Trophée Eric Bompard 2009 News and practice reports

[Okami]

According to Sports Hochi, TAT banned the Japanese media from interviewing Mao.

A Japanese article about Nobu's practice:
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20...000619-san-spo
It says that Nobunari's condition is good. He wants to land 4-3-3 in his LP.

It also mentions that Nobu got lost in Paris while sighteesing. :lol: Luckily, a kind French lady showed him the way to the Paris metro and even bought him the right ticket. Nobu feels heartwarmed by the kindness. Awww.

Ladies practice report coming soon...

[Okami]

TV Asahi aired the entire run-thoughs of Mao and YuNa.

Mao's SP...
Jumps: 3A very UR, fall - 3F - 2A out of spiral seqience.

The music and layout exactly the same as last season.

Well, let's start from good things:
- Great speed through the program. This time Mao looked faster than YuNa who skated after her.
- Spectacular spins and spirals.
- Steps - looked even better than last season.

Bad things:
- That 3A was nowhere close to being fully rotated. No 3Lz wither in SP or LP(JO). Tentative entrance into 3F. Combined with the performance I'm very worried. :(
- I expected something new and joyous, but the choreo and music is exactly the same as in the LP last season (except for the layback spin). :(

I like this SP better that LP last year, but I'm not sure the judges will enjoy a repeat of a program that had bad rep in the first place. :( This could be Caprice... :(

ETA: In later practice clips Mao was shown landing some 3A-2T(Tano) combos. They looked good. Still, it seems that landing them in the actual run-through/program is problematic.

YuNa's LP:
YuNa looks very solid with jumps. 3Lz-3T 3F 2A-2T-2L(Tano?) 2A-3T 3Lz. My feed got a bit jerky during the later part, I think 2A was in there somewhere. She skipped most of her choreo (just did jumps, spiral, steps and final spin). Music edit is a bit... not to my liking, especially during the step sequence, but I think YuNa has this competition bagged.

I wish they shown some clips of Yukari, Caro, and the rest of the field...

[Andalusia]

Yu-Na's FS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOsOsYPHvos

Mao's SP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Nt7SWjjTY

Yu-Na looks beyond sharp and probably has this competition in the bag. Mao = .

[jiggs]

Any practice reports on Carolina and the other ladies?

[schiele]

Yu-Na's FS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOsOsYPHvos

Mao's SP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Nt7SWjjTY

Yu-Na looks beyond sharp and probably has this competition in the bag. Mao = .

Oh my oh my, call me crazy but compared to Yuna's lifeless LP music, I actually prefer the Bells..
But her jumps look very very solid. On the other hand, the last triple axel in Mao's clip was UR'ed I think..

[Enthusiast]

Did anyone see V/M? According to unofficial sources, they are having problems w/ their CD and OD. Anyone watch them practise?

[kandidy]

I watched her SP practice and looks like she is doing fine and added triple axel to the SP! What a gutsy program.

[Kwanford Wife]

Hmmm... what's going on with Mao? Is she injured? Losing it? What? Other than that truly sick spin leading into the beilman - she is NOT the same phenom of a couple of years ago... her skating looked frantic, erratic and messy. Wow... here's hoping this is early season stuff or even better just a wacky practice session and she cleans it up other the next coupld of days... but again - that spin was SICK!

[*Sniper*]

Oh my oh my, call me crazy but compared to Yuna's lifeless LP music, I actually prefer the Bells..
But her jumps look very very solid. On the other hand, the last triple axel in Mao's clip was UR'ed I think..

Lifeless? What are you talking about?
I think it's a fresh, new piece of music people haven't heard thousand times already.
So it might be a while before it grows on us.
Though I couldn't get the feel of it entirely (over the broadcaster talking non-stop), I like it.
By the way, she looks rock solid.

As for Mao, I just hope she's not under too much stress!
But how could she not be..... Look at the Japanese TV people dissecting her every single move on the rink AND in the studio back home.
Good luck, Mao!

[gourry]

Thanks for the links!
Wow. So the season really started!! I'm so excited!!!

Yay, Yuna looks just gorgeous and fit! I found the music a bit unfamiliar but it sounds nice and fresh, full of life to me. And with that beautiful blue costume and detailed choreography.... it will look quite different! Oh! I can't wait!!!

As for Mao's SP... I don't really know what to say. I was never a big fan of her last LP to begin with. It looks almost same as her previous LP except the layback spin and ending and the length. Because I remember she said in an interview it's gonna be more light and fun program(or something like that. I don't remember exactly) I expected something..... different. Oh well, maybe with new costume it will be better, I hope.

I really wonder how Carolina is doing. Can't wait her new programs!

[gracefulswan]

Oh my oh my, call me crazy but compared to Yuna's lifeless LP music, I actually prefer the Bells..
But her jumps look very very solid. On the other hand, the last triple axel in Mao's clip was UR'ed I think..

i'm surprised, also, by yuna's music. it's definitely nothing memorable either... much like mao's. i so much prefer joannie's piece, by far! i love her long program! i'm hoping that when yuna competes, it'll sparkle and become much more interesting.

[Alicja]

Oh my oh my, call me crazy but compared to Yuna's lifeless LP music, I actually prefer the Bells..

Lifeless? Maybe her practice performance was lifeless. But the music itself lifeless? Are you kidding me? If you meant that it had no story because Yuna didn't bother to show much expression at all, I'd agree. I reserve judgement until I see the actual pperformance and not just some jumps and steps on practice ice.

[nylynnr]

At the risk of incurring wrath, here is a brief report for the ladies short warm-up.

Once again, Yu-Na "won" the practice. She did a near-complete run-thru of her Bond program, complete with triple-triple and triple flip. Really like the little details in this program; especially connecting steps and turns. It comes across as glamorous, a true Bond girl.

Mao didn't include all her jumps in the run through, but outside "Masquerade," hit strong triple Axel-double toe ('Tano) combinations, triple loops and a few Lutzes. I wonder about the elaborate flowers on her pale acqua dress but prefer the overall ensemble to heavy black, the usual for this music.

For someone who said she was taking it relatively easy, Caroline Z. continues to impress in practices. Near complete run-through will all jumps. Especially nice loop. Looked (to me) as if she was skating a bit faster than last season. I actually think she looks more impressive than ever before.

Nakano didn't include jumps in her run-thru. Caroline K.'s steps looked terrific, although (again to my eyes) her Lutz looked shaky today. Always marvel at her speed.

[*Sniper*]

According to Sports Hochi, TAT banned the Japanese media from interviewing Mao.

Hmmmmm.......

A Japanese article about Nobu's practice:
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20...000619-san-spo
It says that Nobunari's condition is good. He wants to land 4-3-3 in his LP.

Wow, good luck! That will be something.

It also mentions that Nobu got lost in Paris while sighteesing. :lol: Luckily, a kind French lady showed him the way to the Paris metro and even bought him the right ticket. Nobu feels heartwarmed by the kindness. Awww.

Awwww... what a heartwarming story.

[Nadine]

Thanks for posting the videos!

Mao's looks good, love the music, finally it's here, yes!!!!!!!

I'll repost what I stated in an earlier thread somewhere on GS, lol:

"A true champion is one that always challenges oneself. To me, Mao is the essence of this, no matter the results. She continues to challenge herself both artistically & athletically. Going outside her comfort zone when it comes to music, during an Olympic Year no less, is part of this. She could've played it safe & gone with the pretty pretty music that she's known for, but she didn't. Same thing goes for her insistence on sticking with two 3axels during the LP (not to mention the SP as well), despite the public's overwhelming objections.

Skate for yourself, Mao-chan, remember what it is you love about skating. Skate for yourself, nobody else, not your country, not your coach, not for the judges, but for yourself."