Skip to main content

My review - US Nationals Figure skating Championships 2013 ( Men & Ladies )



My impression of the US Nationals figure skating competitions is that they are for selecting the strongest international competitors for world championships.

And whoever the judges think are the potentially strongest international competitors are then selected, mostly from the results of GPS of the season and the result of last season’s worlds.

If no one was successful making the Grand Prix Finale, then they may choose from  the performance of the Nationals competition.   

And the scores are usually influenced by other country’s top winners’ scores. 
I won’t say this is the fact, but it’s my personal impression.



Ladies

 
Ashley Wagner 

I was pretty sure Ashley Wagner will get her second National title, because she won two gold medals at GPS competitions and won silver at GPF, she was very successful.

I love her skating and I thought her FP was the most interesting to watch.
Even with two falls, all the other parts she skated perfectly. IMO.

I can’t believe she had food poisoning a few weeks ago ?  I suppose she could not train for a while because of it, it’s amazing she skated as great as she did.  I think she deserved the 1st place. 

And I agreed with her PCS. Right now, she is a must have International competitor in the USA.


Mirai Nagasu

I thought she did the best in the Short program technically , and artistically.  I can’t believe she had the flu while doing it !!  wow. 

 I really loved this performance, it was very enjoyable. She has her own style of skating, so always something interesting to watch. 

For her Long program, 

I love the music very much !  It’s so wonderful this season, many skaters using Camille Saint Seans  music .   

When I first saw this program, I thought the choregraphy was kind of not so interesting but maybe it was still work in process at that time ?  I really loved this program in Nationals.

It’s so shame her three triple jumps were UR.  

Again , she had flu, it’s very understandable that she couldn’t do the best she wanted due to her illness and bad health condition. It may hard to focus well when you are not in the best condition.  

So taking care of her health may be her most important challenge for next season. I love her costume for the LP a lot.  She became really gorgeous.


Gracie Gold 

I’m pretty sure she will be one of the strongest USA competitors and a star in the future. It was amazing come back from 9th at SP to 2nd overall ( 1st at LP) skated clean program.   She has strong jumps, can do triple triple combo. 

Artistically, I wasn’t really impressed with her movements. I could see she is trying , but something unbalanced power with her hands and arms , and her arms are often straight.  

It would be great if she changes her landing pose more gracefully, instead of straight stiff look arms.   

Overall impression was she landed all the jumps cleanly but not so memorable for her performance and music. 

But she is still 17 years old (?), so surely she will improve her artistic part.  ( I hope )  I think she has charisma so hope her performance will not be only jumps .

I suppose mental  pressure is the most tough part in the competition , so this time she doesn’t go to world as a US champion, may  help a little.
I wish her all the best at 4CC and Worlds.


Samantha Cesario   
  
Her Long program is my favorite performance in this competition and one of the performances we both love to watch again and again as well as Ashley’s LP and Mirai’s Both programs.  

 Very beautiful!  
 She is new to me. Commentator said after 2 years of absence because of injury, an amazing come back.  

 She has a lot of artistic talent and potential in the future, seeing her movements and expression.   

I look forward to seeing her future performance.  Big impact.


Agnes Zawadzki

I love her costumes, both SP and LP.  She has triple triple combo and this is her strongest part as competing. Her movements are getting more naturally artistic than last season.   She was not artistic skater last season.  

So we can not judge from just one season.  There is improvement now.


Costumes 

I also would like to write about costumes in this Ladies event .

I’m impressed that nowadays a lot of skaters wear gorgeous costumes, and I’m really happy seeing this.   
Before it was only Sasha Cohen who was wearing stunning gorgeous costumes in the USA.  So it’s a great change.
 

My favorite costumes in this event 

1.  Agnes Zawadski’s  both costumes  (SP & LP)
2.  Ashley Cain’s LP costume
3.  Mirai Nagasu LP
4.  Ashley Wagner LP
5.  Gracie Gold SP
6.  Christine Gao  LP



Men

This men’s competition had a lot of surprises as well.
 
First of all,  Congratulations on all the medalists !
 


Max Aaron 

I must say, whether you like it or not,  what Max Aaron did was really amazing with clean program. Landed all the jumps including two 4S.  He does quads like triples, looked easy.

As for musicality, first time when I watched it, I wasn’t really impressed with his artistry and almost got bored,  but when I watched second time, I noticed that he does have musicality and has a lot of potential to improve. 

His movements are not robotic, and many parts looked natural .   
Just the program was kind of boring and need more impact I think.
 
Really well deserved gold medal !   



Alexander Johnson

 He is my favorite skater in this competition.  Wow,  since Johnny Weir, in the USA skaters, he is the first person who I felt has such an amazing natural artistic talent, from the first time I saw him.  I can’t believe why I didn’t know about him until now ?  
 
His skating is wonderful !! 

Looking at his movements, how naturally artistic and well balanced for strength and grace. 
And his triple axel is awesome, flowing and smooth ! I really hope this kind of wonderful artistic skater will succeed.  Best wishes !!! 

 
USC2013 Alexander JOHNSON FS




Jeremy Abbott 

Oh, my goodness . I didn’t expect he would be out for Worlds even though he wasn’t successful this season at GPS. 

I thought USA needs him as an international competitor.  Because he has been giving good impression to judges for his Presentation part , so he can earn from it even if he doesn’t have quad.

He was landing single quads until 2009 – 2010 season and was receiving full credit from it but after that, I’ve heard he had  shoes  issue and since then he has been struggling landing quad.  What happened to his quad ? It’s because of his age ?  or has injury? 

Anyway,  in present situation, seems like he doesn’t have quad.   
He may not be one of the strongest contenders for Olympics podium, but he could be placed in the top 6 in worlds. Because Kozuka and Oda are not in worlds team.

I’m not sure how International judges sees Max Aaron ‘s presentation part. He is a very speedy skater and his quad salcow jumps look amazing. 

International  judges usually didn’t give high PCS for newbies, so he will need to earn from his jumps and speed and energy and make a big impact .  

I also understand USFS wants to send skaters who can land more than two quads in long program. Because right now three quads , two quads combo are required in Long program to win world title. 

I think USFS is still testing skaters before Sochi Olympics.  And they will decide based on the result of this year’s worlds and next season’s GPS.

It looks to me , art score is not really real art scores , because except for Daisuke Takahashi , I feel all the other present top skaters’s PCS are incredibly overly scored if it’s scored based on art.    

There are skaters who are just doing choreography ,and careless for how they are using their body and expression, but receiving really high scores.  but what judges value for presentation parts are definitely different from my views.

For Jeremy’s programs, my husband and I both feel Jeremy is more match with  upbeat, fun, dancing programs rather than this kind of sentimental/ Lyrical  type of program. Because his slower programs always look  the same kind of choreography.

I thought his movements for this performance LP was much better than GPS’s  performances. More natural and well balanced  moves. But I need more impact, like his Masquerade program.  Tom Dixon’s choreography was really good for him. IMO.   



Jason Brown 

We remember him from last year’s Nationals competition. 
Wonderful music selection!  
 
I loooove this music Liebestraum by Franz Liszt !!!   and of course he skated great with it.  We both think he has his original style of skating and has big impact.  
Very smooth and musical. His artistry is wonderful. We watched his Liebestraum performance so many times already.  
 
I don't know why, the more I watch his performance, the more interesting. I'm getting addition of his skating now.  
 
We really enjoy his performance almost everyday.  We look forward to seeing his skating  in Junior world championships.    
Alexander Johnson and Jason Brown are my new favorite men's skaters. 
 



 Jonathan Cassar

I also liked Jonathan Cassar’s skating.  His form of skating is beautiful to watch, and his jumps error didn’t bother me much. Some part of his movements , spread eagle from outside to inside and ina baur reminds me of Jeffrey Buttle’s movements. 
 


Ross Miner 

I was predicting he might  possibly win the Nationals title this year seeing the result of GPS or at least he will make the world team unless he skated really badly.

And it’s great he made silver. He seems like really a nice friendly person with good sportsmanship. He is more of technical skater and his quad jump looks stable. I would love to see performance which has more impact in artistry.  Wishing he cares more his movements and expression, by taking dance class.


Artistry is really subjective, and I wish Alexander Johnson type of skaters will be more valued and will get higher PCS in future men’s skating.  I look forward to seeing 4CC and World Championships.

I think Yuzuru, Daisuke, Javier, Patrick,  are the strongest contenders to be on the world podium this season.

Then, Florent, Kevin.R, Michal,  Brian,  …    If Max skated like this, he may be possibly in the top 6 .  Miner also will be in the top 10.  

Just my guess.


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Health tips from an extra-terrestrial named Bashar - from a planet called Essassani

photo credit: skyseeker Mt. Fuji via photopin (license)    Today,  I would like to write about health tips from an extra-terrestrial being named Bashar who is from the Essassani Planet .     He is channeled by Darryl Anka. Planet earth used to have beautiful clear air, but since a long time ago the air has been polluted everywhere.    and the cause of most illnesses comes from the poison in the environment we are in, with the polluted air. Nowadays, it's hard to find places where there is beautiful clean air. and in this unfavorable environment, he is suggesting how to live healthy.   Health tips 1.  Clear Oxygen  According to Bashar,  the air after storms and typhoons have gone away, is the most clean ( purified ) and is good for our bodies. However when there is an overdose of artificial oxygen by using tools such as oxygen tanks , this can cause a lack of water, and will weaken cells.   So clean natural water needs to be used in a balanced amo
Read more

Who was The Mysterious Masked Messenger who visited Mozart ?

Perhaps the most mysterious legend about Mozart is that of the " Masked Messenger ". This mysterious masked messenger is also known historically as the "Man in Gray" , "The Mysterious Messenger" , "The Gray Messenger". The story of the masked messenger was featured prominently in the movie “ Amadeus ".           Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart How much of this story is true ? When Mozart died in the early morning hours of December 5, 1791, he left his final masterpiece, the Requiem , unfinished. A few months later, a completed score of the Requiem was delivered to its anonymous commissioner. How was the Requiem completed and how would Mozart have completed it had he lived? These mysteries have tantalized musicians for over two centuries. Mozart received the commission to compose the Requiem from the “ Mysterious Messenger" in the summer of 1791.  The Messenger paid half the commission in advance,
Read more

Charm of Kenichi Hagiwara - Shoken

From Japanese Movie " Ame no Amsterdam (Rain in Amsterdam)" I've been into the late 1960s to 1970s generation since several years ago. I don't know why but I'm very interested in older generation's people, trends, lifestyle, scenery, habit, TV drama, music, films, etc..   and not so interested in new things much.  There are many new discoveries through checking out old stuff while reading and watching it, which I didn't know before. and about several months ago, I happened to find a youtube video of  a famous Japanese actor called Kenichi Hagiwara who was my favorite actor in 1970s when I was a kid. His nickname is Shoken and he is also a singer of Rock/blues music.                      Shoken( 18 years old) singing ”Legend of Emerald” Shoken was one of the super stars in Japan mainly from the late 60s generation to early 80s. When he was 15 years old,   he joined an amateur music group band called The Tempters as a vocalist.   A
Read more

Beauty skin care, Ninon de L'Enclos ‘s Secret of her young skin

Besides extra virgin olive oil, I’ve been doing a mixture of another great natural formula since two weeks ago. This information came from Ray who happened to find about Ninon de L’Enclos ’s amazing story concerning her youthful skin. According to the article, Ninon de L’ Enclos is known as a famous French beauty from the late 1600s. She kept her youthful skin until 85 years old when she passed away. Even in to her 80’s she was attracting many young men who fell hopelessly in love with her. She never published her secret of her youthful skin until the end , only telling her special friends about her secret formula. There is no photo of her, but seeing her painting in other websites, she looks in her 30’s when she was 85. According to the article, her face was as smooth and free of winkles in her 80’S as it had been at 20. She hated wrinkles and successfully kept her skin youthful , using her special secret formula. This information blew me away, and immediately
Read more

Sweet Food which does not get fat - Warabi mochi

I recently love eating this sweet food that Japanese call " Warabi mochi " which is made of 0 calories food psyllium in my coffee break time.   It's sweet food but I use Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener instead of sugar when I make it. Lakanto Monk Fruit sweetener is 0 calorie s and 0 glycemic and very similar taste as normal sugar. It is said it's derived from monk fruit, which looks like a small green gourd native to regions of China and Thailand.  It's not artificial so it is not bad for health so I feel comfortable eating it. Warabi mochi is a food which is normally made of Kinako ( soybean flour) & sugar & warabi powder and it's one of my favorite foods. However it's high calorie foods so if I eat a lot, it's easy to gain weight.   Because Warabi mochi flour is Starch and has sugar in it and is high calorie.  So I was not eating it. and then recently I found the recipe of diet Warabi Mochi which is made of Psyllium
Read more

Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin’s friendship Part 1

Frederyk Chopin   I’m a long time fan of Chopin’s music since when I was a teenager. Started loving his music from hearing his Polonaise , then Noctunes , Etudes … Frederyk Chopin I was using one of Chopin’s Nocturnes as my background music for my answering machine when I was in my 20s. In Japan, many of his music is famous and used in many TV dramas, commercials, movies, and mostly wealthy bourgeois family scenes. My image of many of Chopin ’s music that I’ve listened to is of a cozy, bourgeois world. From almost all his music I’ve ever heard, I often pictured an elegant, wealthy family’s world or a story about a family who are living in a luxury antique style house. Many of Mozart ’s music reminds me of a social life in an older generation, a story about bourgeois world in a gorgeous luxury palace. For Liszt ’s music, his music is very variety, ranging from an image of a sweet passionate love story for couples, all the way to nightmare horror story type of mu
Read more

Franz Liszt’s dangerous love

  Franz Liszt was quite tall in his generation, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall , long blonde hair , piercing sharp eyes, pianist' long narrow and delicate hands and fingers. His body build was very slender. People who knew him described his personality as full of charm, charisma, and very knowledgeable.  And he loved brainy women. He was the consummate artist. It seems that Liszt loved dangerous love , which thrilled him and gave him excitement rather than a stable, peaceful , safe love. Franz Liszt While reading about his biography, I was wondering why he fell in love with two princesses who were already married. Marie D’Agoult He seems to have had a lot of love affairs in his life, someone found out that he had at least 26 serious relationships in his life ( besides countless other affairs ) but the only ladies he thought about marriage was with these two princesses , Marie D’Agoult and Carolyne Sayn Wittgenstein ? Charlotte Von Hagn L
Read more

Organic foods and healthy living “ You are what you eat ? “

We‘ve been enjoying organic foods since a month ago.   Because we care for our health and also organic foods taste more delicious than normal vegetables.   Recently, I really feel the famous quote  “ You are what you eat . “   is true.   Although healthy life comes from balance between mind, body, skin care, good night sleep and activities besides food life .   Health is a treasure.   Also I realized that “ good blood circulation ” is one of the most important key to keep healthy and look young skin.   After being amazed to see Styx’s ageless Tommy Shaw on TV, I started searching about “ secret of youth “.  He looks so much younger than his age.  Also, there was an interview with Styx on CNN in the morning about a week ago and they talked about what they think are the keys to longevity and a healthy life. http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/04/23/exp-kyra-phillips-age-against-the-machine.cnn  
Read more

”The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”　- Albert Einstein　

Originally we were all creative because all children are creative. While growing up, many children lose their creativity by seeing, reading, hearing what many grown ups do and teach. According to a book called " Goal " by Brian Tracy, "Fully 95% of children tested between the ages of three and five are rated as highly creative. Of the same children tested again as teenagers, only about 5% rated  as highly creative. What happened to them in the interim ?   As they went through school, they were taught that if you want to get along, you follow the crowd. They learned not to question or challenge the teacher or to suggest unusual ideas. In their attempts to be liked and accepted by their peers, they allowed their creativity to die down, like a fire without fuel.  " "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grows up." 　－ 　Pablo Picasso But if we don't use creativity, we lose it. It means that the more we use cre
Read more

My favorite ways of Law of Attraction Part 3 - Successful Wishing - Pierre Franckh

Pierre Franckh’s books “ Successful Wishing “ are another of my favorite books.     There are series, 1 to 6 , and are not published in English , but I did find them in a Japanese book store,  translated by a Japanese translator.   Pierre Franckh is a German actor ( Movies & TV) from 1959 – 2003, and is also a movie director and a writer.  Since 1996, he published many books and became a best selling author.  Franckh wrote based on his personal experiences from when he was a child . I love the way how he writes , it’s very easy to read and direct to the point, very clear how to do it with step by step instruction. Also importance of finding what you truly want.    Many people are actually not realizing what they really want and then when they get what they wanted,  still not feeling satisfied. Pierre said that before making your wishes and order to universe, it’s important to clear up what you really want and ask to yourself, why you w
Read more