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2015- 2016 Figure skating competitions, My review - Skate America


This season (2015 - 2016 ) 's figure skating competition is already starting ! 

and I've watched Japan Open, Nebelhorn Trophy, Finlandia Trophy , Autumn classic and Skate America so far.

Honestly, this season, I was not so excited for figure skating competition like before, because two of my favorite skaters who are Tatsuki Machida ( from Japan ) and Samantha Cesario ( from USA )had retired last season.


Although it was great to hear and see Mao Asada was back to competition and did a wonderful performance in Japan open competition.


For Skate America, there is Jason Brown who is my top favorite eligible skater there so I was very looking forward to seeing his new programs.

Also, as usual, looking forward to seeing the commentary of Johnny Weir, Tara Lipinski and Terry Gannon !

                                                         From Johnny Weir's instagram


I really love seeing all three together 's commentary because they always make me and my husband laugh and we can enjoy with it !


We've just finished watching Skate America on October 24, 25 on NBC channel.

and I found my new favorite skaters in the competition !


Here is my review and favorites of Skate America 2015 Men & Ladies


First of all,

Congratulations to all the medalists, Max Aaron, Shoma Uno, Jason Brown,  Evgenia MEDVEDEVA, Gracie Gold, Satoko Miyahara !


It was great to see Max Aaron finally won the gold medal at GPS.
He had disappointing season last season and placed 4th at last Nationals and was unable to quality the worlds team even though he did great job.

I like his SP.  Powerful 4+3 combination jumps and huge 3 axel with smooth landing , and his movements in it looked natural.

Just hope he will feel with music so that his body and face will be more naturally expressive.    

For his Free program Swan Lake, I actually prefer his last season's free program Gladiator, and his Nationals performance because I feel that kind of program and music more fit with his skating style because the theme of gladiator is a fighter.

Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake is a very emotional music and I feel it needs beauty and deep emotion.

His body movements were not with the music, there was no expression using body language and facial expression.  

Hopefully he will train the expression and movements more by the end of this season.

Great part of his skating is speed and high jumps. He does have his own style of skating as well.   so I think depending on the music and choreography he can show better performance.

My impression of him is a very sweet person. I saw he was the first person to hug to Jason when Jason won the National title last season, even though he was not able to get a medal.

So I'm glad to see him win this event.
 
Congratulations !


Gracie Gold looked like she's on so far this season,  unlike last season.

I like her SP performance in this event.  I feel she may be fit with this kind of tango music and the choreography,  rather than soft arm movements like last season. I dont think she is a tango dancer, and knowing tango movements,  but overall the performance  looked fierce.  Her movements in it was fine.

Wonderful powerful & big 3Lz + 3T combination jump.  Even with error for one jump, I like this performance better than her free program.

For her free program "Fire bird", her movements and jumps looked very heavy and was not so smooth. 

The choreography itself looked interesting, however the way she was moving with the choreography was not well-balanced. ( IMO).

She may be showing her straight arm  movements as  bird wings, but something unnatural and looked very stiff.   Many parts of movements were not musical at all.

Hopefully she will fix the stiff and heavy movements by US Nationals.
But still she did great job by winning silver medal.

Congratulations !




* My favorites *


Ladies

Evgenia Medvedeva

2015 Skate America - Evgenia Medvedeva FS CBC 

 


It was my first time to see her skating and I'm very impressed with with her amazing talent.

Her skating is not only beautiful and artistic to watch but is also unique, which I love.

Her jumps are beautiful as well .

I love her tano jumps, but it maybe better not to do so many tano jumps   because such a special beautiful tano jump can look just normal if one does them too many times.

For her artistry, she has a tiny thin body so when she moves artistically, it looks even more delicate and artistic.  

Her expression is wonderful especially at the age of only 15, it's amazing.

She will be in a big growing season from next year, but hopefully she will be able to keep her style and ability and keep on improving.

I love the choreography and the music of Free program.
Very story- telling and the music sounds mysterious.

I'm so happy to find another my favorite skater !

Congratulations on winning a first GPS senior competition !

Amazing talent !



Satoko Miyahara


2015 Skate America - Satoko Miyahara FS NBC 

 


She is another of my favorite skaters in this competition.
I often enjoy her skating. My husband said he's never bored watching her skating.  She is a lovely skater who cares for each detail of artistic movement.

Her jumps are small, however  they are powerful and beautiful to watch and looks light.

I especially love her free program performance with the music "Consolation" by Franz Liszt.

I've heard that the theme of this program is first love. 
Showing the sentimental romantic feeling of first love.

Very lovely.

I think she has her own style of skating.
It's still beginning of the season, but her artistry looks already great.

Congratulations on winning the bronze medal !



Men

Shoma Uno

2015 Skate America - Shoma Uno FS NBCSN 

 

Another super talented young star !!!

I don't watch junior skating, so I only know him since this season.

My husband and I both were very inspired by his performances in this event.

There are a only a few beautiful artistic skaters like Jason Brown who have full of personality on ice.

And since Stephane Lambiel and Daisuke Takahashi both had retired, we haven't seen these types of artistic skaters who have big impact on ice, and we both felt like he is a similar type of skater who has power, speed , art, and smoothness of skating.

His expression and emotion are impressive as well.
Very manly, but artistic.

Most of his body movements are well balanced, besides that speed and power.

I can't believe he is still 17 years old and already has such a skill besides quads.  and his jumps are huge.

I won't say his movements are excellent , but the balance between his arm, shoulder, body, lower back and legs movements are balanced,  only his hand and finger tip movements can improve more to make better artistry.

I especially love his free program performance in this competition.

I'm very looking forward to seeing his future performance.

Congratulations !



Jason Brown

2015 Skate America - Jason Brown FS NBCSN 

 

I was thrilled to watch his skating in his Free program.

One of my favorite parts of Jason is he is optimistic and always looks happy no matter the placement he got.

He was 8 th placement after short program, so I was worried about that he may be really disappointed for the result.

But he was tweeting below

" Had a blast performing tonight! Thanks for being such an incredible crowd! Love you guys!! "

I've never seen Jason look  disappointed or unhappy since I knew him.

I remember that his coach was talking about that she and Jason always see glass is half full, rather than half empty.

It shows Jason always sees something good and grateful in the situation.

and as a result, he got bronze medal from 8th placement.
I really understand this is how vibrational energy works.

About Jason's program, music and performances in this event,

His skating is always pleasure to watch because every detail of his movement is sensitivily  beautiful, from toe to finger tips.

I think he is the most beautiful skater in present skaters.
Plus his original way of skating, I will never bored to watch him skating.

Artistically he is the greatest, just his triple axel and quad jumps need to practice more to be consistent to win.

I love both of his programs this season, but my favorite is still his last season's free program.  because the music and choreography was very dramatic and had ups and downs.

For this music, my husband is saying that if this was not performed by Jason's beautiful skating, he would be zzzzzzz... 

Thank you for the beautiful performance again !

Congratulation !



It's still beginning of the season, so I can not comment for  more than the performance, I was interested in the programs and music.



So far my favorite programs and music are


* Evgenia Medvedeva's FP

* Adam Rippon's SP   "Who wants to live forever" by Queen

* Satoko Miyahara's FP  "Consolation" by Franz Liszt

* Shoma Uno's FP




NBC Broadcast Date for 
2015- 2016 figure skating competitions

(Grand Prix Series)

Nov. 1, 2015  -  2015 Skate Canada International4:30-6 p.m. NBC

Nov. 8, 2015 -  2015 Cup of China  12-1:30 p.m. NBC

Nov.15, 2015 -  2015 Trophee Bompard 12-2 p.m. NBC

Nov. 22, 2015 - 2015 Rostelecom Cup 12-1:30 p.m. NBC

Nov. 29, 2015 - 2015 NHK Trophy 4-6 p.m. NBC

Dec. 20, 2015 - 2015 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
4-6 p.m.  NBC
..


(2016 U.S. Championships )   

Jan. 17, 2016 -  Preview Show 4-5 p.m. NBC

Jan. 23, 2016 -  Pairs Free Skate and Free Dance 3-6 p.m.NBC

Jan. 23, 2016 -  Ladies Free Skate 8-11 p.m. NBC

Jan. 24, 2016 -  Men’s Free Skate 4-6 p.m. NBC

Jan. 30, 2016 Smucker’s Skating Spectacular 4-6 p.m. NBC

   

(2016 ISU Championship Events)
   

Jan. 31, 2016 

2016 European Championships 4-6 p.m. NBC


Feb. 20, 2016
   
2016 Four Continents Championships 2-4 p.m. NBC

March 28-April 3, 2016
   

April 2, 2016
   
2016 World Championships 9-11 p.m. NBC


April 10, 2016
   
2016 World Championships 3-6 p.m. NBC



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