Figure skating 2014 - 2015 season

2014 - 2015 Figure skating season is already coming up !

Since this year's Sochi Olympics , several top skaters are not competing this season for a variety of reasons.

We both miss Daisuke Takahashi's skating in competitions.

also it's something strange feeling Mao Asada is not in the competition this season, who had been always competing in seniors almost for 10 years.

Also Brian Joubert. He had been continuing to compete for a long time.

I always love to watch veterans skating.

My favorite times are still from 2006 ( it's the year I started watching men's skating ) to 2008. but I enjoyed to watch 2004 to 2005 seasons as well.

In any case, there is a fresh feeling in the air this season's skating competition world.

This season, my husband and I are looking forward to seeing the programs and performances of Jason Brown, Alexander Johnson, Samantha Cesario, Polina Edmonds, Eelena Radionova, Katelyn Osmond , Kanako Murakami, Haruka Imai, Tatsuki Machida, Yuzuru Hanyu, and Mirai Nagasu.

Also, I'm curious to see one of Satoko Miyahara's programs which the music is my favorite music Magic flute by Mozart.
I like her skating as well.

Adam Rippon's this season's long program music is " Piano Concerto #1 by Franz Liszt " and choreographed by Tom Dickson.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the program and his performance !

Last weekend, Nebelhorn Trophy 2014 was held in Germany.

Here is the final results for men's competition.

Final Results

Pl	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Jason BROWN	USA	237.17	1	1
2	Michal BREZINA	CZE	228.48	2	2
3	Konstantin MENSHOV	RUS	211.03	5	3
4	Sergei VORONOV	RUS	210.05	4	4
5	Elladj BALDE	CAN	196.78	3	5
6	Alexander JOHNSON	USA	191.41	6	6
7	Alexei BYCHENKO	ISR	178.71	7	9
8	Ivan RIGHINI	ITA	177.89	8	7
9	Liam FIRUS	CAN	172.54	9	8
10	Ryuju HINO	JPN	155.70	12	10

Congratulations to all the medalists !

Here is the results page in the ISU website below

http://www.isuresults.com/results/nt2014/

Our favorites are Jason Brown and Alexander Johnson's performances for men.

Jason Brown

Jason Brown SP at Nebelhorn Trophy 2014
( Juke by Little Walter; choreo by Rohene Ward )

Jason Brown LP at Nebelhorn Trophy 2014

( Tristan & Iseult by Maxime Rodriguez; choreo by Rohene Ward)

He was awesome ! and his performance is sooooo magical !

Especially his Long program.

I love that kind of theatrical , imaginative program.
Love the music, and I think the costume is match with the program theme and the character he is acting.

Year by year his artistry is improving and even more polished from last season.

One of the greatest things about him is he always does something different from past season's program and the music. also short program and long program are really different as well.

His movements are really sensitive , nothing casual, very detailed.

He also showed emotion and good expression. Beautiful well-balanced body movements with music.

It's still beginning of the season, so I wasn't expecting much but, I'm already really loving it and enjoying it.

Technically, his spins are fantastic, and gorgeous.

I think speed was also faster than last season.

His only problem may be his triple axel jump and missing quad jumps.

He received four UR in his jumps in his long program, but I think mainly his triple axel is the jump he is still working to get consistent.

Personally, I don't care for quad jump when it comes to Jason Brown and also Alexander Johnson, because of their musicality.

But to win the worlds and Olympics, quad jumps are necessary, IMO.

I just really felt Jason looked so cool with his magical movements.

Another favorite part of his movement was his speedy turning on ice , it was like " Wow ! " beautifully done !

It reminded me of Bruce Lee's quick graceful movements, somehow.

Congratulations on winning a gold medal !!!

Alexander Johnson

Alexander Johnson SP at Nebelhorn Trophy 2014
( Trio élégiaque No. 2 by Rachmaninoff; choreo by Catarina Lindgren )

Alexander Johnson LP at Nebelhorn Trophy 2014
( Sweeney Todd by Sondheim; choreo by Tom Dickson )

We both love his skating, especially his movements and flow and smoothness.

He is a very beautiful graceful skater.

We were inspired by his wonderful performance with the music Beatles medley in the US Nationals 2013 , but heard that he got injury and had to be absent from all the competitions last season.

It was very great to see him come back to competition !

I love both of his programs SP & LP this season, but I love his Long program more.

Interesting music, and the dramatic choreography, with his well-balanced artistic movements.

I think he is still working on his jumps and spins.

His spiral is amazing , very beautiful.

After recovered from his injury, it may take time to be back to his previous situation, it's still beginning of the season, so hopefully he will be able to be in best condition until US Nationals.

We both really enjoyed his performances and watched several times already.

As usual, if the artistry is great, it makes me to want to watch over and over, and careless for the jumps error.

Besides Daisuke Takahashi, in the present time, I feel Jason Brown and Alexander Johnson are my top favorite men's artistic skaters.

One of the reasons besides their artistic talent , may be their choice of music and variety of programs.

I'm a kind of person who is easy to get bored for same kind of music, programs.

I thank them very much to give me inspiration and excitement !

Recently, it just happened to be that my favorite skating has been performed by skaters from the USA. but I'm not a person who likes skaters based on what country they are from, it just depends on the skating.


News about NBC's new skating Commentators

I'm late to comment about this exciting news but so happy to hear about Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski became the primary skating commentators for NBC !

http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-81408100/

We both really enjoyed Johnny, Tara and Terry's commentating during the Sochi Olympics, so very glad to hear about it.

They are something fun and entertaining to watch, very looking foward to seeing their commentating this season.

Congratulations to Johnny and Tara !

Here are the NBC Broadcast schedule for 2014- 2015's ISU Grand Prix Figure skating series, US Nationals, European Championships, Four continent and World championships.

(Schedule subject to change/All times Eastern/Check local listings)

2014 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series

Skate America - 10/26 '2014 ... 4-6 p.m (EST). NBC (LIVE)

Skate Canada - 11/2' 2014 ... 1pm - 2:30p.m (EST). NBC

Cup of China - 11/9' 2014 ... 4-6 p.m (EST). NBC

Rostelecom Cup (Russia) - 11/16' 2014 ... 4-6 p.m (EST). NBC

Trophée Eric Bompard (France) - 11/23' 2014 ... 4-6 p.m(EST). NBC

NHK Trophy (Japan) - 11/ 30' 2014 ... 4-6 p.m (EST). NBC

2014 Grand Prix Final (Barcelona, Spain) - 12/ 21, 2014 ... 4 - 6 p.m (EST). NBC

2015 US Nationals Championships

1/24' 2015 ... 3-6 p.m. NBC (LIVE)
1/24' 2015 ... 8-11 p.m. NBC (LIVE)
1/25'2015 ... 4-6 p.m. NBC (LIVE)

2015 European Championships - 2/7' 2015 ... 4–6 p.m (EST). NBC

2015 Four Continents Championships - 2/21' 2015 ... 3-4:30 p.m. (EST). NBC

2015 World Championships -

3/28' 2015 ... 8-10 p.m.(EST) NBC
4/12' 2015 ... 1-4 p.m. (EST) NBC


Source:
http://usfigureskating.org/content/FactSheet.pdf (eight pages; see p. 7)

Thank you to NBC for showing all those skating competitions !

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