2011 Grand Prix Final

Ladies Event

The performance was executed with good speed with most of the judges going into the eights for the component marks, except for Transitions where the judges tended to mark a little lower.  The program relies primarily on arm and body movements for transitions and less so on skating movements which helps the Choreography and Interpretation marks, but works against the Transitions score.  There are also some holes in beginning of the program which pulls down the Transitions mark.

Following her performance she said, " As I was getting off the ice, I still did not realize that I have finally performed the program as I wanted to.  I have been practicing the program over and oer, but today was the best performance.  I have to asmit, I did not think the three grand prix events would be so tiring, so after Paris  had to take 2-3 days off to rest and to get energy and motivation back.  Going into the Final, my goals were to not have any regrets.  I am happy, but then their is still tomorrow."

2.  Akiko Suzuki, lies in second place, 5.13 points behind Kostner.  Suziki stepped out of her opening triple flip and then doubled the planned triple toe loop.  The remainder of the program was clean and nicely skated with good speed and good expression.  All four spins were called level 4 and the step sequence level 3.  Her components scores averaged 7.5, about half a point behind Koster.

"Before the competition, I was not thinking to try triple flip - triple toe loop combination," she said, "but after I came here, I felt much better about it and it and was the first time I tried to do it in competition.  Now, I could not perform it cleanly and I am mortified by that, but I want to try my best for tomorrow and move the audience's emotions with my skating."  Later in the post segment press conference she added, " I tried the triple triple flip for the first time at the beginning and it didn't quite go well but the rest of the program was quite good.  So I think that is why I am sitting in second place after the short program."  Which may well be true.

3.  Skating first, Alena Leonova was not expected to be a medal contender, but that is where she finds herself after the Short Program.  Her opening triple toe loop - triple toe loop had one GoE of -1, while the eight other judges scored it 0 through +2.  The following triple flip had a bit of a rough landing and seven judges scored it -1.  The remainder fo the program was skated cleanly with Leonova performing strongly in character.  Her layback spin and flying sit spin were called level 4 while the change foot combination spin was called level 2 -- with eight GoEs of +1.  On her performance she said, "I am happy with my performance as my morning practice didn't go so well.  I did all my jumps, but I am not quite sure what happened on the combo spin, but I will review the protocol ad hopefully fix it."

Leonova's components averaged just bellow 7.5, similar to Suzuki and also Alissa Czisny.  My practice this morning did not go well," she said, "but I regrouped for the short program and I am very pleased with the performance.  I rested a bit after Rostelcom Cup, and then continued preparing for the Grand Prix Final in my usual relaxed rhythm.  I love performing to the audience and I love the reception here in Quebec.  I was even a little surprised just how enthusiastic the audience is.  My next competition is Russian Nationals in two weeks and then the European Championships.  I will take some time off after the Grand Prix Final and then may adjust programs based on feedback I receive here."

4.  Alissa Czisny opened with a solid triple Lutz - triple toe loop combination which received seven marks of +1. She fell on the following triple loop attempt, with the jump under-rotated.  Not enough for under-rotation call, but enough to go flying across the ice.  On double Axel she threw around somewhat but landed the jump with one judge going to -1, but three others going to +1.  After the three jump elements she got her feet back under her and performed three strong spins and the step sequence.

Czisny's program components averaged just above 7.5, slightly head of Suzuki and Leonova.  Only one point separates second through fourth place, so Czisny easily remains in medal contention.

"Besides the one jump I felt the program was good," she said, "but the loop didn't happen today and I'm kind of disappointed with that.  I was really trying to focus on each element in the program.  The fans here deserve a great performance. ... There is definitely pressure.  It is a good experience for me going into a competition defending, learning how to defend a title."  As for what she has learned she said, "Just keep learning and keep attacking my program tomorrow."

5.  Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, tanked. She landed a nice opening triple Lutz - triple toe loop, but then doubled a loop attempt for -3 GoEs and stepped out of double Axel which was scored -1 through -3 with seven judges at -2.  After the jump elements she never got her focus back, and though the last four elements were clean she was not in command of the elements or the program.  Her component marks averaged 6.8, well bellow the rest of the group, and bellow her results previously in the Grand Prix.  She currently lies 6.31 points behind Suzuki.  "Mistakes happen," she said.  "I skated two clean short programs in the Grand PRix, and you can't always skate clean.  I could have skated betetr today but making the Final alone was already a big victory for me.  Maybe I was a little too nervous, more nervous than usual.  For the free skating, I just want to do my best and do what I didn't do today."

by Alexandra Stevenson

1.Overall 187.48 Carolina Kostner, 1.FS 121.05 (55.83+65.22). The 24-year-old Italian, who was third in the world championships last April, won both SP & FS with a considerable margin, despite no longer presenting a triple Lutz. Her FS technical score, however, was only fourth best of the five competitors, though her components were well ahead of her adversaries.

Skating in a grey-blue catsuit to music from the second and third movements of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23 in A Major, she opened with a +0.70 triple loop. But she touched her hand down on the landing of the following triple flip which had -0.70 removed from the base value and she singled her first attempt at a double Axel. When the bonus marks clicked in she executed a +1.10 double Axel to triple toe, a strained base value triple toe to double toe, a -0.40 triple Salchow with a jacknifed landing and a +0.70 triple Salchow to double toe. Two of her spins, a +0.43 flying camel, and the concluding element, a +0.64 a change foot combination, were Level 4. But the flying change foot combo was only +0.24 Level 2. Her straight line steps were a good +1.07 Level 3.

She said, "I wish I would have skated better. My Short Program went so well. It was a fight today. At first I was a little upset at the mistakes I made on the flip until the single Axel. Then I thought, "Now, I have nothing to lose. It’s all or nothing. I am glad that I didn’t let myself go. It was a good exercise for me to be in the lead. Sometimes I was in behind in the Short and it is different to defend rather than attack. I think I am still a little bit nervous because I was really nervous going into the competition. It was the first time for me (being in the lead after the SP) to defend something that felt so important. I am so happy that I did not have major mistakes but I have the feeling that I could have done better.

2011 Grand Prix Final Ladies Medalists