They did it! McLaughlin and Brubaker pulled up from 4th to capture the silver medal at the NHK Trophy and have clinched a spot at the Grand Prix Final.
I got them yesterday and I was like a kid in a Candy Store. I simply can't wait to get to St. Paul for the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. I'm stoked!
I can't make it to all the events so I have posted the tickets to those events for sale on eBay. If you are interested in the Novice or Junior events...it's a great bargain and the seats are great!
Can Evan Lysacek defend his title against a surging Johnny Weir? Will Kimmie Meissner overcome her recent technical issues to win her second title? Will Castile and Okolski come back from injury to defend their title or will past champions reclaim former glory? Will Belbin and Agosto continue to dominate on their way to possibly acheiving one of figure skating's highest honors, a World Championship Gold? Perhaps we may see new Champions in all disciplines? Perhaps not?
All of these questions and more will soon be answered! Get ready St. Paul...the time is near!
She is stunning! She's like a cool breeze across the ice. Sweet dreams are made of this; she just sweeps you away.
This weeks' Pic of the Week celebrates the brilliance of Yu-Na Kim. With her cool, easy, elegant style she swept away the competition at Cup of Russia with her beautifully choreographed program set to the music of "Miss Saigon."
Look to the reigning World Bronze Medalist to set her sights on taking down the Japanese juggernaut that is Ando and Asada. She is skating as well if not better than the other two.
Cup of Russia concluded Sunday in Moscow and the end stretch for the Grand Prix Final is in sight with only one more event next weekend in Sendai, Japan. The entries for the Grand Prix Final are starting to shape up.
In Ice Dance it was a Russian fairytale. Russians Domnina and Shabalin bested their silver medal performance in China with a win at home. They showed powerful skating to their "Masquerade Waltz" program. They also clinched a spot at the Grand Prix Final with that performance. Also clinching a spot at the final were silver medalists Pechalat and Bourzat of France. It will be a crunch for the Grand Prix Final between the two Italian teams (but it doesn't look promising for Faiella and Scali) and the Russian Team of Khoklova and Novitski to see who makes the final. Expected to qualify in Japan are Canadians Virtue and Moir and French team Delobel and Schoenfelder each with a win under their belts from their home events.
In the ladies competition Yu-Na Kim showed her cool elegance and put it on cruise control to win her second event (And conviningly! Almost 25 points!). Yukari Nakano of Japan captured the silver medal and Joannie Rochette earned another bronze medal. With that, Kim makes the final, Nakano makes the final, and it doesn't look good for Rochette (two bronzes don't look to hold up). Americas' Caroline Zhang has to wait and see what Sarah Meier of Switzerland and Carolina Kostner of Italy will do in Japan, her Grand Prix fate rests upon their shoulders. Expected to qualify in Japan is World Champ Miki Ando who is from Japan.
In pairs two of the worlds best went head to head and the Zhangs from China continued their winning streak defeating Germans Savchenko and Szolkowy. Russians Kawaguchi and Smirnov captured another bronze medal. When we do the final crunch, the Zhangs are in, Savchenko and Szolkowy are in, even Kawaguchi and Smirnov look pretty good, but it will be a battle for that final spot and it won't be easy as Szolkowy and Savchenko as well as Dube and Davison of Canada are competing in the event as non scoring competition for themselves. If Americans Rockne and Brubaker can hang on to at least 5th place they can qualify, if they win a medal or finish 4th, they make it!
In the Men's event Johnny Weir continued to show the new Johnny with a big win. He is also proving that consistency between the Technical and Component scores is essential. I don't think I have ever seen him skate as well. Stephane Lambiel improved on his performance from China but still looks a bit rough around the edges. Russia's Griazev came through for the bronze. Buttle blew it and finished 4th (is the Buttle era over and the Chan sun rising in Canada?). The crunch looks like this, Weir is very in, Lambiel squeaks through, and then it's a cluster. Van Der Perren has to bit his nails and wait to see what Griazev, Davydov, and Carrierre (that's right...he's go a shot! He needs at least silver though!) can come up with to see if he makes it. Daisuke Takahashi should qualify with great ease (he can finish as low as 5th and make it and that won't happen!).
NHK Trophywill be fun to watch to see who makes it!
Remember when Triple Axels were this amazing jump that were big and huge and almost always coupled with a Triple Toeloop. I'm talking amazing Axels like those of Alexei Urmanov, Elvis Stojko, Ilia Kulik, and Todd Eldridge. Remember those days?
What has happned to this jump. The number of men in the world of figure skating these days that can do a great Axel is diminishing. Hell, Mao Asada has a better Axel than most of the men! World Champ Joubert's Axels are small and the landings are always "muscled." I have rarely (if ever?) seen him do a Triple Axel/Triple Toe combination. Former World Champ Lambiel often doesn't even try the jump and when he does it it's downgraded to a double half the time. Daisuke Takahashi hurries and gets the jump out of the way at the top of the program, rarely doing more than a triple/double combo. Kevin Van Der Perren has to do this "wings of an airplane flap" before leaving the ice (seriously, watch closely the next time you see him)on his axel...often it is unsuccessful. Jeffrey Buttle's consistency on his Axel has improved (I recently saw him hit a Triple Axel/Triple Toe at Skate Canada) but it still lacks some finesse. American Evan Lysacek skids the take off horribly, I'm continually amazed at how often he lands the jump, a testament to his ability. Don't get me started on U.S. Silver Medalist Ryan Bradley's Axel...one word, haphazard! Most of the other competitors in the world are lucky if Triple Axel is even in their repertoire of jumps let alone landing it in competition.
However I have reserved some space for whom I think the three best Axel jumpers in the world are today. Third best is an up and comer in the world of figure skating. Sergei Voronov has a great Triple Axel and I think he has learned some great technique from his coach, Olympic Champ Alexei Urmanov. Second best is American Johnny Weir. When he swings his leg through he turns beautifully and the ride out of the landing is beautiful. You will almost always see his Axel coupled with a Triple Toeloop. I would judge it the best but I think he could add a touch more height! In my opinion, the best Axel in the world goes to a skater that has tremendous height on the Triple Axel, beautiful soft kneed landings, wonderful ride out, and a big smile on the end to boot! The honor goes to no other but Nobunari Oda! Now Nobunari...stay out of trouble, no more MUI's (mopedding under the influence!), get back to competing, and show us that pretty axel of yours!
Funny it should happen in a competition where the team that crashed and burned on it at the Olympics were the winners. That's right, Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent successfully completed the throw quad Salchow. Dan and Hao Zhang won the competition...remember that freakish fall in Torino on the Quad? But no such fall for Tiffany and Derek...it was clean as a whistle!
Even more than that achievement, they also completed a very clean free skate. I said in a previous post that this team would be one to watch at Nationals...if they keep skating like this, they may be the ones to beat!
Congratulations Tiffany and Derek, keep up the great skating!
Sunday brought the conclusion of Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris. Remember how Joubert's withdrawal opened the door for some skaters...well...Patrick Chan of Canada decided to walk through that doorway with a win in Paris and a guaranteed spot to the Grand Prix Final. Leader after the short, also trying to wiggle his way to the Grand Prix Final, Alban Preaubert fell to third and most likely will not have the points to go. Russia's Sergei Voronov climbed to the silver medal. Kevin Van Der Perren might have blown a chance to the final with his fourth place finish...he sits on the bubble with 22 points.
In pairs, none of the other teams could crack the Chinese juggernaut. The Zhangs are back in business after injury last season with a win in Paris. Teammates Pang and Tong, competing in their 3rd event of the season (Paris was a nonscoring event for them) captured the silver. Mukhortova and Trankov of Russia took the Bronze. Also of note are Americans Vise and Trent who finished fourth. I saw this team put down a clean performance in Canada and then they actually finished 3rd in the Free in Paris. American Pairs is wide open (and I mean Wide!) right now and I think this is a team to watch in St. Paul.
In Ice Dance Delobel and Schoenfelder started the season with a win at home despite running into a bit of a issue in the Free Dance. Russians Khoklova and Novitski, who took silver, out skated the French veterans in the Free Dance. Americans Davis and White took the bronze. I also think this team has been seriously under marked this season. Their difficulty is top notch and they aren't getting the credit for it, shame on the judges. Their scores were higher than what they had previously achieved at Skate America. Maybe the Grand Prix gods will smile down upon them and they'll eek into the final...but it doesn't look promising (sigh). Cappellini and Lanotte, who finished fourth, sit on the Grand Prix bubble with 22 points (they did get the better placement ahead of their veteran teammates Faiella and Scali who also have 22 points due to their silver in Canada...interesting).
In ladies it was Mao Asada on top...again. She defeated American Kimmie Meissner by close to 20 points even with 2 points deduction. Kimmie apparently had a less than stellar free skate as she was out skated by teammate Ashley Wagner who won the bronze. Ashley showed very high technical marks in her free skate and is among what I call "the sleeping giants" of ladies American figure skating (Zhang, Wagner, Nagasu). With that Mao Asada clinches a spot at the Grand Prix Final with the max possible points of 30. Kinmberly Meissner actually clinches a spot as well and qualifies for the first time in her career to the Grand Prix Final (hard to believe the 2006 World Champ has never been to the Grand Prix Final).
Next week skaters will be in Moscow for Cup of Russia!
Joubert has with drawn from Trophee Eric Bompard, the 4th pit stop on the Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
Apparently his health was on the decline while competing at Skate Canada in Quebec City (might explain his less than stellar Free Skate). Upon return to France his practice sessions were becoming labored and his health continued to spiral downward. He checked into a hospital in Poitiers, France and, on advice from a doctor, made the decision to withdraw from Grand Prix Paris citing "health concerns."
His withdrawal makes it impossible for him to compete at the Grand Prix Final giving new hope to several competitors including Buttle, Chan, Carriere, Davydov, and Mabee. Buttle and Chan probably have the best possibility with 11 points thus far. If any of these guys can do well in their second events they can make the final given Joubert's withdrawal. Wild card Alban Preaubert can even make the final if he can win Trophee Eric Bompard. Who'd a thought the World Champ's withdrawal would make for such an exciting event.
Joubert, I certainly wish you a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing you at Europeans.
So for the first time in a long time Johnny Weir is back on top. For the first time in like forever he looks seriously committed to his skating and achieving success so certainly he should enjoy the fan accolades, correct?
And fans he had in Harbin, China for Cup of China. Angels he in fact had on his side. So this Pic of the Week is for you Johnny...congratulations!
In a complete reversal from last week when not a single American made the podium at Skate Canada, an American was on every podium at Cup of China with either the Gold or Silver Medal.
In pairs, Pang and Tong got it together and won the gold, securing a place at the Grand Prix Final in Torino, Italy (Dube and Davison have also locked a spot). Reigning Junior World Champs McLaughlin and Brubaker skated to the silver and became the first U.S. pairs team to make a Grand Prix podium this season. Miller and Moram of Canada took the bronze.
Amongst the ladies, Yu-Na Kim of South Korea shattered the competition by winning by more than 24 points despite her 3rd place finish in the short program. American Caroline Zhang took the silver (she took two falls in free as well) and goes on the bubble for the Grand Prix Final. Leader after the short program, Italy's Carolina Kostner settled for the bronze.
In Ice Dance we almost thought the days of Russian dominance were back. Domnina and Shabalin were leaders over Americans Belbin and Agosto after the Compulsory Dance and then extended that lead after the OD. But a costly mistake on a dance spin causing no credit to be awarded on a later lift put them behind the Americans when all was said and done. Tanith and Ben are a lock for the Grand Prix Final with the max points (30) with their two wins. Italians Faiella and Scali (who in fact also beat the Russians in the Free Dance) took the bronze and go to the bubble for the Grand Prix Final...they'll have to wait and see if their two bronze performances hold up.
The closest competition was the men's event where Americans Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek went 1-2! Evan held the lead after the short program over Johnny by less than 2 points. A costly fall and Johnny's slightly higher component scores secured the gold for Johnny and Evan had to settle for silver...but again it was close, less than 3 points difference! Evan Lyscaek joins the list of competitors that have secured a spot at the Grand Prix Final. Two time World Champ Stephane Lambiel settled for bronze after a mistake filled free skate.
The Grand Prix moves on to the City of Lights, Paris, for Trophée Eric Bompard next weekend.
In her brilliance, Japan's Mao Asada earn's this weeks' Pic of the Week. She fumbled her short program a bit at Skate Canada but she roared back like the Champion she is and delivered a fantastic performance to capture the Skate Canada gold medal.
Even more impressive than her free skate was her cool under pressure and her gorgeous exhibition piece "So Deep is the Night" by Chopin. Congratulations Mao Asada!
Ainsi nous venons à lui... le rapport final du Canada de patin!
The final day of Skate Canada was eventful for sure. It started with the Free Dance. During the warm-up, Americans Gregory and Petukhov were working on a rotational lift when he lost his grip on her and they went spiraling to the ice (think Dubrueil and Lauzon at the Torino Olympics). Melissa when down chest first and Denis went head first into the boards. The scene was terrible as everyone looked on and hoped she was okay. As the medical team removed her from the ice the crowd applauded. It was later announced she had suffered no injuries and we were all relieved. The competition continued with French team Carron and Jost capturing the bronze (realistically due to the fact Gregory and Petukhov withdrew), Italians Cappellini and Lanotte winning silver and Canadians Virtue and Moir shattering the competition and winning the gold (they also had a final score that was 4 points higher than Belbin and Agosto's Skate America total).
The Men's Free Skate was the final competitive event. All three American men were less than impressive. Jeremy Abbott finished 8th and highest amongst the Americans...Scott Smith was 9th and Varner was 12th. Important to note that despite the 8th place finish Abbott's free skate was judged 4th best on the night. Canadian Christopher Mabee brought the crowd to their feet with his fun Big Band inspired free skate, he finished 4th. Canada's Jeffery Buttle squeaked out the bronze medal despite a rather less than stellar program...it's a good thing he can spin and has good footwork because the jumps weren't on his side. Kevin Van Der Perren reeled off a gorgeous quad toe at the top of his program and never looked back. He was a little slow on his footwork but was determined to land every single jump and he did. With his Lawrence of Arabia program, he won the free skate, won the silver, and set a new level of excellence for his skating! Brian Joubert of course won despite a program that lacked energy and was peppered with jump mistakes, his lead from the short was simply to much for the other competitors to overcome.
Skate Canada ended of course with the Gala Exhibition where all the skaters got to strut their stuff one last time. Memorable performances were given from Mao Asada, Dube and Davison (again that Blower's Daughter piece is amazing!), Savchenko and Szolkowy, and Brian Joubert (who had far more energy in his exhibition than his free skate). The best part came when 3 teenage ladies who had been screaming at Brian everytime he skated past them during his exhibition were standing at the boards and during his encore he skated over and hugged them. These 3 girls went nuts and one of them captured a picture of him on her cell phone and was screaming, it was great!
I had never been to Quebec and I must tell you I fell in love with this place. The people are charming and inviting. The history of this historic place can be felt all around and I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Au revoir Ville Du Québec. J'espère venir visite vous à l'avenir!
Sorry for the delay but the Internet at the Hotel conked out and I haven't been able to really sit down and blog until today...but I promise to get you caught up!
The Pairs Free Skate was first up and I have to first mention the Americans Vise and Trent. They had a great free skate and pulled up from last place after the short to finish 5th. The bronze medal went to Kawaguchi and Smirnov of Russia. If Alexander Smirnov wore clothing any tighter, his muscles would rip through! He has to be one of the buffest skaters ever! Dube and Davison had to settle for the silver medal this week; they did, however, skate very well and clinched a spot in Torino for the Grand Prix Final. The cream of the crop was clearly Savchenko and Szolkowy. Clean and smooth all the way through, they will be tough for anyone to beat this year, they look very well trained for this early in the season.
The ladies were up next. Ashley Wagner put down a clean program and it was clear she wouldn't be staying down in 8th place! Leader after the short, virtual unknown Laura Lepisto, completely bombed in the free skate. She failed to land a single clean triple and finished 7th. Joannie Rochette brought the house down with her comeback performance. She fought for everything and the crowd responded with a standing ovation, she earned the bronze. Yukari Nakano also looked to improve upon her 4th place finish after the short. After Joannie's outstanding performance and Asada and Hughes still to come she knew she would need to dig deep. She reeled off a huge Triple Axel at the top of her program and never looked back. She earned the silver. I really thought Mao Asada would go for a triple axel given the outstanding performances given before her but she did what she does best, triple/triple combos and a back loaded program full of jumps. She was smooth and graceful and it was clear that nobody was gonna even get close to beating her! Emily skated next and while improved from Skate America, she still struggled with her lutz turning it into a double. She was also really hanging onto some of her jumps; go home and work on those triples before Nationals, she finished 4th.
I was a bit confused by the original dance. Americans Gregory and Petukhov had an amazing OD to Lord of the Dance yet they were pummeled by the judges dropping from 3rd to 4th??? The French team of Carron and Jost got the biggest ovation to their OD and edged the Americans for 3rd. Cappellini and Lanotte were in second and the Candaian team of Virtue and Moir continued to dominate. I must tell you their twizzles were some of the best looking twizzles I have ever seen in my life! I'm very concerned for Dubreuil and Lauzon at this point...Virtue and Moir are making huge strides and I believe will challenge for the World Title (bold prediction I know!)...Dubreuil and Lauzon might find the water a little choppier than expected if they decide to make a run at Olympic Gold in Vancouver.
La bienvenue à mon patin Canada rapporte de la ville du Québec! It is great to be way up here in chilly but beautiful Quebec City. I'm finding myself falling in love with this place and definitely will return the next chance I get! But you've not logged on to listen to me rant and rave about the city...so I'll get to the skating, which, by the way, has been fantastic...as they say up here, "patinage fantastique!"
The compulsory dance was...well...compulsory. After Jamie Sale and David Pelletier got things moving in the Opening Ceremonies it was good fun to watch 10 couples sling around the ice to the Yankee Polka. Canadian upstarts Virtue and Moir hold a small lead over Italians Capellini and Lanotte and Americans Gregory and Petukhov. What I can say about the Compulsory dance is that I have never seen so many people show up for one! Canadians will take their skating any way they can get it!
The pairs short program was a great one. Americans Vise and Trent are in last place, not because they skated bad, but because everyone skated well. Canadians Duhamel and Buntin made their international debut and skated well. Russians Kawaguchi and Smirnov are in third after a smooth performance. You could see their coach Tamara Moskvina carefully watching their every move. In second place are new favorites of mine Dube and Davison; the Canadian team stepped it up a notch and had a solid short program here in Quebec but they will have trouble with leaders after the short program, German's Savchenko and Szolkowy. The German's were near perfect.
I was very confused by the ladies judging. I'm still trying to figure out why Ashley Wagner was marked so lowly; I'm puzzled. Canadian superstar Joannie Rochette sits 5th after having some shakiness in the jumps. Japan's Yakari Nakano is 4th despite a nasty fall on triple flip. Shockingly Mao Asada is in 3rd after some jump troubles of her own. Her triple/triple didn't go as planned as she nearly fell on the second jump. Emily Hughes is in second with a great performance, far better than what she put down in Reading...nice comeback. The biggest shock of all is the leader after the short, Laura Lepisto of Finland. If you're asking who, those are my thoughts exactly. I had to look this girl up! Apparently she was 7th at last years Jr. Worlds. I felt her content wasn't as good as Emily's...but I guess that's why there are several judges.
The men all made it to easy for Joubert to whip them! But what is terribly interesting about the men's competition is the point spread between 2nd and 6th place. All three Canadian men are in the top six. Buttle sits third after a shaky short that included a fall on triple lutz. Christopher Mabee and Vaughn Chipeur sit 4th and 6th respectively, each having pretty good skates. Kevin Van Der Perren sits between them in 5th after botching his quad combo. However, it's a French affair at the top with Yannick Ponsero in 2nd and the World Champ Joubert leading. Both were good, Joubert was in fact great landing a gorgeous quad in combination. It was smooth sailing for him with no rain clouds in site, he cleared the other competitors by nearly 10 points. In contrast to the French success is the American failure. All three American men blew it in the short and are in 8th, 11th, and 12th (Smith, Abbott, Varner).
Tomorrow brings more skating. Maintenez cette adresse d'enchaînement maniable!
They did it! McLaughlin and Brubaker pulled up from 4th to capture the silver medal at the NHK Trophy and have clinched a spot at the Grand Prix Final.
