Four Continents Championships: Ladies Preview

Miki Ando's free skate has been propelling her to the top most of the season.  She came from behind to claim two gold medals on the Grand Prix with solid free skates.  She debuted a new short at the Grand Prix Final and it went so badly, that despite again finishing first in the free skate, she wasn't able to move up a single spot.  She seemed to have rectified that problem at nationals when she soundly defeated a very strong field of Japanese ladies (two who beat her at the GPF).  If her short program woes are behind her, she should make a good run for the top of the podium.  She has the top free skate and 4th best total score for the season.

Alissa Czisny has beat all of the top ladies at this event and is arguably entering as the favorite with a GPF win in her belt.  She was able to go clean at nationals and skate two beautiful programs and each successful program seems to build her confidence more and more.  She still has some small errors on her jumps which affect her GOE so she will have trouble defeating a Miki Ando who skates two clean programs.  Barring a major disaster, I don't think Alissa will have any problem medaling here.  She has the top short program score, 3rd best free skate score and best total score of the season.

Akiko Suzuki finished 4th at Japanese nationals and has been left off the World Team, so she has something to prove here and nothing to lose.  I think her programs are absolutely charming and think she's underscored on some of her program components.  A medal here could help her hold on to her place among the top Japanese ladies.  She has the 9th best short program, 5th best free skate and 5th best total score for the season.

The other two Americans at this event are Mirai Nagasu and Rachael Flatt.  Both have had struggles this season, but if they skate clean they could both wind up on the podium.  Nagasu tends to suffer a crisis of confidence when she finds herself in first after the short and will melt down in the free skate.  If she's not in first after the short, look for her to put out a fantastic free skate.  Flatt has struggled with injury this season but after a new short program, has come back healthy and with a new love for the sport.  She's working on some difficult jump combinations which could earn her huge points if they're landed.  This could be the perfect opportunity to try them out prior to worlds, but too many mistakes could leave her behind in the standings.  Mirai has the 6th best short program, 9th best free skate and 8th best total score of the season.  Rachael has the 7th best free skate score of the season.

Mao Asada has really struggled this season.  Her jumps abandoned her in her two Grand Prix assignments and her scores were over 30 points behind the top scores for the season.  She greatly improved at Japanese nationals and while nationals scores are generally inflated, if she skates like she did at nationals she should be within the mix of the top ladies.

Cynthia Phaneuf, Amelie Lacoste and Myriane Samson are representing Canada.  All three ladies are solid skaters and Lacoste and Samson are very consistent.  On their own, they would be unlikely to make the podium, but if other skaters make mistakes they could move up the rankings and onto the podium.  Phaneuf has the 10th best short program score of the season.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Miki Ando
Silver: Alissa Czisny
Bronze: Akiko Suzuki

My USFSA Fantasy Team:
A) Miki Ando
B) Amelie Lacoste
C) Victoria Muniz

The competitors:

Cheltzie Lee, AUT: She finished 20th at the Olympics with personal best short program and total scores and 17th at Worlds with a personal best free skate.  She finished 14th at Four Continents last season.

Jaimee Nobbs, AUT: She finished 47th at the World Junior Championships.  She finished 16th at JGP Japan.

Amelie Lacoste, CAN: Lacoste placed 7th at Four Continents last season.  She won bronze at Skate Canada with personal best scores across the board and 5th at Skate America.

Cynthia Phaneuf, CAN: Phaneuf finished 12th at the Olympics and 5th at Worlds with a personal best free skate and total score.  She is the 2004 Four Continents silver medalist.  She finished 4th at Skate Canada and Trophee Eric Bompard.

Myriane Samson, CAN: Samson finished 29th at the World Championships and 8th at Four Continents last season.  She finished 7th at Skate Canada earlier this season with personal best scores across the board and 8th at Cup of Russia with a personal best free skate. 

Bingwa Geng, CHN: She placed 18th at the 2009 World Junior Championships.  She finished 5th at Cup of China with personal best scores across the board.

Quiying Zhu, CHN: Zhu placed 19th at last year's World Junior Championships.  She withdrew from Cup of China after a personal best short program.

Crystal Kiang, TPE: She finished 43rd at Worlds and 18th at Four Continents last season with personal best scores across the board.

Chaochih Liu, TPE: She finished 30th at Four Continents last season.  She finished 19th at JGP Japan.

Melinda Wang, TPE: Wang finished 19th at Four Continents last season.  She finished 33rd at the World Junior Championships.

Tiffany Packard Yu, HKG: She finished 28th at Four Continents last season.

Miki Ando, JPN (D): Ando placed 5th at the Olympics and 4th at the World Championships.  She is the 2004 World Junior Champion and 2007 World Champion.  She is the only lady to ever land a quadruple jump in competition.  She won Cup of China and Cup of Russia to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she placed 5th.

Mao Asada, JPN (D): Asada won silver at the Olympics with a personal best total score and is the reigning World and Four Continents Champion.  She is the 2007 World silver medalist and 2008 World Champion.  She is the 2008 Four Continents Champion and 2009 bronze medalist.  She won the World Junior title in 2005 and took silver in 2006.  She finished 8th at NHK Trophy and 5th at Trophee Eric Bompard.

Akiko Suzuki, JPN: Suzuki placed 8th at the Olympics Games with personal best short and free program scores.  She also placed 11th at the World Championships and 2nd at Four Continents last season.  She won silver at Cup of China and Cup of Russia to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she placed 4th.

Reyna Hamui, MEX: She finished 20th at JGP Austria.

Mary Ro Reyes, MEX: She finished 26th at Four Continents last season.  She placed 22nd at JGP Germany.

Mericien Venzon, PHI: She finished 24th at Four Continents last season.  She placed 23rd at JGP Japan.

Victoria Muniz, PUR: She finished 31st at the World Championships.

Chae-Hwa Kim, KOR: She finished 13th at Four Continents last season with personal best free skate and total scores.

Min-Jeong Kwak, KOR: Kwak placed 13th in her Olympic debut with personal bests in the free skate and total score and finished 22nd at the World Championships.  She finished 6th at Four Continents last season.  She finished 9th at Cup of China and 11th at Skate America.

Yea-Ji Yun, KOR: She finished 12th and 11th at her two JGP assignments in 2009.

Brittany Lau, SIN: She finished 46th at World Juniors.  She finished 18th at JGP Japan.

Lejeanne Marais, RSA: She finished 16th at World Juniors last season with personal best scores across the board.

Mimi Tanasorn Chindasook, THA: Chindasook placed 29th at World Juniors last season.  She finished 12th at JGP Japan and 21st at JGP Austria.

Taryn Jurgensen, THA: She finished 33rd at Four Continents last season.  She finished 20th at JGP France.

Melanie Swang, THA: She finished 25th at her JGP assignment in 2009.

Alissa Czisny, USA: Czisny won Skate Canada with personal best free and total scores and won bronze at Trophee Eric Bompard to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she won gold with personal best scores across the board.

Rachael Flatt, USA: Flatt placed 7th at the Olympics with personal best scores across the board and 9th at Worlds.  She is the 2008 World Junior Champion.  She won silver at NHK Trophy and Skate America to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she finished 6th.

Mirai Nagasu, USA: Nagasu placed 4th at her Olympic debut with personal bests in the free skate and total score.  She placed 7th at the World Championships after a personal best short program.  She won a silver and bronze medal at the World Junior Championships. She finished 4th at Cup of China and took silver at Trophee Eric Bompard.

Canadian Nationals Recap and International Teams

Mens:

Patrick Chan won this competition to no one's surprise, but what was surprising was the margin he won by.  His total competition score was 285.85, a Canadian record, and even taking into account score inflation, this is an astronomical score.  He landed two solid quads in his free skate (one in combination) and a nice triple axel.  The choreography and the performance will give you goosebumps and it's definitely a World Championship winning performance.  Video of his free skate can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPcPTXUh1uA

Shawn Sawyer delivered a brilliant performance to win the silver medal and secure his spot on the World team.  He has a very entertaining free program and it's nice to see him match his artistic ability with technical skills.  Here's his program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv2hBOJALYM

A relative unknown internationally, Joey Russell was able to finish third in both segments and claim the bronze medal.  Kevin Reynolds struggled and was only able to finish 4th.

The Four Continents Team will be Sawyer, Russell and Reynolds.  The Worlds Team will be Chan, Sawyer and Russell.

Liam Firus had a strong showing to finish 6th while Andre Rogozine struggled and was only able to finish 13th.  Both will represent Canada at the World Junior Championships.

Ladies:

Cynthia Phaneuf was able to claim her second Canadian title, her first won back in 2004.  She won by nearly 15 points against several strong competitors.  Here's her free skate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEzIR1k0Dkk

Myriane Samson had a strong free skate to claim the silver medal and her spot on the World team.  She beat out bronze medalist Amelie Lacoste by 6 points.  Samson's free skate is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEm6hEtoGyo

The Four Continents Team will be Phaneuf, Samson and Lacoste.  The World Team will be Phaneuf and Samson.

Alexandra Najarro finished 4th and Vanessa Grenier finished 7th to qualify for the World Juniors Team.

2010 Pairs Champion Jessica Dube finished a strong 6th in singles.  She plans to return to pairs skating with her partner Bryce Davison next season.

Pairs:

Moore-Towers and Moscovitch have emerged as a top pairs team in Canada and the World after their trip to the Grand Prix Final.  They had two strong programs and easily took the title by 16 points.  Here's their free skate from Skate Canada: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB8MGg1HOwE

The new team of Duhamel and Radford had a strong free skate to climb up to second place in the standings.  They had a strong outing at their Grand Prix debut and have continued to improve.  They had a few blips with their short program that they'll want to clean up before worlds, but this team could definitely contend for the national title next season.  Here's their free skate from earlier this season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzC3JSg7Ji4

The Four Continents Team is Moore-Towers/Moscovitch, Duhamel/Radford, and Lawrence/Swiegers.  The Worlds Team is Moore-Towers/Moscovitch and Duhamel/Radford.

Jones and Gaskell finished 6th.  They will be joined on the World Junior Team by Purich and Schultz.

Ice Dance

Virtue and Moir unfortunately had to pull out of nationals.  This means that Four Continents will be the first time we get a look at their programs and how they've been training since Tessa's surgery.  I have no doubts they can make the World podium, just what color medal they'll receive.

Nationals did show how incredibly talented and deep Canada's field is.  Unfortunately there are four teams that all could do well at nationals and are continuing to climb the ranks and Canada can only have three spots on their International teams.  And their top teams are all relatively the same age and in a sport where competitors can easily go into their late 20s and 30s, there may not be room for new teams for some time.

Crone and Poirier are actually the youngest of the bunch and were able to squeak out their first ever Canadian title by only 1.03 points.  They're still not ready to challenge the very top tier of teams as Davis and White have scored over 100 points on their free skate internationally and Crone and Poirier were just shy of this mark at nationals where scores are generally elevated.  Here's their free dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWnfkJZk020

Right on their tails are Weaver and Poje.  These teams have such different styles and their scores and abilities are so close that it often comes down to a matter of preference.  Both of these teams made the Grand Prix Final and I think they'll continue to battle it out at home and internationally for years to come.  Their free dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6F_KyIlDBY

The Four Continents and Worlds Team is: Virtue/Moir, Crone/Poirier, and Weaver/Poje.

The Junior World Team is Orford/Williams and Oliveira/Hockley.

Canadian Nationals: Ladies Free Skate

1. Cynthia Phaneuf: 51.03 TES + 60.52 PCS = 111.55
1. She executed a Triple Toe, Triple Lutz, Triple Loop + Double Toe, Level 3 Layback Spin, Triple Salchow, Triple Loop + Double Toe, Triple Toe + Salchow, Single Axel, Level 3 Sit Spin, Level 2 Step Sequence and Level 3 Combination Spin with only two negative GOEs.
2. Myriane Samson: 55.20 TES + 52.87 PCS = 108.07
1. She executed a Triple Loop, Triple Flip, Triple Loop + Double Loop + Double Loop, Level 3 Layback Spin, Triple Lutz (edge call), Triple Flip + Double Toe, Triple Salchow, Level 4 Combination Spin, Single Axel, Level 3 Step Sequence, and Level 3 Sit Spin with only one negative GOE.
3. Amelie Lacoste: 49.57 TES + 51.29 PCS = 100.86
1. She executed a Double Axel + Double Axel Sequence, Triple Loop + Double Loop, Double Lutz, Level 4 Sit Spin, Double Flip, Level 3 Layback Spin, Triple Toe + Double Toe, Triple Salchow, Level 3 Step Sequence, Triple Loop and Level 4 Combination Spin with only one negative GOE.
4. Adriana DeSanctis: 50.46 TES + 45.96 PCS = 96.42
1. She executed a Triple Lutz + Double Toe, Triple Salchow + Double Toe, Triple Flip (edge call), Level 4 Camel Spin, Triple Toe, Triple Lutz, Triple Salchow, Double Axel + Double Axel Sequence, Level 2 Layback Spin, Level 1 Step Sequence, and Level 4 Combination Spin with only 3 negative GOEs.
5. Alexandra Najarro: 44.92 TES + 50.34 PCS = 95.26
1. She executed a Triple Toe, Triple Flip + Double Toe, Double Axel, Level 4 Combination Spin, Triple Salchow + Double Toe, Triple Flip (under-rotated), Double Axel (under-rotated) + Double Toe (downgraded), Level 2 Camel Spin, Level 2 Step Sequence, Triple Salchow and Level 3 Layback Spin with only three negative GOEs.
6. Dallas Daniel: 45.69 TES + 44.99 PCS = 90.68
1. She executed a Triple Toe + Double Toe, Triple Lutz, Double Axel, Level 3 Sit Spin, Triple Loop (under-rotated), Double Salchow, Double Axel + Toe, Level 3 Layback Spin, Triple Toe + Double Toe, Level 3 Step Sequence and Level 4 Combination Spin with only one negative GOE.
7. Vanessa Grenier: 44.27 TES + 42.53 PCS -1.00 = 85.80
1. She executed a Triple Flip, Triple Lutz (under-rotated and fall), Double Salchow, Level 4 Combination Spin, Triple Toe, Triple Toe + Double Toe + Double Loop, Triple Salchow + Double Toe, Level 4 Layback Spin, Double Axel + Double Toe, Level 2 Step Sequence, Level 4 Combination Spin with 5 positive GOEs.
8. Jessica Dube: 34.61 TES + 48.48 PCS -1.00 = 82.09
1. She executed a Double Axel, Triple Flip (edge call and fall), Double Salchow, Single Lutz, Level 4 Combination Spin, Double Salchow, Double Axel + Double Toe, Level 3 Step Sequence, Double Flip (edge call), Level 4 Sit Spin and Level 2 Layback Spin with only three negative GOEs.
9. Kate Charbonneau: 38.41 TES + 44.48 PCS -1.00 = 81.89
1. She executed a Triple Toe (downgraded) + Salchow, Double Lutz, Triple Flip, Triple Salchow + Double Toe + Double Toe, Level 3 Sit Spin, Level 4 Combination Spin, Double Toe, Triple Salchow + Double Toe, Double Axel (downgraded), Level 2 Step Sequence, and Level 3 Layback Spin with 8 positive GOEs.
10. Devon Neuls: 38.40 TES + 40.61 PCS -2.00 = 77.01
1. She executed a Triple Toe + Double Toe, Triple Lutz, Triple Salchow + Double Toe, Double Axel (underrotated and fall), Level 3 Sit Spin, Triple Lutz + Salchow (fall), Triple Salchow, Level 2 Step Sequence, Double Lutz + Single Toe (invalid), Level 4 Combination Spin and Level 4 Combination Spin with four positive GOEs.

Final Results

1. Cynthia Phaneuf: 172.32
2. Myriane Samson: 157.82
3. Amelie Lacoste: 151.72
4. Alexandra Najarro: 147.38
5. Adriana DeSanctis: 144.23
6. Jessica Dube: 130.90
7. Vanessa Grenier: 129.93
8. Dallas Daniel: 129.67
9. Kate Charbonneau: 120.50
10. Sarah Jourdain: 115.92

Canadian Nationals: Ladies Short Program

1. Cynthia Phaneuf: 30.85 TES + 29.92 PCS = 60.77
1. She executed a Double Axel, Triple Lutz + Double Toe, Triple Toe, Level 3 Layback Spin, Level 4 Sit Spin, Level 2 Step Sequence and Level 4 Combination Spin with no negative GOEs.
2. Alexandra Najarro: 28.24 TES + 23.88 PCS = 52.12
1. She executed a Triple Toe + Double Toe, Triple Flip, Level 3 Layback Spin, Double Axel, Level 3 Camel Spin, Level 2 Step Sequence and Level 4 Combination Spin with only one negative GOE.
3. Amelie Lacoste: 25.32 TES + 25.54 PCS = 50.86
1. She executed a Double Axel, Triple Loop + Double Loop, Single Lutz, Level 4 Sit Spin, Level 3 Layback Spin, Level 3 Step Sequence and Level 4 Combination Spin with only one negative GOE.
4. Myriane Samson: 25.81 TES + 24.94 PCS -1.00 = 49.75
1. She executed a Triple Lutz (edge call and fall), Double Axel, Level 3 Layback Spin, Triple Flip, Level 4 Sit Spin, Level 3 Step Sequence and Level 4 Combination Spin with only two negative GOEs.
5. Jessica Dube: 25.31 TES + 24.50 PCS -1.00 = 48.81
1. She executed a Double Axel, Triple Lutz + Double Toe, Triple Salchow (fall), Level 3 Layback Spin, Level 2 Step Sequence, Level 4 Sit Spin and Level 4 Combination Spin with only two negative GOEs.
6. Adriana DeSanctis: 26.93 TES + 21.88 PCS -1.00 = 47.81
1. She executed a Triple Lutz + Double Toe, Triple Flip (edge call and fall), Level 3 Layback Spin, Double Axel, Level 4 Combination Spin, Level 3 Step Sequence, and Level 4 Camel Spin with 4 positive GOEs.
7. Sarah Jourdain: 26.36 TES + 19.33 PCS = 45.69
1. She executed a Double Axel, Triple Flip + Single Toe, Triple Loop, Level 4 Camel Spin, Level 4 Combination Spin, Level 3 Step Sequence and Level 3 Layback Spin with only two negative GOEs.
8. Vanessa Grenier: 23.01 TES + 21.12 PCS = 44.13
1. She executed a Triple Lutz (downgraded), Triple Salchow + Double Toe, Level 4 Layback Spin, Double Axel, Level 4 Sit Spin, Level 2 Step Sequence, and Level 4 Combination Spin with only one negative GOE.
9. Rylie McCulloch-Casarsa: 19.73 TES + 18.88 PCS = 38.61
1. She executed a Triple Toe + Double Toe, Triple Loop (downgraded), Level 2 Layback Spin, Double Axel, Level 2 Camel Spin, Level 2 Step Sequence and Level 3 Combination Spin with only two negative GOEs.
10. Dallas Daniel: 18.30 TES + 20.69 PCS = 38.99
1. She executed a Single Lutz, Triple Toe, Level 2 Sit Spin, Double Axel, Level 4 Combination Spin, Level 3 Step Sequence, and Level 3 Layback Spin with two positive GOEs.

Canadian Nationals: Ladies Preview

Canada has 3 spots at Four Continents and 2 spots at the World Championships.

Cynthia Phaneuf is looking to win her first national title since 2004.  She finished 4th at both of her Grand Prix assignments but has struggled with consistency.  She was in the lead after the short program at Skate Canada but mistakes in her free skate dropped her off the podium.  This is probably still her event to lose, but she faces competition and will need to skate clean.

Fighting for the top spot will be Amelie Lacoste, the only Canadian lady to medal at the Grand Prix this season.  She wasn't able to repeat this at Skate America, but still finished a respectable 5th.  She knows how to capitalize when other ladies make errors and I could see her slipping into 1st if Phaneuf has problems.

The third podium spot will likely go to Myriane Samson who has had a good season on the Grand Prix, breaking her own personal best scores at both competitions.

Vanessa Grenier, Alexandra Najarro, and Adriana DeSanctis took home the medals from Challenge.  Their scores were all close but they didn't have a huge lead over the rest of the pack.  Kate Charbonneau could also impress but she has not been the most consistent in her results.  Jessica Dube is also competing here due to the injury to Bryce Davison that ended their season.  With additional practice on her jumps and programs I could see her moving up a few spots here, but jumps have been her struggle in pairs over the last few seasons and she is attempting jumps she hasn't executed in years.

The skaters in reverse qualification order:

Daniela-Bella Favot: She qualified with a 15th place finish at Challenge.  She finished 11th at nationals last season.

Karine Chevrier: She qualified with a 14th place finish at Challenge.

Jessica-Amy Sergeant: She qualified with a 13th place finish at Challenge.

Kelsey McNeil: She qualified with a 12th place finish at Challenge.

Sarah Jourdain: She qualified with an 11th place finish at Challenge.

Jacqueline Lenuik: She qualified with a 10th place finish at Challenge.

Izabel Valiquette: She qualified with a 9th place finish at Challenge.  She finished 12th at nationals last season.

Rylie McCulloch-Casarsa: She finished 9th at her last international assignment, JGP Lake Placid 2009.  She qualified with an 8th place finish at Challenge.  She finished 9th at nationals last season.

Jessica Dube: Dube competed at the Olympics and World Championships with her partner Bryce Davison.  She qualified with a 7th place finish at Challenge.  She won gold in Pairs at nationals last season.

Devon Neuls: She qualified with a 6th place finish at Challenge.

Kate Charbonneau: Charbonneau finished 6th at the World Junior Championships with personal best scores across the board.  She finished 15th at JGP Cup of Austria and 13th at Pokal der Blauen.  She is the 2009 junior national champion.  She qualified with a 5th place finish at Challenge.  She finished 7th at nationals last season.

Dallas Daniel:  She qualified with a 4th place finish at Challenge.  She finished 10th at nationals last season.

Adriana DeSanctis: She qualified with a 3rd place finish at Challenge.  She finished 6th at nationals last season.

Alexandra Najarro: Najarro finished 10th at JGP Brasov Cup and 7th at the J. Curry Memorial.  She qualified with a 2nd place finish at Challenge.  She finished 15th at nationals last season.

Vanessa Grenier: She finished 12th at JGP Courcheval.  She qualified with a 1st place finish at Challenge.  Her highest finish at nationals was last season when she placed 8th.

Amelie Lacoste: Lacoste placed 7th at Four Continents.  She won bronze at Skate Canada with personal best scores across the board and 5th at Skate America.  She is the 2005 junior national champion and the 2009 national bronze medalist.  She finished 5th at nationals last season.

Myriane Samson: Samson finished 29th at the World Championships and 8th at Four Continents.  She finished 7th at Skate Canada earlier this season with personal best scores across the board and 8th at Cup of Russia with a personal best free skate.  Her best finish at nationals was last season when she won bronze.

Cynthia Phaneuf: Phaneuf finished 12th at the Olympics and 5th at Worlds with a personal best free skate and total score.  She is the 2004 Four Continents silver medalist.  She finished 4th at Skate Canada and Trophee Eric Bompard.  She is the 2004 national champion; 2005, 2009 and 2010 national silver medalist; and 2008 national bronze medalist.

Rostelecom Cup Ladies Short Program

Group 1

Sofia Biryukova, RUS

• Triple triple combination very nicely done
• solo triple with nice flow out of the landing
• layback spin into a haircutter into biellman but loses speed
• Nice double axel
• Needs more stretch through her camel spin position
• Nice footwork but needs more variety through her upper body
• Combo spin needs to straighten her bottom leg and she had no speed at the end of the spins

30.70 TES + 24.29 PCS = 54.99 into 1st place

Agnes Zawadzki, USA

• nice accent work at beginning
• Triple triple combo with small bobble in between
• Hangs on to the landing of her solo triple jump
• nice spiral position
• Layback spin into haircutter into bielmann and keeps the speed
• Sit spin needs more stretch and has no speed
• Lots of one foot moves in her footwork but seems slow
• Nice double axel
• Combo spin into a bow and arrow position at the end

32.03 TES + 24.81 PCS = 56.84 seasons best into 1st place

Myriane Samson, CAN

• Triple double combo
• I missed her axel
• She is a very elegant skater and has nice style
• Solo triple was clean and well done
• Great sit positions in her spin
• Nice layback position in her spins into a haircutter
• Step sequence mostly on one foot and well done
• Camel spin position in the combo spin could use a little work

28.66 TES + 24.20 PCS = 53.26 seasons best and into 3rd place

Elena Glebova, EST

• Triple double combination to start
• Solo triple jump was clean
• Double axel was clean
• Camel spin into sit spin for her combination spin
• Step sequence had a large section on one foot and goes well with the music
• She needs to get lower in her sit spin positions and she loses a lot of speed here
• Nice layback spin but it loks like she finished after the music

23.04 TES + 22.74 PCS = 45.78 and into 4th place

Valentina Marchei, ITA

• Opening combo a triple double, possible two foot on the first jump but it just may have been the camera angle
• Nice triple
• Good speed through her sit spins
• Nice double axel
• Good layback position but she could use more turnout through her hips, goes into a haircutter
• Her fierce face is on for her footwork and she's really performing
• Final combination spin was well done

28.44 TES + 25. 17 PCS = 53.61 new seasons best and into 3rd place

Group 2

Ashley Wagner, USA

• Triple triple combination
• Solo triple maybe two footed landing
• Nice sit spin position
• Step sequence
• 2 camels, 2 sit positons and a layback in her combination spin
• Ina Bauer into a nice double axel
• Layback spin with gorgeous arms into a Biellman and she keeps the speed
• Solid program for Wagner

30.23 TES + 25.94 PCS = 56.17 new seasons best into 2nd place

Ksenia Makarova, RUS

• This girl is fierce enough to pull off Spanish music
• Opening triple and she hops out of it
• Triple double combination
• Spiral into a nice double axel
• She needs more speed and more stretch in her sit spin
• Nice step sequence
• Great speed in her combination spin and good flexibility on her catchfoot spin
• Layback into haircutter into Biellman at the end of the program was well done

26.54 TES + 26.39 PCS = 52.93 into 6th place

Alena Leonova, RUS

• Ugly costume and she's doing a doll/clown theme
• Falls on opening triple
• Pops her combo into a single-double
• Needs a lower position in her sit spin and has an ugly position change with no speed
• Double axel was nicely done
• Layback into haircutter into Bielmann with no speed
• Footwork sequence with lots of arms but no performance quality here
• Final spin and she ends after the music

21.98 TES + 25.63 PCS -1.00 = 46.61 into 7th place

Miki Ando, JPN

• It looks like she has a bandage on her back
• Opening triple double was well done
• Nice solo triple
• Her sit spin seems really slow
• She finished the spin really early and stands at center uce
• Nice double axel and then another pause while she waits for her music
• Zippy footwork sequence but doesn't move across the ice well and she looks tired
• Nice camel into sit into catch front spin
• She has weird arms on her closing layback into haircutter spin but the position is nice

27.03 TES + 26.97 PCS = 54.00 into 4th place

Akiko Suzuki, JPN

• Opening triple-double nicely done and on a musical accent
• Second triple was possibly two footed
• Her camel spin really travels instead of staying in one spot
• Layback into haircutter into 1 handed bielman and she has no speed at the end
• I missed her double axel
• Combo spin was ok but again there was a lot of traveling
• A nice footwork sequence at the end and it goes well with the music

30.13 TES + 27.30 PCS = 57.43 and into 1st place

Top 3:
1)  Akiko Suzuki
2) Agnes Zawadzki
3) Ashley Wagner

Top TES: Agnes Zawadzki
Top PCS: Akiko Suzuki

Rostelecom Cup Ladies Preview

Miki Ando should be able to add a 4th consecutive gold medal to her haul at this event.  She had some problems with her short at Cup of China but came back with a solid free to win Gold.  She'll need to put two clean programs together here to be more competitive against tougher fields.  Akiko Suzuki is proving that she deserves a place among the world's best and should be able to land on the podium again here and qualify for the Grand Prix Final with Ando.  Alena Leonova won bronze earlier this season not because of how well she skated, but because of how poorly everyone else skated.  If the same happens here she might win a medal again, but this is unlikely.  Ksenia Makarova is looking to continue her hot streak by medaling in only her 2nd Grand Prix and Agnes Zawadzki is looking to redeem herself after a disappointing free skate at Skate Canada and make the medal stand in her second event.  Ashley Wagner is another one who could wind up with a medal especially if she pulls off the spectacular free skates she is known for.  This should be a very interesting competion for the medal stand.

My podium predictions are:
Gold: Miki Ando
Silver: Akiko Suzuki
Bronze: Ksenia Makarova

My USFSA Fantasy Team is:
A) Miki Ando
B) Ksenia Makarova
C) Myriane Samson

Information on all the competitors is below.

Myriane Samson, CAN: Samson finished 29th at the World Championships and 8th at Four Continents.  She finished 7th at Skate Canada earlier this season with personal best scores across the board.

Elena Glebova, EST: Glebova finished 21st at the Olympics, 21st at Worlds with a personal best short program and 10th at Europeans.  She finished 5th at Skate Canada last season.

Valentina Marchei, ITA: Marchei finished 8th at the European Championships with a personal best short program.  She finished 8th at Skate Canada earlier this season.

Miki Ando, JPN: Ando placed 5th at the Olympics and 4th at the World Championships.  She won her Rostelecom and NHK Trophy assignments last season and placed 2nd at the Grand Prix Final.  She is the 2004 World Junior Champion and 2007 World Champion.  She is the only lady to ever land a quadruple jump in competition.  She won gold at Cup of China earlier this season.

Akiko Suzuki, JPN: Suzuki placed 8th at the Olympics Games with personal best short and free program scores.  She also placed 11th at the World Championships and 2nd at Four Continents.  She won gold at last season's Cup of China and placed 5th at Skate Canada to earn a berth to the Grand Prix Final where she won bronze.  She won silver at Cup of China earlier this season.

Sofia Biryukova, RUS: Biryukova placed 2nd with personal best scores across the board at her Junior Grand Prix assignment last season.  This is her Grand Prix debut.

Alena Leonova, RUS: Leonova placed 9th at her Olympic debut with personal bests in the short program and total score and followed it up with a 13th place finish at Worlds.  She was 7th at the European Championships.  She won bronze at last season's Rostelecom Cup and silver at the NHK Trophy to qualify her for the Grand Prix Final where she placed 6th.  She won bronze at Cup of China.

Ksenia Makarova, RUS: Makarova placed 10th at the Olympics with a personal best free skate and total score, 8th at World Championships with a personal best short program, and 9th at Europeans.  She won silver and bronze at her two Junior Grand Prix assignments last year and placed 4th at the Junior Grand Pix Final.  She won silver at her Grand Prix Debut in Canada.

Ashley Wagner, USA: Wagner is the 2007 and 2009 World Junior Bronze medalist.  She finished 2nd and 3rd at her two Grand Prix assignments last year and placed 4th at the Grand Prix Final.  She finished 5th at NHK Trophy earlier this season.

Agnes Zawadzki, USA: Zawadzki is the reigning World Junior Silver Medalist.  She finished 6th at her Grand Prix debut in Canada with personal best scores across the board.