Crest Whitestrips - Ladies Result!!

[AxelAnnie22]

1 Cohen
2 Hughes
3 Slutskaya
4 McDonough
5 Kirk

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

[Mayra]

Results not that much of a surprise, especially considering Sasha's improved skating and her amazing R&J program *which apparently garnered a standing ovation* 8-)

:( for Slutskaya though.

[Mayra]

Sasha skated to Rach! I wonder why no R&J? :(

[coco]

Anyone know why Vika withdrew? ;(

[adrianchew]

Ok here's the rundown...

Sasha Cohen skated to Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 - new dress, orange with black striping, non sparkly.

3-lutz/3-toe (step out, she hesistated before doing the 3-toe, looked like she was thinking should I go for it)
3-lutz
3-flip
deathdrop/backsit/Y (this is a change from the flying camel, harder tech difficulty)
3-loop
3-toe/0.5-loop/3-sal
outside spreadeagle (big circular pattern)
layback
ina bauer
2-axel
LFIO spiral (change of edge forward inside outside)
russian split (this is where she previously did the 3-sal)
followed by Y skid
straight line footwork (covered enough ice for sure tonight)
camel/layback/backsit/Y (perfectly centered tonight)
headless scratch spin

Definitely her best performance of Rachmaninoff so far this season... 6 triples clean. Was a little disappointed not to see Romeo & Juliet in long program format, but Rach is a proven vehicle for her so far. Partial standing ovation (including me!).

Here's the rest...

Sarah Hughes - 2-flip, 3-lutz/2-toe, split, backsit, 3-sal, one hand Biellmann spin, 3-loop, 3-flip, circular footwork, camel/layback/back-camel/back-sit/Y, layback, 3-toe, circular spiral sequence, flying camel/illusion.

Very nice program overall... I think people are premature to say Robin will go copying other skaters chereography... this program seems nicely suited to Sarah. Flutz is very obvious though - not only does she go to the inside edge, she curves on the inside edge... this is before the picking foot starts to pick. It could be really close between a 7-triple Sasha and a 7-triple Sarah at Nationals.

Ann Patrice McDonough - 2-axel, 3-lutz/2-toe, 3-loop(possible 2-foot, I can't see from my seat), deathdrop/backsit/Y, 2-flip/2-toe, 2-sal, layback with catch foot, spiral sequence LFO LBO LFO with catch foot, flying camel/donut, 2-lutz, Russian split, 3-flip.

I would have had AP ahead of Irina. AP's basic skating is beautiful to watch, she doubled too many jumps though. C'mon AP, the door is open, you need to pass through next time!

Irina Slutskaya - 2-lutz, turns into 3-loop (turnout), 3-sal/2-loop, flying camel, 3-lutz, circular footwork (incomplete pattern), 3-flip (underroated, landed forward), 2-axel, layback/Biellmann, spirals RFO RBO RBO, layback (she slows down by this time in the program), 1-flip, 2-toe, combo-spin.

Irina looks stronger, but not fully up to speed. She slowed down into the program, and looks like she was making up for jumps and changing her program towards the end. I suspect once she trains enough and is back up to speed, Irina will definitely be in contention too. Also her presentation has improved, overall speed and flow is still top notch in the first part of program though some telegraphing going into initial jumps in the program.

Jenny Kirk - 3-loop, 3-flip/2-toe, layback, 1-lutz, circular footwork, 3-toe/2-toe, layback/backsit/Y, RFI RBO Kerrigan spirals, spreadeagle, flying camel (spin was somewhat wild and uncontrolled), 3-toe, 3-sal, 2-axel, camel/sit/back-camel with catch foot/scratch.

The judges don't like Jenny for some reason or other. Her 3-flip is not a quality 3-flip, the lutz she popped open, and if she's going to try for a 3/3 combo it will likely be a 3-toe/3-toe. New program - its ok I guess. Her SP to Princess Diaries is still better chereographically to me.

They had these stupid cones out on the ice tonight too. It seems huge chuck of ice came out on one end during the ice cut, and they put up cones... you'll see them on TV.

[kwanette]

You were there? How exciting.

Glad to hear Sasha did the sequence. She did it so well at Campbell's. Sarah sounded as if she skated well, also. I cannot wait to see this competition.

[mkcrazy02]

Most of the ladies had a poor skate, but it wasn't their fault. During the ice resurface the zamboni broke and it took a while to get it fixed. Then they put cones on the ice for who knows what, and left them there for the ladies warmup, then the announcer said that the ladies could choose wheather or not they could re move the cones for their skate. Which none did. I think it caused to pop the jumps they did at the end of the rink.


Sasha was great. Every element was crisp and sharp, But I found her costum to be quite distracted. It was orange with black trim.

Irina was sporting a new hair cut from the grand prix. She double most of her jumps then at the end she was poping them and or stopping the roation in mid air.

Jenny skated great. Her only mistake was a pop lutz besides the she was clean.

Sarah was great too. She had her hair pulled backed which made her look older. She hit all of her jumps but some looked cheated. Her and Robin looked like they were in tears after the skate.

AP was great untill the half way mark. She hit a triple toe for the first time I saw in comp and almost when sraight into the cones . Past that I think rest were doubles untill the final triple flip.

[Hannahclear]

had great seats! I've never been so close to the ice. First the ladies:

1) Cohen: very good skate for her. She opened with a 3lutz/3toe attempt, sort of got lost in the air and stepped out of 3 toe. Skated to the other end of the rink and landed a clean lutz. I can't remember if she did the 3flip combo, but I think she did. Did a nice spin, sorry I didn't take notes, landed a loop, and GREAT 3 toe, 1/2 loop, 3 sal sequence. Moves and footwork were nice, spins were very fast, overall a good skate and the clear winner. I DO NOT LIKE her new dress. Orange? Why orange? Looked like something one of the Charlies Angels would wear. Please, Sasha go back to other dress, you looked fab. I actually thought she was going to do R/J, given her hair, double french braid twist and the outfit, but it was Rach. She's definitely the contender for the National title. However, I wasn't feeling it from her. Honestly, to me, she looked a bit flat. There wasn't the intense emotion that I have seen on the Grand Prix, though I think the fluff status of the event may have had something to do with that.

2) Hughes: GREAT DRESS, Sarah looks wonderful in dark striking colors and this maroon outfit, with very nice embroidery really suited her. She looks like she is in shape. That said, she didn't struggle, and skated clean, and seemed very happy (may have been crying) but I don't think she is where she needs to be. Her jumps were solid enough, but they don't look like she can fit another 3 on them. And her flutz is exactly the same, if not worse than last year. She looked tired. Program is a step up though, nice choreography, it suited her. She did a 2 flip, 3 flutz/2 toe (the flutz was so bad my husband could tell and he knows NOTHING), 3 loop out of turns, 3 salchow and 3 toe.

3) Irina: blue dress w/ neon green trim and blue fringe everywhere. I object strongly to this outfit. Watching Irina in the warmup, having never seen her skate live in a competition, I have to say that her strength and power of stroking are very obvious. She was smiling the whole time, very friendly with the fans and when she opened up on the 3 sal in the warmup, she made the funniest face at everyone in my section. Obviously a very warm person. She had a rough skate. The cones from the zamboni hole didn't help on her opening lutz, you could tell she was too close, and it scared her, so she doubled. I think she may have actually hit the cones, before she skated she looked like she couldn't decide whether or not to leave them on or off (the ladies had the option, all left them on). Triple loop was a bit slow, but clean and triple salchow/2loop was nice. She doubled a couple of other jumps, and had some step outs.I don't think she landed a successful 3flip. Her 2nd lutz was successful, but still slightly wonky. The program is better in person, she is skilled at playing to the crowd and sold the choreography. Her first Bielmann was very good, but the 2nd was traveling everywhere. Again, very nice hair too, but dress did not go w/ Opera, it looked like a hulagirl/flapper outfit.

4) AP: Nice opening, but then doubled 3 jumps. Program has a very pleasing style, elegant.

5) Kirk: generic classical music, new program. She plays to the crowd well, but it looked exactly the same, to new music. She seems to be in a "look at how dainty I am" groove, I'm not sure I like it.


Men

1) Plush: almost landed the 4toe/3toe/3loop, but stepped out. Best skate of the night.
2) Weiss: skated well, still don't care for him
3) Goebel: whatever, skate, jump, skate, jump, attempts to look like he cares about inbetweens, jump, skate, jump.
4) Honda: Again, whatever, very flat
5) Yags: great program, obviously in pain, too hurt to do much, exciting program
6) Savoie: really the best mens program, even without the quad. Screw the quad, he deserved better marks. I booed very loudly for him, along with rest of crowd. Such interesting stuff in his program, did 2 3 axels, neither in combo, oops and a 3flip/3toe.

[Blue Line]

Originally posted by Hannahclear
Orange? Why orange? Looked like something one of the Charlies Angels would wear. Please, Sasha go back to other dress, you looked fab. I actually thought she was going to do R/J, given her hair, double french braid twist and the outfit, but it was Rach.

I thought the same thing, and I was so excited to see Romeo and Juliet! Sasha's performance of Rach, however, did not disappoint. This is the first time that I've seen Sasha skate competitively, and she was impressive.

I must be in the minority, because I didn't see the dress as orange. At least not pumpkin orange, as some of the fans reading these reviews may think! It was a burnt orange, IMO.

Originally posted by Hannahclear
GREAT DRESS, Sarah looks wonderful in dark striking colors and this maroon outfit, with very nice embroidery really suited her.

The 3/4 sleeves and the embroidery reminded me of the Don Quixote dress she wore at 2001 Worlds. This style of dress suits her and her hairstyle (half-up, in two braids pinned together, if I recall correctly) aged her (in a good way).

Originally posted by coco
Anyone know why Vika withdrew? ;(

I hear she was ill. However, I saw her coach, so she must have made the trip to Detroit. It was too bad she wasn't there, I would've enjoyed seeing her.

Originally posted by coco
5) Yags: great program, obviously in pain, too hurt to do much, exciting program

I went to Skate America, too, and it is so sad to see him like this. No quads, a triple-double, and still amazing to watch. He skated his Gladiator program, which was a very big surprise to me.

One more thing: what was with all of the screaming kids? I have never been to a competition in the Detroit-area before, but I was very surprised at how much kids were yelling to the skaters ("Goooo, Irina!" "Smile, Sasha!"). It must be skater-kids, doing what they do to support one another at competition.

[jkrjob]

Wow, Sasha did great, but she really has to spread those jumps out a bit. Did she do any jumps past the half way mark?

[Artistic Skaters]

Originally posted by Hannahclear
5) Kirk: generic classical music, new program.
Generic classical music??? :??

I would define it more as a classic among classics. Definitely a step up for her in the music dept. This is the skater after all who has performed to elevator music ABBA & a badly orchestrated Nutcracker program.

[Alexeiskate]

I would have put Kirk above AP and Irina. Aside from the popped lutz, Jenny went after and hit everything else in her program. Jenny seemed to drop her arms sometimes and ignore the choreography but this is a new program. Overall this program is a big improvement over the ABBA program. I think she should wear darker color and make-up on the ice so she doesn't look too washed out on the ice.

I like Irina's look in this competition. She looks like an adult now instead of like the younger Irina like she did at COR and NHK. But she barely had any technical content and was suprised the judges put her third.

AP present a pretty picture but I don't think she's feeling the music at all.

Sarah program look much better here than when I first saw it a couple of months ago. I hope she'll be able to pull it up a notch at Nationals.

Sasha looked very determine this year and was the deserving winner. I agree with Dick's comment about the ending footwork section - it seemed disconnected from the rest of the program.

What happened with ABC camera work ? The camera kept on alternating between close up and pull back during each skater. ABC has been covering skating for a long time and for them to not have better direction on its coverage is not acceptable.

[Hannahclear]

It sounded generic to me, not too fast, not too slow, just kind of there. What was the piece?

[purplecat]

Hannahclear, Jenny's music was Die Fledermaus...I always call it the quintessential skating music! :D

[duane]

hats off to sarah (BTW, her first jump was a gorgeous 2-axel, not a 2-flip). she performed extremely well coming off an injury, and this being her first competition since Campbell's. she showed that she is still a true fighter. hated the hair, tho!

sasha!! another win! if she ever lands a clean LP with both the 3lutz/3toe and the 3toe/.5loop/3sal, she will be unbeatable. hated the outfit, tho!

jenny kirk is so beautiful. i would like to see her star in a remake of "Cinderella". :) i thought she should have been 3rd.

i loved irina's haircut and outfit! actually, i like her LP. and, her skating didnt appear as rough as her previous performances (tho wow! she really struggled with the jumps).

[Mayra]

I must be the only person who loved Sasha Cohen's dress. The skirt was gorgeous and the dress wasn't as orange as I thought it would be. I guess I'm just tired of seeing the same colored costumes the American ladies seem to wear.

Sasha has IMO set herself up as THE favorite to win Nationals. 8-) She is so improved in her skating and that camel spin is wonderful.

[coco]

Originally posted by purplecat
Hannahclear, Jenny's music was Die Fledermaus...I always call it the quintessential skating music! :D

for all you gymnastics fans, doesn't it just take you back to the compulsory fx in atlanta? sure did for me.


I bet that sasha's dress IS an R&J dress, perhaps this was just a test run. I liked the skirt, very nice.

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by Mayra
I must be the only person who loved Sasha Cohen's dress. The skirt was gorgeous and the dress wasn't as orange as I thought it would be. I guess I'm just tired of seeing the same colored costumes the American ladies seem to wear.

Sasha has IMO set herself up as THE favorite to win Nationals. 8-) She is so improved in her skating and that camel spin is wonderful.
You are not the only one. I loved the dress too! I thought it was gorgeous. Very flattring to Sasha. I love her hair that way.

I think Dick's comment was right on: "Sasha's skating is exquisite". It will be fun to watch the othrs catch up.

[michele]

Originally posted by coco
for all you gymnastics fans, doesn't it just take you back to the compulsory fx in atlanta? sure did for me.


Yes!!! :)

Gymnastics hasn't been the same since compulsories. :(

[Toepoint]

I thought Sasha's dress was cute but not for her. That dress seemed to be for someone with hips.:cry:

[quarkiki2]

Duane, I agree, Sarah's hair looked sloppy and didn't match her gorgeous costume. I think it must be in that "in-between" length where it's har to put up and impossible to wear down. I really liked the new section in her LP, though. It helped liven the program.

I gotta say that I liked Sasha's costume, but not for that music. I think the simplicity of the blue costume she's worn most recently helps ground the program -- there's so much happening musically and with her movement that a busy costume is distracting. I am alos noticing that Sasha seems to be trying to soften her arms a bit, which IMO, is a good thing. Her arms seem to appear very tense as she goes into her jumping passes -- almost OVER-extended, but now she's softening them a bit during other parts of her program and that's good, it make her look less fierce and more in synch with her music.

If Ann Patrice could have landed all of her jumps, she may have won this one -- especially since Sasha had no combination. She's so very smooth over the ice and that lutz ... Well, people were saying the same of Sasha in the last two years, maybe Ann Patrice will get it together, too, and make a splash at Nationals. I think her basic skating is better than Sasha's and almost as good as Sarah's. She just doesn't have Sasha's wow or Sarah's consistency.

[adrianchew]

The dress is orange not red! ;)

And the dress and her hairdo too - I could have sworn she was about to skate to Romeo & Juliet - its a perfect dress for R&J. Who knows, maybe they wanted to get ideas of what people thought of the dress - me thinks beautiful, but for R&J... certainly not Rach.

[bunghodog]

does anyone have her long program from crest on real video?

[spiralsrfun]

Sasha was just AMAZING! YES!

She skated the strongest LP, I've ever seen from her...she's getting stronger as the season progresses. (Love the new dress as well) 8-)

The Zamboni thing was unfortunate...but they all had to deal with it. That said, Irina, I'm sorry, looked just awful and she yet again has received another judging gift this season (like at NHK)....her performance IMO was not worthy of a medal at all. I don't know what's happened to her this season. :??

I would have placed them:

Sasha
Sarah
Jenny (great skate....5 triples):)
AP
Irina

[nigella]

Originally posted by Mayra
I must be the only person who loved Sasha Cohen's dress. The skirt was gorgeous and the dress wasn't as orange as I thought it would be. I guess I'm just tired of seeing the same colored costumes the American ladies seem to wear.


I also loved her costume.

[bcskater]

does anyone no when this will be televised? thanx in advance

[adrianchew]

It was shown in the US on ABC this past Saturday 2-4PM Eastern time.

[bcskater]

lol ok thanks guess i missed it :(

[Maximillian]

What's the deal with Kirk getting jacked? Her quality of skating isn't up to par with the rest of the girls, but it isn't that far behind. She's not my favorite by any stretch and she still has problems pumping with her stroking, I just don't understand some of her placements this season.

Ah well.

[Alexeiskate]

Originally posted by Maximillian
What's the deal with Kirk getting jacked? Her quality of skating isn't up to par with the rest of the girls, but it isn't that far behind. She's not my favorite by any stretch and she still has problems pumping with her stroking, I just don't understand some of her placements this season.

Ah well.

Yeah, it seemed like Kirk is getting undermarked this season. I think it's because eventhough she has grown up physically, her jumps haven't grown up with her in term of their power, height and distance. Plus she isn't as flashy as her main competitors like AP and Sasha.

[Maximillian]

Not to keep beating a dead horse, but when I saw her at SC her jumps seemed very much improved. Not that great of height but they reminded me a LOT of Kwan's. But I agree, she isn't at the same place presentation wise as AP or Sasha, still it doesn't seem like she can catch a break this season. Definitely thought she should've been 3rd or 4th in the FS at SC.

[adrianchew]

Actually Jenny looked in a good position after the short at Skate America, but after that it seemed to have been all downhill? :??