On reflection after seeing the ladies vids on youtube (big thank you to hanna for supplying these, need to watch the men's soon) I think it was a great start to the season. I thought all the ladies performed well. What is so good with the COP is that the skaters can view their sheets and work on things for the next competition, so that is great.
Loved Sarah Meier's short program to Samba. I think this program will grow and loved her interpretation to the music. What is so good with Sarah is that she can adapt so easily to any piece of music. Her LP (i think the music was yellow river concerto) was a little bit laboured but I can see its potential. I would have liked Sarah to have kept her LP to La Folle in black/Red autumn from last year as it was well put together.
Elene Gedevaishvilli great start to season, she has got her lutz back, great power, length and speed on it, still needs to be careful not to double touch down and sensible to put the salchow in just to make the SP clean, as her spins and step sequences are very good, Elene has certainly worked on PCS this year as they have increased immensely. Love her LP to selections of latin her best LP to date and really suits her style, again this program will grow and I think she is on her way to top 5 again for euro's.
Laura Lepisto has improved greatly, a great skating style, her skating skills and transitions are one of the best, her SP is good and will improve. Glad she kept her LP to Juan Der Marco, such a good well thought put together program, just worries me she has not got the flip or lutz, if she had these "Oh Boy" I would think she be a hot contender for the Gold in her home country, but without these she might be bridesmaid again to Kostner and Meier, we shall see!!, but two silvers for Laura in the B Series well done indeed.
Susanna Poykio great to see her back, struggled a bit on her landings of her jumps but her style is so clean and lovely to watch. Just needs to push out more on her choreography as I noticed her PCS were under 50 which was unusual for her, but I think having a year out as hurt her there but its early days and I am sure Susanna will work on areas for upcoming tournaments. Loved her classical look this year I hope she does well and can make the Euro team. Good luck Susanna.
Jenna McCorkell certainly has improved and things are on the rise since working alongside Kevin Van Der Perren in Belgium. Jenna has learned a lot and seems more confident. Glad she kept her Harem SP that is a great choice for her and I love that straight line step sequence at the end and I love Jenna's jumping technique. I think she will get better!!
Jenni Vahamaa seems to have grown a bit and has affected her timing of the jumps but I am sure they will be back and I think Jenni has a great future for herself as well as for the finnish skating federation. Loved both her SP and LP and I hope she does well.
Akiko Suzuki well what a surprise, she was on fire. Really enjoyed her flow and her jumping, dont know too much about her but Japan has another good talent and if she keeps this up could be a surprise at Nationals. a bronze and now Gold on the B series just so good for her.
The Japanese are doing well at the moment with Oda, Mura and Suzuki and we have not seen their counterparts yet who will surely do well on the grand prix series.
And her 
