Asada Watch: NHK Trophy 2011 (Finale; Mao-chan Wins The Silver!)

After a very unfortunate season last year that left a lot to be desired, Mao Asada skated for redemption yesterday at the NHK Trophy where she won the silver medal. While it's a far cry from the Mao we all got used to and loved, the progress that has taken place within her training was showcased well and it has reinvigorated a career that people have started questioning. Asada skated to 'Liebestraum', her free programme piece from last season but modified and varied with the choreography, and it was a strong skate albeit not without flaws. First she doubled her planned opening triple axel-her calling card- and two-footed a final triple loop jump towards the end of the programme. That being said, she still won the free skate, finishing with 184.19 points overall. NHK gold medallist and fellow compatriot, Akiko Suzuki botched two of her own jumps but still managed to edge out Asada for the title with a 1.79 point margin, thanks to her great lead from the short programme the day before. 

Asada Watch: NHK Trophy 2011 (Part Two; Short Programme)

What a turnout! Most of the ladies brought their game despite a few errors and two-footed jumps. My heart was palpitating whilst waiting for Mao's turn on the ice as she skated 7th in the line-up. Her short programme to Rimski-Korsakov's nominal classic Scheherazade debuted at the NHK, and it was sublime. Dressed in an intricately bejewelled costume, she danced to a much lighter and contemporary arrangement of the music based on the 'Arabian Nights'. While Mao popped her opening, signature Triple Axel, she rounded off her performance with a beautifully lyrical interpretation and beautiful spins, and overall all landing a 3Fl-2L and a 3L. The choreography was light and coquettish at the same time, and it was hard not to smile with Mao as she skated because it was just great quality skating. Her speed is very much improved and she was light and fluid. She looked quite happy with her performance and currently she sits at 3rd place behind Russia's Alena Leonova and current leader and fellow Japanese compatriot, Akiko Suzuki with 58.42 points. As I watched and listened to the British Eurosport commentary, I agreed with them in that the final four ladies skated well in terms of their quality. Finland's Kira Korpii's errors were unfortunate and so was Canada's Cynthia Phaneuf's dismal skate but hopefully both ladies will at least hold on to their jumps and just relax at tomorrow's free skate. 

While I am all over Mao as you know, I think it would be very unfair of me not to scream and shout for both Leonova and most of all Suzuki. Suzuki's performance was spectacular and she deserved all 66.55 points that she garnered for her flawless programme. She landed all of her jumps (opening with a 3TL-3TL combination) with panache and received high levels on all of her spins and step sequences, while skating to 'Hungarian Rhapsody'. It was so cute watching her and her coach jump for joy to the sound of the home turf's cheers.  And to think that she was thinking of retiring! Absolutely not! This may just be her year if she keeps on going as she does. Leonova's programme to the 'Pirates of The Caribbean' soundtrack was also great. Not as polished as Suzuki's but there was high energy, a beautiful albeit quite busy step sequence and again, her jumps were there. I'd say that everything is set up quite well for tomorrow's free skate. Hopefully, Mao will land her opening 3A and the rest of her jumps to at least cinch the silver from Leonova. The competition is quite intense! 

xoxo