Crystal Skate

The pairs' final was as calm as I had predicted, although there was an unexpected shift in the top 5 that I did not see coming - the swap between the Americans and the Canadians. Here are some thoughts on why that happened, as well as on the performances of the rest of the leading pairs. There was quite the contrast between the technical and the presentation of Alexa Scimeca Knierim/Chris Knierim 's free skate. The music, taken from the Ghost  musical, was gorgeous, while the choreography was breathtakingly fluid. However, Chris stepped out of the side-by-side 3Salchows and doubled out of the side-by-side 3 Toeloops. The side-by-side spins were not in sync either. Their free score was 126.65 ; the total, 192.51 , made them drop one place and finish fifth. Julianne Seguin/Charlie Bilodeau  simply didn't have the mistakes of the Americans. The choreography amazed me once more - they filled silences with elements and matched other elements with the words of Where's My ...

The action in Osaka, Japan, took off earlier today (way earlier today - time differences are making me blog this closer to the free programmes than the short 😊 ) with the pairs' competition. Things kind of went according to predictions, at least as far as I'm concerned, but there were some routines I saw for the first time today and I'm excited to tell you all about them. I'll start with Julianne Seguin/Charlie Bilodeau , who skated to Lorde's version of  Everybody Wants to Rule the World . I love this song, which is why I'm very picky with the presentation for it. To me, it evokes a dark atmosphere that simply didn't come through in this interpretation. I did like their attempt at matching the landing of the throw twist to the sound of the shots in the song though. Unfortunately, Julianne singled out of the side-by-side 3Salchows. Their score: 63.98 . They finished on 5th place. Alexa Scimeca Knierim/Chris Knierim  skated to the romantic Come What May ...

The ending of the pairs' short programme was one of the biggest surprises we've received this season from figure skating. Evgenia Tarasova & Vladimir Morozov ended first, but I was somewhat expecting that. The real surprise were Vanessa James & Morgan Cipres, the French pair who are currently in second position. Theirs will be the greatest challenge of the night - hold their place against not one, but two couples who have already been on the European podium several times. Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini  are first to skate. Their music, Homecoming  by Thomas Bergersen, is breathtaking, and their lifts are original. There are two weird bits at the back of her costume that make me think it has come undone, but that's just an illusion. This is a great start of the night despite the double-footed throw triple Loop. Their score: 97.77 . Overall: 148.48 . Arina Cherniavskaia/Evgeni Krasnopolski  skate to a selection of Oriental music. Her hand touching the ice du...

The pairs' short programme is the third event of the competition. Historically, this has been the least prone to surprises from the four disciplines of figure skating, and today is unlikely to change that. There are simply no pairs on the list who can shockingly defeat Stolbova/Klimov or Kavaguti/Smirnov or even Peng/Zhang. The centre-rink battle, therefore, will be held among these three power houses. We're off with a brand new pair: Hayleigh Bell/Rudi Swiegers . I'm not sure their music, November Rain  by Guns and Roses, is very 'skatable.' The first half of the song seems hard to follow because of the monotonous pace of the music; the second has a lot more nuances. He falls on the triple Toeloop. Their score: 46.53 . I have to say I'm not as excited about Natalja Zabijako/Alexander Enbert 's routine as everyone else. Maybe it's because I don't understand Russian (although that's never stopped me before), but I find their song very disengag...

Figure skating is an ever-fighting battle - newbies fight to prove themselves and superstars fight to stay on top. Who will be victorious today? There is a lot of mystery in Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov 's The Man and the Shadow , and an aura of unease. Love the two original lifts, but they make quite a few mistakes: she steps out of the thrown triple Salchow and falls on the side-by-side one, the synchronised spins are not in sync and they finish behind the music. Their score: 125.65 . Overall: 189.06 . I'm not sure why Julianne Seguin/Charlie Bilodeau  are wearing dark blue for  A Whiter Shade of Pale , but the performance is so good, I don't really care. Love the difficult entries into their lifts. One error: they are out of unison on the side-by-side triple Toeloops. They get 124.64  points. Overall: 189.49 . The medalists Photograph: Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images Xuehan Wang/Lei Wang  are another pair specialising in difficult entries into lifts. I a...

Don't you just love that tinniest second before the boy throws the girl across the ice, when everybody in the audience gasps and holds their breath simultaneously? And then the girl lands perfectly, knee bent, free leg fully extended and the crowd erupts into cheers. Be ready for plenty of such moments - the pairs' short programme is about to begin. We see the consequence of last season's rule change immediately, as Jessica Pfund/Joshua Santillan  skate to Sara Bareille's Gravity . Lovely song, but the presentation is quite dull. There is also a shaking moment in the step sequence where he struggles to get up from a kneeling position. Still, overall, not bad. They get  50.20  points. Another relatively new pair to perform very well are Xuehan Wang/Lei Wang . Skating to Romance , the Chinese skaters ace every single element. Their score: 64.95 . I really love the way Kristina Astakhova/Alexei Rogonov  use words to set the scene for their programme. Really approp...

That wonderful time of the year is here again! No, I'm not talking about Christmas, but the start of the figure skating Grand Prix series. I've been waiting for this event since the last day of the 2015 World Team Trophy, and I know I'm not the only one, so let's get started. The logo of Skate America 2015 Photo: www.isu.org Skate America will open the Grand Prix series, as usual. It is held this year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee is not known for anything related to figure skating, but for its beer and festivals - beer festivals, I assume. In fact, the logo for Skate America this year looks so much like a beer label that I wouldn't be surprised if the party favours proved out to be small bottles of beer with the logo as labels. Wouldn't that be cool? As creative as the marketing of the event is, the logo isn't what it's going to make this event spectacular. That task is given to the skaters, and judging by the big names competing, they...

If season 2014/2015 has taught us anything about figure skating, it's been that this is an unpredictable sport. From Javier Fernandez winning the World Championships, to Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov not winning the European Championships, we've been fully reminded that it's never safe to bet in figure skating. Skaters who are now on top can abruptly drop tomorrow and rankings can change like the wind. This changeable nature of the sport is also reflected in the costumes. Just because a skater has the best costume in the short programme, doesn't mean they must also have the best costume in the long one. That is certainly true for this next pair: Ksenia and Fedor skated to Notre Dame de Paris  by Richard Cocciante Photograph: David Ramos / Getty Images Europe Their music was sung in English, French and Spanish, depending on the country they were skating in Photograph: Jamie McDonald / Getty Images Europe I decided to begin with the worst costumes this ...

Many people confuse pair skating with ice dancing. Even though there are very few similarities between the two, they seem one and the same to the untrained eye. Perhaps it's because those unfamiliar with the sport can't understand the point of having two categories for couples. There is a point of course because pair skating is not dancing on ice. Pair skating contains a lot more elements that are significantly more difficult than dancing: jumps, throw jumps, death spirals, side-by-side spins, etc. In order to be able to perform them without costumes getting in their way, pair skaters have to wear aerodynamic clothes, which the ice dancers don't. Because of the restriction in length and shape, you'd think pair costumes are less fabulous. Not a chance! This season, especially, was full of gorgeous dresses paired with dashing attires for the boys. Ironically though, neither one of the best costumes of the season was a dress: The Russian pair skated to music from Cro...

Last time we saw the pairs, Canada's Duhamel & Radford proved that they shouldn't be underestimated, not even when they're going up against Russian excellence. Sui & Han also proved that sometimes having a clean programme is all you need to get to the top. Will they manage to keep those standings after the free? Cheng Peng/Hao Zhang 's Alegretto  isn't really as cheerful as the name suggests; on the contrary, it is filled with angst, which they could express more. They're so much better than yesterday though with only two mistakes: in the side-by-side double Axels and in the side-by-side spins. Their score: 129.33 . Overall: 191.79 . The pairs' podium Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Europe I wish Wenjing Sui/Cong Han 's choreography was more specific so that we could get a glimpse of the story behind Tchaikovski's Francesca da Rimini . The way they present the routine instead is by emphasizing the different nuances of the music ...

Tonight is a big night for Barcelona, as it hosts its first ever Grand Prix Final of figure skating. Let's hope it will help inspire some of the younger spectators to take up this beautiful sport. Surely that's something Spain wishes to achieve this weekend in the hope that they can continue on the successful path set by Javier Fernandez. The first event of the Final is the short programme of the pairs. The favourites here are Stolbova & Klimov, but every single one of the six couples have plenty to offer, and they will give their best to get as close to that most-desired gold medal as they can. Good luck to them all. It's not easy being first, especially at an event of such magnitude, but Xiaoyu Yu/Yang Jin  keep their nerves under control. The only mistake is in the side-by-side spins, which are not in sync. Presentation-wise, they look dressed for an opera or a ballroom rather than for a tribal piece, so maybe they should consider making their costumes more accur...

After almost two full months of beautiful skating and shocking outcomes, the 2014 Grand Prix Series is finally drawing to a close. The host of the final is Spain's most visited city, a world-renowned centre of Hispanic art, music and sports: Barcelona (cue the triumphant trumpets). The city's cultural wealth is not the main reason it was picked to organise the Final though. The real reason was to celebrate Spain's newly formed relationship with figure skating, which has only recently acquired popularity on the Iberian Peninsula. Responsible for this popularity is Javier Fernandez, whose chances of getting on the podium are extremely high. Of course, ideally he would win the competition, but that's easier said than done when he has to beat an unbelievably determined Yuzuru Hanyu and a very ambitious Maxim Kovtun. Nothing is impossible though. Javier Fernandez, Spain's leading man in figure skating Photograph: Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images Europe Speaking of impo...

It's time for the new Chinese pairs to make a name for themselves, or at least that's what the short programme results seem to imply. Wenjing Sui and Cong Han are very close to winning their second silver medal of the season, while Xuehan Wang and Lei Wang would also like another bronze-worthy performance after Cup of China. The gold is undoubtedly going to stay in the hands of Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov. Failed death spirals are a rare sight in figure skating, but unluckily for Miriam Ziegler/Severin Kiefer , they add one to their luggage of technical mistakes today. The fault lies with her as she loses her edge. Their score: 88.91 . Overall: 139.92 . Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro 's costumes are fabulous, depicting disintegrating chessboards. Only one mistake here, his hand down on the side-by-side triple Salchows. They get 108.06  points. Overall: 159.13 . Nicole della Monica/Matteo Guarise  have the same presentation problem as in the short. She is j...

There wasn't a lot of groundbreaking action in the pairs' events at this Grand Prix, and the spell is unlikely to be broken in Bordeaux. Stolbova & Klimov have virtually no rivals, while the second and third places will certainly be occupied by someone who's never been on the Eric Bompard podium. But who exactly? Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro  start the competition with a visibly shakier Cell Block Tango than at Skate Canada. She falls on the thrown triple Loop, and he struggles with the exit of the second lift. Their score: 51.07 . Xuehan Wang/Lei Wang 's theme couldn't be vaguer. Their song title simply says: Romance. Overall, they are however better than the Americans because they have no technical errors. They get 63.25  points. Stolbova & Klimov's death spiral Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Europe Miriam Ziegler/Severin Kiefer 's C'est pas l'amour  and Zydeko  couldn't be more appropriate for a French crowd...

The poster for the 2014 Trophee Eric Bompard looks like the cover of a best-selling novel. It's by far the most stylish poster of the Grand Prix series, and why shouldn't it be? France has always been the place where beauty and elegance thrive. Thus it's the perfect venue for a figure skating competition to be held in. The poster also boasts with 'the best skaters in the world', which might be a bit far fetched as the only World champions supposed to compete in Bordeaux, Cappellini and Lanotte, withdrew a week ago. But this is ice skating and 'best in the world' doesn't just mean World title holders. The Poster Photograph: International Skating Union The category that gets the closest to the advertised 'créme de la créme' is the ladies'. Julia Lipnitskaia and Elena Radionova are both competing here - yey, I'm getting my wish of seeing them face each other! Consequently, Ashley Wagner might be scowling at her lucky stars because it...

There's a lot to be proud of in the pairs' event if you're Russian, or if your favourites are any of the top three pairs, for that matter. Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov are unlikely to move from their first place, as are E. Tarasova and V. Morozov from their second. Thirdly, K. Astakhova and A. Rogonov might just take a medal at their first senior competition. Maybe it's because they're a new pair, but Dee Dee Leng/Simon Shnapir 's routine is not ambitious at all - they attempt only a thrown double Loop. They also fall on the side-by-side triple Salchows, lose unison in the side-by-side spins and she puts the hand down on the thrown triple Salchow. The theme choice, Miss Saigon , was clever though because they couldn't look their parts better. Their score: 83.26 . Overall: 128.68 . It's not looking good for Narumi Takahashi/Ryuichi Kihara . Something has definitely happened in the past two seasons to her because she just can't land the side-by...

So far, the pairs' category has been the most faithful to skaters' reputation. And if there is one pair who can keep their heads in the game, it's Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov. However, after what just occurred in the ladies' short, I won't try to predict what place they'll lend after the short. I'll just wait and see what happens. This is the season of break-ups and new partnerships. Dee Dee Leng/Simon Shnapir  are another recently formed pair and it shows. Theirs is a decent routine, but it's filled with errors. Their score: 45.42 . Kristina Astakhova/Alexei Rogonov  are also making their debut here, but they show great chemistry. More importantly, they sell the raunchy sexiness Be Italian  is all about. The only problem is the lack of synchronicity in the side-by-side spins. They get 58.34  points. Bossa Nova is one of the most energetic musical styles in the world, but you wouldn't guess it by watching Narumi Takahashi/Ryuichi Kihara . ...

This year's Rostelecom Cup, hosted by Moscow, lacks significantly in Russian power. Olympic champions Adelina Sotnikova and Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov are just some of the Russian skaters who are off ice due to injury. That doesn't mean though that the event will lack in excitement, as we've got European champions, World medalists and aspiring winners competing here. Let's begin with the men's event, where the obvious winner is Javier Fernandez. However, last time we saw him the odds weren't quite working for him. But there are no mindbogglingly talented Japanese skaters here, just very ambitious Europeans. Sergei Voronov will fight for a chance at the gold, but he'll more likely end up battling Michal Brezina for a lesser spot on the podium. And what about Jason Brown? Will his successful streak continue even when faced with quadruple pros? Elena and Ruslan have passed the test; how will their rivals do? Photograph: Kevin Lee/Getty Images Asia ...

This is Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy's last chance to win a World gold medal and more than probably, Germany's last presence in the spotlight for a while. Will they succeed or is it time for a new pair of World champions? Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres  give us a scare with a terrifying fall right at the end, a mistake you can see he's more than sorry for. The rest of the programme is very good despite a very small error in the Triple Twist. Their music is a mash-up of the soundtracks of Angels and Demons  and Requiem for a Dream . Their score: 119.89 . Overall: 183.90 . The jumps, the lifts, the spins, the interpretation... Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch  are in perfect sync. They even do a risky lift with only one leg on the ice. The only mistake is her hand on the ice while landing the thrown Triple Salchow. Great speed as well while looking like veritable movie stars on Nino Rota's music medley. They get 136.21  points. Overall: 205.52 . Cheng Pe...

Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy have postponed their retirement to win one last World gold medal and you know they're not going home without an epic fight. Will any of the other couples be able to defeat them? Here's the first act: Maylin Wende/Daniel Wende  may not be the top German pair, but once in a blue moon, they have a performance you just can't take your eyes off. This is one such performance. Skating on November Rain , they ace every element. Their score: 58.19 . Julia Antipova/Nodari Maisuradze 's senior debut is not at all bad. Skating on Beethoven's Five Secrets , this pair is excellent technically, but the presentation is nowhere near as good. Everything is pretty, of course, but there is no personal mark on the routine, no story. The costumes are again quite standard, emanating a classical Russian air. They get 66.78  points. Cheng Peng/Hao Zhang  have grown immensely in just one year of skating together. I'm glad they proved me wrong...