As always the best part was watching live with the GS folks. The worst part was the time difference and the resulting crankiness.
1. V/M SD
2. Balde SP
3. Team Poland's Dirty Dancing
4. Hanyu's LP
5. Anna P. short until the techno kicks in. I love the step sequence so I just pretend the music didn't change.
Honorable mention: P/J SP, H/B's breaking the 100 point mark, all the mascot fun at the EX and C/L charming long.
1. Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker SD/FD
2. Satoko Miyahara FS
3. Cheng Peng & Yang Jin SP
4. Tarah Kayne & Danny O'Shea FS
5. Karen Chen FS
Honorable mention:
Nathan Chen FS and him with Rafael in the KnC
Anna Pogorilaya SP
Natalia Kaliszek & Maksym Spodyriev FD
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir SD
Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron FD
Cappellini & Lanotte FD
Xuehan Wang & Lei Wang FS
as NHK (as every FS competition held in Japan) is one of a kind in my opinion, there will be strictly skating top 5 and around-skating top 5:
'strictly skating' top 5:
- both Tessa and Scott performances - the whole outing reminded me why they are a top class, no matter how many times they were pushed down and how long they did not compete, brilliant performances with such spark of personality, sharpness in execution and vivid expression lasting long after presentation;
- Yuzuru FS - the time flew by and left me wanting more of this magic synthesis of music, movement and his charisma, wishing it will be skated to its fullest later this season;
- Kaitlyn Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker FD - biggest discovery and the most tearful moment for me, for me they really personified this 'Dream of love' on ice, such intricacy, minimalism, yet such a big impact created;
- Anna Pogorilaya both programs - her regal presence, drama and sensuality in her perfromances and staying strong and reliable technically - these are few important things about this weekend of Anna showing, but the most valid for me was the way she poured her soul and emotions in both performances, despite some difficulties and her emotional reaction to the audience's response for her programs;
- Peng/Jin SP - they really are giving Aliona and Bruno's SP a solid run for its money, it's a kind of program that stucks in the head for days, so memorable and quirky, adding top-notch skating it's all-around success;
honorable mentions: Hawayek/Baker 'swaggy' SD, Nathan FS (love me some "Prince Igor'), Cappellini/Lanotte FD (great, great entertainment), Satoko FS
'around skating' top 5:
- mascots giving me life - seriously, if I have some bad day, I just re-watch NHK with mascots and my smile appears, this is such amazing and so Japanese idea of having those mascots around, they're too cute for words!
- audience and overall atmosphere - for me, Japanese FS competition/shows are the best, audience seems so knowledgable over good skating and good, entertaining programs (see biggest applause for Hawayek/Baker and Cappelini/Lanotte after FD), so supportive towards any falls, not-so-succesful programs, their clapping and posters waiving are really top-notch!
- Kiss and Cry area - so much beauty in that zone, all those flowers mixed with mascots!
- emotional reactions at medal ceremonies and after perfromances seeing audience reactions - lots of skaters were really amazed/touched about crowd response and/or results they achieved, especially Anna's and Tessa/Scott's expression were very emotional for me;
- Kaitlyn Hawayek costumes - girl gets Fashion Extraordinaire award, both her competition and EX dresses were on point, I'm fangirling especially over SD black piece which gave me 'OHHH' moment yesterday, keep rocking it, Kaitlyn!
Honorable mention:
Deniss Vasiljivs FS
Yura Matsuda SP
TOP 5 NHK FUN THINGS
1) The audience's love of clapping - and the fantastic audience in general
2) Coach Nagakubo's hat
3) The decorated Kiss & Cry
4) Anna Pogo being overcome by emotion because of her fantastic reception by the audience (standing ovation on the SP)
5) Staying up all night 2 nights in a row with other crazy North Americans