Figure Skating in Australia

[GF2445]

This weeks grand prix is back in Europe in the Kosice, Slovakia.

Australia's Kailani Craine, the current national junior ladies champion and winner of the junior ladies event at the inagural Skate Down Under last month will be competing.

All the best of luck for our sole representative.

 

[GF2445]

This weeks grand prix is back in Europe in the Kosice, Slovakia.

Australia's Kailani Craine, the current national junior ladies champion and winner of the junior ladies event at the inagural Skate Down Under last month will be competing.

All the best of luck for our sole representative.

Kailani is skating in the final group which is on now. All the best of luck!

 

[GF2445]

Unfortunately, she wasnt lucky. She only managed 31pts. Thats ok- there is still the free program to go

 

[GF2445]

Congratulations Kailani for moving up in the Free Program. She finished 18th in the Free, moving her from 25th to 21st. She scored a total of 102.21. A respectable total for her International Junior Grand Prix debut.
The crowd loved her program but the technical specialist were assessing her jumps like crazy.
Great job- just get your jumps around!


Also, a big congratulations to Kailani, taking the silver medal in the Junior Ladies event of the Lombardia Trophy in Milan, Italy

Also a big thumbs up to Chantelle Kerry who finished 8th at her first Junior Grand Prix Assignment with a total score of 123.94. David Kranjec finished 11th with 145.03 points.

 

[GF2445]

Downunder and back again: Danielle and Greg's Blog

In this blog, Dani and Greg talk about their experience at Skate Down Under and the travel issues they encountered to get to Sydney.

Article Written by Danielle O'Brien for the Australian Olympic Committee
Published on September 23, 2013
Link to Article Below
http://sochi2014.olympics.com.au/blog/downunder-and-back-again-danielle-and-greg-s-blog

 

[karne]

Nebelhorn is this week! Good luck to Brooklee, Brendan and Danielle and Greg!

 

[GF2445]

Nebelhorn is this week! Good luck to Brooklee, Brendan and Danielle and Greg!

All the best!

 

[GF2445]

Last Olympic spots on the line

"The final Olympic Qualifying Event for figure skating will get underway this week in Oberstdorf, Germany, with four Aussie athletes looking qualification for the Sochi 2014 Games..."

Article Written by Alice Wheeler for the Australian Olympic Committee
Published on 26th September, 2013
Link to Article Below
http://sochi2014.olympics.com.au/news/last-olympic-spots-on-the-line

__________________________________________________________________________

Merriman and O'Brien look to Sochi

ABC Grandstand TV follows the journey of ice dancing couple Greg Merriman and Danielle O'Brien as they look to qualify for their first Olympic Winter Games. News Report vision thanks to ABC.

Report by Amanda Shalala for ABC Grandstand
Published 24th September, 2013
Link to Article Below
http://sochi2014.olympics.com.au/media/29BCFAB0-24DD-11E3-ACF0005056A37760

 

[GF2445]

Hot competition for last Winter Olympic places

"The final Winter Olympic Qualification competition for Sochi 2014 begins tomorrow in Oberstorf, Germany and four Australians are hoping to secure their place including six-time Australian Ice Dance champions, Danielle O’Brien and Greg Merriman...."

*This includes some comments made by one of their coaches Massimo Scali about their chances.

Article Written by Belinda Noonan for Burwood Scene (A local newspaper in Sydney's inner west, home to the Canterbury Ice Rink)
Published on September 26, 2013
Link to Article Below
http://www.burwoodscene.com.au/2013/09/26/hot-competition-for-last-winter-olympic-places/

______________________________________________________________________________________

Aussie ice skaters in last Olympic bids

"Four Australian ice skaters are making last-ditch attempts to qualify for next year's Winter Olympics in Russia..."

Article Written for the Australian Associated Press (Fairfax)
Published on September 26, 2013 at 11:52am (AEST)
Link to Article Below
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8729491

 

[GF2445]

It begins......

Ok. It's Brooklee's turn.

Good Combo
AAHH!- fall on Triple Loop
Nice recovery with Double Axel
Super Spins-- she is behind in the music
Just makes it!

---------------------------------------------------------
Despite a fall on the triple loop, Brooklee Han scored 48.74pts for her SP.
She is currently in 6th place, however, since 1st-4th place at the moment are skaters from nations who already qualified (Japan, United States, Canada and Germany), she is in actual fact very much still in the competition.

 

[karne]

At the end of the short program, Brooklee is tenth overall, and fifth of the non-qualified skaters.

 

[GF2445]

After the SP, Brooklee is sitting in 10th Place and is in prime position to take an Olympic Spot.

Podium Results after SP
1. Elena Radionova RUS 64.69
2. Miki Ando JPN 59.79
3. Ashley Cain USA 57.87
-----------------------------
4. Veronik Mallet CAN 55.79
5. Nathalie Weinzierl GER 64.60
______________________________

Skaters in qualification position
1. Elene Gedevanishvili GEO 51.59 (6th)
2. Elizaveta Ukolova CZE 50.93 (7th)
3. Isadora Williams BRA 50.35 (8th)
4. Kerstin Frank AUT 48.81 (9th)
5. Brooklee Han AUS 48.74 (10th)
6. Anne Line Gjersem NOR 48.35 (11th)
----------------------------------------------
Kaat Vane Daele BEL 47.87 (12th)
Fleur Maxwell LUX 47.13 (13th)
Inga Januleviciute LTH 45.74 (15th)
Alisson Krystle Perticheto PHI 45.17 (16th)
*The skater in 14th place has already qualified for the Olympics

 

[GF2445]

Well next is pairs and there are no aussies in that event so sleep time! It's past midnight!!!!!

See you all in a couple of hours to dance!

 

[karne]

Well next is pairs and there are no aussies in that event so sleep time! It's past midnight!!!!!

See you all in a couple of hours to dance!

I am not a morning person. Blegh.

Protocols are up and to note, Brooklee got +GOE on EVERYTHING except the 3Lo< which she fell off (-3, obviously). Well done!

 

[GF2445]

I am not a morning person. Blegh.

Protocols are up and to note, Brooklee got +GOE on EVERYTHING except the 3Lo< which she fell off (-3, obviously). Well done!

Also, i get the impression that Brooklee has that grit and determination which you need to get through the free program. Some of the skaters that are in the mix have had a history of struggling in the long- Kerstin and Elene in particular. The dream is very much still alive and kicking

 

[GF2445]

Morming everyone. Its 6:30am in Sydney and I am ready to see the dance. GO DANI AND GREG.
As expected its going to be tight. Fingers crossed that they can move ahead of the main clump of couples.
______________________________________________________________________________________

Okay it's now Dani and Greg's turn. Great outfits!
Nice opening- very peppy and bright-- what everyone loves in a quickstep.
Finnstep pattern good start, good on the standing stop....little shaky out of the standing stop though!
Great Twizzles- Danielle a little off on the second set
Nice change in mood
Good on the step sequence- Greg could work on using his knees more, maybe a tad more speed, fits the character of the dance perfectly but could be more difficult....gees I'm being picky
Wonderful transition into the Charleston- very entertaining
Great transition into the lift and fantastic rotational lift
Great performance

Fingers crossed- you can never tell with the scores in Ice Dance
ok
50.62...great news..in third at the moment

 

[GF2445]

Skaters set sights on Sochi on Day 1

"With the final Olympic quota places on offer, figure skaters from across the world converged on the Bavarian enclave of Oberstdorf, Germany overnight..."

Article Written by Alice Wheeler for the Australian Olympic Committee
Published on September 27, 2013
Link to Article Below
http://sochi2014.olympics.com.au/news/skaters-set-sights-on-sochi-on-day-1

 

[GF2445]

Aussies in Oberstdorf--Marking Breakdown of Day One

Ladies' Short Program

Skater: Brooklee Han

Overall, Brooklee had a solid skate, with great execution in all but one of the elements. She seemed to hold back today (which could be a good thing) and that fall on the Triple Loop did put her behind in the music, which was evident when her arm moves didn't match to the music in the step sequence. As always she has wonderful spins- flexibility, fast rotations and a lot of beautiful positions. She can always work towards deeper edges and overall speed across the ice as well as making some of the choreography and transitions more challenging to boost her presentation mark and to help her portray more clearly what this program is about. She didn't have the same fearlessness that we usually see from her but maybe she is saving if for the Free Skate. Fingers Crossed that it's the case but overall, a super skate from her.

Technical Elements:
(Element: BV+GOE=TOTAL)
3T+2T: 5.40+0.40=4.80
3Lo<: 3.60-2.10=1.50
FCSp4: 3.20+0.71=3.91
2Ax[10% bonus for being in second half]: 3.63+0.50=4.13
LSp4: 2.70+1.00=3.70
StSq3: 3.30+0.64=3.94
CCoSp4: 3.50+0.71=4.21
Technical Elements 27.19

Presentation (Factor results by X0.8)
Skating Skills (Range of marks 4.75-6.25) >>> 5.57
Transitions/Linking Footwork (Range of marks 4.75-6.00) >>> 5.29
Performance/Execution (Range of marks 5.00-6.75) >>> 5.75
Choreography/Composition (Range of marks 5.00-6.75) >>> 5.75
Interpretation (Range of marks 5.25-6.50) >>> 5.82
Presentation Score after factoring by X0.8 22.55

Deductions:
Fall -1.00

Total Score for Short Program 48.74
Rank after SP: 10th/35 skaters
Rank after SP amongst skaters looking for Olympic Qualification: 5th/29 Skaters
-See comment 32 for a breakdown skater by skater

Current Status: IN GOOD CONTENTION TO QUALIFY

Video Link to her Short Program below.
British Eurosport- Commentators Simon Reed & Nicky Slater
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL3t-FKMUns

 

[karne]

Danielle and Greg are 6th overall and 3rd non-qualified after the short dance! Yay!

 

[GF2445]

Ice Dance Short Dance

Skaters: Danielle O'brien & Gregory Merriman

When a Dance Team start the season with an official PB, you know it's going to be a good season for them. You can tell by how they skated they trained hard in the off season. Their timing, lines, speed, unison and connection have improved immensely and I hope they will continue to improve.

Technically, the program was strong and they rewarded for that. There were a few moments of imperfection- the second set of twizzles and the steps after the standing stop section of the Finnstep pattern. Also, they need to think about the construction of their non-touching step sequence as they only received a level 2.

On the presentation side of things, their marks have improved. They have a great outgoing fun presence on the ice! But there is room the grow but they need to continue to challenge themselves with more difficult choreography and transitions and to continue to develop that connection between each other in order for them to push even further (that middle section can be a little steamier!). They also need to explore new dance holds as they tended to use alot of kilian hold (side by side dance hold). Today was a little on the safe side but knowing how much they love their Free Dance, I'm sure they have every chance to qualify!

Technical Elements
(Element: BV+GOE=TOTAL)
1Finnstep Level 3: 6.00+0.00=6.00
2Finnstep Level 2: 5.00+0.07=5.07
STw4: 6.00+0.07=6.07
NtMiSt2: 5.00+0.29=5.29
RoLi4: 4.00+0.71=4.71
Technical Elements 27.14

Presentation
Skating Skills [factor by x0.8] (Range of marks 5.25-7.00) >>> 5.93
Linking Footwork/Movement [factor by x0.7] (Range of marks 5.00-6.75) >>> 5.64
Performance [factor by x0.7] (Range of marks 5.50-7.00) >>> 6.00
Choreography [factor by x0.8] (Range of marks 5.25-6.50) >>> 5.79
Interpretation/Timing [factor by x1.0] (Range of marks 5.25-7.00) >>> 5.86
Presentation Score after factoring 23.38

Total Score for Short Dance 50.52
Rank after SD: 6th/22 couples
Rank after SD amongst skater looking for Olympic Qualification: 3rd/17 Couples

Podium Results after SD
1. Alexandra Paul/Mitchell Islam CAN 59.06
2. Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue USA 56.53
3. Ksenia Monko/Kirill Khaliavin
_______________________________________________________

Skaters in qualification position
1. Alisa Agafonova/Alper Ucar TUR 51.51 (4th)
2. Xintong Huang/Xun Zheng CHN 51.16 (5th)
3. Danielle O'brien/Gregory Merriman 50.52 (6th)
4. Cathy Reed/Chris Reed JPN 48.41 (8th)
5. Federica Testa/Lukas Csolley SVK 48.30 (9th)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sara Hurtado/Adria Diaz ESP 46.68 (10th)
Ramona Elsener/Florian Roose SUI 46.27 (11th)
Henna Lindholm/Ossi Kanervo FIN 45.68 (12th)
Angelina Telegina/Otar Japaridze GEO 45.47 (13th)
*The nation of the couple in 7th place already have qualfied spots in Ice Dance

Current Status: IN GOOD CONTENTION TO QUALIFY

Video Link to their Short Dance below.
British Eurosport- Commentators Simon Reed & Nicky Slater
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRRaT4AbavM