2017 GP #6 SKATE AMERICA 11/23-26 Lake Placid NY

[chuckiem]

START ORDER PAIRS SHORT PROGRAM Fri Nov 24 6:23 pm local time (EST)

1 Deanna STELLATO / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY USA
2 Haven DENNEY / Brandon FRAZIER USA
3 Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Michael MARINARO CAN
4 Alexa SCIMECA-KNIERIM / Chris KNIERIM USA

5 Xiaoyu YU / Hao ZHANG CHN
6 Natalia ZABIJAKO / Alexander ENBERT RUS
7 Aliona SAVCHENKO / Bruno MASSOT FRA
8 Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD CAN

Tech Team

Ref Hebek-Szmak POL
TC Prins NED
TS Fleury FRA
ATS Leblanc CAN

Judges: RUS (Babenko) ESP LTU CAN USA GER CHN SVK JPN

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START ORDER MEN SHORT PROGRAM Fri Nov 24 7:54 pm local time (EST)

1 Roman SADOVSKY CAN
2 Liam FIRUS CAN
3 Ross MINER USA
4 Takahito MURA JPN
5 Kevin REYNOLDS CAN
6 Han YAN CHN

7 Sergei VORONOV RUS
8 Daniel SAMOHIN ISR
9 Maxim KOVTUN RUS
10 Adam RIPPON USA
11 Nathan CHEN USA
12 Boyang JIN CHN

Tech Team

Ref Cammett USA
TC Lynch AUS
TS Martynov RUS
ATS Chung KOR

Judges: ISR KOR CHN GER JPN MEX RUS (Babenko) USA CAN

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PAIRS FREE SKATE STARTING ORDER TBA Sat Nov 25 2 pm local time (EST)

MEN FREE SKATE STARTING ORDER TBA Sat Nov 25 3:57 pm local time (EST)

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SHORT DANCE START ORDER Sat Nov 25 7:36 pm local time (EST)

1 Tiffani ZAHORSKI / Jonathan GUERREIRO RUS
2 Shiyue WANG / Xinyun LIU CHN
3 Kana MURAMOTO / Chris REED JPN
4 Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER USA

5 Victoria SINITSINA / Nikita KATSALAPOV RUS
6 Rachel PARSONS / Michael PARSONS USA
7 Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER CAN
8 Alex SHIBUTANI / Maia SHIBUTANI USA
9 Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LA NOTTE ITA


Tech Team

Ref Cesaro ITA
TC Selby GBR
TS Dostatni POL
ATS Rey USA

Judges: LTU CAN ESP ITA RUS ISR USA JPN CHN

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START ORDER LADIES SHORT PROGRAM Friday Nov 25 9:23 pm local time (EST)

1 Xiangning LI CHN
2 Bradie TENNELL USA
3 Polina TSURSKAYA RUS
4 Alena LEONOVA RUS
5 SerafIma SAKHANOVICH RUS

6 Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN
7 Nicole RAJICOVA SVK
8 Karen CHEN USA
9 Ashley WAGNER USA
10 Gabrielle DALEMAN CAN
11 Satoko MIYAHARA JPN

Tech Team

Ref Hebel-Szmak POL
TC Lynch AUS
TS Chung KOR
ATS Martynov RUS

Judges: CAN USA JPN RUS CHN MEX KOR SVK ESP

========================================================================

[chuckiem]

RESULTS PAIRS SHORT PROGRAM

1 Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD CAN 75.77 39.52 36.25 9.04 8.89 9.14 9.11 9.14 0.00 8
2 Xiaoyu YU / Hao ZHANG CHN 73.67 39.88 33.79 8.43 8.29 8.50 8.64 8.39 0.00 5
3 Aliona SAVCHENKO / Bruno MASSOT GER 72.55 37.09 36.46 9.04 9.07 8.89 9.32 9.25 1.00 7
4 Natalia ZABIJAKO / Alexander ENBERT RUS 70.15 36.79 33.36 8.46 8.18 8.39 8.39 8.29 0.00 6
5 Alexa SCIMECA-KNIERIM / Chris KNIERIM USA 64.27 34.56 30.71 7.75 7.50 7.64 7.75 7.75 1.00 4
6 Haven DENNEY / Brandon FRAZIER USA 63.04 33.70 29.34 7.36 7.14 7.36 7.43 7.39 0.00 2
7 Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Michael MARINARO CAN 59.97 31.49 29.48 7.50 7.25 7.21 7.50 7.39 1.00 3
8 Deanna STELLATO / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY USA 57.18 30.29 26.89 6.86 6.50 6.79 6.75 6.71 0.00 1


START ORDER PAIRS FREE SKATE Sat Nov 25 2pm EST

1 Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Michael MARINARO CAN
2 Deanna STELLATO / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY USA
3 Haven DENNEY / Brandon FRAZIER USA
4 Alexa SCIMECA-KNIERIM / Chris KNIERIM USA

5 Aliona SAVCHENKO / Bruno MASSOT GER
6 Natalia ZABIJAKO / Alexander ENBERT RUS
7 Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD CAN
8 Xiaoyu YU / Hao ZHANG CHN

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RESULTS MEN SHORT PROGRAM

1 Nathan CHEN USA 104.12 59.56 44.56 8.89 8.64 9.07 9.00 8.96 0.00 11 4z+3t, 4f, 3a
2 Adam RIPPON USA 89.04 45.04 44.00 8.64 8.50 9.00 8.82 9.04 0.00 10 3f+3t, 3a, 3z
3 Sergei VORONOV RUS 87.51 46.97 40.54 8.18 7.86 8.18 8.14 8.18 0.00 7 4t+3t, 3z, 3a
4 Han YAN CHN 85.97 45.47 41.50 8.50 8.07 8.25 8.36 8.32 1.00 6 3a, 4t↓, 3z+3t
5 Daniel SAMOHIN ISR 82.28 43.85 39.43 7.89 7.61 7.89 7.93 8.11 1.00 8 4s↓, 3a, 3z+3t
6 Boyang JIN CHN 77.97 37.28 40.69 8.29 7.89 8.11 8.29 8.11 0.00 12 4t, 1a* 3z+3t
7 Takahito MURA JPN 75.05 37.11 37.94 7.75 7.36 7.54 7.68 7.61 0.00 4 4t<, 3a, 3z+3t-to
8 Ross MINER USA 71.59 33.51 38.08 7.61 7.29 7.68 7.71 7.79 0.00 3 3z, 1a*, 3f+3t
9 Roman SADOVSKY CAN 70.85 36.74 34.11 7.00 6.54 6.89 7.00 6.68 0.00 1 4s, 3z+3t<, 3a
10 Kevin REYNOLDS CAN 69.10 32.75 36.35 7.21 7.04 7.18 7.46 7.46 0.00 5 4s<+3t, 3a, 2t*
11 Liam FIRUS CAN 65.17 29.67 36.50 7.50 7.21 7.00 7.43 7.36 1.00 2 4t, 3a↓, 3z-nc
12 Maxim KOVTUN RUS 64.98 28.94 38.04 7.79 7.32 7.46 7.79 7.68 2.00 9 4s↓-nc, 4t<, 3a<


START ORDER MEN FREE SKATE Sat Nov 25 3:57 EST *** TELEVISED LIVE NBC 4-6 PM EST ***

1 Liam FIRUS CAN
2 Kevin REYNOLDS CAN
3 Maxim KOVTUN RUS
4 Takahito MURA JPN
5 Roman SADOVSKY CAN
6 Ross MINER USA

7 Boyang JIN CHN
8 Daniel SAMOHIN ISR
9 Han YAN CHN
10 Sergei VORONOV RUS
11 Adam RIPPON USA
12 Nathan CHEN USA

==========================================================================

NOTE: LADIES SHORT PROGRAM will be televised LIVE on NBC Sports Network Sat 9-11 pm EST

[Virginia]

Wow, that was one messy men's SP! Lots of splats and popping.

FIrst time I'd seen the young Israeli fellow, Daniel Samohin. Quite liked his skating! Looking forward to seeing more of him.

Rippon OWNED that rink! Even more than Nathan Chen, I thought. It was Adam's night. Hope he can bring it again today in the long.

In pairs, I thought Duhamel and Radford looked steady and strong, easily deserving of first place. Savchenko and Massot did, too, but I'm wondering what she had to say to him backstage about his fall on the triple. I was also impressed by the Russian pair Zabijaco (sp?) and Enbert. I see a lot of potential there.

Thoughts?

[Jonas]

Yeah, not the best men's SP I've ever seen. Nathan Chen was just simply in a class to himself here. Adam Rippon was very entertaining, but he's fighting to keep 2nd place here, which would be a great accomplishment as he would qualify for the Grand Prix Final.

I think that Savchenko & Massot's SP can go head to head w/Sui & Han's, but Massot's fall on the sbs 3Sal rightfully had them in 3rd in the SP, behind Duhamel & Radford and Yu & Zhang, who both skated whistle clean.

Pairs FS was a different story: Duhamel & Radford had the two major mistakes (she fell on sbs 3Lutz and on throw 4Sal) and finish 3rd overall. Savchenko touched down on a throw 3flip and singled both 2toes in their sbs combo, but everything else was delivered very well and she & Massot seemingly won the crowd.

Zabijako & Enbert, IMO, are getting stale. They're certainly a handsome pair, but definitely lack that certain dynamism that would help to set them apart. What's more: Ashtakova & Rogonov medaled twice on the Grand Prix this season and, IMO, have shown more improvement over this past year than Zabijako & Enbert have shown in the past three.

Lastly, after watching this event, I'd be very surprised if the Knierims are NOT our pairs entry to Pyeongchang. Right now they're just simply at a higher level than any of the US pairs. Realistically the prizes in San Jose will be for the second entry at Worlds and a spot on the Four Continents team.

Your thoughts...

[chuckiem]

RESULTS PAIRS FREESKATE

1 Aliona SAVCHENKO / Bruno MASSOT GER 150.58 75.31 75.27 9.36 9.25 9.36 9.50 9.57 0.00 5
2 Xiaoyu YU / Hao ZHANG CHN 145.53 73.63 71.90 9.11 8.79 9.07 9.04 8.93 0.00 8
3 Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD CAN 140.31 69.88 71.43 9.00 8.75 8.86 9.07 8.96 1.00 7
4 Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Michael MARINARO CAN 127.84 67.58 61.26 7.64 7.36 7.75 7.75 7.79 1.00 1
5 Natalia ZABIJAKO / Alexander ENBERT RUS 127.74 62.80 65.94 8.39 8.00 8.25 8.36 8.21 1.00 6
6 Alexa SCIMECA-KNIERIM / Chris KNIERIM USA 124.80 62.37 63.43 7.93 7.71 7.93 8.00 8.07 1.00 4
7 Haven DENNEY / Brandon FRAZIER USA 109.12 52.47 57.65 7.43 7.04 7.14 7.29 7.14 1.00 3
8 Deanna STELLATO / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY USA 107.82 54.67 54.15 6.89 6.46 6.82 6.89 6.79 1.00 2

FINAL STANDINGS - PAIRS

1 - Aliona SAVCHENKO / Bruno MASSOT GER 223.13 3 1
2 - Xiaoyu YU / Hao ZHANG CHN 219.20 2 2
3 - Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD CAN 216.08 1 3
4 - Natalia ZABIJAKO / Alexander ENBERT RUS 197.89 4 5
5 - Alexa SCIMECA-KNIERIM / Chris KNIERIM USA 189.07 5 6
6 - Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Michael MARINARO CAN 187.81 7 4
7 - Haven DENNEY / Brandon FRAZIER USA 172.16 6 7
8 - Deanna STELLATO / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY USA 165.00 8 8


GRAND PRIX FINALISTS

30 (15,15) 465.60 SUI / HAN CHN
30 (15,15) 442.45 TARASOVA / MOROZOV RUS
28 (13,15) 438.79 SAVCHENKO / MASSOT GER
26 (15,11) 438.30 DUHAMEL / RADFORD CAN
26 (13,13) 427.17 STOLBOVA / KLIMOV RUS
26 (13,13) 424.74 YU / ZHANG CHN
Alternates:
24 (11,13) 428.69 JAMES / CIPRES FRA
22 (11,11) 402.75 ASTAKHOVA / ROGONOV RUS
20 (09,11) 387,81 DELLA MONICA / GUARISE ITA

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REMINDER: MEN'S FREESKATE WILL BE LIVE IN THE US ON NBC 4-6 PM

[chuckiem]

RESULTS MEN FREE SKATE

1 Adam RIPPON USA 177.41 88.91 88.50 8.82 8.50 8.89 8.93 9.11 0.00 11 4z<<, 3f+3lo, 2a, 3a+2t+2lo, 3a, 3f+3t, 3s, 3z
2 Nathan CHEN USA 171.76 86.68 87.08 8.82 8.50 8.57 8.86 8.79 2.00 12 4z+3t, 4f↓, 2s, 4z, 2t+1lo+2s, 4t↓, 1a+2t, 3z
3 Sergei VORONOV RUS 169.98 86.50 83.48 8.46 7.96 8.50 8.39 8.43 0.00 10 4t+3t, 3a, 4t, 3a+2t+2lo, 3z, 3s+2t, 3lo, 2a
4 Boyang JIN CHN 168.06 89.06 79.00 8.11 7.64 7.89 8.00 7.86 0.00 7 4t+2t, 4s-so, 3a<+1lo+3s, 4t, 3z+3t, 3a, 3f, 3lo
5 Ross MINER USA 148.03 69.17 78.86 7.86 7.57 7.86 8.07 8.07 0.00 6 2s, 3a+2t, 3z+3t, 3a, 3lo, 3z, 3f, 1a
6 Liam FIRUS CAN 145.66 68.94 77.72 7.86 7.54 7.64 7.89 7.93 1.00 1 4t<↓, 3a, 3f, 2a+2t, 2a+1lo+3s, 3z+3t, 2lo, 3z
7 Han YAN CHN 142.36 60.56 81.80 8.50 8.00 7.86 8.29 8.25 0.00 9 3a, 4t+2t, 1a, 3z, 3lo, 3z+2t, 3s<, 3f
8 Takahito MURA JPN 137.72 62.22 75.50 7.89 7.29 7.43 7.64 7.50 0.00 4 3a, 4t<, 3lo, 3z+2t, 3a+3t, 1f, 2z
9 Kevin REYNOLDS CAN 134.95 64.35 71.60 7.25 6.86 7.04 7.36 7.29 1.00 2 4lo<, 4t↓, 4s<+3t<, 3a<, 3f, 3s, 3z+3t<, 2a+2t+2lo
10 Roman SADOVSKY CAN 129.25 57.25 73.00 7.46 7.11 7.14 7.43 7.36 1.00 5 4s<↓, 2a, 3a, 1lo, 1a, 4s<+1t, 3z+1lo+3s, 3f!
WD Daniel SAMOHIN ISR dislocated shoulder on a 4s fall
WD Maxim KOVTUN RUS


FINAL STANDINGS - MEN

1 - Nathan CHEN USA 275.88 1 2
2 - Adam RIPPON USA 266.45 2 1
3 - Sergei VORONOV RUS 257.49 3 3
4 - Boyang JIN CHN 246.03 6 4
5 - Han YAN CHN 228.33 4 7
6 - Ross MINER USA 219.62 8 5
7 - Takahito MURA JPN 212.77 7 8
8 - Liam FIRUS CAN 210.83 11 6
9 - Kevin REYNOLDS CAN 204.05 10 9
10 - Roman SADOVSKY CAN 200.10 9 10
R Daniel SAMOHIN ISR 5
R Maxim KOVTUN RUS 12


GRAND PRIX FINALISTS

30 (15,15) 569.67 Nathan CHEN USA
28 (15,13) 574.42 Shoma UNO JPN
26 (11,15) 550.44 Mikhail KOLYADA RUS
26 (15,11) 528.61 Sergei VORONOV RUS
26 (13,13) 528.44 Adam RIPPON USA
22 (13,09) 510.51 Boyang JIN CHN
Alternates
22 (13,09) 507.09 Jason BROWN USA
20 (05,15) 536.77 Javier FERNANDEZ ESP
20 (09,11) 512.67 Misha GE UZB

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NEXT: SHORT DANCE AT 7:30 PM EST ON THE OLYMPIC CHANNEL / ICE NETWORK

[chuckiem]

SHORT DANCE RESULTS

1 Alex SHIBUTANI / Maia SHIBUTANI USA 79.18 41.30 37.88 9.43 9.29 9.50 9.50 9.64 0.00 8
2 Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LA NOTTE ITA 72.70 35.84 36.86 9.07 9.04 9.32 9.25 9.39 0.00 9
3 Victoria SINITSINA / Nikita KATSALAPOV RUS 68.72 33.95 34.77 8.64 8.57 8.68 8.86 8.71 0.00 5
4 Tiffani ZAHORSKI / Jonathan GUERREIRO RUS 64.20 32.29 31.91 7.89 7.71 8.04 8.14 8.11 0.00 1
5 Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER CAN 64.07 30.19 33.88 8.50 8.39 8.39 8.54 8.54 0.00 7
6 Kana MURAMOTO / Chris REED JPN 62.30 31.73 30.57 7.61 7.50 7.75 7.71 7.64 0.00 3
7 Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER USA 62.15 30.64 31.51 7.82 7.71 7.93 7.96 7.96 0.00 4
8 Rachel PARSONS / Michael PARSONS USA 58.36 28.56 29.80 7.61 7.29 7.46 7.50 7.39 0.00 6
9 Shiyue WANG / Xinyun LIU CHN 55.57 26.66 28.91 7.21 7.14 7.21 7.25 7.32 0.00 2


START ORDER FREE DANCE Sunday Nov 26 2pm EST LIVE on Olympic Channel / IceNetwork 2-3:30 pm EST

1 Rachel PARSONS / Michael PARSONS USA
2 Shiyue WANG / Xinyun LIU CHN
3 Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER USA
4 Kana MURAMOTO / Chris REED JPN

5 Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER CAN
6 Tiffani ZAHORSKI / Jonathan GUERREIRO RUS
7 Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LA NOTTE ITA
8 Victoria SINITSINA / Nikita KATSALAPOV RUS
9 Alex SHIBUTANI / Maia SHIBUTANI USA

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RESULTS LADIES SHORT PROGRAM

1 Satoko MIYAHARA JPN 70.72 36.77 33.95 8.46 8.32 8.46 8.57 8.61 0.00 11 3z+3t, 3lo, 2a
2 Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN 69.40 38.26 31.14 7.96 7.54 7.75 7.89 7.79 0.00 6 3f+3t, 3lo, 2a
3 Gabrielle DALEMAN CAN 68.08 35.10 32.98 8.36 7.96 8.18 8.36 8.36 0.00 10 3t+3t, 3z-so-hd, 2a tight
4 Bradie TENNELL USA 67.01 37.63 29.38 7.29 7.11 7.61 7.39 7.32 0.00 2 3z+3t, 3lo, 2a
5 SerafIma SAKHANOVICH RUS 66.28 36.51 29.77 7.43 7.18 7.61 7.43 7.57 0.00 5 3f+3t, 3z, 2a
6 Ashley WAGNER USA 64.12 30.44 33.68 8.18 8.14 8.61 8.50 8.68 0.00 9 3f+3t<, 2a, 3lo<
7 Alena LEONOVA RUS 63.91 34.53 29.38 7.36 7.04 7.50 7.32 7.50 0.00 4 3t+3t, 3f, 3a
8 Polina TSURSKAYA RUS 63.20 33.31 30.89 7.82 7.50 7.64 7.86 7.79 1.00 3 3z+3t, 3lo↓, 2a-so
9 Karen CHEN USA 59.53 29.60 30.93 7.71 7.50 7.64 7.89 7.93 1.00 8 3z+3t<, 3lo<<↓, 2a
10 Nicole RAJICOVA SVK 55.43 27.77 27.66 6.86 6.68 7.04 7.04 6.96 0.00 7 3t+2t, 3z, 2a
11 Xiangning LI CHN 55.24 28.50 26.74 6.75 6.43 6.75 6.79 6.71 0.00 1 3f<+2t, 3z, 2a


START ORDER LADIES FREESKATE Sun Nov 26 4:15 pm EST LIVE on NBC 4-6 pm EST

1 Nicole RAJICOVA SVK
2 Xiangning LI CHN
3 Alena LEONOVA RUS
4 Polina TSURSKAYA RUS
5 Karen CHEN USA

6 Bradie TENNELL USA
7 Ashley WAGNER USA
8 SerafIma SAKHANOVICH RUS
9 Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN
10 Gabrielle DALEMAN CAN
11 Satoko MIYAHARA JPN

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[Jonas]

MEN'S FS:
Adam relied on the overall performance quality game and beat Nathan Chen in the FS en route to the silver medal and a return trip to the Grand Prix Final!

LADIES SP
Bradie Tennell, the 2015 US Junior Champion, schooled her two US Champion teammates here. In her Grand Prix debut, Bradie delivered the technical goods and looked cool, calm, and collected in doing so. Her jumps never looked better -- she's really cleaned up the rotations! Well deserved placement.

Kaori Sakamoto was great too! She would've scored 70 for the first time had it not been for the bobble on the spin. Her Moonlight Sonata SP is a great example of THOUGHTFULLY putting all her jumping passes in the bonus and not just doing so for points racking's sake. It fits the choreography -- the first movement is the slower, lyrical portion, which is conducive for footwork and spins, while the third movement, which is fast and ferocious, fits well w/her big, powerful jumps. Very well done!

Satoko's jumps aren't quite back yet, but she never gave up on the performance, and it's the components that won her the short program.

Should make for an exciting FS tomorrow afternoon.

Your thoughts...

[Maleeva]

Yikes I sure hope this was Nathan’s one off program for the season and he got that out of his system! Major props to Adam for regrouping after the bad fall on the quad. Adam is so fit and well trained he seems destined to be on the Olympic team.

My hearts aches that James/Cipres have been bumped from the GP Final. I just prefer them over Yu/Zhang. Now at least they have plenty of time to prepare for Europeans.

Ashley Wagner is a hot mess. Her level of timidity going into and out of her jumps is utterly disappointing for a lady who just won a world silver medal last year in Boston. This was my first time seeing Sakamoto and my goodness I enjoyed her speed across the ice and the tremendous run-out she had on all of her jumps. So promising.

The Shibs were just on fire and achieved their all time best short dance score and the third highest short dance score of the season by any team. They sure did make a statement to Hubbell/Donohue, who many think can win their first national title this year. This tech panel was a stickler on the Rhumba Pattern.The Shibs received level 4 but Capp/Lan and Sin/Kat shockingly both received level 1s. Presuming Capp/Lan will finish 2nd here, they will need around 108 and some change in the free dance today, to bump Bob/Solo from the GP Final.

[chuckiem]

If Bradie skates a clean FS, that will serve her VERY well going into US Nationals, which kicks off just 5 weeks from now. She has already earned the highest SP mark of any US lady in the GP series. Sad to say, Ashley's SP didn't look one whit better than it did at SC, even though it got a slightly higher score. And it doesn't seem to matter what music Karen uses---her nerves overcome her anyway.

If the two Japanese ladies finish 1-2, both have 7 points, which would leave them at 22 and 20 points. That would give Wakaba Higuchi the last spot in the final, with the SA winner the first runnerup and the possible replacement for Medvedeva should she withdraw (and IMO, she should, if the Olympics are her first priority). But I wouldn't count Polina out just yet. She's 7 points behind Miyahara and 6 points behind Sakamoto, but is capable of outscoring both in the FS by 15 points.

As for Ashley, if she still can't rotate the loop and her 3/3 in the FS, she will have to get huge PCS scores to edge the Japanese ladies.

[chuckiem]

Ashley Wagner is a hot mess. Her level of timidity going into and out of her jumps is utterly disappointing for a lady who just won a world silver medal last year in Boston. This was my first time seeing Sakamoto and my goodness I enjoyed her speed across the ice and the tremendous run-out she had on all of her jumps. So promising.

Ashley won her World silver nearly two years ago---Worlds 2016 in Boston. She was 7th at Worlds 2017 in Helsinki.

Sakamoto was 5th at CoR, her first GP event and her senior debut. She scored 194 there and I wasn't surprised to see her near the top of the SA standings after the SP.

[Virginia]

What the hell just happened to Wagner???? No obvious illness or injury ... looked like she just gave up!

[BrazilianFellow]

I think Ashley was skating in pain. Notice that she had a band on her right shin. Even if she had given up, I think that was a wise decision. When she didn't do the 3/3 combo, I think she was sure that she wouldn't make the cut for GPF. It's time to focus in Nationals and fight for a spot in the Olympic team, healthy and well trained.

[chuckiem]

RESULTS FREE DANCE

1 Alex SHIBUTANI / Maia SHIBUTANI USA 115.07 57.95 57.12 9.50 9.36 9.61 9.57 9.57 0.00 9
2 Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LA NOTTE ITA 108.93 53.95 54.98 9.07 8.96 9.04 9.32 9.43 0.00 7
3 Victoria SINITSINA / Nikita KATSALAPOV RUS 107.81 54.11 53.70 8.96 8.75 9.07 9.04 8.93 0.00 8
4 Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER CAN 102.47 51.50 50.97 8.50 8.25 8.54 8.50 8.68 0.00 5
5 Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER USA 101.38 52.65 48.73 8.07 7.86 8.18 8.18 8.32 0.00 3
6 Tiffani ZAHORSKI / Jonathan GUERREIRO RUS 96.08 47.39 48.69 7.96 7.93 8.14 8.25 8.29 0.00 6
7 Shiyue WANG / Xinyun LIU CHN 93.79 48.91 44.88 7.39 7.29 7.57 7.54 7.61 0.00 2
8 Kana MURAMOTO / Chris REED JPN 93.50 47.73 45.77 7.61 7.46 7.75 7.68 7.64 0.00 4
9 Rachel PARSONS / Michael PARSONS USA 87.18 43.20 43.98 7.50 7.11 7.29 7.36 7.39 0.00 1


FINAL STANDINGS ICE DANCE

1 - Alex SHIBUTANI / Maia SHIBUTANI USA 194.25 1 1
2 - Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LA NOTTE ITA 181.63 2 2
3 - Victoria SINITSINA / Nikita KATSALAPOV RUS 176.53 3 3
4 - Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER CAN 166.54 5 4
5 - Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER USA 163.53 7 5
6 - Tiffani ZAHORSKI / Jonathan GUERREIRO RUS 160.28 4 6
7 - Kana MURAMOTO / Chris REED JPN 155.80 6 8
8 - Shiyue WANG / Xinyun LIU CHN 149.36 9 7
9 - Rachel PARSONS / Michael PARSONS USA 145.54 8 9


GRAND PRIX FINALISTS - ICE DANCE

30 (15,15) 402.41 PAPADAKIS / CIZERON FRA
30 (15,15) 398.50 VIRTUE / MOIR CAN
30 (15,15) 383.49 SHIBUTANI / SHIBUTANI USA
26 (13,13) 366.35 CHOCK / BATES USA
24 (11,13) 377.78 HUBBELL / DONOHUE USA
24 (11,13) 368.19 CAPPELLINI / LA NOTTE ITA
Alternates:
24 (13,11) 367.58 BOBROVA / SOLOVIEV RUS
22 (13,09) 366.98 WEAVER / POJE CAN
22 (11,11) 356.59 STEPANOVA / BUKIN RUS

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RESULTS LADIES FREESKATE

1 Satoko MIYAHARA JPN 143.31 72.23 71.08 8.79 8.57 9.04 8.96 9.07 0.00 11 3lo, 3z+3t, 3f, 3z+2t+2lo, 2a+3t, 3s, 2a
2 Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN 141.19 73.71 67.48 8.39 8.14 8.50 8.54 8.61 0.00 9 3f+3t, 3s, 3z, 3f+2t, 2a+3t+2t, 3lo, 2a
3 Bradie TENNELL USA 137.09 72.68 64.41 7.86 7.71 8.36 8.07 8.25 0.00 6 3z+3t, 2a, 3f, 2a+3t, 3z+2t+2lo, 3lo, 3s
4 Polina TSURSKAYA RUS 132.36 69.20 63.16 8.07 7.61 8.00 7.86 7.93 0.00 4 3z+3t, 3f, 2a+3t, 3z, 3s+2t+2t, 3lo, 2a
5 SerafIma SAKHANOVICH RUS 123.47 64.56 58.91 7.57 7.11 7.43 7.32 7.39 0.00 8 3f+3t, 3z, 2a, 3s+3t, 1a, 3f+2t, 3lo
6 Karen CHEN USA 123.27 61.38 61.89 7.68 7.50 7.75 7.86 7.89 0.00 5 3z+3t<, 3f!, 2a+1lo+3s<, 3z, 3lo, 3s+2t, 2a
7 Alena LEONOVA RUS 122.02 62.90 59.12 7.39 7.14 7.57 7.32 7.54 0.00 3 3t+3t, 3z, 2a, 3f+2t, 3f, 3s+2t+2lo, 2a
8 Gabrielle DALEMAN CAN 121.06 55.93 65.13 8.32 7.82 8.07 8.25 8.25 0.00 10 3t+3t, 3z, 3f, 3z+rep, 1lo, 2a, 3s-so-hd
9 Nicole RAJICOVA SVK 112.18 57.32 54.86 6.89 6.57 7.04 6.93 6.86 0.00 1 2a+1lo+3s, 3f, 3z+2t, 3z, 3lo+2t, 3lo, 2t*
10 Xiangning LI CHN 109.08 56.91 52.17 6.75 6.25 6.54 6.50 6.57 0.00 2 3f+2t, 3z+2t, 3f, 3z<, 2a+1lo+3s, 3t, 2a
WD Ashley WAGNER USA

THERE WERE NO FALLS IN THIS COMPETITION!!

Per off-ice interview: Ashley said she lost 1.5 week practice time because of her ankle infection and she couldn't do a good enough performance of her FS at SA. She was in tears because she had never withdrawn from a performance before but she felt she had to do so today.

FINAL STANDINGS LADIES

1 - Satoko MIYAHARA JPN 214.03 1 1
2 - Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN 210.59 2 2
3 - Bradie TENNELL USA 204.10 4 3
4 - Polina TSURSKAYA RUS 195.56 8 4
5 - SerafIma SAKHANOVICH RUS 189.75 5 5
6 - Gabrielle DALEMAN CAN 189.14 3 8
7 - Alena LEONOVA RUS 185.93 7 7
8 - Karen CHEN USA 182.80 9 6
9 - Nicole RAJICOVA SVK 167.61 10 9
10 - Xiangning LI CHN 164.32 11 10
R Ashley WAGNER USA 6


GRAND PRIX FINALISTS - LADIES

30 (15,15) 455.60 Evgenia MEDVEDEVA RUS
30 (15,15) 427.68 Alina ZAGITOVA RUS
26 (15,11) 419.68 Kaetlyn OSMOND CAN
26 (13,13) 428.22 Carolina KOSTNER ITA
26 (13,13) 401.30 Maria SOTSKOVA RUS
24 (11,13) 419.69 Wakaba HIGUCHI JPN
Alternates
22 (07,15) 405.83 Satoko MYAHARA JPN
20 (07,13) 404.59 Kaori SAKAMOTO JPN
20 (11,09) 405.75 Polina TSURSKAYA RUS

[Jonas]

IIRC, this marks the first Grand Prix in this Olympiad that didn't have a Russian lady on the podium.

Another clean free skate for Alena Leonova. Yeah, I'm sure she knows it's too little, way too late, but it's gotta be personally satisfying for her to put that skate out there. She should be proud!

Polina Tsurskaya skated whistle clean here. I think Tsurskaya is a better jumper than both Medvedeva and Zagitova and she covers the ice better and more effortlessly, yet it's the latter two that are receiving monstrous PCS, while Tsurskaya is receiving more appropriate marks.

Karen Chen's FS was a definite step up from anything she's put out internationally thus far, but NONE of her performances internationally this season screams that she is the reigning US Champion and World #4. Good news is that she looks more comfortable performing this program than either "Carmen" or the free program she performed at Skate Canada. She's got about a month plus to clean everything up by US Nationals.

Bradie Tennell joins (ETA: Sydne Vogel), Tara Lipinski, Jenny Kirk, and Caroline Zhang among the US ladies who medaled in their very first Grand Prix completion. (BTW, they all won bronze.) Honestly, I thought the judges would place her behind Tsurskaya, but I'm glad to have been proved wrong: Bradie beat Tsurskaya handily in both segments here. Bradie was equally cool, calm, and collected again as she ticked off triple after triple after triple! Frankly, she's the most competition ready among all US ladies this season, so it's no surprise she's outscored everyone. Bradie is absolutely in the running for the US Olympic Team; I just hope she maintains the same cool approach and not let the pressure get to her.

Ashley Wagner -- OK, wow! Definitely not a good look, and I'm saying this as a fan. I can just imagine her haters having a field day right now. While I don't doubt her injury, reports have it that she didn't appear to be hampered during the practice sessions -- looking strong on her jumps even. Frankly she needed, at the very least, to medal here to provide a little added cushion to her body of work. Now, Ashley is going to San Jose in a much more precarious position, i.e., it could very well be a top 3 or bust situation!

Both Japanese ladies rocked here! Satoko Miyahara rightfully had the best PCS, but I also felt that the judges really spared her the carrots! Had some of those carrots been posted, Kaori Sakamoto might've pulled off the upset. Kaori's jumps are huge -- the biggest among all the Japanese contenders, really! Either way, both skaters are no doubt in the running for the Japanese Olympic Team!

Your thoughts...

[chuckiem]

Both Japanese ladies rocked here! Satoko Miyahara rightfully had the best PCS, but I also felt that the judges really spared her the carrots! Had some of those carrots been posted, Kaori Sakamoto might've pulled off the upset. Kaori's jumps are huge -- the biggest among all the Japanese contenders, really! Either way, both skaters are no doubt in the running for the Japanese Olympic Team!

Your thoughts...

It's the tech team that hands out the carrots, and this tech team was very remiss in handing out carrots to some skaters while deliberately not even looking for URs for a selected skater---notably Miyahara. Sakamoto should have won the FS and the competition. It is very wrong when a tech team circumvents the judging process and pre-selects the winner.

[Maleeva]

Sorry but I was very disappointed in Ashley not completing her program. Johnny and Tara watched her practice yesterday morning before the free program and said she was fine. Quite frankly, I think she heeard Bradie Tennell’s score of 137 while she was warming up and just lost it mentally, knowing her spot in the GP final was kaput. I say that as a fan of Ashely’s, who was in Boston last year screaming my head off for her as she won the silver medal. I sure hope Bradie brings this level of skating to nationals in San Jose.

I actually preferred Sakamoto’s creative routine to Amelie more than I did Miyahara’s Puccini program. I found Sakamoto’s choreography different and refreshing, compared to the staid Miyahara.

I was awe stuck and in shock after watching the Shibs win the dance event. I was utterly underwhelmed when I first saw this Cold Play dance in Moscow, not to mention I do not care for the actual song. But they made substantial changes to the program since Moscow and I swear it also sounded like they made edits to the music too (I cannot confirm that). So this time they just blew me away with the emotion of the program. They have taken their twizzles to an entirely different level if that was even possible. I really thought Hubbell/Donohue would be the favs at nationals but gosh, now I see a battle supreme for gold at nationals. Chock and Bates will be number three at nationals unless errors are made by the top two teams.

I really like Capp/Lan’s routine to Life is Beautiful. They sure are magical story tellers. Their skating is so honest and without any pretense.

Sin/Kat made a statement here to be considered for the second spot on the Russian Olympic team. They have a vintage program to Rachmaninov that should hold them in good stead this season. They will have a fierce battle with Step/Bukin for that second spot. Perhaps who ever places higher at Europeans will get the nod?

[chuckiem]

I have to admit I was glad Ashley withdrew, because it would have been humiliating for her to finish behind Bradie and Polina, and possibly even behind Karen. Withdrawing was definitely the better choice for her, bitter as it was.

One standout statistic about this year's Ladies event at Skate America: there were NO FALLS!!! And there were only 5 total falls in the Men's FS.

Next week, several skaters from SA will compete at the Golden Spin of Zagreb:

Bradie Tennell and Karen Chen (also Starr Andrews)
Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker
Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons

also
Alex Johnson in MEN
and in PAIRS
Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea
Chelsea Liu and Brian Johnson

[Jonas]

Karen Chen and Bradie Tennell are now out of Golden Spin of Zagreb; Hannah Miller and Emmy Ma join Starr Andrews. This is a nice little award for Hannah and Emmy for winning their respective Sectional qualifiers. With all of the program changing, Karen needs to take a step back and train continuously and reacclimate herself w/last season's programs.

Speaking of changing programs...there's some rigga-ma-roar on social media about Ashley Wagner hinting at "big changes to come," i.e., retraining her much talked about "La La Land!!" Regardless of whether she sinks or swim technically, I welcome this change since Moulin Rouge has clearly gotten beyond stale!!

Your thoughts...

[tennisfan]

And since everyone and their cousin is skating to Moulin Rouge, it's not the best way to stand out.