Jan. 8
Senior Ladies Short Program
There was little break between the end of the Men Short and the start of the Ladies Short. And, I was ready to go again as this would be my only look at the senior ladies. Atypical me, preferring to see the men, had chosen to attend the Men Final over the Ladies Final.
Some notes on the Ladies Short:
Ann Patrice McDonough
double axel
fell on triple lutz
donut spin
triple flip
layback spin with free leg extended backward to behind her ears
spiral
camel to layback to sit to egg beater combination spin
She looked disappointed as she was leaving the ice. Ann Patrice is my second favorite of the U.S. ladies stylistically, so I had hoped she would be able to start strong among the competitive ladies field. I saw some pressing forward and skating progression from her last year, and maybe that can be seen next year.
Marks Range: 4.3 - 5.3
Erica Archambault
She did hands over fist with her coach by the boards before taking her starting position on the ice.
fell on loop jump
layback spin - she has a flexible back
double
combination spin
footwork - a bit slow
double axel
spiral sequence - good, stretched positions
camel to sit spin
3.1 - 4.5
Jane Bugaeva
double axel
fell on jump
camel to sit to scratch spin
triple flip
layback spin
spiral sequence
lunge turns
turn with the knee to the ice
spin
3.2 - 4.8
Beatrisa Liang
sit spin right off the bat
double axel
fell on triple lutz
layback spin
spiral sequence - good speed
charlotte
split jumps
straight line footwork into triple flip
combination spin
She skated a little choppy as far as some unsteadiness of edge during the program.
4.2 - 5.3
Sasha Cohen
Malaguena
triple lutz-double jump combination
triple flip
camel spin
double axel
layback spin
spiral sequence
charlotte
footwork
combination spin
People in the audience held their breath during her jumps and breathed a sigh of relief on her jump landings lest she might fall. As she was leaving the ice after the standing ovation, she approached the boards and her coach on the other side and declared, 'I don't want to get off. I just want to stay here.' She just wanted to soak it all in and make a memory I suppose. She gave Coach Robin Wagner a kiss on the cheek, and then she took her hand and wiped the lipstick mark she had made off of Robin's cheek.
5.6 - 5.9
Angela Nikodinov
lovely, soft piano music
triple lutz-double - some lean in the air on her triple
triple flip
double axel
camel spin
layback spin
She received a partial standing ovation. While I have never disliked her skating, her style has improved and grown on me more and more. Her recent coaching of the last couple of years has really compelled her soft, smooth and graceful skating abilities.
5.1 - 5.7
Alexandra Patterson
She picked up and delivered a letter for Angela Nikodinov that had been deposited on the ice by an audience member to the crew at the Kiss & Cry boards. It was while Alexandra was warming up on the ice before the reading of Angela's marks.
tango music
triple
double axel
layback spin
spiral - more stretch needed
triple-double jump combination - triple was slightly two-footed
camel spin
camel to sit spin
She used the music beats well as far as matching them to her highlights in the program. Her coach was nodding and feeling the music along with her during her skate.
3.9 - 4.7
Amber Corwin
skated to Moon River
triple-triple jump combination
triple lutz
sit spin
double axel - she showed a big smile
combination spin
She received a partial standing ovation. Her stroking was a bit bouncy and the softness of the program a little forced. But, she has to be happy with the technical content achieved.
5.1 - 5.7
Michelle Kwan
The Feeling Begins
double axel - swung around the landing
triple lutz-double
triple flip
layback spin with her hands down behind her back - cheers from the crowd
spiral - more cheers
footwork
combination spin
While Michelle sat in Kiss & Cry waiting for her marks, those that maneuvered the Jumbotron thought they would demonstrate who still holds the current title of 'America's Sweetheart' when it comes to ladies skating. The cameras panned the crowd and the stands for Michelle Kwan signs, having different sayings and slogans. They found so many different ones. After all these years of her skating, people in the U.S. are still pretty into her.
5.6 - 5.9
Felicia Beck
All That Jazz
fell on triple lutz
jump
camel spin
popped axel
camel to sit to biellmann to sit spin - nice biellmann stretch
She had a nice energy and spunk in the dancing sequences despite the well-utilized music piece.
2.5 - 4.8
Louann Donovan
double-double jump combination
fell on triple flip
double axel
spiral sequence
3.4 - 4.8
Jennifer Don
straight line footwork off the top
triple flip-double
fell on a jump
flying sit spin
ina bauer
spread eagle into double axel
layback with the free leg extended back behind her ears
spin combination that included a biellmann spin
She always skates with such joy. She seems like the sweetest person also. A young man brought a gift to the front and handed it to her. She gave him a hug and seemed happy and apologetic. I did not think she had skated poorly.
3.8 - 5.3
Aanya Reiten
fell on a jump
double axel - she slowed down into the entry of the jump, but smiled afterward
nice layback spin
triple loop - another smile
camel spin
spiral with nice stretch
3.8 - 4.7
Andrea Gardiner
Hers was a mostly clean program with a few two-footed jump landings. A little bit of a tentative skate. She should turn on her charming smile and let the skating flow. Her spins were of nice positions.
3.5 - 5.2
Stephanie Rosenthal
layback spin
double axel
triple-double jump combination - fell out of the triple
triple loop - she looked happy
straight line footwork
sit spin
3.5 - 4.6
Natalie Mecher
stepped out of the lutz landing
triple - stepped out of the landing
sit spin
circular footwork
spiral - held only a short time
double axel - nice height
camel to sit change foot sit spin
3.0 - 4.6
Danielle Kahle
All That Jazz and medley
double axel - hung on to the landing
triple lutz - fell forward and touched a hand down
sit spin
fell on triple flip
layback spin
ina bauer
combination spin - positions a little messy at the end
3.3 - 5.1
Jenny Kirk
She was doing single axels and then later a double axel in warm up while waiting for the marks of Danielle Kahle.
All That Jazz
shaking her head and acting sultry in the choreography
triple-triple
spiral sequence
triple lutz
layback spin
double axel
She pumped fists after her ending pose and received a standing ovation. Matthew Lind came to the front after her skate and gave her a hug. I believe they are friends, and there are pictures of them and their friends on Matthew's web site.
5.4 - 5.8
Alissa Czisny
double lutz-double jump combination
layback spin
triple flip
double axel
camel spin
spiral - nice extension
charlotte - held only a short time
high split jumps
layback to sit to donut to biellmann spin - showed flexibility
4.0 - 5.3
Suzy McDonald
coached by Carol Heiss Jenkins
double axel - hung on to the landing
triple-double jump combination - touched down with her foot on the landing
double flip
camel spin
spiral sequence - blades not always steady and smooth
low hydroblading glide
camel spin
layback to sit spin - well-centered
circular footwork
layback spin
2.6 - 4.7
Yebin Mok
I did not recognize her on the warm up group. Her hair was pulled back in a bun and different from the 2003 Nationals broadcast.
coached by Frank Carroll
skated to Bolero
popped lutz-double jump combination
camel spin
double flip
fell on double axel
layback spin - nice back extension
spiral sequence
circular footwork
spin showing more flexibility at the end
2.8 - 4.9
Atlanta's MARTA transportation system: I was shivering in the MARTA train station leaving Philips Arena. Although it was an underground station right outside the arena, there was still a wind chill. The stairs going down from Philips into the station were very steep. Beware there were mice playing in the tracks. They couldn't come up to the platform where the patrons stood. But, they did scurry about and make themselves known by running in and out of the crevices down near the area where the train runs on the track lines. The nice thing about the MARTA system is that it has a train station inside the airport, so no shuttle or bus is needed to transport luggage from the airport to access the public transportation line. I believe also there are stations very near the Greyhound bus station and regular Amtrak train station. The challenging part was getting to the Gwinnett Center because it was way on the other side of town and not directly accessible from the MARTA system.
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