Rostelecom Cup 2010: Exciting Pairs?!

Happy December! I will open this month with the second installment of my Grand Prix retrospection: the Rostelecom Cup, or, as it should always be known, Cup of Russia. I'm glad that there are companies out there still stupid or naive or kind enough to sponsor figure skating events, but "Rostelecom Cup" is just such a terrible name. The organizers know it, too, seeing as they still embedded "Cup of Russia" in the middle of the rink.

Partly redeeming this name is, surprisingly, the pairs event. Lately pairs has been my least favorite discipline, but this time it was the one that contained the pleasant surprises. Before I can get there, however, I feel obligated to sit through the shuffling mess that was the ladies.

I've tried to like Miki Ando. I really have. Yet for all my countless hours of watching this sport, I cannot understand why the majority of my country finds her so cute. I don't understand why her jumps are such a big deal when she is in tears trying to come up with excuses half the time, and her lack of artistry is a perpetual annoyance. And I'm just going to pretend I don't know who Nikolai Morozov is, even though that's impossible.

I actually kind of like the music Miki uses in her short program; it has a catchy tempo, beat, and power, and helps mask her lack of lyricality. Her performance was fairly uninspired, though, and that patch on her back was beyond distracting. Even at full speed her triple flip looked underrotated to my very informally trained eye (although there is no reason to give her a -3 GOE, random judge).

It's rare that I can find a figure skating performance aired in a language I understand, haha. I like keeping things in this blog uniform, but not so much so that I'll pass up a Japanese broadcast. Anyway, Miki's patch seemed to have grown overnight, and by Nationals I'm sure it will be large enough to explain any defeat she may suffer. On a positive note, it seems that Miki's fashion sense has exponentially improved this season, though perhaps at Mao's expense.

The music she uses in this program is completely different from her short program's, and it looks like she's really trying to improve her artistry. She doesn't quite succeed--she completely ignores the most dramatic part of the music because she's too busy backloading her program with jumps--but at least she's trying, I guess? And her jumps are nothing to laugh at--the solo triple Lutz was huge.

Ah, Akiko Suzuki. Another skater I have tried and failed to like. What am I supposed to do, now that Yukari Nakano has retired and the real Mao Asada is nowhere to be found? Akiko's one-armed Biellmann was seriously ugly and made me miss Mao even more. Akiko does get credit, though, for pushing through hard times and squeezing the best out of her talent and opportunities.

How refreshing it is to see a coach and his skater keep a healthy distance between them in the Kiss & Cry. I also didn't realize that Hiroshi Nagakubo was so old.

Hrm, so I guess Russian short program video-Japanese free skate video is the theme for this post. The first thing I noticed about Akiko's costume here is that it helps her look more cute than usual, although Fiddler on the Roof is anything but cute and I am not a fan of the single-shoulder look that seems to be going on these days.

This is a great program for her--it accentuates how delicate and quietly expressive Akiko can be. The contrasting energetic highs help bring out her inner energy and smile, and she manages to keep up her speed to match until the end. Her jump positions could be better, but she seems to be constantly improving and watching her sort of makes me warm and happy.

The parade of skaters of whom I am not a fan continues. Ashley Wagner seems to have tried to go the chic and mature route in her short program, although her artistry--or her skating in general--has not evolved to match. Maybe all the too-dark foundation on her face was weighing her down, but her first two jumping passes were not quite perfect and she doesn't seem to have a presence on the ice. Simply put, I enjoyed the music, but not her performance.

Oh dear, what a bad, bad idea. This music immediately conjures images of Sasha Cohen's short program from many seasons ago, and even with Sasha's mistakes it is just not possible for Ashley to measure up. She even seems to steal some of the choreography wholesale, which is an even worse idea. To top it all off, she even includes a fall. Amazing.

Now, I haven't had the chance to like or dislike Agnes Zawadzki yet, but the signs seem to point to dislike. Her jumps are rather nice, but she is a product of the Colorado training center and looks like Amber Corwin. She is far more interesting than her training mate Rachael Flatt, but there was nothing particularly memorable about this program.

Her free skate, though, was why I bothered to watch her at all this competition--who can ignore such a spectacular meltdown? Agnes looked more mature in this program than in her short, but this also had three more falls and various other messes. How she manages to smile at the end is beyond my understanding, but good for her, I suppose.

And now that that's done, I can now move on to the whole point of this post.

No matter how many times I read the name to myself, I can't get used to "Kavaguti." Seriously, woman, have you no standards? I remember several years ago when Terry Gannon mentioned that Yuko Kawaguchi, as she was then thankfully known, did not want to give up her Japanese citizenship just to go to the Olympics representing Russia. Well, it seems like she threw that all out the window and then some. She'd better hope there's a Russian man waiting to marry her, because no Japanese man with an ounce of sense is going to.

I can't make much sense out of Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov's short program music choice. It's what is played at like, opening ceremonies and at particularly dramatic moments in Japanese variety shows. It doesn't make for great figure skating performances. Neither do Alexander's pants, for that matter. Yuko fought for each and every landing, and somehow the pair managed to come out on top. The memory of their coach's death glare is probably still very fresh.

From one overplayed piece to another. Alexander's wedding ring stands out more than any other skater's I've ever seen, except maybe Mark Ladwig's. The unison on their side-by-side spins was basically perfect, and as usual they had impressive pair elements that Yuko fought to control. Of course, my favorite part--just like everybody else--is where Alexander goes in to bite Yuko's neck, and she lies in his ars with a glassy, frozen expression. This is seriously not an attractive pair.

I'd seen Narumi Takahashi & Mervin Tran's names at various junior international competitions over the past few seasons, but this was the first time I ever watched them skate. Okay, so this pair is only half Japanese, so there's still a lot of ground to break when it comes to pairs skating in Japan, but it's a huge step forward.

Did the Russian commentator seriously say "Bublah" for "Bublé"? That would really make my day.

Anyway, Narumi & Mervin's split triple twist was huge, and their side-by-side-spins, though not perfectly in unison, were super fast. They're not quite expressive and still somewhat juniorish, but their elements are solid. Potential! Potential! Unbelievable. Now if only Japanese ice dancers existed...

Narumi better not be the next Keauna McLaughlin. Just saying.

This program didn't do much to grab my attention, either, but again, it's very refreshing and reassuring to see that a Japanese pairs team may one day emerge internationally after all.

God, I love this pair. Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig are actually energetic and mature with each other, and the transformation of their costumes following last season's successes is dramatic. It's obvious that (for the first time ever?) they were custom-made, and it really helps them look like they belong. They even saved the best for last, placing a teaser bit of one of their signature lifts near the end of their program.

Their free skate costumes had a bit of last-season feel to it, but no matter. Amanda & Mark are skating with a new confidence this season, minus Amanda's obligatory fall, and it's wonderful. Nessun Dorma needs to be retired, and Amanda & Mark need to channel their new confidence into finding their own music. They did, however, make a real effort into doing the overplayed piece justice with their spot-on double Axel sequence and huge lifts. Mark's reaction during their bows and in the Kiss & Cry is priceless. It's great that even Jim Peterson can get into the camera mugging. Their hugs at the end are adorable. Love, love. This kind of closeness is okay. Nikolai, take note.

2010 Skate America: More or Less Than the Sum of Their Parts

Yes, for the Pairs Free Skate I actually decided to watch all of the competing teams. Here we go.

Stacey Kemp & David King went first with an awkward and almost dangerous program. The best that the commentators could come up with during their short and long programs was that Stacey designs their costumes. That's lovely, but it has nothing to do with their actual skating.


They opened with a split triple twist that ended in a crash and a near-fall from Stacey. David then stepped out of their side-by-side double jumps--seriously, they can't find a way to manage triple toe loops or something? She did manage to land a throw triple toe, but despite some very audible counting by David their side-by-side spins traveled and went a bit off. Their slow music did nothing to help their slow combination spin along, and I believe I heard all of one person clap after they came out of it. Stacey & David's star lift had a nice position but was also slow, and then she followed it up by falling on a throw triple loop and leaving out the second jump of their side-by-side double jump combination. They ended their program with two lifts sandwiching a death spiral, and I guess all I can say is that the last 45 seconds was probably the best of their performance.

I don't really understand how a team unable to do side-by-side triple jumps even decided to compete at the senior level internationally. What is the point? To throw money and time away? Despite having been together for years, their unison is off and there is no chemistry between them. Surely two people in their 20s have better things to do with their lives.

The next team was Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir, who were skating to Avatar and really decided to dress the part. The thing about Simon is that he's tall. Like, really tall--the kind of tall I tend to discriminate against. Anyway, this makes for some amazing pairs skills, and they skated with really impressive speed into a huge split triple twist. They followed this with a nice lasso lift, although they both had problems on their following side-by-side triple toes. This didn't seem to bother them much as they launched into a more or less clean side-by-side double toe + double toe combination. Then came their big attempt: a throw triple Axel. Marissa really stumbled out on the landing (to the point where I thought it would be considered a fall), but it was so close to being landed. You could see her rotating straight in the air, but then it fell apart.

The timing on their side-by-spins was also a little off, and their combination spin positions sometimes looked a little forced despite great flexibility from Marissa because she is so tiny compared to Simon. Then came some odd character acting by Simon.

After a nice lift that really showed off his strength, the pair pulled off a huge throw triple Salchow that covered so much distance and had so much height. And take a look at her position on their rotational lift:


Their speed and energy throughout was really impressive, and on and off the ice they looked like so much fun. No wonder--a personal best score can have that effect!

Third to skate was Felicia Zhang & Taylor Toth, whom I've been really interested in since they won Junior Nationals last year in their first season together. Since then, though, they seem to have hit a number of obstacles--obstacles that can be addressed, but only if they decide they really want to.

Felicia and Taylor were individually meant to be pairs skaters. She is bubbly and personable, tiny and fearless. He is kind and thoughtful, strong and protective. For some reason, though, Felicia seems determined to continue skating singles as well, which--and I love her as a person so I feel bad saying this at all, except everybody knows it--is not going anywhere and never really will. And so it is time for them to buckle down and focus on becoming the top pair in the United States, which given the current field is not actually such a huge task.

But since she is still skating singles and their partnership is still pretty young, they crashed on their split triple twist (must all programs always open with a split triple twist?). Their strength at the moment--their singles elements--also deserted them, as Taylor stumbled on the triple toe of their triple toe + double toe sequence, Felicia fell on the double toe, and their synchronization fell apart sometime in between. Their first lift went well, but their side-by-side spins was when it got really scary. They started their flying camels way too close to each other, and Felicia pulled out of it to avoid becoming the next Elena Berezhnaya.

To their credit, Felicia & Taylor brushed this aside and landed a great throw triple Salchow, though something very odd happened in the exit of their next lift. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but it did not go the way it was planned. Felicia then landed a throw triple loop leaning forward, and the pair followed this with a decent lift and off-timed side-by-side double Axels. There really wasn't much reason for their double Axels to not be synchronized, except for whatever reason Taylor hung around just a bit too long.

I loved Felicia's back position in this spin, though.

I love Felicia & Taylor, I really do. But this was a painful performance to watch on so many levels, and I can only hope that it catalyzes some major changes.

Then it was Ksenia Stoblova & Fedor Klimov, with Ksenia dressed like a French maid who ran out of material. The moment the music came on, it was Daisuke Takahashi 2009-2010 all over again, except more poorly performed. Their opening split double (surprise!) twist was fine, overlooking the fact that it was a double, but she fell on their throw triple flip. A great and original element was their triple toe + double toe + double toe three-jump combination, which was done with good synchronization if not with great flow out.

The music picked up just as they hit a nice lift, then wandered in and out of synchronization on their side-by-side spins. Despite a slightly forward-leaning landing, Ksenia & Fedor's throw triple Salchow was huge, and then following another lift they did mirror-image double Axels, which I thought was kind of cool.

Better State Farm than Alka-Seltzer.

Wenjing Sui & Cong Han came next, looking juvenile as ever. Random anonymous Asians have been getting angry that people are questioning Wenjing's age (and there does seem to be an argument to be made, I feel), saying that it's racist and rude to assume that just because Asians look relatively young they actually are. I digress, but these accusations are stupid. I don't actually care all that much about this issue, but when people blindly play the race card I always feel the need to say something. Yes, Asians look young, but several points need to be made:

1. Wenjing is not the first Asian the figure skating world has ever seen. The informal suspicions surrounding her age come from years of having developed notions of what of-age Asian females should look like, whether she be Xue Shen or Mao Asada or Michelle Kwan. Wenjing does not look too young because she looks younger than Caydee Denney, she looks too young because she looks younger than Kanako Murakami.
   
2. I am destined to be carded for a long time to come. However, no one who actually interacts with me would believe that I am sixteen or eighteen or whatever age I may or may not look. I carry myself differently than I did as a teenager. My emotional responses are more complex, more thoughtful. My facial expressions come from a deeper place, and I understand the significance of things and events more profoundly.
   Are figure skaters shielded and stunted? Of course they are. But Wenjing's attitude on the ice, and her way of expressing herself through her body and facial language, indicate an immaturity that seems to come simply from a lack of time spent so far in this world.
   
3. Felicia also does not look seventeen. Yet no one questions her age because the United States does not have a history of fabricating ages.
   

Anyway... Wenjing & Cong, looking juvenile as ever in ill-advised bumblebee costumes despite skating to Charlie Chaplin. Robin Szolkowy looked positively ancient warming up next to them.


Whatever age this pair might be, there's no arguing that their technical content is all there. Unlike the previous pairs, Wenjing & Cong started with a double Axel + double Axel sequence, then did a (two-footed) throw quad Salchow. Their side-by-side triple toes were a little far apart, but then their side-by-side spins were almost dangerously close. The second throw, a triple flip, was huge, as was their (finally!) split triple twist. The lifts and spins left to the end of their program really benefited from Wenjing's flexibility.

They skated with good speed and energy throughout, and really delivered for being so inexperienced. Good for them.

Absurd.

Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett, continuing their more mature look this season, came out next in blue costumes with silver rhinestone trim. I would say they were beautiful, but Caydee's hair and makeup (as well as the feathery fringe on the bottom of her skirt--what?) renders this an impossible task. I also wish they didn't shove Rhapsody in Blue into our faces by dressing in blue, but whatever, I guess.

They started with a decent split triple twist followed by side-by-side triple toes, and then pulled off a strong throw triple Lutz. Caydee & Jeremy had good union on both their single Axel + double Axel sequence and their fast side-by-side combination spins, and kept up this speed into a lift and a throw triple loop that ended in a fall. The thing that stood out for me with this pair was their attention to positions at the end of elements--Caydee in particular made a point to extend all the way out to her fingertips when coming out of lifts and spins.

Because Canada needs someone to be overrated at every competition, Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch, second after the Short Program, skated next. They're just so unremarkable I don't know what to say. They skated to Les Miserables in what I thought was traditional German costume for Kirsten and toy soldier costume for Dylan.


They had a good split triple twist followed immediately by a double toe + double Axel sequence. Kirsten put one hand slightly down on an almost out-of-control throw triple loop. After a decent lift, Kirsten & Dylan both stepped out of their side-by-side triple Salchows in perfect unison. Some forgettable spins and lifts later, they did a very late throw triple Salchow immediately followed by side-by-side combination spins that started out fast and together but soon lost its synchronization. One last lift later, this utterly average program came to an end.

Well, I'll say one thing for them: they've achieved more closeness and chemistry in a year and a half than Stacey & David have in more than seven years. I really need some top teams to slap them back into their places, though.

Skate America saved the tackiest for last in this competition. It's a good thing Aliona Savchenko has an amazing body and even more amazing self-confidence, because otherwise there wouldn't even be half an excuse for a hot pink body suit in emulation of the Pink Panther. Robin Szolkowy, meanwhile, was dressed like an airline pilot with pajama pants.

You know, people think Japan is weird, but Germany puts up a very good fight.

Fortunately for Aliona & Robin, they can get away with outfits like these because their skating speaks for itself. Their first element, a throw triple flip, was absolutely huge and was rewarded by +3 and +2 GOEs across the board. There's always a judge who needs to disagree and hand out the lone -1, but not in this case. Then came a side-by-side triple toe + triple toe sequence, although Robin just barely managed to not step out of the second jump. Their side-by-side combination spins lost unison by the end, but when they were together, they were amazing.

Aliona & Robin's split triple twist came in the middle of their program, after their spiral sequence, and was followed curiously by side-by-side double Salchows. They left their visually impressive lifts to the end, topped off with a last-second throw triple Salchow, but I'm still not sure what their program was actually about. No matter, though, since they blew away the second-place Canadians by more than 20 points.

Skate America 2010: The Dishwashing Edition

Okay, the title has nothing to do with the skating and everything to do with my attempt to keep my apartment clean as I keep up with my fandom. As you may have noticed, I don't do anything halfway--I boycotted the Grand Prix pretty dramatically, and now I'm back in the Grand Prix pretty dramatically. Such is my personality, I suppose.

The best part of the broadcast, at first, was the technical glitch that made it near-impossible to hear the commentators. I therefore got to watch Felicia Zhang & Taylor Toth in blissful peace, which was perfect because they were skating to Clair de Lune. Their performance had their ups and downs--Felicia crashed into Taylor on their opening split triple twist, but this was followed by rock-solid side-by-side triple toes. Their singles background really shows, although now I'd love for them to skate more closely together.

And then, just as I was marveling at their unison on their side-by-side spins...


...they completely fell out of it. Sigh. They seemed okay with their 48.13, though. It's their first senior Grand Prix ever, after all!

I'd never heard of Canada's Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch before watching this (I was ignoring Skate Canada, remember?), and after watching their skate I can't say I'm all that eager to hear from them again. They seem solid enough, and were rewarded quite nicely by a second-place 61.64, but when my dishes are more interesting than their performance, there's a problem.

Next was Ksenia Stolbova & Fedor Klimov, whom I'd also never heard of but actually paid attention to. Their costume choices were a little suspect, particularly for Ksenia, but she is seriously pretty. They may be a little rough around the edges, but they have a performance quality that grabbed my attention. Their throw triple covered a lot of ground although Ksenia did have to fight a bit for the landing. They're young (18 and 20), so hopefully they'll follow up on their potential, because I am intrigued. Sadly, though, they only received 53.73. I wasn't watching all that closely, but I was expecting a little bit more.

Black mesh? What?

The first group ended with Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir, whose all-black costumes totally upped their sex appeal. Their performance had issues, however, with Simon falling on their side-by-side triple jumps and Marissa falling on their throw triple. They also had some strange choreography going on, such as this:

Seriously, figure skating right now is all about shamelessly scrambling for points, and they glide on two feet for ten seconds?

Yet even with two falls, with 47.24 they are less than a point behind Felicia & Taylor.

There's something kind of cute about Stacey Kemp & David King, but not so much that the judges could overlook their messy split triple twist, low side-by-side double (double!) flips, and overall slowness. A flat 42.00 put them in last place by over five points.

Next came a potential heir to the Chinese pairs dynasty (although, if you really start thinking about it, it's really just Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao, with a few pretenders taking advantage of the coattail effect and some wonky ISU rules, but whatever, their pairs are legit), Wenjing Sui & Cong Han. The first thing I noticed was their costumes. Dear GOD.

She also needs to choose a color other than white for the underwear area.

They had good speed, which was carried by the tempo of the country music, and in true Chinese fashion their split triple twist and throw triple flip were huge. The synchronization on their spins drifted off halfway through, and the entry into their lift looked a little labored, but there's no denying that the world's most populous country has chosen these two to be its next champions. They also seem to have the advantage of growing up in an already-established Chinese pairs system, meaning that they have a lot more character and artistry than the older pairs did when they first started. 57.53, still behind the forgettable Canadians.

Oh hey, look! Masters of bad coaching decisions, Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett! They don't seem to have actually suffered as a result of this decision, but I'm not convinced that they'll actually grow. Despite slightly more elegant costuming Caydee does not seem to have lost any of her strange Courtney Love-ness. Nevertheless, they had great unison on their spins and generally good energy throughout. 58.49, though, does a disservice to their maturity compared to the Chinese team.

This time, the best was saved for last: Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy. I would ordinarily suggest that they retire, but I guess they have unfinished business. I do wonder if this business included trying to be as poorly attired as possible:


Their opening throw triple flip was almost too big for her to handle--she was also leaning in the air--but she managed to pull it off. She was also leaning on their side-by-side triple toes, which were placed a little too far apart for two-time World Champions, but again she fought enough to keep it clean. They did, however, have a lot of unison problems on their side-by-side spins. Overall, this wasn't a great performance, but they did enough to stay on top of a mediocre Grand Prix field. 63.99 gives them a two-point lead, which they should definitely be able to build on with a problem.

Time to Take My Head Out of the Sand

Okay, here we go, four weeks late: I'm going to follow the Grand Prix. What better time to finally leap in than a competition that features Daisuke Takahashi, Nobunari Oda, Adam Rippon, Kanako Murakami, Rachael Flatt, Meryl Davis & Charlie White, Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani, and Felicia Zhang & Taylor Toth?

Most of these skaters I am legitimately cheering for (see: everyone except Rachael Flatt), although sometimes (see: Nobunari Oda, Adam Rippon, and Kanako Murakami) that support is colored by a simple sense of curiosity as to what will happen next. (This reminds me, I still need to watch Nobunari's Skate Canada programs and compare them to the reported train wreck that Patrick Chan's were.)

I'm not going to even bother trying to make predictions. Let the obsessive viewing finally begin!

By the way, this is the dumbest IceNetwork poll ever:

Who's the most likely skater/team to win gold at Skate America?

Meryl Davis and Charlie White 83%

Rachael Flatt 7%

Adam Rippon 6%

Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett 2%

P.S. I just realized I wrote this at 11:11! I hope something lucky happens, because I forgot to make a wish. =(

Nebelhorn Love

Nebelhorn Nebelhorn Nebelhorn! I usually don't get anywhere near this excited for the Nebelhorn Trophy (despite its awesome name--that was the real reason I had to write it four times in the first two sentences, obviously) because it generally showcases new talent that I don't yet care about or older talent that just isn't making it elsewhere. This year, however, there are some aspects to this competition that make it quite intriguing.

In terms of competitors, I am a little mystified that there are no Japanese ladies, as I am sure there is no shortage of girls who dream of becoming the next Mao Asada. Even Kanako Murakami could probably benefit from competing here and getting some early feedback as a senior. There is also only one Japanese male competing, which is also a little odd because there must be many boys out there who think Daisuke Takahashi is really, really cool. Heh.

So in terms of competitors actually competing, I am very excited to see how Felicia Zhang & Taylor Toth and Maia & Alex Shibutani do. They have both moved up to seniors for the first time this season, and sadly history has shown that junior success does not necessarily mean senior success. I have confidence that these two teams have the talent and commitment to pull the transition off, but I do need to see it happen! In addition to seeing where they stand in relation to other senior teams, I'm also eager to just watch their new programs--if I did a little research I could at least know what music they are using, but my Internet is being uncooperative and I think I kind of like being surprised.

Have I said this already? Kevin Van der Perren needs to retire as soon as possible. I should start making a list of skaters who need to retire. So far on this list are Kevin, Fumie Suguri, Rena Inoue & John Baldwin, and possibly Alissa Czisny and Miki Ando. I can understand why Alissa and Miki have decided to continue, but I honestly can't see them getting anywhere that she hasn't been already (or to get where they have already--such as the National and World titles, respectively). Oh, and Rachael Flatt. Please.

The dance field is pretty full (I am not really sure what the rules for entry are here), and includes Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte and Nathalie Pechelat & Fabian Bourzat. Hrm. How did I just only now realize that Anna's name means "angel hair pasta"? Anyway, those are two solid top-10 teams that really have no business competing at Nebelhorn, although perhaps they aren't scheduled to compete until the end of the Grand Prix circuit, in which case it would make sense that they would want some earlier feedback and competition. At any rate, it will be interesting to see how the Short Dance (ugh) is performed by some top teams.

Let the season begin! :)

A Premature Leap

In a most inexplicable move, 2010 US National Pairs Champions Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett announced yesterday that they had left coaches Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnston, and Alison Smith for Silvia Fontana and John Zimmerman.

What on earth?

This coaching move is utterly inexplicable to me, as it is to most people in the skating world. Jeremy claims that “this change is necessary to take our skating to the next level,” but I have no idea what could have possibly gone through this pair's minds when they decided that this change would involve going to a couple with no real coaching experience. As everybody knows, Caydee & Jeremy's rise has been explosive and meteoric, and there were no struggles or plateauing that could have spurred this move. (Not placing higher at the Olympics and Worlds does not count as struggling--it is just what happens when you are a new, inexperienced, American pairs team. Suck it up.)

It seems like such an insult to leave the coaches that brought them to (relative) fame and success when it is not at all clear that such a move was necessary. Sure, Mao Asada left Michiko Yamada after that season during which she upset Irina Slutskaya at the Grand Prix Final, but everyone knew that Mao needed to go to someone with a little more polish and a little more artistry, with a singular focus on her and not on the huge mass of young hopefuls. Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker left Dalilah Sappenfield after it became evident that while they were on top of the US field, they simply weren't climbing the World ladder. What is it that Caydee & Jeremy suddenly need? Everyone else thought it was simply time.

Some anonymous commenter on Aunt Joyce's Ice Cream Stand wrote that they hoped that the pair was still on good terms with their former coaches, but I don't think so.

“It is difficult to lose a team at this early stage in their career,” Peterson said. “However, Alison, Lyndon and I are proud of guiding Caydee and Jeremy to their goals of representing the United States as Olympians and achieving a national title in a short period of time. Both are talented athletes and competitors, and we wish them all the best in the future.”

In a most diplomatic way, Peterson not only indicates that this change is "difficult," but manages to sneak in that they led Caydee & Jeremy to a National title and an Olympic berth in "a short period of time." Very classy, but a little bitter.

We'll see what happens, but something sort of tells me that the rest of the skating world will be the last ones laughing.

Vancouver 2010: Pairs FS

The pairs FS was sort of a mess. There must have been some sort of draft in the arena--how else to explain that almost every girl was leaning on their throws before (usually) pulling them out? Oh, and the ice must have been super slippery. More slippery than usual.

The first pair that NBC aired was Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett, who right away stuck their side-by-side triple toes they'd missed the day before, although now that I look at it someone's was downgraded. Their second side-by-side jumps--two double Axels in sequence--were kind of a disaster. He put his hand down, which distracted me from seeing that she'd actually singled hers. They pulled it together for the rest of the program, though, and through it all their sheer determination (especially Caydee's) was very evident. Not perfect, but not bad, especially, for a first experience.

Next were Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig, who are just so much better when they're not thinking about placements (this may seem like an obvious, but there are some skaters out there who turn it on when the pressure is on... but this team was not quite blessed with competitive mettle). Mark doubled his side-by-side triple toe, and I believe Amanda (not sure) doubled the second triple toe in the sequence. Their side-by-side double Axels also received a negative GOE, but everything else was clean even though Amanda was leaning crazily during the throws. Most impressive was that their reverse lasso lift was the single highest-scoring element of the entire competition. So proud!

NBC then skipped the next three pairs, including Tatiana Volosozhar & Stanislav Morozov, so the next performance that I saw was Anabelle Langlois & Cody Hay. It was a pretty unfortunate skate, especially considering that they were on home soil. Their opening side-by-side triple Salchows got the program to a falling start, their side-by-side spins were off, and their throw triple Lutz had an ugly two-foot. In the end they looked unsurprisingly disappointed, although I do have to point out that they have been through a lot in the last year and a half. Or rather, NBC has to point that out, and I'm just repeating it. They ended up dropping to 9th overall.

Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang, 2006's questionable silver medalists, skated to Scheherazade, which needs to be retired now. Their side-by-side combination jumps were a disaster, although the rest of the program was solid, and they ended up in 5th. I suppose lightning doesn't strike twice after all.

Then came the beneficiaries of the politics and overscoring in the SP, Maria Mukhortova & Maxim Trankov. Although their twist lift was good, there was a fall on their side-by-side triple Salchows, and their next side-by-side triple toe + double toe combination was even worse, if possible. He put his hand down on the first jump, throwing them completely off unison even though they both completed their jumps. The rest of the program was without incident, but how many times can you get away with falling on side-by-sides in one competition? Well, at least once, it seems, as they actually moved UP a spot from their SP placement and into 7th. Say thanks to the Canadians~

Jessica Dube & Bryce Davison continued the competition tradition of falling, and so of course she botched their side-by-side triple Salchows. Honestly, why do they insist on this? Their side-by-side spins were off unison, and their throw triple Lutz was extremely tilted but somehow landed. Her position on the death spiral was very low to the ice--much lower than I've ever seen--but I don't know what this actually means in terms of quality and technique (+0.5 GOE?). At the time their placements seemed high, but considering they moved neither up or down against the messy field, it probably all makes sense.

NBC could not resist mentioning at every opportunity that Russia has had a monopoly over the Olympic pairs event for the past 12 events, as if Yuko Kavaguti needed any more pressure on her ridiculously thin shoulders. Although she took a step in the right direction by losing the headpiece from the SP, she took a giant step in the wrong direction with a red dress that included, as Rafael puts it, "boob flaps." But despite the tradition, it was just not meant to be. Both of their throws were a mess, with a fall coming on the triple loop (but why no -3 GOE?), and their double double-Axel sequence also had serious issues. I wasn't expecting them to win--I doubt anybody was, except maybe Tamara Moskvina, who gave Yuko a serious death glare after the competition--but 7th in the FS is sad. Yet despite all of the errors, the worst part of her & Alexander Smirnov's program was the middle, during which they bop around a bit on the ice and she pulls off her flaps. What. on. EARTH. It's not even like the costumes had meaning--there was no relationship between her red monstrosity and his blue blah with an arranged version of the "Blue Danube." I actually couldn't believe they beat Dan & Hao.

Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy were a saddening disappointment. I know they've had a tough season and all, but they are defending world champions, and I kept hoping that they would pull something together. Instead their triple toe + double toe sequence was messy, and Robin had an almost comical fall on their side-by-side double Axels. Not only did he fall, he also seemed to slip getting up, leaving Aliona looking at him in near disbelief in the middle of their program. Their following side-by-side spins started out very fast and tight, then fell out of unison. Like many other pairs they got through the rest of the program fairly successfully, including a lift that looks very much like Jane Summersett & Todd Gilles' trademark.

Something about Qing Pang & Jian Tong bores me, but admittedly they had the best FS of the night. They were skating to "Man of La Mancha," which may or may not be composed by Joe Hisaishi (?), and although I wasn't so impressed by their musicality (the judges were though, just LOOK at those PCS), they skated cleanly. What a rarity.

So although I'd maintained that I was least invested in the outcome of the pairs event--which was and is true--by the time Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao took the ice my heart was reading to beat itself out of my chest. I wanted them to win so badly, and evidently the commentators did too--they virtually said nothing throughout the program. Except, of course, the Gasp. In a mistake I have never seen them make, Xue slipped off Hongbo's support hand in their lasso lift and basically slid down his back. Sandra Bezic nearly collapsed in the booth. There were no other mistakes from them, but there was still something about their performance that seemed a little off, and I felt sad that they couldn't win their Olympic gold on a perfect note. Dick Button would go on to rant about this for quite a while afterwards. Of course some idiot of an uninformed journalist interpreted Hongbo's holding his head in his hands after the performance as disbelief over their win instead of disbelief over their mistake, but whatever. We all knew the judges would never let them lose, even if it meant raising their Interpretation score even higher than a 9.25. They (fairly) came in second in the FS, but held on to win overall, and the squeal from Xue the moment they realized they had won was pricelessly adorable.

I hope this outcome doesn't mean I've used up all of my luck in this Olympics...

Vancouver 2010: Pairs SP

I was going to post for the SP and FS, as soon as they happened, but I got so caught up in just watching that I didn't actually make it to writing. I wasn't overly invested in any of the pairs, so I was able to watch the competition in relative calm...

So, starting with the SP: ugh, really, judges? Are you SURE about the marks?

Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao: If I had to pick a personal favorite of the realistic medal contenders, Shen & Zhao would be it. I've been in love with this pair since their FS at the 2003 World Championships, and considering how long they've been around, with things just not working out at the Olympics, I really wanted them to win. Their SP was pretty perfect technically, although their side-by-side spins seemed vaguely off. They set a world record with their performance, but to me there was something missing--I've seen them better, with more sparkle. It was probably because they were first to skate, and the atmosphere hadn't quite yet warmed up. Also, his costume was extremely questionable, as was his apparently dyed hair.

Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett: Caydee had a somewhat surprising, somewhat not surprising, mistake on the side-by-side triple toes and doubled hers. I've actually only seen them perform at two competitions (2009 and 2010 US Nationals), but both times they've been rock solid. On the other hand, this was their first Olympics. Except for that mistake, though, their program was pretty good, and they clearly should be proud.

Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig: I love them! I think this might be the first completely clean competitive program I've seen them perform, and although I held my breath during their side-by-sides everything went off without any problems. At the end Amanda looked like she was already crying out on the ice, and it was great to see. They set their personal bests, which must be a wonderful feeling at the Olympics.

Skip a few, thanks to NBC's spotty coverage... I also have no particular recollection of Anabelle Langlois & Cody Hay.

Maria Mukhortova & Maxim Tranknov: She is pretty, delicate, and pretty quintessentially Russian, and the commentators were gushing about their potential to carry on the future of the Russian tradition. Unfortunately for them tonight, he completely wiped out on their side-by-side triple toes and she put her hand down. The rest of their program sort of never reached a peak as a result, but somehow, SOMEHOW, they placed safely above Mark & Amanda, even beating them in the TES. I can understand if the Russians had better PCS, but in both segments? It must really pay to be Russian... and I mean that in more than one way.

Tatiana Volosozhar & Stanislav Morozov: Their blue, shiny costumes hugged every single (non-)contour of their bodies, and was extremely distracting, but that aside I thought their program was solid. Their side-by-side jumps were iffy, but there was no fall, and their throw triple loop was awesome. For whatever nitpicky reasons their straight-line step sequence was rated a Level 1, and their death spiral a Level 2, which conveniently placed them behind the Russians. Oh, figure skating...

Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov: Their skating fails to really grab me, but I have to say that they have really improved over these past several years. She was wearing this really strange white, rhinestoned headband that made her look like she was in Star Trek or something even though she was trying to be a swan. Their scores were higher than I expected, but to be fair they were technically solid even though they still carry this perpetual awkwardness. Also... Kavaguti? Really? Was that necessary?

Jessica Dube & Bryce Davison: I can never figure out whether this team is actually any good. Their SP started out okay, but then just as the commentators (who, by the way, must be paid by the word) mentioned that the triple Salchow is the bane of Jessica's existence, she fell on their side-by-sides. I don't really understand why then they wouldn't just elect to make their side-by-sides triple toes instead, but whatever. After her fall their performance sort of fell flat and they seemed to know it too, but the judges, blinded by the red maple leaf on a white background flanked by two thick red lines, gave them enough points to place above the other Canadians, the Russians, and the Ukranians, with room to spare. As fsonline put it, their citizenship must give them +3 GOEs.

Qing Pang & Jian Tong: I don't really remember this pair, except that they received a time violation. It seems very odd to me that it would happen at the Olympics of all places, but in the end it would make no difference. Everything seemed pretty well done, even though the judges rated their twist and their death spiral Level 1.

Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang: I also don't really remember this pair either. They were technically very good (although again, their lift was rated a Level 1... what determines that, anyway?) but the commentators remarked that their artistry is lacking. Possible, but the judges didn't really seem to think so.

Aliona Savchenko & Robin Zolkowy: I love "Send in the Clowns" and I loved their costumes. They were so creative without being distracting, and really drew the crowd in. I've never been quite able to decide what exactly I think of them, but they were on in the SP. Everything looked great, and now that I look at it everyone's twist list is a Level 1, so I actually have no idea what's going on. At the end her nose was smeared with red makeup, which just added to their overall impression of playfulness and happiness. They squeezed into second just 0.50 points behind Shen & Zhao.

So if I were judging, my list would have looked like this: 1. Shen & Zhao 2. Savchenko & Zolkowy 3. Kavaguti & Smirnov 4. Pang & Tong 5. Zhang & Zhang 6./7. Langlois & Hay / Volosozhar & Morozov 8. Evora & Ladwig 9. Dube & Davison 10. Mukhortova & Tranknov. Not that in the end, this would make any difference in the medal standings, but still...

2010 Four Continents

This is late, I know, but there was too much stuff to do to keep up with Four Continents as it happened (actually I still have a lot to do, but I don't want to get too far behind), and besides the fields were generally uninteresting. The only exceptions, of course, were Mao Asada, Adam Rippon, Jane Summersett & Todd Gilles, and Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker, probably in that order. ♡ I guess I was a little interested in how Ryan Bradley, Brandon Mroz, Akiko Suzuki, and Caroline Zhang would do, and Tatsuki Machida too, but all in all there didn't seem to be much going on.

Actually, before any skating, I just have to say that Mao needing to have bodyguards at this competition was absolutely ridiculous. I am glad that the necessary steps were taken to ensure her safety while at the competition, but the steps shouldn't have been necessary in the first place. Screw PC, Korean fans are crazy. If they believe so much in Yu-Na Kim's talent and potential, then they should let that shine through without trying to muddle the rest of the skaters. Their actions make it seem as if the only way Yu-Na can win is by pulling a Tonya Harding. Mao deserves the right to compete all over the world without worrying about her safety, and in all honesty sometimes I think that Yu-Na needs to be given some sort of warning or something in order to send a message to her rabid fans.

On to skating: Mao nearly killed me after the SP. Since I don't have a TV around (not that figure skating would be televised anyway), I had to wait for someone to upload her performance and looked at the results instead. I calmed down a bit once I saw that the difference between the top 3 was marginal, and that her 1.00 deduction was not because she fell but because she went over time. I'm not sure how that happens this late in the season, but at least it was not on her triple Axel. Unfortunately instead she popped her 3F, but it seemed that she was skating a little faster than she was previously this season and I think that this is a good step for her. I still don't like her dress or her cuts of music, though. I'm not sure this Tarasova thing was such a good idea, although I had such high hopes for it when it was first announced.

Mao did, however, bring it in the FS. She nailed both of her triple Axels, although she somewhat mysteriously received a Level 2 on her step sequence instead of her usual 4. I know that the slightest of body movements can determine what level a move is rated, but given how much she loves footwork I have come to expect a consistent 4. I guess it's just a matter of staying focused at the Olympics and making sure she gets those levels on everything. What I noticed here and in her SP is that she seems to get faster throughout her program, rather than slower like most skaters. Perhaps it is getting the pressure of the triple Axel out of the way? I was really proud of her, though, for holding it together after the SP and blocking out all of the negativity in Korea. I am not a fan of her heavy-looking dress, but there is something about her music that is growing on me. I hope that this starts the momentum she needs for the Olympics. Aaah

I was almost equally heartbroken after Adam started out in 7th after the SP, before noticing that positions 3-7 were virtually tied (with 2nd not far off). He fell out of his triple Axel and put his hand down, but despite that I was still struck, as usual, by his great edges and soft jumping quality. He was understandably a little disappointed in his performance, but there seemed to be a lot to be optimistic about.

And then, just like Mao, he laid it all down in the FS. Unfortunately the idiot of a cameraman who taped for SBS cut out Adam's arms in the shot of his triple Lutz, so I couldn't quite appreciate, you know, the entire point of the jump, but otherwise the quality of his performance managed to shine through the screen. His music is a little flat to me, but on the other hand it doesn't distract from appreciating his actual skating, and that is a very good and rare thing. Too bad his season ends here, but thanks to some magnificent skating and some equally magnificent choking by several others, I think Four Continents sets up for a great 2010-2011. I can't say for sure whether this is just Adam's natural trajectory of progress or if Brian Orser really did something special, but something is working for Adam right now and I love it.

No one has posted Jane & Todd, so I've been reduced to relying on the ISU's score sheets. I was hoping that they would make a real run here, but they were beaten by Madison & Keiffer Hubbell and Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein again, as well as by a Chinese team (wth). No offense to the Chinese team or the teams that placed under them (i.e. 5-12), but it's a pretty bad time when an Asian team beats you in ice dance. I'm sure this team is good and all, but really. But maybe this can begin an interest in ice dancing in Asia...

Keauna & Rockne brought out their game about 10 days too late. I haven't been able to find their SP yet but it doesn't have the all-too-common 1.00 deduction, so already that's progress. Their side-by-side triple Salchows received a negative GOE, though (actually, it ranged from -2 to 0... maybe 3-year-olds could serve as judges and we'd get the same consistency of results), and all of my bets are on Keauna. Don't get me wrong, I love this pair and really want them to do well, but her lack of basic technique makes me so nervous and I feel like they (could) have so much more potential.

In the FS their problems resurfaced almost immediately, with Keauna falling on their first side-by-sides. This was followed by a great triple twist, which leads me to wonder yet again about the dynamics of their partnership. Keauna is small and has great line for pairs, and Rockne really takes advantage by making some huge throws and great lifts. They look great together and obviously have chemistry. At the same time, she is the reason they are not placing higher or more consistently, and I just have to wonder how they assess their situation and their respective contributions to the team. Anyway, the rest of the program went pretty smoothly until Keauna fell on their second throw jump, and although I know that placing elements at the end can be a real point-getter I do question the wisdom of placing such a move at the end when both are tired, especially given her historic difficulties with landings. I was touched by how supportive and comforting Rockne was at the end of their performance, and despite my short and unauthorized analysis above I think they could have what it takes. All in all, even though I have been a little harsh on this pair recently I really do love them and hope they stay together to make a run at 2014.

I was curious to see how Brandon would recover after Nationals, and was a little surprised (not in a bad way) to see him in 3rd after the SP. Sadly he slipped to 4th overall, but it's a good sign he can rebound so quickly, and he'll probably be in great shape (mental and otherwise) going into next season. For the same reason I was interested in Caroline's results, and she miraculously pulled off a 3rd-place finish here. I don't really know where to begin with herm but hopefully this gives her the confidence she needs to sit down and re-assess her skating and coaching situation. Ryan Bradley, meanwhile, seems to be continuing his run of messing up the SP, going for broke in the FS, and ultimately being too far behind to catch up. He will probably retire soon, since I can't see him going for another four years, but I sort of want him to get some sort of medal before he does.

I don't know whether I should be a little embarrassed to say this, but I was interested in Akiko Suzuki's and Tatsuki Machida's results only because they were Japanese. Okay, that's not quite true. To me Akiko has come out of nowhere, and I have been both surprised and impressed that she has been able to keep up her competition results so consistently. I can't get myself to warm to her skating just yet, but she does a good job of doing what she needs to do in the shadows of Miki Ando and Mao. Tatsuki, meanwhile, caught my attention because I had never seen his name before, but was far outperforming Yasuharu Nanri here (and evidently at Nationals, which I hadn't paid attention to past Takahiko Kozuka's name). Tatsuki is pretty young (19), and I hope this starts a off a successful next four years for him.

I think I'm going to be too nervous to actually watch the Olympics.

2010 US Nationals: Pairs (2)

The judging details for Pairs is fully up! I usually don't care so much about the details of GOE and downgrades and whatnot in comparison to the actual results themselves, but this time especially I was curious about what placed Rena Inoue & John Baldwin in 3rd, partly considering that it seemed like they disagreed with the results (although, to be fair, not the decision not to nominate them to the Olympic team). Anyway, the point is, the protocols are up and I (along with 90% of the figure skating world, if not more, I feel) am again so confused as to what exactly makes this new judging system so "improved":

Obviously I'm not nearly the first person to say this, but really. Take, for example, the 2T. I don't clearly remember this program so I suppose someone popped this, seeing as it wasn't judged as a 3T<, but the point is that J3 must have hit another pair's replay when he gave a +1 GOE. Since, you know, everyone else thought that it was a -2 GOE. Which results in an overall GOE of -0.60 even though 7 of the 8 judges gave it a -2. Or, for instance, the 3LzTw1... even I could see the crash. A 0 GOE? Really? What amuses me even more is the 3LoTh... are these judges actually watching the same program and paying attention to it besides? But hey, whatever, it's all anonymous, right? These are good too, although I'm glad to see that they apparently amended the rules surrounding downgrades. But, for instance, the CCoSp4--+1 to -2 GOE? Even ranges of 0 to +2 GOE are questionable (or rather J2 seems to have been determined to keep them 3rd)... come on now, ISU. Haha right.

I don't mean any of the above as a knock on anybody's scores, efforts, or abilities. I have no idea what the elements should have received under the envisioned COP, but really now. Judges do have to be trained, right? I can't just jump into the judges' panel tomorrow and start handing out numbers?

Oh well. I love figure skating anyway. At least, I think so, most of the time...

2010 US Nationals: Pairs

It's official, and I'm still so excited: AMANDA EVORA & MARK LADWIG ARE GOING TO THE OLYMPICS.

For the casual (or not-so-casual) figure skating viewer, this may not seem that important and even be a little confusing. After all, teams such as Rena Inoue & John Baldwin are much more experienced internationally, and all too often judges find a way of playing with the numbers just so to make the "right" things happen. I myself was crazy with nervousness that Amanda & Mark would come in 3rd, and was so (ecstatically) surprised when their scores held up for 2nd. And then I worried that USFSA would pull a fast one and send another team as the second US representatives, but the right thing happened without any funny business, and now, as I repeat again: Amanda & Mark are going to the Olympics!

You see, Amanda and Mark are seriously two of the nicest and hardworking people you will ever meet. That sounds cliche, because everybody says this about somebody, but if you are ever fortunate enough to meet them then you will understand that in this case, this cliche is the truth. Every year for the past several years, they have donated their time and talent to An Evening with Champions, and they are just amazing. Not only do they bring the house down with their emotional and spirited programs, but they are so sweet to the Jimmy Fund kids, and even help with cleanup after the receptions and after-parties. Yes, cleanup. As guests they move tables, rearrange chairs, and replace napkin holders. They juggle personal lives with part-time jobs and their training, and now it's all come together in the form of a ticket to VANCOUVER! I cannot say this enough times.

I was a little disappointed and sad for Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker, but I am sure that 2014 can easily be their time as well. They've been on a non-stop ride to the top, and things had to slow down somewhere. And, not to be overly mean or critical, since my own abilities are most mediocre, I feel like no one ever taught Keauna basic skating skills. Their lifts and twists are spectacular, and the height of their throws are breathtaking, but the side-by-side jumps are always such a danger zone as are the actual landings of the throws. But speaking of non-stop rides... Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett (congratulations!) sort of seem to be on that trajectory as well. Here the timing has been perfect, but here's to hoping that their ride doesn't include a precipitous fall.

Everything else of the pairs competition now seems to be a blur. Sorry that this ended up being a shameless plug for both Amanda & Mark and An Evening with Champions. Oops. ;)