Saturday, March 29 - Ladies Free Program
Let There Be Crowds
The MCI Center never looked so crowded as it did that night. The entire highest 400 level section was full all the way around and not just people scattered on two sides as it was earlier in the week. This was truly the main event, so to speak, of an American skating competition. There even seemed to be a lot more people bringing their younger children in attendance and not just predominantly adults.
I arrived during Jenna McCorkell's skate and had missed the first three skaters of the evening. I sat in my assigned seat for the second time. Liam and Lindsay saw that I had a lioness this time, and Lindsay couldn't resist a pet for the soft flopsie. It was one of the last of my stash of stuffed animals to give out for the week. Liam had a stamp of the Canadian flag on his forehead, and they still had the large flag over their laps for waving.
At some point during an intermission between free skates, I was about five feet from Brian Boitano. It was in the center's hallway, near the table with the printouts of results and start orders. He was wearing the usual ball cap and involved in conversation with someone.
Some notes on various free skates.
Anastasia Gimazetdinova of Uzbekistan - Caravan of Light:
white dress with bare midriff
double
triple
triple
double
fell right in front of judges
double axel
camel spin
fell on jump
spiral
double
biellmann spin
broken leg spin
scratch spin
Tech: 3.6-4.1
Pres: 3.9-4.4
Alisa Drei of Finland - Adagio:
triple
triple-double
triple loop
triple
camel spin
spiral - good forward stretch
triple
triple
biellmann spin
The music was an effective style for her. She was happy at the end and received a long hug from her coach.
Tech: 4.6-5.1
Pres: 4.8-5.5
Ludmila Nelidina of Russia - Corcovado/Abrazame/Sentimental Medley:
triple
triple lutz-double
triple
triple loop
layback spin
fell on jump
double axel-double
combo spin
Tech: 4.7-5.3
Pres: 4.4-5.1
Julia Lautowa of Austria - Malaguena/Macarena/The World of Flamenco:
popped first jump
touch down on a jump
The rest of the program was fairly good. She was about to strike her final pose when her feet slipped out from under her, and she fell on her butt. She put her hands over her face and laughed and clapped in reaction. The audience supported her and gave a partial standing ovation.
Tech: 4.2-5.0
Pres: 4.6-5.3
Dan Fang of China - Riders on the Storm:
triple-double
fell on triple
spin - travelling
triple flip
fell on triple
combo spin
double axel - two footed landing
fell
biellmann spin
ending moves a bit awkward
This was not her night. Unfortunately, I think she lost confidence, and it affected her presentation. I saw her in the hallway later in the evening, and she had a tear stained face.
Tech: 3.8-4.6
Pres: 4.0-4.8
Joannie Rochette of Canada - Once Upon a Time in the West:
She received a double cheek kiss and hug from her coach on the way out.
double loop
fell on triple lutz
triple flip-double
camel spin
triple flip-half loop-fell
layback spin
spiral
fell
triple - two footed landing
stepped out of triple
double axel
combo spin
Tech: 4.2-4.7
Pres: 4.5-5.1
Shizuka Arakawa of Japan - Titanic soundtrack:
triple-triple-double
triple
triple
donut spin
double lutz - turned out
triple loop
spread eagle
triple
double axel
She received a bunny after her free skate. She made the ears wiggle in Kiss & Cry. It was shown on the Jumbotron, and the audience laughed. It appeared as if there was some button on the bunny that when pushed made the ears move.
Tech: 5.3-5.6
Pres: 5.2-5.6
Sarah Hughes of U.S.A. - La Bayadere:
nice music choice
double axel
triple
triple
triple loop
spin - slow
triple lutz-double
fell on triple flip
perky section of music begins
camel to layback to camel to sit to catch foot in front to layback spin
triple
backward spiral
forward spiral
final spin
The crowd went wild after her skate, and the ice was littered with toys.
Tech: 4.8-5.6
Pres: 5.3-5.8
Michelle Kwan of U.S.A. - Aranjuez:
ice melting in far corner opposite cameramen wall
triple loop
triple lutz-double
triple flip
double axel
triple
spiral - screaming from audience
triple flip-double
triple lutz
straight line footwork - I don't think she can hear her music from the screaming
Her expression came out on the straight line sequence after the difficult elements were completed. The crowd went wild. It took the whole band of flower children to clear the ice.
Tech: 5.7-5.9
Pres: 5.8-6.0
Viktoria Volchkova of Russia - Air/Four Seasons:
triple lutz-double
triple loop
triple
layback spin
triple
triple
ina bauer
double lutz
double axel
camel to layback to sit to catch foot in front to backscratch spin
Tech: 5.2-5.7
Pres: 5.2-5.7
Elena Sokolova of Russia - Notre Dame de Paris soundtrack:
triple-triple
triple flip
spin
triple loop
spin
triple lutz
spirals
combo spin
triple
double axel
Nice mature performance. She clapped at the end. She stood up and rubbed her hands together while waiting for the marks in Kiss & Cry.
Tech: 5.6-5.9
Pres: 5.4-5.9
Sasha Cohen of U.S.A. - Piano Concerto No. 2:
triple lutz-triple
triple
triple flip-double
inside edge camel spin - she fell completely out of it
triple loop
spread eagle
fell on jump
triple
layback spin
ina bauer
double axel
spiral
split jump
stretch move
straight line footwork
spin combo
I really like her extension and balletic skating style. My favorite spiral of the competition.
Tech: 5.4-5.7
Pres: 5.5-5.9
Fumie Suguri of Japan - Swan Lake:
triple lutz-double
triple flip
popped jump
sit spin
layback spin
triple
catch foot spiral
backward spiral, holding knee
triple lutz
camel spin
straight line footwork
triple - swung around landing
double axel
change of music pace
camel to sit to backscratch spin
Her strength is speed coupled with flow. This attack in a program's execution can also translate into jumps with good elevation. I feel she has above average positions in the spirals and spins. Her backscratch is my favorite of the ladies. I like both Fumie and Sasha, so it was perfectly fine that Fumie won the bronze medal.
Tech: 5.3-5.7
Pres: 5.4-5.9
I was the only person over the age of fifteen running to the front to give out stuffed animals. I guess I am living out my childhood in later years.
I gave the lioness to Fumie. I later saw it on TV in her arms mixed with other animals she had been given as she sat in the Kiss & Cry.
Since Fumie was the final skater, I moved directly down into the area behind the medal podium for the medal ceremony. There, a girl told me flash could be used for medal ceremonies, so that was the only time I used it indoors - for the final crowning.
I actually enjoyed that the medal ceremony had three different countries represented on the podium. Michelle was very happy. While she stood on the podium, the Jumbotron showed her sister Karen. Michelle noticed and waved and mouthed, 'Hi Karen!' You would think after receiving several gold medals, it would become old hat for her. But, still she seemed moved.
Previous
Next
Reports
Home