Most improved skaters so far

[hongligl]

Well, from what I saw so far the prizes go to-------

Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang and Joannie Rochette!

Zhang/Zhang now have very realistic shot for 2010 golds as Dan Zhang finally had the breakthrough they desperately needed for so long. Hao is just as expressive as he always is. It feels strange that "graceful" came to my mind for the first time when watching them skating . Love their costums too.

Joannie Rchette, finally focused on her upper body and it shows! She's now skating like a medal contender and I wish she'll be on the world podium this year! Yuna, Mao, Joannie-----beautiful podium finish.

 

[ks777]

so far, Joannie Rochette!

 

[Spun Silver]

Ashley. It's almost like an ugly duckling-swan transformation (although she was a damn good duckling - I put her in my signature the first time I saw her). I'm so excited to see what she will do next!

 

[dom_shafan]

Joanie Rochette

 

[GiuliaPlum]

Ashley. It's almost like an ugly duckling-swan transformation (although she was a damn good duckling - I put her in my signature the first time I saw her). I'm so excited to see what she will do next!

I loved "Somewhere in time", but it's a bit disappointing to see that even Ashley wants to be "a swan", as you say. I don't get why it's compulsory to be so. Maybe for the judges? So I'm pretty tired to listen super-romantic or ballet music. There's no personality in there. Ashley's FS last year had a lot of spirit and that's why I like her.

 

[Blades of Passion]

Agreed!

 

[Buttercup]

Joannie Rochette in the ladies, which is even more impressive considering how disappointing most of the others have been so far.

In the pairs, the Zhangs' performances seemed much less flat than what I saw from them in the past. Also, Voloshozar and Morozov looked wonderful at CoC. Seems like the move to Steuer is already paying off.

 

[dutchherder]

I think Ashley Wagner looks great. She finishes off her moves a bit more and looks more composed and grown up.

Valosozhar and Morozov, for sure...I don't even remember them from before, but thought they were great at CoC...so certainly they've improved, right?

I really enjoyed Zhang and Zhang's short program. They seem to be paying more attention to the music.

Davis and White were really freakin' good already, but man... they look like they're on fire this year.

 

[BelleFilleYuna]

Valosozhar and Morozov, for sure...I don't even remember them from before, but thought they were great at CoC...so certainly they've improved, right?

ITA.
I've never seen them before but they just blew me away out of nowhere. The speed they both carry is so amazing that it makes it so much more thrilling to watch, even through the dangerous moves like lifts and throw-jumps. BTW is the 'coach' Morosov coaching them?? I saw him in K/C.

 

[rosee]

BTW is the 'coach' Morozov coaching them?? I saw him in K/C.

They are coached by Ingo Steuer. According to this article he also did the choreography.
IIRC Morozov (the coach) was doing choreography for them last year

 

[Buttercup]

I think Ashley Wagner looks great. She finishes off her moves a bit more and looks more composed and grown up.

I only saw her at 2008 Worlds before CoC, so she was definitely looking better, but I think she still lacks polish and elegance. Maybe that'll come as she gains experience and confidence.

Valosozhar and Morozov, for sure...I don't even remember them from before, but thought they were great at CoC...so certainly they've improved, right?

As someone who does remember them from before - absolutely. She was always wonderful but there has been talk in the past that he was holding her back. They seem much better matched this season, and the programs work really well in showcasing what they can do. I think they might finally win a medal at Europeans, and they could do well at Worlds, too, if they keep this up.

 

[gocaroline]

Joannie Rochette I said at 2008 worlds that she made a new fan out of me after I watched her performance on TV. I am so happy for her! Keep up the good work Joannie

 

[lmarie086]

Joannie: Her hard work over the summer is really coming across. Not to say other skaters haven't worked hard, but as I have not really followed her career up till now, man! She was great at SC!

Jeremy Abbott: in terms of nerves. I firmly believe he is one of the best skaters out there and has really only been held back by nerves. Maybe this doesn't belong specifically in this thread, but he looked very determined to land everything at CoC and I hope that continues.

Ashley Wagner: I haven't seen her LP yet, but that is one gorgeous SP! She's improved so much since going to Priscilla Hill, and she's not even done yet! There's room to become more polished yet, and once she does that and gets her jumps back, I think she does have the potential to be the top US lady. It's quite possible that flying under the radar was very beneficial to her.

Voloshozar and Morozov: She was already arguably the best female pair skater in the world (IMO) and...well I don't know just what Steuer did with Morosov but I hope he keeps doing it! And they have a very elegant LP to go with the improvements, so I'm a fan!

Davis and White: I was already a big fan but they've truly made themselves contenders with this season's programs IMO. There was almost no news from them at all over the summer and during that time they worked on just about everything I wanted them to. Is there still room for improvement? Of course; toe point and extension are still two areas I'd like them to concentrate on. But man, I was so pleased by them last week at SC!

I haven't seen Z/Z yet but everyone sounds pleased with them, so I'll make a point of finding them on youtube...

 

[Bennett]

I loved "Somewhere in time", but it's a bit disappointing to see that even Ashley wants to be "a swan", as you say. I don't get why it's compulsory to be so. Maybe for the judges? So I'm pretty tired to listen super-romantic or ballet music. There's no personality in there. Ashley's FS last year had a lot of spirit and that's why I like her.

I think her LP had a personality that seemed to go well with her own!

Rochette was also most improved!

 

[feraina]

Zhang/Zhang were very impressive at CoC. Dan (the girl) looks especially graceful/pretty compared to previously. Actually, she now reminds me (eerily much) of Pang. Their skating is taking on a new level of subtlety and artistic expression, and they still have their technical edge. I think they'll be a force to reckon with in the coming few years. They're only 23/24.

Joannie looks very good. Presentation-wise, she's more expressive and confident than before. And her jumps and general skating look stronger than ever.

I am also impressed by Ashley's artistic improvement. Priscilla Hills has really done wonders with her. However, I think her technical side has deteriorated somewhat since last year, it may have to do with puberty. She used to get a lot more height on the jumps, especially the 3Z, but now she's tight on most landings and prone to donwgrading. I hope they will go back to work on the technical side, now that she's improved so much on the artistic side.

I was very impressed by the Russian girl Alena at CoC. I'd never even seen her before, and she really had some feisty spunk.

Shawn Sawyer really impressed me at SC. I loved, loved his LP. If he can skate consistently like that, and if Chan continues to struggle with his 3A, then I don't know... maybe there will be yet another new Canadian champion this year! Certainly Shawn & Patrick would make a very formidable Canadian men's team in the coming years.

Alissa is doing so much better than the last couple of seasons. She still has some jump issues, but *so* much better compared to all the falling and popping she was prone to. It's really more "re-improvement", but she's had problems for so long, that it feels like "improvement."

 

[snowflake]

I saw Jeremy Abbot live in Göteborg. He fell a lot and I fell for him. He did a good performance then. In CoC he was fabulous. I guess he is the rocket of this season.

Ladies: Absolutely Joannie Rochette and also welcome back Fumie Suguri. Nakano, I didn't remember she was that good.

Pairs: Volosozhar/Morosov, performing much better and what about the lifts!!!

Dancers: Pechalat/Bourzat and the Kerrs are doing so well. They deserve to climb. Ice dance judgers are so conservative.

 

[fiercemao]

As someone who does remember them from before - absolutely. She was always wonderful but there has been talk in the past that he was holding her back. They seem much better matched this season, and the programs work really well in showcasing what they can do. I think they might finally win a medal at Europeans, and they could do well at Worlds, too, if they keep this up.

They are not coming out of nowhere. They were #4 at 2007 world championships losing only to S/Z, P/T & S/S. They always have the technical goods, but the inconsistency is dragging them down and the judges simply haven't passed out high PCS in the past to get them in the top tier.

I hope they can medal at world championships!

 

[chuckm]

Dancers: Pechalat/Bourzat and the Kerrs are doing so well. They deserve to climb. Ice dance judgers are so conservative.

I agree about the Kerrs, but Pechalat/Bourzat were just awful at Skate Canada. P/B were beaten at SC by a newbie Senior team (Crone/Poirier), and another newbie Senior team (Gorshkova/Butikov) were nipping at their heels.

Their OD and FD are bad, bad, bad, and that is probably due to their coaching switch from Zazoui in France to Zhulin in Russia. Unless something major happens, P/B are going to slip at Worlds, not climb.

 

[Buttercup]

They are not coming out of nowhere. They were #4 at 2007 world championships losing only to S/Z, P/T & S/S. They always have the technical goods, but the inconsistency is dragging them down and the judges simply haven't passed out high PCS in the past to get them in the top tier.

I don't think anyone suggested they were unknowns. My point is that it's not just their placement that was high, but that the quality of the skating, and of the two of them as a pair, has improved. Like lmarie086, I viewed Voloshozar as one of the top female pairs skaters currently competing, but in the past she and Morozov often seemed mismatched. They did not look mismatched at CoC.

 

[lmarie086]

I agree about the Kerrs, but Pechalat/Bourzat were just awful at Skate Canada. P/B were beaten at SC by a newbie Senior team (Crone/Poirier), and another newbie Senior team (Gorshkova/Butikov) were nipping at their heels.

Their OD and FD are bad, bad, bad, and that is probably due to their coaching switch from Zazoui in France to Zhulin in Russia. Unless something major happens, P/B are going to slip at Worlds, not climb.

In defense of P/B, who could have seen their fluke falls coming? I still think their technique is pretty sound. I don't see any improvement under Zhulin, but it hasn't deteriorated either. Even so, I am not a big fan of their FD (I kinda like their OD though) and do agree that it probably was not a good idea, regardless of their wonderful lifts (IMO).