Figure skating GPS ( 2008 ) my review

Happy New Year !

Finally I was able to watch most of GPS events for men and ladies. But could not make some time for ice dancing and pair, so I can only comment for those two.

My favorite programs and performances which made me to watch over and over were ..

Men

Johnny Weir FP ( NHK Trophy & GPF )

Seems like many people hasn’t been impress for both of his programs this season. But I really loved his FP and is still enjoy watching it for NHK Trophy and GPF.

Jumps mistakes in it were not so big deal to me. Because other parts such as his whole body movements, especially his upper body , arms, hands and also his facial expression ! I thought this program is great.

The choreography he did in the middle of the program was very impressive, it had deep emotion and his natural facial expression with his body language was interesting and was very emotional, and also straight line sequence was powerful, with every artistic movements were well balanced.

In GPF, it was a little slow in the last parts of straight line sequence, but whole the impression was still great and beautiful to watch.

NHK

TSS= TES + PCS + SS TR PE CH IN
146.27 69.97 76.30 7.75 7.35 7.65 7.60 7.80
GPF

TSS= TES + PCS + SS TR PE CH IN
143.00 71.30 71.70 7.45 6.60 7.40 7.10 7.30

He received PCS 76.30 in NHK , and 71.30 in GPF. And in GPF, he received the lowest PCS out of 5 contenders.

I’m still not sure about PCS.. And also GOE. Depending on the event, it always different. Johnny’s transition in NHK and GPF looked not much different to me seeing both of his performances. But he received 7.35 in NHK and 6.60 in GPF.

His SP, on the other hand , somehow I felt his movements were stiff and no story telling choreo instead of all recycling from last seasons. There was not impressive expression in this program so far. Hope he will fix this to get more impact.

Patrick Chan FP ( GPF )

Even though he made a lot of jump mistakes in it, this was very fun. I don’t know why his skating has impact to me. He is powerful and dynamic and the choreography was very interesting.

If he improve more his upper part body movements ( including arms and hands ) it would be even more impressive. Because his down part of movements are so good. Still not polished yet, but I think he is very talented and no doubt he will be better and better every season.

It’s funny, I don’t consider him as an true artist, however his skating has charisma and even though how many jumps he fell , if he is on with that powerful smooth dynamic skating skill, I can always enjoy watching it. Just like Lambiel in a different way.

I don’t say he is like a Lambiel since they are different type of skaters , but has something something.

Brian Joubert SP ( Cup of Russia )

This was so much fun to watch and he was completely on and connected to audience and music with full of energy.

Great out going performance. The choreography in it was very interesting. I found Platov is a great choreographer.

I always thought Johnny’s the Swan, Otonal, Hana wonderland were choreographed by only Tarasova, but there was Platov who was helping , and he might be the point of all Johnny’s great programs.

For men, those three are very enjoyable to watch so far.

Adam Rippon

I’ve seen only one of his SP this season, ( maybe it was COR ) he was great this one. He is emotional and has good facial expression , his movements are not polished yet, but still good to watch. I like his Morozov movements ( people call that way ).

Seems like he just left from Morozov and head to Brian Orser who is a Yu Na Kim’s coach. I wonder how he will change in Nationals.

Jeremy Abbot

His FP in GPF was great. I thought he improved his arm movements from last season. He landed all the jumps , that was well done, still make me scary for some of his landing though.

And when I watched it second time… I found I was a little bit getting bored. Don’t know why ? Maybe the music ?? His programs has great choreography and especially transition is very good , almost non stop, not just doing element to element.

However… it doesn’t work to me. I didn’t find much originality and personality in his skating.
I enjoyed his FP last season a lot though even though his movements were not as good as this season, but music and the choreography was more interesting.

Ryan Bradley

I like his FP this season. That is re-used program from last season but I found his movements and every pose improved a lot and thought he is a good dancer. Only his lack of skating skill and his jumps still look heavy and are not impressive. But entertainment and is out going to audience.
I always like to see good dancers on ice.

Takahiko Kozuka

His SP in GPF was his best this season and I enjoyed it. Good point of his skating is his speed and high skating skill. Not much originality , however he is not copying anyone else’s skating style. That’s a good thing.

The music Take five is one of my favorites, so that may be one of the reason I like it. I because I also dance with the music in the dance studio and is familiar to me.

His FP was not so inspired , honestly I got bored. Because the music is Romeo and Juliet, so need an emotion and facial expression, so he may be more fit with more something out going type of program than lyrical style, since he is not an artist on ice.

Tomas Verner

Hmm… I saw he changed his style for his FP from last seasons and found some improvements from his arm movements in it. However… it’s not tango movements and doesn’t find an impressive part.

His SP which are used program from last season is actually more enjoyable to watch, and fit with his style. Just I’m not so crazy for his costumes…

Yannick Ponsero

What impressed me was his quad he did in NHK. It was very powerful and stable with good landing. For musicality … he may be a good dancer, but it’s just not my taste and didn’t work to me. I prefer to see more beautiful dancers who care small details , and look effortless and I could not find those points in his skating.

Ladies
Yu na Kim

SP This was impressive especially her facial expression , and her arm, hands and body movements are much better than last seasons and became more well balanced artistically. And the choreography was interesting.

Her skating has power and speed and her 3-3 combo is always great to watch. Very high quality jumps. Both of her costumes are gorgeous and her make up also look very cool. She is very talented.

Only her EX Gala Number was not so inspired.

Yukari Nakano

Her FP Giselle is my favorite ballet theme and I’m familiar with it besides the choreography in it was very interesting and enjoyable. She is not an ballerina but is trying to be artistic with her arms and hands and thought it was doing good.

I love this kind of story telling programs. It a shame she is not qualified for world team this season because it’s my favorite ladies program this season so far.

Mirai Nagasu

Both of her programs are very interesting to watch because this is also story telling programs. There are ups and downs in it, the choreography is something unique. I love her skating.

I found she got her own skating style. Poor Mirai for having jump problems. But jumps are not only the point to watch to me , if other parts has some interesting, I can enjoy with them.

Ashley Wagner

I liked both of her programs this season. I thought she improved her artistry seeing her every movements of her arms, hands. I suppose Pricilla Hill who is Johnny’s ex-coach taught her well.

Miki Ando

SP Her GPF performance was great. It was very beautiful. I really think she is a beautiful skater ( for SP since 2006-2007) no matter what others say.

Because total look of her pose ( body arms ,hands and fingers ) are artistic and well balanced and nothing casual.

But I’m not so crazy for her FP this season. ( both her Giselle and also her new one ) I don’t know, but maybe choreography is very simple and all elements . Her Carmen was more interesting to watch.

But it was very impressive to watch her quad in it. In my eyes, she did land when I watched it carefully with slow-motion several times.

Mao Asada

I originally love her skating, however both of her programs this season are not so inspired. Maybe the reasons are the busy choreographies, not so story telling program , so non facial expression, no emotion.

I feel she is skating the music as back ground music instead of with music. Her arm movements also not really beautiful for those one.

Good part of her skating is her jumps. Smooth and elegant and beautiful. I see she has her own style. I feel Tarasova is not so good for her. Some people say she is overrated as choreographer. But since seeing Evan’s programs and also for those Mao’s ( since last season ) I was not so inspired. It looks like she is doing job , elements to elements.

Mao’s costumes are also not so good and doesn’t make her look beautiful. Especially her FP’s costume, the design of the upper parts a little bother me.

I loved her Nocturne program and also her EX number ( tango). Hope she will change her choreographer next season, if possible.

Fumie Suguri

.. hasn’t watched yet. But I’m glad to hear that she got silver medal in Japanese Nationals this season and is going to worlds. It was worth to change her coach ( Morozov ) so far, even though she was not so successful during GFS. Best of luck to her.

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