We had a nice view of Alexei right across the rink from us while he was watching
the ladies programs. He and Shae-Lynn were sitting and chatting together
directly behind the judges in the marked off area - but apparently not off
limits to skaters, LOL..they were the only two people sitting there, and Alexei
was wearing a red shirt or sweater with a black vest, so Klara (our official
Alexei spotter, LOL) spotted him right away (although I think her eagle eyes
would have spotted him no matter what he was wearing, LOL)....Viktor Kraatz went
over and took Shae-Lynn away after the first couple ladies had skated, LOL.
David Dore came over a little later and sat to next to Alexei and chatted with
him a bit. Alexei looked very relaxed and at ease, smiling and joking with
passersby - not his usual demeanor at a competition before he skates, LOL...once
again, Alexei seemed to like Josee and Michelle the best, although he also
clapped for Jennifer Robinson, too.
Surya Bonaly - wore a sparkly backless turquoise costume and skated to dramatic
music with an annoying female vocalist. Double axel was okay, triple/double
combo okay. She also did a Russian split, butterfly, and backflip. She did a
Y-spin combo, but I thought it was slow. Surya did not seem particularly on
tonight. Tech marks ranged from 5.2 to 5.3, presentation ranged from 5.0 to 5.1.
Lu Chen - wore a red costume and skated to "Within You Without You,"
complete with tabla drums. Looked like her triple loop was two footed, triple
toe was okay, double axel was okay. She had a nice layback/sit spin combo. She
seemed to skate very slowly. Tech marks ranged from 5.0 to 5.4, presentation
ranged from 5.1 to 5.5.
Jennifer Robinson - whoops! This is the program she skated to "The Summer
Knows," LOL - don't know where my head was at for her short - must be
Alexei's fault...
I like the single axel at the beginning - this was planned, LOL. Double axel
looked okay. Triple lutz looked two footed. Her layback was nice. This was a
very pretty program, but I thought it was a little too slow and one note. Tech
marks ranged from 5.1 to 5.6, presentation ranged from 5.3 to 5.7.
Josee Chouinard - wore shiny gray top (and something else, but I can't read my
notes, LOL) with black and lavendar textured tights and skated to sweet violin
music. She did a lot of miming in this program, clearly pretending to hold
something in her hands. Great Ina Bauer! Several sliding moves, several very
nice spread eagles, a falling leaf. Double axel and triple sal were good, she
fell on triple lutz but it didn't really disrupt the program. Tech marks ranged
from 5.5 to 5.8, presentation ranged from 5.7 to 5.9.
Sarah Hughes - wearing a sparkly black bodysuit and black gloves - rowr! She
skated to what sounded like an "All That Jazz" medley (dangerous to do
after Baiul, who "owns" this program, in my opinion, LOL). Double axel
was very nice, triple loop was good, triple flutz was okay. She did a falling
leaf, several barrel rolls, her beautiful layback, a series of illusion spins, a
nice Charlotte and ended with a split on the ice. Wow for Sarah! A very spunky
program. My only quibble is that it seemed to end several times - I would work
on the choreography a bit more, LOL....Tech marks ranged from 5.5 to 5.8,
presentation 5.5 to 5.8. The audience booed the marks, 'cause they thought she was
robbed, LOL...
Michelle Kwan - skated to her "Beautiful World" program, wearing her
pale pink costume with the silver trim. Perfectly lovely program. Secure double
axel, double loop (it's planned that way), triple lutz, double or triple sal -
didn't quite catch it - triple lutz/double toe at the end. Filled with nice
spirals, including a Charlotte. Michelle at her ethereal best. Michelle seemed
to have more speed than the soft, pretty programs which had gone on before hers.
Crowd seemed very surprised at her marks, which seemed low to them. Tech marks
ranged from 5.7 to 5.8, presentation ranged from 5.6 to 5.9.
(When they announced the judges, the audience booed the Finnish judge - who had
given unusually low marks to Sarah Hughes, or so the audience thought, LOL)
Sato & Dungjen were first - and probably pretty happy not to have to follow
Sale & Pelletier again, LOL...Yuka wore an apricot to pink costume with a
bare midriff, Jason wore black. They skated to world music with a strong drum
beat. The SBS spins had good unison. Triple twist was okay, the throw jump was
wonky. SBS double axels were good! Tech marks ranged from 5.3 to 5.4, presentation
ranged from 5.2 to 5.5.
Wirtz & Wirtz were next, Kris was wearing cream and black, Kristy was
wearing a flowy, pale gray to white costume. They skated to a duet with the male
singer sounding like Andrea Bocelli - I think the song's title could have been
"Will You Be There For Me." Nice double twist, nice throw jump -
didn't catch what it was. Kristy bobbled her SBS triple toe. Nice lifts. Very
nice and romantic program for them. Tech marks ranged from 5.4 to 5.6,
presentation ranged from 5.4 to 5.7.
Sale & Pelletier were next - Jamie was wearing a deep red velvet costume,
black for David. They skated to some French song - female vocalist. Beautiful
stag lift, new lift where Jamie does a vertical split off David's knee - very
effective. Jamie stepped out of her SBS double axel, throw jump was good. There
was a lift that I can best describe as an upside down stag lift - really unique.
Death spiral was very nice. Great program! These two I don't think have the
skating skills of Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze, but they really skate as one.
Tech marks ranged from 5.8 to 5.9, presentation ranged from 5.9 to 6.0 (from the
Russian judge).
Ina & Zimmerman - wearing vinyl looking burgundy and skating to "My
Baby You." SBS double axels were good, but Kyoko fell on the throw sal.
Very cool lifts in this program, too - star lift into Kyoko being draped over
John's head, then he does a Besti squat while she is on his back. Cool! Tech
marks ranged from 5.5 to 5.6, presentation ranged from 5.5 to 5.7.
Steven Cousins was first - he wore black pants with a simple white shirt and
skated to "Belfast Child." He did two triple toes (or flips) with
Russian splits in between and after, and stepped out of the first one.
Butterflies were good. This is a nice program but a little slow for my taste. I
would have liked to have seen a little more variety in the tempo of the music.
Tech marks ranged from 5.2 to 5.4, presentation ranged from 5.4 to 5.5.
Emanuel Sandhu was next - he wore dark blue pants with a half bright blue and
half black top. The music started off as techno and changed to sad classical
music. Started right off with a quad toe/triple toe (I thought, but others
thought it was a double toe - they're probably right, LOL), then maddeningly
popped his planned triple axel again. Double axel was good, along with a triple
sal, triple loop. Flying sit spin was good. Hot footwork, nice catch foot
spiral. He has an unusual spins I like. Tech marks ranged from 5.5 to 5.7,
presentation ranged from 5.5 to 5.8.
Brian Orser - wore sparkly black top with black pants and skated to something
from "Against All Odds" soundtrack. Double axel, triple sal, single
axel (planned, I think) and two double axels (can't read my writing, LOL),
series of little jumps, backflip. Flying sit spin was good. Great crowd pleaser
- yep, he's going strong at almost 40! Tech marks ranged from 5.3 to 5.7,
presentation ranged from 5.6 to 5.8.
Todd Eldredge - performed his "The 13th Warrior" program in a shiny
blue top with shiny gray sleeves, black pants. I think this costume is new, LOL!
Triple axel/double toe, triple lutz, triple axel, triple flip (I think), Russian
splits, double axel - all good. Finished with a great sit/back sit spin/scratch
spin combo. I thought it was a strong performance, but not a particularly
inspired one. But technically without flaw. Tech marks ranged from 5.6 to 5.8,
presentation ranged from 5.6 to 5.8.
Alexei Yagudin - skating to "Gladiator" in his second
"Gladiator" costume. Started off on his knees, holding two silver
knives which he never puts down throughout the program, great triple flip and
triple axel, leaps into his very fast and intricate footwork, hydroplane move
into slide, which ends up with him lying on the ice (no rolling this time -
sorry, girls!
), camel spin, spread eagle, then amazingly he doubled or singled his loop, but
it didn't break the continuity of the program, slide move, pancake spin, triple
toe, ending spin combination. Performed with his usual great expression and
power. Tech marks ranged from 5.7 to 5.8, presentation ranged from 5.8 to 5.9.
Kurt Browning - came out wearing a turquoise cowboy outfit and skated to
"Don't Fence Me In," sung by a female vocalist. Typical Kurt comical
program, including a hand stand. Triple axel which he fell out of, but managed
to tack on a double toe, split on the ice, nice triple sal, triple toe/triple
toe, a neat cantilever type move, but not nearly with the bend that Klimkin has,
finished with a series of four double axels. I personally didn't think this was
Kurt at his best - crowd loved him, of course, but I think this program needs
some more fine tuning and/or practice. Tech marks ranged from 5.6 to 5.9,
presentation ranged from 5.8 to 5.9.
Men's final standings:
Alexei
Kurt
Todd
Brian
Emanuel
Steven
When they held the presentation ceremonies, Alexei gave Michelle a kiss on the
cheek backstage before she went out to accept her second place award. He seems
to always be gallant with the ladies when they don't win - sweet of him!
All in all, it was lots of fun and great skating. My Michy didn't win, but
Alexei did, LOL, so I'm happy. I have no dispute with the judging - several
placements could have gone either way - it's a subjectively judged sport - and
art.
