2015 Grand Prix Final - Ladies

1. Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS)

Perfect, all jumps in the second half brings her a high technical mark. But not a 8.71 for interpretation, at most 8.50.

To be honest, I still don't quite get the music, and there are too many unnecessary magic hands in the beginning and somewhere else in the program. And I am sorry not sorry to say there were too much arms above the head, one or two is enough. And the PCS, please, skating skills the highest among all? I have to disagree. And the interpretation too, definitely no more than 9. But anyway, just my opinion, and an absolutely well-deserved victory so congrats.

2. Satoko Miyahara (JPN)

If I were an audience there, I would probably boo the loudest. Interpretation and performance at 9 right? Come on stupid judges!

Finally a just score for Satoko! 140.09 she deserves every bit of it. I would give a higher 8.75 even 9.00 for interoperation though. 

3. Elena Radionova (RUS)

I agree with the score. She is expressive and I really like her.

Ok, now, as much as I love Elena, I am still trying to accept her version of Titanic, especially the voiceover, I just can't even...arggghhhh. And the loop-salchow combination was not very good-looking. It looks like a "3Lo+hop, 3S" rather than a "3Lo+1Lo+3S", I hope she can improve her fluency on this combo. Other than that, everything else is good.

4. Ashley Wagner (USA)

If you miss the second part of your first combo, either do a double toe in a later jump, or be DEAD SURE you are gonna make it round if you insist on a triple. Lesson learned.

Diva Wagner finally at her best again! So glad to see her so emotional at the end and have a great score. This is a big encouragement for her. 

5. Gracie Gold (USA)

If she is too get a medal in the future, please change the flip, a loop would give her an almost same score. Arms everywhere again.

Nerves? I don't know but she was not the fierce firebird we saw at Skate America, he burnt herself this time. 

6. Mao Asada (JPN)

I don't care about the Lutz, it was still a fantastic program! The audience loved it, thats enough. I salute her determination.

Finally the famous flip-loop-loop combo is back! Again I don't care about the mistakes, she will figure them out later on. She is a true fighter and challenger. We are always beside you Mao!! Gambatte!!


Final thoughts:

I agree with the result. Everyone take note from Elena on how you should pose for a photo on a podium.

2015 Grand Prix Final - Pairs

1. Ksenia Stolbova / Fedor Klimov (RUS)

The landing of the throw flip was strong as steel, and I love the akimbo position of Ksenia on the death spiral. The ending choreography is always fun to watch.

A big side by side triple toe-triple toe-double toe, though Fedor had to hang on a bit at the end but it was no big problem. The perfect side by side salchow is to die for. The throw jumps are landed as solid as you want. And it is really amazing that they were able to skate to this totally emotionless, cold and mysterious music so well. They are definitely world class skaters.

2. Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford (CAN)

Too bad about the throw Lutz, but the interpretation is lovely. 

Love the side by side triple Lutz right into the music, a strong hang on to the throw quad salchow. Same problem about the throw Lutz again. But the rest is very nice. 

3. Yuko Kavaguti / Alexander Smirnov (RUS)

Love the interpretation. The technical stuff is just as good as you want it to be. 

It's amazing that they were able to carry the heavy and dramatic music, despite the falls at the beginning, it was still a great performance. A great applause to Yuko for saving the quad salchow. 

4. Julianne Seguin / Charlie Bilodeau (CAN)

Huge triple twist, nice side by side salchows, and a nice throw triple Lutz. Interpretation was full of fun and related to the music, which I don't like. 

A great start, but the anti-direction spin is out of this world. Except the throw Lutz, the rest is very good. 

5. Xiaoyu Yu / Yang Jin (CHN)

Great jumps, but not a great death spiral position for me. The music has some sort of a mysterious theme, and it somehow worked out fine with them. 

What happened to the opening fall? Great side by side triple toes though. But that was a crashing fall on the throw quad salchow, luckily she only had a scratch on her elbow. Lovely interpretation of the music.

6. Cheng Peng / Hao Zhang (CHN)

The death spiral was very steady, which is great, but it would be nicer if she can be closer to the ice. Not sure if I am a fan of the music choice though.

Great quad twist to start. Perfect side by side triple toe-double toe. But then a rocky middle part of the  program, but a much better death spiral position. But the dramatic ending saved the show. 

7. Alexa Scimeca / Chris Knierem (USA)

The opening triple twist was a good start, then the lift and the throw triple flip were equally good.  Nice interpretation of the music.

They almost did the quad twist, what a pity that they couldn't hang on to that. Nice throw jumps, but they really gotta work on their side by side jumps.

Final thoughts:

All hail Diva Ksenia! Fedor don't you dare to drop her and trip yourself again!

2015 Grand Prix Final - Ice Dance

1. Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje (CAN)

The short program was lovely, in the third part when they went back to the waltz tempo. The first part of the waltz and the middle part were just fine, and I can't stand a 9.46 for interpretation and 9.36 for performance in the PCS scoring.

I love the ending. But I am sorry, I don't think their long program is as good as their short. Nope.

2. Madison Chock / Evan Bates (USA)

I like the idea of not using a traditional waltz music, which turned out good. The expression was great. I think the scoring was okay.

Nice save in the twizzles. The music totally overflooded them near the end.

3. Anna Cappellini / Luca Lanotte (ITA)

The set of steps, IMO, was kinda off beat. I can't count the steps with the right beat to the music. The expression though, there was not much of it, but they skated well with the music. I think the score is just right.

What I like the most is their first lift. The presentation was better than their short, full of fun and joy. -  That's all I can say.

4. Maia Shibutani / Alex Shibutani (USA)

The program is absolutely full of joy! The role playing is so much fun to watch! I think it deserves at least a 9.00 or 9.25 for performance in the PCS.

The twizzles always give me goosebumps, and the rotational lift, oh my gosh it was just sublime. I would certainly give a 10 for performance and interpretation. How can you not have tears?

5. Ekaterina Bobrova / Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)

The steps were huge and right on the beat, they were great. But the music change was a bit blunt, it was two different themes, even though both music passages were equally dark, like their expression.

Their lifts were crazy, others, were okay. I love how they convey the story as well and the ending choreography.

6. Madison Hubbell / Zachary Donohue (USA)

Hallelujah! I love the twizzles. I also love their commitment to the music. They deserve a solid 9 for performance imo.

Gosh the opening twizzles were insane, it really helps build up the drama. I love their expression as well, much done by the body, not on the face, that's what I like. Too bad about the slip and fall, it was still a very enjoyable performance. I would give a higher score on interpretation and performance.

Final thoughts:

Curse those judges, I don't give a shit what the others say, Shibutanis have won this event.

2015 Grand Prix Final - Men

1. Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)

I really have nothing to say, this is like figure skating in its highest form. 

2. Javier Fernandez (ESP)

Tiny flaws in the short, which takes away some spark and fire in this program. The best rendition is still the one in China.

Congratulations for being the second man to break the 200-point barrier and absolutely well deserved. Wonderful interpretation and character and style!

3. Shoma Uno (JPN)

I think I am liking the short program more than before, despite the fall. And I love the little smile on his face after he fell as if he was thinking "Ah I fall down but thats ok". Awwwwww Shoman you are just too cute!

He sold the hell out of this long program. Just perfect. 

4. Patrick Chan (CAN)

Actually, his short was very good, the reason he got that low score is just because of the Zayak rule. But the quality and interpretation were actually still there (though i don't really the music).

And this is how you make a comeback to tell the world you are a 3-time world champion. I really like him skating to Chopin, he seems to really feel the music, and I love that.

5. Boyang Jin (CHN)

Not as good as his previous performances but it is also a reminder to him that he has refine his skating skills.

What amazed me the most is the first Quad Lutz, he could have jump over the boards! But the rest, like I said, needs refinements. And please change the music, it does not suit him at all. He has the ability to express himself, but not under this whatever boring repetitive music.

6. Daisuke Murakami (JPN)

The short was still lovely despite the mistake, the Quad Salchow was to die for!

Despite the mistakes, he was still able to maintain his elegance on ice, which is gorgeous. I very enjoyed his skate.

Final thoughts:

This event was like an introduction to the battle of gods at Boston. I really can't imagine what will it be.

If I were to say anything about Yuzuru, I would give him a lower score on the interpretation and performance. He certainly expressed well, but imo, not as well as Parisienne Walkway. Parisienne Walkway is the only program, I think, that Yuzuru deserved a 10.00 for performance and interpretation. But well, it is just a personal opinion, you may ignore it :).