Live Blog: 2007 Wolds Figure Skating Championship Ladies Long Program
Posted on March 23, 2007
Filed Under Sports
This will be a live blog covering the ladies long program at the 2007 Worlds Figure Skating Championship in Tokyo, Japan. The ladies compete on March 24, 2007. The live coverage in North America begins at 3:30 a.m. CST (1:30 a.m. PST/4:30 a.m. EST), it is then I will begin my live report on the competition.
Here are the skating order. Stay tuned! 
4:30 a.m. EST - Here we go. Group 1 is on the ice for their warm up. They are showing Ito and Honda again. :), they are waving to the camera. They look so happy commentating. 3:30 a.m. EST - Warm up is over. Here we go!
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GROUP ONE
Tamar Katz - ISR
Tamar from ISR is up first. She opens the program with a 3Z, Slow on the landing. Pops her 3L, ends up doing a bad single loop. Nice speed on her back sit spin, with change of position. Clean and easy 2A. Setting up for the 3Z, Ends up being a double. 3T, Skates to her 2A-1T-1L, comboniation. Goes into her combination spin. Nice spiral sequence, steady with great extension. 2F-2T combination, sloppy. Spin combination with change of foot was slow. Now working on her straight line step sequence. Simple and easy. She ends her program with a back sit spin. TE Score 40.74, PC Score 36.11, Total FS score 76.85, TS score 122.51.
Elena Glevoba - EST
She opens her program with foot work into a 3Z, falls on it lacking height. Now setting up for her 3F but turns it into a double. Nice entry into her back camel changes to sit spins with great speed. Clean 3S than goes into a clean 2A. Traveling on her spin slightly. “I like her music”, Goes into another combination spin, kind of weak not diffciult as some of the ladies. Spiral sequence has some momments of nice speed. Goes into a 2A-3T slight touch down on the T, steps in between and throws a 2T. Nice circular step sequence. Now goes into another 2A-3T clean. 3S-2T again clean. Closes her program with her final combination spin with good change of position. TE Score 47.53, PC Score 38.55, Total FS Score 85.06, TS Score 131.18.
Mira Leung - CAN
Mira is up, hope she does well. She opens her program with a nice and easy 3F. Now setting up for her 3Z-2L combination-It’s clean. Nice 3S. Nice speed and position in her combination spins. Camel, Sit, Layback and ends in a Beilman. Great extensions on her spiral sequence. Oh.. falls on the 3T. Clean 2A-2T combination. Nice flying back camel spin. Now working on her straight line step sequence working well with the music. Touch down on the 3Z, falls on her last jump element 3F which should of been followed with 2L-2L. Closes her program with her final combination spin. “Not the best I’ve seen from Mira, she is usually good with her jumps, but tonight she under rotated a few of them.” TE Score 36.88, PC Score 38.81, Total FS Score 73.60, TS Score 120.74.
Joannie Carter - AUS
Joannie Carter is on the ice. She opens her program with a 2F. Clean 3Z, and also a clean 3L. Nice position on her first combination spin. Kind of slow. Nice speed and flow throughout her spiral sequence. 3F-1T. Has problem on the landing of the 2A. Combination spin, again is slow but has some nice variations. Series of 3turns into a clean 3T. Clean 2A into her lying camel spin. Now working on her straight line step sequence. Slow and not as difficult as the top ladies. Closing her program with her final spin combination finishing slightly after the music. TE Score 39.96, PC Score 38.75, Total FS Score 78.71, TS Score 127.17.
Idora Hegel - CRO
Idora is up and she opens her program with 3Z falls on it, didn’t hold the landing edge. Now setting up for her 3F, lands tight but holds on. Goes into her flying camel spin with change of edge and position. Spread eagle into a clean 2A. Skates around and does 2A, 3L series. Goes into her combination spin, lackign a bit of speed. Now working on her spiral sequence, some great speed but ugly positions. 3Z-2T combination, not a lot of speed after the lutz. Going through her straight line step sequence, kidn of slow but goes well with music. Problems on the 3L, two foot landing with hands down. Slow entering the 2T-2T combination. Ends her program with her final combination spin, loosing speed near the end. TE Score 43.24, PC Score 38.51, Total FS Score 80.75, TS Score 125.66.
Yan Liu - CHN
Yan Liu from China is up next currently in 21st place entering the long program. She opens her program with a 3Z-2T combination. “I like this music”. Lots of speed entering her 3F, falls of the landing. Very nice 3L. Nice sequence of 3L, hop, 3S. Loosing speed on her flying camel. Clean 3T-2T combination. Falls on her 2A. Slow on her layback spin. Straight line step sequence is simple and easy but well used with the music. Has nice variations on her combination spin, but looses her centering. Not a lot of speed on her spiral sequence, slight bobble too. Clean 3S and ends her program with a layback spin, loosing speed and also traveling. TE Score 38.22, PC Score 39.41, Total FS Score 76.63, TS Score 123.22.
Current standings so far can be found here. Group 2 is now on the ice for their warm up.
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GROUP TWO
Joannie Rochette - CAN
Joannie is up first, hopefully she does a clean program. She now needs to crack the top 10 to secure two spots for Canada at next years worlds. Music is ‘Don Juan’, she opens her program with a strong 3F-2T-2L combination. Nice clean 3Z-2T great speed out of the jumps. Yes pulls off a nice 3L. Strong variations of positions in her combination spins. Striaght line step sequence beautifully timed withe music. Oh.. falls off the landing on the 3F, hands down. Nice 2A, 3T sequence. Great speed on her sit spins. Good flow through out her spiral sequence. Pops the second 3Z only does a single. Clean 3S, and strong combination spin and flying spin to close her program. “It wasn’t her best, but I’m proud of her. I’m sure she wanted a clean skate after a dissapointing short” TE Score 58.74, PC Score 50.39, Total FS Score 109.13, TS Score 158.98.
Valentina Marchei - ITA
From Italy, Valentina is up next. She opens her program with a huge 3Z. Does her 3Z-2T combination. Skating with a lot of speed. Goes into her 2A-2T with variation on the arms. Nice flying sit spin with change of edge, variation and foot. Great speed through out that spin combination. Clean 3S-2T. Nice extensions on her spiral sequence. Very nice 3T. Good speed and center on her combination spin. Singles the 2A. Clean 3S and right away into her combination spin with change of foot, losing a little bit of speed. Nice straight line step sequence leading to her final element a flying sit spin. She is happy with her skate. TE Score 53.92, PC Score 47.80, Total FS Score 101.72, TS Score 153.60.
Elene Gedevanishvili - GEO
17 year old, Elene from Georgia is up next. She opens her program with huge 3Z but falls on the landing. Now setting up for her 3F-3T combination, nicely done. Nice syle and speed in her flying camel spin. Nice 2A-3T combination with great speed out of the jumps. Great speed and flow on her spiral sequence. Pops her second 3Z only singles it. Very nice 2A, leading to her combination spin. Pops her 3F, ends up 1F-2T-2L, singles her 3S. Nice layback spin, now working on her straight line step sequence. Has great speed and turns in both directions. Closes her program with her final combination spin, has nice variations. “She looks dissapointed, I’ve seen her skate before and I know she can do much better than that.” TE Score 44.62, PC Score 46.81, Total FS Score 90.43, TS Score 144.40.
Alysa Czisny - USA
Ok Alysa fans, she is on the ice. She opens her program with a nice solid 3Z-2T combination. Great 3F-2T. Goes into her back sit spins with great speed. Now setting up for her 3L, double footed. Nice positions in her flying camel spins. Very nice 3F. Secure 2A. “She’s doing well so far”. Nice 3T-2T-2T combination. Excellent straight line step sequence working well with the music. Amazing extensions on her spiral sequence. Wow. On no, she falls on her 3Z. Great speed in her layback and combination spins to end her program. “Almost a perfect program. But overall she is pleased with her skate considering it is her first tip to the worlds.” TE Score 47.68, PC Score 51.65, Total FS Score 98.31, TS Score 147.74.
kiira Korpi - FIN
Kiira Korpi representing Finland is up. She opens her program with a nice 3L. (”hate that lime green dress she is wearing”) Nice clean 3Z-2T-2L combination. Lots of speed entering her 3F, leaning ot the landing but still holds on to it. Nice speed through out her spiral sequence. Nice variations on her upright spin. Clean 3L-2T combination. Nice edge work entering her 3S-2T, falls of the landing on the Toe. Nice 2A and goes into her combination spin, not alot of speed on them, her flying sit spin is a little better. Now working through her circular step sequence. 3S leaning and falling off the landing edge with hands down. Nice final combination spin to end her program. TE Score 50.66, PC Score 50.18, Total FS Score 99.84, TS Score 149.47.
Anastasia Gimazetdinova - UZB
Anastasia is on the ice as the last skater from Group 2. She opens her program a huge 3Z, landing forward on the landing. Nice 3T, 3T sequence. Second 3T had a slight touch down with the free foot. 3S poor landing needs to add turns in between to do the 2T. Secure 2A. Doubles her second 3Z. Poor speed on her flying spins, traveling a bit. Much better speed on her layback spin. Doubles her 3S. Again having problems on her combination spins. Nice and steady spiral sequence. Now working on her straight line step sequence, nicely timed with the music. Slow entering the 3L, only manages to do a poor 2L. Final element is her combination spin. TE Score 39.34, PC Score 41.11, Total FS Score 80.45, TS Score 130.44.
So far here are the current standings after two groups. We are now taking a short break while they flood the ice for the final groups.
6:31 a.m. EST - We are back with Group 3 on the ice warming up.
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GROUP THREE
Susanna Poykio - FIN
Susanna from Finland is on the ice. She opens her long program a clean and easy 3Z. Goes into her 3Z-2T-2L combination. Nice clean 2A, 3T sequence. Well centered but lacking speed on her sit spin. Doubles her 3F-2T combination. Nice positions on her combination spin. Lean on the air and falls on the 3L. Clean 3S. nice positions on her layback but lacks speed again. Nice flow and stretch on her spiral sequence. Secured 3T. Good variations on her combination spins, again loosing speed near the end. Nice use of music on her straight line step sequence leading to her final pose. TE Score 52.47, PC Score 51.49, Total FS Score 102.98, TS Score 160.12.
Arina Martinova - RUS
Arina from Russia is on the ice entering the free skate in 12th place. She opens her program with a nice strong 3Z-2T combination, falls out on her 3T. Footwork into a 1F. Pulls off the 3S, landing tightly. Nice variations in her combination spins. It looked like she two footed on her second 3Z. Losing speed on her flying camel spin. Clean 3T-2T combination. Good speed through out her spiral sequence. Nice 2A-2T combination, leads to her back upright spins. Great speed on her circular step sequence, but not as difficult as some of the top skaters. Closes her program with her combination spins. TE Score 44.85, PC Score 46.74, Total FS Score 90.59, TS Score 145.28.
Sarah Meier - SUI
Sarah Meier is in 9th place entering her free skate. She begins her program and opening with a nice 3Z-2T-2L combination. Nice entry into her 2F-2T, flip was supposed to be a trilple. Does the second 3F nicely done. Nice centering and speed on her combination spin, with change of foot. Nice variations on her upright spins. Beautiful 3Z, nice and soft landing. Great speed through out her spiral sequence. “I love this part of her music.” Nice 2A, light on the landing. Double her 3S, and adds the 2T for combination. Again nice positions on her combination spins. Great use of music through out her step sequence. Now setting up for her final combination. Oh.. Falls on the 3T, and can’t execute the second jump. Closes her program with a final combination spin. TE Score 50.30, PC Score ,52.98 Total FS Score 102.28, TS Score 160.80.
Elena Sokolova - RUS
From Russia, Elena Sokolova is on the ice. She opens her long program with solid 3Z. Doubles a planned 3T, but adds the 3T for the combination, slight two foot on the landing. Nice 2A. Doubles her planned 3S. Not a lot of speed on her layback spin. Clean 3L-2T-2L combination. Nice a very good combinatin spin, lacking speed and centering. However, good speed on her spiral sequence. Clean 3L and 2A. Much better on her camel spin at the start of her combination spin. Good energy on straight line step sequence, showing turns on both directions. Traveling on her final spin to end the program. TE Score 43.58, PC Score 50.36, Total FS Score 93.94, TS Score 149.77.
Julia Sebestyen - HUN
Julia from Hungary is up next entering the free skate in 8th place. She opens her program with a 3S-2T-2L combination, nicely done. Nice height on the 3T-2T combination. Pops the flip to only do 1F. Not a lot of speed on her flying camel spin. Good speed on her spiral sequence. Completes the second 3F, steps in between for the 2T. Much better speed on her upright spin. Doubles her planned 3Z. Falls on her 3T. Singles her 2A. Nice beilman spin. Weak straight line step sequence. Slow and lacking difficulty. Nice power on her combination spin to end the program. TE Score 44.59, PC Score 49.93, Total FS Score 93.52, TS Score 153.50.
Yukari Nakano - JPN
Yukari Nakano from Japan enters the free skate in 7th place. She opens her program with an attempt on the 3A, fully rotated but falls on the landing. Nice 3Z-2T combination. Great speed on her combination spin. Nice edge work entering her 3F. Beautiful 3S. Great positions and centering on her combination spin. Nice 3F-2T combination. Problems entering her back sit spin. Clean 3S-2T-2L combination. She has great speed and positions in her combination spins. Now working on her step sequence, great use of the music she is selling it to the audience. Good speed and flow through out her spiral sequence. She is skating with confidence. Nice 2A at the end of her program. TE Score 54.56, PC Score 54.74, Total FS Score 108.30, TS Score 168.92.
After three groups, here are the current standings. The final flight is on the ice warming up. This is it! Who will become World Champion? I hope the final flight all skates well to make it a very competitive and interesting competition.
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Warm Up Notes: Mao does a nice 3F-3L combination. All six ladies looks really focused. Emily and Mao almost bumped into each other. 1 minute left for the warm up.
GROUP FOUR (Final Flight)
Carolina Kostner - ITA
Carolina Kostner from Italy enters the free skate in 3rd place. She opens her program with a fall on the 3F. Now setting up for her 3Z, but doubles it and doens’t do the combination. Clean 3L. Flying camel spin, kind of slow but nice variations. Problems on the landing of her second 3F, forced to step out of it. Series of 3 turns leading into her 3L, half loop, 1L. Nice positions on her combination spin with change of foot. Great speed on her spiral sequence, nice stretch. Goes into a nice 3S. Completes the 2A with a slight touch down. Nice speed on her step sequence. Slow on her final combination spin to end her program. “It’s not what she wanted, but with this skate gives Kimmie a better chance to medal now” TE Score 45.50, PC Score 57.27, Total FS Score 101.77, TS Score 168.92. Currently in 2nd place.
Emily Hughes - USA
Emily Hughes enters the free skate in 6th place. She opens her program with a nice and clean 2A. Falls on her 3F, can’t do the 3 jump combination that she had planned. Does it on the 3Z-2t-2l combination instead. Nice energy on circular step sequence. Good position on her flying sit spin. Good back on the layback spin. 3T-2T combination was nicely done. Clean 3F-2T combination. Beautiful extension on her spiral sequence. Arabian into a back camel, loosing speed near the end. Nice second 3Z on the last half of the program. Completes the 3S and immediately goes into her final combination spin to end her program. TE Score 46.79, PC Score 52.39, Total FS Score 98.18, TS Score 159.06. Currently in 5th place.
Yu-Na Kim - KOR
Yu Na enters the free skate in 1st place. She opens her program with a nice and airy 3F-3T combination. Skating with a lot of emotion and feel of the music. Beautiful ina bauer into a 2A-3T combination. Excellent positions on her upright spins. Nice and easy 2A, goes into her back camel, wonderful transitions on her positions. Great musicality through out her step sequence. OH.. Falls on her 3Z. Nice change of positions on her sit spins. Again falls on her second 3Z. “It looks like the pressure is getting to her.” Come backs with a nice 3S-2T combination. Great flow and speed on her spiral sequence. Nice 2A and goes into her final combination spin to end the program. “Awww, she looks dissapointed in herself, it wasn’t clean. Two falls both on the lutz.” TE Score 54.55, PC Score 61.64, Total FS Score 114.19, TS Score 186.14. Currently in 1st place.
Mao Asada - JPN
Mao Asada enters the free skate in 5th place, she now has a chance to catch up to Yu Na Kim. She opens her program with a 3A. Nicely done. Wow. Now setting up for her 2A-3T combination, slight lean and two foot on the toe. Excellent 3F-3L combination, the jump she missed in the short program. Great straight line step sequence, goes well with the music. Nice variations of positions through out her combination spins. Nice and easy 2A, setting up now for her 3Z, nicely done. Beautiful stretch on her spiral sequence. She skates so lightly on the ice. Again, beautiful 3F, with great speed in and out of the jump. Nice combination spin. Successfully completes the 3Z-2L-2L combination jump. Wonderful bielman spin and death drop to end the program. The crowd is on it’s feet. “Wow, what a great skate for Mao. Aww, she is crying right now and smiling. She is feeling emotional after that on.” TE Score 69.64, PC Score 63.49, Total FS Score 133.13, TS Score 194.45. Currently in 1st place. “Kimmie has a hard act to follow.”
Kimmie Meissner - USA
Kimmie enters the free skate in 4th place. She opens her program with a touch down on the 3Z, can’t do the combination. Now setting up for the 2A, it’s clean. Completes the 3F-3T combination. Straight line step sequence goes well with the music minus her arms. Enters her combination spin with a camel, good speed and variations through out. Her artisty har improved from Nationals. Nice 3S. She still needs to work on her spiral sequence, she needs more stretch. Nice 3L, a little shaky on the landing. Good speed on her combination spins. Completes the 3Z, looks to be two footed. Very low 2A-2T-2A. She ends her program with a nice combination spin. “It was an ok performance, personally for me it lacked some emotional attachment and it really looked like that she had to fight through the performance.” I don’t think it’s enough to beat Yuna and Miki Ando hasn’t even skated yet” TE Score 55.79, PC Score 59.79, Total FS Score 115.56, TS Score 180.23. Currently in 3rd place.
Miki Ando - JPN
Miki Ando enters the free skate in 2nd place. She is the final skater. She opens her program 3Z-3L, nicely done. She is setting up for her attempt on the quad sal. She only does the 3S. Beautiful 3F and landing edge. Nice death drop into a back sit spin. Needs more work on he spiral sequence,she had good speed but poor stretch. Great 3Z. Beautiful 3T-2L-2L combination. Nice 3F-2L and 2A jump. She seems to be skating a little cautiously. Nice variations on her combination spins. Nice use of music on her step sequence. Good speed maintained on her combination spin. She ends her program with her layback spin into bielman. “She is pleased with that one. A great skate for Miki. I predict that she will finish in second place.” TE Score 67.66, PC Score 59.45, Total FS Score 127,11, TS Score 195.09. “OMG she is the new World Champion. Awww, she is crying, after the last couple of years of struggling, she finally lives up to everyones expectations. Congratulations Miki Ando!”
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Than concludes my coverage on the ladies free skate. Congratulations to Miki Ando, Mao Asada a very close second place finish, and Yu Na Kim. The sport has really shifted to the east. You can find the complete results of the ladies free skate here.
Comments
9 Responses to “Live Blog: 2007 Wolds Figure Skating Championship Ladies Long Program”
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hello skatefan! =D i just wanted to leave a note and say thanks for doing all this! hehe i usually dont ever post on the mk forum but i wanted to leave some gratitude for you because i think what you are doing is awesome. hehe i live in california and im staying up all night to see whats going to happen in the free! exciting stuff!
thanks for the reviews. very nice of you to do that. thanks!
Good morning, Skatefan! This is the best pbp I’ve read! Fantastic job of capturing the entire program. I don’t know how you do it - thank you, thank you!
Thanks for the pbp! Your commentary is great. I hope you got my PM thanking you for your short report!
Thanks so much I really appreciate you doing this for us. You are better than Dick and Peggy!
Thanks so much for the updates. You made me feel like I was there!
Thank you for that wonderful report!!
congratulation for the 3 medalists!!!
They all are former juniors world gold medalist!!
Miki Ando in 2004
Mao Asada in 2005
Yuna kim in 2006
Thanks for this blog. Today is the first time I’ve had a chance to check it out. It is appreciated.
thanks for the detailed reports– analysis and commentary were great. good eye!