Saturday Worlds 2012 Review: Ladies Final

PLEASE NOTE: I'll get more into the details/analysis of many Worlds performances & scores later in the week-- but please feel free to leave comments or questions in the meantime!

Heaven help me, I nearly saw every last lady in the free skate… so here’s what I’ve got:

Caught 1st lady in progress: Mikonsaari (FIN)…looks about 11 yrs old. (She’s actually 18.) 66.24/110.40 (Finished 24th)

Korobeynikova (RUS) FS- Otonal… 3F… 3lz/2t… 3F opened up, landed forward… 2ax/2t… popped her 3Lo… 3sal/3T? prob UR and double 3 out… 2ax… interesting, diff positions on layback… 83.27 (way off SB by 20 or so)/129.98 (Finished 19th)

Buhler (SWE) FS: the Gypsy Baron… 3lz pulled it out… 3sal fell out… 3T was 2T/2T/1T I think… 2ax nice… 3T 2’d again, awkwardly… popped 3sal/2t… 2ax/2T… interesting approach to Bielmann, but nearly lost edge doing it. 72.19/116.21 (Finished 23rd)

Popova (UKR)/Sur les ailes du temps (?)… 3F?/2T… 3Lo good… 3T double-3 out… 3T/2T… 3sal/2t… 3sal good… nice 2ax… very nice position on layback, though the catch-foot positions were lacking. Petrenko’s her coach… 89.76, 5 off SB/136.36
(Finished 17th)

Hecken (GER) (FS- Valse #10 Chopin … 3F save… 3sal big step out… 3T/2t w/double 3 in between… (used to be 3T/3T didn’t it?)… 3F? FALL…3sal/2t/2t good… 2ax/2t…2ax again… choreo through that part was really lacking… still love the happy way she looks through most of her skating. 82.81, 4+ off SB/129.20 (Finished 20th)

Frank (AUS) FS (Hanz Zimmer selections)… hmm flesh-colored gloves… not sure what I think of those. 3lz hand down?... 3T/2T good… 3sal/2t 2’d the sal… 3sal/2t… 3T opened to big incomplete pop… 2ax… 2ax fall out… 80.37/126.17 (Finished 21st)

Lafuente: 3F good… 3Lo nice… 3T/2T… sit spin position needs work… 3Lo/2t… needs to take more time with her spreadeagle… 2ax/2t… 3T… 2ax good… nicely done; would love to see her connect w/audience more. 92.88 SB/140.24 good for her! (Finished 15th)

Turkkila (FIN) age 17 Scheherazade… ooh she’s too young for this music. 3T/2T nice… 3sal/2t good… 2Lo w/arm variation… 2ax/2t/2Lo messed up on last one… 3sal step out… 3T good… 2ax good… pretty decent debut! 87.81 new SB/135.56 (Finished 18th)

Glebova (EST) Spartacus… 3lz good… interesting set up for 3Lo… 2ax/3T I think… 3sal/2t/2t… 3sal/2t 2’d both… 2ax… 3F hand down… pretty good skate from her. 95.24/144.28 (Finished 13th)

Lacoste: Evita (piano version)… 3Lo good… 3ltz/2Lo was 2’d both… 3sal FALL… 3F 2’d… 3Lo/2Lo… this arrangement reminds me of Alissa’s George Winston medley from last year… 2ax FALL… 3sal/1T… Oh, she’s so bummed. Hate that. Lots of pressure for her; if she’s not in Top 10 only 1 can go next year. 89.23/138.60 (Finished 16th)

Czisny : 3lz FALL… 3Lo FALL… 3F OK, deep edge save… audience trying to clap for her through this part of music as she spins… 3T big break at waist but no fall… 3lz FALL… 3Lo FALL #4… 2ax FALL #5… is this meltdown over yet? Whew. Yes. OMG I think there will be 5 freaking deductions there. what do you say?? This time, big tears in the K/C. That was so sad. Can we take this season back? 75.80/124.11 (Finished 22nd)

Silete… Xotica… 2ax/?T… 3lz save of sorts… 3F FALL… 3Lo… ?? (Sorry, doing a Tweet check)… 3sal/2T… 3F/2T… 2ax… 99.76 new SB/148.18 (Finished 12th)

Marchei Big Bad Voodoo Daddy… 3lz/2t sweet… 3F hands down, complete stop… 3sal hands down again… 3lz good… 3F snowy but OK… 2ax, double 3 to 2T… (this costume’s a little too showgirl-ey for me)… 3sal to 2T (double-3 again)… 97.96/150.10 good for her! (Finished 8th)

Zhang Kexin (CHN): Love the Magician(??)… 3F/3T nice… 3ltz ooh FALL almost hits boards?... 3lz/2t much better. ?? I missed that jump… 3Lo… 3sal/2t/2t?... 2ax good… 102.57 6 off SB/157.57 (Finished 7th)

McCorkell Where Have All the Flowers Gone… I like her hair… 3lz good… 3F good… she looks ready to attack these jumps, good for her… 3T/2T… not a lot of stretch on spirals… popped 3sal… popped 3Lo… 2ax/2t… 3T to 2ax good on both… 93.42/143.84 (Finished 14th)

Gedevanishvili (didn’t recognize her; hair is down)… 3lz FALL… next 3lz is popped mess… 2ax/2T… 3sal good… 3Lo FALL…3T/2T fell out of 2nd… 3T good… she cringes when it’s over; not pleased… 90.71; 18 pts off SB/149.20 (Finished 10th)

Helgesson: Sunset Boulevard… 3F nice… 3? Good… 3Lo very nice… 3T/2T good… I like this music for her; costume w/fur cuffs is nice too. 2ax awk. Step out… 3Lo FALL… 3sal good… did she finish behind music too much?? (I think she got a deduction) 94.35/148.54 (Finished 11th)

Wagner: 3F/2t/2Lo good… 2ax/3T prolly 2ft… 3lz nice… LOVE the staccato arms as usual… 3Lo… 3sal good… 3Lo/2T… 3F good… oh did we need that. Thanks. 120.35, 8 off SB…176.77. AND no worse than 7th for this event. Good girl. But Tweeter crowd cries underscored. I wouldn’t doubt that a bit. (Finished 4th)

Leonova… also unrecognizable (when she’s not looking saucy). 3T/3T great… 3Lo good… 3lz step out, unusual error (for this year)… 3F/2t good but sooo close to boards… 3sal/2t good… 3F good… 2ax good… I know she’s attacking her SLFW, but her posture is really frustrating—so much lurching, it seems… she’s very happy; I’d say that should keep her on the podium… don’t know that will win. 119.67 new SB/184.28 (Finished 2nd)

Asada: popped the 3ax… 3F/2Lo… 3lz pretty… 2ax/2T (supposed to be 3T)… 2’d 3F… 3Sal… 3Lo popped… aw, she’s giving it away, why, why??... 105.03/164.52 and she’s behind Ashley. Wow. (Finished 6th)

Murakami: 3lz good… 3Lo good… 3F cross/2ft… 3T/3T nice…3T to 2ax popped… another popped axel a little later… 3sal/2Lo/2Lo cool… looong wait on these scores… 112.74 new SB/175.41 (Finished 5th)

Kostner: 3Lo good… 3F lovely… 2ax/3T… 2F/2T (her only error?)… 2ax…3sal… 3sal/2t/2t I think… and YES, good for her, she’s finally got her gold. Right? 128.94 new SB/189.94 YEAY. Never thought I’d say that. (Finished 1st)

Suzuki: 3ltz good… 2ax/3T… 3T nice… 3Lo/2t/2Lo yesss… (maybe UR??)… 3sal good… popped lutz?/2T… 3Lo good… has she saved the best for last (score-wise)? 121.30 new SB/180.68 (Finished 3rd)

Makarova (in a new lavender dress replacing the fuchsia from earlier in season): 3lz incomplete step-out… 3T? big FALL like at start of season… 3Lo good… 3Lo/2t good… 3Sal FALL these falls look especially painful… popped axel… 2ax… last part of this feels particularly uninspired… probably post 2nd fall. Ah well… 90.97, 12 off SB/149.48 (Finished 9th)