Командный чемпионат мира (World Team Trophy) 11-14 апреля, Фукока, Япония

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Men - Group 1
Men’s Group One Practice

This morning, the men mostly blocked their routines.

Russia’s Alexander Samarin was the exception. He skated a full short program run through. We love both his intensity and commitment to the music.

The two Italian representatives, Matteo Rizzo and Daniel Grassl, worked mostly on setting their jumps. Grassl did however, land some very impressive quadruple lutz jumps.

Vincent Zhou skated parts of his free program. His music, to selections from Crouching Tiger - Hidden Dragon, and Rising Sun, should be very popular with the Japanese audience.

Zhou’s jump rotation, it should be noted, is very fast and tight. He makes them look so easy. Of all the skaters, Zhou was the only one to stay for the full duration of the session.

Nathan Chen (USA) and Andrei Lazukin were not present at this morning’s practice.

More to come.

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Men - Group 2
ISU World Team Trophy
Fukuoka, Japan

Wednesday 10 April, 2019

Men’s Group Two Practice

Once again, this morning has been about blocking routines.

All six skaters, however, have been hitting some very impressive triple and quadruple jumps. France, Japan, and Canada were represented in this group.

Japan’s Shoma Uno and Keiji Tanaka are solid technicians and supreme artists. Both skaters throw their entire bodies into expressing the music.

The two Canadians, Keegan Messing and Nam Nyugen, looked ready and focussed. Messing in particular, has a trademark Russian split jump followed immediately by a triple lutz. His quadruple toe loop is huge, too.

Team France brought two skaters very much on the rise in senior competition. Kevin Aymoz is a delight to watch, and Adam Siao Him Fa was equally at home nailing some nice jumps.

More to come.

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Ladies group 1
Ladies’ Group One Practice
Afternoon Session

Team Russia’s entries, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Sofia Samodurova, made their first appearance for the day. It has to be said that Tuktamysheva gets amazing elevation and distance on her jumps. We also love Samodurova’s angular style of presentation. Your eyes are naturally drawn to her.

All of the skaters apart from Kiriha (who is wearing her free skating costume), are in black leotards. The longer line really suits the likes of Tennell, and could be a look to consider for future competition.

Kihira performed a full run through. Her only blemish was popping the opening triple Axel into a single. Otherwise, she makes this demanding routine look so easy.

Sakamoto also did a full run through. Her command of the blade and edge work is quite something to see in person. Japan is very lucky to have so many talented ladies on the scene.

Once all six skaters had completed their individual routines, the ladies worked mostly on their spins for the remainder of the session.

More to come.

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Wednesday 10 April, 2019

This morning we watched practice sessions for ice dancers in Group Two and ladies’ singles in Groups One and Two.

Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN) displayed gorgeous intensity running through their Rhythm Dance routine. Weaver looks very much like a movie star from the golden age. Her costume is stunning.

Gabriella Papadakis & Guiliaume Cizeron (FRA) proved why they are the current world champions. Dipped in black, they capitalise on their long lines and sensuous fluidity. It has to be said their routine, however, is very much directed towards the judges’ side of the rink.

The Japanese representatives, Misato Komatsubara & Tim Koleto looked fast and strong. Their pleasing Rhythm Dance is packed with passion and intensity.

Moving onto the ladies’ run through, the two Japanese ladies’ could not be more different. Rika Kihara creates a look of light delicacy, whereas her team mate, Kaori Sakamoto is all about power and attack.

Sakamoto’s short program run-though was clean and sharp. She also generates tremendous speed, and her double axel in particular, carries tremendous distance across the ice.

Kihira took some time to get moving, and for most of the session, worked on her short program jump elements. In person, her triple axel is so tight and quick. The skater makes it look very easy.

Mariah Bell (USA) is a very expressive and outgoing performer. Her short program, skated to Celine Dion’s ‘To Love You More’, is the perfect choice. She lives and breathes this music.

Her compatriot, Bradie Tennell, struggled somewhat with the triple lutz. Her other jumps however, looked quick and sharp.

One thing to note is that her free skate is a melange of music from Romeo & Juliet. Meaning, Tennell has incorporated segments from Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet, Nino Rota’s soundtrack from 1968, and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 interpretation as well.

Russia's Sofia Samodurova and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva weren't present for their practice session this morning.

In Group Two, Canada's Alaine Chartrand and Gabrielle Daleman, both looked strong, sharp, and confident.

More to come very soon.