Skate America 2014 - Ladies' Free Skate
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva leads after the short programme, while Elena Radionova and Gracie Gold are on second and third place. Will the standings remain unchanged?
In spite of this only being Brooklee Han's second season on senior ice, her potential for greatness is, unlike her musical choice, no Secret. She is graceful and determined to show off her best abilities, and with these two qualities, she can do no wrong today. Her score: 102.99. Overall: 150.37.
Han's good vibes are rubbing off on Mirai Nagasu. She makes no mistake whatsoever, which is a most-welcome change from her recent competitions. The only thing I would love to see more of is the background story of Madam Butterfly. She gets 108.52 points. Overall: 158.21.
This is the first year Natalia Popova is doing Samson and Delilah. Honestly, I am already getting tired of it. It looks as though she's bored with it too because she's not putting a lot of effort into the presentation. She stumbles out of a couple of jumps, but all in all, it is a decent performance. Her score: 97.45. Overall: 148.15.
One of the new faces I'm excited about is Haruka Imai. She seems like a genuinely cheerful person and she projects that on ice. For Giselle, she switches from happiness to sadness in literally the blink of an eye, and manages to stay technically perfect. I love the choreography too because it paints the story in so much detail. She gets 104.18 points. Overall: 157.97.
The French have a knack for contemporary epic music, and it is Mae Berenice Meite's turn to give in to it. Hers is a good routine, but it falls short of what we've seen so far, partly because it resembles anything she's done before. Her score: 98.73. Overall: 152.71.
Elene Gedevanishvili used to be such a presence on ice, at least costume-wise. But her choice of outfit for Burlesque is just dull compared to the flashiness of the film. Even the interpretation seems a bit off as if her mind is somewhere else. The elements are quite good, except for the triple Salchows. She gets 102.71 points. Overall: 158.10.
So Youn Park still has some work to do if she's to become the next Yuna Kim, but she's off to a good start. Her Romeo and Juliet is profound even if it doesn't express all the powerful emotions that come with the story. Unluckily, she has to be the first lady to fall tonight. Her score: 114.69. Overall: 170.43.
Carmen is the strongest female character ever interpreted on ice and Samantha Cesario does her justice. You need a certain cheekiness, not only sex-appeal, to be the perfect Carmen and the American has all of that. There's nothing to complain about on a technical level either. She gets 115.62 points. Overall: 174.58.
When Gracie Gold has a bad day, it's usually subtle in that there are minor mistakes creeping here and there like thorns in her back. That's what's happened here today. But she is graceful and elegant and that saves her day. Her score: 118.57. Overall: 179.38.
Elena Radionova has so much strength she can get herself safely out of the shakiest landings. On top of that, she is so concentrated it's sometimes funny. I love the blue costume, it fits her age and colourful personality. She gets 129.90 points. Overall: 158.21.
Finally! Elizaveta Tuktamysheva has a routine that actually looks enjoyable. It's still no walk in the park, but that's alright because her style is not goofy in the least. She is a bit weaker technically than Elena though and that imbalance at the end, although it was funny, isn't going to help her win. Her score: 122.21. Overall: 189.62.
The last final of Skate America 2014 turned into an exceptional event with breathtaking performances and only one fall in the entire competition. Elena Radionova keeps her eyes on the target and steals the gold from Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who has to settle for silver. The bronze goes to Gracie Gold.
In spite of this only being Brooklee Han's second season on senior ice, her potential for greatness is, unlike her musical choice, no Secret. She is graceful and determined to show off her best abilities, and with these two qualities, she can do no wrong today. Her score: 102.99. Overall: 150.37.
Han's good vibes are rubbing off on Mirai Nagasu. She makes no mistake whatsoever, which is a most-welcome change from her recent competitions. The only thing I would love to see more of is the background story of Madam Butterfly. She gets 108.52 points. Overall: 158.21.
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| Elena Radionova, a tough soul in a delicate body Photograph: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America |
One of the new faces I'm excited about is Haruka Imai. She seems like a genuinely cheerful person and she projects that on ice. For Giselle, she switches from happiness to sadness in literally the blink of an eye, and manages to stay technically perfect. I love the choreography too because it paints the story in so much detail. She gets 104.18 points. Overall: 157.97.
The French have a knack for contemporary epic music, and it is Mae Berenice Meite's turn to give in to it. Hers is a good routine, but it falls short of what we've seen so far, partly because it resembles anything she's done before. Her score: 98.73. Overall: 152.71.
Elene Gedevanishvili used to be such a presence on ice, at least costume-wise. But her choice of outfit for Burlesque is just dull compared to the flashiness of the film. Even the interpretation seems a bit off as if her mind is somewhere else. The elements are quite good, except for the triple Salchows. She gets 102.71 points. Overall: 158.10.
So Youn Park still has some work to do if she's to become the next Yuna Kim, but she's off to a good start. Her Romeo and Juliet is profound even if it doesn't express all the powerful emotions that come with the story. Unluckily, she has to be the first lady to fall tonight. Her score: 114.69. Overall: 170.43.
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| Elizaveta Tuktamysheva's Bolero Photograph: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America |
When Gracie Gold has a bad day, it's usually subtle in that there are minor mistakes creeping here and there like thorns in her back. That's what's happened here today. But she is graceful and elegant and that saves her day. Her score: 118.57. Overall: 179.38.
Elena Radionova has so much strength she can get herself safely out of the shakiest landings. On top of that, she is so concentrated it's sometimes funny. I love the blue costume, it fits her age and colourful personality. She gets 129.90 points. Overall: 158.21.
Finally! Elizaveta Tuktamysheva has a routine that actually looks enjoyable. It's still no walk in the park, but that's alright because her style is not goofy in the least. She is a bit weaker technically than Elena though and that imbalance at the end, although it was funny, isn't going to help her win. Her score: 122.21. Overall: 189.62.
The last final of Skate America 2014 turned into an exceptional event with breathtaking performances and only one fall in the entire competition. Elena Radionova keeps her eyes on the target and steals the gold from Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, who has to settle for silver. The bronze goes to Gracie Gold.
I enjoyed this event tremendously, Lena was great, Liza was great. And what a come back for her, last season was an unhappy one. But she did not give up, she came back shining, I salute her for that. She already had 4 international medals, 3 golds and 1 silver, I knew I was right not giving up on her. Maybe, she can make it to Grand Prix Final, may be win a medal even, I still have faith in Liza Tukt, I always do.
ReplyDeleteThis was hands down the best final of this year's Skate America. From where I stand, there wasn't a single bad programme. As to Elizaveta, she's a fighter for sure and we'll see greater things from her in the future.
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