Ladies

Starting Order - Short Program

Short Program

Notes:

Michelle Kwan won her second Champions Series event handily, with a perfect program.  She landed all her jumps effortlessly (triple Lutz - double toe, triple toe, and double Axel).  She received marks of 5.7-5.9 for the first mark, and marks of 5.8-5.9 for the second mark (five 5.9's).

Maria Butyrskaya skated a sexy routine to "Fever".  Both her landings in her triple Lutz - double loop combination were a little shaky, but the following sole triple loop was outstanding, and the double Axel was very well done.   Her spins and connecting moves were all strong.  Now if only she wouldn't look so grim out there will she is skating.

Surya Bonaly skated a strong program with double Axel, triple toe - triple toe, and triple Salchow.  Her spins were excellent, and the connecting choreography and presentation were both very well done.  The people who still complain that her basic skating is second rate should just let it go.  She finally seems fully recovered from her serious tendon injury of last year, and if the other triples are there in the long program she just may contend for a medal in Nagano.  We will find out soon in the long program.

World Bronze medallist Vanessa Gusmeroli had an awful skate.  She fell on the opening triple Lutz of the combination and later doubled a triple loop.   The double Axel was ok and she had some nice spirals and steps, but overall the program was weak and ordinary.  She will have a hard time medaling this year with that kind of program.

Nicole Bobek had been practicing well for most of the week, but ran into trouble in front of the judges.  She left her combination in the warmup, falling on the opening triple Lutz.  Her triple toe had a shaky landing, while the double Axel was ok.  Her spins were excellent and the connecting steps and spiral were well done.   When she skates clean she is competitive for a medal, but she doesn't watch out.

Starting Order - Free Skating

Final Results

Notes:

Michelle Kwan had a mediocre skate but it was still strong enough to win in an event where no one skated cleanly.  She doubled the Lutz in her opening combination and then following a successful triple toe - double toe combination doubled a triple flip.   At the very end of the program she fell in a series of travelling steps into what would have been the closing spin.  In addition to the initial problems with the jumps she was also lethargic in the first section of the program but fought back to land a total of five triples.  To her credit, her performances this week were given without benefit of coach, as Frank Carroll  was fully occupied tending to a dozen other skaters at the Southwest Pacific Regional competition which was taking place this same week.

Maria Butyrskaya free program this year is again consumed with pain, suffering and anguish, the only emotions she seems willing or able to express on the ice.   Technically, she was a little wild and out of control tonight.  She dragged the free toe checking out of triple Lutz and then fell on triple flip.  She landed triple Salchow and triple toe, but it was downhill from there.  She turned out of triple loop, doubled a triple toe and a loop, waxeled a double Axel and finally stepped out of another.  Her second place finish was largely thanks to big second marks.   Her programs may be depressing, but she does it very well. 

Third place was held by Surya Bonaly who singled or doubled three triples but still landed five others.  Two of these were an unusual triple toe - triple Salchow jump sequence and another in a Walley - Walley - triple Salchow - double toe loop sequence.   Her presentation was uneven, but this could be a medal competitive program if she cleans it up.

Vanessa Gusmeroli moved up four spots with a fifth place finish in the long program.   She started off fairly well, but then struggled in the second half of the program.   She landed on opening triple flip, then reached for the ice on triple Lutz.   This was followed by triple loop - double loop, and later a solo triple toe.   In the second half of the program she singled an Axel and a Salchow, and stepped out of a double Axel and a double flip.

Nicole Bobek skated with good speed and presentation, but struggled with her jumps.   Her only clean triple was an opening triple Lutz.  She then doubled a triple flip, reached on triple Salchow, doubled a triple loop, and fell on a triple tow at the end of a jump sequence.  Her only combination was a double Axel - double toe.   She managed to hold sixth place, but in this group of ladies that is not much of an accomplishment

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