SkateCan - day 1 (some spoilers)

[Artemis]

Any thoughts?

Mine, in no particular order:
~ Yu-Na Kim -- wow! Another incredibly talented youngster from Asia, and with a lot of polish. Looking forward to seeing more of her.
~ Yay! for Mira leaving Joanne Macleod. Definitely the right move for her. (*cough* hint hint Eman *cough*). I doubt she'll ever be my all-time favourite skater, but I admire her determination and her spirit.
~ Loved Joannie's short program. Not a lot of skaters would skate to Hendrix! Too bad about the missed jump, but rest of the program was fab, and I have no doubt it will get better.
~ The Zhangs, wow as always, and their presentation has gotten even better. Definitely the class of the field.
~ Rod, I think you lost something. On your face. Actually he looks a lot younger without the tash. Now if only he would lose the hockey references (I think the first one came at about the 6 minute mark in the broadcast. Sheesh.)
~ Nice to see Jamie and David in the broadcast booth, and they did a fine job. (Not sure what I think about Jamie's new do, though.)

[Fruit Loops]

Any thoughts?


~ Nice to see Jamie and David in the broadcast booth, and they did a fine job. (Not sure what I think about Jamie's new do, though.)

Aww, I thought Jamie's haircut was very cute yet professional. I do miss her pony-tail though.:lol:

I stopped watching after Joannie's program because I had to go out but I thought it rocked! I haven't seen too many ladies skate to music like that. She looked a little uncomfortable out there but overall I think she has the ability to pull it off. Kudos to her!

And Yu Na Kim. :bow: She skates like a 16 year old but I can see her becoming quite a magical lady to watch in a year or two.

What excites me most about yesterday is that I actually liked the Zhangs' program. I generally HATE their skating so it makes me so mad to see them win by miles and miles. But their new SP is breathtaking and I think their overall quality has really improved. I wouldn't say that they have "star power" but they definately are now beautiful to watch. The music and costuming really suited them too.

[VGL]

~ Nice to see Jamie and David in the broadcast booth, and they did a fine job. (Not sure what I think about Jamie's new do, though.)

Jamie now has TV Broadcaster hair. I thought it was a bit too old for her.

As broadcasters though, Jamie and David are still a bit green. There were some times when I thought David was saying something just because he felt he should be saying something. Not bad for a debut though.

[Isk8NYC]

Waaa. My DirecTV subscription doesn't include the CBC. Have to wait for this weekend.

[Schmeck]

I went to USFSA and saw the results - was happy to see Tugba's name, I'd forgotten about her!

[Isk8NYC]

I've been watching USFSA.org and ISU.org for results.
CBC online has sporadic reports. ABC/ESPN is just pathetic with their coverage.

I paid the ransom for the "other site," but there is a lot of gossip and hearsay.

I decided to give up worrying about spoilers for myself. I always end up recording the skating to watch later, anyway. While I love surprises, it's not like avoiding spoilers will change the outcome, right?

[Virtualsk8r]

Waaa. My DirecTV subscription doesn't include the CBC. Have to wait for this weekend.

Have you tried to find CTV on your DirectTV? CTV/TSN are the broadcasters for Skate Canada - not CBC. TSN is (literally) The Sports Network and is carrying part of the broadcasting while the main network - CTV is covering the major prime events. CTV is the host broadcaster for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and also has a long-term agreement with Skate Canada to cover figure skating in Canada.

You can also try CTV.ca for internet broadcasting and results.

[Azlynn]

SPOILERS ABOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are warned. :D

Day two complete, I'm pooped. Didn't realize getting up for and staying late for practises was so much work!

Today was another great day, several new personal bests were set, I believe in each event.

Morning practises... were so long ago, I don't remember them. Other than the Zhangs falling, Hao into the boards, and them basically playing peekabo popup to the people sitting on the other side. :D

Dance...

Yu and Wang of China are very cute, but just not at the same level yet. Lefebre and Markov just can't seem to make the judges happy. Dubeuil and Lauzon skated first in their group, and fairly well. Few little bobbles, but still nice. Trina Pratt and Todd Gilles are adorable, sadly there was a fall on a lift that had been great in practise. Tessa and Scott went out and simply nailed it, beginning to end. Passion, fire, and they're fantastic together. Faeilla and Scali took a tumble, she vanished out of my sight in front of me.. replay on the screen just looked like a little trip.

Men...

Varner, did great, but looked so stressed out until jumps were done. Unusual program... Sawyer... great in practise, not later. Took a nasty fall. Looking very confident, well rounded. Verner, pretty in pink with a green bow. Great performance, but he needs a new program. Vaugn C. did great, had a good performance. Stephane... I don't want to go there. Went badly from start to finish, falls, stumbling, you name it. Has seemed tenative in practise, although usually nailing jumps. Ponsero was fantastic, nice clean jumps, wonderful spins. Weir startled the heck out of the crowd, went out and laid it down. Wonderful to see. Daisuke also nailed it, and had wonderful presentation. Went well for Othman, although he comes off a little air traffic controller at times. Marc-Andre Craig had a great day, was fun to watch.

Pairs

Miller and Moram are wonderful to watch, really nice bond. Some falls, but still a decent program. The Bulgarians... went badly. She stumbled on a throw, and it went downhill from there. She missed the entry on SBS spins, then a lift went up, he tripped, and she thankfully landed on top of him. Very scary to watch. She'd been having problems with the throw in practise and was making him do it over and over. Moyle and Seitz look very, very young out there. Went really well for Putnam and Wirtz, only a few minor mistakes. Vise and Trent are cute, again well, with a few mistakes. I like the Swedes, great lifts, big throws, big twists. Nice throw axel from I/B, mistakes elsewhere. Marcoux and Buntin... program bit dull. Okay performance, but a fair amount of stumbles. Zhangs, he fell on SBS jumps, and at end of program before bows, skated out and did a single toe loop and laughed. Very cute. Otherwise good program, so far ahead of others.

1. Zhang/Z
2. In/Baldwin
3. Mar/Bun (by teensy, teensy, teeeeensy margin)

Ladies Practise

Tugba looks incredible, good jumps, gorgeous spins, great spirals. Katy Taylor is fairly mixed, lots of problems on jumps. Yoshie is looking better, and very focused. Lesley is mixed, always jump problems and popping. Xu was very focused, and landing everything. She looks like a doll, she's so tiny.

Poykio didn't practise. Mira.. has a new coach? Couldn't tell, rarely talked to her. Same programs. Alissa, jump problems. Not consistant. Fumie is looking good, but popping jumps to doubles. STRANGE music for long... mind bogglingly strange. High pitched japanese voices singing nonsense words? Joannie is looking good, very focused, jumps looking good. I like her new long, it really suits her. Lots of passion and fire.

[Azlynn]

Forgot Kim... fabulous. She has amazing presence for her age. Just looks lovely out there. She'll be incredibly tough to beat. Very consistant jumps, lovely spins, wonderful lines. As long as she doesn't grow!!!

[Jump]

I really liked alissa's short programme. the music seemed to fit her and her spins were as usual, super. I hope she does great in the long and places well.

[Azlynn]

SPOILERS FOR LADIES AND MENS LONG, and DANCE PRACTISE!

You are warned. :) And I've been touched by Stephane. *sigh*

First up is the dance practise...

Yu/Wang - cute as bugs, Lord of the Dance free, cute, but I doubt it'll move them up.

Pratt/Gillies - also very cute, Dream On, nice, but not sure judges will like.

Czechs - really like them, can see them doing well in the future. She's very fiery. Elvis number, and they're waaay into it.

Mik/Sergeev - three falls, during lifts, footwork, etc. She was looking cranky by the end.

Faeilla/Scali - tecno-ey, very strong. Fast moving, working it, one fall.


Ladies

1. JOANNIE!
2. Fumie!
3. Yu-Na

Joannie popped a loop, two footed ona lutz, otherwise nice. Great program for her, gorgeous dress.

Fumie and that strange music... few mistakes here and there, but overall strong. Not sure she can work the judges with this program.

Yu-Na was tentative, can't bring practise onto comp ice yet. Missed some things, bit wobbly.

Others...

Good skate from Yoshie, moderate one from Binshu who also can't bring practise forward yet. Meh skates from most other ladies, miserable night for Tugba, Katy, and more.


MEN!

Strange, strange night. Nice skates from Varner and Othman, moderate from Stephane. Fell out of things, but rotated I believe two quads. Great footwork. Tony the Tiger returns. I like Voronov, but needs more personality.

Sawyer.. meh. Several mistakes, but also landed some great clean jumps. Daisuke started well, then bombed. Love the program. Skate of the night to Vaughn, in his first international. Fell out of some things, maybe one fall, but really, really brought it. Worked hard and should be very proud. Standing O! I love Verner, can't wait to see more. Some mistakes, but just looks great out there. Ponsero.. fair amount of mistakes, but should get better. Weir... started well, bombed, pulled it somewhat back.

Medals presentations... Nice to hear Canadian anthem. Wonderful. And I touched Stephane. :D

[Fruit Loops]

I think Vaughn's first triple lutz was the highlight of the eveing for me. :lol: That was just exhilarating to behold. Yeah, he made some mistakes but his performance was soooo easy to like. If he gets some more consistency with his jumps I can see him becoming a potential fan favourite.

JOANNIE!:bow: I love, love her new program. And I think the judges love her new program too. Those marks were pretty fantastic for one with a few flaws. I had had a hard time imagining her giving the necessary flare for a flamenco-style program but she really can sell it. Her style has improved so much over the past few seasons. But this year I can see her becoming a star. Just wonderful.

And I liked Fumie's program. It was cute. Perhaps too cute (she is 25 afterall) but her style is so winsome. She and Joannie have been my favourite ladies' skaters for the past couple years so it's nice to think that they're going to be top contendors in the absence of the Olympic medallists.

Yu Na Kim made some mistakes but I forsee her becoming a favourite as well. Already I enjoy her more than either of the Asadas and definately more than Meissner to compare her to the other teeny bopper jumpers.

[Azlynn]

Just heading off to the last dance practise, then it's dance and the gala!

Hilarious last night that they had to run Stephane's program at the end of the broadcast... crowd could tell that he'd be up in to top 5 or higher, even if Rod and Tracy couldn't.

Local papers today say Hao Zhang hasn't been feeling well, could explain a few of the strange little mistakes.

Can't wait for the dance, I think the Italians are going to bring the house down if they stay on their feet.

[4rkidz]

highlights for me:

Fumies music - I think I'm the only one I know that absolutely loved her music.. I thought it was cool and funky!! I have a feeling that in time people will get kinda hooked onto it..

Joannie's LP - boy this woman is every bit the champion - great music, great choreography, great dress.. I'm thinking the start of what will be a great season and although I love the music for the SP - it just doesn't work for me with it being Joannie - I don't see her as a 'bluesey' skater??

All the former Juniors - WOW they really deserve to be on the senior circuit and I was at Junior Worlds and saw many of these skaters and they have really trained hard and matured.. I predict a great season for all the 1st year Seniors!!

[Artemis]

Can't wait for the dance, I think the Italians are going to bring the house down if they stay on their feet.

I was a little disappointed in them this year. They had lots of energy and some neat technical stuff ... but their style seems a little out of date now. I liked their last year programs better.

But a big yeah! for Tessa and Scott. Way to make a statement in their first senior year. They still have stuff to work on, and definitely benefited from the Italians taking a fall in the OD, but still a well-deserved silver for them.

And I loved Marie-France and Patrice's FD, particularly the first 2 lifts but ... the program does seem in places a bit more like an exhibition than a competitive numbers. But I guess if you can get all the tricks in and still entertain the audience, that's a winning combination.