NHK Trophy 2008

Katrina has just finished a pretty good skate. (Group 2 is skating now).

The cameras zoomed in on Kat Witt in the seats after Katarina Gerboldt's skate (probably because they are both Katarina and she skated to Carmen here!). She was smiling and waving with Midori, who sat next to her.

Mao's practice looked pretty good. She landed a few 3A's, had a bad lean on the landing of another. Eeek, I feel nervous again.

This was just not Mirai's competition, at all. I hope she comes back strong at her Nats!

It looks like Yukari won't make the GPF... She skated great in LP, but the mistakes in SP cost her a lot. She needed to place 1st or 2nd...

Akiko was great, though.

Will anyone contribute the videos today? many thanks!

Ashley behind Akiko and Yukari! Not a bad skate, but probably some downgrades..?

Good luck, Mao!

She stumbled and ended after the music, but AMAZING performance from MAO! She landed the 2 3A's, no obvious errors. It's up to the judges to ratify them or not now.

I'm crying in front of TV!!!!!!!
two triple axels and clean program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mao!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh oh oh I am so exciting!!!!!!!
Can't wait to watch the video I am so appreciate that you guys can watch it in front of the TV!

126.49 for her FS!!!!!!

NHK announcers mention 2nd 3A not ratified. Aww. But amazing job, nonetheless!

!!!!!..

191.13!!!!!!!! I have been following the online results, and I haven't seen the performance yet. CAN'T WAIT!!!!! GOOOO MAOO!!!

Did she finish a sucessful 3S?

Can someone please upload it to dailymotion, youtube, whatever? I am so exited!!!

I just woke up to see Mao!!! What a wonderful performance! I hope it will help her get more and more confidence for the rest of the seasoN! That was AWESOME =D! Congratulation!!

Wonderful! It's too bad that the 2nd Axel got downgraded, but what an amazing improvement!!!

Congratulations, Mao!

Ladies' FS Results:
1 Mao ASADA JPN 191.13 1 1
2 Akiko SUZUKI JPN 167.64 4 2
3 Yukari NAKANO JPN 166.87 5 3
4 Ashley WAGNER USA 161.10 2 5
5 Laura LEPISTO FIN 158.85 3 4
6 Katrina HACKER USA 139.46 6 6
7 Cynthia PHANEUF CAN 138.90 7 7
8 Mirai NAGASU USA 124.22 8 9
9 Na-Young KIM KOR 119.77 9 11
10 Annette DYTRT GER 115.57 12 8
11 Anastasia GIMAZETDINOVA UZB 115.10 10 10
12 Katarina GERBOLDT RUS 113.95 11 12

1 Mao ASADA JPN 126.49 64.25 62.24 8.00 7.25 7.85 7.85 7.95 0.00 #12
2 Akiko SUZUKI JPN 112.08 56.96 55.12 6.95 6.50 7.00 6.85 7.15 0.00 #9
3 Yukari NAKANO JPN 112.05 56.93 55.12 7.05 6.45 7.00 6.90 7.05 0.00 #8
4 Laura LEPISTO FIN 99.71 47.19 53.52 6.85 6.35 6.70 6.70 6.85 1.00 #10
5 Ashley WAGNER USA 99.58 45.02 54.56 7.00 6.65 6.80 6.75 6.90 0.00 #11
6 Katrina HACKER USA 85.66 38.78 46.88 5.95 5.70 5.75 5.95 5.95 0.00 #7
7 Cynthia PHANEUF CAN 85.42 38.70 46.72 6.05 5.45 5.90 5.85 5.95 0.00 #6
8 Annette DYTRT GER 77.95 36.43 41.52 5.40 4.80 5.15 5.25 5.35 0.00 #1
9 Mirai NAGASU USA 74.08 30.32 45.76 6.15 5.35 5.50 5.80 5.80 2.00 #5
10 Anastasia GIMAZETDINOVA UZB 72.26 33.70 38.56 5.05 4.35 4.95 4.75 5.00 0.00 #3
11 Na-Young KIM KOR 71.85 31.93 39.92 5.40 4.65 5.00 5.10 4.80 0.00 #4
12 Katarina GERBOLDT RUS 71.53 34.21 38.32 5.05 4.35 4.95 4.80 4.80 1.00 #2

Yay Mao!!! A very deserved all-Japanese sweep - there's an on-the-spot interview for the medalists.

Well, that was probably the most enjoyable ladies event out of the GP - the medalists all gave very good performances. I was hoping Ashley will pull things off better, but her double-footing and step outs cost her the medal. If there is a skater I feel sad for, its Mirai...I sincerely hope she can pull herself out of the growth spurt/injury limbo.

ETA: Protocols are up, Mao received +1.60 for her first 3A, and a complete +1.00 on her step sequence!

Mao and TAT can work together!

The most important conclusion out of all this. And, damn... I am really happy to get to this conclusion!

plantclean wrote:

Did she finish a sucessful 3S?

It was really a beautiful 3S!!

I can't wait to see the videos:)
When they will be posed?

Omg I am so THRILLED for Mao! Can't wait to watch her LP!!!

After what happened in TEB, NHK proves that Mao is now the official Comeback Queen ;D

It is Mao's tradition, will be better and better as time goes by in every season!

Wow!!!! Her 1st ever clean triple lutz in the Sp and then 2 triple axels - people are saying the 2nd one being downgraded was harsh - and a triple sal in the LP.

That was her 1st triple salchow in competition since 2003 Nationals!!!!!

Mirai wrote:

After what happened in TEB, NHK proves that Mao is now the official Comeback Queen ;D Omg I am so THRILLED for her! Can't wait to watch her LP!!!

She really is! I can't help but laugh at the poor souls who counted her out. Tsktsktsk. Mao is also the official Drama Queen too, I think! That weird stumble in the end of her spin came out of nowhere, but it gave the Russian commentator a good-natured chuckle.

Mao's FS: http://www.mediafire.com/?zo4anmirjkt (for those having problems with the video, try d/l the Russian WebTV program - thanks Okami for the tip! ) As with most live feeds, the video stops for 3 seconds or so after Mao lands her 3A - 2T, but everything else is fine. Her first 3A was out of this world!

Currently encoding Mao's FS to upload to DM as well. Hang on folks!

Thanks very much,Clovera san!

You are such a great guy.