I need earlier pictures of Mao and Akiko together to verify if Mao has indeed grown taller, accounting for her recent thinness and, perhaps, jump problems.
I think the 3 russian girls will have a very intriguing rivalry very soon, depending on who survives growth spurt and other changes.
She just pales in comparison with who I think will be the greatest female russian skater Adelina Sotnikova, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Julia Lipnitskaia.
Russian ladies is looking really interesting, with the three wunderkids.. oh, and Shelepen.. and Leonova skating well too. I think Makarova is kind of out of the picture for now though. Does anyone know what happened to Sofia Biryukova? Is she even skating on the GP circuit? Did she retire?
It's pretty clear from her GP events that Cynthia Phaneuf needs to consider retiring. She doesn't seem to care that she's singling jumps left and right and has about a 20% success rate with her 3z. Her only reliable jump any more is the 3t, and that won't do at the senior level.
If she successfully defends her Canadian title and goes to Worlds, with her current capabilities, Cynthia is in danger of not making the cut for the FS, and that would be disastrous.
I'm now a fan of Brian, I take back anything bad I said about him in the past. He's one of the greatest coaches of all time, and soooo young...
ps: still wish Mirai Nagasu (& for that matter Rachael & Agnes) would go to Brian Orser and beg him to take them on as a pupil. After seeing what he's done for Elene G., whom I thought washed up after so many years of seeing nothing, I'm now a fan of Brian, I take back anything bad I said about him in the past. He's one of the greatest coaches of all time, and soooo young...
Absolutely. [Wagner] should have been third in the SP. The fact that those crap programs are getting the points they're getting is absolutely nuts.
I think this sets up Ashley well for Nationals. She has been very clean in both segments and her technique and artistry is greatly improved under Mr. Nicks tutelage. It will be even better if she goes for a 3F-3T.
...and Wagner herself just now admitted in the post-FS interview on NBC that she's "not so pleased" with her 4th place finish (but is happy with how she skated).