DAY ONE OF THE NHK.
SO THE NHK TROPHY HAS STARTED WHICH MEANS THE FIGURE SKATING SEASON HAS STARTED AND THANK GOD, NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON.
AAAAAND I HAVE THOUGHTS.
My preliminary Mao thoughts are up on tumblr, so skipping those. But ladies, pairs, and ice dance.
Rachael Flatt: Rachael's hair makes her look older, in a good way. She also looks skinnier this year. What is it with the loving the fast variation of the Charlotte? I think the slow ones look better. Also, I still find this program pretty boring. IDK, Rachael seems like a sweet girl but these programs just feel so bland. It feels better than last year though. Her face when the music started? It just felt like acting.
Things I hate about COP: Everything. But actually. Now that they've removed an element from the SP, what is the base line good score here?
Kiira Korpi: Kiira Korpi's doing the same program she did last year, I think? I don't find her as engaging a skater either, but she did a solid program even if I think she did downgrade a planned 3-3 to a 2-3? People on _skating are talking about her being underscored, which could be true. 52 seems low. But they took out an element! I have no idea what's good anymore. So I did some googling and may have come to understand PCS a little more, but since the whole technical element score is based off of GOE, I'm a little fuzzy on that. Ugh, COP.
Kanako Murakami: Kanako is PRESH. Why did I not know about her? This program is really cute. And the polka dots are adorable although ew, illusion mesh, my problems with you. I know that tights over the boots is better form but WHY. WHY. I think it looks so fug. It looked like she silpped in her step sequence. :/
Ashley Wagner:Ashley Wagner's program started out surprising me but it totally dragged in that footwork sequence omg.
Caroline Zhang: Caroline! I wonder if she and Mirai are still bffs. I love this music and this choreography and girl can sell artistry like no one's business. Her flip's gotten better but her jumps still look low. I love her so much though. What is this footwork sequence though, bb? Her catch-foot is stunning. Aww, Caroline in the k&c.
Elene Gedevanishvili: OH MY LORD ELENE BB WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR. OH MY GOD, CHICAGO. I LOVE YOU GIRL. Also, lutz is my favourite jump in the world and her entry was kinda eh but OH MY GOD GIRL FLEW IN THE AIR. That first jump was enormous. She's rocketing today. Ew, donut spin, why do you exist. FOOTWORK SEQUENCE TO THE SLOW BIT IN CELL BLOCK TANGO BIT and it was glorious. Her spins seem to be traveling like crazy though.
Carolina Kostner: Oh Carolina. My feelings on you. I always think this girl is taller than she is but why are her jumps so low? Also, illusion mesh is like her best friend and I am always like look at your choices.
Aaaaaand like four other skaters I don't care about whose videos aren't up on Youtube yet, so moving on.
Brodeur/Mattatall: Going off of what is on Youtube, there are only 5 pairs performances up, so those are the five I'm going to be talking about. I'm easy like Sunday morning. I think this is My Way. I love death spirals that are low to the ice. They're so gorgeous. I don't know what these outfits are though. I mean, they're not terrible. They're just odd looking. It's like a value scale for coffee with varying amounts of creamer in it. OH MY GOD I DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS OUTFIT IS. Lol, he's from Nova Scotia! I don't know why this amuses me, but it does.
Denney/Barrett: Awwwww, John Zimmerman's pair. I love John Zimmerman therefore I feel a tiny bit of affection for them. Purple glittery outfits though, man. Pretty music. That's the ... strangest death spiral body position I've ever seen? She looked like one of those right angle things people use to square corners off in construction.
Takahashi/Tran: Omg, Japanese pair skating to Michael Buble and the dude is Viet! OHMYGOD FIST BUMP THEY'RE SO CUTE. SOLD. Mervin Tran is like a giant. Those spins were so in sync though. Whoa, the flip into that throw triple toe was incredible. I call them as a future pair. This is their first senior comp, I think. OH MY GOD THAT LIFT WAS SO GORGEOUS. It was so creative too. Their only competition would be Wenjing/Cong? Who pulled off that crazy quad salchow in juniors? Are they not competing in seniors this year or just not in the Japanese NHK? Oh man, in slow mo, that lift is just even more impressive. One-handed. Mervin Tran, you are such a nerd, I love you already! New figure skating crush. Sold. Even with that ridiculous Flock of Seagulls hair. They're so cute. THEY'RE SO CUTE. New season's best! SO ADORABLE I CANNOT HANDLE IT.
Bazarova/Larionov: I love far too many people. Vera Bazarova, why are you so stunning? Their throw twists are GORGEOUS. GORGEOUS. I can't even handle it. They just are so light and they fly so high and they're just so... crisp. I can't even explain it properly. Whoa, this choreography is really creative too. Their side-by-sides were super pretty too. Their lift transitions were kind of clunky, but the second lift position was creative.
Pang/Tong: And now my kiddds. Doing a nocturne! They get so much air and distance on their throw jumps. I wonder if they're going to change any of this as the season goes along. It seemed pretty standard classical fare. IDK.
Shibutani/Shibutani: Ice Dance also only has five pairs up for ice dance rn. THE SHIBUTANIS. You know I always root for the Marina/Shpilband teams. I have a weird thing about brother/sister teams in ice dance. The only one I really like, let's be honest, are the Kerrs. I don't have an opinion on the Shibs yet, so we're just going to see how this goes. Awww, they fell out. :( OH MY GOD IGOR SHPILBAND WHY DO I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
Cappellini/Lanotte: I don't love them as much as I do Faiella and Scali, let's be real. But they're cute. Although, Anna, what is that skirt. WHAT IS THAT SKIRT. This is a cute program, but it's not particularly exciting or fresh. IDK. OH THE QUICKSTEP PART IS REALLY CUTE AND AWESOMESAUCE THOUGH. Whoa, new arm positions with the twizzles.
Ilinykh/Katasalapov: LET'S BE REAL THOUGH. THE KIDS I ADORE - ELENA AND NIKITA. Their first senior competition. I think if they got Igor and Marina as their coaches, they could up their awesome even more. I love them so much. The fact that they trained with Pechalat and Bourzat over teh summer? Cuties. Oh, god, the illusion mesh. I love them though. I love them so much. This is not even going to be coherent. She's so fierce. I think they got the tiniest bit off on their twizzles and what even is this music? But their twizzles are so fast, it's incredible. Awww, Nikita slipped out of a twizzle. That ending was gorgeous though. Elena looks very not pleased. Well, the Russian commentators are laughing? Do not know if that is a good sign. OHMYGOSH ELENA IS SO PRECIOUS. They were super close when they were doing the side-by-side stuff, which I feel like ups the difficulty and thus the base score? Am I making stuff up? Awwwwwww they're so cute. Maybe that outfit is not illusion mesh. In which case I say, girrrrrrrl, aren't you freezing?
Weaver/Poje: I haven't heard a lot about Weaver/Poje but that lift was incredible. Their edgework looks fantastic though.
Davis/White: And finally, Merylie. I love love love Meryl's dress. Also, is she always going to use blue eye shadow? Clearly I ask all the important questions. They're really bringing it this season. That first twizzle sequence was epic. They're so cute. Igorrrrrr. I will never not love that man.
It's sad that I have to wait to see Mirai and V/M, buuuut injuries so clearly those kids have to heal. But I love them and want to see them.
AAAAAND I HAVE THOUGHTS.
My preliminary Mao thoughts are up on tumblr, so skipping those. But ladies, pairs, and ice dance.
Rachael Flatt: Rachael's hair makes her look older, in a good way. She also looks skinnier this year. What is it with the loving the fast variation of the Charlotte? I think the slow ones look better. Also, I still find this program pretty boring. IDK, Rachael seems like a sweet girl but these programs just feel so bland. It feels better than last year though. Her face when the music started? It just felt like acting.
Things I hate about COP: Everything. But actually. Now that they've removed an element from the SP, what is the base line good score here?
Kiira Korpi: Kiira Korpi's doing the same program she did last year, I think? I don't find her as engaging a skater either, but she did a solid program even if I think she did downgrade a planned 3-3 to a 2-3? People on _skating are talking about her being underscored, which could be true. 52 seems low. But they took out an element! I have no idea what's good anymore. So I did some googling and may have come to understand PCS a little more, but since the whole technical element score is based off of GOE, I'm a little fuzzy on that. Ugh, COP.
Kanako Murakami: Kanako is PRESH. Why did I not know about her? This program is really cute. And the polka dots are adorable although ew, illusion mesh, my problems with you. I know that tights over the boots is better form but WHY. WHY. I think it looks so fug. It looked like she silpped in her step sequence. :/
Ashley Wagner:Ashley Wagner's program started out surprising me but it totally dragged in that footwork sequence omg.
Caroline Zhang: Caroline! I wonder if she and Mirai are still bffs. I love this music and this choreography and girl can sell artistry like no one's business. Her flip's gotten better but her jumps still look low. I love her so much though. What is this footwork sequence though, bb? Her catch-foot is stunning. Aww, Caroline in the k&c.
Elene Gedevanishvili: OH MY LORD ELENE BB WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR. OH MY GOD, CHICAGO. I LOVE YOU GIRL. Also, lutz is my favourite jump in the world and her entry was kinda eh but OH MY GOD GIRL FLEW IN THE AIR. That first jump was enormous. She's rocketing today. Ew, donut spin, why do you exist. FOOTWORK SEQUENCE TO THE SLOW BIT IN CELL BLOCK TANGO BIT and it was glorious. Her spins seem to be traveling like crazy though.
Carolina Kostner: Oh Carolina. My feelings on you. I always think this girl is taller than she is but why are her jumps so low? Also, illusion mesh is like her best friend and I am always like look at your choices.
Aaaaaand like four other skaters I don't care about whose videos aren't up on Youtube yet, so moving on.
Brodeur/Mattatall: Going off of what is on Youtube, there are only 5 pairs performances up, so those are the five I'm going to be talking about. I'm easy like Sunday morning. I think this is My Way. I love death spirals that are low to the ice. They're so gorgeous. I don't know what these outfits are though. I mean, they're not terrible. They're just odd looking. It's like a value scale for coffee with varying amounts of creamer in it. OH MY GOD I DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS OUTFIT IS. Lol, he's from Nova Scotia! I don't know why this amuses me, but it does.
Denney/Barrett: Awwwww, John Zimmerman's pair. I love John Zimmerman therefore I feel a tiny bit of affection for them. Purple glittery outfits though, man. Pretty music. That's the ... strangest death spiral body position I've ever seen? She looked like one of those right angle things people use to square corners off in construction.
Takahashi/Tran: Omg, Japanese pair skating to Michael Buble and the dude is Viet! OHMYGOD FIST BUMP THEY'RE SO CUTE. SOLD. Mervin Tran is like a giant. Those spins were so in sync though. Whoa, the flip into that throw triple toe was incredible. I call them as a future pair. This is their first senior comp, I think. OH MY GOD THAT LIFT WAS SO GORGEOUS. It was so creative too. Their only competition would be Wenjing/Cong? Who pulled off that crazy quad salchow in juniors? Are they not competing in seniors this year or just not in the Japanese NHK? Oh man, in slow mo, that lift is just even more impressive. One-handed. Mervin Tran, you are such a nerd, I love you already! New figure skating crush. Sold. Even with that ridiculous Flock of Seagulls hair. They're so cute. THEY'RE SO CUTE. New season's best! SO ADORABLE I CANNOT HANDLE IT.
Bazarova/Larionov: I love far too many people. Vera Bazarova, why are you so stunning? Their throw twists are GORGEOUS. GORGEOUS. I can't even handle it. They just are so light and they fly so high and they're just so... crisp. I can't even explain it properly. Whoa, this choreography is really creative too. Their side-by-sides were super pretty too. Their lift transitions were kind of clunky, but the second lift position was creative.
Pang/Tong: And now my kiddds. Doing a nocturne! They get so much air and distance on their throw jumps. I wonder if they're going to change any of this as the season goes along. It seemed pretty standard classical fare. IDK.
Shibutani/Shibutani: Ice Dance also only has five pairs up for ice dance rn. THE SHIBUTANIS. You know I always root for the Marina/Shpilband teams. I have a weird thing about brother/sister teams in ice dance. The only one I really like, let's be honest, are the Kerrs. I don't have an opinion on the Shibs yet, so we're just going to see how this goes. Awww, they fell out. :( OH MY GOD IGOR SHPILBAND WHY DO I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
Cappellini/Lanotte: I don't love them as much as I do Faiella and Scali, let's be real. But they're cute. Although, Anna, what is that skirt. WHAT IS THAT SKIRT. This is a cute program, but it's not particularly exciting or fresh. IDK. OH THE QUICKSTEP PART IS REALLY CUTE AND AWESOMESAUCE THOUGH. Whoa, new arm positions with the twizzles.
Ilinykh/Katasalapov: LET'S BE REAL THOUGH. THE KIDS I ADORE - ELENA AND NIKITA. Their first senior competition. I think if they got Igor and Marina as their coaches, they could up their awesome even more. I love them so much. The fact that they trained with Pechalat and Bourzat over teh summer? Cuties. Oh, god, the illusion mesh. I love them though. I love them so much. This is not even going to be coherent. She's so fierce. I think they got the tiniest bit off on their twizzles and what even is this music? But their twizzles are so fast, it's incredible. Awww, Nikita slipped out of a twizzle. That ending was gorgeous though. Elena looks very not pleased. Well, the Russian commentators are laughing? Do not know if that is a good sign. OHMYGOSH ELENA IS SO PRECIOUS. They were super close when they were doing the side-by-side stuff, which I feel like ups the difficulty and thus the base score? Am I making stuff up? Awwwwwww they're so cute. Maybe that outfit is not illusion mesh. In which case I say, girrrrrrrl, aren't you freezing?
Weaver/Poje: I haven't heard a lot about Weaver/Poje but that lift was incredible. Their edgework looks fantastic though.
Davis/White: And finally, Merylie. I love love love Meryl's dress. Also, is she always going to use blue eye shadow? Clearly I ask all the important questions. They're really bringing it this season. That first twizzle sequence was epic. They're so cute. Igorrrrrr. I will never not love that man.
It's sad that I have to wait to see Mirai and V/M, buuuut injuries so clearly those kids have to heal. But I love them and want to see them.