#HER STSQ??? LIVES CHANGED

[chasingfictions]

HAEIN LEE (KOR) realizes she is the 2023 FOUR CONTINENTS CHAMPION

#fskateedit #figureskatingedit #figure skating #haein lee #4cc 2023 #2023 4cc #lee haein #my edit. #fs #i can express the emotions i experienced tonight the only way i can get them out rn is to gif i love her so much i love her so much #SHE DESERVED THIS SO MUCH SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND #HER COSTUME WAS BEAUTIFUL #HER JUMPS??? IMMACULATE #HER STSQ??? LIVES CHANGED #im gonna cry again

[kittyprincessofcats]

RIKA LIVED!!!

Okay, so a few thoughts:

- Karen Chen was amazing.

- Amber Glenn is such a good performer! Shame about the Axel.

- Interesting that even the commentator remarked that the judges gave Hongyi Chen an UR call while not giving Amber one. If even commentators are picking up on how selective the calls can be, maybe there’s a bit of hope for change? It was pretty obvious here that the Americans were being scored generously.

- Yelim was really good! I was worried after she fell twice in the warm-up, but I’m glad she managed to put out a good performance. The first combination looked a bit shaky, but she did get negative GOE on it, so that’s fair.

- I don’t get Bradie’s scores. I admit that she was good today and I found her more enjoyable to watch than usual, but still... only 0.02 behind Rika in PCS? Lots of +5 and +4 in GOEs despite those stiff knees? I can’t really say I agree there.

- Young did great and I’d say her score by itself was fair. She still has a lot of room to grow in the PCS department, but she’s so promising.

- RIKA MY CHILD!! You’re doing amazing, sweetie!!! I’ve got to say my favourite moment in this entire Ladies SP was when she landed that Lutz after months of not being able to include it and the audience just broke into spontaneous applause in the middle of her program. THAT’S THE SUPPORT SHE DESERVES. WELCOME BACK, RIKA’S TEXTBOOK LUTZ, WE MISSED YOU!!!

- I’m so glad she did well and is leading, but Rika’s score also took my excitement away a bit. Not that I really want to complain about an 80+ score, but... that should have been higher. She got 81.35 at SCI where she did a Loop instead of a Lutz, and now she added the Lutz back in, skated clean, and got a slightly lower score than at SCI? How?? I’m looking at her scoresheet right now and there’s exactly one +5 among all of those GOEs. One. From J4 for the StSq. That’s it. No other +5s at all. And the only +4s are for the spins and step sequence, never for the jumps. They capped her jump GOE at +3 and I’m just... angry. At this point I don’t get what else they want her to do to get a +5 or +4 on them.

(Let’s be real - if Rika was Russian or American, this exact same performance would have scored 85+. Let’s not even pretend that’s not the case. The message they’re sending her here is ‘You have no chance at Worlds; we won’t score you fairly no matter what’ - and that’s sad. I want to focus on being happy for her right now, but it’s still sad. No wonder she seemed disappointed. Imagine working for months on getting that Lutz back and then it doesn’t even give you any advantage because they’ll just lowball you in all other aspects.)

- Eunsoo is so lovely to watch and I really like this program for her. I hope she can give it her all in the free and end the season on a high note.

- Wakaba was so good! I’m so glad she got a new SB here, but I’d have scored her higher as well. She’s also apparently planning to include the 3A in the free. I’m not entirely sure if that’s a good idea at this point (not sure how high her success rate for it has been), but she seemed very determined about wanting to try it, so good luck! I really hope it works out for her.

- Kaori!! Out of all the jumps she could have messed up on, I didn’t expect it to be the Loop... that’s usually her forte. But otherwise this was a really nice performance to watch. I love how fast Kaori is on the ice and how huge and powerful her jumps are. Would have scored her higher as well. All of the Japanese ladies are underscored imo, but what else is new.

#Figure skating #4CC 2020 #Rika Kihira #Wakaba Higuchi #Kaori Sakamoto #Young You #Bradie Tennell #Eunsoo Lim #Yelim Kim #Amber Glenn #Karen Chen #Hongyi Chen #long post

[morosemariposa]

2019 Finlandia Trophy

Were going back to Espoo, Finland for the Finlandia Trophy. The last Challenger Series competition before the Grand Prix Series starts next week. Finlandia Trophy is a challenger that you have to pay to watch the stream but luckily for me I found a free stream so I was able to watch the entire competition.

MEN’S SP There were rough skates, music not being skated to and lazy costumes. Overall a not great short program for most of the men but there were little highlights.

Shoma Uno - SHOOOMAAA! It was okay not great but passable. It’s not a clean skate and Shoma hasn’t had a clean short program since 2018 Japan Nationals, so I’m hoping for a clean one during the Grand Prix Series. The costume is pretty, definitely much better than the one he wore at Friends On Ice over the summer. I can always count on Shoma to bring the sparkles even if it is minimal it works for the costume and the program. He was catching up to the music during the stsq, so he needs to work on his speed and stamina more then it’ll be a great performing program. Ironically, I was nervous for the planned 4F3T combo when it was the 3A that almost got him on the landing. I believe he’ll be able to land that combo, he’s done it before. I know people have problems with this short program and I do too. I won’t get into the appropriation argument because that’s a discussion for a lot of programs this season. I will however focus on the performance of the program as I have with the other appropriation programs from various skaters.

Sota Yamamoto - It was a great short program for Sota. He really performed the music to “East of Eden” with such ease. He definitely had the best short program performance of the competition. I didn’t get to see his short performance from U.S. International Classic so I’m glad that this is my first time seeing it and I like it. I think it’s great program for him. He’s strikes me as a classical skater and beautiful classical music suits him.

MEN’S FP Wow what an underwhelming free program. It was not good, simple as that. There were skaters who gave up on their performances midway through and some had music that reminded me of other much better programs using the same music. Nobody on the podium had two clean skates, all three of them had falls. Overall, not a good event to watch. Special shout out to Christopher Caluza, he was a such a cutie being excited over his score.

Shoma Uno - This was an okay performance. Most of the jumps weren’t successful but that’s okay for the beginning of the season. I don’t know if I should be worried that this was the same lowered tech content that he performed at JapanOpen and similarly wasn’t successful at both outings. There were reports of boot issues at the JapanOpen and maybe they’re still there. There hasn’t been a clean version of this program yet and I hope he has a clean skate during the Grand Prix Series. I really wished he did the combo on the 4F and I’m wondering if there’s something going on with the 4T’s and 3A’s. Those two jumps have been a struggle so far. I’m not expecting him to be 100% at his first real competition of the season but I hope he’s in a better condition in the upcoming weeks.

Sota Yamamoto - This was hard to watch. I was worried most of the time that he would re-injure himself. Six deductions is a lot and it’s unfortunate that he had a performance like this because he really could’ve won this competition. Another silver medal is great though and I’m looking forward to seeing him at NHK and Japan Nationals. Hopefully he’ll have better performances there, I really want that for him.

LADIES’ SP Much like the men’s short program the ladies’ event was lackluster save for a few great performances. There was music that I wish would retire from skating and music I’m hearing for the first time in skating. There were skaters who were crowd favorites and new upcoming talents. I’m excited for what the season brings.

Alena Kostornaia - What a beautiful performance. Reusing programs is a double-edge sword because of this. It’s good because you know the choreography and the layout of the program but it’s bad because now it becomes your job to elevate the program. I believe she did elevate the program. The music is beautiful and light and her performance of it was just as beautiful. Alena is one of those skates that skates so beautifully that I don‘t need her to do jumps. She can skate around the rink and it would be beautiful.

Yuhana Yokoi - I like this music. The program is fun and energetic. She performed it well and her fist bump at the end was great. My favorite part was the 2A on the music change. It was an effective way to transition the the change of pace in the program.

Gabrielle Daleman - I’m happy to see her back in competition, I hope it’s a good time for her and that she achieves what she hopes to achieve this season. I like the program and it fits her well. The stsq was fun and energetic, it’s a shame about her spin. I like that the mistake didn’t impact the whole program. It wasn’t a perfect skate it wasn’t even a great skate it was just fine but it wasn’t a complete disaster. For Gabrielle I want a season that doesn’t end in injury or tears, I want her to be proud of how far she’s come.

LADIES’ FP The last group performed so well. This was a good segment and I’m even more excited for the Grand Prix Series next week. All the medalists deserved their medals. The three of them had great clean programs across both segments. 

Gabrielle Daleman - I like that she remains positive despite not a great skate. There were no combos and there were at least two jumps were she could’ve place a combo on. I think the music could be good for her and you could tell she really gets into the StSq. There was a little stumble during it but it was good, it’s great that she didn’t let go of the performance. We’ll see how she does at Skate Canada and Cup of China, hopefully a little better than here.

Yuhana Yokoi - From her dress I would've guessed she was doing a POTO program. She’s reusing her program from last season and I think it’s a good vehicle for her. I would rather a new program but I understand how a skaters making their senior debut would want that transition to go smoothly. So reusing an old program that their familiar with would make that first senior season much bearable. It was a good performance and a good competition for her overall.

Alena Kostornaia - I’m not a fan of the music and the various cuts but Alena sells it and that’s all I can ask for. Her skating is beautiful and easy. She never looks nervous and all her elements were done well. It was a commanding and confident performance. What a wonderful senior debut for her.

An overall good weekend for skating. This was the first competition I was able to watch live this season. I forgot how much fun it is watching skating live.

#figure skating #2019 finlandia trophy #2019/2020 figure skating season #ISU Challenger Series

[lazuliblade]

I’m catching up on a few skaters from Skate Canada before the Free (and in between trying to finish a painting before next weekend...).  Men’s -  Keegan Messing - 95.05 (in 1st heading into the Free) - his SP was fantastic and such a joy to watch! I’m so glad it was clean. The music fits him so well and I loved seeing him smile throughout the entire performance. He lived the program, and given his recent engagement to his girlfriend, the lyrics took on a sweeter meaning. The spread eagles in the first half and the Russian split into the 3Lz at the end were probably my favorite parts. Junhwan Cha - his programs are so weird this season, but I love them. A good opening 4S, and that 3Lz3Lo was huge! His 3A was really telegraphed, but at least he landed it. What I love about his performance here is how much he feels the music and commits to the choreo. Shoma Uno - he’s good at this type of rhythmic music, so I think he captured the mood well. It still feels like the program can be polished further but it’s at a good place for now in the season. It felt like he telegraphed the 3A for a while, and the fall+sliding into the boards made me wince. It doesn’t look like he was hurt, though. I’m hoping it’s better in the Free. Overall, it was a solid skate. Pairs -  Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres - I know there were a few small wobbles in the side-by-side jump, a moment in the footwork, and the landing of the throw, but kudos to Vanessa for being able to pull through. The overall way they performed this is amazing. It almost feels like a trance with the steady and controlled way they do each movement of the choreography to the continuous beat. Ladies’ -  Elizaveta Tuktamysheva - her 3A looked so effortless here. I like how cool and collected she skates this program, like nothing can phase her.  Wakaba Higuchi - Knowing that her foot was supposedly close to a stress fracture before leaving for Skate Canada and she was powering through, I was worried for her and hoping for the best. I’m relieved that she skated clean and seems to be OK so far - hoping this carries through the FS too. Her spins seemed a bit slow and the first half of her program seemed to lack energy - it feels like she hasn’t quite grown comfortable with the mood of the music, but it’s still early in the season and I commend her for trying something different. I like how she relaxed a bit once she hit the StSq, and the final spin was timed well with the tempo of the music. Starr Andrews - so much better than at Skate America! The 3Lo looked a bit scary at first, but she landed it well. I’m glad all her jumps were clean, and her final spin had really nice speed.  Evgenia Medvedeva - first -- how did I not know she changed her blades to Rev blades?? I know she fell on her combo and didn’t get credit for it, but I loved the way she sold the program. There are so many nice little choreo moments using her arms throughout the program, and she was able to make the StSq feel lively even after falling on the jump. My favorite parts were the twizzles to the music and the little bit after the loop turn. She looks like she’s having so much fun, and that really fits the tone of the music.

#skate canada 2018 #figure skating #keegan messing #junhwan cha #evgenia medvedeva #starr andrews #wakaba higuchi #elizaveta tuktamysheva #vanessa james #morgan cipres #james/cipres #laz talks #i'll have to get around to ice dance later #shoma uno

[shipwreckseemssweet]

10 Figure Skating programs I love

With the FS off-season--and all related drama revelations--in full bloom, what better time to look back on beloved programs new and old.

Here are ten outstanding pieces (singles disciplines only) from the last couple of seasons that I managed to find online. I feel a bit guilty about not having put in Marin’s Romeo & Juliet. :(

10. Wakaba Higuchi - Skyfall (FS)

The best FS performance of the 2018 Worlds! I must admit I wasn’t a big Wakaba fan until this season. In my prejudiced view, I considered her too rough around the edges. Then she rolled out this season’s programs and I was sold. What’s more, she owned her FS - a mix of Bond music including Adele’s Skyfall - more than any other of her competitors. From her sleek dress to her cool final spin, Wakaba makes a case for a Bond girl movie starring her. And if her electrifying performance is any indication, it’ll be one to remember. The choreography unleashes all her power while funneling it in purposeful and creative ways, never letting the tension disperse. The crazy fast 3Lz3T may be her main weapon, but it’s the step sequence that steals the show.

9. Patrick Chan - Dear Prudence/Blackbird (SP)

I couldn’t skip over Patrick, our newly retired King of Skating Skills. Dear Prudence/Blackbird by The Beatles signaled his last great season and a return to form. A very good return, despite his jump ailments. If anyone can measure up to 60s pop rock, it’s Patrick with his effortless, flowing, confident skating. His classic elegance and somewhat old-fashion charm seem to recall a bygone idyllic spring. These are songs about inner awakening and struggles; about finding a place you belong. They seem to reflect Parick’s journey to reinvent himself. At the same time, Dear Prudence is about the beauty of nature: "The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful,” and it’s the pure feeling of connection to the music that stays with you.

8. Javier Fernandez -  Malagueña (SP)

Another great skater on his way out. Coming into Helsinki as the defending World champion, Javier managed to skate this short program cleanly in its two-quad glory. For me this is his finest, most sophisticated SP to date. (I welcome the absence of comical elements.) Certain programs can only be performed to their fullest potential when given another season to grow, and Malagueña is a perfect example. It’s all about getting into character, making every movement count. Obviously, having Javier perform the flamenco - choreographed by a Spanish ballet director - and go the extra mile on every element really adds to the authenticity of the program. His effortless skating is just a rung below Patrick and Yuzuru. This is what an energetic and mesmerizing skate looks like!

7. Mao Asada - Ritual Fire Dance (SP/FS)

If Mao can’t make you love figure skating nobody can. All my favorite skaters use their bodies as silent musical instruments and Mao is the leader of the pack. Her musicality, arm movements, footwork, versatility, attention to choreography and emotional projection are absolutely unmatched. In what turned out to be her swan song, all her best qualities shine through. Portraying a mysterious black bird, Mao transformed the piano version of Manuel de Falla’s ballet with her charismatic, soft interpretation. Every step and turn, every detail of the performance appears uninhibited yet polished. She has reached a level of fluidity and complexity where jump errors no longer detract from the overall quality. Also, I love the ponytail.

6. Boyang Jin - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (SP)

Boyang is one of my recent favs despite there being room for growth in his skating and other components. Beyond the excitement of watching a young skater evolve, I think he has great potential in every area and will just get better with time. His jumps are already prodigious, his performances iconic. Underlying this program is the idea to present a more complete (and serious) version of B for the Olympic season as well as blend in Chinese elements. Unfortunately I don’t think he got the recognition he deserved. Infused with the right mix of composure and energy, this is an atmospheric character-based program that wonderfully shows his refinements in interpretation and control of edges. That step sequence is *fire*.

5. Carolina Kostner - Ne Me Quitte Pas (SP)

A very sophisticated and adaptable lady. At 31 and having lived through many system changes, Caro brings new meaning to the word “veteran” in singles skating. She first hopped under the spotlight with her stunning jumps, but stayed on the stage until today thanks to her masterful skating prowess and evolving artistic “voice”. Her effortless glide and changes of speed/direction are done on the deepest of edges; her arms move like a painter’s brush. Every movement of hers is flowing, full of love for what she does. And rather than a competitive spirit, it’s the emotions and experience she brings to her performances that keep her in the sport. As Lori Nichol said, this short program allowed Caro to be the athletic and sensual woman that she is.

4. Yuzuru Hanyu - Ballade No.1 in G minor 3.0 :) (SP)

Yuzuru knows how to start off the Olympic season with a bang: breaking his own WR in his first performance at the Autumn Classic. A horifically difficult piano composition, Chopin’s Ballade No.1, with its dramatic chords, abstract motifs, dynamic rhythm and interwoven themes running from subtle to stormy, seems to fit our agile FS King like an elegant glove. Over the years, Yuzuru gave us not less than three different and perhaps equally iconic interpretations of Chopin’s favorite music. This particular one is all about the aura and intricate details. Every element is blended with the music. The final jump combo comes out of nowhere. This emotional peak then transitions into the StSq which is majestic in its smoothness; it rumbles and flows together with the fiery chords running down the keyboard. All doubts are resolved yet the mystery persists. Nothing can be added or taken away--this is perfection.

3. Satoko Miyahara - Madame Butterfly & The Planets/Princess Leia (FS)

I adore Satoko’s skating, despite her imperfections (read: jumps). The world needs skaters like her, whose elegance, musical flow, precision, and subtle presentation touch your heart. Her body lines and layback spin are gorgeous; her multidirectional skating effortless. (That reverse Walley into the Salchow!) Satoko is a strong character performer. I loved her Goddess/Princess Leia FS from 2016/17, how original the choreography was and how engaged and fast Satoko seemed. It’s such a difficult piece to skate to yet she managed to showcase different sides to her. This year’s M Butterfly was, given the circumstances, a safer skate, but her emotional projection only increased. Her showing at the JNats was the finest in that regard. Butterfly’s anguish and suicide seem to become Satoko’s own struggle with her injuries. But the piece ends with a spin to the dreamlike yearning of Un bel di vedremo, as if we’re witnessing both Butterfly and Satoko’s rebirth.

2. Kaetlyn Osmond - Edith Piaf (SP)

IMO, to her belong the two best ladies’ performances of the 2018 Olympics. With Edith Piaf Kaetlyn has finally found an iconic short program! You can tell when a skater is truly feeling the music and looking happy while on the ice, and this program has accomplished just that for K. We meet a French young lady, sauntering down the streets of Paris, wanting to be noticed by someone special. Accompanying her is the voice of Edith Piaf, who sings Sous Le Ciel de Paris and Milord. The program has it all: purposeful choreography, powerful skating, sensitive interpretation of music, ease of movement, the speed going into her huge jumps. Her outgoing character just floats up so naturally. Thanks to her charm, K could indeed give Cotillard a run for her money.

1. Yuzuru Hanyu - Hope & Legacy (FS)

During the 2017 Worlds, Max Ambesi proclaimed this as Hanyu’s best skate, and also the best skate in history. I couldn’t agree more, even if everyone has their own favs. It was an inconsistent season before Hanyu had surpassed himself to skate clean a program massive in ambition and complex in expression. It was as if he’d become an ethereal nature spirit. He was the air, wind and water contained within the melody. He made himself appear weightless and effortless on the ice, seemingly not needing any strength to execute any of the elements. A dreamlike aura surrounded him. I just love how the program highlights his natural musicality and attention to detail. My favorite part: the serene StSq followed by the 3F as the music rises.

Bonus: Alena Kostornaia - Stella’s Theme (FS)

What a talented Junior we have! In her first international season Alena has shown she has nothing to fear from the Seniors. Her charisma, skating skills, and arm movements are those of a fairy. Her jumps are spiced up with steps/transitions. Her spins sizzle with creativity. Nothing feels rushed or incomplete. I challenge anyone to watch her lyrical, immersive performances and experience “backloading” done right. :)

#figure skating #music #mao asada #yuzuru hanyu #art #kaetlyn osmond #boyang jin #wakaba higuchi

[figureskatingqueen]

My Worlds recap

Here I was, on March 30th, in my hometown Riga with bus and ferry tickets and most importantly - tickets to Ladies practice and Short Dance in my pocket. I could not believe I was going to Worlds after many years of living and breathing figure skating. This was a dream of mine that I thought would never come to life. It felt so surreal I had to pinch myself a few times. 😅

When me and my mom made it to the arena at 8 AM on March 31st, it was so difficult to hold back tears ( i am literally tearing up as i'm writing this 😂). Watching figure skating has been one of the biggest parts of my life for five (!!!) years now and I don't think I can put my feelings towards it in just some sentences. It is better than all the movies because it's the real life - but with the spectrum of emotions I only get to see in the cinema. It doesn't only show "the movie" (aka the performance) but also every behind the scenes action (like the emotions before and after the performance, the training process, the challenges along the way) which makes it so much more interesting. So when I walked in the arena it felt like a dream come true. They didn't have doors heading to each sector, but a curtain instead (to not make a sound every time someone enters or exits) and because it was the practice time for Ladies the curtains weren't closed but fully open instead. So even when I had just come in the arena, I could already see a glimpse of the ice rink which felt so surreal and that was the first time it hit me so hard that I was actually really here - at the World Championships.

It felt fantastic to see stars like Ashley Wagner, Kaetlyn Osmond, Gabrielle Daleman, Evgenia Medvedeva, Anna Pogorilaya and Carolina Kostner skate so close to me (we were seated really close to the ice), to see their determined faces and to live through their great performances. Incomparably mesmerizing.

Before the short dance there was some time to kill so we just walked around and enjoyed the atmosphere which is SO unique! There is this buzzing feeling which makes you feel warm and welcomed and everyone looks nervously excited. We walked through every booth/shop there was, I even got some beautiful postcards from John Wilson Blades booth (they were handing them out for free?! 😧) with Ashley, Patrick, the Shibs and Chock/Bates. There I met a lovely French fan and we had a brief talk about our journeys as fans and let me add that it feels so weird to actually talk with someone about figure skating after you've mostly only shared your opinions online and have never had a legit conversation live??! 😂

Then it was the time for the short dance (oh my, hearing the ISU fanfare live was hands down the best experience ever 😂😂😂) . I have been a massive ice dance fan since forever and I am a big supporter of Tessa&Scott. They are the main reason I was actually here - I can't put into words what they've done to me in these past years - they have held me up every time I felt down in various ways - with their performances, life stories or just small interviews. I just wanted to give back to them a little with my heartfelt support. However, I joined the V/M fandom in 2012 when everyone was furious about D/W and their success (which would happen in 2013 and 2014) and I quickly learned to be as bitter as everyone else. It feels sad to look back now and think that we used so much time to just talk about Meryl and Charlie - more than about great things of Tessa and Scott. I only understood this after T&S took a break after 2014 and I just became this casual ice dance fan who wanted to see the best in everyone and was listening to everyone's stories of ups and downs. It was the same fantastic atmosphere - just without all the rage. During this period of time I really fell in love with Kaitlyn&Andrew, Maia&Alex and Gabriella&Guillaume. When Tessa&Scott came back I couldn't believe how great I felt during the season - it was now 100 times more exciting as I had so many couples I loved and supported throughout (...well, i did love t&s a little more than anyone else though 😆) . And you have NO idea how much I loved the theme of this years SD. SOOOO much spunk and sass! I hope you don't mind me saying that pretty much all of these were the best short dances I have ever seen from the top teams.

First of all, let me say a word about the atmosphere live. It is absolutely incomparable to the TV. The audience noises are lowered for about ten thousand times and are almost inaudible in the TV which is the biggest change. The ovations are so impressive you can't believe them at first. Second of all, the skating skills and the speed is insane live. And thirdly of all, the costumes look SO. MUCH. DIFFERENT. (they are much more sparkly and colorful 😍✨).

I was actually worried that I might not last for seven freaking groups but the time went so fast. I still can't believe the zamboni breaks. I swear to god they didn't last more than five minutes 😅 (I always get cranky during the resurfacing breaks when I watch TV - feels like hours). From the first four groups couples that stood out for me the most were Smart/Diaz, Kaliszek/Spodyriev and Lauriault/Le Gac - they all had great stage presence and superb feel to the music.

Then the fifth group came. All of a sudden Tessa and Scott were on the ice and I was like one of these crazy Bieber fans who can't stop their tears. I tried my hardest to bring the tears back but I miserably failed (I had promised myself that I would act NORMALLY NOT START CRYING ON MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY I AM SO WEIRDED OUT OF THE SUDDEN EMOTIONS THAT CAME OUTSIDE IN THAT MOMENT - I am a very reserved person who always puts herself together 😂). Tessa's costume is SO much more beautiful live. I wasn't a fan of it when I first saw it but DAMN she looked hot. Also the golden sparkles around the cutouts on the pants are basically not seen at all in the usual professional pics but they were actually unbelievably shiny. And Scott just has this amazing aura around himself. He seemed to ooze confidence but also some sort of humbleness. And OMG - they're fast. But the thing that struck me the most was the non-touching step sequence. They did it once in the warm up and I legit thought it was some "easy version of this sequence without the hard steps just to get warmed up" and you can't imagine how surprised I was when they performed it in the actual dance. It WAS the sequence. I swear it looked like anyone could do it. So light and easy. Now THAT was the moment I understood how superior they actually are. Everybody else's StSq looked, you know, like a StSq should look like - a hard element hard to execute (don't get me wrong - they were mostly done beautifully but it was visible that this is a hard element - which it is 😆). After the warm up ended I was probably still in shock so I have no recollection of the first two pairs in that group. Sorry. 😁 Then they came up on ice for a short warm up again while the previous teams scores were announced. And this includes the moment I think nobody has caught on camera (I don't think I have seen any pre-sd videos at all which is such a shame). They were just gliding on ice separately with Tessa slightly in front of Scott. Then they started to slow down because they were coming to Marie France. And while they're slowing down, Scott skates right in front of me with the biggest grin ever and his lovey-dovey eyes focused on Tessa's back slightly in front of him. And that is the moment I calm down. His eyes bring the sense to me that everything is going to be okay and he is confident about it (i swear to god he's a magician or whatever but that look was SO calming and surreal). And Tessa just turns her head, looks at his face and literally rolls her eyes with a smile on her face (okay i might've imagined the eye rolling but you all know that face when tessa looks at scott and thinks 'god you're such an idiot i love you') and then they're already with Marie France with last words before performance. The actual performance was unreal. They did their beginning moves right in front of me and that was SO sharp. Also when they did these moves there were quite few "eeeaaaww" kind of shouts or whatever the Michael Jackson kind of short screams sound. That was superb and I'm so sad NONE of them are audible during the actual recording. It gave a great atmosphere. Scott did the kneeling thing right before the end of the first section right in front of me which left such an impact. SOO much control. The blues sequence was hella smooth (and twizzles were ok but i was so scared about them) BUT THE LIFT. THE STADIUM FREAKING ERUPTED DURING THE LIFT. I felt as if I had wings and had been accepted into paradise. And then it ended and I was on my feet and there was an ocean of tears (whoops😅). It was an experience I will never forget.

Then it was time for Group number 6. I have to be honest - I was a little disappointed with Stepanova/Bukin. I've been a huge fan of their SD but seeing it live was a little bit underwhelming. It's the way of skating - they skate "small". However I still loved the choreography and their chemistry is certainly the best in the younger ice dancers field. If they can improve their skating skills, I'm completely on board.

Piper and Paul were a huge surprise for me. Even when they were warming up with everyone else, you could feel their presence the most. And let me just say this - Canadian men are superior dancers. Scott, Paul and Andrew all felt a bit similar to me. They makes themselves look extremely confident (i mean their skating skills also are 😍) and they lead their ladies better than anyone else - it just feels extremely natural. So, back to Piper&Paul. This was a huge hit in the arena (and for me!). The feeling was great throughout the performance and I just want to say it one more time - the skating skills (piper has improved so much)!! the twizzles! they took my breath. I have to admit I didn't think this dance would actually work for me but it did.

Another team which surprised me in a good way were Bobrova&Soloviev. As the season progressed, I always felt as this program was a little "pushed". They tried to bring the sass, but instead it came off as a vulgarity. However the forms they create on ice are very clean and blade work is beautiful so I was actually scratching my head after watching these two because I've never really liked them but somehow they look better live (I just don't understand why?)

I was also delighted by Anna&Luca's performance. That dress looked even more beautiful live and they also made me like them more than on TV. They just draw you in and you can't do anything about it. I just wish they would be more versatile (but i still love them!)

The seventh group started with the Shibs who I think had the very close second short dance choreography-and-idea-wise behind T&S. I've absolutely adored this dance all the times this season and this was no exception. That lift was badass and man, those twizzles... I didn't think that was going to leave such a big impact on me. SO sharp in every movement. Alex just needs improve his facial expressions a bit and then they'd be even more perfect (also maia is a literal goddess).

I have to say my sentimental favorites of the night were Kaitlyn&Andrew. Their skating on TV looks a bit like Stepanova/Bukin's so I was a little bit worried that it would fall flat. It was the DIRECT opposite. I think their skating skills were second only to VM that night because damn, they skated with so much speed. And their chemistry just went sky high. Also that lift made the arena erupt (again😂). It looked so much more powerful than on TV. The move where Andrew just rolls Kaitlyn on his back was hands down one of the coolest of the night. I was just so happy to see them perform the best they can after some disappointing starts. It was truly wonderful and after they finished I was standing and in tears again. I thought they were terribly underscored, but oh well, #twizzles. (they are both also incredibly hot 😏🔥)

Gabriella&Guillaume were also amazing live. I loved that they did the most program to the blues music which I truly respect because it is so much harder to keep an audience interested with blues than with hip hop. But the slow section was amazing - the attention to details and the blade work was soooo smooth. I've got to say although Guillaume's skating skills and dance moves are through the roof fantastic, he doesn't "lead" his partner that well - the Canadian guys do it so much better. I don't think he has any rivals in the "best male ice dancer by himself" category, but he has a lot to learn to be the best in the "best male partner in ice dance" nomination - he isn't the full package yet. However I'm a big fan of hard work and dedication (and I'm sad people only appreciate Guillaume's because he is the more gifted one) so I'm a big fan of Gabi, her personality and facial expressions during the performance. She sells everything better than Guillaume but I don't think she's being recognized enough for that.

Madi&Zach also surprised me live by looking far more polished than on TV. The movements were sharp and they've got this weirdly different blade quality compared to others that I can't explain (but i liked it). I certainly was a bit cringey about the music at the beginning of the season, but I've got to say that crowd really appreciated it and I was also on board. I smiled so hard when the scores came up because I absolutely love it when underdogs show everyone what they're capable of.

Last up were Madi&Evan and this unfortunately turned out the same way I felt about Stepanova/Bukin. I had also been a big fan of this SD all season but their way of skating didn't seem to impress me. I had also liked how Evan just tossed around Madi various times in the program but live it just seemed a little too much? BUT I totally respect that they have worked so much with their chemistry because it was nonexistent some years ago but now they just scream the word "FIIIIREEEEEE". 😉

Afterwards there were about a hundred of people making a crowd close to the door which skaters entered to go to the draw for the FD. Well, I think it's not a very good way to get a skaters autograph. They are very tired after the competition and it's not even over - there's still the FD so they got to keep focused. I think a moment between a skater and a fan should be much more personal than just blocking an entrance just to get your autograph. I don't know, it just made me a little uncomfortable when everyone was waiting for them just to come like they're some sort of zoo animals or whatever. I didn't want any autographs or anything, it was just SO hard to get through the far-too-excited crowd (to the exit of the arena) I decided to wait until they go away. I didn't even register that I was standing right after the entrance to the draw (where it wasn't crowded at all, in fact I was like the only person there) and the wall was from glass so you could see the skaters after they entered the "closed zone". And then I turned my head and saw FREAKING TESSA AND SCOTT in the closed zone. About a meter from me there was this crazy crowd waiting for skaters and turning their heads in the other direction while I was enjoying my view of Tessa and Scott having a conversation. 😄 They were kind of afar from me though and I was trying my best not to stare ('they are not animals and it is rude to do that' I muttered to myself) - I don't think they even saw me because they looked completely in ease as the glass wall separated them from everyone. Then they left further for the draw and I couldn't see them anymore. Tessa&Scott were already in the closed zone because they skated early but the skaters from the last group still had to come. I've got to say it was a bit sad to see the guards having a hard time taking the skaters from the crowd to the closed zone. People went crazy every time someone came. But I, still not accompanied by anyone, just had the best view of my life of skaters like Maia&Alex, Kaitlyn&Andrew, Gabi (Guillaume didn't show up because he was getting his hand stitched) , Piper&Paul, Madi&Evan and Madi&Zach after they had gone through the crowd. Madison Hubbell actually turned around to see the crowd once again, laughed, then turned in the other direction, saw me all by myself, smiled and waved at me! 😎😱 I was so surprised but also very thankful for such a nice gesture! (jeez, but I hope I didn't look like those weird, creepy stalkers 😁). The crowd finally went away and I got to walk out normally.

My journey was over but the memories were never going to fade. It was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything in the world as it brought the whole spectrum of emotions to me. It was the best day of my life. I can never thank enough to my mom who came up with this idea and travelled with me. We had the most fantastic time ever. ❤️

(thanks for reading, this was suuuuper long 😂)

#Tessa Virtue #Scott Moir #and all the other great skaters!! #ice dance #personal

[morosemariposa]

2019 Skate America

This year we’re headed to Las Vegas, Nevada for the first event in the 2019-20 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. For the next six weeks we get to watch all our favorite skaters compete for a chance to qualify and compete at the Grand Prix Final in Turin, Italy. Starting with Skate America I have to say this was a difficult competition for me to watch. I live in America so NBC Universal has the broadcasting rights for Figure Skating but I refuse to pay for their streaming service because I can’t afford it. I’ve searched for streams so I could watch it live and gave up then watched the videos of their performances on YouTube. I wonder if all the Grand Prix events are going to be this difficult to watch.

MEN’S SP The men’s event is pretty stacked in this competition. I was pretty excited for a lot of the men here. About 66% of them didn’t perform well, some of them weren’t scored properly and only 50% of the men tried with their costumes.

Koshiro Shimada - I really love the music in his short program. It’s obvious that he likes performing this program and the elements that he did he did well but it’s a shame that he popped the 4T. I love his interactions with Stephane in the K&K and I’m happy for him not letting that pop ruin the program. It was ugly but it didn’t take away from the performance.

Kazuki Tomono - The energy and the performance execution was there but the jumps weren’t. It’s a shame because the program could be could if the jumps weren’t a mess. Perhaps if would be better for Kazuki to do only one quad in the short and make it stable. It’s still early in the season but it’s interesting to see the competition among the Japanese men and see who’ll get that 3rd spot to the World Championships.

Boyang Jin - It wasn’t a good jumping day for Boyang. A pop on the 4Lz and a fall on the 3A but he managed to score relatively well. He wasn’t happy with his skate and I don’t blame him. He can do better than this, he already has done better than this. I imagine Boyang will be in good form during Chinese Nationals.

Dmitri Aliev - DIMA!!! Somebody came to compete. Finally the first good skate of the short program. A little iffy landing of the 4T but who cares the interpretation of the music and performance was some of the best here. He was definitely underscored in the PCS. P.S. How is Dima not first or second in PCS?

Jason Brown - I’m not a fan of the music but I like that Jason is branching out to different styles of music. The pop on the 3A is disappointing because his score would’ve been in the 90′s if he’d landed it. P.S. How is Jason not first in PCS?

Nathan Chen - It was a great skate and deserving of first but the PCS score wasn’t deserving of first. I don’t care for La Boheme much but I can tell that this was choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne because it uses similar choreographic movements from Nathan’s short program last season. The costume needs to change. It’s literally the same from last season’s short program. It bunches up at the shoulders and it’s not flattering.

Keegan Messing - Skaters definitely get better with age and Keegan is a great example of that. His jumps were solid and secure and the performance was steady throughout the entire program. This was good for him.

MEN’S FP Every man in the first group had falls. No one was clean. The second group did better but I was underwhelmed by the free programs and costume choices of the men here. It’s like the men aren’t trying anymore. The only ones I can depend on to bring me color and sparkles to their costumes are the Japanese men. It’s going to be interesting seeing these men compete at their second Grand Prix events in the coming weeks. The medal winners deserved their accolades and some of the medal contenders let their chance slip by but hopefully they’ll bring it the next time.

Koshiro Shimada - I don’t care about the jumps when it comes to Koshiro. I just love watching him skate. He’s fresh new talent and I’m going to enjoy watching him develop as a skater over the course of his career. He’s a tall ball of sunshine and so cute and committed to his career and I love that he has someone like Stephane to guide him on his journey.

Kazuki Tomono - Talk about committing to the performance. Kazuki fully committed and it paid off. I may not like “Moulin Rouge” but if a skater gives their all to it then I can be sold on it. The opening 4T3T was so beautiful it’s a shame that he couldn’t get the second quad but I don’t care because I was with him in the performance and that’s what really matters to me.

Boyang Jin - He looked defeated in the program. I really hope that he comes back to the way he used to be. I still think it’s a good idea to have the 4Lz as the first jump because he needs to get use to it but he needs to not give up or hold back from the rest of his program. A fall isn’t the end of a program it can still be saved by what you do after the fall.

Jason Brown - Another Schindler’s List program. The first three jumping passes were all done to even tone music and then it changed on the fourth jump and onward. I don’t know what his interpretation of the music is suppose to be. It felt like the elements especially the spins , which were executed well, weren’t tailored to the music. They were there because they were required to be in the program but they weren’t part of the program. Did I explain that right? 90′s in PCS is totally deserved. Great job Jason! Congrats on the Silver Medal!

Keegan Messing - First impression is that this is the same outfit he wore for the short program. I don’t like it. Get a different shirt color at least. The program elements, spins, jumps, stsq, and chsq, it feels like it was just thrown together in the program. None of the placements made sense and the music wasn’t interpreted at all. That opening 3Lz was beautiful and he did a good job overall in the competition.

Dmitri Aliev - This is a rare instance where Dima wans’t listening to the music. There was no awareness that music was even being played. After the pop on the first jump there was disconnect and a focus on getting the rest of the jumps out. That didn’t turn out well but at least he got all his combos. Congrats on the Bronze Medal Dima!!

Nathan Chen - First, this costume is horrendous and unacceptable for an Elton John program. If your going to do an Elton John program there need to be glitter and feathers in the costume. Also it’s reminiscent of his early costume for his free program last season. I don’t know what to say about the program. I don’t like it. This is the second time I’ve seen it performed and I thought I could like it but I don’t  and that’s fine. There are lot’s of programs out there but I can appreciate that what Nathan did well he did really well and he deserved to win.

LADIES’ SP This Ladies’ event was well skated. I was surprised that all three Russian girls struggled here and two out of three Japanese girls did well. Besides that it was enjoyable to watch. I can always count on women to give me good clean skates.

Mako Yamashita - It wasn’t a good jumping day for Mako and a repeated program isn’t going to do her any favors because that music is grating to the ears. Why wasn’t she given a new short program? Mihoko Higuchi I know you could’ve choreographed a new program for her. If not a new program then a new dress maybe.

Anna Shcherbakova - She seemed nervous through the program and the fall was surprising because it came out of nowhere. She’s understandably upset about it because she did every element and falls because she picked the ice during the StSq. The Russian Gauntlet is real and all the Russian girls are competing against each other for a spot at the Grand Prix Final and most importantly the World Championships. I believe she can pull it off in the free skate. She’s the type to not be deterred from a mistake. 

Eunsoo Lim - I like the little accents she added to this program. There’s a little more engagement with the music and the technical elements could’ve been done better but it wasn’t a disaster. I hope she kills it in the free skate.

Wakaba Higuchi - YAY! Wakaba skated clean. I think Sia’s “Bird Set Free” is big music for her and the performance wasn’t there for me. She did everything well but there was disconnect from the music itself. The movements honestly could belong to any music and that’s the most unfortunate thing about this program for me. I don’t think I’ll ever like it. But I was so happy for her and she was so cute when she looked surprised at the score. Great job Wakaba!

Kaori Sakamoto - KAO-CHAN!!! I loved it. First things first the dress is beautiful. Red is her color, she looked great. Then the jumps were great too. The distance she got on her 3F3T combo was amazing and her signature entry into the 3L is magical as always. I love this program for her and I like that she seems to have fun when performing it. First in all PCS marks, she deserves it.

LADIES’ FP I didn’t watch any of the Ladies’ free skate until the videos were on YouTube. So I was discretely avoiding the placements of each woman so in a way I watched it sort of live. It was overall a good event not great group one didn’t come alive until Eunsoo showed up but by then I was losing hope in good performances. Group two had mostly good skates but in reality the top three did have the best performances and they deserved their medals.

Mako Yamashita - This is an instance where I would’ve preferred she kept her program from last season. This new free program isn’t for her. She made a lot of technical mistakes and it felt like she wasn’t performing the program and definitely wasn’t competing. She can still change the program but I don’t know if that’s a good idea either. This music just isn’t for her. She could really benefit in the long run with classical music. Some beautiful lyrical pieces from Debussy or Chopin I feel would be more appropriate for her age and her technical ability.

Eunsoo Lim - I like this “Sabrina” soundtrack program for Eunsoo. It’s cute and age appropriate. The music is light and delicate, she interprets light music incredibly well. She only had a problem on two jumps but her spins were good and the chsq was cute. I just really like Eunsoo, she’s such a talented beautiful skater.

Anna Shcherbakova - I don’t know what to say. She did everything she set out to do. Two 4Lz’s is hard to beat and the moment she finished it was clear that she won. The costume reveal with the change of music is brilliant and every time she performs this program it’s going to be my favorite part. This was a commanding performance and she was confident and in control throughout. It’s great that she was able to come back from her small mistake in the short program and deliver in this way. Congratulations on a deserved first place.

Wakaba Huguchi - It’s hard to follow someone who did two quads and got a great score overall. For wakaba especially because she’s in medal contention to she really couldn’t have afforded her fall on the 3Lz and and pops on both the 3L and 2A. She had to be clean to potentially get a medal and unfortunately this performance wasn’t going to get her one. The interpretation wasn’t there and it’s almost like the program got away from her.

Kaori Sakamoto - Kaori has the same problem Wakaba had in her program. She popped two of her jumps and that’s something that cost her some points. She’s the highest ranking Japanese lady here but she needed to do better to potentially win a medal and qualify for the Grand Prix Final.

Skate America was underwhelming. I wasn’t really excited for any of the winners because they all predictably won. The exciting part of the competition was all the skaters who won 2nd and 3rd place. The real fight was for those medals. I wasn’t able to watch any of the disciplines live and that’s too bad because skating is always more fun to watch when it’s live. I was so excited for the Grand Prix Series to start and when it finally did it was to a competition that was annoying to watch. Some of the skates had great skates and the 2nd and 3rd place finishers were the highlight for this competition. It’s going to be interesting to see who qualifies for the final now that they have the potential.

#figure skating #2019 Skate America #2019/2020 figure skating season #ISU Grand Prix Series