JGP Tallinn Entries

[mskater93]

How the heck was Gracie Gold not at Nationals this year? I would love to see her skate with the Seniors next year at Nationals if she qualifies.

Basically growing several inches last season and then 4 falls in two programs at Sectionals in a pretty strong group (Lauren Dinh was 2nd at Nationals, McKinzie Daniels was 4th at Nationals and Ashley Cain was 6th and those were 3/4 who made it in Junior Ladies from Mids) did her in. I mentioned that there was a lot of buzz at the last club comp she was at and now you all see why.

[CARA]

Ok, here's the men's line-up for the JGPF:

PLACE 1 - 6: QUALIFIED FOR ISU JUNIOR GRAND PRIX OF FIGURE SKATING FINAL

1 Han YAN CHN 15 15 30 425.23
2 Joshua FARRIS USA 15 15 30 410.12
3 Jason BROWN USA 15 13 28 391.51
4 Maxim KOVTUN RUS 15 13 28 369.78
5 Ryuju HINO JPN 15 13 28 357.70
6 Keiji TANAKA JPN 13 11 24 366.34

Congraluations to all the finalists. Yay, two Americans!

[dorispulaski]

I like that 4 countries are represented!

[LeCygne]

Julia is quite the prodigy, so I'll leave her out of this, but comparing Risa and Gracie is like comparing Abbott and Joubert. If they both skate well, they will get similar big PCS because they are both great skaters. Joubert's big jumps and flashy style have gotten him far even though I find his skating nowhere near as elegant or sophisticated as someone like Abbott, who has a lyrical and somewhat introverted style.

Risa and Gracie do have different styles, but I'm not sure Abbott and Joubert are the right comparison to make. Gracie is a lot more musical than you're suggesting, which I think will be more apparent in her FS tomorrow. The big jumps are just a plus. I actually think Risa has a pretty bold, edgy SP this season (as well as her tango last season), which isn't necessarily her style, and that may be why it didn't work as well for her. Kinda like Abbott's flamenco SP a couple seasons ago, which was gorgeous and extremely intricate but didn't necessarily bring in the big scores. But anyway, good luck to both girls in the FS!

[skatingfan04]

So thrilled for Bobak/Beharry. Not a perfect skate, but I think they recovered really well from the early stumbles, and their elements are lovely. I got the chance to see them skate their SP and FS at the Thornhill summer skate, and they really have that "it" factor. They just draw you in. I think these two have so much potential, and I can't wait to see what they look like in a year or two whey they've got some experience together. I'm really relieved that they qualified for the final...it looks like they may be the only Canadians in the field at all. It'll give the audience someone to cheer for.

[Spun Silver]

So Shoma Uno medaled? Yay!

[silverlake22]

Risa and Gracie do have different styles, but I'm not sure Abbott and Joubert are the right comparison to make. Gracie is a lot more musical than you're suggesting, which I think will be more apparent in her FS tomorrow. The big jumps are just a plus. I actually think Risa has a pretty bold, edgy SP this season (as well as her tango last season), which isn't necessarily her style, and that may be why it didn't work as well for her. Kinda like Abbott's flamenco SP a couple seasons ago, which was gorgeous and extremely intricate but didn't necessarily bring in the big scores. But anyway, good luck to both girls in the FS!

Well I agree that Gracie is musical, I just happen to find Joubert quite musical too which is maybe why you were confused by the comparison. I more just meant they both have a more powerful style which compliments the big jumps. I do agree with what you're saying regarding Risa's SPs these past two seasons and Abbott's SP last season, I think it's good to see skaters branch out and try new styles because it helps them grow as artists, but at the same time, it makes sense that their skating stands out more in programs in their natural vein/style. I wouldn't say Risa's SP doesn't work for her, she pulls it off well, I'm just not nearly as impressed with it or like it as much as her FS, same goes for Abbott and his SP vs. FS last season.

[chuckm]

I'm really relieved that [Bobak/Beharry] qualified for the final...it looks like they may be the only Canadians in the field at all. It'll give the audience someone to cheer for.

I think there MIGHT be other skaters in the JGPF that are cheerworthy, even if they are not Canadian.

[dorispulaski]

Well, the JGPF is in Ontario, and it is nice for the home team to have a representative skating.

Canadian audiences have generally been very kind to skaters from other countries who had great performances at events in Canada. I'm thinking of G&G and B&B, for two, from my very favorite Olympics 1988 in Calgary.

I'm not sure how Brian Boitano's Olympic LP in Calgary was received by Canadians in the audience, but I do know that Johnny Esaw, one of the Canadian commentators really liked the program! (We lived in northern VT at the time, and watched the games on Canadian TV)

[SkateFiguring]

Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze received very warm welcome, SO even, when they performed in Canada after the 2002 Olympics controversy with Salé/Pelletier.

JGPF 2011 will be held in Quebec City with the GPF though.

[chuckm]

Certainly there will be Canadians competing in the GPF: V/M, Chan at the very least.

[dorispulaski]

But that is not the JGPF, though it does take place in the same weekend. And yes, it's in Quebec. My slip.

[Lucky Star]

I actually think Risa has a pretty bold, edgy SP this season (as well as her tango last season), which isn't necessarily her style, and that may be why it didn't work as well for her. Kinda like Abbott's flamenco SP a couple seasons ago, which was gorgeous and extremely intricate but didn't necessarily bring in the big scores.

Well, I can say the same about Gracie's SP. Such a weird version of The sugar plum fairy's dance that doesn't suit her at all. And I didn't like choreography. Risa's SP doesn't suit her either, but at least choreography is better.
I'm very impressed with Gracie's jumps, one of the very few US girls with great jumps, she really completes the rotation in the air, not on the ice, the jumps are solid and fully rotated. But I think she needs to work on her skating skills and posture, Shoji is much better in these aspects. I don't think she would have a chance to beat clean Julia, but still I think USFSF is really stupid to give her only one assignment when skaters like Cain got two

[bigsisjiejie]

Ladies final group is up. Cesario just skated and her TES is shockingly low, even though for now she is in first with 145.96. I would not be surprised if she has just thrown away her chance to make the JGPF. We'll know in another half-hour.

[bigsisjiejie]

And Gracie Gold puts up a big score FS 112.51 overall 172.69. With nice PCS numbers....so much for those who thought that the unknown would get dissed by the judges on PCS. First place for now and that's likely to hold.

USFS is looking pretty stupid for their earlier decisions on certain JGP entrants. Gold obviously had not only high scores and was competition-ready, but had momentum building throughout the summer competitions, it should have been a no-brainer to schedule her earlier in the series to see how she did, to leave room for a second. Very bad USFS strategizing.