In the News:

2013 Grand Prix Final

by Alexandra Stevenson

2013 Grand Prix Final Set to Begin in Fukuoka, Japan

Junior Ladies Event

Senior Men's Event

Senior Ladies

Mao, the Magnificent - Senior Ladies Short Program

1.  SP 72.36 (37.45+34.91) She was not perfect, but Mao Asada, a 23-year-old Japanese national treasure, twice world champion (2008 & 2010) and Olympic silver medalist, skating in a pretty lilac outfit, to Chopin’s beloved “Nocturne in E flat major”, soared with great grace, through a difficult program, to give one of her best performances. As was her right, as the highest qualifier, she skated last of the six Ladies.

And, Yes! Her triple Axel was slightly under-rotated. The technical panel gave her an arrow, which meant she lost 2.50 marks from the base value of 8.50, and the judges, who can review close-up footage of elements, voted to remove a further -0.43 from the base value. Nevertheless, for many of the spectators in the audience, the jump looked fine, and they cheered with all their might.

The rest of her performance gained significant positive GoEs. One judge even gave the maximum +3 for her change foot combination spin, and two others thought her final move, the Level 4 straight line steps, was worthy of the ultimate award. The other two elements which receive Levels, the Flying Camel and her layback spins, were given the top “4”. Her other jumps, a triple flip, and the combination triple loop to double loop received +1.10 and +0.80.

She said, “I was very happy about the triple Axel. This was the first I was able to land it that well this season. During practice, I landed about 50 to 70%, but in the competition, I focused on landing just one, and I think that went really well. Because I have a day off, I will focus on resting tomorrow but I plan to do two triple Axels in the long program. I would like to do it as I did it today. Going into the Free Program, I would like to continue this feeling. I will NOT focus on placement, but I would like to do my best in this competition. I am not planning to do a triple-triple in the Short Program this season.”

Asada won both of her Grand Prix assignments this season (the Hilton HHonors Skate America and the NHK Trophy in Tokyo), but was unable to cleanly land a triple Axel or the triple flip-triple toe loop combination in either. She has won the GP Final three times during her long career, including last year’s competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi. A victory here would tie her with Russian Irina Slutskaya, who won four GP Finals, for the most titles ever. Her components ranged from five 9.25s down to seven 8.25s.

2.  SP 68.38 (37.53+30.85) Adelina Sotnikova, a 17-year-old from Moscow, came into this event as the fourth qualifier, despite her 2013 European Championship silver medal. She said, “I was able to skate well today. The fans in Japan are different. When I was about to start, the arena went very quiet. I changed my combination to two triple toe loops because that is more consistent. I wasn’t thinking about Russian nationals and how many talented girls will be competing in it. I was just thinking about today. I’m happy, as I was able to achieve my best score.”

Performing to the Habenera from the opera, “Carmen”, she did that combination so well, she received unanimous +2 GoEs from the panel of nine judges, which meant +1.40 was added to its base value of 8.20. She also received eight +2s and one top GoE of +3 for her double Axel. She was rewarded with two of the maximum +3s for her final move, a Level 4 flying camel spin.

Sotnikova has been Russian champion three times, 2009, 2011 & 2011 but was third this past season. In the element score, she was a marginal 0.08 above Asada, but on the components, she was a very significant 3.16 behind the very experienced Japanese, who first won this title in 2005, although she was too young to go to the 2006 Olympic Games and world championship.

Sotnikova is a pupil of Elena Vodorezova Buianova, who was a child phenom in the Soviet Union. As a 12-year old, she competed in the 1976 Olympic Games placing 12^th, before being forced to give up the sport in her late teens because she developed juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

3.  SP 68.38 (36.39+31.75) Ashley Wagner, USA, the reigning, two-time national champion, qualified for her second consecutive Grand Prix Final by earning gold at 2013 Trophee Bompard in Paris, and silver at the 2013 Hilton HHonors Skate America. The 22-year-old won silver last season, when this event was in Sochi, Russia, in the Olympic venue.

As she left the ice, she said, “It was awesome. I am so happy with the performance. The flip-toe felt great, the spins felt really great. I feel really good. I wish the score had been higher. We’ll see what happens in the protocol. But so far so good.”

Wagner gave a very womanly performance to “Shine on You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd” in which the television coverage focused on her eyes with their playful ‘Come Hither’ looks. She later explained, “I assure you that I’m very family-friendly. I think they [the TV cameras] are impressed with my COVERGIRL makeup. (She is a model for that cosmetic company.) The whole point of this program is to be strong and sexy but feminine. Women skaters need to feel more comfortable being strong. I’m trying to portray that with that program and it’s fun for me to skate.”

She gained +0.80 for her first element, a triple flip to triple toe combination. “It’s something that I set my mind to from the start of the season, to do a triple-triple, and I feel it’s been getting stronger mentally and physically. I missed a level on my footwork and I have that to work on but overall I’m very happy. (The step sequence gained Level 3 instead of the maximum Level 4 which was awarded to her three spins.) All seven elements were rewarded with significant GoEs, and her components were 0.90 ahead of Sotnikova.

Wagner said later, “Last year I made the Grand Prix Final into this huge event that was very intimidating when in reality it’s a bonus to be here and it’s an opportunity to practice competing. This year, I’m taking a more laid back approach and trying to get the experience of competition.”

About the fact that four of her rivals are Russian, she said, “It says a lot for Russian skating to have four of the ladies here. That’s incredible. To have so many Russian skaters here is very noticeable. You can feel them breathing down your neck and pushing you. They have youth on their side. It makes you have to push yourself as an ‘older’ skater.”

4.  SP 66.62 (36.84+29.78) Julia Lipnitskaia, a Russian 15-year-old, who won the 2012 world junior championship, skated to “You Don’t Give Up on Love,” by Mark Minkov . She is currently benefiting from having trained as a gymnast before changing to figure skating. Asada said of her, “She performs in a sort of mixture of figure skating and rhythmic gymnastics. I cannot do that.”

The moves with which Lipnitskaia entertains, come straight out of the circus, but such extreme stretching must be learned very early in life. It is not a skill that can be obtained by hard work later in life. Sasha Cohen came from a similar background and gave the skating world some beautiful routines. And, of course Denise Biellmann brought her variation to the sport. But Lipnitskaya has taken the “Biellmann” position to an extreme, where the leg is straight next to the body in a split. And she a new variation in which she spins in a high kick, with her foot way over her head. It is all amazing, but if this is what officials want, then less flexible skaters are going to give up and try some other less demanding sport.

Lipnitskaya’s program began with her drawing with a finger on the ice, which was perhaps meant to be sand. Then she stood up and looked at the ceiling. Was that her reaction to imagined rain? Her first element, a combination of triple Lutz to triple toe loop was penalized with a small -0.10, but she still banked a huge 10.00. Then came a +0.36 double Axel and a Level 4 flying camel spin. Her step sequence and later her layback spin were Level 3. Because of her flexibility the layback received three of the maximum +3 GoEs, and the other six judges gave +2, the next Level down. Between those two moves was a good +0.60 triple flip. Her final spin a change foot combination received Level 4 with eight +3s and one +2.

5.  SP 64.38(36.60+27.78) Elena Radionova, Russia, is the current world junior champion. She is only 14 and is not eligible for Sochi. (Skaters can be a year younger to compete in this GP Series, than they can for the World Senior Championship or Olympic Games. It was this regulation which kept Mao Asada and Yu-na Kim out of the 2006 Olympic Games.

6.  SP 64.38 (36.60+27.78) Anna Pogorilaya, Russia, 15, who is only in her second season of international competition.

Lithuanian President Overturns Decision - Tobias Will Go to Olympics

American ice dancer Isabella Tobias is dancing on clouds. She is going to the Olympic Games, by special order of the Lithuanian President, Dalia Grybauskaite.

Grybauskaite had previously noted that 22-year-old Tobias, although she had represented Lithuania three times at the world championships, did not meet the general criteria to get a passport from that country, which demands a certain fluency in that country’s language and residency requirements.

But that country’s Olympic Committee worked hard on behalf of Tobias, who partners, Deividas Stagniunas, 28, who was born in Kaunas, took up skating at five and then came to the United States to look for an ice dance partner. He has lived in the United States since then, but has often returned to his country for skating events.

Indre Pukanasyte, a Presidential Advisor, said the President’s change of mind about Tobias was made because Tobias had been working on her language skills and there had been a huge public support for the duo, on the grounds of an “exceptional merit” criteria. Denial would be a great disappointment for the Lithuanian Skating Association, and would be hurt Stagniunas, who had devoted years to this partner.

Even the Lithuanian Olympic Association got involved. Their President, Daiva Gudzineviciute, hailed the decision, explaining, “Lithuania will field only nine athletes to these Games, and Isabella and Deividas could be the top finishers.b

Tobias, who attended the George Ballanchine School of American Ballet 1999-2007, and then represented Georgia with Otar Japaridze, now trains with Deividas in Novi, Michigan with Igor Shpilband.

Rostelcom Cup - Tatjana Flade reports from Moscow

Trophee Eric Bompard 2013

Trophy Bompard opened with all four Short Programs. US champion Ashley Wagner took the lead in the Ladies event, which was the last to be skated, earning 66.75. Second and third was a near tie between two Russians, with Anna Pogorilya in second place with 60.03 and her teammate, Adelina Sotnikova scoring 60.01. Americans

Christine Goa and Samantha Cesario lie 4^th & 5^th going into Saturday’s Free.

As is always the case with this event, the kiss & cry area was a unique design in an arena which is famous for its shape. It is a pyramid with the outside covered with grass. (They even have a special type of lawn mower to cut the growing grass on the steep slope.)

However, the management has explained this event will almost certainly NOT be in Bercy next season because the Arena will be being completely refurbished. This event started as Trophee Lalique in 1987 and became Trophee Bompard in 2004. It was elevated to a Grand Prix when the Series began in 1995. (Initially, one of the six countries hosting was Germany, but that was replaced by China. The situation is currently unclear, because the Chinese television contract has finished this season. 

There is no draw. The order of skating for the short program is strictly on points accumulated in ISU events. For the Free Skate the order of performance is in reverse order to the finish in the Short Programs.

Trophee Eric Bompard - The Olympic season is always a special one and although the middle of November is still early and it is therefore understandable that some competitors, especially those aiming for the podium, may have not reached their best condition, the list of entries was exciting. It included many skaters who, at least on paper, might claim a medal at the next Olympic Games as well as a few promising young skaters such as Han Yan of China and Anna Pogotilava of Russia, both winners of the Cup of China, Jason Brown from the US, and Adelina Sotnikova from Russia, who represent the future of our sport.

Question and Answer with Ron Pfenning

NHK Trophy Final Results

NHK Trophy Short Programs

2013 Cup of China

2013 Skate Canada

2013 Skate America

2013 Skate America at Joe Louis Arena Kicks Off Senior Grand Prix Series

Complexity Is Not Our Friend - When first released into use, IJS was woefully unready for it's purpose.  But over the years many of the weaknesses in the original version of IJS have been corrected, and even IJS skeptics have to admit it "sorta" works despite some underlying mathematical weaknesses that still remain.

But those remaining weaknesses are not the most serious thing that ails IJS today.  That has been overtaken by the ever increasing complexity that is harming skating in multiple ways.  This complexity does not add to the ability of the system to better determine the results of competitions - and it is futile to do with more things that which can be done with fewer. Rather than help, complexity has, instead, harmed skating in several ways.

Number of Revolutions Versus Creativity: Two Opposing Worlds - Until a few years ago, the most important element in figure skating was music.  It was the music which gave sense to the compound of the elements and their sequence in a program. The skater skated his music: he felt it, he lived it and gave back to the audience the feelings and the emotions that that particular music inspired him. It was a unique sport, a perfect melding of technical difficulties and art. Its artistic component was what made it so popular and successful.  Figure skating, as I used to define it, is a “physical art”.  It is the understanding and the interpretation of the music through harmonious and elegant movements, in the same way as ballet.  Both ballet and figure skating are inspired by the music.

Finlandia Trophy: Ladies - Lipnitskaia zoomed into the international skating world’s awareness, when the then Russian Junior Champion won the Junior Grand Prix Final and the World Junior Championship in the 2011-12 season. However, this past season she was only fifth in the Russian Jr. nationals and had to settle for second place in the World Jr. championship. She had had to pull out of the Grand Prix Final after suffering a concussion a short time before the event. There were no remnants of that injury in Espoo, and the youngster won by well over ten points.

Finlandia Trophy: Men - Because of his slight build, there’s one performing sport in which Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan, surely could not compete – the national passion, Sumo wrestling. But, at four, he followed his older sister to the local rink in Sendai, and discovered the love of this life. Few can challenge his ability to project, his rotational speed in the air, his flexibility and his seeming total immunity to the pain of falling hard.

Finlandia Trophy Dance Final - Skating last, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir presented a classical number to music by Glazunov, “Petit Adagio” and “Waltz in Concerto No.2” along with Sciabin’s “Allegro Moderato”. This writer hasn’t come across Sciabin being used before in a top level skating competition. Their coach, Marina Zoueva said she’s been keeping it in mind for a long time. In its mood, the routine is similar to that ethereal masterpiece, which they produced to deservedly win in Vancouver. There are sublime moments when they are completely a part of the music. They don’t so much skate, as flow over the surface, giving them a calm appearance even when they are going top speed. It’s a unique talent and makes them unmatchable in that aspect. Earlier practice had made them look a little unfinished. But in performance, it was dazzling.

Finlandia Trophy Dance Final - Skating last, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir presented a classical number to music by Glazunov, “Petit Adagio” and “Waltz in Concerto No.2” along with Sciabin’s “Allegro Moderato”. This writer hasn’t come across Sciabin being used before in a top level skating competition. Their coach, Marina Zoueva said she’s been keeping it in mind for a long time. In its mood, the routine is similar to that ethereal masterpiece, which they produced to deservedly win in Vancouver. There are sublime moments when they are completely a part of the music. They don’t so much skate, as flow over the surface, giving them a calm appearance even when they are going top speed. It’s a unique talent and makes them unmatchable in that aspect. Earlier practice had made them look a little unfinished. But in performance, it was dazzling.

Finlandia Trophy Starts with a Bang

Nebelhorn Trophy: Dance

Nebelhorn Trophy: Ladies

Nebelhorn Trophy: Men and Pairs Free Skates

Nebelhorn Trophy: Men and Pairs Short Programs

Nebelhorn Trophy: Secondary Olympic Selection Contest Inspires Cut-throat Competition Among both the Skaters and Media - An unprecedented number of journalists and TV personal have descended on this rural, old-fashioned, pretty, small town to report on an also unprecedented number of skaters (151) from a record number of (49) nations. Some important Japanese media were denied credentials, and have bought tickets while striking deals with other more fortunate journalists to “piggy-back,” by taking their colleagues’ tape-recorders into press conferences.

U.S. International Figure Skating Classic - Ladies and Men's Finals

U.S. International Figure Skating Classic - Dance and Pairs Finals

U.S. International Figure Skating Classic - Original Dance and Ladies Short - It is always a pleasure to see world champions in action in any sport, and Meryl Davis & Charlie White’s Short Dance was executed with a lightness that was as delightfully exuberant as the bubbles from a newly opened bottle of champagne.

International Figure Skating Classic - Men and Pairs Short - U.S. skaters hold top four places in Men's event, and sit second through fourth in Pairs after the short programs.