Trophee de France 2016

MOST       TERRIBLE        MEDAL        EVER!!!!!!!!!

Ladies

This is such a disastrous event for some of the ladies. I basically lost the interest and excitement from mid way. But I still managed to finish that. There is really not much to say except it was a mistake, so I would just make a brief note on each lady.

Evgenia surprisingly fell on the Lutz and (un)surprisingly got a score of 143 for her FS. I have always disagreed with her score, especially this time with a fall. But the judges are gonna make her win anyway. I am really not sure this is a good thing for her, because it can be seen that there are uproars everywhere on the Internet about her score, and people are becoming haters of her and talk bad of her. She is obviously talented, but I don’t think giving her that high score helps her in anyway. But anyway, it is enough said. I shall say no more. 

It is sad to see so many ladies had meltdown or not in good shape in this competition, like Gracie, Alena and Mao. I hope they could find the energy again and regain strength and come back strong. 

Men

Javier Fernandez

Honestly, I really don’t care that Javier keeps skating to 60s music all the time until he retires, but it is not working for me now. At first, I liked it, I think it was energetic, funny and entertaining to watch. But after a few times the program seems to start losing spark for me, because everything is so similar to last season thus you more or less EXPECTED what is coming. I hope he can try something else next season. 

Denis Ten

FINALLY he has come back, the Olympic Bronze medalist Denis Ten. He is one of the skaters who skate with grace and passion and does not need four or five quads in his programs. Who needs quads when you can skate beautifully? Where has the beauty of figure skating gone? I am so happy Denis has come back and I look forward to seeing him more this season. 

Adam Rippon

The new FS is indeed a right choice for Adam, it is skated with tranquil clarity and beauty. Artistically much better than the tacky SP, which kind of makes me cringe with all those cheesy choreography. He should stick with a more lyrical program that truly shows his musicality. 

Pairs

Nothing much of a surprise. We all know Aliona and Bruno are gonna win,though I didn’t expect they win by that score given that what had performed. The throw axel still needs to be stabilised, and thank God Aliona opted to do only a throw triple salchow at the end. I hope Aliona’s injury caused by the throw triple axel is nothing serious, I wish her health. 

The only stars that shone in this discipline in this event were Vanessa and Morgan. Producing a mostly errorless program really makes this program so much better to watch. I am really impressed and happy for them for their bronze medal. 

Ice Dance

Again, another expected victory by Gabriella and Guillaume. It is really nice to see them doing a more energetic SD (well, it is required after all), it is really nice to see their fun side, though the style FD remains the same. Gabriella's dress seems to bring some trouble to her, she does not look "relaxed" enough for during the step sequence. Maybe she should change a shorter dress which could be less clumsy while dancing to hip-hop. But nevertheless their SD was refreshing. 

2016 Skate Canada - Pairs / Ice Dance

Pairs


1. Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford

The two-time World Champions are on their road for their THIRD World title, the possibility depends on their consistency and the strength of Sui / Han. Their programs are still growing in me, I didn't find it very exciting, but it will get better as the season progresses, hopefully.

Great attempt on the throw triple axel, thanks to the knee of Meagan. And that is all I can remember in this program. The presentation, choreography and the music seems a little flat to me. Same in the free, their choreography does not match well with the music. Hope that will be improved, also I hope they can land the quad Sal later in the future competitions.


2. Xiaoyu Yu / Hao Zhang

This new pari works surprisingly fine for me, they work better in the short than in the free. Their sizes and styles differ so much that they don't seem to have a strong chemistry. It looks weird to me. The jumps and lifts look great though. The programs also look good. Now I wonder how the other pair will work, Jin / Peng should work better than this pair.


And the rest...

Just nothing that really intrigued me.






Ice Dance


1. Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir

Finally the Olympic Gold Medalists have come back, and their Olympic-Gold quality glows in their programs, telling the others why they won a Gold and Silver. Their SD was lovely, showing off their musicality and technical mastery. Everything was spot-on, there was almost not a single moment that was not charming. Sometimes the program depends all on you when the music theme is not easy to excite, they did well to sell their program here. They managed to win their first GP event on their comeback despite the tiny mistake in the free, I hope they can finally win their GPF title that has been missing in their trophy cabinet.


2. Madison Chock / Evan Bates

Their programs are nice, but there is a common problem in both of the programs - they both have an exciting beginning but the excitements falls in the middle and the ending left me cold. The opening of  is really captivating, I thought "Oh yes! This is gonna rock!" But then it started to cool down and down and I just lost the interest and wondered "why is this still going on...?" Not even mention the music in their progress sound similar. Overall, I am not a fan.


3. Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier

It was a charming and fun SD and I like their costumes! Especially Paul's afro lol. Though it is kind of cheesy, but who cares?

4. Anna Cappellini / Luca Lanotte

This team has, in my opinion, the best personality on ice. They always have charming and lovely programs that you just cannot love them. Their classical style skating is my cup of tea, I just love their lifts so much, better than most of the ice dance teams. I was amazed by their ending choreography, it looked like Anna was floating in the air and it was just magical. It is a delight to watch them skate. And Anna looks elegant as always!

2016 Progressive Skate America - Pairs / Ice Dance

Pairs 

Wow I can't believe this is just the first GP event where I expect new and refreshing skates but not much programs have impressed me! What happened?

2. Haven Denny / Brandon Frazier

This is the first time I have seen them, and I think they are absolutely delightful! Their shoer was refreshing, the technical was also very consistent, especially the throw jump, it was huge and far. Very impressive. Their long, while not as interesting as their short, is still a program yet to grow. I actually like this pair, they are charming and refreshing, I hope they will become one of the top pairs in the States.


The rest...

Honestly, the rest is quite disappointing. They sure did the lifts and jumps, but they didn't quite sell the program well. I really can't think of what to say.




Ice Dance


1. Maia Shibutani / Alex Shibutani

I enjoy their SD, so full of style and charm. You can tell they really put a lot of effort in it. They picked a lyrical piece for their FD this year, I liked it in general, they did nice steps and good lifts, but it still hasn't grown in me yet. I hope it will as the season progresses. It was overall a lovely routine this season.


And the rest...

Honestly, I like the SDs of most of the teams, but I just didn't find their FDs very interesting...it was quite underwhelming. I didn't remember anything besides the Shibsibs, they were the clear winners. The rest? I don't really care!

2016 Rostelecom Cup - Men / Pairs / Ice Dance

1. Javier Fernandez

Congratulations to the reigning two-time World Champion for surpassing Shoma to claim the gold medal here, and he totally deserved that. His FS was truly spectacular. His charming personality just shone through the program. Don't even need to mention his technical consistency, the quads were easy and clean! His next GP event is right next week, and he can very probably get another gold again if he can maintain his strong state he displayed here through next week. I am waiting for another stellar performance, and a better costume for the SP.



2. Shoma Uno

A better SP but more or less the same kind of quality in the FS. So the first homework now is to get the FS consistent, technically and artistically. The quad Flip looks okay now, the second quad Toe needs to be secured. He needs to try to be a little bit more flamboyant and shows a little bit more emotion on the outside, his rather reserved and shy attitude, though it is ultra adorable and cute, does not fit quite well with the fiery tango. But that is my only problem with it, hope to see improvement!


3. Alexei Bychenko

Alexei was really on fire and so into his program in the FS. The jumps were rock solid. The acting works well for me. It was amazing! I just love it! I hope he can do enough in his next GP event to earn a spot in the Final.


4. Mikhail Kolyada 

My favourite Russian man currently. Because he has beautiful jumps, spins and musicality. His SP was such a delight to watch and the new costume is much better. It is more classy and elegant. Despite having some difficulties on stamina in the free, the program has a lot of potential to be a spectacular one. Hope to see him stronger next time!





Pairs

I just don't know why but the pairs discipline has been rather dull this season, there is not many memorable programs. But anyway, the best moment in this event is Aliona and Bruno's gigantic twist and throw triple axel. They didn't quite hit the throw jumps here and I am still not sure about the throw quad at the end of the free skate, but nevertheless they gave the other pairs teams a wake up call about what they are trying to do. WATCH OUT!!!



Ice Dance 

Slightly better than pairs, there are some good SDs to watch until this moment. But the FDs are just...kind of boring. I honestly can't remember any program that I truly like now...WHY???? ICE DANCERS????????

2016 Rostelecom Cup - Ladies

1. Anna Pogorilaya

Unsurprisingly the winner of this event. She has been look sharp and strong since this season. All of her jumps were attacked with great confidence. It REALLY looks like that she cannot miss! Her lovely SP, skating to the tango of "The Scent of a Woman", brings out her maturity and elegance with the absolutely gorgeous costume. 

Her programs are so much better, in terms of consistency, technicals and and artistic presentation. She gives so much emotion and commitment to her FS this year compared to her rather mediocre Scheherazade last year. Her presentation builds with the intensity with the music and reached a climactic ending that brings only chills to my spine. Not the most intricate choreography, but her effort and connection with the music makes the whole program only more effective. 

I personally prefer her programs more than Evgenia's this season. I am sure Anna has a large chance to claim the throne at Russian Nationals this year. 

2. Elena Radionova

Elena has always been one of my favourite Russian girls because of her fighter spirit. She has posture problems in recent seasons because of growth spurt but she always tried her best and fight. To me, she seems a little taller again this season. 

Back to her programs, this is my first time to see them, and so far I like the SP more than the FS. It is new to see her doing a lighter program because she always does things that are dramatic. I am still trying to get the idea of her SP because of the music and her interpretation, but it looks okay. 

Her FS, is not my cup of tea yet, not because it is Turandot again, but because I dislike the female version of "Nessun Dorma". If I am not mistaken, the singer was Sarah Brightman, whom I dislike when she sings opera. I just don't like the style. Also the program still looks very raw, the choreography and the interpretation just left me with question marks. I look forward to a better one in the future, and I am sure she has a chance for the podium at Russian Nationals. 

Julia Lipnitskaia

Everything just looked so damn GOOD in the short!!! The jumps were soft, the skating was smooth, and spins were awesome as usual, the presentation was lovely. I thought she is gonna nail her free! But fate just likes to play with us. I had no idea where her sudden knee problem come from. Was it recurrent? Or did she just injure herself that day? Because there was absolutely no sign of discomfort in the short program. I was really hocked to see this. I salute her determination to continue, but her health is the most important. I hope she can come back strong in her next competition. 

Courtney Hicks 

So this is a surprise bronze medal for Courtney. She is a big jumper, her jumps can be really strong when she hit them. I don't particularly feel her interpretation and presentation of the program though. So, I don't really have much to say. 

Zijun Li

Zijun is, IMO, underscored (again) in her SP. I agree she looked little bit tentative, but her choreography and presentation was so much better than last season and one of the best in this event. The same thing happened in the free. Her feelings and interpretation are crystalline. She just glitters and oozes grace in her skating which is a rare quality and lively to watch. I am sad that she just missed the podium by one point. I hope she can ascend to it in her next GP event (and given a just score).

Elizabet Tursynbaeva

I am actually happy that she keeps her SP, it was delightful to watch. I like her FS this season better than last season's because there is more music going on. Her FS last year barely has any music but just lyrics, which I don't prefer. So her FS this season is much more enjoyable. Elizabet's fast and light skating, coupled with Joe Hisaishi's refreshing music, creates a beautiful picture on the ice of a glittering skating princess. I think her FS score is also a bit underscored given that she produced such an amazing program. Anyway, everything in this program is so beautiful to watch. I look forward to see her more in the future. 

2016 Skate Canada - Men

1. Patrick Chan

It is good to hear that he is doing an upgrade with the addition of a quad sal while maintaining the level of his artistic presentation. It certainly will help him secure a spot on the podium.

I don't like his SP, the music is rather tune-less and there is just too many birds chirping OMG LOL! It just feels so weird with that many birds flying around me. The music gets repetitive too towards the end. I am just not a fan...

His FS is usually where he shines. I like Eric's music, it is sentimental, expressive and lyrical, which suits Patrick perfectly. The flow and the melody of this music is smooth and really lyrical. Though Patrick missed the quad Sal and the second Quad toe (and few other intended triples too), but his artistic ability remains top-class. I would like to see a more consistent technical ability and a better costume.


2. Yuzuru Hanyu

The quest of quad Loop did not go quite as expected, but at least he can secure his quad Toes and Sals. He gave more power and speed and energy in his SP and I love it! He totally rocked that piece. It was absolutely fantastic.

Now, his FS. I am gonna be blunt, I don't think this is a good program yet. Certainly the technical content is cracking, but the presentation seems to fail to reach what Yuzuru is capable of. I am not sure if this is related to the intense technical layout, but his program looks like a combination of jumps, transitions and a few choreographic movement, like the Ina Bauer. It does not connect well to the music and the overall impression seems cold. I hope this is just a very rough version, I look forward to more polished and well-choreographed product.


And the rest...

I don't have much to say about the other because their performances either are unmemorable or uninteresting.




I recently found the men discipline quite boring to watch, because of their over-pushing of the quads and they did not land most of them. I do think a fall takes away the charm of the program, especially when you kind of expect it. Like "oh he is gonna do a quad Loop, he's probably gonna fall, lets be prepared.". If one is prepared to see a fall, then I am sorry, but this is not figure skating anymore, this is more like gymnastics on ice. When skaters sacrifice choreography for preparation of jumps, there will be no interpretation, there will be no performance, there will be no figure skating. I do not take those excuse saying "this is a sport, it needs to grow". Sorry, but this is an artistic sport, you should be able to perform as well, not just showing off your jumping ability. This is why we are drawn into this sport, remember?

2016 Skate Canada - Ladies

1. Evgenia Medvedeva

The Tano Queen continues to be technically consistent this season so far. But I just can't take the scoring. Her PCS is way too much compared to what she delivered artistically. Her SP, according to herself, tells the story of a young girl growing into an adult. I admire the idea, but she does not seem to be able to present that well. The hopscotching and rope skipping represents the girl stage, that 's ok, but I got lost at the "Adult" part. I don't see any choreographic movements that represents a full-grown lady.

Her FS is even more of a mess. Despite the theme that some people find offensive, the composition of the program is almost the same as her previous FSs. The entries and the exits are the same, the arrangement of the technical elements is almost the same. The step sequence and the choreographic sequence does not match the music at all. It is almost a copy and paste, which is unfortunate because she has so much to offer but she just can't work with the right people to fully display it. Having said that, I fully disagree on her PCS scoring, especially the 9s on interpretataion, composition and the high 8 in Skating Skills. I hope she can change things up a little instead of just giving the same content with a new package.


2. Kaetlyn Osmond

Kaetlyn is the biggest surprise of this event. She just looks so sharp! The attack in her jumps is just unmatched. The energy and the power she gave in her SP is so intense that you just think she could not miss a thing. In fact it was as if she was gaining energy as the program progresses and the music builds. Edith Piaf seems to be a perfect match for her.

Her FS is a nice one too, she shown a lot of emotion and expressions throughout. The jumps are also superb despite the fall. I would love to see a more poised choreography though, the expression might have been a little too much for me.


3. Satoko Miyahara

I admit that a few jumps in her SP look a little tight, but I honestly don't think the edge call on the flip was reasonable. The edge was at most a flat edge, definitely not an outside. I thoroughly like her sweet and grand SP, her smile is just gleaming!!!

Her FS is a master piece, her energy is obviously galactic. The commitment and emotion and artistry is one of the best in the field today. She is powerful but graceful at the same time, absolutely amazing artistry. Despite her ridiculous lower PCS than Evgenia, I was shocked to see her step sequence invalidated. Like how is that even possible? It went well in all the pre-GP events, including US Classics. I honestly could not understand the call. The scoring is so preposterous that makes me sick. But thankfully she is still on the podium, she has a chance to go to the Final, where she will slayyy~


4. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva

I am so happy to Liza consistent on her jumps, her jumps are one of the best today. A great step forward on her comeback. Though her music choice this season seem not to match her, and the choreography is lacking too. I hope she can find her best music and work with a better choreographer.


5. Alaine Chatrand 

Alaine has become more consistent on her jumps. After her triumphant FS at Autumn Classics she managed to prove to the others that she is still Queen of Canada. Her technicals have strengthened a lot, spins and jumps and edges etc.. Great job to her and her coaching team. This season's programs are epic for her, I enjoyed it so much. I hope she can continue to be strong throughout the season.

6. Rika Hongo

I don't know what's up with the judges, but they just seem to not like Rika. They always gave her low PCS, which I disagree, because her choreography, interpretation and performance were spectacular. She might not be the most elegant type of skater, but she gave what she can produce. Her programs this season are great, especially the SP, it was an epic program and should deserve a higher PCS score. I am outraged by the overly harsh call on her jumps. Yes some were URed, but definitely not downgraded. The inconsistent judging this season has appalled me. It is unjust. Shame on you ISU. Everyone comment if you are #justiceforRika.

Her FS was a lovely piece, I particularly like the energy in the second part. The first half can be more rich in choreography (Work on that Akiko! You can do it!). But it was an enjoyable one to watch.

2016 Progressive Skate America - Men

1. Shoma Uno

The adorable Shoma is now the King of Quad Flip.  It is hard to believe how much he has grown from last season to today interns of both the jumps and his presentation, the impact from Worlds in Boston must have changed him a lot.

The SP this season is almost a warhorse. The choreography is to be enriched further, but there are still some good moments in the program. The 3A right on the music and the step sequence are lovely.

His FS is starting to grow on me. He is giving more and more to the program. The second half is brilliant, though it would be even lovelier to see more steps and choreography when the music reaches the climax. But if was nevertheless a brilliant program.


2. Jason Brown

Jason is one of the most elegant male skaters, due to his flexibility he can do awe-inspiring spirals and spins that just capture your heart. His FS this season is an absolutely gorgeous masterpiece. Though the music remains calm, but you never feel bored, because of his excellent emotion and presentation. I was so blown away by his grace and serenity in his FS, no wonder the door lady was in tears. With his new quad toe, he is souring himself a place on the podium. I wish to see him on there again this season.


3. Adam Rippon

I love his sass in his SP, and the costume, and everything is absolutely #gaypride. Needless to say he sold the program well. Besides that, I just want to say I am SO grateful that he changed his FS. The music is better, the choreography is better, and his connection with the music is also better. It is a smart choice to make. With his new quad toe (again) this season, he might have a bigger chance on defending his national title. We'll see how his biggest fellow opponents do.

4. Sergei Voronov

Well believe it or not, I always have a kind of feeling on Sergei. Of course he takes a long time to set for big jumps and his choreograph is sometimes so weird. but I just feel something and I don't know why. I am so happy that he is still skating and gave a really good program, which is his FS. You can feel the connection between him and the music, and he undoubtedly expressed very well. I feel like a more sustained and deep music suits him better than those funky weirdo rock piece. I hope he can fight for the podium at Nationals. He certainly has the potential for it.


5. Boyang Jin

I have never expected the long-awaited "Spiderman" SP would be one of my favourite this season. Okay, aside from the nerdiness, his skating really has improved A LOT. He skates faster with deeper edges, and he also performs better. The choreography is just insanely fantastic, with a lot of web-shootings and that shimmy, O M F G.

I am still not yet interested in his La Strada, the choreography seems a little junior-ish to me. I hope they would amend it a little. But again his improvement is evident in both of his programs. This might not be his best technical day, but surely there will be one soon.

2016 Progressive Skate America - Ladies

1. Ashley Wagner

The Worlds silver medalist came back strong with her diva personality on ice and delivered two rather clean programs to win this event. I enjoyed her SP, it was fun and entertaining, the ask fits her perfectly, her personality shines in this program. Some UR issues and weird PCS judging (as if it is something new for figure skating lol), but it was nevertheless a well-sold program.

Her FS is an experimental one where the music is not what she has been using before. It was an expressive and lyrical piece of music throughout. In order to make this kind of music captivating, the presentation and the choreography are crucial. Both of which need to be improved here. My impression of this FS is rather cold and blank, there is not a memorable moment in this program. So this is some work to be done. Rotation issues still remain, she was lucky that her 3T was called only < instead of <<, and her second 3Lo was called clean when it was <.

But overall it was a deserved victory, congratulations!

2. Mariah Bell

Probably one of the surprises in the event. The young skater had a rough start in the SP, but that did not let her down, she returned triumphant in the FS by producing one of the cleaner skates that day. I particularly enjoyed her FS, which is set to the music from East of Eden. This music is easy to captivate attention and stir up excitement, and she presented the program so well and succeeded in making it an enjoyable one. I wish her all the best in her future competition!

3. Mai Mihara

Another surprise (well maybe not THAT big of a surprise) if this event. Mai has already won in Nebelhorn Trophy with two flawless programs, and she almost produced the same perfection here that won her the 3rd place. There is some polishing needed, but she will definitely continue to grow strong with her consistency. I can foresee a bright future for Mai, and I wish her all the best. 

4. Gabrielle Daleman

Gabby is a multiple Queen, she is the Queen of abs, Queen of eyebrows, and Queen of 3T+3T. My goodness her 3T+3T is GROUNDBREAKING! If a skater has a key element of his/her own, this will be hers. Her image is a special one, she is absolutely athletic off ice, but she is able to give sass and be elegant on ice, as if it is a different person, which is a rare quality. Back to her programs, her jumping prowess in unquestionable, just needs to get the Lutz consistent. Her presentation has improved, there is more face and choreo in the programs. Someday her artistic ability will match her technical ability, and she will be a complete skater. I look forward to that day.

5. Gracie Gold

There are rumours about Gracie recently, or in fact since Boston earlier this year, about her motivation. Judging from her performance recently, I think she needs a break. Sometimes your body gets tired and out of control, or simply "does not feel right" after doing the same thing for so long. I think this is the problem for Gracie. Her programs this two seasons have been dull and uninteresting, the themes are the similar too. Tangos for the SP and ballets for the FS. Not only the audience us, she herself is probably bored by her programs and just can't get the fire and energy out to engage or commit to her programs.

I think that, one of the most important elements of making a perfect program, is the liking for the music of the skater. The skater must love the music to be able to connect well with the music and perform it best. This is not what I feel in Gracie's programs in recent years. Thus I really suggest that she skate to a piece that she truly enjoys to find back the joy of skating, she would not skate well in this state and she won't be able to perform well in the Olympic season. Nothing much to say about her performance, I hope she can take some rest and come back better next time. 

6. Mao Asada

The Goddess is doing things in a way she referred to "Mao pace". Despite being troubled by her knee, she still managed to give two programs with unmatched class and quality. Mao is never famous for (or she is) her jumping inconsistency, but she is famous for her emotional commitment and exquisite choreography. Mao is one of the few skaters that is able to produce something new every time she skates to a new program. Her programs this season, especially her FS, are the most complex she has ever done. It is probably the most complex work Lori has ever done too. There is darkness, grace and passion, all displayed in one program. Her blade work and skating skills is unparalleled in the field today, yet it is somehow not justly reflected in the scoring.

Besides her competitive programs, her exhibition is also a jewel. This program resembles those in the 6.0 era. The footwork and the artistry is top-class quality. Just speechlessly beautiful, any words just don't do justice. I highly recommend everyone to watch it.

Her task now is, first, let the knee get well. Then, get the jumps back together. She usually starts slow so I look forward to her programs as the season advances! 

The ladies seem to have issues with the jumps in the free, I remember that Ashley said that the ice was a little bit soft that day, hence the mistakes on the jumps. They seem to have the same issue which is slipping while take off and lost the rhythm. I hope this won't happen again, the ice quality should be monitored strictly to provide the best environment for skaters to perform. (Maybe they fixed this problem the next day thats why the men did so well in the free lol?) Thank you for reading, please leave a comment and tell us what you think!

2016-2017 Junior Grand Prix Week 7 - Dresden

1. Jun Hwan Cha

The clear winner of this event. A complete skater with great jumps and lovely emotion who just stands out among the junior gentlemen. At this rate, I am sure, and I dare to say, that he is going to win the JGPF at Marseille, and probably the Junior Worlds. I am all for in for him.


2. Conrad Orzel 

Seems like Canada is the origin of musical skater. Conrad feels the music with his heart, and performs the best he could. He needs to work on the jumps, especially his free leg, though. But it is nevertheless a great start for him.

3. Mitsuki Sumoto

Mitsuki's jumps are filled with so much flow in the exits. He doesn't jump very high, but his rotation is super fast, therefore he is able to fully rotate his jumps. He still has room to grow and something to improve, for example his spins and speed. A great start to his debut season!




1. Anastasia Gubanova

Anastasia has undoubtedly great musicality, but her jumps are yet to be refined. Her jumps seem to be a little out of control, thats something she needs to work on. I just appreciate so much her musicality and artistic presentation, certainly on of the best among the young Russian ladies.


2. Yuna Shiraiwa

She fought back and won the silver! Yeah!! Good job Yuna. You can see that she did not rush to get the jumps after she made a mistake in the short, but she rather took the time to feel the music and prepare well for the jumps. Great strategy and mentality. I hope to see her more in the future!

P.S. I prefere her previous costume though with the fabric hanging onto her arms. It looks more gypsy and Esmeralda-ish.


3. Eunsoo Lim

The great Eunsoo continues to shine in the JGP series. She won the bronze with her magnificent SP. There is still some problem with her FS, like her first combo, that have to be corrected. But she certainly has a big future. She will become a great skater, so wait for her. Finally, once again a big CONGRATULATIONS on your bronze medal!

Finlandia Trophy 2016 - Ladies

1. Kaetlyn Osmond

I never doubted Kaetlyn for her showmanship and ability to entertain the crowd. The SP is a fun one surely, she sold it absolutely well. And I must say I was very impressed by her FS this season. She has displayed a depth in emotion and feeling towards the music. She also extends her body lines to show her feelings, which is absolutely brilliant. And I must say too I am VERY happy that she only sticks with only La Boheme instead of a medley of Puccini lol. Anyway those are great programs by Kaetlyn. Well-deserved victory! 

2. Mao Asada

The Goddess has shown the others how you can still be able to enchant the audience even though you use the same music for both programs through her experimental, and successful, routine. The two programs become one by connecting the ending pose of the SP and the opening pose of the FS. The SP is a black swan possessed by dark magic, who eventually transfigures into a fiery gypsy witch who dances passionately and displays her magic power in the FS. The idea of using the same music in both programs is, as far as I know, unprecedented, and it is a very risky act because it could easily be repetitive and boring. But, through the golden pair of Lori and Mao, nothing is impossible. This set of program is, I dare to say, the best artistic work that Lori has ever done. I am very impressed. 

While the artistic component is phenomenal, the technical is conservative. Some jumps are downgraded intentionally, some were popped. I fully agree on going for easier jumps at the beginning of the season in order to get used to the choreography, and I have no comment on that. She will have those when the time comes. Let's wait for it! Go Mao! 

3. Anna Pogorilaya

Anna is probably the skater who has the most improvement so far this season. Her jumps are better secured and she skates with more firmness and confidence. And she sells her programs with more emotion. Especially her FS, the gradual building of the choreography and her feelings with the music is captivating. Though some costly technical errors in her FS, but this program has tons of potential to grow, andI can't wait to see the final product. 

4. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva

Great improvement. Her strong jumps are finally back and she is getting back on track. Massive 3T+3T and 3Lz. I am glad to see that. Presentation can be more polished and artistry needs to time to build. But at least she has the fighter spirit this season, that is what a World Champion does. Keep it up!!!

I am just gonna write a very brief paragraph on the men because honestly, there was nothing much to say. Nathan went completely nuts on the quads, boy I wish he could tune that down a little, I don't wanna see him injured again. Quads are not everything, the artistic presentation is very important as well, which he has improved though. Patrick is doing not bad. Jumps are to be secured. SP is meh, but the FS has potential to be an epic piece, the music is very very lovely. Great job, Eric. Maxim's jumps look less forceful, the 4S+3T in the SP was really good. Presentation is fun, jumps to be secured too. 

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave a comment telling us what you think!

2016 Skate Canada Autumn Classics - Men and Ladies

1. Yuzuru Hanyu

So good to see him in great form after his injury and come back STRONG with the quad loops! Amazing start for the season!

I like the costume for the SP, I think it matches the theme of the music. The quad loop was of course stunning, too bad about the combo though.

I heard there were intended to be four quads in this program, namely a quad loop, two quad Salchows and one quad toeloop, alongside two triple axels. It is fine that he wanted to challenge, but I think he can try doing three first, because he seemed to have stamina problem here. Besides, the choreography of both programs look very bland and unexciting. But it is still early to tell, the program is obviously still under construction. I look forward to see a perfect version of the programs!


2. Misha Ge

Misha's artistry is unquestionable. His SP is a fantastic showpiece and I love his FS which is skated with great emotions and brilliant choreography. The jumps need just a little refinement. But everything else was just FANTASTIC! Absolutely brilliant!

3. Max Aaaron

He keeps his Nessun Dorma SP, which is a program I don't particularly like, but neither hate. I just wish he could make use of the dramatic "Vinceeeeeero!!!!!" during his step sequence.

But his Lion King was an absolutely different story. The music arrangement is so weird, it is like a mixture of many different pieces of music, which lacks coherence and thus affect his presentation. And the choreography was just...I don't know! It was so confusing!!!



1. Mirai Nagasu

Mirai has overall the best quality here, especially her artistry this season has improved a lot. Her SP is absolutely gorgeous, it made me remind of Mao's Nocturne SP. They were both so beautiful and elegant.

Her free skate os another lovely piece, it is speechlessly beautiful. The emotions and the feelings are just to die for. Absolutely well-deserved victory.

2. Alaine Chatrand

What a comeback! She was really strong in the free! Technically and artistically! So happy for her to have a strong start this season. Keep going Alaine!!

3. Elizabet Tursynbaeva

Keeping the SP was a smart choice, I like that program! She showed a lot of personality and charm in that program, which is really enjoyable!

Some tiny mistakes, but she still managed to give a lovely program. It was a much more lyrical music  but she was able to handle it well. It was a very graceful program.

4. Rika Hongo

I honestly think that she deserved a higher PCS score in choreography and interpretation in her SP. Her short program was epic, the choreography and her presentation was stunning. She gave a lot of dynamic movements and facial expression which intensifies the atmosphere while skating to the music of Carmina Burana. I personally think it was an unfair judgement.

I really appreciate the change of the technical layout, it makes the program more interesting to watch. The choreography can be more refined, for example her movements can be more wild when the music is dramatic. This is a nice program overall and I like it. Great job Rika and Akiko!

2016-2017 Junior Grand Prix Week 6 - Tallinn

1. Alexander Samarin

Alex fought so hard in his free skate and hit all the jumps, you can tell form his reaction at the end he truly gave all he had in the program. It would be even better of he could add more choreography to the program. Great effort. 

2. Roman Sadovsky

What a pity on the axel, but that did not take away the beauty and feelings of this program. Everything else remains graceful. Seems that he really linked well to this music, which is fantastic. 

Excellent quad Salchow! Triple Axel needs work though. The choreography also needs enrichment. He should make use of the dramatic ending to make a bog finish and capture the audience's attention. I can't wait to see him to grow into a mature artistic skater!

3. Vincent Zhou

Excellent short program completed with great jumps and emotional commitment.

An unexpected scary fall on the first quad Salchow attempt, but I am glad that he recovered and hit the combos and a second quad Salchow which earned him a third place. He might have probably missed the Final, but he sure has a lot of chances to grow. He changed the program which I do not disagree, he seems comfortable with this new music and enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing him in the future!

4. Koshiro Shimada

Strong performance, skated with passion. You can see his eyes were full of fire. The choreography matches the music well.

A brave attempt on the quad Salchow, but he needs more height and faster rotation. But it did not affect the rest of his performance, he skated with the same amount of energy and passion. He has much potential, he will grow into a very strong skater, so keep an eye on him. 

1. Polina Tsurskaya

Another perfect performance by Polina. Her quality is superior. Her jumps are spectacular, the combo was huge, the loop came out of nowhere. And this program is a masterpiece with extraordinary choreography, it just gets better with her precise interpretation.

A much better FS than a few weeks ago in Saransk, in terms of her performance and the stream quality. Not as dramatic as the SP, but her skating quality makes this program nevertheless a lovely one. One tiny mistake but that does not affect her ability to present the music. Brilliant skate, totally deserved to win. 

2. Elizaveta Nugumanova 

Brilliant choreography, skated with fire and incredible spins!! She has great potential.

A marvellous skate by Elizaveta. Difficult technical content, including the 3Lo+3Lo, and with difficult spins. Very impressive performance. Choreography could be more dramatic and the Lutz can be more secured, but other than that, everything was stunning. Definitely a star-to-be. 

3. Mako Yamashita

Mako is a great jumper, she has so much power and control on her jumps. The choreography is beautiful and she gave a lovely performance.

Mako proves that she has already secured her technical ability and she is ready to be an all-around skater. I must say again that I am happy that she is not using the vocal version of Bohemian Rhapsody because I have always found that song a little weird. This arrangement is a far better one, which is easier to take in. She just needs some more choreography and expression, and she will be great. Great performance!

2016-2017 Junior Grand Prix Week 5 - Ljubljana

1. Rika Kihira

The choreography is brilliant with this interesting piece of music, very melodic and rhythmic. Her skating skills and jumps, too, are great.

The long anticipated TRIPLE AXEL has arrived!!! We also see history made here with 8 triple jumps performed by a female skater. Boy I don't even know what to say. Jumps were speechless, her performance and presentation were awesome. It is a must-watch program of the season. Just WATCH IT and be amazed!!! Congratulations and keep doing triple axel!

2. Marin Honda

Maybe she should change her flip combo to one that she feels more comfortable with? Because that really affects her performance and she seems frustrated every time. I don't want to see a frustrated skater skating to "Smile". But her expression and quality still remain graceful.

Again her movements can be more dramatic given that she is skating a dramatic piece. And that combo again! Hope she can overcome it because she is a top-class skater with immaculate skating quality.


3. Alina Zagitova

Her choreography is very nice, jumps could be better, but she is an excellent spinner, the last spin was perfectly placed to the music.

I strongly recommend that she put some of her jumps in the first half, otherwise she will be very inconsistent and eventually loses. Backloading all jumps is a risky and an unwise decision, especially for those who are not 100% secured and consistent. And the program is not choreographically beautiful because there is basically no choreo in the section half where it is all packed with jumps. Hope her team will correct this.


4. Eunsoo Lim

I literally cannot believe she is just only 13 years old. She skates with such ease and smoothness on ice that allows her to do a lot of choreography. It was a spectacular program, performance and choreography is everywhere. GREAT JOB!!!

If a skater can stand up and perfect the rest of the program, the skater will be something big in the future. Eunsoo proved that she is going to be on the podium in the future, very probably at the top position. Her jumps were perfect despite the first combo, and she is also artistically beautiful and very engaged to her program. She will be a remarkable skater in the future.





1. Alexei Krasnozhon

His triple axel is one of the biggest and the farthest, it is just incredible! He connected to the music beautifully and the choreography is lovely. The calmness and the agitation of the piece are well presented.

Courageous for him to go for the quad loop! Though not perfect but he will make it someday. His triple axel, I must say that again, is insanely HUGE. He soared over the ice on his 3A. This program is not as artistic as his SP but it is nevertheless a winning program. Congratulations and see you in the Final!



2. Ilia Skirda

A very rhythmic and cute program. I wish he could tighten his suspenders lol.

A dramatic program with much story in it. Jumps are nice, choreography is well made. He has a lot of potential, hope he can survive puberty! 

3. Kazuki Tomono

His flip needs to be taken care of, because that hammer toe was pretty scary. But his triple axel was an absolute beauty! The classical/rock of Beethoven 5 was not my favourite though. 

Brave attempt the quad Salchow! He can do it absolutely clean next time I am sure. However he must correct his hammer toe. It was a lovely program, full of character and he looks very smart in the costume.


4. Dmitri Aliev

It was a fantastic program with great technical content and beautiful musicality and gorgeous choreography. The jumps are well landed, his connection to the music is flawless.

Things did not go well in his free skate and it was heartbreaking to see him melt down and lost a place in the Final. I wish he could recharge well and have a cracking comeback in his next competition.

2016-2017 Junior Grand Prix Week 4 - Saransk

My goodness the stream quality of this event is...


1. Polina Tsurskaya

When I heard the idea of this program, which is, by the way, about a struggling artist, I did not take it well. Because I thought it is too much for a skating program, like those of Evgenia. But this program turned out to be awesome. Her movements, gestures and emotion are so well-placed and perfectly match the music. The choreography is brilliant. She did not over-act the story, her interpretation was just right on point. Besides, her overall skating quality is so much well-polished. I am excited to see more from her in this season.

Some technical mistakes here, but her skating quality remained top-class. Perhaps due to some technical mistakes, this program has not reached its fullest thus she could not catch up with the music. But she won overall because of her magnificent SP. Good luck next time!

2. Stanislava Konstantinova

She was so aggressive in her SP. Her jumps were wild, she skated so fast and her movements were so dramatic, so was the music, a medley of Swan Lake music.

Not her best today, but she fought till the end. This program is a fun one to watch, it is joyful and charismatic. I wish to her her at her best in the next competition.


3. Elizaveta Nugumanova

A nice Malaguena skated with fire. Her jumps could need some polish though, but her spins are excellent.

A very emotional program skated with tremendous technical content, including a 3Lo+3Lo. She was fighting throughout her dramatic program and her effort was rewarded. She has so much potential, and I look forward to seeing her in the future.



4. Yuna Shiraiwa

The choreography matches nicely with the music, she gave an enjoyable program and she was so charming on the ice throughout. Great expression as well!

First of all, GORGEOUS costume. She is a solid skater with great jumps and lovely expression. The choreography was beautiful too. Unfortunately the errors cost her a medal, but I will be rooting for her in her next competition!!! Keep your spirit up, Yuna!!!


1. Alexander Samarin

A small mistake but he certainly made the home crowd happy! His jumps look pretty, so does his choreography. A well-sold program.

A wonderful skate by Alex as you can see from his reaction at the end. He had a courageous technical content, one quad with two triple axels. And he skated with so much passion and effort. Truly deserved victory.


2. Andrew Torgashev

Some little mistakes but skated with so much emotion. The audience, including me at home lol, liked it.

Still not a fan of the music "Bohemian Rhapsody", but I admire his effort and commitment to his program. His entry to the triple is a little weird, he leans too much into the circle which is scary. He does not connect to this music as well as to his short program. But it is a nice program to entertain the audience.


3. Matyas Belohradsky

The cutest skater award goes to Matyas! The jumps are well executed and the program is filled with personality. He grasps the music so well and just shines through the program.

His personality continued to shine in his FS alongside the jumps. Definitely more to come in the future. Expect.

2016 Japan Open

Shoma Uno

I really didn't expect the quad flip to be that smooth, and Shoma is just doing the Shoma thing here; doing many crazy jumps! And boy didn't he land most of it. The choreography is my concern of this program. The second half is fine, but the first half was a little bit bland to me. His arms are a little bit stiff and unnatural, and the poses are a little weird. Because the music was quite repetitive during the first half, the choreography and the movements must be more dramatic and dynamic in order to keep the attention of the audience. I hope the choreographer can correct this soon,

But that's it! The others are just being as awesome as usual! Jumps (still a little scary though, very Shoma-style lol), spins and the CANTILEVER!!!!

Javier Fernandez


I have heard people saying Javier can only skate the best to 80's music and his artistry is his Javi wiggle. At first I quite agreed with it, but now I just got over it. Artistry does not mean skating lyrically, nor dramatically, but the ability to shine skating to your favourite music. So if Javi decides to skate to this genre forever, so be it! And I will love it always. If he can skate his best, and the audience loves it, who cares what music is he skating to?

By his performance here, he looks perfect skating to Elvis Presley. The quads were awesome and clean. The performance is just to die for. His showmanship on ice is honestly second to none.

Nobunari Oda

Who says retired skaters cannot compete with the current top skaters? Odaddy proved that he has still got it, and he finished it with smile not tears LOL. How lovely is it right? He skates with incredible maturity to an absolutely gorgeous music, Liebestraum, which is a difficult piece to skate to because the skater must have immense musicality and poise to do the music justice. Oda has produced a moment of serenity on ice and you can tell the audience loved it wholeheartedly. I wish he can do more comeback performance like this! Congratulations Odaddy!


Florent Amodio

I just love how retired skaters occasionally come back and make a wonderful performance. Florent still has it, though not as technically consistent as before, but his emotion and commitment remain the same.

Adam Rippon

Though I am not a fan of the music, I admire his commitment to the program. It is not as sassy as last seasons's Beatles, but this program has room to grow to be a great one. And it is just amazing how he could save the the Rippon Lutz after the wobbly entry.

Jeremy Abbott

A heart warming performance by Jeremy. His jumps are just beautiful. He is the most mature US male skater at the moment, I hope he can skate longer.





Evgenia Medvedeva

I respect the message and the meaning they are trying to convey in this program, but the music and the choreography seems dull to me. There is not much choreography telling about the story they are trying to tell. There is only the expression of shock at the beginning and the picking up of the telephone at the end, and that's all I can remember. I don't care about the exact same technical content and layout, but the presentation is really sub-par. I hope she can improve her presentation and choreography.

Satoko Miyahara

She is a personification of Venus who is at a celebration of the majesty and magnificence of the great planets. I absolutely admire her change of emotion from inside to the outside and vice versa. Just because she is short does not mean that she cannot skate to dramatic music, this program is a proof. I will be watching this program at every competition she is in and I wish her all the best this season.

Anna Pogorilaya

Her new FS is sooooo much better than her rather mediocre Scheherazade last season. She shows a certain depth of emotion in her new program, with a more solid technical quality. Her choreography builds accordingly with the music and gave a lot of emotion and passion into it. Congratulations and I hope she can stay fall-less for the rest of the season.

Ashley Wagner

This program is still growing in me, thus I don't have any particular feeling yet. So I shall wait for the future. Her jumps tend to UR and even DG here, needs to check on that.


Wakaba Higuchi

Welcome to the senior field! She looks absolutely ready for senior, judging from her performance at Lombardia Trophy. So this program, it is lovely overall, I wish she could slow down a bit (what a weird request for skaters lol) for the slower section of the music and do more choreographic moves as  she did at the beginning of the program. After that, she is ready for the podium.

Gracie Gold

She looks, nervous? Not ready? Hesitant? I honestly don't know. The program has so much potential, only that she cannot deliver the best here. I think this program is an absolutely better choice than Firebird though. I sincerely wish her the best in the coming competitions.

2016-2017 Junior Grand Prix Weel 3 - Yokohama

1. Kaori Sakamoto

https://youtu.be/or22n0HTqmM

This is such an fun and entertaining program, I just love it so much and I am sure she enjoyed her program as much as we did. The 3F+3T was RIGHT ON with the music!!! The jumps are far, her skating was fast and her presentation was joyful! Watch it NOW if you haven't!

https://youtu.be/YMfF9ZgjgKI

A different style from her SP, but she proves that she can handle a calm and lyrical program with her tremendous jumping power. Her movements were so well-placed, there was not a moment that she was not skating to the music. Another must-watch program, and a well-deserved victorious program.

2. Marin Honda

https://youtu.be/UQpMtz1T6tE

Perhaps it was not the right time to Smile yet, but I am sure that eventually she will have a chance to smile at the end of the program. Despite the technical errors, her performance and presentation was on point. No matter what happened, just SMILE :)

https://youtu.be/8UEIkefKSt8

Marin's jumps are, I dare to say, more graceful and of better quality than 95% of the current skaters, junior or senior, men or ladies. It was a brilliant skate packed with quality and quantity. By the gesture at the ending pose I suppose she was trying to portray Juliet. If that is the case, I wish her movements could be a little bit more dramatic given that she is skating to a rather dramatic piece. Other than that, everything else is flawless.

3. Mako Yamashita

https://youtu.be/jm4C0uhoFIQ

Watching so many performances by the junior ladies, sometimes I wonder why there are only six spots at the final, because there are just too many good skater!!! Mako has graceful musicality as displayed in her short program, the lines, the extension, the choreography is so well done. I just love how skaters DO NOT rush through lyrical pieces but take time to fell the music.

https://youtu.be/euasHIoDNDg

I am glad that she chose an instrumental version of Bohemian Rhapsody (because the song always sounds a little weird to me lol). She handled the soft skating very well, I would like, however, that she could be a little more dynamic in the middle to keep up with the music. But it was nevertheless an excellent program.

4. Sofia Samodurova

https://youtu.be/Qt_6tACOmcI

Sofia rotates like a tornado while she jumps! And she is also an excellent spinner! Her skating matches perfectly with the music, she increased speed and gave more movements when the music is going big and fast. Another young talent with remarkable musicality.


https://youtu.be/GRsDcB140YE

Excellent technical layout and great job for completing almost all of them. The program itself is a little odd though (seems like Rossini's music is not a good one to skate too). But she committed a lot of effort into it, and she should be proud of her performances because they were great!

5. Ye Lin Kim

https://youtu.be/nBo8yT8hsjs

If you want to start people's attention, what do you do? You start at the side of the rink instead of the centre. Great move. A very expressive skate to this melancholic theme, very beautiful. Perhaps she can start her jumps earlier to ensure consistency.

https://youtu.be/sgnMw6G763Q

Excellent technical achievement. Though I think her movements can be a little more, but she is such a fighter who kept fighting till the end. Her determination is rewarded. Well-deserved personal best.


6. Alisa Fedichkina

https://youtu.be/8fBc6WgRGyQ

A light-hearted program with beautiful technical content. Jumps were nice, spins were great. She is an all-rounded skater. She just needs some more sparkle in her choreography.


https://youtu.be/tKusVW2sdw4

Though I am not fan of her FS music, but I admire her joy in her program. She clearly enjoyed her program and brought joy to the audience. I wish her all the best in her next competition.





1. Jun Hwan Cha

People often say "X is the new Y" or "A is the xxx version of B". I usually refrain from using these expressions because I think every skater is unique. But this time I must say, Jun Hwan is the male Yuna Kim. I almost had an illusion and superimpose Yuna's image on him when I saw his 3Lz+3T. His overall quality is really second to none in this field.  His only homework is his spins, once he has completed it, he will be at the top of the podium at Junior Worlds.

FS: https://youtu.be/OSqlhIN9PW0

An expressive and sensational program. I almost have no words for this program. The connection to the music, the depth of the feeling, and quality of the skating is perfect.


2. Vincent Zhou

https://youtu.be/6LW1UFKOCr4

Vincent was on fire in his FS! A quad, 3As etc. He has improved a lot on his jumps! Lovely expressions throughout that really carry out the interesting part of the music.

3.Alexey Erokhov

https://youtu.be/2u29gKS6X2g

I must say his position in air is really beautiful. Could give a little bit more expression and gestures. (The ending though......)

https://youtu.be/ijibuCGxSM8

Today might not be his best day, but he stood up and fought till the end. I wish the choreography could be a little bit more.

4. Kazuki Tomono

https://youtu.be/i_Hy7-bwWtY

Kazuki's FS is such a fun one to watch! A very courageous attempt on theca Salchow! So much more to offer in the future!

5. Roman Sadovsky

https://youtu.be/LRBmxlW82dQ

One of the very few artistic male skaters. Graceful on ice. Everything about him on ice is so graceful.

https://youtu.be/KPNtVdvIn6U

Not his best day, but so much potential in this program. I look forward to it.

2016-2017 Junior Grand Prix Week 2 - Ostrava

Week 2 - Ostrava

1. Anastasia Gubanova
I just love how Anastasia did not rush through her SP but feels every melodic line and note by extending her body lines and arms, great job to the team. This program brings me peace and I love it a lot. I have a feeling that she is gonna be an epic artist in the future after watching both of her programs. She is born an musical and artistic skater.

Just a sidenote: Is the technical content a little bit too much for a 13-year-old? She could have won by PCS, she doesn't need to push too hard on her jumps.

2. Rika Kihira
Rika is a very solid jumper, one almost does not have to worry about her jumps (except the 3A). She might not have hit the 3A here, but that is not the major problem because she has got almost everything else; skating skills, jumps, choreography. A really well-rounded skater.

3. Alisa Lozko
It seems that the young Russian ladies are artists-to-be. We have seen two very artistic skaters from Russia here. I am really happy to see this because artistry is one of the most essential element in ladies' figure skating, and that is what makes ladies' skating special, compared to the quad battles of the men. Alisa engaged in her programs so much and gave a performance with her spins and musicality. I look forward to seeing her more in the future!

4. Yuna Aoki
Yuna has lovely smooth skating skills and speed on ice, all she needs to do stabilise her jumps and enrich the choreography in he free skate, especially during the climax of the music. Once everything is completed, she is going on the podium.

5. Hanul Kim
Hanul is a very energetic skater and I enjoyed her programs very much, it is a little weird to me that she is scored lower than I expected on PCS, I honestly think she should score higher in skating skills because of her speed, smooth skating and jumps. She also received some unreasonable UR calls on her jumps. She has solid jumps and lovely speed across the ice, she only needs better choreography on her free skate, and then she will be spectacular. I hope she can stay as energetic as always and not let down by the absurd score.



1. Dmitri Aliev
I really like when skaters give effort on choreography and connection with the music, it is so much more comfortable watching these programs. Dmitri connected to his music well while giving a strong technical content. Jumps are sometimes not very stable, but nevertheless it was a courageous layout and he managed to land most of them. Great job.

2. Alexei Krasnozhon
Alexei is one of those "Kings of the Triple Axel" where he soars through his Axels. Though his Quad Loop attempt here was not successful, he has great potential to land it. He shows a deep emotion in his SP and skated it with sublime lyricism. His FS was also a very nice number to watch.

3. Roman Savosin
Roman is a sensational dances, he danced to rhythm of his SP joyfully and it was a delight to watch. He struggled a bit in his free skate, he just needs a little more handwork on his jumps. It was overall a good performance.


I apologize for not writing for pairs and ice dance because I did not watch live due to work. If you would like me to write a review on them, please let me know! :) I hope you like my reviews!

Opera today

Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballe, Beverly Sills, Giuseppe di Stefano, Luciano Pavarotti, Mario del Monaco... this list of grandissimo names will go on and on, and they will be praised and admired forever for their singing. The post war era of opera is often, as I myself would refer it like this, referred as Golden, if the era of Isabella Colbran is Platinum. They are often the inspiration of many opera singers today, which is supposed to be a good news, but I don't feel the same excitement.

Let me be very clear, most famous singers today have a good voice, I think they are unique. That is not the problem. The major problem today is, that the voices are not singing the right repertoire. For example, Verismo voices singing bel canto, or voices that are not strong enough singing super heavy roles (like Turandot, Elektra etc.). Every role, was composed a specific voice, all the vocal abilities of the role are supposed to be displayed in order to bring out the largest musical and vocal effect, and usually only similar voices to that of the creator could do the role the best justice. People go to listen to opera for a spectacular musical experience, they expect to see something that would make them stand up and shout "BRAVA" and applaud. Thus, as singers, and performers, they should be responsible to provide the best musical moment to the audience, especially those big houses like The Met or Royal Opera House.

However, the opera world today seems to be focusing more on physical appearance than real vocal ability, and singers seem to be able to get any roles as long as they want it. For example, I was really shocked when I see Anna Netrebko was signed to sing Norma. Anna has a very lovely warm voice, which I like so much, but I really doubt the ability of her lower register, because Norma is notoriously famous for her low tessitura. Her Anna Bolena a few years ago was just ok, because of the same reason - her lower register is not strong enough to sing the role. I am actually glad she later cancelled that performance (though Sondra, who substitutes, is neither a top class Norma, she sings too verismo-ly). I believe that singers should concentrate on singing their major repertoires; Bel Canto voices should remain singing the Bel Canto repertoire, Verismo voices should sing the Verismo repetoire. If your voice is made for this, keep singing it and amaze the audience. Of course, singers can sing some roles outside of their major repertoire. HOWEVER, they must assure that they can sing the roles and their voices fit the vocal requirements. (Like, you won't imagine Birgit Nilsson singing Semiramide, right?)

The Met recently has made a lot of marketing in their productions, some of them is successful and should be supported - such as giving out free tickets or gifts via Snapchat. However, making new productions every year does not necessarily help. No matter how much the costumes or the set change (I would only accept a new production unless the new one is better, if not the same, than the old one), the singing should be what that matters. I don't care of you are wearing a glamorous ball gown or a sexy little black dress, if you can't sing the role, you cent sing the role, and it will be a poor performance. This is opera, not film or stage drama, the singing is always the key. Costumes and settings are just a back up, they should not be put too much focus on where the singing is overlooked.

Another problem is, though this has nothing to do with current singers, that there seems to be a shortage of really talented voices. There are more people in this world than before, but why there is not more talented voices? Or are great voices really that rare that they only appear in a few decades? I don't believe so, there must be a great voice in this world that is just overlooked and undiscovered. But why it has not been found? That is a question we need to think about. Why the artistic industry is facing a decline? I personally think that it is because of money. I have seen some of my friends, who are very well-trained musicians, opted to study Engineering and Business in university because it can provide them a secure income, forgoing living music as a choice. I am not saying that their decision is wrong, but what happened to this world that made two musicians leave the music industry? Is success really determined by the amount of wealth so that everyone has chosen a path that could bring them the most of it and give up their passion for music? They are far more than qualified to be an violinist in an orchestra and they could live a life on it. This actually makes me very sad. What is your thought? Leave your comments below :)

So far, this is my comments of the opera world today. Wrong decisions, too much rely on marketing and packaging and a natural recession on vocal talents. This world is so much more than just money, we need art to live. If money can feed out body, art can feed out minds.