatic, it's beautiful, it's elegant, it's shall we say European. Virtue & Moir (CAN) have a more theatrical free skate and while I happen to prefer it, it do not feel that the judges will score it as highly as the Americans in head-to-head competition. The teams are perfectly matched in terms of technical elements and program components so it simply comes down to the judges' preferences and whether one team will make a mistake as Virtue & Moir did with their fall in the short dance at the Grand Prix Final.

Another key battle will be for the bronze medal between Shibutani & Shibutani (USA) and Weaver & Poje (CAN). The Canadians were slightly behind the Americans at NHK Trophy, but went on to beat them by 6 points at the Grand Prix Final in December. The young Americans were majorly lacking in the short dance, which they've since beefed up. The Shib Sibs almost always skate clean while Weaver & Poje are known for making mistakes in high pressure situations so I'm going with the safe bet and taking the Americans based on their penchant for clean skating and upward improvement throughout the season. For the record, I personally hope Weaver & Poje can go clean and take bronze here and at Worlds.

I'm on the fence about Hubbell & Donohue (USA) in that I like their skating and I think they bring out the best in one another and have meshed very well in under a year. However, I think they still look a little tacky in their packaging. Now that they're going to be on 4CC and World teams with Meryl Davis, Madison needs to step it up in costume, hair, and makeup department. Ice dancing is so aesthetic and Meryl Davis is all class all the say...Madison Hubbell should take a page from that book. But back to the skating, they impressed with a win at Nebelhorn, but slumped when their programs weren't received well at Skate America. They beat some good teams to take 3rd at US Nationals, but I fear they won't score as well here or at Worlds as Chock & Bates could have scored. Again, that's just my personal opinion. I hope they prove me wrong.

The biggest disappointment of the season for me has been Paul & Islam (CAN). I expected them to seize the 3rd spot in Canada with the retirement of Crone & Poirier but they had a disastrous Grand Prix and for some reason their programs aren't clicking with the judges and they finished a disappointing 5th at their Nationals. Canada truly extended an olive branch by sending them to this event. I hope they can up their stock and build some momentum for next season.

2012 Four Continents Championships: Pairs Preview

Podium Predictions:
1) Duhamel & Radford (CAN)
2) Sui & Han (CHN) 
3) Denney & Coughlin (USA)

Choosing against a Chinese pairs team may be counter-intuitive, but I'm going with the heartwarming story and Duhamel & Radford (CAN) have great momentum going into this event. Since the event is in North America, Colorado Springs specifically, this is practically a home game for them as they won't have to adjust to much of a time difference and there will certainly be a decent Canadian crowd. They are coming off the high of winning Canadian Nationals decisively and they have ambitions technical elements that rival the top teams in the world. They won't get the PCS of the top European teams, but their unison and chemistry is undeniable and they won't face the best in the World until the compete in Nice in March. This will be a good test for them to see how ready they are to contend on the big stage.

Pre-season, it seemed an afterthought that Sui & Han (CHN)  would be contenders for the World podium this season after a stellar debut last year, but they've fallen off a bit with inconsistencies and technical mistakes. They are moving in a more mature direction with a Tango Free Skate, but they still look like a junior team to me. If they hit here, they could win, but they have yet to do so this season and I won't believe it until I see it.

I'm finally drinking the Kool-Aid and buying into Denny & Coughlin (USA) after a convincing win at US Nationals last week. I'm not saying they have World medal potential, but you can't deny that they are consistent and have had a good overall freshman season. Their artistry needs work, but they have solid pair technique and their unison is pretty spot-on for a new team. Time will tell if they can break the curse of the other American pairs and actually go the distance. Their "elegance" is non-existent, but but that is a learned trait and they do have one of the most important intangibles, the competitive edge. Their packaging also needs an overhaul, from costuming to hair and makeup.

A personal favorite of mine is Takahashi & Tran (JPN) and I'd actually love to see them win, but they are so inconsistent. If one of them isn't falling on the side-by-side jumps, its the other. They are elegant and have an on-ice maturity beyond their years, but inconsistency is a major problem and somebody needs to teach them how to compete.

Another team to watch out for is Marley & Brubaker (USA) who made a big splash at US Nationals, winning the short program and nearly taking the title save for a few uncharacteristic mistakes. Though they won't be thought of as medal contenders this season, this is a polished, athletic team on the rise and they have plenty of gas left in the tank with many years left to climb the ranks

On the opposite end of the pairs spectrum you have Evora & Ladwig (USA) who are entering the twilight of their careers without  much international success. We can't keep making excuses for them by saying "they are great, but..." and they just need to man up and land those jumps if they are ever going to crack the top 6 at Worlds. We saw a US pair do it last season but that was after they put together 2 perfect programs. Will Evora & Ladwig ever win a major international medal before they retire? They have as much of a shot as any to do that here if they hit.