4CC 2013

WARNING: I am not even going to address the Mens and Pairs events...

Anyway, the Four Continents Championships brought us great Ladies and Dance events this past weekend, with wonderful performances from both the veterans and the up-and-comers.

First of all, I loved the changes V/M made to their short dance and they deserved to win that segment. Something about the program just flowed better so whatever they are doing they should keep it up heading into worlds. I haven't really been a fan of their free dance all season, but up until the stop, I thought it was their best performance all season. They really drew me in and I finally "got" the story they were trying to tell (like the SD). However, the stop took away the magic from the performance, and if it weren't for re-watching it on youtube, I would have forgotten how great the first 2/3 of the program was. That being said, I would have had them a bit lower in comparison to D/W (or maybe marked D/W higher idk...). There wasn't enough difference in the actual scores to reflect how much the stoppage took away from the performance.

D/W performed, in my opinion, their best free dance of the season. Finally, they seemed to be on time with the music exactly and could finish their movements entirely without rushing - and this made a huge difference for me. The way this season has been going, I really feel they deserve gold. Both V/M and D/W are head and shoulders in front of the field, but everything seems to be coming together for D/W this year whereas V/M continue to struggle in places.

I really enjoyed C/B in both segments of the competition, although I did find her SD dress to be distracting. I love the speed they carry across the ice, and this is why I think the judges are preferring them to the Shibutanis, who looked like Caroline Zhang circa 2011 in comparison. I also enjoyed G/P's free dance. Their lifts are to die for.

In the ladies event Mao Asada was finally able to put it all together. Her 3A in her SP was to die for - hopefully she can repeat this at worlds. Although her LP wasn't perfect, in my eyes she landed 6 clean triples. The axel wasn't landed, but she didn't fall either, and she didn't let the error effect the rest of her performance. She went right on to land her first 3F+3Lo since 09 Worlds. I don't care if it was underrotated. It was clean enough to the general public, it looked impressive, it was gutsy, and it ADDED to the overall performance much more than a fully rotated 3F+3Lo would have. The 2A+3T looked rotated to me and I would've given it positive goes. The only thing that concerned me were her spins...not up to her usual standard, but still, better than most. I'd take slightly less-impressive spins in return for a beautifully choreographed 7-8 triple program.

Suzuki was a delight to watch in the LP. She has never been and will never be my favorite skater, but I have to give her credit for what she put out on the ice today. Murukami was also wonderful in both segments of the competition, but I wonder if she should change the 3F+2A to a 3F+2T because she has a tendency to pop the axel. Even so, her choreographed sequence is to die for, and her program is well constructed to build throughout and climax with her ChSt and combo spin.

Gao and Li were also amazing in both segments of the competition, and will definitely be huge threats to podium at all events once the veterans clear out post-Sochi. I really like both of their nuanced programs and lightness on their feet. I could really see Li as the one battling it out with the Russians come 2018. Only time will tell...

Overall, a very good Ladies and Dance events.
IDK what happened with the Men...Pairs were just boring.