Review of Cup Of China

Review of Cup Of China - Men

Before I watched the broadcast. I already saw Johnny ’s both programs and also Stephane’s LP on youtube. But Seeing in a big screen was very different from YouTube.

It was great to see Johnny’s skating on the broadcast without having nervous since I knew the result of his victory with perfect performances.

I was glad that ESPN broadcast showed men’s both programs I wanted to see because they usually showed only the skater who got highest score for SP, and
Johnny was in the second place at SP, so I was worry about that they may not show his SP.

So it was very nice !

Commentator Paul Wylie ’s comment about each skater was great. He always think from skater’s side instead of FS federation side.

I miss Dick Button and Terry Gannon though, they did it last season. I usually loved Dick Button’s comment about Johnny except during Olympic and 2006 Nationals.

I could see he loves Johnny’s skating and likes Johnny as a person.

Although sympathy for other skaters , because he often commented negative things about them.

But his comment was often imaginative and his funny character made me laugh. Terry Gannon’s tough comments sometimes disagreeing with Dick Button was also funny.

Johnny Weir
I was SO happy and excited for Johnny’s win with his perfect clean performances !!!

When I watched his both programs on youtube, I thought both of them are excellent and I loved more his SP than his LP because I thought his LP was less choreography at that time.

But now I changed my mind, his LP is also very impressive. Johnny’s movements looked more powerful than watching on youtube.

Compared with his other LPs, this program may have less choreography but it didn’t bother me much. His artistic movements ( body, arms, hands and fingertips ) and his expression made me excitement.

All his jumps were incredibly perfect, smooth and strong and high quality.

His jumps are very beautiful to watch, so even if it was less choreography, just doing element to element, his skating is very attractive and magical.

I don’t know what it is, it’s just magical.

I was also very glad he included one of my favorite moves , a ballet style spin which he did in Fallen Angels . I love the music “ Love is war “ very much.

His SP was very beautiful ! I thought his arms, hands, fingertips movements improved from Japanese team COP. There is not much up and down for the music, and no dynamic clear choreography but it’s deep.

His expression is sooooo good and natural !!
I love both of his costumes, too. These costumes show his beautiful body line well. Seeing his costumes are always one of my favorite things.

I thank to Johnny for the wonderful performances very much. Hope he will keep this mind toughness at COR.

Evan Lysacek

Finally I watched his new SP Zorro. He was wearing all black costume as usual. I still don’t like all black costume without any special design or glitter.

I like the music though and thought the choreography was good.

It was different from his Carmen’s choreography but I still felt it doesn’t fit with my image of Zorro. Actually Zorro has charm, but his Zorro is just energy and fighting with many arm flailing. No charm.

His good point is high energy, and that’s all my impression for his skating both his SP & LP.

Technically, he is doing all high level spins ( nothing new movements from past ) and foot work.

Same for his FP Tosca. I care for upper part of movements more than foot work. I don’t see any art from his movements because he is not feeling with music.

For his jumps, some of his jumps are good, but I noticed his triple axel is
not so stable and good quality. Looked under rotated.

It’s always enough to watch once or twice, and didn’t feel I want to watch over and over.

Evan looked upset and very disappointed at K&C, but one part I thought was funny, and not in a bad way, it just struck me funny .

When Evan saw his score and placement at K&C, he jumped up to go, then suddenly stopped and found time to grab the biggest teddy bear gift before he resumed storming out of there. Maybe he liked that big teddy bear ? LOL

His attitude in it was unpleasant to watch. Even though he was very disappointed for the result, I think there is a basic attitude as grown ups when we are in a public.

When Johnny lost national title last season, he was complimenting Evan’s performance, and I thought his attitude was beautiful.

When I watched 2004 NHK COP, Timothy Gable was hugging to Johnny and congratulated him when Timothy‘s placement was 2nd and Johnny won it.

Even though I was not Timothy’s fan, I had very good impression about him.

I thought Michael Weiss’s attitude was nice, too when he could not beat Johnny at nationals in 2004.

Comentator Peter was very rude to Michael Weiss in 2005 Marshall’s event.

Saying to him something like that

“ you did good job with your back flip and etc, however, Johnny Weir was much better. “

I thought it quite hurt Michael and not a great way to say it, even though I felt the same way.

Emanuel Sandhu was shaking hand to Brian Joubert, when Joubert did excellent job at worlds 2006.

Plushenko was also showing respect to his competitors.

I think People who can compliment others have true confidence about themselves.

My image of Evan until last season was easy going and going his own way.
Because when I watched him at Olympics on TV, he was always calm, and smiling.

And didn’t look too much competition to others.
But since last season, I thought he changed.

Why he changed suddenly ?

Stephane Lambiel

I loved his SP’s choreography. It was great ! Very unique and interesting movements and had power in it. Even though he fell from his quad , it didn’t bother me much. I love this program. I agree with his high PCS.

Only thing, his all black costume was not really great .. same as Evan's.

Seems like he is now under construction for his 3A, so he just did 2A instead of 3A in it.

And he was saying that made him pressure and too much concentrated to his quad. But his natural movements were great.

And his FP Flamenco,
Hmm.. This Stephane was not on, everything he did didn’t look feel with music except spins. Fell three times ( two from quads, one from 3F) and shaky landing from his first triple jump.

I actually loved this choreography when I watched it in last Worlds, so it was shame.

Paul Wylie was commenting about him very nicely.

He said

“ That’s not him. It's not real Stephane. It may come from mentally. When he got home , he will need to fell in love with figure skating again. “

I think Stephane is a completely feeling person, so when he can not feel with his body, it can be disaster.

This was like a nightmare for him. I felt bad seeing Stephane’s disappointed, sad face after he finished his FP and at K&C.

I have never seen him like that. But I’ve read about that he was already fine at EX and very positive for COR.

I think Johnny, Stephane, Daisuke, ( if Sandhu is there , he is also ) are artists who are truly feeling with music.

Ladies

Caloline Zang

I was impressed by her SP ! I’ve watched only her FP at Skate America on broadcast and her FP was not really impressive for me and I didn’t know her SP.
It’s different from her FP and some of her movements in it reminds me of Sasha Cohen’s strong passionate movements.

Caroline cared for each details of her arms and fingertips movements in it.
I love this kind of style. I think she is very talented.

She knows ballet, and dancing, only her jumps are not so stable and polished. But I’m sure she will be a National Champions in close future.

In FP, she needs to focus on many things, so she might more care for her technical part in her FP.

Yu na Kim

I’m not so crazy for both of her new programs SP &FP so far although I like the SP music.

She is a great elegant ballet style skater but nothing special impact for me. Maybe the choreography.

She is very talented so depending on the choreography, I may get more impact. Because I think her skating skill is high.

For technically, I liked to see her powerful jumps in it. Her spins are like men's spin.

Next competition " Cup of Russia " will be coming this weekend !!!

I'm getting nervous for it.

Go Johnny !!!

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