Cup of China 2017 Highlights - Grand Perfomances and Giant Plush Toys (Ladies)
The ladies' competition in Beijing was a topsy-turvy affair, with quite the plot twists occurring in the free programme. They made the top five skaters of the short look quite different from the top five skaters of the long. Here are my thoughts on some of the best programmes of this weekend:
SHORT
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva got me excited because this was the first time I saw her in quite a while. Her short seemed a lot more composed than last time I saw her (which was last season), but it still only managed to get the 5th place despite being technically flawless. Perhaps the heavy Pisando Flores was to blame; some of the other skaters' themes were easier to connect to. Her score was 67.10.
Alina Zagitova made her senior Grand Prix debut in Beijing. Her short was definitely notable, but I personally think she still needs to work on her facial expressions as she wasn't conveying the desperation of Black Swan. She's got great body movements though. It was a surprise to see her fall on the 3Loop. With 69.44 points, she finished the short on 4th place.
When it comes to expressing emotions, Elena Radionova is the perfect example of what I consider top notch class. I think she provided quite the contrast in acting skills with Zagitova, hers being on the better side, of course. Her programme was sophisticated, set to George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. With 70.48 points, she finished the short in a position to get a medal.
Wakaba Higuchi skated to the epic, but quirky Gipsy Dance by Leon Minkus. I loved how the changes in the song made the programme balanced - a combination of power, speed and gentleness. She's another skater who is great at interpreting music. She barely defeated Radionova with 70.53 points, and finished on the runner-up position.
It might be because I keep underestimating Gabrielle Daleman, but I didn't expect her to lead after the short programme. That being said, I really like her Habanera routine. It stands out from the hundred other Carmen interpretations I've seen. The lyrics probably have a lot to do with it, but Gabrielle's presentation was also spot on. Her score was 70.65.
FREE
Once more, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva finished her programme with no major technical error - she stepped out of the 3Axel, but it was a fully-rotated 3Axel, something no one else had here. The music, Erinnerung, was sad, but more relatable than the music of her short. Still, she finished on 7th place, nowhere near the podium, with a free score of 129.58 and a total score of 196.68. The reason? It's all down to the high amount of competitors who are roughly at the same technical level as her, but take the lead in presentation and even speed.
Gabrielle Daleman couldn't hold onto her initial place either, which was more costly for her than for Tuktamysheva. She fell from 1st place to 6th. Technically, she stepped out of both the 3Flip and the 3Salchow. She skated to Gladiator, which is not a routine we usually see for girls, therefore being another way for her to stand out. Loved the way the choreography followed the piano. She earned 126.18 points in the free. The total was 196.83.
Japan's Marin Honda was one of the ladies who had to gain from the mistakes of the aforementioned girls. She has a very interesting jumping technique - her jumps are very low and her free leg almost touches the ice when she lands. She skated to Turandot, which can be a grand routine, but came off as delicate because she herself looks rather fragile in a good way. I quite enjoyed her free although I can see how it can be defeated by more adamant presentations and stronger jumping styles. With a free score of 131.42 and a total of 198.32, she finished fifth.
I found myself not being able to think during Mai Mihara's routine, simply staring fascinated at her. The gorgeous soundtrack of The Mission played a big part in it, but her presentation enhanced the beauty of the music. I think the crowd in the Beijing Gymnasium was right there with me. Even though she finished on fourth here, I expect great things from her in the future. Her free score was 139.17. The total score was 206.07.
I feel we've seen Elena Radionova grow from a bubbly girl to a foxy young woman. This new attitude she's had on ice for the past two seasons really suits her. She seems to really enjoy Latino rhythms - this season she skates to Historia de un amor in the long. To be honest, I prefer Mihara's free routine, but I'm still happy Radionova got the Bronze medal in Beijing. She earned 136.34 points in the free and 206.82 overall.
My first impression of Wakaka Higuchi's Skyfall was a bit underwhelming - I kept waiting for the choreography to impress me, but it never did. That being said, she has quite a domineering presence on ice, probably because she's a very strong jumper. She got the silver medal thanks to a free score of 141.99 and an overall score of 212.52.
Alina Zagitova was the winner of the Cup of China. She skated to Don Quixote, another classical choice for her. That and the fact her costume was the same style as the one she wore for Black Swan made the two routines almost seem connected. It's a great way to subtly present everything as a whole package. I still think her facial expressions need a bit more practice. One of the things that got her the victory here was the ambitious and clever programme structure - all the jumps were in the second half of the programme. Her scores were 144.44 in the free and 213.88 in total.
So, how to sum up the ladies' competition at Cup of China 2017? It was rather scary and exhilarating at the same time. The quantity of high quality routines is bound to make any skater going for the Olympic podium this season at least a little apprehensive, while making us, the audience, very excited. But I have a 'what else is new' sort of attitude to it. I'm no longer surprised by how many excellent ladies we have at the moment. What really shocked me in Beijing was the size of the plush toys some girls received. Seriously, they're probably taller than me. Good luck with bringing those back home, ladies! 😊
SHORT
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva got me excited because this was the first time I saw her in quite a while. Her short seemed a lot more composed than last time I saw her (which was last season), but it still only managed to get the 5th place despite being technically flawless. Perhaps the heavy Pisando Flores was to blame; some of the other skaters' themes were easier to connect to. Her score was 67.10.
Alina Zagitova made her senior Grand Prix debut in Beijing. Her short was definitely notable, but I personally think she still needs to work on her facial expressions as she wasn't conveying the desperation of Black Swan. She's got great body movements though. It was a surprise to see her fall on the 3Loop. With 69.44 points, she finished the short on 4th place.
When it comes to expressing emotions, Elena Radionova is the perfect example of what I consider top notch class. I think she provided quite the contrast in acting skills with Zagitova, hers being on the better side, of course. Her programme was sophisticated, set to George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. With 70.48 points, she finished the short in a position to get a medal.
 |
| Wakaba Higuchi showing charisma during her Gypsy Dance routine Photograph: Japan Times |
Wakaba Higuchi skated to the epic, but quirky Gipsy Dance by Leon Minkus. I loved how the changes in the song made the programme balanced - a combination of power, speed and gentleness. She's another skater who is great at interpreting music. She barely defeated Radionova with 70.53 points, and finished on the runner-up position.
It might be because I keep underestimating Gabrielle Daleman, but I didn't expect her to lead after the short programme. That being said, I really like her Habanera routine. It stands out from the hundred other Carmen interpretations I've seen. The lyrics probably have a lot to do with it, but Gabrielle's presentation was also spot on. Her score was 70.65.
FREE
Once more, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva finished her programme with no major technical error - she stepped out of the 3Axel, but it was a fully-rotated 3Axel, something no one else had here. The music, Erinnerung, was sad, but more relatable than the music of her short. Still, she finished on 7th place, nowhere near the podium, with a free score of 129.58 and a total score of 196.68. The reason? It's all down to the high amount of competitors who are roughly at the same technical level as her, but take the lead in presentation and even speed.
Gabrielle Daleman couldn't hold onto her initial place either, which was more costly for her than for Tuktamysheva. She fell from 1st place to 6th. Technically, she stepped out of both the 3Flip and the 3Salchow. She skated to Gladiator, which is not a routine we usually see for girls, therefore being another way for her to stand out. Loved the way the choreography followed the piano. She earned 126.18 points in the free. The total was 196.83.
Japan's Marin Honda was one of the ladies who had to gain from the mistakes of the aforementioned girls. She has a very interesting jumping technique - her jumps are very low and her free leg almost touches the ice when she lands. She skated to Turandot, which can be a grand routine, but came off as delicate because she herself looks rather fragile in a good way. I quite enjoyed her free although I can see how it can be defeated by more adamant presentations and stronger jumping styles. With a free score of 131.42 and a total of 198.32, she finished fifth.
I found myself not being able to think during Mai Mihara's routine, simply staring fascinated at her. The gorgeous soundtrack of The Mission played a big part in it, but her presentation enhanced the beauty of the music. I think the crowd in the Beijing Gymnasium was right there with me. Even though she finished on fourth here, I expect great things from her in the future. Her free score was 139.17. The total score was 206.07.
| The champion, Alina Zagitova of Russia Photograph: Damir Sagolj, Reuters |
My first impression of Wakaka Higuchi's Skyfall was a bit underwhelming - I kept waiting for the choreography to impress me, but it never did. That being said, she has quite a domineering presence on ice, probably because she's a very strong jumper. She got the silver medal thanks to a free score of 141.99 and an overall score of 212.52.
Alina Zagitova was the winner of the Cup of China. She skated to Don Quixote, another classical choice for her. That and the fact her costume was the same style as the one she wore for Black Swan made the two routines almost seem connected. It's a great way to subtly present everything as a whole package. I still think her facial expressions need a bit more practice. One of the things that got her the victory here was the ambitious and clever programme structure - all the jumps were in the second half of the programme. Her scores were 144.44 in the free and 213.88 in total.
So, how to sum up the ladies' competition at Cup of China 2017? It was rather scary and exhilarating at the same time. The quantity of high quality routines is bound to make any skater going for the Olympic podium this season at least a little apprehensive, while making us, the audience, very excited. But I have a 'what else is new' sort of attitude to it. I'm no longer surprised by how many excellent ladies we have at the moment. What really shocked me in Beijing was the size of the plush toys some girls received. Seriously, they're probably taller than me. Good luck with bringing those back home, ladies! 😊
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