Ashley Wagner long program practice in Nice

On youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo9EIUE1RTg

Carolina Kostner short program practice in Nice

So, here is my video of Carolina's short program practice, here is the youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbC68vaDkL0

Soon other videos up!

World Championships: Pairs Preliminary round

Sui/Han won the preliminary round with 116.57. They did a throw triple salchow (they attempted a quad all season long, let's see if they are going to do it in the final), then a side by side triple toe, where she fell and didn't complete the combo, quad twist, double axel side by side, throw triple flip .

James/Cipres (FRA) earned the qualification too with a score of 96.48. they did a side by side triple toe-double toe, double twist,  throw triple loop, throw triple salchow.

Vartmann/Van Cleave (GER) are third with 90.68. They did a double twist, throw triple salchow, double salchow side by side. She fell on throw triple loop.

See other qualified teams here

A good bye to Laura Lepisto

Laura Lepisto of Finland has decided to retire from competitive skating after a two years stop. Laura's latest competition was 2010 Worlds, where she placed third giving Finland the first World medal. From then on, she had been persecuted by injuries, firstly a back one, then a foot one that took her away from competition since now. Laura has been three times European medalist, in 2009 she won in front of her home crowd in Helsinki.  She says that she doesn't feel motivated any more and she now feels relieved at having done such a hard decision  After two difficult seasons, she has now decided to retire. I wish her all the best for the future and good bye Laura!

Takahashi vs Chan

This is one of the most frequent questions heading to Worlds: can Daisuke Takahashi edge an apparently unbeatable Patrick Chan? 

A lot of people complain about Chan's results, saying he is way overscored, technically and artistically. Actually, no one can deny Patrick's skating ability, but sometimes it seems like he does some big mistakes and still he is on the top of the podium. 

On the other hand, Daisuke Takahashi might be the one capable of beating Chan, but he hasn't been consistant enough to do it. But what about if both deliver their skates? Who wins between a perfect Chan and a perfect Takahashi?

So, let's go deep inside the protocols.

Daisuke Takahashi short program at NHK 2011

Executed elements	Base value	Scores of Panel
3f-3t	9,4	11
3a	8,5	10,64
Fssp4	3	3,86
3lz	6	7,4
Ccsp2	2,3	2,87
Slst4	3,9	5,8
Ccosp4	3,5	4,57
Total	36,6	46,14

Total score: 90,43      TES: 46,14      PCS: 44,29


Patrick Chan short program at 4CC 2012

Executed elements	Base value	Scores of Panel
4t	10,3	7,3
3a	8,5	9,93
Ccosp3	3	3,93
3lz-3t	10,1	11,2
Fssp4	3	3,86
Ccsp4	3,2	3,91
Slst4	3,9	5,6
Total	42	45,73

Total score: 87,95      TES: 45,73     PCS: 42,22

So, Daisuke owns the best short of the season (see the nine best scores of the season here) but his base value is lower than Chan's. Indeed the answer is GOE. The grade of execution plays a huge part in determining a score. The matter is not doing the hardest jumps, but doing them well enough to assure a positive grade of execution. Choosing for a "simpler" but cleaner short is a safe, but a lot of times wit decision. Actually, Chan struggled a little bit in his 4CC short. He didn't nail his opening 4t-3t that always pumps up his score. I think that Takahashi is going to try for a different short at worlds, considering his attempt to land a quad toe at the beggining of his 4CC short.

Quads will be a key point in determining who's going to take the lead.

Things become more difficult in considering free skate.

Patrick Chan free skate at 4CC

Executed elements	Base value	Scores of Panel
4t-3t	14,4	16,54
4t	10,3	12,16
3a	8,5	9,93
Cist4	3,9	5,4
Fccosp3	3	3,86
3lz-1lo-3s	11,77	12,17
3lo	5,61	6,61
3f	5,83	6,93
Cssp4	3	4,14
3lz	6,6	6
2a	3,63	4,56
Chst1	2	3,6
Ccosp3	3	3,93
Total	81,54	95,83

Total score: 185,99    TES: 95,83     PCS:90,16

Daisuke Takahashi free skate at Grand Prix Final

Executed elements	Base value	Scores of Panel
4t	10,3	7,73
3a	8,5	10,36
3s	4,2	4,8
Ccsp2	2,3	2,56
Cist4	3,9	5,5
Fccosp4	3,5	4
3a-3t	13,86	15,43
3f-2t	7,26	7,96
3lo	5,61	5,71
3lz-2t	8,03	8,63
3f	5,83	6,63
Chst1	2	3,5
Ccosp4	3,5	4,21
Total	78,79	85,58

Total score: 172,63   TES:85,58      PCS: 87,05

In this case Patrick Chan owns the best score (see the twelve best scores of the season here) 

Here the advantage caused by a nicely executed element is clear. Chan earned almost 14 points of goe against Takahashi's 7. 

Takahashi's weak point is his quad toe, while his triple axel is very well scored.

Chan has two quads and seven triples, Takahashi one quad and eight triples. Chan's technical elements base value is three points ahead Takahashi's and the components score are five points above, but if Daisuke manages to skate even better his performance score can improve.

In conclusion, while the two skaters are really close in the short, Chan has more possibilities of nailing his free, considering his consistancy on quads is higher than Takahashi's, but Takahashi has room for improvement and could snatch the gold out of Chan's hands.

Worlds 2012 schedule

Monday 26th March

14.30 Preliminary round pairs

17.15 Preliminary round dance

Tuesday 27th March

10.30 Preliminary round ladies

17.00 Preliminary round men

Wednesday 28th March

13.00 Pairs Short program

18.40 Short dance

Thursday 29th March

12.30 Ladies short program

19.00 Free dance

Friday 30th March

12.30 Men's short program

19.00 Pairs free program

Saturday 31st March

12.55 Men's free program

18.30 Ladies free program

Sunday 1st April

14.30 Gala

Possibilita' francesi di medaglia ai Mondiali di casa

I Mondiali si terranno quest'anno a Nizza, in Francia, dodici anni dopo l'edizione del 2000.

La squadra francese, benche' non sia una delle piu' forti, puo' ambire a medaglia (probabilmente non d'oro) sotto la spinta del pubblico di casa.

Nathalie Pechalat e Fabian Bourzat avrebbero con ogni probabilita' vinto la medaglia di bronzo se Nathalie non si fosse rotta il naso durante un allenamento. L'atleta francese avrebbe dovuto essere sottoposta ad un'operazione, ma, poiche' questa avrebbe compromesso la sua partecipazione ai mondiali, Nathalie ha deciso di posticiparla a dopo i mondiali. Ora si sta allenando con una mascherina che dovrebbe evitare di farle sentire troppo dolore. La coppia francese e' migliorata moltissimo negli ultimi due anni ma questo infortunio potrebbe svantaggiarli. Tuttavia, Nathalie sembra molto determinata a partecipare e a dare il massimo. Ci auguriamo tutti che questi mondiali non le rechino troppi dolori fisici.

La Francia portera' alla competizione maschile due atleti di grande valore: Florent Amodio e Brian Joubert.

Florent ha avuto due ottime stagioni nel 2011 e nel 2012: ha vinto agli Europei a cui partecipava per la prima volta nel 2011 ed e' arrivato terzo agli Europei 2012. Molti lo annoverano tra i favoriti per una medaglia ai mondiali. Certo e' che, data la sua capacita' comunicativa con il pubblico, Florent sara' amatissimo dal pubblico di casa.

Brian Joubert sta passando un periodo nero della sua carriera. Gli ultimi due anni sono stati caratterizzati da alti e bassi e uno Joubert campione del mondo sembra quasi irriconoscibile. Anche quest'anno ha avuto delle prestazione deludenti nel Grand Prix e agli Europei, dove, per la prima volta nella sua carriera, non e' riuscito a salire sul podio. Brian quest'anno ha vinto i campionati Nazionali francesi e la Challenge Cup in cui, presentando ben due quadrupli nello short, ha dimostrato tutta la sua grande voglia di avere succeso ai Mondiali.