I will only do the final 2 flights tonight, and then I will post the others on Sunday. Sorry... time is slipping away!
Yasuharu Nanri (JPN) "Lorelei"
Skating in an all-white military uniform with whiteboot covers. 3A-3T—3F—2R—Flying sit—1L—3A—3L-2t—Flying sit—straightline steps—3S—scratchy combination spin—circular steps—2A—flying combination spin to close. Tech: 60.26; Comp: 55.16; Total: 115.42/172.82.
Jialiang Wu (CHN) “2nd Paino Concerto” by Rachmaninov
3F-3T—3A—3T—3L (Nice start!)—flying sit—circular steps—back camel—3A—2S—sit spin—1L—straightline steps and he begins to struggle with the altitude—3F; step out of a 3R—change foot combination spin to close. Tech: 53.16; Comp: 50.72; Total: 103.88/164.64.
Michael Weiss (USA) “Symphony #6 and Moonlight Sonata”
2A—2A-3T—sit spin—1A (I am thinking “What is he doing?”)—3R with tight landing—some sort of spin that I couldn’t see because someone walked in front of me—3F-3T—sit spin—2S—circular steps—3L—straightline steps—2A—combination spin to close. This was a pitiful performance, and I question Mike’s commitment to finish his skating season. I hope that if he is called up for Worlds, he declines. Tech: 50.03; Comp: 62.30; Total: 112.33/171.22.
Nicholas Young (CAN) “Walkin Boss” and “Blues for Mothers”
What is it with Canadian men and blues music? 2A—2A-3T—sit spin—1A—3R—some sort of spin that the same person blocked because they were returning to their seat—3F-3T—sit spin—2S—circular steps—3L—straightline steps—2A—combination spin to close. Nick has huge jumps when his timing is on. Can he skate pairs with a tall guy? He is sooooo tiny! Tech: 50.86; Comp: 58.86; Ded: -1.00; Total: 108.72/162.30.
Xiaodong Ma (CHN) “Hidalgo”
In brown with the cursed skating color of orange accents. 4T-3T—3A-3T—fall on 1L—flying sit spin—flying camel—step out on 2L—two footed and oddly landed 2R—3A—2A-2T—sit spin—very slow altitude-impacted straightline steps—3S—circular steps—combination spin to close. Tech: 60.95; Comp: 52.30; Ded: -1.00; Total: 112.25/172.11.
Sean Carlow (AUS) “Pink Panther”
3R (step out)—3T—2A—flying sit—3T-2T—3S—camel—very entertaining comically interpreted circular steps—telegraphed 2S—1F—combination spin—straightline steps; again, very fun—1A—sit spin to close. Aussie/Kiwi/Mexican crowd went nuts for him! Very nice skate for him, and so much improved from when I saw him at 2003 Worlds. Tech: 35.14; Comp: 52.84!!!; Total: 87.98/136.68.
Scott Smith (USA) “The Mask of Zorro”
3A-3T—2S (supposed to be a quad)—3A—3R—combination spin—2L—3F-2T-2T—spread eagle into combination spin—sit spin—straightline steps—3S-2T—circular steps—flying sit to close. Scott has improved so much on the component side of his skating, but I think that he still doesn’t have body awareness. He should take some ballet and I think some latin dance to give him better line and some snap to his choreography. Tech: 64.29; Comp: 59.12; Total: 123.41/185.25.
Nobunari Oda (JPN) “Zatoichi”
Fall on 1A into the boards and hit his head to start. Takes a while to get up, seems dazed, and then starts skating again after 10 seconds.—3L-3T-2T (Wow!)—flying sit—3S-2T—then stops the program again, seems very disoriented and skates in circles for another 15 seconds.—3A—3F—sit spin—3R—straightline footwork—2A—1L—circular steps—combination spin to close. Okay, so I give him credit for skating the entire program, but his component scores were WAY too high. There is no reason for him to be 5 points higher than Scott Smith. He should have had scores in the 4s for what he did. Tech: 60.84; Comp: 64.56; Ded: -1.00; Total: 124.40/201.69.
Kensuke Nakaniwa (JPN) “The Lord of the Rings”
3T (planned quad)—3S—3L-2T—combination spin—spread eagle followed by very interesting choreography into 3F-2T—3L—3R—flying combination spin—sit spin—Fall out of a 2F—circular steps that are very entertaining—2A with a 3turn on the ice—straightline steps—flying sit to close, and ended after the music. Very interesting program, and a very attractive skater overall. Kensuke skates like a European. Tech: 52.70; Comp: 61.20; Total: 113.90/177.19.
Marc-Andre Craig (CAN) “I Will Not Wait For You” by M. Legrand
Step out of a 3A to start—3R with wide-swinging free leg—3F-3T—combination spin—3L—straightline steps—Besty squat to sit spin—2A-2T—this choreography is really boring and kind of arrogant at the same time—2S—circular steps with no personality—3F-3T sequence, though I think that he put one too many hops between the jumps. Tech: 57.28; Comp: 63.22; Total: 120.50/186.12.
Christopher Mabee (CAN) “Pearl Harbor”
3R—3A—3L-3T(step out)—sit spin—flying sit—2A-3T—3F—3L hands down (enough to be considered a fall)—straightline steps—3S with hand down—nifty choregraphy into a 2A from a standstill—combination spin—circular steps—flying combination spin. Very nice program, and I am glad that he won this portion. I think that he should have been scored about 15 points better than Oda, whichwould have given him the win. Chris has a huge future in skating… perfect for COP! He gave his flowers to the little girls asking for autographs after the awards. Tech: 65.84; Comp: 65.72; Total: 130.56/198.69.
Matt Savoie (USA) “The Mission”
1R—3A-2T—3F-2T-1R—At this point Matt looks like he gave up—circular steps that were very uninspired—2S—combination spin—sit spin—2A—straightline steps—slying sit—1L—2L—combination spin—2T to close. This was the worst I have ever seen Matt skate. His scores were too high, I think. Tech: 46.09; Comp: 68.42; Total: 114.51/190.15.
Yasuharu Nanri (JPN) "Lorelei"
Skating in an all-white military uniform with whiteboot covers. 3A-3T—3F—2R—Flying sit—1L—3A—3L-2t—Flying sit—straightline steps—3S—scratchy combination spin—circular steps—2A—flying combination spin to close. Tech: 60.26; Comp: 55.16; Total: 115.42/172.82.
Jialiang Wu (CHN) “2nd Paino Concerto” by Rachmaninov
3F-3T—3A—3T—3L (Nice start!)—flying sit—circular steps—back camel—3A—2S—sit spin—1L—straightline steps and he begins to struggle with the altitude—3F; step out of a 3R—change foot combination spin to close. Tech: 53.16; Comp: 50.72; Total: 103.88/164.64.
Michael Weiss (USA) “Symphony #6 and Moonlight Sonata”
2A—2A-3T—sit spin—1A (I am thinking “What is he doing?”)—3R with tight landing—some sort of spin that I couldn’t see because someone walked in front of me—3F-3T—sit spin—2S—circular steps—3L—straightline steps—2A—combination spin to close. This was a pitiful performance, and I question Mike’s commitment to finish his skating season. I hope that if he is called up for Worlds, he declines. Tech: 50.03; Comp: 62.30; Total: 112.33/171.22.
Nicholas Young (CAN) “Walkin Boss” and “Blues for Mothers”
What is it with Canadian men and blues music? 2A—2A-3T—sit spin—1A—3R—some sort of spin that the same person blocked because they were returning to their seat—3F-3T—sit spin—2S—circular steps—3L—straightline steps—2A—combination spin to close. Nick has huge jumps when his timing is on. Can he skate pairs with a tall guy? He is sooooo tiny! Tech: 50.86; Comp: 58.86; Ded: -1.00; Total: 108.72/162.30.
Xiaodong Ma (CHN) “Hidalgo”
In brown with the cursed skating color of orange accents. 4T-3T—3A-3T—fall on 1L—flying sit spin—flying camel—step out on 2L—two footed and oddly landed 2R—3A—2A-2T—sit spin—very slow altitude-impacted straightline steps—3S—circular steps—combination spin to close. Tech: 60.95; Comp: 52.30; Ded: -1.00; Total: 112.25/172.11.
Sean Carlow (AUS) “Pink Panther”
3R (step out)—3T—2A—flying sit—3T-2T—3S—camel—very entertaining comically interpreted circular steps—telegraphed 2S—1F—combination spin—straightline steps; again, very fun—1A—sit spin to close. Aussie/Kiwi/Mexican crowd went nuts for him! Very nice skate for him, and so much improved from when I saw him at 2003 Worlds. Tech: 35.14; Comp: 52.84!!!; Total: 87.98/136.68.
Scott Smith (USA) “The Mask of Zorro”
3A-3T—2S (supposed to be a quad)—3A—3R—combination spin—2L—3F-2T-2T—spread eagle into combination spin—sit spin—straightline steps—3S-2T—circular steps—flying sit to close. Scott has improved so much on the component side of his skating, but I think that he still doesn’t have body awareness. He should take some ballet and I think some latin dance to give him better line and some snap to his choreography. Tech: 64.29; Comp: 59.12; Total: 123.41/185.25.
Nobunari Oda (JPN) “Zatoichi”
Fall on 1A into the boards and hit his head to start. Takes a while to get up, seems dazed, and then starts skating again after 10 seconds.—3L-3T-2T (Wow!)—flying sit—3S-2T—then stops the program again, seems very disoriented and skates in circles for another 15 seconds.—3A—3F—sit spin—3R—straightline footwork—2A—1L—circular steps—combination spin to close. Okay, so I give him credit for skating the entire program, but his component scores were WAY too high. There is no reason for him to be 5 points higher than Scott Smith. He should have had scores in the 4s for what he did. Tech: 60.84; Comp: 64.56; Ded: -1.00; Total: 124.40/201.69.
Kensuke Nakaniwa (JPN) “The Lord of the Rings”
3T (planned quad)—3S—3L-2T—combination spin—spread eagle followed by very interesting choreography into 3F-2T—3L—3R—flying combination spin—sit spin—Fall out of a 2F—circular steps that are very entertaining—2A with a 3turn on the ice—straightline steps—flying sit to close, and ended after the music. Very interesting program, and a very attractive skater overall. Kensuke skates like a European. Tech: 52.70; Comp: 61.20; Total: 113.90/177.19.
Marc-Andre Craig (CAN) “I Will Not Wait For You” by M. Legrand
Step out of a 3A to start—3R with wide-swinging free leg—3F-3T—combination spin—3L—straightline steps—Besty squat to sit spin—2A-2T—this choreography is really boring and kind of arrogant at the same time—2S—circular steps with no personality—3F-3T sequence, though I think that he put one too many hops between the jumps. Tech: 57.28; Comp: 63.22; Total: 120.50/186.12.
Christopher Mabee (CAN) “Pearl Harbor”
3R—3A—3L-3T(step out)—sit spin—flying sit—2A-3T—3F—3L hands down (enough to be considered a fall)—straightline steps—3S with hand down—nifty choregraphy into a 2A from a standstill—combination spin—circular steps—flying combination spin. Very nice program, and I am glad that he won this portion. I think that he should have been scored about 15 points better than Oda, whichwould have given him the win. Chris has a huge future in skating… perfect for COP! He gave his flowers to the little girls asking for autographs after the awards. Tech: 65.84; Comp: 65.72; Total: 130.56/198.69.
Matt Savoie (USA) “The Mission”
1R—3A-2T—3F-2T-1R—At this point Matt looks like he gave up—circular steps that were very uninspired—2S—combination spin—sit spin—2A—straightline steps—slying sit—1L—2L—combination spin—2T to close. This was the worst I have ever seen Matt skate. His scores were too high, I think. Tech: 46.09; Comp: 68.42; Total: 114.51/190.15.
