2013 Skate Canada
Ladies – Free Skating
Detailed Classification
Judges Scores
Final Result
Links to Other Reports:
Ice Dance - Short Dance
Ice Dance - Free Dance
Ladies – Short Program
Men - Short Program
Men - Free Skating
Pairs – Short Program
Pairs - Free Skating
Disclaimer: The GOE values listed next to the elements are ones I would award if I was a judge and they’re intended to give you a general impression of how each element was executed. I try to describe each of the elements but there's not always time to be as detailed as I would like and a numbers can sometimes say a thousand words.
I am generally very nitpicky, try to pay a lot of attention to detail and attempt to notice various errors that judges might have missed. I realise that I’m being very harsh but I try my best to apply the same high standard to all of the skaters.
Any questions, comments, criticisms and discussion are all very welcome.
1. Courtney HICKS /USA/
Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber
3flip/3toe(landing not very strong) [0]
3salchow [0] – good height but off-axis in the air (+1-1)
flying camel to donut to forward camel catch [1] – well extended positions, quite good rotation speed
circular step sequence [0]
2axel [0] – landing a little weak
3lutz/2toe/2loop(underrotated over 1/4, fall) [-3]
3lutz [0]
three-turns into 3loop into 2axel [0]
to flying camel upward twist/change sit broken leg/up layback catch [0] – good rotation speed but the first two positions poorly extended (+1-1)
3flip [0]
choreographic sequence: front spiral /split jump [0]
camel to sideways twist catch/change sit cannonball [1] – quite good rotation speed
Good rotation speed in her spins and an impressive array of jumps but some of them were off-axis in the air and she needed to dig deep in her knee on the landing to hold on to it.
She needs some dance training really badly. Her upper body movement is quite stiff and the program lacked character and expression.
She has improved her Personal Best by a massive 8.89 (although the previous one was for a junior program).
I don’t know what happened but she was taping her boots before the start.
2. Veronik MALLET /CAN/
Funny Girl by Jule Scyne
3flip/2toe [0]
3flutz [-3] – underrotated slightly, clear change of edge before take-off
3loop [-3] – fall
flying camel to upward catch coe/change sit/up sideways catch [0] – rotation speed not bad
3toe/2toe [0]
3loop [-3] – fall
flying sit broken leg to pancake [0] - rotation speed not bad
straight line step sequence [-1] – weak edges, choppy footwork
2axel [1] - solid
choreographic sequence: front spiral / ina bauer [0]
2axel/2toe/2toe [0] (third combo/sequence so didn’t count)
camel to illusion/up/change sit cannonball/up butt out to up [0]
Her movement was a little limp and not very well defined. More confidence and projection is needed.
3. Natalia POPOVA /UKR/
La Bayadere by Leon Minkus
3flip [-1] – weak landing without much flow out
3loop [-3] – cheated over 1/4, two-footed
3toe/2toe/2toe [0]
to flying camel coe to upward twist to donut to forward camel catch [0]
camel/sit cannonball to broken leg/change up pancake to Y [1] – good rotation speed
3toe/2toe [0]
3salchow/2toe [-1] – salchow cheated over 1/4
1salchow [-3] – wild pop, turnout with foot down
2axel [0]
straight line step sequence [0]
choreographic sequence: Y spiral / catchfoot spiral / split jump [0]
into layback to sideways to layback catch to biellmann [0] – not a lot of flexibility in the back, not a lot of speed
A very stiff back and arms moving independently of it. Having said that, she has moved her arms in a more elegant way than in the past and it’s something she has improved on. Not a lot of expression. The program lacked variation and light and shade.
Her jump landings were quite heavy and she didn’t get a lot of flow out of them.
4. Amélie LACOSTE /CAN/
La Valse d'Amelie (from "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen
Les jours tristes (from "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen
Comptine d'un autre ete: L'apres-midi (from "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen
La Noyee (from "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen
3loop [2] – high and very solid
3flip [-3] – underrotated way over 1/2 (looked like almost a full revolution), turnout
3salchow/2loop [1] – solid
flying sit side twist/change sit broken leg to forward tuck [1] – quite good rotation speed
circular step sequence [1] – quite good edges
2flip/2toe [1] – high and solid, entry quite long though
2axel [-1] – off-axis in the air, landing a little strained
3loop/2loop/2loop [0] – not a lot of flow out
layback to sideways to layback catch [0] – extension quite limited, not a lot of speed
choreographic sequence: front spiral (nicely extended) / arabesque / footwork [1]
2axel [-3] – fall
camel to illusion/change up butt out/sit /up Y [0] – quite good positions and decent rotation speed but lost balance at the end (+1-1)
Good edges. There was variation in the music and her movement reflected it but it was all quite introverted and lacked conviction. She could have used more projection and the program could have used some highlights.
The light pink super girly dress didn’t fit the Amelie music.
5. Kaetlyn OSMOND /CAN/
Mission Cleopatre (soundtrack) by Philippe Chany
Numerobis Theme (from Mission Cleopatre soundtrack) by Philippe Chany
Asterix and Obelix (from Mission Cleopatre soundtrack) by Philippe Chany
Cleopatra and Caesar by Claude-Michel Schoenberg and David Nixon
She has withdrawn due to hamstring injury. She said that she woke up with pain in her hamstring and later during the practice it has gotten worse, therefore her team has decided to err on the side of caution and withdraw.
Given that she was suffering from a foot injury in the first place, maybe her team should have let her recover fully before returning to competition.
6. Christina GAO /USA/
Angels and Demons (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer
3flip(weak landing)/1toe [-1]
2axel [0] – nicely held and accentuated landing but not a lot of flow out, a little off-axis in the air
3flutz/2toe [-1] – slight change of edge before take-off
circular step sequence [-1] – edges quite scratchy, not a lot of flow
to scratch butterflies into flying sit var/jump to pancake(slowed down a little) [0]
2flip [0]
three-turns into 3loop [0] – solid but didn’t hold the landing long and not a lot of flow out
camel coe/layback catch/change sit/up var to Y [1] – decent positions and rotation speed
3salchow [0] – possibly slightly cheated
3toe/2toe/2loop [1]
choreographic sequence: ina bauer / split jump / back spiral [0]
to flying camel upward twist/sit/jump to sit broken leg/up cross-foot [1] – quite good rotation speed
There were quite a lot of arm movements throughout by they weren’t very elegant or fully extended and she skated with rounded shoulders. Whilst the program featured a few interesting movements, overall the choreography was quite generic.
7. SUZUKI Akiko /JPN/
The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
3flip [-2] – step out
2axel/3toe(cheated over 1/4)/2toe [0] – solid (+1-1)
3flutz [0] – solid but a slight change of edge before take-off (+1-1)
scratch butterflies to flying camel upward twist to coe to forward camel catch [0] – decent rotation speed but positions not very well extended (+1-1)
circular step sequence [2] – deep edges, good flow
3flip/2toe [0] – not a lot of speed out
3flutz(cheated over 1/4)/1toe [-2] – slight change of edge before take-off, a little hesitation before doing the single toe (probably because she was very close to the boards and needed to skate away from them first)
3loop [0] – solid but entry telegraphed (+1-1)
choreographic sequence: Y spiral to crescendo in the music / footwork / falling leaf / front spiral [2] – good speed, well extended spirals
3salchow [0]
to camel/up Y/change sit side twist to forward tuck [1]
flying camel(a lot of revolutions)/sit side twist/jump to change up sideways to layback [0] – decent rotation speed but travelled a little changing feet (+1-1)
Very good edges, a lot of freedom in her movement with her using her whole upper body and not just moving her arms. However, again, the choreography didn’t have a lot of variation, lacked interesting highlights and didn’t give her an opportunity to go all out.
Her (f)lutz technique has improved and the change of edge is now less pronounced than it used to be.
8. Julia LIPNITSKAIA /RUS/
Schindler's List (soundtrack) by John Williams
steps into 3flutz/3toe [0] – solid but a slight change of edge before take-off (+1-1)
2axel/3toe/2toe [0]
scratch butterfly into flying camel donut coe to camel-biellmann to forward camel catch [1] – good positions and rotation speed but off-centred slightly (+2-1)
straight line step sequence [0] – ok but edges not that well pronounced, could use some more speed
3flip [1] – solid
2axel [0] – landing a little heavy but good speed out
3loop [1] – solid
hyperextended front spiral to three-turns into 3salchow [1] - solid
3lutz(a little over the toe)/2toe [0] - slight change of edge before take-off but I think she was still on outside edge, that call could have gone either way though
layback to sideways to hyper-extended biellmann [3] – fantastic extension, very good rotation speed
choreographic sequence: footwork / ina bauer / front split spiral to charlotte [2] – really well extended positions
camel upward twist/sit cannonball to broken leg/change up hyper-extended Y [2] – excellent positions and flow throughout, very good rotation speed but off-centred slightly on the last position (+3-1)
There were a lot of arm movements throughout but they weren’t fully extended, accentuated and held long enough making them look a little frantic. Given the music was longato, slower and gentler movement would have been more appropriate. The choreography lacked variety.
She still seems to lack speed and power in comparison with some of her rivals but that probably is largely the result of her still being so tiny. She was quite smooth over the ice, however and the program flowed quite well.
She has smashed her previous (junior) personal best by 7.38 points.
9. Gracie GOLD /USA/
Sleeping Beauty by Petr I. Tchaikovski
3lutz(very good height and distance)/3toe(a little bit over the toe, not that much flow out) [1] (+2-1)
2axel [-1] – scratchy landing on inside edge
3loop [1] – solid, good flow out
transitions into flying camel to upward catch/sit tuck/up Y [2] – very good rotation speed
circular step sequence [1] – decent flow
3lip [-2] – over the toe on the landing, slight change of edge before take-off
3lutz [-3] – fall
3salchow [-3] – underrotated over 1/2, foot down, turnout
camel to upward twist/change sit cannonball to sideways twist/up layback [2] – very good rotation speed
choreographic sequence: front coe spiral to catchfoot [1]
to 2axel/2toe/2toe [0]
transitions into sideways to layback catch to biellmann [2] – good extension and rotation speed
Her improvement since last season is quite astounding. She used to be very stiff in her upper body but here she showed quite soft arm movements. There was quite a lot of upper body movement throughout and a fair amount of transitions as well. The movement was quite varied as well. A quite well choreographed, sophisticated program.
There's still room for improvement on her posture and the way she uses her upper body and there some points in the program, which were quite empty but she is definitely moving in the right direction.
When her music choice was revealed, I didn’t understand why a skater who isn’t balletic at all has chosen something classical. What I didn’t remember, however, was that “Sleeping Beauty” is a really powerful piece (flashbacks to Rechnio’s FS). It was a good fit for her.
Ladies – Free Skating
Detailed Classification
Judges Scores
Final Result
Links to Other Reports:
Ice Dance - Short Dance
Ice Dance - Free Dance
Ladies – Short Program
Men - Short Program
Men - Free Skating
Pairs – Short Program
Pairs - Free Skating
Disclaimer: The GOE values listed next to the elements are ones I would award if I was a judge and they’re intended to give you a general impression of how each element was executed. I try to describe each of the elements but there's not always time to be as detailed as I would like and a numbers can sometimes say a thousand words.
I am generally very nitpicky, try to pay a lot of attention to detail and attempt to notice various errors that judges might have missed. I realise that I’m being very harsh but I try my best to apply the same high standard to all of the skaters.
Any questions, comments, criticisms and discussion are all very welcome.
1. Courtney HICKS /USA/
Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber
3flip/3toe(landing not very strong) [0]
3salchow [0] – good height but off-axis in the air (+1-1)
flying camel to donut to forward camel catch [1] – well extended positions, quite good rotation speed
circular step sequence [0]
2axel [0] – landing a little weak
3lutz/2toe/2loop(underrotated over 1/4, fall) [-3]
3lutz [0]
three-turns into 3loop into 2axel [0]
to flying camel upward twist/change sit broken leg/up layback catch [0] – good rotation speed but the first two positions poorly extended (+1-1)
3flip [0]
choreographic sequence: front spiral /split jump [0]
camel to sideways twist catch/change sit cannonball [1] – quite good rotation speed
Good rotation speed in her spins and an impressive array of jumps but some of them were off-axis in the air and she needed to dig deep in her knee on the landing to hold on to it.
She needs some dance training really badly. Her upper body movement is quite stiff and the program lacked character and expression.
She has improved her Personal Best by a massive 8.89 (although the previous one was for a junior program).
I don’t know what happened but she was taping her boots before the start.
2. Veronik MALLET /CAN/
Funny Girl by Jule Scyne
3flip/2toe [0]
3flutz [-3] – underrotated slightly, clear change of edge before take-off
3loop [-3] – fall
flying camel to upward catch coe/change sit/up sideways catch [0] – rotation speed not bad
3toe/2toe [0]
3loop [-3] – fall
flying sit broken leg to pancake [0] - rotation speed not bad
straight line step sequence [-1] – weak edges, choppy footwork
2axel [1] - solid
choreographic sequence: front spiral / ina bauer [0]
2axel/2toe/2toe [0] (third combo/sequence so didn’t count)
camel to illusion/up/change sit cannonball/up butt out to up [0]
Her movement was a little limp and not very well defined. More confidence and projection is needed.
3. Natalia POPOVA /UKR/
La Bayadere by Leon Minkus
3flip [-1] – weak landing without much flow out
3loop [-3] – cheated over 1/4, two-footed
3toe/2toe/2toe [0]
to flying camel coe to upward twist to donut to forward camel catch [0]
camel/sit cannonball to broken leg/change up pancake to Y [1] – good rotation speed
3toe/2toe [0]
3salchow/2toe [-1] – salchow cheated over 1/4
1salchow [-3] – wild pop, turnout with foot down
2axel [0]
straight line step sequence [0]
choreographic sequence: Y spiral / catchfoot spiral / split jump [0]
into layback to sideways to layback catch to biellmann [0] – not a lot of flexibility in the back, not a lot of speed
A very stiff back and arms moving independently of it. Having said that, she has moved her arms in a more elegant way than in the past and it’s something she has improved on. Not a lot of expression. The program lacked variation and light and shade.
Her jump landings were quite heavy and she didn’t get a lot of flow out of them.
4. Amélie LACOSTE /CAN/
La Valse d'Amelie (from "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen
Les jours tristes (from "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen
Comptine d'un autre ete: L'apres-midi (from "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen
La Noyee (from "Amelie Poulain" soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen
3loop [2] – high and very solid
3flip [-3] – underrotated way over 1/2 (looked like almost a full revolution), turnout
3salchow/2loop [1] – solid
flying sit side twist/change sit broken leg to forward tuck [1] – quite good rotation speed
circular step sequence [1] – quite good edges
2flip/2toe [1] – high and solid, entry quite long though
2axel [-1] – off-axis in the air, landing a little strained
3loop/2loop/2loop [0] – not a lot of flow out
layback to sideways to layback catch [0] – extension quite limited, not a lot of speed
choreographic sequence: front spiral (nicely extended) / arabesque / footwork [1]
2axel [-3] – fall
camel to illusion/change up butt out/sit /up Y [0] – quite good positions and decent rotation speed but lost balance at the end (+1-1)
Good edges. There was variation in the music and her movement reflected it but it was all quite introverted and lacked conviction. She could have used more projection and the program could have used some highlights.
The light pink super girly dress didn’t fit the Amelie music.
5. Kaetlyn OSMOND /CAN/
Mission Cleopatre (soundtrack) by Philippe Chany
Numerobis Theme (from Mission Cleopatre soundtrack) by Philippe Chany
Asterix and Obelix (from Mission Cleopatre soundtrack) by Philippe Chany
Cleopatra and Caesar by Claude-Michel Schoenberg and David Nixon
She has withdrawn due to hamstring injury. She said that she woke up with pain in her hamstring and later during the practice it has gotten worse, therefore her team has decided to err on the side of caution and withdraw.
Given that she was suffering from a foot injury in the first place, maybe her team should have let her recover fully before returning to competition.
6. Christina GAO /USA/
Angels and Demons (soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer
3flip(weak landing)/1toe [-1]
2axel [0] – nicely held and accentuated landing but not a lot of flow out, a little off-axis in the air
3flutz/2toe [-1] – slight change of edge before take-off
circular step sequence [-1] – edges quite scratchy, not a lot of flow
to scratch butterflies into flying sit var/jump to pancake(slowed down a little) [0]
2flip [0]
three-turns into 3loop [0] – solid but didn’t hold the landing long and not a lot of flow out
camel coe/layback catch/change sit/up var to Y [1] – decent positions and rotation speed
3salchow [0] – possibly slightly cheated
3toe/2toe/2loop [1]
choreographic sequence: ina bauer / split jump / back spiral [0]
to flying camel upward twist/sit/jump to sit broken leg/up cross-foot [1] – quite good rotation speed
There were quite a lot of arm movements throughout by they weren’t very elegant or fully extended and she skated with rounded shoulders. Whilst the program featured a few interesting movements, overall the choreography was quite generic.
7. SUZUKI Akiko /JPN/
The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
3flip [-2] – step out
2axel/3toe(cheated over 1/4)/2toe [0] – solid (+1-1)
3flutz [0] – solid but a slight change of edge before take-off (+1-1)
scratch butterflies to flying camel upward twist to coe to forward camel catch [0] – decent rotation speed but positions not very well extended (+1-1)
circular step sequence [2] – deep edges, good flow
3flip/2toe [0] – not a lot of speed out
3flutz(cheated over 1/4)/1toe [-2] – slight change of edge before take-off, a little hesitation before doing the single toe (probably because she was very close to the boards and needed to skate away from them first)
3loop [0] – solid but entry telegraphed (+1-1)
choreographic sequence: Y spiral to crescendo in the music / footwork / falling leaf / front spiral [2] – good speed, well extended spirals
3salchow [0]
to camel/up Y/change sit side twist to forward tuck [1]
flying camel(a lot of revolutions)/sit side twist/jump to change up sideways to layback [0] – decent rotation speed but travelled a little changing feet (+1-1)
Very good edges, a lot of freedom in her movement with her using her whole upper body and not just moving her arms. However, again, the choreography didn’t have a lot of variation, lacked interesting highlights and didn’t give her an opportunity to go all out.
Her (f)lutz technique has improved and the change of edge is now less pronounced than it used to be.
8. Julia LIPNITSKAIA /RUS/
Schindler's List (soundtrack) by John Williams
steps into 3flutz/3toe [0] – solid but a slight change of edge before take-off (+1-1)
2axel/3toe/2toe [0]
scratch butterfly into flying camel donut coe to camel-biellmann to forward camel catch [1] – good positions and rotation speed but off-centred slightly (+2-1)
straight line step sequence [0] – ok but edges not that well pronounced, could use some more speed
3flip [1] – solid
2axel [0] – landing a little heavy but good speed out
3loop [1] – solid
hyperextended front spiral to three-turns into 3salchow [1] - solid
3lutz(a little over the toe)/2toe [0] - slight change of edge before take-off but I think she was still on outside edge, that call could have gone either way though
layback to sideways to hyper-extended biellmann [3] – fantastic extension, very good rotation speed
choreographic sequence: footwork / ina bauer / front split spiral to charlotte [2] – really well extended positions
camel upward twist/sit cannonball to broken leg/change up hyper-extended Y [2] – excellent positions and flow throughout, very good rotation speed but off-centred slightly on the last position (+3-1)
There were a lot of arm movements throughout but they weren’t fully extended, accentuated and held long enough making them look a little frantic. Given the music was longato, slower and gentler movement would have been more appropriate. The choreography lacked variety.
She still seems to lack speed and power in comparison with some of her rivals but that probably is largely the result of her still being so tiny. She was quite smooth over the ice, however and the program flowed quite well.
She has smashed her previous (junior) personal best by 7.38 points.
9. Gracie GOLD /USA/
Sleeping Beauty by Petr I. Tchaikovski
3lutz(very good height and distance)/3toe(a little bit over the toe, not that much flow out) [1] (+2-1)
2axel [-1] – scratchy landing on inside edge
3loop [1] – solid, good flow out
transitions into flying camel to upward catch/sit tuck/up Y [2] – very good rotation speed
circular step sequence [1] – decent flow
3lip [-2] – over the toe on the landing, slight change of edge before take-off
3lutz [-3] – fall
3salchow [-3] – underrotated over 1/2, foot down, turnout
camel to upward twist/change sit cannonball to sideways twist/up layback [2] – very good rotation speed
choreographic sequence: front coe spiral to catchfoot [1]
to 2axel/2toe/2toe [0]
transitions into sideways to layback catch to biellmann [2] – good extension and rotation speed
Her improvement since last season is quite astounding. She used to be very stiff in her upper body but here she showed quite soft arm movements. There was quite a lot of upper body movement throughout and a fair amount of transitions as well. The movement was quite varied as well. A quite well choreographed, sophisticated program.
There's still room for improvement on her posture and the way she uses her upper body and there some points in the program, which were quite empty but she is definitely moving in the right direction.
When her music choice was revealed, I didn’t understand why a skater who isn’t balletic at all has chosen something classical. What I didn’t remember, however, was that “Sleeping Beauty” is a really powerful piece (flashbacks to Rechnio’s FS). It was a good fit for her.