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Saturday November 24th

Ladies Long Program
Group 1:
I missed the japanese girl, and didn't have time to take notes on Laeticia. Laeticia skated great, only missing the loop, and she did land 2 lutzes, with a hand on one of them. The best skate she did of her life so far. I hate the music though.
So I didn't take notes about all this group, only thoughts about the choreographies.
3 - Poth - HUN
Boring program, boring skater and boring music. I think that says it all. I didn't bother about her jumps since Ben did take them.
4. Soldatova - BLR
She tries to copy Masha, but she has nothing : her arms are flapping everywhere, the choreogrpahy is zero and her posture is awful.
5. Dirke Baker - NZL
Well she sure is american in her edges and choreography, but she is stil a junior skater. May be interesting one day if she can land the triples. A bit slow too.
6. Fontana - ITA
Well skating in France to Con te Partiro was a baaaaaad idea. She was bad, and her jumps looks heavy. funny because in casual clothes she is much slimmer !

Group 2:
1. Volchkova - RUS
elements : 2a, 3z-2t (huge height), flying camel, huge 3flip, a lot on 2 feet during her step seq, 3l, 2lutz with a long setup, 2s, 3 toe, 2 spins ok.
She is a good jumper, has a wonderful ice coverage but is so cold!
2. Kirk - USA
All her jumps are small, but secured. It's so bad she has that awful FLUTZ!
Elements: 3salchow, 3fllutz-2t, 3t-3t a bit cheated, camel spin, 2a, nice sit spin with an awesome position, 3loop lean in the air, nice spin, spread eagle section, 3 flip out of steps, spread eagle into 3 flutz, and another spin.
Juniorish skater, but she is so consistant it is amazing. Good skate, deserved her finish.
3. Butyrskaya - RUS
I expected the same skate, if no better than at Nation's Cup, but it was not to be.
She did 3l-2t, fell on 3 F, did her 3t-1/2loop-3salchow, 2 lutzz, spin, 3loop, spin, wonderful spirals, 2 a from a circular step sequences, sit spin etc.
I missed some of her jumps since I had to focus on her skating. So read Ben's notes for all of them :) Sorry about it but I love her and think she'll win worlds no problem this year, if she can land her jumps.
4. Robinson - CAN
I didn't care for her at all. A boring skate to a boring soft music. Why on earth have all ladies chosen such sad and slow music this year ???? I was talking to a friend so I didn't take notes. Just she two footed her first lutz, and did a 3flutz-2toe later in her program. Her spins are ok, thought she doesn't hold them a lot.
Could stay in top ten at worlds this year.
5. Kettunen - FIN
Well she has nothing between her jumps and was boring all along thought I liked her music.
Read Ben's review on her.
6. Gusmeroli - FRA
As I said, I like her music, but she has to get rid of that horrid costume. I talked to her mom and she said she will. THANK GOD :) It made her look awfully fat, when in fact she is slimmer than ever.
Beginning of the program was ok, and the she fell apart.
Given the circumstances (she didn't sleep due to the death threats she received), she skated ok but was really tired and wanted to leave Becy as soon as possible. Didn't stay in the hotel nor near the rink after that.
Words were that the threats came from a french lady, of which the police have the number. Maybe has to do with the problems her club is having right now with the FFSG. Or people wanted to make sure she wouldn't medal and that it would affect her friends, Sarah and Stéphane. It succeeded in that aspect, but she doesn't want to talk about it. You wouldn't have know if someone in the french clan didn't tell it (someone from the trainers or the organising committe) to the press in the day.

I nearly fell asleep during this lady competition sorry, but had you been there, you would have said the same! We were all bored to death, except for Maria, Vanessa and Laeticia.