This weekend was so packed with Senior B skating events, it was hard to keep up! A lot of top tier skaters have come out to test their programs out in the run up to the start of the Grand Prix Season, and while some of the big names graced the Ondrej Nepala and the Finlandia Trophy competitions, all eyes (at least mine were!) were on the top Japanese skaters at the Japan Open, held this year at Saitama. Kanako Murakami, Daisuke Takahashi, Takahiko Kozuka, AND Mao Asada held down the fort for Team Japan, while Team Europe consisted of Spain's Javier Fernandez, Russia's Adelina Sotnikova and the great Irina Slutskaya, and Michal Brezina from the Czech Republic. Team North America was represented by two Canadian retirees (and certainly two of the best Canada has produced) Jeffrey Buttle and 2010 Olympic Bronze medallist Joannie Rochette, and USA's Queen Bee, Ashley Wagner with Jeremy Abbott. All skaters performed their Olympic free programmes, and with the collective points- it was a great win for Team Japan with America and Europe following respectively.
Asada debuted her free programme to Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto no.2 (1st Movement) and it was gorgeous and powerful. Choreographed by her favourite Russian, Tatiana Tarasova, it appears that Asada is set on making her mark for the very last time with a program packed with potential. As far as jumps go, she is keeping the same layout as last year, with an ambitious 8-triple program. At this first showing though, apart from overrotating her 3A, doubling a planned 3T (in combination with 2A), and a hand down (UR) on that wretched 3Sal, Asada rotated five triples to accrue a personal best of 135.16 points. Being that JO isn't an ISU sanctioned competition, this score will not be recognised. However, it is still a great start and boost to Asada's trail. Start of a high and keep those judges optimistic! NOT a big fan of the dress, but it may change! WATCH IT BELOW!
I love that Tarasova seems to have saved all of her good stuff for Mao with this one- it has superb musicality, even doses of light and shade- and THAT FOOTWORK SEQUENCE. TO. DIE. FOR. If ever there was a step sequence that could liberate the soul, this is it. It was fervent, quick and intricate- a culmination of Asada's best footwork and it deserved the Level 4 credit it received. In fact, I think it's priceless. The way her elements were arranged in time for the musical highlights was also quite good, and given enough mileage, this program should be a great vehicle for her to challenge her long-time rival, and reigning Olympic and World Champion, South Korea's Kim Yu Na.
Cannot wait for Skate America, where Wagner and Asada will butt heads again (!) but with the added threat of Russian baby jumper Elena Radionova. Looks to be an intense season, so bring on the games!
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