#evengia medvedeva

[caterpillarinacave]

I think I´ve seen this film before and I didnt like the ending

[aslongasyouremine]

[quadaxxels]

Lmao remember how Sasha Trusova and Alena Kostornia leaving Eteri was BIG NEWS and everyone was freaking out but then we blinked and now Evengia Medvedeva has left TCC and gone back to Eteri which is even BIGGER NEWS? Because yeah same

[moonstarphoenix]

Rostelecom Cup Ladies SP Pt. 2

We’ve got the big group next. Evengia, Alexandra, Mariah. All coming up. So let’s get to it.

Alexandra Trusova is the baby Russian this week. Russia was smart. They didn’t assign a single Grand Prix to multiple of the quad girls. Saving the showdown for later. There are no quads allowed in the short so she has to rely on everything else. She slipped going to her opening position. Such a funny gaffe. Her coach scares me, like to the point I honestly would not be surprised if in a few years, we hear abuse allegations. Just something about her. Alexandra’s costume change is just about as well hidden as Anna’s. That was a good performance. She struggled on the triple-triple but her quads will take care of minor errors. She’s in first easily.

Yuna Shiraiwa also competed in France and I remember liking her short. Oh Stephane Lambiel is her coach. I forgot about that. His students always have great programs. She falls out of her triple lutz. I really liked this short earlier in the season. It’s just so pretty and just joyful. Not her best but still a nice short. I like Stephane as a coach. He told her she had too much force in her lutz as soon as she got off the ice and then joked that she wanted to do the toeloop and the lutz together. It’s just nice to see a coach joke with his students while still teaching. Especially when you see Eteri with her students.

Stanislava Konstantinova struggled at Skate America. I hope she can do better here. I like her musicality more than Alexandra’s. There’s something smooth and fluid in her movements. Unfortunately, she’s struggling again with the jumps. She got her combo though. There have been a lot of programs this season that haven’t landed on cue. She’s a lovely skater though and I like this short, I like the drama of it.

Evgenia Medvedeva has struggled since the Olympics. She’s made podiums but they haven’t been anywhere near where she wants. She’s here to fight this season though. Brian Orser looks nevous. Very strong triple-triple. She’s improved so much in her artistry and presentation since going to Brian, it’s like a whole new Evgenia. And she lands all her jumps cleanly. I hate that she has to compete against the baby Russians just for a spot on World teams. I feel like she and Alina can skate their absolute best and they still might not make the Olympics. Both she and Brian are so excited for the clean short. Finally, they say. And she’s in first! Good for her! She wanted that and needed that I think! The long programs can change that easily but for now, that’s got be a relief.

Mariah Bell won her first Grand Prix medal since 2016 in France and she’s looking for a repeat. This is such an excellent program for her. I can’t wait to see the reaction to it at Nationals. Oh she fell on her triple-triple. She really loves to perform this program and you can tell even with mistakes. Not her best though. She’s in third for now. Let’s see if it holds.

Satoko Miyahara has an absolute fantastic Cup of China. I loved her short last week. It looks like she didn’t even get off the ground for her first jump. She’s not as into in this week and the mistake probably has a lot to do with it. She doesn’t have the technical content that the others had and that will hurt her this week. That’s a shame, that was not her best performance.

So it’s Evgenia in first, followed closely by Alexandra. Mariah ends up third with Alexia less than two points behind her. The long programs are going to be very interesting. Until tomorrow my friends.

[figure-skating-confessions]

“Is it bad that I like Evengia Medvedeva more than Alina Zatigova because I relate to her more?“

[aslongasyouremine]

[moonstarphoenix]

Skate Canada Ladies LP Pt. 2

And we’re back with the second group. A young jumping Russian, the comeback of Gabrielle Daleman, the single American, and more all compete for the second Grand Prix title.

Here we go!

Gabrielle Daleman has one of the prettiest dresses this season so far. I absolutely love it on her. Skating to classic Celine Dion and not To Love You More. Slight stumble out of her triple-triple. She’s another has a lot of power in her jumps. She struggling on the jumps. I don’t know if it’s nerves or she’s in her head again. Not the Grand Prix comeback she wanted. I have though that she’ll comeback to her next competition stronger. I will give her credit. Two years ago, that would have devestated her, but she’s smiling. She may not be happy with it but it’s not breaking her like the Olympics did.

Evgenia Medvedeva is angry after the short. She’s determined and you can see it. She’s not ready to let the juniors take over yet. That said, I know she loves dancing off the ice. I’m surprised she hasn’t had a program that showcases that yet. She’s solid on her jumps tonight. Lot’s of speed and good height. I would like a little more connection to the program but she is on tonight. This is a great program for her and an excellent performance. Good for her. She’ll be in first easily for right now.

Bradie Tennell has impressed me so far this season, as much as I hate to admit it. I still don’t like her style, the gushing over her ‘consistency’ but her programs this year fit her better than any other’s previously. Just like last week, she’s starting well and then has a bobble. Nationals will be interesting this year. Alysa, Tennell, and Mariah are all great skaters. Mariah’s first Grand Prix is this weekend I think, but she did well at the Nelbelhorn. So it’ll be a competition for sure. I will say for all skaters, being this onkey so early in the season rarely works out well. Sometimes it does, but sometimes not so much. I’ll be interested to see her at Nationals in two months.  And she barely edges out Evengia.

Young You is making her senior Grand Prix debut and has been excellent so far. Her dress is quite pretty as well. I like her skating. She’s very expressive. A bad fall on her triple axel. She recovers with a solid triple-triple. Evita is a nice choice for a program. Different tempos can show different personalities in different programs. I think she’s better at the drama though. She has a lovely style to her skating though I do wish there was more transitions in between the jumps. Very nice, though I don’t think she’s happy about the missed triple axel. She’ll take the lead.

One of the Russian quad girls is next. Alexandra Trusova is skating to Game of Thrones and has the intense glare down for someone so young. Oh she falls on the opening quad salchow, but lands the quad lutz. Good Lord, a third one in a combination. What a spread eagle! The balance and strength that requires. Wait was that a FOURTH quad and in that combination?! That’s the sequence that supposedly took out Ashley Wagner from the Olympics in 2018 (I still think the USFS had it in for her). She lands that first quad and she’ll be unbeatable. I do wish she was a bit more polished on the choreography, but hell, she could outperform half the men. She’s easily in first.

My only worry and why I’m predicting nothing is that doing that many so young could injure her. Remember how everyone though Julia Lipnitskaya would be Olympic champ because of how good she was? And then she fell apart during the main competition. Nothing is set in stone.

Rika Kihira has to follow that. She has such a quiet style. Bobbles the first triple axel but lands the second cleanly in a combo. She doesn’t get much height off the ice but she’s fast in the air. One thing Rika has going for her is interesting choreography and great presentation. She dominated her competitions last year and will challenge this year as well. I very much like her skating and this program music is very epic. I get a sense of a story for start to finish. Oh, I like her. She’s a wonderful skater. She should end up in 2nd, because well, quads. And she is. Great job.

So that’s the ladies for Skate Canada. Stay tuned later for the men.

[moonstarphoenix]

Internationaux de France Pt. 1

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I know I didn’t do the ladies free last weekend and I apologize. It’s chaotic in my life so things have to get put off. I will do the ladies and of course, I still need to do NHK Trophy. But this weekend is the final Grand Prix event and in my favorite country of France. This weekend, we have Jason Brown, Nathan Chen, Evengia Medvedeva, and Bradie Tennell competing so it should be an exciting weekend.

Let’s start with the Men!

Nicolas Nadeau from Canada will start us out with the classic rom-com Sleepless in Seattle. He’s shaky on his jumps, but this seems like a charming program. He clearly likes it as he’s pulling cheesy faces. Definitely not the best Canadian by any means. Dude, you have some thick eyebrows! Low for men. That’s about middle range for women as a point of interest.

Romain Ponsart is next. I loved him at Skate Canada. He’s hot and has a lot of potential.Deep breath as the music starts. Bam! Lovely quad loop. Solid triple axel. Such interesting music. I would love to know how these skaters find and choose their music. Easy triple-triple.. He’s on today! A little off from the music but wonderful performance! How great for him to do that in his home country! Woah! That’ll put him in contention! Yay!

Kevin Aymoz is our second Frenchman, coached by some familiar faces, John Zimmerman and Slyvia Fontaine. Much different music choice, a more ocking number. Lands the same quad as Romain. Not as clean on the triple-triple. He’s got deep knees. I really like both French men and I hope they can become contenders against the big countries. Both men have different styles so it’s nice to watch them both. I live for Kevin’s footwork. It’s got some great moves. And he is right up there with Romain. Well done!

I don’t recall seeing Keiji Tanaka before. I like the music. I’m a sucker for the jazzy, dramatic guitar. He’s not bad at all. A strong skater, but nothing is really standing out for me. A nice performance though.

Daniel Samohin concludes the first batch. Very dramatic short program. Not bad. Not bad at all. A few errors but a good skater I think. I like his short program.

An excellent first group. A nice variety in styles and music and everyone is skating well.

Dmitri Aliev starts our second group. Something tells me that was meant to be a quad. High triple axel. His music is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s. Ouch. That’s a bad fall on the quad and what would have been a combo. He will loose a lot of points. Aw, I bet that is a stunning program when clean. His presentation saved him.

Deniss Vasiljevs is wearing some YELLOW pants. Good God, those are awful. He’s coached by the wonderful Stephane Lambiel so his program is interesting and his costume ugly, that’s for sure. Solid jumps. Very entertaining. I rather like him. I rather hate the pants. Hehe, Lambiel skates the program with him.

Russian Alexander Samarin follows him but I can’s remember him. I’m starting to lose track of everyone. Damn, he’s got almost to much speed going into the jumps. Interesting song choice. I love that the men are the ones that have really embraced the freedom to choose music of all genres. Makes for a more interesting competition. I wish the ladies would go more rock and soul. He’s getting into it and I’m enjoying it. Must find this song. Wow. That’s high.

Nathan Chen follows that and we know he can beat that. Such an interesting opening. Oh, he fell. That’s unfortunate, but he recovers nicely. I like this SP much better than last year’s. It’s fast and Nathan is obviously having fun with it. Not his best performance. Let’s see where he’ll end up. And he’s in second. That’s workable and possibly a bit of a gift.

Jason Brown is next. He’s had a rough couple of years, but I really want him to do well. Another rocky, jazzy song. Me love it. Easy triple to start with. Triple axel, nice and pretty and clean. He’s such a gorgeous skater, every element means something. Stunning triple-triple. Beautiful positions on spins. Intricate choreography. WOW! Perfect ending, right on cue. Absolutely stunning. Brian Orser is happy. Holy mother! Without a quad, a clean Jason leads with 96.41! That’s incredible. That’s what the new scoring system should be doing. Rewarding clean and beautiful programs with difficulty in every element instead of just jumps.

Boyang Jin finishes the competition with the gold blades. Ouch, that was a bad fall. Poor Boyang Jin was a contender and one to watch but this season just hasn’t had a great start for him. Ouch. That’s painful.

So, Jason lead the competition by 6 points with third back by 10, though it’s Nathan and a quad will catch that. Overall, a great men’s short.

Coming up, ladies short!