Blast from the past...or present?

Interesting comparison: 2007 GPF and 2013 Worlds Ladies medalists.

Carolina, 2007 GPF

2013 Worlds:

Mao, 2007 GPF

2013 Worlds

Kim, 2007 GPF

2013 Worlds

Choreography

I just stumbled upon this performance from the 2002 Campbells competition by Sasha Cohen. I have always loved this program in all of its forms - it's one of my favorite Sasha programs ever. However, this version has to take the cake. The attention to detail, the line, the right amount of in betweens, the classic skating... Oh I could go on and on. This deserves a 10 for transitions. There are transitions between each element that are actually meaningful and ADD to the program in a way that makes it watchable and brings the viewers in. Sorry I don't want to watch someone do 15 turns down the ice in both directions and sloppily vault themselves up into the air. Yes, this was a 6.0 program, but it was one that would have done very well under the IJS system. After watching the craptacular programs at worlds with choreo and steps these skaters use over and over to different music (I wonder if Osmond could physically do 4 back cross-overs, step forward, set, and do a mowhawk triple flip. I bet not - she does all those sloppy quick turns going into it so many times that the "difficult" transition going into it is probably easier for her than a standard set-up.)

Anyway, I digress. This program is a masterpiece, as are all of Sasha's performances from the 2002-2003 season, even with the mistakes.

Also, check out that 3Toe/3Sal combo! Go Sasha! You're fabulous!

2013 Worlds

Now that it's over, I thought I'd write down a few thoughts before I forget.

10 Things From 2013 Worlds:

1. Men's competition - what a mess. I don't really have anything new to add to all the discussion. It was a horribly skated event, redeemed only by Denis Ten's 2 personal best programs.
2. V/T's free program was wonderful and Canada is really coming up in the ranks in pairs - they could be on the podium at Sochi. US pairs are hopeless for Sochi...No comment on the Germans...
3. Kim needs a more dynamic SP. If she wants to break her own record she set back in 2010, she needs a better program. This vampire program reminded me of her 2007-08 SP for some reason, and she is a much better and different skater today. Please have a more powerful, dynamic program the brings the judges and the audiences in.
4. No more Carmen. Please. Enough is enough. Although I feel like Kostner will be given a Carmen LP for the Olympics (dare I say she is the only skater who I think could pull it off...?).
5. The rivalry between D/W and V/M is hotter than ever, and will only get worse. The number of articles calling them "friends" has dwindled; articles calling them rivals have shot up. Now, they truly are rivals, where in 2010 V/M were the far better team.
6. Li is a force to be reckoned with in the future. The British Eurosport guys said she had potential to become a World Champion back in 4CC, and I couldn't agree with them more. Her LP was just amazing.
7. Murakami is continuing on a gradual upward trajectory. All of the attention has been on the Russians and Gold, but Murakami, just 1-2 years older than those other teens has delivered when it counted at these past two world championships. No, her ascent to the top has not been as fast and commanding as Asada's or Kim's in 2007, however, I can see her sneaking onto the podium in the next couple of years and really establishing herself as Japan's number 1 post Sochi.
8. Chock/Bates and Weaver/Poje were my favorite teams to watch (after D/W and V/M) in the Free Dance. I love C/B's long lines and power over the ice, and their rise in the ice dance world has been fast enough (but not too fast like the Shibutanis...) that I see them setting themselves up nicely to challenge for podium positions in 2014-15.
9. The Shibutanis have officially been dumped by the judges. It's too bad, and unless they do really well next fall I don't see them reversing this downward trend.
10. Speed is key. The judges have rewarded, across all disciplines, skaters who use the entire ice surface and move quickly across it. Those who skate around in the middle (Elizaveta) are getting lower scores than skaters who push out their patterns (Sotnikiva, Aaron, Gold, Kim, Kostner...)

Overall, a great Dance and Ladies event, an okay Pairs event, and a horribly judged men's event.

2013 Worlds Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2013 World Championships

Ladies:

I think we will see a repeat of the podium from 2008 worlds - but I am still unsure of the order.
If I had to guess, I'd say Yu-Na wins the short, Carolina wins the long, and Mao places second in both. Potential spoilers: Wagner (LP), Sotnikova could be 3rd in the short, Suzuki

Overall:
1.) Mao
2.) Carolina
3.) Yu-Na
4.) Wagner
5.) Sotnikova

Men:

The men's championship is really up for grabs, but if Fernandez keeps on the upward trajectory he's been on, I could see this really being his year. I really like Hanyu's SP, but his LP is blah. Chan's LP is great this season, but he doesn't excite me this year the way Fernandez does. I really wish Takahashi will skate well, but his programs are no Cyber Swan or La Strada.

Overall:
1.) Fernandez
2.) Chan
3.) Hanyu
4.) Takahashi

Dance:

I really like Davis and White's programs this year, and hope they can skate them to their full potential when it counts. Tessa and Scott's SD is great, especially with the changes. However, I am not a fan of 2/3 of their FD. With P/B being injured, I could really see B/S sneaking in for that bronze medal. Also, W/P are a wild card, as we have not seen them since the fall.

Overall:
1.) D/W
2.) V/W
3.) B/S
4.) P/B
5.) W/P or C/L

Pairs:

Not my favorite discipline...I think it will go to the Russians this year (based on judging).
I really hate IJS pairs programs...

Good luck to all the skaters!!

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.

Some thoughts

Here are a few random thoughts of mine:

1.) Loved Sotnikova in both the SP and the LP at Euros. Thought she did a great job, and found her LP bearable without the mistakes she was making earlier this season. Really like her SP a lot. Also really liked Kostner's LP but the 2S at the end detracted more than was reflected in the scores. While Adelina ended on a high note, Kostner ended with a wobble and that was the impression immediately left in my mind. Oh well there are arguments for and against the placements, but I'm okay with the outcome.
2.) D/W FD at Nationals was phenomenal. I really hope they skate like this at worlds and I do think if they do, based on what V/M have put out on the ice thus far, D/W should win. However worlds are in Canada...either way, the change before the circular step really shows the emotion. Me like.
3.) U.S. Nationals judging was laughable in the ladies event. Why Agnes and Courtney were above Gao is beyond me...she is the rightful bronze medalist. Also Wagner winning with what she put out on the ice is a whole different debate, but in the end the 2 right girls are going to worlds so it's w/e.
4.) WTF is US pairs. I can't even...
5.) I don't get Osmond. I just don't. Sorry.
6.) I don't get Radionova or however you spell it either.
7.) Samantha Cesario's LP at Nationals was beautiful.
8.) Max Aaron has really short legs.
9.) Scores and scoring is inflated in general, across all disciplines, throughout all events, etc. Get over it. There is inflation in regards to money all the time, so scores are the same way. Realize this and move on.
10.) People who get mad for skaters getting +goe on doubles need to chill. Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice etc skaters get +goe for doubles...why shouldn't high level senior competitors if they meet the bullet points for +goe. Kostner's 2s+2t+2lo was nicely executed and got +goe, just as a novice who did that same combo at a local competition would. Her step out 2s got -goe (although maybe not enough). Just because a senior level skater plans on doing a triple doesn't mean they should get negative goe on a double in the LP if they elect to do one and it doesn't detract from the overall performance. Chances are, their doubles are actually better than the juveniles doing them and receiving +goe on them. /Rant over.

Swans

Over the years, many skaters have chosen to skate to music from Swan Lake. This has brought forth many different music selections and cuts, however, Swan Lake is one of those programs that either works or doesn't. Here is my take, in as few words as possible, on various Swan Lake programs.

Sasha Cohen:
Yes

NO

Mao Asada:
Yes

Rika Hongo:
NO

Adelina Sotnikova:
Yes

Miki Ando:
Yes

Ashley Wagner:
Not really...

Polina Korobeynikova:
Maybe...

Kanako Murakami:
Maybe

Polina Shelepen:
NEVER.

Daisuke Takahashi:
Always

Shizuka Arakawa:

The tackiness of this costume is distracting my from what actually happened in this program.

And finally, no Swan Lake post could be complete without these: