Crystal Skate

Bradie Tennell took home a surprising bronze medal The ladies' competition in Grenoble started as most do these days - with Japanese and Russian skaters going against each other for the top three positions. At the end of the short programme, Japan was winning (by less than a point), but the possibility to see Russia on the podium in the form of Evgenia Medvedeva was very much real. Stanislava Konstantinova  began the event with a flawless performance of Anna Karenina . I loved the costume, the way her hair matched the era the story is from and the neckline detail that made her look as if she was wearing a pearl necklace. Score: 134.76  -> 189.67 . Laurine Lecavelier  followed with a sexier routine, set to I'll Take Care of You . Her performance was for the most part alright despite doubling out of both the 3Flip and Salchow, but then at the very end, she fell on the 3Loop. Score: 105.58  -> 157.24 Laurine Lecavelier of France I thought Matilda Al...

The winner: Rika Kihira Japan's greatest stakes were in the ladies' competition, where they knew they had the power to even take all the steps of the podium. However, there were some pretty strong rivals to defeat in order to get there. Australia's Kailani Craine  was not one of said rivals. She fell on the 3Lutz, but otherwise held herself together despite looking exhausted and nervous. Loved the showgirl attitude which shone throughout the choreography and her presentation. Score: 96.01  -> 154.22 . Mae Berenice Meite  had had a nightmare in the short programme, but picked herself up in the final. Her only mistake was a fall on a 2Loop. I'm not sure the music she chose fits her - she's a very powerful skater and the music just didn't seem to match her style. Score: 112.09  -> 162.58 . Courtney Hicks  had reasons to be proud of herself. Her only mistakes were doubling out of a 3Salchow and 3Lutz, but she kept the distraught facial expression on...

Who says you can't wear fake armour on ice? Not Natalia Zabjiako and Alexander Enbert If you ask me what my favourite Grand Prix event is, I will say without a doubt that it's the NHK Trophy. Why? It's easy! The atmosphere in the ice rink is second to none. Japanese fans can appreciate great figure skating louder and more energetically than any other nation. That energy is felt even by far away viewers like me. So although it is always being held nine hours ahead of my timezone, I never fail to catch up on it. Hosted by Hiroshima, this season's NHK Trophy was as exciting as ever, particularly in the ladies and men's events. Despite the fact Elizaveta Tuktamysheva  was the main rival of all their best skaters (and indeed finished first with 76.17 points), the Japanese crowd rained gifts on her as soon as she finished her brilliant performance. She reminded me of Mao Asada, the last skater who got the crowd on their feet because of perfectly executed 3Axels. It...

The Grand Prix Series have started! Hooray, woohoo, finally! Taking place in Chicago, Illinois, Skate America has already begun and given us the first potential winner. After an amazing performance at the World Championships, Ashley Wagner secured the best spot for winning the first Grand Prix event of the season. Mai Mihara, of Japan, is on second despite this being her first Senior Grand Prix event ever, ahead of Gracie Gold and Mao Asada. Kanako Murakami 's disappointing performance in the short means she gets to start the final. She skates to E lucevan le stelle , a piece of music that starts softly and ends grandly. She double-foots the landing of the triple Flip and altogether looks a little disheartened. Really feeling for her, so I hope her season goes only up from here. Her score: 97.16 . Overall: 145.03 . We change the musical style with Angelina Kuchvalska 's Carmina Burana . This is more dramatic than Kanako's programme, and I can see the potential of the r...